The majority position is building for closer relationships with the European Union, writes Best For Britain's chief executive Naomi Smith on the 10 year anniversary of the referendum
Brexit has been an absolute.bonus for the very few UK,and a mitigated disaster for us the very many,and what a mess it is.We now need to get back in there ASAP,please please please,let,s hurry this along Mr Burnham.
Naomi talks of “reinstating our membership of the EU”. She really fails to understand how long and complex this process will be.
It has to start with the election of a UK government committed to apply for accession. Then it’s up to EU member states to decide if and when to trigger Article 49 negotiations, which usually take about ten years.
There are at least six countries in the queue ahead of us, and there’ll be no special favours for UK as a former member - rather the opposite, as member states will want to be sure Britain won’t “do it all again” under a new government, quite possibly including Reform Ltd.
That’s why a referendum maybe be needed as part of the process, and with much less favourable terms likely to be available (no more rebate, and a commitment to join the €, for starters), the outcome of that referendum cannot be taken for granted, despite current polling.
Just because rejoining the EU is difficult is not a reason not to try. Indeed, given the support levels among younger voters, it may be inevitable that UK will apply to rejoin one day, and likely that EU member states will agree. But it is important to focus on the immediate and realistically available options.
That is why rejoining the single market must be the focus for now. That enables largely frictionless trade to be restored with our principal market, and is worth up to 3% on UK medium term GDP, boosting business confidence, renewing FDI to UK, and enabling economic growth to resume.
Unlike rejoining EU itself (and the customs union), UK can rejoin the single market now, via EEA (which nobody voted to leave). Being back in EEA simplifies trade and travel, restoring reciprocal free movement of citizens as well as of goods and Services. It also makes UK eligible to rejoin other crucial agreements, like the Dublin agreement and the CSDP common defence policy. That is crucial to UK security in a more hostile world as Trump prepares to take US out of NATO.
Rejoining EEA (almost certainly via EFTA) is also the first step to rejoining EU itself one day, since it largely eliminates the regulatory divergence. As Iceland will now show, that makes the process of accession to the EU much simpler and quicker. It is important that EEA is seen just as the first step, since it does little to increase UK influence - we will be consulted on regulatory changes on which we now have no say, even though post UKCE we have little alternative but to comply with them anyway.
One day, UK voters may want this country to regain its lost influence in Europe and the world beyond. That cannot be done without securing renewed membership of the EU, so that UK ministers are back at the table when important decisions which affect us are taken in the European Council, and UK MEPs are back in the European Parliament again.
But that is one for future parliaments, possibly for future generations. For now, the priority must be to rejoin the single market which was one of UK’s prudent achievements during our years of EC/EU membership.
Human beings should be looking for harmony and cooperation. Building right human relations is so important in the world today if we hope to move forward and not be stuck in the rut of conflict and destruction.
The Government needs to be far bolder about negotiating easing visa and passport controls with the EU. Don't only concentrate on under 30's. We are all affected.
To those who say, its not what we voted for, I can't remember anything about leaving the Single Market on my ballot paper.
Brexit has been an absolute.bonus for the very few UK,and a mitigated disaster for us the very many,and what a mess it is.We now need to get back in there ASAP,please please please,let,s hurry this along Mr Burnham.
Naomi talks of “reinstating our membership of the EU”. She really fails to understand how long and complex this process will be.
It has to start with the election of a UK government committed to apply for accession. Then it’s up to EU member states to decide if and when to trigger Article 49 negotiations, which usually take about ten years.
There are at least six countries in the queue ahead of us, and there’ll be no special favours for UK as a former member - rather the opposite, as member states will want to be sure Britain won’t “do it all again” under a new government, quite possibly including Reform Ltd.
That’s why a referendum maybe be needed as part of the process, and with much less favourable terms likely to be available (no more rebate, and a commitment to join the €, for starters), the outcome of that referendum cannot be taken for granted, despite current polling.
Just because rejoining the EU is difficult is not a reason not to try. Indeed, given the support levels among younger voters, it may be inevitable that UK will apply to rejoin one day, and likely that EU member states will agree. But it is important to focus on the immediate and realistically available options.
That is why rejoining the single market must be the focus for now. That enables largely frictionless trade to be restored with our principal market, and is worth up to 3% on UK medium term GDP, boosting business confidence, renewing FDI to UK, and enabling economic growth to resume.
Unlike rejoining EU itself (and the customs union), UK can rejoin the single market now, via EEA (which nobody voted to leave). Being back in EEA simplifies trade and travel, restoring reciprocal free movement of citizens as well as of goods and Services. It also makes UK eligible to rejoin other crucial agreements, like the Dublin agreement and the CSDP common defence policy. That is crucial to UK security in a more hostile world as Trump prepares to take US out of NATO.
Rejoining EEA (almost certainly via EFTA) is also the first step to rejoining EU itself one day, since it largely eliminates the regulatory divergence. As Iceland will now show, that makes the process of accession to the EU much simpler and quicker. It is important that EEA is seen just as the first step, since it does little to increase UK influence - we will be consulted on regulatory changes on which we now have no say, even though post UKCE we have little alternative but to comply with them anyway.
One day, UK voters may want this country to regain its lost influence in Europe and the world beyond. That cannot be done without securing renewed membership of the EU, so that UK ministers are back at the table when important decisions which affect us are taken in the European Council, and UK MEPs are back in the European Parliament again.
But that is one for future parliaments, possibly for future generations. For now, the priority must be to rejoin the single market which was one of UK’s prudent achievements during our years of EC/EU membership.
The UK should re-enter the EU but it has to acknowledge how much Europe has changed over the last 10 years, and take some responsibility for that.
UK leaders must lead in Europe and not sneer from the sidelines.
Human beings should be looking for harmony and cooperation. Building right human relations is so important in the world today if we hope to move forward and not be stuck in the rut of conflict and destruction.
The Government needs to be far bolder about negotiating easing visa and passport controls with the EU. Don't only concentrate on under 30's. We are all affected.
To those who say, its not what we voted for, I can't remember anything about leaving the Single Market on my ballot paper.