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1/ Lets posit for a moment that this claim (largely unsupported by evidence) is true and Big Business loves the CU because it locks out their competition.
Logically therefore, a Brexit without CU Membership would lock UK firms out of the EU.
Logically therefore, a Brexit without CU Membership would lock UK firms out of the EU.
2/ This is the tension at the heart of so many pro-Brexit trade arguments.
Either:
a) The EU is a protectionist fortress and so leaving it will sever UK exports into Europe;
or
b) The EU's protectionism is no big deal, so leaving it won't see huge competitiveness gains.
Either:
a) The EU is a protectionist fortress and so leaving it will sever UK exports into Europe;
or
b) The EU's protectionism is no big deal, so leaving it won't see huge competitiveness gains.
3/ Attempts to hand-wave this duopoly by claiming it will all be taken care of in a future FTA aren't convincing.
If the EU protectionism is so stark, won't big business in the EU27 fight tooth and nail to maintain it once it's restored vis a vis the British?
If the EU protectionism is so stark, won't big business in the EU27 fight tooth and nail to maintain it once it's restored vis a vis the British?
4/ The fact is in most sectors, EU protectionism operates at the margins.
It provides sufficient advantages to basing in the EU28 that when choosing between two otherwise approximately comparable value propositions, firms will opt to do so.
It provides sufficient advantages to basing in the EU28 that when choosing between two otherwise approximately comparable value propositions, firms will opt to do so.
5/ The extent to which Brexit lands the UK on the other side of these nudge factors depends on the hardness of Brexit.
The harder the Brexit the fewer such nudges will continue to push firms wishing to trade into Europe to base their operations in the UK.
The harder the Brexit the fewer such nudges will continue to push firms wishing to trade into Europe to base their operations in the UK.
6/ Brexiteers have argued the UK can compensate, even in the event of a hard Brexit, through business friendly regulatory reforms, fiscal measures, liberalization, and FTAs.
The string of UK businesses pulling up stumps would suggest there's skepticism on that score. /end
The string of UK businesses pulling up stumps would suggest there's skepticism on that score. /end
