The Brexit deal being debated only includes permanent arrangements for Northern Ireland. Everything else is part of the "future relationship". This has several implications
1/ Govt policy is to have a "Canada minus" type FTA (minus because EU will insist on environmental, state aid, and labour law alignment)
2/ Other types of agreement are possible. They still range from EEA and customs union membership (Norway) to No deal (but later)
3/Differentiated arrangements for Scotland could still be put in place as part of the FR, for example.
4/It follows that all arguments about the deal doing X are wrong. Take for example Starmer's claim that it would destroy manufacturing. It is not this deal that would destroy manufacturing, but a decision to leave the Customs Union.
5/That is therefore a criticism to be levelled the government's future relationship policy, but not at acceptance of this deal. The same is true for other long term arguments people may have against it.
6/Consequently, there are only three types of reasons to vote against the deal:
- to oppose Brexit
- to embarrass the govt and Boris Johnson specifically
- to oppose the NI specific elements of it.
So if you don't want to do any of those things, you should support the deal.ENDS
- to oppose Brexit
- to embarrass the govt and Boris Johnson specifically
- to oppose the NI specific elements of it.
So if you don't want to do any of those things, you should support the deal.ENDS
