Brexit negotiations continue ...

Today, the Prime Minister is continuing conversations in Brussels to address concerns about the backstop and to seek the legal and political assurances that Parliament needs.

 

·         The Prime Minister has been visiting counterparts in other member states to discuss the concerns that Parliament has expressed. Today she will continue conversation with other European Leaders at the European Council in Brussels.

 

·         The government has listened to people, and while there is broad support for many of the key aspects of the deal, there remains widespread concern around the backstop. 

 

·         The government is determined to do all we can to secure the reassurances MPs require, and there’s a shared determination to resolve this issue, to get this deal over the line and deliver for the British people.

 

The government is determined to get on with the job of delivering the Brexit that people voted for; bringing our country together again; and focusing on the other issues that matter to people at home.

 

·         On delivering Brexit, the Prime Minster has listened to concerns about the backstop. That is why we have deferred the vote and why she has been out fighting for changes to address those concerns.

 

·         Progress is not as fast as any of us would like, but there is progress. It is clear that the EU wants a deal and that they understand that they are going to have to provide the assurances – political and legal – which the House of Commons needs. It is going to take some time to deliver that, but that is what the government is working hard to achieve.

 

People who disagree need to be clear about the implications of other approaches:

 

·         A second referendum to overturn the result of the first risks dividing the country again, when we should be striving to bring it back together.

 

·         Remaining part of the Single Market and the Customs Union would require free movement, rule-taking across the economy, and ongoing financial contributions – none of which are compatible with the result of the referendum.

 

·         Leaving without a deal would, in the short term, cause significant economic damage to parts of our country who can least afford to bear the burden

Comments

Jim said…
why would remaining part of the single market, which i accept would reqire freedom of movement, and an on going financial contributions not be compatible with the referendum, which was about leaving the European Union?


also why are comments closed for the previous post, I would have loved to tear the "Im so cowardly i wont even post my name" poster a new one. - Oh, wait, did I just answer my own question?
Jim said…
but by far the more serious point is that remaining part of the single market was never asked.

the question was:
Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?

they even made it multipul choice so you could not introduce new factors, the answers were:

A Remain a member of the European Union
B Leave the European Union

I know its a stupid concept to politicians, but in general the public will answer the question they have been asked.

so I have to ask again, is why is Remaining part of the single market and the customs union, which requires free movement and ongoing contributions not compatible with the result of the referendum?
Chris Whiteside said…
You effectively did.

I was looking at whether I could block anonymous comments on two threads and may have blocked all new comments on those threads by mistake.


On the more important point about the customs union and single market.


The post above is the party position: this answer is my own view which does not necessarily represent party policy.


So far as the literal meaning of what was voted on, you are perfectly correct: the question on the referendum ballot paper was whether to remain members of the EU or leave the EU and did not mention the single market or customs union.



In her Brexit negotiations the PM has been trying to deliver as much as possible of what the people who voted leave appear to have voted for based on the debate and on what Vote Leave promised.

She sees that as meaning

1) An end to large ongoing payments to the EU and more money spent on the NHS.

2) The ability of Britain to make our own trade deals.

3) Britain out of the Common agricultural policy

4) Britain out of the Common Fisheries policy

5) An end to the jurisdiction of the ECJ in Britain other than on goods we export to the EU

6) More control of our borders and, in particular, and end to the application of the EU's "Freedom of Movement" rules to Britain.

Her deal will, once we've paid off the £39 billion representing previous commitments and avoided or finished with the backstop, deliver all of these.


Membership of the customs unit is incompatible with 2) above as it would make it impossible for Britain to do our own trade deals.

Membership of the single market would add to this problem that it would be inconsistent with 1) and 6) above as well.

The PM sees this as failing to deliver on the spirit of the referendum result and I think she has a point, in that the deal, by delivering on points 1) to 6) above offers more of what leave voters appear to have wanted than staying in the single market and customs union does.

I agree with you that it isn't incompatible with the letter of the wording of the ballot paper.
Chris Whiteside said…
Comments unblocked on those two threads.

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