1/13 There's a division in the pro EU community here at the moment, which is unnecessary, and divisive at a time when Unity is important. Just for clarity, I believe we can and will rejoin the EU, and I’d like that to be as soon as possible.
2/13 Some of you will know Joe, @joeinlondontown. We follow each other. I’ve asked his permission to use his tweet. Joe only wants to give his support to a political party which endorses a “rejoin” message now
Now I can't upload Joe's tweet - apologies.
3/13 I’ve seen quite a few people arguing the same. At the moment of course, neither Lab or the LDs are saying "Rejoin". So far as Joe and those who agree with him are concerned that rules out their support.
4/13 It’s up to the Parties to explain their positions. I’m just here to explain it doesn’t matter. My credentials for doing this? I’m a former UK diplomat, with experience of working with the EU. But in fact my case doesn’t need any professional expertise anyway.
5/13 So at the risk of stating the obvious, let’s start with this; whether or not the UK rejoins the EU isn’t up to the UK, or to any of our political parties. It’s up to the EU. One thing you can be sure the EU will not want is a UK that keeps changing its mind.
6/13 Just think about the energy the present negotiation has taken up at a time when frankly there are more pressing issues. We, us and the EU, can't be doing this every few years.
7/13 Following the election of a govt other than a Tory one, the EU might be willing to look at individual changes that bring the two parties closer together, but rejoining, in the short term, is out of the question, and no govt in its right mind would ask.
8/13 The realistic position is to look for closer ties, while addressing the woeful inadequacies of our current politics. Some Constitutional reform to prevent a govt. doing again what the Tories have done. Changes to the electoral system, probably more.
9/13 Over time, if those changes are successful, application for membership should become realistic. But if you think knocking on the door and asking to rejoin on the back of an election victory in three or four years is realistic, you are also guilty of “British Exceptionalism”
10/13 Yes, I’m sure the 27 would like to have us back. But only when they feel confident we are there to stay. Building that confidence will take time. Quite a long time.
11/13 Just ask yourself, are we likely to get nearer to the goal of rejoining with a new Tory govt? Or with a govt of any other party or parties? You can already see the Tories will be pushing as hard as possible for "divergence".
12/13 I understand that strong emotions are engaged, and I respect the views of those who say it was all done with lies and cheating, and we want to go back now. But it is us that have the problem. We can't look to the EU to solve it; we have to
13/13 So for me, it really doesn't matter whether a Party has a declared aim of rejoining or not. And it isn't about being "duplicitous". It isn't realistic. Pretending it might be is more duplicitous. We need to put our own house in order. Ends.
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