While Theresa May is adamant that her government will not give a running commentary on Brexit, David Davis talked relatively freely on the topic at the Exiting the European Union Committee. He said he would not negotiate control of immigration in Article 50 talks, and that the aim is to have access to the single market that’s as close as possible to the UK’s current position. However, MPs hoping to see May’s much-anticipated Brexit plan will have to wait. Davis said this will not be published until February at the earliest, as a lot of research and policy work still needs to be done.
He did, however, pave the way for a transitional Brexit deal. Striking a less enthusiastic tone than Philip Hammond on Monday (when the Chancellor said he favoured such a transitional arrangement in order to reduce disruption), Davis said he would be open to one ‘if it is necessary and only if it is necessary’. Davis made the point that a transitional agreement would only work if there was a destination the UK was working towards. This suggests that if no deal was agreed by the end of the two-year negotiations, the government would be reluctant to keep things going as they are in the hope an agreement would later be reached.
Overall, the session saw Davis talk frankly but commit to little. Right now the Brexit secretary is being careful not to limit any of his options ahead of the negotiations. He came out on top today.
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