NEW: Key manufacturers warn “serious risk” in new Johnson Brexit deal plan, after Govt fails to reassure still seeks participation in EU agencies EASA, ECHA, EMA...
BBC obtains letter from Aerospace body ADS over fears commitments in existing political declaration to be dropped
BBC obtains letter from Aerospace body ADS over fears commitments in existing political declaration to be dropped
More on @BBCr4today Today nowish and full story here: bbc.co.uk/news/business-…
Letter from @ADSgroupUK to Government reflects perceived weakening/dropping by Johnson Govt of “assurances” won by May Government reflected in existing negotiated Political Declaration with EU, that post Brexit UK wold maintain European regulation for sectors that requested it
Assurances sought not been given by officials or by ministers. So this sector, at least, has written saying that such regulatory divergence is a “serious risk to our sectors” and would result in “huge new costs and disruptions” and an “inability to shape safety rule making”/4
Existing Political Declaration contains clear reference to continued cooperation with European Aviation Safety Agency, European Chemicals Agency and European Medicines Agency and “in this context the UK will consider aligning with [European] Union rules in relevant areas”.../5
At the time of that publication, PM May told Parliament that this would mean some sort of negotiated membership of those agencies, as requested by advanced manufacturers who operate on a pan European basis /6
But in recent weeks after PM Johnson’s letters to Tusk & Juncker, when asked to reassure if this was still policy, this and other industries have been told only that UK seeks a “best in class free trade agreement”. Indeed that is what Govt told us in statement last night /7 
some private acknowledgement these commitments might get scrapped, alongside other legal commitments to maintaining a “level playing field” for social, environmental, labour, state aid & tax standards in new PD. This would allow freer hand on trade negotiations with eg US. /8
While focus understandably has been on No Deal and NI, this shift towards a harder/ cleaner Brexit with few/ no commitments of alignment for future in case of a deal is very consequential for advanced manufacturing & services & economy in Eng, Wales, Sco /9
But this in giving a freer hand in trade negotiations should cheer eurosceptics. On the other hand, pretty much the opposite of what deal-minded Labout MPs have asked for. Some feel it can just all be sorted later after an election. Indeed would be the point of an election. /10
