Withdrawal Agreement signs UK up permanently to the blanket provisions of EU law preventing state aid, but not to Article 346 TFEU which exempts defence industry. So EU can choose to let our competitors subsidise their industry forever, and stop ours. @Leonardo_UK #Yeovil
The PM has said she wants to agree Common Security and Defence Policy during the transition period but if we have first passed this Withdrawal Agreement (and its “backstop” that gives the EU a permanent veto against our leaving) then defence is yet another negotiating hostage.
Defence cooperation which should be an asset in this negotiation, perhaps one of our biggest, is thereby turned into a liability. Time to reset this negotiation I think, and stand up for ourselves. Regret to say it looks like current leadership may not be able to.
Do please somebody disprove me, as the above seems to demonstrate ineptitude which could well prejudice our security and that of our allies, not to mention defence industry jobs across the UK.
