Ex-cabinet ministers among those who say leaving EU with no trade deal must be an option

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Theresa May has been urged by hardline Brexiters to speed up preparations for a “no-deal” Brexit to put pressure on Brussels during withdrawal negotiations.

Sixty former cabinet ministers, MPs, economists and business figures signed a letter to the prime minister urging her to issue orders to departments to accelerate planning for Britain to operate under World Trade Organization rules if a deal cannot be done.

They argue that in order to have “real leverage in the Brexit endgame” the UK must reserve the right to walk away without a trade deal “and take with it the £39bn it has offered to pay as part of a divorce settlement”.

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Their intervention came after more than 100,000 people marched through London on the second anniversary of the EU referendum to demand a fresh vote on the terms of the Brexit deal.

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Politicians from across the political spectrum took part in the People’s Vote rally on Saturday as the divisions over withdrawal from the European Union showed no sign of narrowing.

Signatories to the letter, organised by Economists for Free Trade (EFT) and released on Saturday, include the former chancellor Lord Lawson, ex-environment secretary Owen Paterson and one-time Wales secretary John Redwood, plus Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin and Sir Rocco Forte, chairman of Rocco Forte Hotels.

In it they urge May to warn her European counterparts that despite their “intransigent and punitive stance” they cannot delay or block Brexit.

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They go on to say: “We believe you could also make clear that your preferred outcome is a free trade deal between Britain and the EU, an arrangement that is to the mutual benefit of both parties. “Britain is a great champion of free trade and looks forward to striking free trade deals with countries beyond the shores of the continent once Brexit has taken effect.

“However, in light of the reluctance of the EU swiftly to secure a free trade deal – eminently possible since we have been trading freely with the EU for more than 40 years – we suggest you make clear your belief that the UK has now to prepare urgently for the possibility that no agreement is forthcoming.

“Accordingly, we believe now is the time to issue instructions to UK authorities to accelerate their preparations for ‘no deal’ and a move to a World Trade Deal under WTO rules that, after all, govern the vast majority of global trading arrangements today.”

Other signatories to the letter include Conservative MPs Peter Bone, Sir Christopher Chope, Philip Davies, Richard Drax, Philip Hollobone, Andrea Jenkyns, Anne Main, Nigel Mills, Henry Smith and William Wragg.

The letter insists that Britain can “flourish”, even without a free trade deal, because of the benefits of leaving the EU, adding: “This would give the chancellor ample scope to increase spending on priority public services such as the NHS while reducing the too high UK tax burden.”

A Downing Street source said: “We are confident of getting a good deal that delivers for every part of the UK and allows us to take back control of our money, rules and borders.”