PM’s former chief of staff Nick Timothy says we should give ‘preferential’ treatment to Europeans who want to work here
Mr Timothy says Britain was in a good position to agree a relationship with the EU
THERESA May should consider giving EU citizens who want to work here preferential treatment, her ex-chief aide claims.
Writing exclusively in The Sun, Nick Timothy says that despite the “sneering critics”, Britain is in a good position to agree a new relationship with the European Union.
But he says the PM’s Brexit negotiators should consider tweaking demands on borders and other key issues to help win over the EU’s most influential players.
Mr Timothy – who quit after June’s Election bloodbath – said the Government should make a “generous new offer” on intelligence sharing to member states, and table a “reasonable” divorce payment.
Ministers should be willing to accept European judges working together with British ones to resolve trade disputes, he adds.
And he says: “We should continue to insist on restoring our ability to control European immigration.
“But we could still establish a preferential system for Europeans who want to work in Britain.”
Mr Timothy – the PM’s right hand man for years – said Cabinet Ministers have “resolved their biggest differences” on Brexit.
And he said it was now essential that Brussels didn’t see Brexit as a threat that could “unravel the whole European project”.
He said that helping the EU and Angela Merkel to secure their aims – such as safeguarding the Euro and protecting the bloc - will help land an ambitious trade agreement.
NICK TIMOTHY As long as we keep calm and are ready to compromise we can strike a good Brexit deal and carry on in harmony
“Britain has already shown itself to be a constructive negotiating partner for the European Union,” he writes.
“We will need to be prepared to continue in this manner, and to compromise where necessary.
“But in return we should expect a deal that works for Britain just as much as it works for Europe.”
