Three very initial overarching thoughts on the UK-EU future relationship framework:
1. the document is in many areas aspirational, and sets out principles that in practice will be very complicated to square and negotiate.
1. the document is in many areas aspirational, and sets out principles that in practice will be very complicated to square and negotiate.
2. considering May’s guiding principles – end free movement, limit as much as possible economic damage, be able to just about say UK has an independent trade policy – and EU27 principles & mandate – single market integrity – it's clear both sides have compromised to reach a deal
(compromise isn't to be intended as a negative, but as a normality in negotiations. It's more an observation for those who claimed the Commission was mean, and the UK should go direct to member states. Some member states had far more rigid views)
3. Finally, it’s quite extraordinary how many bits of the EU the UK wants to approximate/replicate/participate in. All to be able to say that freedom of movement of people will end.
