Full text of the ‘Get tough on Brussels’ letter sent to Theresa May by more than 30 Tory MPs

Full text of the ‘Get tough on Brussels’ letter sent to Theresa May by more than 30 Tory MPs

Several Sunday papers referenced a letter sent by “nearly three dozen” Conservative MPs to Theresa May over the weekend, telling the Prime Minister to “get tough” in her Brexit negotiations and setting out eight areas in which they would not be willing to accept compromises.

The Sun on Sunday named Andrea Jenkyns and Simon Clarke as being among the signatories, while the Yorkshire Evening Post disclosed that “one Tory peer and one DUP MP” had also lent their support to the initiative. I can reveal that Peter Bone and Julian Lewis are also among the signatories.  

BrexitCentral has obtained the full text of the letter, which reads as follows:  

Dear Prime Minister,

At this critical moment in our country’s history, the time has now come to get tough in your negotiations with the European Union. We are looking to you to demonstrate courage and leadership in the face of those who seek to undermine the express wish of the British people in the 2016 referendum.

In order to satisfy this result and uphold our promise to the British people, after our formal departure on the 29th of March 2019, we will not accept:

  • an extension of the transition period beyond 31st December 2020
  • any extension to the two-year withdrawal period as stated in Article 50
  • the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice over the UK in any form beyond the transitional period
  • remaining part of a customs union or other similar entity
  • any departure deal that prevents us from forging new trade deals
  • free or preferential movement of people from the EU
  • any deal without robust conditionality, linking the £39 billion financial settlement with a satisfactory free trade agreement
  • any part of the United Kingdom being treated differently from the rest

Our departure must be absolute. We must not remain entangled with the EU’s institutions if this restricts our ability to exercise our sovereignty as an independent nation. Anything less will be a weakening of our democracy. Britain must stand firm.

Yours sincerely,