Plans to unravel Brexit, including the UK joining a new 'European Confederation', have been presented to Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The proposal would see Britain rejoin the EU's single market while pledging to defend Europe with its armed forces and nuclear deterrent.
Summit with EU leaders
Government officials received the proposals as Mr Burnham prepares for an October summit with EU leaders, where he is expected to agree a new deal on energy, food exports and relaxing border controls for young people.
The Confederation plan was drawn up by former Conservative MP Nick Boles, now a Labour adviser who assisted Sir Keir Starmer's preparations for government. Jonathan Powell, the national security adviser, was among the officials presented with the proposals.
Details of the plan
According to the Telegraph, the UK, Ukraine, Switzerland, Norway and the Western Balkan could join the confederation. It would give the UK access to the EU's Single Market for goods without having to accept freedom of movement or replace the pound with the euro.
Mr Boles told The Telegraph: "If we're trying to do a bilateral negotiation in which we try to persuade the EU to have us have access to the single market for goods, we will fail. But if we make a proposal that solves other problems they have, like Ukraine… that's the possibility where the selling might be easier. We can explain this isn't just a selfish British deal, it's a deal you can use to solve other problems yourselves."
Government response
A government source said Ministers were working on proposals to deepen UK-EU cooperation. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has reportedly attempted to take control of post-Brexit negotiations and accepted an invitation to attend an informal meeting of foreign affairs ministers in Brussels. However, he has lost a Whitehall turf war, with the Cabinet Office, which oversaw preparations for Keir Starmer's EU "reset" deal, maintaining control.
