1. This thread by David is spot on, but I'll also add. If the UK avoids asking for an Article 50 extension, the longer it will take to leave the EU.
2. The UK is about to get into a situation where it wastes another ten months negotiating an extension, so that they have time to negotiate the future relationship.
3. The quickest way out of the EU, that involves successfully coming to a deal at the end, is negotiating the transition as close to the status quo as possible.
4. Any detraction from what we already have in place becomes a negotiating point, and every negotiating point adds more time to the transition negotiation, further delaying any future relationship negotiation.
5. Consequently, the quickest transition deal is the Article 50 extension. It involves the EU agreeing and both sides to accepting the inconvenient fact that we continue as members.
6. Then both sides can concentrate on negotiating the future relationship, rather than wasting time on making the arrangements so that we can negotiate our future relationship.
7. Or, we can let David Davis demonstrate the wonderful negotiation skills he demonstrated in phase 1, and see where that gets us.
8. Seriously, I'm not actually advocating that we see David Davis' negotiating skill again. If you want to get out quickly, the extension is the best way. It may even get the UK out before the parliamentary elections. /End
