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David Henig
@DavidHenigUK
, 4 tweets, 2 min read Read on Twitter
The Customs Union explainer session with MPs of the Brexit Committee yesterday could usefully be extended to journalists if these cross-party talks go anywhere - actually it does matter what you call it thesun.co.uk/news/8984133/t…
Not only that but trade deals under a Customs Union would be negotiated by the UK not the EU on our behalf, it wouldn't lead to frictionless trade with the EU unless we also aligned regulations, and there's a lot of detail to design if you're going to do this
As so often we are indebted to @mpc_1968 for making some clips of yesterday's session. Provides a flavour of our discussions, but I'm here for any follow-ups...
PS Maybe we should have a @SamuelMarcLowe v @GregHands debate on the merits or not of a Customs Union between UK and EU
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David Henig
@DavidHenigUK
A very important piece, for within it we finally discover the identities of the technical panel "comprising border and customs experts, practitioners and lawyers" that will advise the Commission seeking Alternative Arrangements for the Northern Ireland border...
And guess what, the technical experts on alternative arrangements turn out to be the same people who have been advising all previous attempts by the IEA / ERG etc to suggest there are already technology solutions that the Government has been deliberately ignoring
Truly a pitiful yet worrying state of affairs for so many Conservative MPs (probably the majority) to go along with such a charade given that the 'solutions' proposed by the same individuals have been, rightly, repeatedly rejected
Read 7 tweets
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David Henig
@DavidHenigUK
Let's just think about this for a moment - if accurate Conservative backbenchers would like a leadership contest to start in June and be concluded by party conference at end September. Guaranteeing no Brexit movement during this time facing an end October deadline
The new PM would then have four weeks having campaigned almost certainly to revise the Withdrawal Agreement in a way we know the EU would accept, or face no deal which the Commons can be expected to oppose again. What then?
(would not accept, oops....)
Read 3 tweets
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David Henig
@DavidHenigUK
Ah the "In a world of global supply chains and overnight delivery, there is no longer any such thing as distance" argument much beloved of those happy to put up barriers to trade with nearby countries. And still wrong ft.com/content/b43a97…
I once heard the story of a UK professional services company winning a contract in New Zealand on the basis of some highly optimistic assumptions on how staff could travel. They ended up losing money then giving up the contract early.
Face to face contact still matters hugely in trade as most businesses know. And that's easier and more comfortable in markets we know better as being closer. ft.com/content/964afa…
Read 4 tweets

Related threads

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katya adler
@BBCkatyaadler
First noises out of the 3 hour long meeting of Ambassadors representing the EU 27 tonight confirms earlier impression: most countries warming towards longer extension ending Dec 2019 or March 2020 /1
France taking tougher position: insisting that the PM presents a credible plan before getting extension from EU. Paris also thinks safeguards (conditions) EU wants to impose on extension aren’t yet sufficient /2
NB Talks amongst EU ambassadors can and will be upstaged by face-face meeting amongst EU leaders themselves. On #Brexit they have tended to take a tougher line than their Brussels-based diplomats /3
Read 4 tweets
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katya adler
@BBCkatyaadler
EU leaders PM speaking to today have little expectation of a breakthrough in the cross-party talks with Jeremy Corbyn ahead of emergency #Brexit summit on Wednesday /1
EU leaders think it good idea to be in contact already now. PM doesn't have a good track record of performing 'on the night' at summits. She just spoke to Dutch PM Rutte. They'll talk again Weds morning before summit starts. Translation: No room for any more misunderstandings /2
EU leaders must come to unanimous conclusion on PM's extension request. But countries are divided. So Belgian PM has asked inner core of Most Affected Nations (affected by #Brexit ) eg Germany France, Netherlands to meet just before summit. An attempt to iron out differences /3
Read 12 tweets
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Nick Vucic
@npv708
Brexit, but in gifs.

#Brexit
The Leave Campaign prior to the referendum:
The Remain Campaign prior to the referendum:
Read 125 tweets
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Pete North
@PeteNorth303
1. As per a number of tweets today, we can see that the technology that allegedly does not exist is very much alive and kicking and working quite nicely irrespective of remainer denials. These are people who don't want a #Brexit solution. This is why "experts" are ignored.
2. The problem with any technological solution is not so much the technology as integrating it all. Data standardisation for these such systems is in its infancy. We would struggle to deploy it in the given time frame.
3. What we need to be aware of, though, is the WCO, UNECE and ISO are all working toward the rollout of paperless customs on a global basis and it will happen in the next ten years. Even the EU is adopting it for its own frontiers. They are making preparations.
Read 18 tweets
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Jon Worth
@jonworth
So the Lords voted pretty overwhelmingly (347👍, 225 👎) today that 🇬🇧 should stay in a Customs Union with 🇪🇺.

What is this going to mean?

A quick thread.
1/9
Most obviously it makes the chances of 🇬🇧 having a Customs Union with 🇪🇺 marginally higher. That's welcome.

But I think the significance is more tactical.

2/9
First, this all depends on how the Commons reacts.

Does it try to fight back against Lords, and Withdrawal Bill drags on? Or does Govt back down, knowing there would probably be a majority in the Commons for a CU if it wanted it?

The latter looks more likely.
3/9
Read 9 tweets
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Peter Foster
@pmdfoster
Two EU sources say UK discreetly asked about extending #Brexit transition beyond Dec 31 2020. The EU said 'no'.

The UK government categorically denies this exchange ever happened. My latest.

And some brief observations. /1

telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/…
The EU offer of transition to Dec 31 2020 is plainly inadequate - just 21 months. The date is picked because it is the end of their budget cycle. Both sides know this. /2
The UK position - per Mrs May in Florence - is "about two years"

If the UK wanted transition to Dec 31 2021, that would be two years, nine months. Also inadequate. /3
Read 12 tweets

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