Michael Gove says UK voters can still alter final Brexit deal

Brexiteer says ‘the agreement will allow a future government to diverge.’

U.K. Environment Secretary Michael Gove said British citizens can change the terms of the final Brexit deal at the next general election should they disagree with it.

Writing in the Telegraph late Friday, Gove said any future government would be able to change course on the deal, opening the door for the electorate to put pressure on the government by demanding a more radical split from the EU.

“If the British people dislike the arrangement that we have negotiated with the EU, the agreement will allow a future government to diverge,” Gove said.

After three days of frantic negotiations, Prime Minister Theresa May and Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Friday announced that Brexit talks can move onto phase 2 after an agreement was found on three key issues — citizens’ rights, the Brexit bill and the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

However, May faces a fierce Cabinet battle over Britain’s future relationship with the EU after she was attacked for heading toward a “very soft” Brexit.

Gove said the accord on phase 1 could still be null and void should talks on what the future trade relationship would look like fail.

“It’s important to remember that the offer we’re making is dependent on securing what we want in the next stage of negotiations,” Gove said. “Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. Everything we have proposed is provisional on achieving a final deal with the EU which is mutually beneficial.”