Thread by @pmdfoster

So. Am thinking of ways to explain why @borisjohnson's plan of just paying for a 'standstill' transition while ditching the Withdrawal Agreement is nuts. It's nonsense. Here's what I came up with... 1/thread

@BorisJohnson Because it sounds kinda reasonable

1. We'll guarantee all EU citizens' rights into UK law

2. We'll pay to play in the EU for a 'standstill' while we fix up an FTA and the Irish border

No backstop, no handcuffs...c'mon, what's not to like? /2

@BorisJohnson One way to think about it, is that without a WA you are basically 'out of contract'.

Article 50 allows you to leave, but legally be treated like an EU member state while you fix up the future.

Without it, you are fixing the house with no roof over your head. In winter./3

@BorisJohnson Or put another way, would you rent your house to someone without a contract?

They say, look I'll give you £500-a-week, no strings, and I'll just live in the place. We can trust each other, right?

But that's not how life works, right? /4

@BorisJohnson No, we draw up a contract.

Your rights as a tennant, my rights as a landlord, and what happens if/when we disagree?

On what grounds I can ask you to leave; on what basis you have the right to stay.

Otherwise it's a recipe for disaster. /5

@BorisJohnson Was discussing this a friend, who came up with another analogy.

Would you got to the Hertz or Avis garage and ask to rent a car, just by paying some cash?

"Hey, what if I give you 100 quid a day, can I have that car?"

Answer: no way. /6

@BorisJohnson But what if your mate Jack ran the car hire garage?

"C'mon, Jack old pal, we've known each other for years...I've never had an accident, I'm not reckless, just give me the car. I'll pay market rate too, even a bit if needed." /7

@BorisJohnson Answer: 'no way'.

"Look," says Jack, "I know you're a mate and you probably won't wreck it, but it's more than my job's worth to do it. And if I rent you a contractless car, what about the next guy?

"Sorry, no way. In fact I can't really believe you even asked" /8

@BorisJohnson That's what the Withdrawal Agreement is: a contract, with an insurance policy and joint governance mechanisms that set out the rules of the road. /9

@BorisJohnson And here's the next thing: if you just storm off and go joy-riding with no contract, guess what?

When you do go legit, everyone is going to look at you funny.

"Mmm, weren't you that joy-rider? Not sure we'll rent to you."

Not without extras strings attached anyway. /10

@BorisJohnson Does that help at all? Coz I'm trying to fathom how nuts to even talk about leaving the EU with 'no deal'....we've reached a point where that is the express fallback position of the UK cabinet, or will be.

Seriously: are we a nation of shopkeepers, or joyriders? 11/ENDS