“The Agreement is a very expensive invitation to talks about our possible exit. It does not give us either a clear date for leaving or the terms on which we might eventually be allowed out.”
In a letter dated May this year, the Brexit Secretary attempted to assuage concerns about the implications of Theresa May’s deal for the United Kingdom.
“I would say to my colleagues: focus on the day job. Concentrate on what is before us, on what we promised to the public. Ensure that we leave.”
He takes over the role vacated by Heaton-Harris, who resigned yesterday over Theresa May’s decision to reach out to Jeremy Corbyn.
He praises the work done by civil servants to prepare for exit without a deal – and suggests the Prime Minister has not been fully informed of their progress.
The EU won’t grant us a long extension for fear of what European elections here would produce. If we hold our nerve, the UK will Brexit on WTO terms in April.
The challenge to “our precious union” will be as much constitutional as economic – Deal, No Brexit…or No Deal especially.
We need a new strategic partnership with Ireland. At the moment, that end seems endlessly remote.
The Brexit Secretary claims that the Withdrawal Agreement balances controlling money and immigration with keeping trade flowing.
The Prime Minister has eschewed the chance to bind waverers with patronage in favour of promoting able loyalists who won’t make trouble.
Number Ten has been desperate from the start that we must remain in the Customs Union – and endure a kind of semi-skimmed faux Brexit.
We re-run the author’s series on what might be done for the UK to be Ready on Day One.
The DexEU select commitee member and former Culture Secretary cites Stewart Jackson’s interview with this site.
He claims that there was a conspiracy by officials in Number Ten’s Europe Unit to water down Brexit.
We are re-proving that ‘we learn from history that we do not learn from history’.