As a thought experiment, and given how gloomy we're all feeling about where we are in Brexit, let's try to think of a solution that might work for all in the UK, and the EU - even if from here it is hard to see this being negotiable 1/
Start with the future economic relationship, one of the main problems here has always been that the timescales given are unrealistic - so let's make them more realistic and target a 2022 agreement, implementation 2024 2/
Next, given negotiations will take this long, the transition period should be extendable to cover it, so that we do not face the risk of separate transition peruiod, backstop, then new arrangement 3/
That's a long period to be implementing laws in which we have no say, so we need to also strengthen the consultation mechanisms between EU and UK. At minimum this should include expectation of UK participation but not voting in expert meetings 4/
There should also be an expert committee established by both UK and EU to report publicly within one year on possible solutions to ensuring no restrictions on Ireland - Northern Ireland - GB trade 5/
Domestically the UK Government would recognise that you must establish a cross-party position and would do this through a new committee to oversee the talks in the Commons - and negotiating objectives would need Parliamentary approval 6/
Turning to those who say that this could mean we couldn't get a 'clean Brexit', while they have usually been their own worst enemies in what they have written, we should recognise that a substantial number believe this is what people voted for in 2016 7/
The main problems with no-deal Brexit have been the potential sudden economic shock, and Ireland. So how allowing for the UK to give 5 years notice to end talks and leave with no deal, on condition of no return to Northern Ireland border infrastructure 8/
Recognising that there are already differences between GB and NI regulations, the UK government and Northern Ireland parties should look at all solutions should this situation arise, including a Northern Ireland free trade zone 9/
I recognise that this all seems to postpone what people may want now, but sorry that is international agreements, they take time, and these timescales are reasonable for negotiations to be concluded 10/
What then of the passionate referendum / remain supporters? I have been sceptical of a second vote being merely a worse version of the first, but any consensus needs to include them. Not though by looking like the establishment want a rerun 11/
It could though be fair to take a vote of this approach versus remain, on the basis that this is a significant decision but that a good deal will, I suspect, actually be the favourite to win. We delivered, please confirm, not please excuse our incompetence 12/
Thus we put into place key negotiating principles such as consensus, fairness, clarity, and implementation planning. There's something for everyone, and both Parliament and the people have a say. Of course, the tiny flaw... 13/
This might all be fine in theory, but after two and a half years of negotiations, we have positions, and a current situation, and these are probably incompatible with the proposed approach. 14/
The best I can hope for in laying out this alternative is that some parts of this might resonate and spark some thinking as to how we can get from where we are to a halfway reasonable position which doesn't worsen divides 15/
Hopefully some people engaging with this will do more than throw at it the many reasons it can't work, and develop further with more relation to the current situation. Somehow we have to move beyond wallowing in despair. 16/ end
PS many similarities with this approach suggested by @BEERG - we didn't coordinate! beergbrexit.blog/2018/12/09/my-…
And another with similar thoughts - and this from @jillongovt who in my experience tends to always be right!
PPS Summing up responses to date. Interesting but won't work. Might have worked two years ago. Just remain as Brexit has failed. And a handful thinking on similar lines.
It is possible twitter debate is part of the political problem these days...
It is possible twitter debate is part of the political problem these days...
