Thread by @jonworth

Before UK politics goes into its normal Sunday morning round of spin on the chat show sofas, a little recap about the #Brexit stage 1 deal.

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A reminder for @AndrewMarr9 @daily_politics @bbcSarahSmith @skynewsniall @RidgeOnSunday -
this is what was agreed in Brussels on Friday
consilium.europa.eu/media/32236/15…

*Please* read it before giving any Brexiteers any wriggle room.

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Eurosceptics have been flying off the handle about Brexit transition today. The object of their ire: Philip Hammond, who acknowledged the UK will be in the Customs Union and Single Market during the transition period:
news.sky.com/story/brexit-t…

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First, that some sort of Brexit transition is necessary has been known for a long time. May stated it in her Florence Speech back in September:
ft.com/content/266e99…

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Second, the transition period generally being talked about is *around* two years long, from exit date (29 Mar 2019) until the very end of 2020. This matches the EU budgetary schedule too, so it makes sense all round.

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Third, what Brexiteers like Bone & IDS are asking - out of SM & CU from 29 Mar 2019 - and then a transition period makes no sense.

No one wants a transition to the transition period, and then a transition out of it.

Transition must be as close to EU as possible.

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Fourth - and most significantly - the European Council Brexit Guidelines from Friday (recap - here: consilium.europa.eu/media/32236/15… ) are very explicit about transition.

“agrees to negotiate a transition period covering the whole of the EU acquis” it says.

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It goes on: “As the United Kingdom will continue to participate in the Customs Union and the Single Market (with all four freedoms) during the transition, it will have to continue to comply with EU trade policy, to apply EU customs tariff and collect EU customs duties”

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So the UK has a choice: how much political capital does it use on trying to shape the Brexit transition period, when the EU side has basically said ‘Transition: we tell you how it works, and by the way it’s you that need it because you don’t know what you want yet’

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Hammond has understood this, and is thinking about post-2020.

Brexit hard liners like IDS and Bone are too dim to play the long game, so are gnashing their teeth now, and obsessing about transition.

How about some tough questions to them about their tactical blunder?

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