Andy Burnham was presented with a proposal to expand Britain’s nuclear deterrence in Europe in exchange for access to the EU’s single market for goods, as reported in a report published on Sunday.
This plan, proposed by former Conservative MP Nick Boles, envisages Britain’s assistance in creating a “European Confederation” that would link the EU’s free trade zone with NATO’s defense obligations, The Telegraph newspaper reported. According to the plan, Britain would commit to spending 3.5% of its gross domestic product on defense and extend its nuclear guarantees to countries that are not NATO members and are currently not covered by Britain’s Trident nuclear deterrent system.
According to the report, the proposed structure would also invite Ukraine, Switzerland, Norway, and the Western Balkan countries. In exchange, Britain would gain access to the EU’s single market for goods without the need to join the principle of free movement or join the eurozone.
Rationale for the new strategy
Nick Boles told The Telegraph that a new strategy for European cooperation is necessary because there is no guarantee that US President Donald Trump or a future American president “will defend Europe in the same way he would defend Kansas”. He added that an attempt to conduct bilateral negotiations with the EU on access to the single market for goods “will fail”.
Boles, who previously held several ministerial positions, noted that if Britain puts forward a proposal that helps solve other EU problems, including those related to Ukraine, it will be easier to advance. “We can explain that this is not just a selfish British deal, it is a deal that you can use to solve other problems on your own”, he said.
Earlier, The Telegraph reported that former Prime Minister Keir Starmer had approached the EU with a proposal to give Britain access to the single market for goods. According to the newspaper, Brussels rejected this proposal because it did not want to give Britain a special regime while it remains outside the bloc.
Separately, a government source told The Telegraph that proposals are being developed to deepen cooperation between Britain and the EU. These proposals are expected to be discussed later this year, the report said.
Source: The Telegraph
