Thread by @OpenEurope

The #Brexit deal has provoked considerable political controversy, but many of the claims made about it do not stand up to scrutiny. Open Europe's team have compiled and debunked some of these misleading claims.

19 realities about the deal: 👇
openeurope.org.uk/today/blog/rea…

1. 🇪🇺The EU will not accept a deal without a backstop:

2. 🌹Labour’s customs union policy would not eliminate the need for a backstop:

3. ⛓️The backstop does not tie the UK to the single market:

4. 🛑There is no transition period if there is No Deal:

5. ⏱️The transition period is finite:

6. 🌎The ‘independence’ of the UK’s trade policy is likely to be constrained:

7. ♻️The UK will not be a ‘rule-taker’ on social, environmental and employment policy:

8. 💷The £39 billion ‘divorce bill’ is not a down payment for a future trade agreement:

9. 🚶‍♂️The deal ends Free Movement but protects the Common Travel Area:

10. 🐟Has the UK really “sold out” the fishing industry?

11. 🇫🇷Does the French threat to veto UK exit from the backstop over fishing rights stand up to scrutiny?

12. 🇬🇮Has the UK really "capitulated" to Spain over Gibraltar?

13. 👷‍♂️The UK has committed not to reduce existing standards on social, employment and environmental protections:

14. 👨‍⚖️The European Court of Justice’s role in supervising the Withdrawal Agreement is limited:

15. 🇬🇧However, the Court will likely have an indirect role in the UK in the future:

16. 🔐The deal respects the UK’s autonomy over security and defence:

17. 🛃This deal does not close off Labour’s preferred policy of a permanent customs union:

18. 🤝Achieving a detailed agreement on the future relationship before leaving has long been implausible:

19. 🗣️Any Brexit will end the UK’s "vote and veto" in the EU - by definition:

20. This list was compiled by Open Europe's team, including @DomWalsh13 , @rtshankar , @AnnaRNad , @ZAlipranti , and @JFRO114 - give them all a follow 👋