Chequers plan

The future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union
Cm 9593
Created12 July 2018
LocationChequers
Online version
PDF version
Author(s)Government of the United Kingdom
PurposeTo lay out the relationship that the UK proposes to have with the European Union after Brexit.
Chequers—the official country residence of the prime minister since 1921—where the Brexit proposals were agreed by the Cabinet

The Chequers plan, officially known as The future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union (Cm 9593), was a UK Government white paper concerning Brexit, published on 12 July 2018 by the prime minister, Theresa May. The paper was based on a three-page cabinet agreement from 6 July 2018[1] and laid out the type of future relationship between the UK and the European Union (EU) that the UK sought to achieve in the Brexit negotiations.[2][3] At the time it was anticipated that the United Kingdom would leave the European Union on 29 March 2019.[2]: Executive Summary 

In July 2018, former Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Brexit Secretary), Dominic Raab, described it as a "detailed proposal for a principled, pragmatic and ambitious future partnership between the UK and the EU".[4] He also stated that "the white paper proposes a free trade area for goods to maintain frictionless trade, supported by a common rulebook and a new facilitated customs arrangement, but only for the rules that are necessary to provide frictionless trade at the border."[5]

The white paper was finalised at a meeting of the UK Cabinet held at Chequers on 6 July 2018.[6] Brexit Secretary, David Davis, and Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, resigned in opposition to the plan. The plan was rejected by the EU in September 2018.

  1. ^ "At-a-glance: The new UK Brexit plan". BBC News. 7 July 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b "The future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union". gov.uk. Department for Exiting the European Union via GOV.UK. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  3. ^ Morris, Chris (12 July 2018). "Brexit: What does the government White Paper reveal?". BBC News. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  4. ^ Dominic Raab, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (12 July 2018). "EU: Future Relationship White Paper". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. col. 1154.
  5. ^ Dominic Raab, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (18 July 2018). "Future Relationship Between the UK and the EU". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. col. 471.
  6. ^ Walker, Peter (6 July 2018). "What the cabinet has agreed at Chequers Brexit meeting". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 September 2018.