Having been accused of “No attempt at serious analysis” of David Davis’s speech yesterday, let’s do some then, shall we.
A little thread.
1/11
A little thread.
1/11
The headline quote from the speech - trailed by the UK Government *before* it was delivered - was to not “putting politics above prosperity”.
To even choose such a line is odd. The UK Brexit referendum was a vote to do *precisely* that.
2/11
To even choose such a line is odd. The UK Brexit referendum was a vote to do *precisely* that.
2/11
Whether right to put politics above prosperity is every individual’s call to make, but it is pretty hard to say the economic case won the referendum.
But to make that the centre piece of a speech to an intelligent audience in Germany is embarrassing.
3/11
But to make that the centre piece of a speech to an intelligent audience in Germany is embarrassing.
3/11
Whether you like it or not, or think it right or wrong, Germany prizes economic strength and stability above pretty much everything else.
Such a line might have worked in the House of Commons, but not in Berlin.
4/11
Such a line might have worked in the House of Commons, but not in Berlin.
4/11
Beyond that line, what else did Davis offer?
Having read the speech:
gov.uk/government/new…
and listened to the Q&A on the live stream, I must conclude: not much beyond what we have heard from him or May before.
5/11
Having read the speech:
gov.uk/government/new…
and listened to the Q&A on the live stream, I must conclude: not much beyond what we have heard from him or May before.
5/11
“I recognise that, since the referendum last year, some in the European Union have had their doubts about what kind of country we are or indeed what we stand for.”
“Now if you want to know the mind of a nation all one must do is read its press.”
Germans read the UK press.
6/11
“Now if you want to know the mind of a nation all one must do is read its press.”
Germans read the UK press.
6/11
“The sixth largest economy in the world and a beacon for free trade across the globe.”
Britain is leaving the deepest trade union there is anywhere on the globe.
7/11
Britain is leaving the deepest trade union there is anywhere on the globe.
7/11
“And as we leave, we will be leaving the single market and the customs union.”
“This is not an ideologically driven decision but a practicality based on what our people voted for and the respect we have for the four freedoms of the EU.”
The referendum did not say that.
8/11
“This is not an ideologically driven decision but a practicality based on what our people voted for and the respect we have for the four freedoms of the EU.”
The referendum did not say that.
8/11
“So we don’t pretend that you can have all the benefits of membership of the single market without its obligations.”
[…]
“Much closer than Canada, much bigger than Norway, and uniquely integrated on everything from energy networks to services.”
No contradiction there?
9/11
[…]
“Much closer than Canada, much bigger than Norway, and uniquely integrated on everything from energy networks to services.”
No contradiction there?
9/11
Continued assertion from Davis about what he thinks the UK is, and what it stands for, does not make that true.
Continued effort to say what he things an audience wants to hear doesn’t make them believe it.
10/11
Continued effort to say what he things an audience wants to hear doesn’t make them believe it.
10/11
If you doubt my analysis of it, @pmdfoster & @justinhuggler have more here:
If Britain is to get itself out of the #Brexit hole it has dug for itself, Davis and his DExEU team need to get serious on the details. Urgently.
11/11
If Britain is to get itself out of the #Brexit hole it has dug for itself, Davis and his DExEU team need to get serious on the details. Urgently.
11/11
