This country has got to get over Brexit. The debate is increasingly skewed - and allow me to argue this tweet is actually counterproductive in that regard (and I say that as someone on balance in favor of a UK-Oz FTA) (thread)
https://twitter.com/AlexanderDowner/status/1404930345498198023
FTAs have always had people who favour them and people against them. That's true of the WTO, too. Think of the "battle of Seattle" (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999_Seat…)
Some of that is opposition to globalization, some of that opposition to free trade. Some of it has good reasons, some of it reasons I reject. But it is a debate that is very much present everywhere. And it's not about Brexit. But there's more.
Even FTAs that are good for both parties create winners and losers within each of them. Some of the "losers" with good arguments. Some with bad. But they lose out. And in a democracy they must be heard.
The interest most afraid of UK-Oz is agriculture. It's a legitimate interest. Some of its concerns are legitimate. Others less so. They must be heard. And argued with. On their merits. "You are against Brexit" sidelines that.
I agree entirely with @AlexanderDowner : Brexit will not be reversed in any relevant time frame. It would need a referendum. Worse: It would need a societal consensus for it to be contemplated. And ... that is not in the books. The lesson for debate?
We can take Brexit out of it. And have the FTA debates on their own merits.
Seeing some replies: indeed, there's a debate to be had about political responsibility of people who made arguments that were wrong. But that's a different argument, one to be had for the ballot box first and foremost if you want it to succeed.
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