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Common Market 2.0 proposal. No mention of “emergency brake”. Request for Gov to develop new harsher rules v EU cits.
Thread. 1/
Thread. 1/
“Common Market 2.0” current pitch is here. betterbrexit.org.uk/wp-content/upl…
It gives pride of place to EEA art 112 powers - so-called “emergency brake”. But... 2/
It gives pride of place to EEA art 112 powers - so-called “emergency brake”. But... 2/
... CM2.0 have dropped claims they made in January that I argued would be illegal 3/
Now CM 2.0 give no situations where A112 could be used. Maybe because any legally sound examples would be so extreme, that giving them would show how useless a “brake” would be in practice 4/
IMO it’s important for EEA advocates not to missell the “emergency brake” - sceptics deserve cautious honesty, and EU/EFTA need to know UK is realistic. 5/
To underline the irrelevance of the “emergency brake” to UK’s current situation, Boles motion doesn’t mention it, let alone ask Gov to prepare to use it.
Wise. 6/
Wise. 6/
But Boles motion *does* call for Gov to propose new controls on EU citz *under UK Regs already implementing EU law on Free Movement of People.
Let’s discuss... 7/
Let’s discuss... 7/
Since 2004, UK has a strict ban on EU citizens accessing social welfare benefits, unless they have a right to Iive in UK under EU law.
That has long been UK’s main tool against EU migration. 8/
That has long been UK’s main tool against EU migration. 8/
In 1994 Minister Peter Lilley made Tory Conference laugh with an openly racist, false speech about Italians & Spanish migrants asking for “mio benefito”. That was to justify the new habitual residence test 8/
In 2015, Tory election guru Lynton Crosby demanded a new civil service announcement every 6 weeks of how they were stopping EU citizens claiming benefits. 9/
These public claims *built* the myth of “soft touch Britain” - they didn’t kill it.
But Boles, Kinnock and colleagues haven’t learned those lessons. They still think - with no evidence - *promising more controls* makes voters believe *its under control*. 10/
But Boles, Kinnock and colleagues haven’t learned those lessons. They still think - with no evidence - *promising more controls* makes voters believe *its under control*. 10/
Do the public know that it’s long-standing UK policy to deny benefits to EU citizens rather than bother trying to expel them (because it’s very hard to expel them)?
No. Because politicians have never told them. 11/
No. Because politicians have never told them. 11/
But Common Market 2.0 aren’t going to tell voters that UK already has strict controls on benefits.
Instead they’re asking Gov to draw up plans to expel EU citizens who lack a right to reside in UK.
Bad idea. Bad timing. 12/
Instead they’re asking Gov to draw up plans to expel EU citizens who lack a right to reside in UK.
Bad idea. Bad timing. 12/
It’s bad politics to call for new ways to expel EU citizens.
EU citizens & their allies will hate it. already angry over 3 years of limbo & bargaining chipping. Just as May says “OK, have settled status”, the Labour Party is asked to back a plan to explore expulsions? Wow. 13/
EU citizens & their allies will hate it. already angry over 3 years of limbo & bargaining chipping. Just as May says “OK, have settled status”, the Labour Party is asked to back a plan to explore expulsions? Wow. 13/
And new policies on controlling EU citz *under Free Movement* isn’t going to impress Leavers. Not once they understand how messy it is.
There’s a reason May never tried this. 14/
There’s a reason May never tried this. 14/
Here’s my thread on how it *isnt* legal to expel an EU citizen *just because* they haven’t found work within 3 months of arriving. It’s actually really hard to do it legally. 14/
Please read the thread before you @ me to say “Belgium / Germany expels people if they don’t find a job”. There’s no evidence for that.
More importantly - no evidence that the threat of expulsion reduces migration. It’s in the threads. 15/
More importantly - no evidence that the threat of expulsion reduces migration. It’s in the threads. 15/
Common Market 2.0 will now face the scrutiny that’s been lacking for 2 years. I predict you’ll see no coherent *rationale* for increasing harsh measures against EU cits, and no *evidence* that these deliver value in other EU states. 16/
And it’s a shame CM2.0 are even raising this. There are no votes in the harsh quarter measures they can propose. And raising it will make them look foolish.
It’s not too late @NickBoles . Drop your call for anti-EU migrant measures. 17/17
It’s not too late @NickBoles . Drop your call for anti-EU migrant measures. 17/17
