Philip Hammond
The chancellor was a remain campaigner, although someone who had been seen as a Eurosceptic. Within government, however, Treasury officials are said to be pushing hardest for the closest ties to Europe including access to the single market.
Sources inside the department dismissed that this was a division with colleagues, arguing that they accepted it might not be full access. The chancellor has, understandably, prioritised key industries like financial services, although ensuring they have access to the single market could be tricky alongside immigration controls.
Boris Johnson
The foreign secretary was without doubt the most vocal and visible proponent of the leave campaign, touring the country with his message, which included the idea of an Australian points immigration system for European workers.
But Johnson is also someone who describes himself as proudly European and who has claimed that restrictions on freedom of movement could come alongside free trade and access to the single market.
European diplomats have dismissed the suggestion. Johnson will have to navigate relationships with them but also his own officials who sources say want “as much of Europe as possible”.
David Davis
As the man in charge of the department leading the work on Brexit, Davis will be a critical part of the negotiating team. He was a vocal Brexiter in the EU referendum campaign and argued in a speech that immigration had to fall to between zero and 100,000 but that a points-based system would be needed for that to happen.
He has argued that when other European nations realise that Britain will not budge over control on borders, then they will want to talk and offer decent trading options. Writing for Conservative Home website before the referendum, Davis said Britain would have to work out how to react to the EU refusing to negotiate on those points but added that he did not “believe for a moment” that would happen.
Liam Fox
Another Brexiter but one who, like Davis, was not part of the big Vote Leave campaign headed up by Michael Gove and Johnson. Fox is an independent minded politician, who has said he wants Britain out of the EU by the 1 January 2019. That is unlikely under Downing Street’s timetable.
During his campaign to become Tory leader, Fox made clear that he believed leaving the single market was a price worth paying for regaining control over immigration.
Amber Rudd
The home secretary was one of the most passionate campaigners to remain in the EU, but is now in the department charged with tackling immigration.
Her outlook is clear: that Brexit was a vote that requires restrictions on freedom of movement, a factor that will be a priority for her officials.
As such sources have suggested that Home Office officials are the least interested in any model under which Britain remains a full member of the European Economic Area.
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