Thread by @BritishInEurope

1. Here’s a thread for British businesses that deal with the EU

As the UK heads into trade talks with the EU next week, we’d like to share our experiences of being the subject of negotiations so that you know what to expect.

2. As far back as 2015, we were told not to worry, nothing bad would happen to us:
telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopic…

3. Chair of Vote Leave, Gisela Stuart told us everything would be fine and she should know.

Right?

WRONG

4. Here’s @michaelgove explaining to Lin how she will be unaffected by changes and be able to retire to France as planned….

Hmmmm.....

5. And here is the reality, how we, British in Europe, have found the last 661 days – this is what you, dear British Business, have to look forward to:

6. Here’s David Davis on day 1 of talks, the ones he left after the photo opportunity. No, he wasn’t prepared. No, he hadn’t (and still hasn’t) spoken to any of us. And no, he had no clue what he was doing there.
independent.co.uk/news/uk/politi…

7. Michel Barnier though did know what he was doing. He had met with us (and continues to do so), as had his technical team. Immediately, the UK was on the back foot.

8. Over the coming months, the UK postured and made threats. The EU published papers and told the UK what would happen. We gave legal opinions to both sides, there were many misunderstanding and gaps.

9. Neither side understood the intricacy of what they were trying to do and the real impact on us. The EU listened to us, UK civil servants listened to us, and still neither Theresa May nor David Davis would meet us.

10. In November, both sides agreed that ‘substantial progress’ had been made – except it hadn’t. They had run out of time. And in the hurry, the UK gvmt threw our rights to the wind and we went back to having NO certainty about the future.

11. The lack of progress became amply clear when the legal draft was drawn up and finally the Irish border question was faced. Bluff and bluster was in overdrive and negotiations effectively stopped.

12. Through this, citizens’ rights discussions have simmered on. The legal draft is full of holes and questions. There are substantial issues that have been kicked down the road.

13. Just read our latest reports to see the level of the legal minds you will require if you want to get a draft that is clear.
bit.ly/2H2IcTk

14. So, dear British businesses, we wish you well. You will need to scrutinise every document. You will need to be aware of all the other negotiations going on that will impact yours. And don’t rely on the UK gvmt to do your EU lobbying for you.

15. You will need to see past the smoke and mirrors to what is really happening. And you will have to be ready to be sold down the river if someone else shouts louder than you.

16. And while you are doing all this, you will need to run your businesses, look after your families and remember that all this effort may come to nowt because “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”

17. Good luck. You are going to need it along with the very best legal minds.

(and no Theresa May and David Davis still have not met with us)