p.4 of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement includes what I like to call the "Liam Fox paragraph": "RECOGNISING that, even if Union law will be applicable to and in the United Kingdom during the transition period, the specificities of the United Kingdom as a State having withdrawn
from the Union mean that it will be important for the United Kingdom to be able to take steps to prepare and establish new international arrangements of its own, including in areas of Union exclusive competence, provided such agreements do not enter into force or apply during
that period, unless so authorised by the Union,"
In other words: "Sure, you can go ahead and try and negotiate new trade agreements to replace all the ones you've just shredded by passing Brexit Day, but they can't actually come into force yet."
In other words: "Sure, you can go ahead and try and negotiate new trade agreements to replace all the ones you've just shredded by passing Brexit Day, but they can't actually come into force yet."
In other other words, those mythical "sunny uplands" the Brexiteers have been babbling on about will have to wait a while longer, even if the trade deals turn out to be the easiest in human history.
Because, during transition (and the backstop period, if activated) things will
Because, during transition (and the backstop period, if activated) things will
NEVER be better than they are now.
They could be worse. Time will tell. But they *can't* be better. The quoted paragraph sees to that.
The alternative was flagged by Theresa May in her press statement yesterday: "or no Brexit at all"
Makes you think...
gov.uk/government/spe…
They could be worse. Time will tell. But they *can't* be better. The quoted paragraph sees to that.
The alternative was flagged by Theresa May in her press statement yesterday: "or no Brexit at all"
Makes you think...
gov.uk/government/spe…
