Britain’s’ environment minister Michael Gove has indicated that a deal on Britain’s future relationship with the European Union would not be a permanent one and future governments can alter it.
Gove told the BBC on Sunday that Prime Minister Theresa May’s plan for a Brexit deal with the EU, known as the Chequers, was the best solution for Britain now and that those unsatisfied with the contents of a deal that will come out of the negotiations could move to change it in future administrations.
“There’s one critical thing: a future prime minister could always choose to alter the relationship between Britain and the European Union,” said Gove.
“But the Chequers approach is the right one for now because we have got to make sure that we respect that vote and take advantage of the opportunities of being outside the European Union.”
Gove, a fierce advocate of Brexit, has adopted a softer approach than other Conservative Party members to May’s Chequers plan, a strategy announced in early July in the premier’s country residence.
Two senior ministers quitted at the time in protest to the plan, saying it would make Britain even more dependent on the EU once the country leaves the bloc in March next year.
A group of more than 80 Tory lawmakers have threatened that they could reject a final deal on Brexit in the Parliament if May does not change her policy in talks with the EU.
The opposition Labour Party has also made similar threats, meaning that May, who has a slim majority in the House of Commons, could be forced to leave office if she fails to pass her Brexit deal in the chamber.
May hopes she can reach a deal with the EU in the coming weeks although her administration has plans in place for a situation in which Britain leaves the EU without a deal.