MADAM – In recent days Conservative supporter Lord Finkelstein has claimed that “... If the United Kingdom wishes to take part in the single market it will, like Norway, have to accept free movement of labour in Europe...”.
This follows on from Economic Secretary to the Treasury Andrea Leadsom, MP, saying on national television “... because access to the single market requires that you abide by the principles of free movement of labour, capital services and so on, so if we want to retain access to the single market there will need to be free movement of labour...”
In reality, Turkey is in the EU customs union with full access to the single market (except for agriculture), with no free movement of labour.
Further, more than 50 countries, including Mexico and South Korea, have free trade agreements with the European Union.
Again, there is no free movement of labour.
The facts are clear.
Free movement is not a requirement for people and businesses outside the European Union to be able to export to other people and businesses located in the European Union single market.
I have to wonder why these two prominent Conservatives are so intent on telling us something else?
William Dartmouth
UKIP national spokesman on trade MEP for the Southwest Counties and Gibraltar
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