Thread by @sundersays

The MAC have made recommendations of the right immigration system IF UK deciding outside of the UK-EU negotiations.

But they are not recommending 'do not negotiate a preferential system' nor 'do negotiate one' (This already being misunderstood).

https://twitter.com/sundersays/status/1041980296109977600

So MAC does not see any unilateral case for the UK to decide to have EU preferences (eg for reasons of labour supply or economy)

They are essentially silent on the negotiations. They are not privy to the UK negotiating strategy on this (partly because there isn't one yet)

"We do not express a view on whether immigration should be part of the EU
negotiations"

"If – and this is not a MAC recommendation – immigration is not to be part of
negotiations & UK is deciding its future migration system in isolation, we recommend no preferential access"

Chair's foreword is crystal clear about this

So would be a really big failure to report correctly if broadcasters don't manage to communicate this - and so 'MAC recommends no preferences' becomes the political and public understanding

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…

This Mirror headline is simply misreporting the MAC report (accidentally, I am sure) by saying "should"

mirror.co.uk/news/politics/…

In many ways, having a 'no preferences' topline while having no view about the negotiations (preferences) is simply a recipe for confusion.

But the MAC and the media really should try to communicate accurately what it has been said and not said.