Leicester academic discusses Theresa Mays Brexit speech
Professor Panicos Demetriades, of the School of Business, featured in an interview for Radio Sputnik discussing the implications of Theresa May’s speech outlining the intentions of the Government for Brexit negotiations.
The University of Leicester academic acknowledged that May’s speech provided clarity on the future status of Britain’s membership in the single market but also showed inconsistency on any future trade deal.
In the interview, Professor Demetriades suggested that the strategy for a trade deal with Europe is looking “almost like a hidden trade war”.
Professor Demetriades, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus and a former member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank, said: “There is a bit more clarity now as to Britain's intentions. But I would like to underline intentions there. Intentions is what Britain wants, but the question marks still remains what Britain will get out of the negotiating process.
“The whole logic of having the common external tariff is that we agree how we trade with the rest of the world. So you can't really be in, trading freely with us, and then going and striking deals with the rest of the world.
“I just can't believe that Europe will buy that. And, yes, maybe we want that, but we are not likely to get it.”
Professor Demetriades conducts research focusing on the relationship between finance and growth and European monetary policy at the University of Leicester.
The interview is available here:
Sputnik News have also published an article on Professor Demetriades's interview.