David Davis promises that Brexit will not throw Britain into a ‘Mad Max dystopia’

“Now, I know that for one reason or another there are some people who have sought to question that these really are our intentions.

“They fear that Brexit could lead to an Anglo-Saxon race to the bottom with Britain plunged into a Mad Max-style world borrowed from dystopian fiction.

“These fears about a race to the bottom are based on nothing, not history, not intention, nor interest.”

However, the Brexit Secretary will seek to reassure the fears of Brexiteers that Britain will seek to remain completely aligned with EU rules after Brexit.

“The agreement we strike will not be about how to build convergence but what to do when one of us wants to make changes to rules,” he will say.

Davis will propose a system of mutual recognition between the EU and Britain.

“Take a car produced here in Austria to be exported to the UK. Currently, that vehicle only has to undergo one series of approvals, in one country, to show that it meets the required regulatory standards and those approvals are accepted across the European Union.

“That’s exactly the sort of arrangement we want to see maintained even after we leave the European Union.”

Davis’ speech is an attempt to answer Labour claims that the government is determined to engage in a “race to the bottom” in regulations after Brexit.

He will insist that the EU will be able to “trust” that the UK will not seek to undercut EU regulations.

“A crucial part of any such agreement is the ability for both sides to trust each other’s regulations and the institutions that enforce them,” he will say.

“Such mutual recognition will naturally require close, even-handed cooperation between these authorities and a common set of principles to guide them.

“And the certainty that Britain’s plan, its blueprint for life outside of Europe, is a race to the top in global standards not a regression from the high standards we have now, can provide the basis of the trust that means that Britain’s regulators and institutions can continue to be recognised.”

Davis’s speech was welcomed by business groups.

“Business will welcome the Secretary of State’s recognition of the benefits of frictionless trade, and the UK Government’s commitment to maintaining high standards to keep people and products safe,” Josh Hardie, CBI Deputy Director-General, said.

“Aligning the rules of trade across sectors to keep barriers low will help preserve jobs and investment, signalling to the world that Britain remains a great place to do business. No sector is looking for divergence.”

“Evidence, not ideology should guide the UK’s thinking on a close future relationship with the EU. And flexibility will be required from both sets of negotiators to seek solutions that will preserve prosperity on both sides of the Channel.”

However, pro-EU campaigners said Davis was living in “cloud cuckoo land”.

“David Davis is living in cloud cuckoo land if he thinks the EU will simply accept assurances about the UK’s standards without blinking,” Green Party co-leader and campaigner for Best for Britain, Caroline Lucas, said.

“The more likely scenario is that this Government will engage in a race to the bottom on standards — putting at risk both environmental protections and the hard-won rights of British workers and consumers in the process.”