Theresa May committed at conference to three key issues
1: Article 50 by end of March 2017
2: The imposition of migration controls on EU citizens coming to the UK is non-negotiable. (But no detail on how tight these should be, William Hague urged this week, for example, a very loose arrangement in which a permit will be given to any EU national – skilled or unskilled - who has secured a job in Britain.
3: The UK will no longer be under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.
This last point is important because it means Britain cannot be a member of the single market and is therefore committed to forging a bespoke free trade agreement with the EU. So what is going to be the alternative?
Liam Fox, the disgraced former Defence Minsister who is now the International Trade Secretary, wants the UK to leave the European Custom's Union, believing it is only the way for Britain to forge trade deals with non-EU states. Philip Hammond, the chancellor, wants to stay, fearing the bureaucratic hurdles will impose a “frictional cost” for exporters as there will be increased form filling and bureacracy when exporting to the EU.
Either Fox or Hammond will come out as a winner, and the tone of the party conference was that Fox is in the box seat, so Hammond's days are numbered as he is so idealogically apart from the disgraced former Defence Minister that his position as Chancellor is surely untenable.
On that last point, it's worth noting everything she said in relation to the ECoJ. She certainly gives herself loads of wriggle room.
"But we will seek the best deal possible as we negotiate a new agreement with the European Union. I want that deal to reflect the kind of mature, cooperative relationship that close friends and allies enjoy. I want it to include cooperation on law enforcement and counter-terrorism work. I want it to involve free trade, in goods and services. I want it to give British companies the maximum freedom to trade with and operate in the Single Market – and let European businesses do the same here. But let me be clear. We are not leaving the European Union only to give up control of immigration again. And we are not leaving only to return to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.
As ever with international talks, it will be a negotiation, it will require some give and take, and while there will always be pressure to give a running commentary on the state of the talks, it will not be in our best interests as a country to do that. But make no mistake: this is going to be a deal that works for Britain."