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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/09/brexiteer-may-chequers-europe
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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| I’m an ardent Brexiteer, but May’s plan is the ideal compromise | I’m an ardent Brexiteer, but May’s plan is the ideal compromise |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| So, have we Brexiteers got everything we wanted in the Chequers deal? In short, no. Not if Brexiteers expected the cleanest of breaks from Europe. | So, have we Brexiteers got everything we wanted in the Chequers deal? In short, no. Not if Brexiteers expected the cleanest of breaks from Europe. |
| But it probably was never going to be that way if we wanted to continue to trade seamlessly with the EU. | But it probably was never going to be that way if we wanted to continue to trade seamlessly with the EU. |
| The departure of Boris Johnson from the cabinet is one I regret. He added life and colour. He prefers the broad picture, the principles, rather than the minutiae. | The departure of Boris Johnson from the cabinet is one I regret. He added life and colour. He prefers the broad picture, the principles, rather than the minutiae. |
| The problem for him and others is that the deal that is being proposed is necessarily complex, but it is an interesting one. For, like everything in life, it is not black and white. And while it won’t satisfy the Trappist monk wing of Brexiteers who believe in the complete purity and absoluteness of Brexit, it will satisfy many who still want some sort of continuing relationship with the continent. But the deal raises many questions that have yet to be answered. | The problem for him and others is that the deal that is being proposed is necessarily complex, but it is an interesting one. For, like everything in life, it is not black and white. And while it won’t satisfy the Trappist monk wing of Brexiteers who believe in the complete purity and absoluteness of Brexit, it will satisfy many who still want some sort of continuing relationship with the continent. But the deal raises many questions that have yet to be answered. |
| The “common rulebook” between Britain and the EU will ensure a commitment to the maintenance of high standards of consumer and employment rights as well as protection of the environment. But will the rulebook stop us from making trade agreements with the US and elsewhere? | The “common rulebook” between Britain and the EU will ensure a commitment to the maintenance of high standards of consumer and employment rights as well as protection of the environment. But will the rulebook stop us from making trade agreements with the US and elsewhere? |
| When the cabinet met last Friday, they discussed in detail the Trans-Pacific Partnership and whether our membership of that would be impossible by virtue of the common rulebook. The view was that it would not. But the jury is probably still out. | When the cabinet met last Friday, they discussed in detail the Trans-Pacific Partnership and whether our membership of that would be impossible by virtue of the common rulebook. The view was that it would not. But the jury is probably still out. |
| Whatever the immediate rhetoric from Brussels, the EU is unlikely to reject these proposals out of hand | Whatever the immediate rhetoric from Brussels, the EU is unlikely to reject these proposals out of hand |
| Whatever the immediate rhetoric from Brussels, the EU is unlikely to reject these proposals out of hand. But what further compromises must be made for the EU to agree to these terms? At what point would we have to walk away? What are the red lines? | Whatever the immediate rhetoric from Brussels, the EU is unlikely to reject these proposals out of hand. But what further compromises must be made for the EU to agree to these terms? At what point would we have to walk away? What are the red lines? |
| Two hours were spent discussing just this at Friday’s Chequers meeting. The upshot now is that “no deal planning” will be stepped up so that we shall be ready in the event of this happening. This also sends out a useful signal to those sitting on the opposite side of the negotiating table to us: “We don’t want to walk away, but we will if you force us to.” | Two hours were spent discussing just this at Friday’s Chequers meeting. The upshot now is that “no deal planning” will be stepped up so that we shall be ready in the event of this happening. This also sends out a useful signal to those sitting on the opposite side of the negotiating table to us: “We don’t want to walk away, but we will if you force us to.” |
| David Cameron was unable and unwilling to deploy this argument when he tried to wring concessions out of the EU. And he got none. That lesson has been learned. | David Cameron was unable and unwilling to deploy this argument when he tried to wring concessions out of the EU. And he got none. That lesson has been learned. |
| It is common for the British media to imply that Britain has a weak hand in these negotiations. Yet German and French newspapers report differently. We are a huge export market for continental Europe. Each year, 600,000 German cars are exported to the United States. But almost one million are exported to the UK. We are the biggest export market in the world for the German automotive industry. | It is common for the British media to imply that Britain has a weak hand in these negotiations. Yet German and French newspapers report differently. We are a huge export market for continental Europe. Each year, 600,000 German cars are exported to the United States. But almost one million are exported to the UK. We are the biggest export market in the world for the German automotive industry. |
| There are similar stats for French agriculture exports and, yes, Italian prosecco. Political leaders in Europe are very conscious of a no-deal Brexit and the damage it will do to their employment rates. In Germany, estimates range from 8,000 to 40,000 jobs lost domestically if a deal is not agreed. | There are similar stats for French agriculture exports and, yes, Italian prosecco. Political leaders in Europe are very conscious of a no-deal Brexit and the damage it will do to their employment rates. In Germany, estimates range from 8,000 to 40,000 jobs lost domestically if a deal is not agreed. |
| And if the deal is accepted by the EU, will Britain be “a vassal state” as some have argued? Even the hardcore wing of Brexiteers will recognise that free movement will be ended and border controls with Europe reinstated. And the prime minister has made clear she will not entertain any possibility of paying for continued access to the EU market. There will be a huge Brexit dividend. | And if the deal is accepted by the EU, will Britain be “a vassal state” as some have argued? Even the hardcore wing of Brexiteers will recognise that free movement will be ended and border controls with Europe reinstated. And the prime minister has made clear she will not entertain any possibility of paying for continued access to the EU market. There will be a huge Brexit dividend. |
| End this national farce – Labour must oppose Brexit | Andrew Adonis | End this national farce – Labour must oppose Brexit | Andrew Adonis |
| We will leave the common agricultural policy and the common fisheries policy, and the jurisdiction of the European court of justice in the UK will be terminated. And yes, we will Brexit at 11pm on 29 March 2019. | We will leave the common agricultural policy and the common fisheries policy, and the jurisdiction of the European court of justice in the UK will be terminated. And yes, we will Brexit at 11pm on 29 March 2019. |
| The biggest problem May now faces is selling this complex and nuanced proposal to her MPs and the British public. Some will see it as a sell-out and a “grand betrayal”. I, an ardent Brexiteer, see the deal as a “grand compromise” – but one that restores the independence of the UK while boosting our domestic economy. | The biggest problem May now faces is selling this complex and nuanced proposal to her MPs and the British public. Some will see it as a sell-out and a “grand betrayal”. I, an ardent Brexiteer, see the deal as a “grand compromise” – but one that restores the independence of the UK while boosting our domestic economy. |
| • Michael Fabricant is the Conservative MP for Lichfield | • Michael Fabricant is the Conservative MP for Lichfield |
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