Today the Department for Exiting the EU published its white paper here. In it, 12 principles are laid out. My main concern is that most of these are promises and aspirations, with very little that is measurable.
1) Providing certainty and clarity, meaning nothing. We've also been told there'll be no running commentary. So what can businesses expect? What certainty is there for EU nationals living here? Nobody knows.
2) Taking control of our own laws. EU laws offer a huge amount of flexibility. Unfortunately Britain will be a little fish in a big pond, and will have diminished international influence and control over the EU and no control over the rules of the market which we must trade with. Britain is already shunned internationally.
This statement amused me: "Whilst Parliament has remained sovereign throughout our membership of the EU". The entire point of Brexit just evaporated right there.
3) Strengthening the Union - whatever that means. Scotland is likely to leave. This is merely a bone thrown to the devolved governments, who have just realised that their opinions mean nothing and they have no influence.
4) Protecting our strong and historic ties with Ireland and maintaining the Common Travel Area. Hoping that Northern Ireland doesn't erupt into violence. The problem fundamentally is that the UK wants to take away to 4 freedoms between EU and the UK, putting a border between Northern and Southern Ireland. Exemptions will take years to negotiate, whilst tensions will simmer and boil over.
5) Controlling immigration. The UK already fails to implement and enforce effective immigration policy. This is just appealing to UKIP. Restricting the free flow of labour is completely counterproductive.
6) Securing rights for EU nationals in the UK, and UK nationals in the EU. Sounds good. But it will be an administrative headache. We can't be hostile to EU nationals yet expect good treatment back. How does this square with the desire to throw out all "immigrants"?
7) Protecting workers’ rights. Sounds good. However there are many on the liberal right who will want to use Brexit as an excuse to erode rights, and competing globally against Bangladesh and China, will force a deterioration in workers' conditions.
8) Ensuring free trade with European markets. This is incompatible with 2) and 4) and mandatory payments into the EU budget. Agreement cannot be done in 2 years. Complete nonsense. What they want is "ambitious and comprehensive Free Trade Agreement", where ambitious means impossible. "Freest possible" is meaningless drivel. Our payments to the EU budget are already "voluntary" subject to treaty, in the same way that payment is part of any contract ever.
9) Securing new trade agreements with other countries. Will happen eventually, however will take a long time and the UK will be the disadvantaged partner. We already have loads of FTAs via the EU which will need to be renegotiated, and we don't have the capacity. Other countries will want to see our arrangement with the EU first. Another vague ambition.
10) Ensuring the United Kingdom remains the best place for science and innovation. Well free movement of people and payment into EU collaborations is necessary. So meaningless drivel.
11) Cooperating in the fight against crime and terrorism. Sounds good. Whatever.
12) Delivering a smooth, orderly exit from the EU. Another aspiration. It will be a chaotic car crash.
The best way to deliver all of these points is to remain members of the EU. Nothing in this paper is measurable and objective, and this paper is just an extension of getting "the best possible deal", which is meaningless drivel.
1) Providing certainty and clarity, meaning nothing. We've also been told there'll be no running commentary. So what can businesses expect? What certainty is there for EU nationals living here? Nobody knows.
2) Taking control of our own laws. EU laws offer a huge amount of flexibility. Unfortunately Britain will be a little fish in a big pond, and will have diminished international influence and control over the EU and no control over the rules of the market which we must trade with. Britain is already shunned internationally.
This statement amused me: "Whilst Parliament has remained sovereign throughout our membership of the EU". The entire point of Brexit just evaporated right there.
3) Strengthening the Union - whatever that means. Scotland is likely to leave. This is merely a bone thrown to the devolved governments, who have just realised that their opinions mean nothing and they have no influence.
4) Protecting our strong and historic ties with Ireland and maintaining the Common Travel Area. Hoping that Northern Ireland doesn't erupt into violence. The problem fundamentally is that the UK wants to take away to 4 freedoms between EU and the UK, putting a border between Northern and Southern Ireland. Exemptions will take years to negotiate, whilst tensions will simmer and boil over.
5) Controlling immigration. The UK already fails to implement and enforce effective immigration policy. This is just appealing to UKIP. Restricting the free flow of labour is completely counterproductive.
6) Securing rights for EU nationals in the UK, and UK nationals in the EU. Sounds good. But it will be an administrative headache. We can't be hostile to EU nationals yet expect good treatment back. How does this square with the desire to throw out all "immigrants"?
7) Protecting workers’ rights. Sounds good. However there are many on the liberal right who will want to use Brexit as an excuse to erode rights, and competing globally against Bangladesh and China, will force a deterioration in workers' conditions.
8) Ensuring free trade with European markets. This is incompatible with 2) and 4) and mandatory payments into the EU budget. Agreement cannot be done in 2 years. Complete nonsense. What they want is "ambitious and comprehensive Free Trade Agreement", where ambitious means impossible. "Freest possible" is meaningless drivel. Our payments to the EU budget are already "voluntary" subject to treaty, in the same way that payment is part of any contract ever.
9) Securing new trade agreements with other countries. Will happen eventually, however will take a long time and the UK will be the disadvantaged partner. We already have loads of FTAs via the EU which will need to be renegotiated, and we don't have the capacity. Other countries will want to see our arrangement with the EU first. Another vague ambition.
10) Ensuring the United Kingdom remains the best place for science and innovation. Well free movement of people and payment into EU collaborations is necessary. So meaningless drivel.
11) Cooperating in the fight against crime and terrorism. Sounds good. Whatever.
12) Delivering a smooth, orderly exit from the EU. Another aspiration. It will be a chaotic car crash.
The best way to deliver all of these points is to remain members of the EU. Nothing in this paper is measurable and objective, and this paper is just an extension of getting "the best possible deal", which is meaningless drivel.
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