

George Smid: Let’s do Brexit now – don’t wait until March 2019

July 25, 2017 8:07 PM
By George Smid in Lincolnshire Reporter

George SmidLast week the talks between the UK and European Union taught us a lot about Brexit: the Brits do not need any negotiating notes, we'll pay a divorce bill, we know a lot of detail about Euroatom.

We also know that the public is as divided as ever. And we see that 'Brexit means Brexit' looks more and more like staying in the EU: immigration, EU laws, agricultural subsidies, access of EU fishing fleets, customs union and the single market will continue after Brexit.

Or continue they will not. Depends on who you listen to. Take the ever-returning question of single market and customs union. "The EU could create a free trade deal with the UK tomorrow if they wanted" Gainsborough Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh claimed.

In contrast, another Conservative Lincolnshire MP, Nick Boles, says we cannot have it tomorrow, but "we need a three year transition".

Sir Edward's position seems to be: "The EU giveth and the EU taketh". UK active participation is reduced to accept what is on offer or walk away.

By contrast, Nick Boles suggests leaving the EU but not yet. We will "start our new life as a fully independent nation" in March 2022.

Both opinions reflect the fact that we voted for Brexit, but don't have a plan of what we want. The concept of signing no-tariffs, free trade agreements across the whole world is bonkers.

No country has it and even if we somehow managed it, how long would the Trump administration allow the UK to re-export tariff free cheap Chinese steel to the US, also tariff free? How long before France would block 'zero tariff' Australian lamb entering the EU markets?





How can we decide which is the best deal for Britain?








The tests will end the arguments - we will not speculate what 'might' happen.
