THE government has been holding “informal” talks to lock Britain into a trade deal that could open the door to the enforced takeover of public services by transnational corporations.

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox’s department has been negotiating with the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which includes Australia, Mexico, Singapore and Canada.

Critics believe TPP membership could pave the way for Britain to join another trade group, the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

TTIP has been widely criticised across the European Union because it will force signatory governments to put all public services up to tender, with transnational corporations likely to snap them up.

The Tory government desperately wants to negotiate international trade deals outside the EU because it does not know what will happen to British trade with member states after Brexit is completed.

Global Justice Now director of campaigning Nick Dearden told the Star: “The UK was always the foremost proponent of an extreme TTIP agreement in Europe.

“Outside the EU, they now see TPP as a possible way that they can get a turbo-charged TTIP after Brexit.”