There is a case to be made for a special UK-EU security partnership. The uniqueness of Northern Ireland is also clear. On trade, however, I don’t understand some of the arguments coming out of the UK. 1/2
EU has made clear an FTA is on offer. But Britain has realised that an FTA would damage the UK economy. That damage is called Brexit as defined by May’s red lines. Why should the EU27 break their rules and principles for a decision the UK itself has taken? 2/2
Put yourself in the shoes of the EU27. Britain: ‘we’re going to do this thing, and make you spend years working on it. We know it will hurt our economy, but please help us make it hurt less’. It’s an odd argument once seen from the other side of the negotiating table.
