Theresa May's Brexit plan is taking 'extreme gamble' with UK's future, says Caroline Lucas
Greens are going to 'fight any attempt to slash our state through corporate tax cuts'
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Your support makes all the difference.Caroline Lucas, the co-leader of the Green Party, has responded to Theresa May's speech on Brexit.
Ms May laid out 12 objectives for negotiations to take Britain out of the European Union and said the UK will no longer be a part of the Single Market.
Ms Lucas said it was an "extreme gamble".
Follow our live blog from Theresa May's key speech on Brexit
She said: "Theresa May has confirmed today that she is willing to take an extreme gamble with our country’s future.
"Her plan for Britain to be out of the Single Market and out of the Customs Union, without any guarantees on the kind of bilateral trade deals we’ll have, is extremely risky.
"The Prime Minister has morphed a close-run referendum into a mandate for an extremely hard Brexit which will see our economy harmed as part of her desperate desire to end free movement.
"Theresa May’s veiled threat to the EU about Britain setting its 'own economic model’ if we don’t get a good deal is deeply concerning because, in effect, she means turning Britain into a corporate tax haven floating on the edge of Europe.
"The Green Party will continue to stand up for free movement and keeping close ties with the European Union, and we’ll fight any attempt to slash our state through corporate tax cuts and a race to the bottom on regulations."
Ms May announced she would pursue "a bold and ambitious free trade agreement" with the EU—not membership of the Single Market, but the "greatest possible access" to it.
Britain will also "collaborate with our European partners" on science and technology while building the UK's capacity in the field, she said.
Brexit will involve a "phased process of implementation" of changes to give "businesses enough time to plan and prepare", she added. Ms May said she wanted a "smooth and orderly Brexit".
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