11 September, 2017
He claimed this would fulfil the will of the people expressed in last year's Brexit vote while allowing Britain to stay in the EU.
"And the risk is actually that we have a Brexit followed by, I'm afraid, an unreconstructed leftist programme from Labour, and if you combine those two things together in my view we will be in a very serious situation as a country". He did say Britain was likely to end up paying money into the European Union budget after Brexit for access to cross-border schemes like space and nuclear research, though the sum would not be large over the medium to long-term. At the moment, you either do leave, or we have the status quo.
He said: 'If we go ahead with Brexit we will have taken the unprecedented decision for a major country to relegate ourselves, like a top-six Premiership side deciding to play exclusively in the Championship.
Asked about Blair's proposals, defense minister Michael Fallon said the government had to get on with delivering Brexit.
The Brexit secretary also said that the United Kingdom will not stay in the single market or customs union during a transition period, but might look to have similar arrangements with the EU.
May tried last week to douse speculation over her leadership by saying she wanted to continue as prime minister beyond the next parliamentary election, not due until 2022, dismissing expectations she would quit as early as 2019.
He has been blamed in many quarters for the rise in public concern about immigration which culminated in the Brexit vote, after failing to impose transitional controls on migrants from new European Union member states in 2004.
Davis replied: "We're starting from the aim of maintaining as much continuity as is necessary. we may well seek a customs arrangement for that period and a similar arrangement on single market provisions, but we can not make that decision ourselves". "The British people voted for Brexit, but we are trying to do is get a deal that safeguards jobs and the economy". On Feb. 2, May's deputy advised Conservative lawmakers against doing anything that would increase Labour's chances of returning to power, while May said the bill was the best way to ensure a successful Brexit.
According to the European Commission, the United Kingdom should put in place, as of the withdrawal date in March 2019, the necessary domestic legislation providing for continued protection, comparable to EU law and with no financial cost.