A lack of clarity over Brexit is frustrating Cabinet ministers, breeding distrust and contributing to the current breakdown of discipline
“The million-dollar question is the trade-off between regulatory compliance and market access and we haven’t had that discussion yet,” laments one senior Cabinet minister.
The Government is split between those who are prepared to shadow EU regulations to maintain maximum market access and the Brexiteers who would accept making trade with the EU being less smooth than it is now so this country is free to become more globally competitive.
This lack of clarity within the Government is storing up problems. As the policy is not decided, ministers keep intervening, trying to push it this way or that. As one Secretary of State points out, “It is the lack of firmness” that is leading to people behaving as they are.
It is also creating suspicion that it is all being stitched up behind closed doors. One Tory warns that “everyone is paranoid, everyone thinks they are being shut out”.
