How the Cabinet plotted to exploit EU’s fear

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the Telegraph has obtained an official account of a meeting of cabinet ministers last month which discussed how security could be used to full advantage in Brexit talks.

Mr Davis, the Brexit Secretary, is noted as saying: “I agree that Britain has high cards and a very strong hand [on security].”

“The UK is in a strong position and there is a degree of panic within Europe over defence policy and cooperation.” He is said to have added that the UK should not “underplay” its hand.

Mr Hammond, the Chancellor, said that the EU would not offer an economic relationship which deterred Britain from co-operating on defence. He added the UK should make that “clear” during talks.

Theresa May, the Prime Minister, also attended the meeting and summed up at the end. She is understood to have said that defence and security were a “defining issue for the EU” and that the UK is in a “strong position”.

"Our position is simply a statement of fact – if we leave with no agreement in place, the arrangements we currently have will lapse.

"We are not bargaining security with anyone – we want to maintain the degree of cooperation on these matters that we have currently."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/01/revealed-cabinet-plotted-exploit-eus-defence-fears/