As a demonstration of the sheer impossibility of Brexit, this article on Conservative Home (HERE), co-written by Amber Rudd and Andrew Percy is a perfect example. Firstly, it's a surprise to see these two working together. She's a smart former Home Secretary and passionate remainer, he's an ultra Brexiteer and thick-as-two-short-planks MP for Goole. What's going on? The point of their article is that a Canada style trade deal won't work for Britain. That's it. No alternative suggested except they demand a deal "that is bespoke to the economic needs and realities of the UK". This is the common ground between them.
I assume Percy wants out, under starvation rations if need be, while Rudd would almost certainly vote to remain if we ever get another vote. They claim, "There is no majority in the Commons that would see a Canada-style deal voted through" and if correct, it's hard to see what possible deal could get through. No deal is unthinkable, the PM's Chequers plan has had life-support turned off according to the weekend papers, now Rudd and Percy combine to say a Canada FTA doesn't have the votes in The House.
The only other options are remaining in the EU or the EEA. And we don't have time to start negotiating again with the EEA as our objective. We would need to join EFTA first and I am not sure EFTA want us or the EU would let us join the EEA. This leaves remaining in the EU doesn't it?
Percy by the way, boasts that he is "not the brightest individual" (HERE) - but as I have often said self praise is no praise at all, in fact he is exceptionally stupid and fanatically anti-European. He told the Commons in 2011 (HERE):
"Does my hon. Friend share my embarrassment at the very idea that people from Australia, Canada and New Zealand—our Commonwealth brethren —are made to wait at our borders while we have absolutely no control over people coming here from 20-odd countries in Europe?".
For Andrew Percy our Commonwealth Brethren seem to be all white although they only make up about 2.5% of the population of the former British colonies. Odd that. I wonder what Greg Dyke would say?
