Thread by @uk_domain_names

Here's the truth about Brexit, the supposed "punishment" that many people claim the EU is trying to inflict on the UK, and the consequences of no deal. Buckle in, it's quite long. Better to be thorough than to leave stuff out! 1/12

The EU isn't punishing the UK for Brexit. They're merely following the rules of the EU club. Losing the benefits of EU club membership IS the punishment. In the same way as no longer being able to use the weights or fitness equipment is punishment for quitting the local gym. 2/12

You wouldn't say "the gym's punishing me for giving up my membership by making me fatter." That's the consequence of losing your gym membership, but it is in no way the fault of the gym. So why seek to blame the EU when it's only applying consistent, long-standing rules? 3/12

The Article 50 process for leaving the EU was developed in 2009, 7 years before the referendum. Successive governments have known exactly what Article 50 entails. It's a very short, simple set of rules consisting of just 5 bullet points. 4/12
lisbon-treaty.org/wcm/the-lisbon…

The third rule of Article 50 is that all EU treaties will *automatically* no longer apply to any country invoking Article 50, exactly 2 years later. In the UK's case, that's March 29, 2019 (at 11pm). Again, Theresa May knew this *before* she invoked Article 50. 5/12

So when people talk about the terrible consequences of a "no deal Brexit", what they mean is the cancellation of all the 750+ treaties we enjoy as EU members at 11pm on 29 March 2019. Without a deal, all the benefits of those treaties are GONE, poof, just like that. 6/12

Again, this is not "punishment", it's not "vindictive". It's simply how Article 50 and the EU-leaving mechanism works. Now those treaties aren't merely about trade, although they do let us trade on *fantastic* terms with over 70 countries, both in the EU and across the world 7/12

They also govern air worthiness (which is why there may be no flights after March 29), drivers licenses (which is why you may not be able to drive on the Continent without an international license after March 29) and HUNDREDS of other aspects of everyday life. 8/12

Now, each of those 750+ treaties can of course be replaced by a new agreement. But without an overall deal, every single one of them will have to be negotiated, one-by-one, with every other EU country. That's an unbelievable amount of work, in an incredibly short time 9/12

So when you hear somebody saying "We'll be fine with no deal" they're really saying "don't worry, we'll manage to sort out side arrangements for over 750 treaties with each of 27 EU countries, and dozens more countries around the world, all before 11pm on 29 March 2019." 10/12

Does that seem believable? How likely is it that a Government that can't agree on one Brexit strategy can somehow manage to conduct tens of thousands of *successful* side-negotiations in the next six months? That's why "no deal" is so bad. That's why people sound panicked. 11/12

The real "Project Fear" is the terror that those who understand how the Article 50 process works feel at the prospect of failing to reach a deal before the clock ticks down to 11pm on 29 March 2019. And that's the truth. 12/12

Thanks for reading this far. Sorry it was such a long read. Please retweet if you feel it deserves a wider audience. Again, thank you.