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Michael Gove has sparked anger after claiming the UK doesn’t “need” a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU, insisting it is better to “stand up for Britain”.
The cabinet office minister put a no-deal crash-out – at the end of 2020 – back centre-stage, despite Boris Johnson insisting the risk was “absolutely zero” during the general election campaign.
Mr Gove also claimed the current level of trade with the US proved a formal agreement was not necessary, despite a deal with Washington being a supposed prize for leaving the EU.
Asked about prospects for a deal, a day after the UK clashed with Brussels over its red lines , he said: “When we talk about needing, everything is a matter of preference.
“It’s better to have a good trading relationship with the United States, better to have the best possible trading relationship with the EU.
“But, most of all, it is right to stand up for Britain and not to accept terms from other countries if those terms are not right for us.”
Those terms were “allowing European courts, European judges, European politicians dictating what happens here”, Mr Gove told Sky News.
The comments come after Mr Johnson sought to rebrand an effective no-deal Brexit in December as an agreement “like Australia’s” – even though Canberra has no trade agreement.
The claim, in his first big post-election speech, was widely seen as softening up the public for trading on vastly-inferior World Trade Organisation terms, with tariffs and other barriers.
Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Show all 66 1 /66Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A message projected onto the White Cliffs of Dover
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Big Ben, shows the hands at eleven o'clock at night
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Nigel Farage speaks to pro-Brexit supporters
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-Brexit demonstrators celebrate on Parliament Square
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU The Union flag is taken down outside the European Parliament in Brussels
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit supporter jumps on an EU flag in Parliament Square
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU EU Council staff removed the Union Jack-British flag from the European Council in Brussels, Belgium
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit supporter pours beer onto an EU flag
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pedestrians pass in front of the Ministry of Defence Building on Whitehall, illuminated by red, white and blue lights in central London
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Brexit supporter shouts during a rally in London
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU campaigners take part in a 'Missing EU Already' rally outside the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A large pro-EU banner is projected onto Ramsgate cliff in Kent
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU supporters light candles in Smith Square in Westminster
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man waves Union flags from a small car as he drives past Brexit supporters gathering in Parliament Square
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU The five-year old Elisa Saemann, left, and her seven-year old sister Katie hold a placard during a rally by anti-Brexit protesters outside the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Europe supporters gather on Brexit day near the British embassy in Berlin, Germany
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit protester hugs a man while holding a placard
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A decorated, old fashioned fire pump in Parliament Square
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit Elvis impersonator performs at Parliament Square
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU An anti-Brexiteers stands with his dog in Parliament Square
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Paddy from Bournemouth wears Union colours as he sits next to an EU flag decorated bag in Parliament Square
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-EU activist plays a guitar decorated with the EU flag during a protest organised by civil rights group New Europeans outside Europe House, central London
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People celebrate Britain leaving the EU
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Pro Brexit supporter has a Union Jack painted onto his face at Parliament Square
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Men hold placards celebrating Britain leaving the EU
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters dance in the street draped with Union Jack flags at Parliament Square
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU An anti-Brexit demonstrator spreads his wings during a gathering near Downing Street
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro EU supporters display a banner ' Here to Stay, Here to Fight, Migrants In, Tories Out' from Westminster bridge
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-Brexit supporters burn European Union flags at Parliament Square
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man poses for a picture on Parliament Square in a 'Brexit Day' t-shirt
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People celebrate Britain leaving the EU
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man wears a pro-Brexit t-shirt
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit demonstrators visit Europe House to give flowers to the staff on Brexit day
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporter wears a novelty Union Jack top hat outside the Houses of Parliament
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Customers Scott Jones and Laura Jones at the Sawmill Bar in South Elmsall, Yorkshire, where a Brexit party is being held throughout the day
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU activists protest
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A pro-Brexit demonstrator burns a European Union flag
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro Brexit supporters
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A Brexit supports holds a sign in Parliament Square
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man carries an EU themed wreath
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Ann Widdecombe reacts with other members of the Brexit party as they leave en masse from the European Parliament
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Anti-Brexit demonstrators in Parliament Square
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro EU supporters let off flares from Westminster Bridge
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU British MEPs Jonathan Bullock, holding the Union Jack flag and Jake Pugh leave the European Parliament, in Brussels on the Brexit day
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Newspapers and other souvenirs at a store, near Parliament Square
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Brexit supporters hold signs in Parliament Square
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU French newspapers
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald with a Border Communities Against Brexit poster before its unveiling in Carrickcarnon on the Irish border
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU National growers organisation British Apples & Pears has renamed a British apple to EOS, the Greek goddess of dawn, to commemorate Brexit day
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Pro-EU protesters hold placards in Parliament Square
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Britain's departure from the European Union was set in law on January 29, amid emotional scenes, as the bloc's parliament voted to ratify the divorce papers. After half a century of membership and three years of tense withdrawal talks, the UK will leave the EU at midnight Brussels time (23.00 GMT) on January 31
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man poses with paintings on Parliament Square
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU People sporting Union Flags gather in Parliament Square
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A man walks with a St. George's flag at Westminster bridge on Brexit day
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU A British bulldog toy and other souvenirs at a souvenir store
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU British pro-brexit Members of the European Parliament leave the EU Parliament for the last time
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Brexit day: UK says goodbye to EU Jonathan Bullock waves the Union Jack as he leaves the European Parliament
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Paul Blomfield , Labour’s Brexit spokesman, told The Independent : “The government has spent the last four years reassuring the country that, after Brexit, they would secure a “best in class” trade deal. Now we’ve left, they’re changing their tune.
“This is either reckless disregard of the needs of UK business, or a calculated exercise in expectation management, preparing for a deal which falls well short of the country’s needs. Either way its taking enormous risks with people’s jobs and livelihoods.”
Hilary Benn , the Brexit committee chairman, said: “Lots of businesses which sell goods and services to the EU will be very surprised by this. It is clearly in the UK’s interests to have a trade deal with the European Union.”
And Alistair Carmichael , the Liberal Democrats’ Brexit spokesperson, said: “The failure to secure a trade deal with the EU risks both business and people’s livelihoods. It is tantamount to steering the country of a cliff.”
A Treasury analysis, in the last parliament, warned that Brexit would slash almost 10 per cent from GDP by 2030 – and the Office for Budget Responsibility predicted a possible recession.
In the interview, Mr Gove insisted he remained confident of striking a deal, saying: “The closer the commercial relationship the better.”
But he said: “We voted to be independent,” adding: “We don’t have a trade deal with America at the moment, but we do a lot of trade with them.”
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