Thread by @SebDance

The government is not acting in Britain’s interests. This is dog-whistle stuff and it stinks.

1. Ending free movement puts British citizens at a huge disadvantage (see my pinned tweet)

2. This is very stupid ahead of negotiations on future relationship

bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politi…

The arbitrary limit on “skilled/ non-skilled” of £30,000 is not just offensive (think of the many brilliant people who *choose* to live in the UK, without whom vital services such as NHS would suffer hugely, who are paid much less) it also sets us up to fail in Brexit stage 2

This government is boxing the UK into such a tight corner there is zero chance of us getting what we need in terms of “ambitious free trade agreement” as we’re telling our most important trade partners that their citizens are not wanted and will lose their existing rights.

There will be reciprocal measures of course, making it inordinately harder for us to study, retire, work, start a business etc in our own continent. But we will also have an economic relationship so severely downgraded from what we have there will be huge losses to jobs & growth.

So just like Brexit phase 1 we’ll have endless circular arguments with meaningless government assurances that we’ll get “frictionless trade.” We can’t have that *and* these appalling immigration proposals. Something will have to give. And the “betrayal” line will be there again.

Of course this is not to say anything of the hurt these measures will cause on a simple psychological level. We’re ending a RECIPROCAL arrangement that millions have benefited from, and which millions more were looking forward to benefit from. Free movement is a wonderful thing.

Nor does it say anything about the specific sectors who would be all but devastated by the loss of free movement. Think of the music industry as an example, where the movement of bands, instruments, the ability to perform across borders is an essential part of a thriving sector.

Think of Europe’s great cities and the ability to go for short breaks, to do temporary work, to be inspired, to maybe even set up shop and run a small business. UK cities will be closed to our neighbours for those opportunities, and the entire continent closed to us. For no gain.

And the message it send to our neighbours? That you’re not welcome. We’ve stopped being an integral part of the European family. That you need to be highly-paid before we consider you worthy of settling here. What a message to send out.

Ultimately I hope the reality of where this would put us economically means that these proposals never see the light of day, because unfortunately the emotional and political arguments for free movement seem irrelevant to this government.

But whatever happens the lesson from this is clear.

Theresa May will always come down on the side of the far-right of her party. She fears them more than her sensible colleagues. She is weak, and prepared to leave the UK poorer - materially and socially - as her personal legacy.

We cannot get rid of this government soon enough. We cannot have a change of direction soon enough. And my only wish and desire for the new year is that our political leaders wake up from a collective slumber as to where this is all heading. Britain is so much better than this.