The spin around the #ChequersPlan is that it is a pragmatic compromise deal. It’s simply not. Rather it’s an “evolution” of the PM’s clear pledges at Lancaster House. It’s the status quo but with none of the benefits. So here are the facts about Chequers and what it means 👇🏻
📖 When we leave the EU’s institutions we will sign up to the EU’s rule book on goods and agri-products meaning that the UK will have to apply the same bureaucratic EU rules to all goods produced domestically for the UK market. This is staying in the single market in all but name
🗂 Not only will we stay tied to bad regulations such as the EU ban on hoovers with motors more powerful than 900w we will be compelled to follow future EU regulations. Having left the EU’s institutions where these rules are decided the U.K. will become a voiceless rule taker.
🏛 It’s argued that in future the U.K. can choose to diverge from EU rules. Yet as set out in the white paper our refusal to implement regulations or to change them will result in consequences with the EU imposing penalties.
👨🏻⚖️ The proposed independent arbitrator will act as a postbox for referring issues to the ECJ and issuing judgments which simply rubber stamp the ECJ’s rulings. Thereby the U.K. will still be subject to rulings of a foreign court.
⚖️ Brexit should mean the supremacy of our Parliament. Yet with Chequers the ECJ will continue to work under the principle of the supremacy of the ECJ. It’s scope won’t be limited to the EU rule book but to environment, climate change, employment and consumer protection.
👩🏼⚖️ The PM pledged to end the rule of EU judges but Chequers means the ECJ will be the final arbiter in disputes about our £39bn Brexit bill, whether U.K. services regulation is deemed “equivalent” and the wider workings of Brexit. This means ECJ jurisdiction in perpetuity.
🇬🇧🤝🇺🇸 The prize of Brexit is regaining our ability to sign new trade deals. However, being aligned to the EU’s regulations makes a fee trade deal with the US difficult. The US will expect mutual recognition of each other’s regulatory standards which we won’t be able to offer
👮🏻♂️ Brexit means taking back control of our borders. Yet a mobility agreement with the EU will again mean preferential treatment for EU nationals and even the White Paper indicates continued access to benefits for EU citizens after Brexit.
🤷🏼♂️ We are told that the Chequers Plan should just be accepted (despite how bad it is) because no alternative plans have been submitted. This is total rubbish. Here are the alternatives 👇🏻
🇪🇺 Status Quo
💪🏻 Comprehensive Free Trade Deal (preferred by all sides)
📋 DExEU plan (worked on by David Davis based on the widely welcomed mansion house speech)
😏 Chequers Plan (which pleases no one)
📃 WTO rules (On which we already do trade with the US and China)
💪🏻 Comprehensive Free Trade Deal (preferred by all sides)
📋 DExEU plan (worked on by David Davis based on the widely welcomed mansion house speech)
😏 Chequers Plan (which pleases no one)
📃 WTO rules (On which we already do trade with the US and China)
🇬🇧 🇮🇪 The Government should focus on the issues around the border between the U.K. and Ireland in order to secure a Advanced Free Trade Agreement (CETA +++). Currently a border already exists – in currency, VAT, excise duties and security which do not present any problems.
📱📟 Using new technology as well as extending schemes such as the Authorised Economic Operator Scheme means any post Brexit customs checks can be done without a hard border. The EU insists on customs checks but in reality no U.K. or Irish govt would ever accept a hard border.
🤔 Remember thar the Chequers Plan is not a deal. It’s an opening offer to the EU to be compromised and watered down. Already the EU is pushing the UK towards a combination of EEA and Customs Union membership which is an unacceptable undermining of the vote public vote to leave.
The commitments, promises and pledges given either at the dispatch box or in speeches by the PM have now “evolved”. In cute language that means the Chequers plan hands away the prizes of Brexit. We will have the status quo but worse off. It’s not in the country’s best interests.
📉Don’t just take my word for it. The Times recently reported that “By more than two to one, voters do not believe [Theresa May’s] plan keeps faith with the referendum result.” Polling since Chequers shows the Conservatives have averaged 37% and not led Labour in a single poll.
😠🗳 The voters are unhappy with the Chequers Plan and their confidence in the government’s ability to deliver Brexit has plummeted. The people by 17.4m voted for the U.K. to leave the EU. If Brexit is not delivered properly there will be consequences at the ballot box.
🌹✊🏻 We’re told to back Chequers or we’ll get Corbyn. That’s ridiculous. In reality if we don’t deliver Brexit fully we will lose seats like Mansfield, Middlesbrough, Banff and Buchan and much more. To fail on Brexit will usher in the chaos of Corbyn #ChequersMeansCorbyn
There is still time to ditch Chequers and take a different approach to deliver the Brexit articulated so well by the PM at Lancaster House. It’s right that colleagues have voiced concern and I’ll work with them to constructively engage with the government for it to change course.
