David Davis: Brexit Britain will not be Max Mad-style wasteland
2 min read
Britain will not turn into a "Mad Max-style world borrowed from dystopian fiction" after it leaves the European Union, according to David Davis.
The Brexit Secretary will also insist that the UK will lead "a race to the top in global standards" amid claims the Government could slash employment and environmental regulations outside the EU.
Mr Davis will become the latest Cabinet minister to deliver a keynote speech on Brexit when he addresses business leaders in the Austrian capital of Vienna.
Pro-EU campaigners have claimed that the UK economy will be ravaged after Brexit as it leaves the European single market and customs union.
Labour have also accused the Conservatives of planning to turn the UK into a Singapore-style tax haven on the shores of Europe.
And a slide presentation from the European Commission, presented to member states, also suggested that the UK may reduce ‘levels of occupational safety and health’ leading to ‘higher exposure to chemicals and carcinogens’, and ‘reduce informational and consultation rights for workers’.
But Mr Davis will insist Britain will thrive while also upholding its obligations to meet global standards.
"We will continue our track record of meeting high standards after we leave the European Union," he will say. "Now, I know that for one reason or another there are some people who have sought to question that these really are our intentions.
"They fear that Brexit could lead to an Anglo-Saxon race to the bottom, with Britain plunged into a Mad Max-style world borrowed from dystopian fiction.
"These fears about a race to the bottom are based on nothing, not history, not intention, nor interest.
"But while I profoundly disagree with them — it does remind us all that we must provide reassurance. And that’s why it’s a message delivered by every member of Britain’s government as we meet our European counterparts."
The Brexit Secretary will also call for Britain and the EU not to put up "unnecessary barriers" to trade during the upcoming negotiations.
He will say: "A crucial part of any such agreement is the ability for both sides to trust each other’s regulations and the institutions that enforce them.
"Such mutual recognition will naturally require close, even-handed co-operation between these authorities and a common set of principles to guide them.
"And the certainty that Britain’s plan, its blueprint for life outside of Europe, is a race to the top in global standards not a regression from the high standards we have now, can provide the basis of the trust that means that Britain’s regulators and institutions can continue to be recognised."
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