Theresa May comes under fire for 'unsustainable' Brexit strategy

Senior Tories criticise Prime Minister's stance on Brexit following attacks by Jeremy Corbyn and Nicola Sturgeon

Theresa May’s policy of “saying as little as possible” about what Brexit will look like is not sustainable and will damage Britain’s economic prospects, a senior Conservative MP has warned.

Andrew Tyrie, the chair of the Treasury Select Committee, said the Prime Minister’s reticence was in danger of creating “considerable cost to the UK” as businesses planned for the worst when it came to investment.

Mr Tyrie’s comments came after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused the PM of staging a “chaotic Brexit”, and Scottish National Party leader Niola Sturgeon branded Brexit talks in Westminster “deeply frustrating”.

“The Prime Minister has a very difficult job on Brexit but the Government’s policy of saying as little as possible is going to be increasingly unsustainable,” the Conservative MP warned in the Commons on Monday.

“The vacuum is already being filled by leaks not from the (European) Commission but from her own Cabinet Brexit committee colleagues.

“Does the Prime Minister accept that unless the Government can provide at least some clarity about its direction of travel soon, many financial and other businesses which have been in touch with me about this will respond to the uncertainty, plan for the worst and that that will be at considerable cost to the UK?”

Ms May said she was “well aware” of the effect of business uncertainty and that was why she had already “set out the framework of the timetable for invoking Article 50” and given clarity on “the legislative position that will apply” after Britain leaves.

Theresa May at the European Council summit (Reuters)

“I will continue and the Government will continue to speak about these matters but we will not … set out every jot and tittle of our negotiating position – that would be the best way to get the worst deal for the UK.”

She however caused further confusion after she said there was “no suggestion” of a hard Brexit – despite having pledged to end freedom of movement and prioritise that policy over single market membership.

The Prime Minister used her statement to Parliament on last week’s EU summit to tell MPs that Parliament would get a debate on Brexit before Christmas recess. There would be no vote at the end of it, however.

“The Government will also give Parliament the opportunity to discuss our approach to leaving the European Union,” she said.

“So in addition to regular updates from My Right Honourable Friend the Member for Haltemprice and Howden (Brexit Secretary David Davies), my own statements following council meetings, and the deliberations of the new Select Committee on Exiting the EU, the Government will make time available for a series of general debates on the UK’s future relationship with the EU.”

“These will take place before and after the Christmas Recess, and I expect will include debate on the high-level principles that the Government will pursue in the negotiations.”

Mr Corbyn warned the PM that EU leaders had told him the tone taken by the Government has “damaged our global reputation" and lost the country “a lot of goodwill” from other nations.

“The message that came to me loud and clear from European leaders last week was the tone taken by this Tory Government since their Tory party conference earlier this month has damaged our global reputation and lost us a lot of goodwill – not just in Europe but around the world,” he said.

“Although the Prime Minister's words may have appeased hard-line voices behind her, they only spread anger and resentment all across Europe by the approach she and her party have taken.

Jeremy Corbyn told the Prime Minister to come up with a plan for Brexit

“I do not believe we'll get the best deal for this country by using threats, hectoring or lecturing of the European Union. For these negotiations to succeed, the Government frankly needs to adopt a slightly more grown-up approach.

“For the negotiations to succeed, Britain needs a plan. What is clear to everybody – from European leaders, non-governmental organisations and business – is that quite clearly the Government doesn't have one.”