The architects of Project Fear seem locked into a state of permanent depression about the UK’s future.
“Let us win this argument for a new generation and defend free and open markets with all our might.”
“A society that does not judge you for where you come from or your background or how you live your life provided you do no harm to others that is the syncretic genius of our country.”
Supporters of a new pro-free trade think-tank will be told that Tories are all behind them in principle. But…
Nor will the eventual separation from the EU see a sudden break. Rather, this will be a gradual and partial divergence.
This way we can secure full Single Market access, rather than settle for a free trade deal that would be suboptimal and take too long to negotiate.
Leaving the EU means we’re erecting an enormous trade barrier with our continent.
Many more may gain, but there are those who are understandably aggrieved nonetheless.
May should make a virtue of the complexity.
We should seek the closest possible relationship with the EU and an open trade policy. Firms need confidence to invest.
Ireland’s displeasure is understandable. But it could prove counter-productive – working against the free trade deal that would suit it as well as the UK.
We will all have to wait until after the autumn’s federal election in Germany until the negotiating positions of the two sides start to firm up.
Subsidies, tariffs or lowering standards are not the answer. There is a conservative solution.
The final article in the author’s five-piece series on how Britain must prepare for March 31 2019 – and has less than 600 days to get it right.
The Prime Minister is right to be optimistic about our future relationship with the EU, but we must be ready for every eventuality.