Thread by @jonworth

Worth reading @lisaocarroll report on Frost's Q&A with the Lords European Affairs Committee in full
theguardian.com/politics/2021/…

Quick 🧵

This paragraph is the crucial one 👇

In other words he's trying to say "I am not an ideologue"

But in practice he is exactly that

Good policy making with regard to a UK-EU Veterinary Agreement, especially a Swiss style one, would weigh up the benefits and costs of such an agreement, and assess how swiftly it could be done...

... and compare that to the benefits and costs of potential trade agreements with Australia, New Zealand etc.

It would also acknowledge that a UK-EU veterinary agreement could even be temporary or time limited

Were the UK Government to approach the problem this way, the result would come out overwhelmingly that a UK-EU veterinary agreement would make sense, now, and be *especially* beneficial short term

So Frost's position is not practical, it is ideological

Trade agreements with the rest of the world have a higher political priority than a veterinary agreement with the UK's nearest neighbours does - even though the latter would be of more *practical* benefit to the UK

/ends