Were I still an MEP or MP for a party that had promoted the referendum in the first place and had pledged to respect its outcome, I would vote for the Johnson deal now, without pleasure but with integrity. @LibDems @UKLabour @duponline Why? 1/
(a) The deal respects outcome of the referendum, resolving the most acute Brexit uncertainty for both Britain and Europe, restoring investor confidence. (b) It delivers the same deal on citizens’ rights and money negotiated by May to which nobody much objected. 2/
(c) It delivers the invaluable transition period and decent joint governance arrangements, possibly until the end of 2022, which minimises all-round disruption and takes us beyond certainly one and possibly two general elections. 3/
(d) It avoids a hard Irish border, and gives Northern Ireland the unprecedented economic advantage of being in two customs unions at once. The consent arrangement boosts Stormont without violating the Good Friday Agreement (which is why DUP hate it). 4/
(e) The Political Declaration points to less regulatory alignment than May’s, but does not preclude more convergence or an Association Agreement in the future. It keeps joint governance and acknowledges that the no tariff FTA will have to respect the level playing field. 5/
(f) Finally, the EU will offer no other deal. It is this deal or no deal now. Ratifying the deal will defy populism, restore Parliament’s credibility and avoid a costly, lengthy, divisive and destabilising second referendum. An early general election will follow. END/
