Nigel Farage has slammed the Government after a report came out suggesting that Rishi Sunak is considering putting the UK on the road to closer ties with the European Union.
Ministers have insisted there is no question of tearing up the Brexit deal in the hope of securing a closer, Swiss-style relationship with Brussels.
Ministers have insisted there is no question of tearing up the Brexit deal in the hope of securing a closer, Swiss-style relationship with Brussels.
Jacob King
The Sunday Times reported “senior government figures” were planning to put the UK on a path towards arrangements similar to Switzerland’s to ensure access to the EU’s single market.
The model would involve more liberal EU migration – although full free movement would not be on the table – and payments to the Brussels budget, the newspaper reported.
A Government spokesperson labelled the Sunday Times story “categorically untrue”.
The spokesperson said: “This Government is focused on using our Brexit freedoms to create opportunities that drive growth and strengthen our economy.
“Brexit means we will never again have to accept a relationship with Europe that would see a return to freedom of movement, unnecessary payments to the European Union or jeopardise the full benefit of trade deals we are now able to strike around the world.”
Now, GB News’ Nigel Farage has hit out at the Government, sharing a video to Twitter in which he reacts to the report, suggesting it shows the Conservative Party “never believed in Brexit”.
He said: “If they think they can betray Brexit, and frankly, they probably have already, really. I mean, immigration still running at record levels and they're making it clear, it was there in the budget.
"They intend for it to continue with about a quarter of a million net every single year.
"The English Channel, whether or not prepared to lift a finger and take us out of the ECHR and get Brexit done properly, the lack of opportunities for British fishermen, the fact that our millions of businesses have not seen ludicrous EU rules removed.
“I think the truth of it is the Tories never really believed in Brexit. They just went with it in 2019 for political opportunity. And now the globalists, the Remainers are back in charge of that party. Of that I have no doubt at all.
“Let me tell you this - If we're headed towards a Swiss style deal, which means alignment with EU rules, which means, effectively, our trade deals with the rest of the world being governed by that set of the rules, hindered by that set of the rules, if it means paying contributions and effectively agreeing to free movement, then let me promise you something.
“What happened in 2019 will happen again. They will literally get obliterated at the next general election and deserve to do so.
“Getting back involved in active politics is not on my bucket list. It's not what I want to do. I spent quarter of a century fighting for us to get Brexit, but I simply couldn't stand aside and do nothing if this act of betrayal continues.
“So, please, if you are Conservative, take this as a warning. No, sorry, a threat. It will happen.
"You will be obliterated if you continue down this route. No doubt.”
Nigel Farage has said the Conservative Party will "will literally get obliterated at the next general election "
Twitter: Nigel Farage
Switzerland and the EU have a close economic relationship based on a series of bilateral agreements, giving the country direct access to parts of the EU’s internal market including the free movement of people.
The UK is locked in long-running talks with the EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol, a post-Brexit arrangement for the region designed to avoid a border on the island of Ireland.
Unionists have opposed the protocol as impeding trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, placing a border in the Irish Sea.
This has resulted in the collapse of the Stormont Assembly, with top civil servants left to run government departments.
However, there have been renewed hopes in recent weeks that a deal can be secured and the relationship improved between the UK and the EU after years of tensions.
A Swiss-style veterinary agreement has been one of the options mooted by some on the EU side as a solution to the protocol dispute.
