Theresa May has declared her Government will not take decisions about Brexit “until we are ready” or “reveal our hand prematurely”.
The prime minister came under repeated pressure from SNP Westminster Leader Angus Robertson in the Commons yesterday.
He asked her three times whether she wanted the UK to remain within the European single market.
But, on every occasion, the Tory leader refused to answer, adding she would not give a “running commentary” on the process of breaking from Brussels.
In a defiant start to her G20 summit statement, she told MPs the many issues had to be examined in a “sober and considered way”.
She said: “We will not take decisions until we are ready. We will not reveal our hand prematurely.
“We will not provide a running commentary on every twist and turn of the negotiations.”
Her remarks came after Downing Street distanced itself from Brexit Secretary David Davis’ suggestion it was “very improbable” the UK could regain control over its own borders while remaining part of the European single market.
Moray MP Mr Robertson first quizzed Mrs May on the matter during Prime Minister’s Questions – after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn avoided it completely – and revisited it again during the subsequent statement.
He accused the UK Government of only coming up with “waffle” so far, adding: “Can I say being a full member of the European single market is not a twist, it is not a turn.
“It is absolutely fundamental to businesses across the UK.
“Do you seriously expect to be able to hold out for years?”
The prime minister replied she wanted control over the movement of people from the EU to the UK and the “right deal” for trade in goods and services.
She added: “What I want for the UK is that we put into practice the vote that was taken by the people of the UK to leave the EU.”
Rather than attempting to row back, she insisted she was respecting the views of the British people and seizing the opportunities presented by the June 23 vote for the UK to “forge a new role” in the world.