There is something bizarre going on - even by Brexit standards. After the EU issued their guidelines for phase II of the negotiations, a UK government spokesman said the EU’s new directives effectively give Prime Minister Theresa May "everything she had demanded" when she first expressed the need for a transition, or as she called it “implementation period,” in a speech in Florence in September last year according to Reuters (HERE).
You might think this was all good. But then Bill Cash puts down an urgent question in the House and in the ensuing debate says:
In short, do the Government reject this Council decision as inconsistent with our leaving the EU, which we are entitled to do under EU law itself and article 50 of the Lisbon treaty, and which was achieved through the enactment of the arrangements for withdrawal that was supported by 499 Members of this House?
So, here's how it works in Brexit land. You ask for something, the other side responds positively and offers you everything you demand - and then your own side urge you to reject it.
Do you understand this? No, me neither.
And just to finish things off. Jacob Rees-Mogg, the MP and part-time undertaker's mate from Somerset, was on Channel 4 News last night saying once again, there should be no negotiations continuing into the implementation period. He is going to be extremely angry on March 30th next year. It will be something to look forward to in an otherwise terrible day. Negotiations are going to continues for years and years.
The leaked economic impact assessments show what most economists expected anyway but some commentators are pointing out that leave voters knew this before they voted and still wanted Brexit. This is true but they were also told it was scaremongering and that we would prosper after we leave the EU. Are Brexiteers now saying it wasn't scaremongering?
But to the extent some would still vote to leave even if we are made poorer, and there are plenty who would do that, Brexit is not a beggar-thy-neighbour policy more of a beggar-thy-children policy since its effects will be felt long after many elderly voters have passed on.
