Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/774426
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 18 JANUARY 2017 News 7 UK to opt for hard Brexit and leave single market YANNICK PACE THERESA May, the prime min- ister of the United Kingdom has confirmed that the country will be pursuing what critics have la- belled a hard Brexit, promising that the final deal would be put to a vote in both the House of Commons and House of Lords. She said that the UK would not be seeking to remain in the sin- gle market following the UK's exit from the European Union. Furthermore, she said that the UK would also be breaking away from the European Court of Jus- tice, adding however that the government will adopt EU law and then decide what laws to change. "We have 12 objectives that amount to one big goal: a new, positive and constructive part- nership between Britain and the European Union," she said, em- phasising that whatever deal is agreed upon, it should not leave Britain "half-in, half-out." May was addressing diplomats and ambassadors at Lancaster House, Westminster, , where she said that the UK would pur- sue "a bold and ambitious free trade agreement with the EU," rather than remaining in the single market. The speech went a long way in offering some clar- ity as to what Downing Street's Brexit strategy is, with the price of the pound surging more than 3 cents. "Being out of the EU and a member of the single market, we will still have to comply with rules without being able to vote on them. It will mean that for all intents and purposes we will not be leaving the EU," said May while stressing that a construc- tive approach to the Brexit talks will be in the interests of both sides. She said that despite not seek- ing membership, the UK will look to obtain the "greatest possible access" to the single market and assured European leaders that Britain will remain a "friend," that wants the EU to succeed rather than unravel. She did however say that she would rather leave the EU with- out a trade deal than accept a bad one. "Britain wants to remain a good friend and neighbour to Europe, but I know there are some call- ing for a punitive approach. This would be an act of calamitous self-harm for the countries of Europe, and it would not be the act of a friend," she said. In the eventuality of the UK leaving without a trade deal, May said that the country would consider adopting a revised eco- nomic model. On Sunday, Chan- cellor Philip Hammond said that if Britain were to not have access to European markets after leav- ing the EU, it would consider abandoning European taxation and regulation systems and "be- come something different." Asked by journalists whether she will be using the threat of becoming a tax haven as a nego- tiating weapon, May challenged the use of the word 'weapon' and said that she hopes to get a deal that can be to the mutual benefit of both sides. Following the speech, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, writ- ing on Facebook, said that May had made clear that she is de- termined to use Brexit to turn Britain into a bargain basement tax haven on the shores of Eu- rope, adding that the opposition was deeply concerned about her "reckless approach" to achieving access to the single market. UK prime minister Theresa May vowed to put final Brexit deal before parliament Tusk, Muscat discuss preparations for Malta Summit PRIME Minister Joseph Mus- cat yesterday morning met with Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, in Brussels. The meeting was held for the two to discuss preparations for the upcoming Malta Summit that is to take place this Febru- ary. During their meeting, the two discussed current issues, includ- ing Brexit and immigration. Also present for the meet- ing were Deputy Prime Min- ister Louis Grech, foreign af- fairs minister George Vella and parliamentary secretary for EU funds, Ian Borg. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEREMY WONNACOTT - DOI Nigerian jet 'kills at least 50' civilians in accidental attack A Nigerian air force jet has acci- dentally killed and injured many civilians in an air strike against Islamist militant group Boko Har- am in the north-east of the coun- try, the military has said. International aid agency MSF says at least 50 people have been killed and more than 100 injured in the incident. Aid workers are among the casu- alties - the Red Cross says six of its workers are confirmed dead. The attack took place near Nige- ria's border with Cameroon where the army has been fighting Boko Haram militants. Army spokesman Maj-Gen Lucky Irabor said the jet's pilot mistakenly believed he was at- tacking insurgents. "Somehow, some civilians were killed. We are yet to ascertain the number of persons killed in the air strike," Irabor told reporters in the northeastern city of Maiduguri. Nigerian President Muham- madu Buhari has sent a message expressing his dismay at the loss of life.