James Arnell | Conservative Home

It needs to be challenged. Here are a few questions to ask about being in a union that binds us to the Common Commercial Policy.

We need a new negotiating team – who will come in hard, making it clear to the EU that we are not going to roll over.

I have said previously that I believe the Government has been pursuing a sensible negotiating approach to date. I maintain that view.

After leaving the EU, we must ensure we are well-positioned in terms of regulation, taxation, immigration and – crucially – foreign languages.

There are some areas where continued jurisdiction for the ECJ is defensible and may, pragmatically, be the best route forward.

In a no-deal scenario, we must be prepared with a detailed plan which takes into account the trading and regulatory differences between industries.

I would propose that we pay a total of €12 billion as our “divorce bill” – even if there’s no FTA. But subject to three conditions.

Our best chance of getting a deal remains developing a solid, credible alternative plan, and showing that we are prepared to implement it.

The truth is that any money committed now will return multiples of cost in a reduced price for an agreement with the EU.

Pro-Leave MPs must ensure that ministers and the civil service prepare a credible plan for ‘no deal’ and place strict limits on any transition.

Much of the concern is over-hyped – not least because these specialised, highly skilled people don’t want to leave London in the first place.

Across the Channel, it’s normal to start with ludicrous demands and progress slowly, via a series of impasses and walk-outs.

Are we being manipulated so that we accept, in due course, a smaller (but still very large) Brexit bill as a “good deal”?

Posts by James Arnell