British Prime Minister Theresa May (Xinhua photo)
by Larry Neild
LONDON, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May told Members of Parliament in the House of Commons Wednesday of her approach to arranging Britain's exit from the European Union (EU).
Making her first appearance in parliament since attending the G20 summit in China, May made it clear that Britain will not show its hand prematurely, or provide a running commentary on every twist and turn of the Brexit negotiations.
May has been under pressure from pro-EU supporters to explain what Brexit means.
She said following the decision of Britons on June 23 to leave the EU, the government's task was now to deliver the will of the British people and negotiate the best possible deal.
"I know many people are keen to see rapid progress and to understand what post-Brexit Britain will look like. We are getting on with that vital work. But we must also think through the issues in a sober and considered way," she said.
"This is about getting the kind of deal that is ambitious and bold for Britain. It is not about the Norway model or the Swiss model or any other country's model, it is about developing our own British model," she added.
"So we will not take decisions until we are ready," May said, adding: "What we will do is maximise and seize the opportunities that Brexit presents."
Referring to the gathering in Hangzhou, May said the G20 was the first time that the world's leading economies came together since Britain's decision to leave the EU.
May told MPs: "We initiated important discussions on responding to rising anti-globalisation sentiment and ensuring that the world's economies work for everyone."
She said trading with partners all around the globe has been the foundation of Britain's prosperity in the past, adding: "and it will underpin our prosperity in the future".
"As we leave the EU, Britain will seek to become the global leader in free trade. At this summit, we secured widespread agreement across the G20 to resist a retreat to protectionism, including a specific agreement to extend the rollback of protectionist measures until at least the end of 2018."
"Britain also continued to press for an ambitious EU trade agenda, including implementing the EU-Canada deal and forging agreements with Japan and America. And we will continue to make these arguments for as long as we are members of the EU," said May.
"But as we leave the EU, we will also forge our own new trade deals," she said.
