Well here we are September 15th 2018, 6 Months 13 days before we leave the European Union. Still haggling over what form that will take with a Prime Minister on the ropes.
Oh how we could do with a leader now with a real vision for the future now not a vision of the past, a Churchill or a Thatcher. I say that as an unashamed proponent of a Canada +++ situation, a Free Trade Agreement with the EU which ties us to none of their structures but an Agreed global standard for products which we already use which is called the CE mark https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CE_marking . I understand those who clamour for a close relationship with the EU tying us into the EEA or EFTA because of the Automotive industry and Just In Time Deliveries.
There is plenty of artificially created panic about delays at Dover which if our Government had approached Brexit in an Adult fashion would not have been an issue. Alot of this is due to Philip Hammond who has purposely had his head in the sand as a Remainer denying the funds for proper Brexit plans & preparation.
This leads neatly to Project Fear 2 with the media putting out Worst Case Scenario as fact, house prices dropping 35%, necessary application for European Driving Licenses etc.
No Deal is being talked up where it is impossible for No Deal to occur because it would hurt the EU as much as us and would Bankrupt Eire.
So a deal will happen, the only question at the moment is what that deal will be. Possibilities are.
A No Deal Deal.
This essentially means that we do the minimum to ensure Life goes on, ie agreement & implementation of Airline, Plane & Pilot Licensing to ensure people can get from A to B. Minimum entry of people for holidays & short business trips, preferably without the need for a Visa. Acceptance in the interim of World Trade Association rules & maximum tariffs.
Canada ++++++
My preferred option, this is a classic FTA (free trade arrangement) which is trade only and does not involve signing up to any of the structures of the EU or any of the Four Freedoms being :-
- Free movement of Goods
- Free movement of People
- Free Movement Of Capital
- Free Movement Of Services
Obviously in a way we would have Free Movement of Goods but that would only be Tariff Free.
It would involve some sort of disputes mechanism
We would then be able to totally control our Laws, Borders & Economy including Immigration
EEA or EFTA
This is in effect staying in the EU with none of the benefits of getting out, we would still be subject to the Four Freedoms but with NO seat at the table to shape or influence.
So
The situation right now is :-
Chequers which closely resembles EEA or EFTA has roundly been rejected by the EU because it breaks the Four Freedoms.
Emily Thornbury has said that Labour will vote against anything the Conservative Party puts forward, although how anyone thinks that the Labour leadership can hold the line on this is beyond me given Labours current turmoil.
David Trimble, Former Ulster Unionist Party Leader & Architect of the Good Friday Agreement has come out & said that the Row over the Northern Irish Border is Confected and it would not break the Good FridayAgreement to have a technology based Border system for Goods.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Trimble
Theresa May is still Flogging the Chequers Dead Horse
The Current Conservative Government controls the Legislative Agenda & Timetabling, there is No Parliamentary Time for a Peoples Vote & Theresa Mays Government will not grant one anyway because it has Control.
Blue Sky Conservative 