MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The UK Conservative Party reaffirmed in its pre-election manifesto released on Thursday that an absence of any post-Brexit deal between the United Kingdom and the European Union would be better than "a bad deal."
"The negotiations will undoubtedly be tough, and there will be give and take on both sides, but we continue to believe that no deal is better than a bad deal for the UK. But we will enter the negotiations in a spirit of sincere cooperation and committed to getting the best deal for Britain. We will make sure we have certainty and clarity over our future, control of our own laws, and a more unified, strengthened United Kingdom," the manifesto reads.
The Conservatives also raised the issue of a potential second Scottish independence referendum, stressing that it was not the best time for such a vote.
"We have been very clear that now is not the time for another referendum on independence. In order for a referendum to be fair, legal and decisive, it cannot take place until the Brexit process has played out and it should not take place unless there is public consent for it to happen. This is a time to pull together, not apart," the manifesto said.
The manifesto, however, pointed out that it would do everything possible to ensure "the best possible deal for Scotland" amid Brexit.
"As we leave the European Union, we will no longer be members of the single market or customs union but we will seek a deep and special partnership including a comprehensive free trade and customs agreement. There may be specific European programmes in which we might want to participate and if so, it will be reasonable that we make a contribution," the manifesto, published on the party's website, reads.
The ruling UK Conservative Party will aim to end the country’s budget deficit by mid-2020s, the party’s manifesto for the upcoming general election reads.
The security and welfare of the United Kingdom is linked to the internationals organizations and institutions, therefore it will further support such structures as the United Nations, NATO, G7 and G20, the UK Conservative Party said in the manifesto.
"The security and prosperity of the United Kingdom is built on the international institutions that we helped to found and will continue to help maintain: the United Nations and the UN Security Council, NATO – the cornerstone of our defence, the Commonwealth, the G20, G7 and the World Trade Organization. We will continue to give strong support to an international order in which rules govern state conduct; in our own behaviour we will support this system and apply it in a principled way," the manifesto read.
In November, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond said he would aim to bring down the country’s deficit to 0.7 percent of the GDP in 2021-22, with the deficit being cleared by the middle of the next decade.
On April 18, UK Prime Minister Theresa May announced her decision to hold an early parliamentary election on June 8 to overcome divisions in the parliament and succeed in the negotiations with the European Union on Brexit.
According to recent Ipsos Mori poll, the ruling Conservative party is projected to win general election with 49 percent, while the Labour is set to receive 34 percent of votes.
