There is much talk this morning on the BBC (HERE) and elsewhere about a third customs option. This may be that we should remain in the single market for goods but diverge on services, an idea that has already been shot down by the EU. Like the customs partnership and the Max Fac options we are still clinging to these proposals like comfort blankets even though the EU has rejected all of them outright. Leo Varadkar dismissed the goods only idea again on Friday (HERE).
"Mr Varadkar said it would give the UK benefit of one of the EU's "four freedoms" while allowing it to reject freedom of movement, capital and services". Adding that it was "unrealistic" and would be "the beginning of the end of the single market".
But if you look back to the 29th March 2017 (I know it's a long time ago) to Mrs May's Article 50 letter (HERE) we can see on page 4 one of the "principles" she set out for the negotiations was this:
"We understand and respect your position that the four freedoms of the single market are indivisible and there can be no "cherry picking".
And on the 29th April the EU released its Final Negotiating Guidelines in which the first "core principle" on page 3 (HERE) echoed Mrs May's letter:
"In this context, the European Council welcomes the recognition by the British Government that the four freedoms of the Single Market are indivisible and that there can be no "cherry picking". The Union will preserve its autonomy as regards its decision-making as well as the role of the Court of Justice of the European Union".
Now fifteen months on the PM is said to have briefed the EU Council on a proposal to allow the UK access to the single market for goods only. A white paper (these are usually produced at the start but we've chosen to waste two thirds of the negotiating period before coming out with one) is scheduled for July 11th and it will almost certainly still have this goods only proposal in it.
So there we have it. This is how it works. You promise to respect the indivisibility of the four freedoms. Your negotiating opposite number acknowledges you respect the indivisibility of the four freedoms. You confirm there can be no cherry-picking and once again, your opposite number confirms there can be no cherry-picking.
Fifteen tortuous months of negotiation later and you propose to divide the four freedoms and cherry -pick the goods aspect of the single market.
Honestly, what on earth are we doing!
