Philip Hammond has said Britain will come out the single market as part of its decision to leave the EU, but will negotiate access to the bloc.
The title doesn't seem to correspond to the actual quote? He says he does want access to the single market:
“The question is how we negotiate with the European Union, not from the point of view of being members of it but from the point of view of being close neighbours and trade partners of it."
He added: "I would like to see us negotiating access to the single market for Britain's businesses, so we can go on selling our goods and services into the European Union market and indeed enjoying the benefits of consuming European Union goods and services here as we do now."
Ah, actually, I see. He doesn't want to be in the single market, he just wants access to it.
Translation: Britain would like full access to this lovely European free-trade area please, but with none of the pesky political stuff or immigration.
What else is new, it's just the same old unicorn...
I mean, sure, they may as well ask for the moon as a starting negotiating position. They won't get it, but it doesn't hurt to ask.