RENEGOTIATE THE WITHDRAWAL AGREEMENT

<< STAND FIRM >> 

It is reported that the EU is deeply concerned that the UK will Exit the EU on 12 April 2019 with no deal following the HoC rejection of the Withdrawal Agreement. It appears they don’t want that. Well of course they wouldn’t as they drew up the Agreement. They therefore need to consider whether by sticking to the text of their Withdrawal Agreement that “No Deal” will emerge.

I realise that the EU has said that the WA is not open to any further negotiation but anybody who has been involved in negotiating a deal knows that if a solution can be found that meets their basic strategy the text can be changed. Even right at the last minute. You know the saying would you cut your nose off to spite your face

The WA, as it stands, in no way represents the decision that 17.4m voters took in the 2016 Referendum to Leave the EU. It could however be made to work if further negotiations took place. The UK has some leverage otherwise it is NO DEAL

All the motions put forward last Wednesday in the HoC were rejected.

Why wasn’t the HoC indicative motion E debated and voted on last week. This sought MP’s to confirm that the 2016 Referendum result would be honoured. Both Conservative and Labour MP’s were elected on Party Manifesto that stated they would honour the result of that Referendum. They cannot now change their opinion back to support their individual Remain vote in the Referendum. We moved on to honouring the Referendum. If they don’t what Trust can we have in their principles

ARTICLE 4 OF THE WITHDRAWAL AGREEMENT

Article 4 of the WA sets out a legally binding arrangement that the UK will come under Union Law during the implementation period and to continue to be so if there is no agreement between the UK and the EU on the future relationship. This is totally unacceptable for the UK, a sovereign state, to be trapped into this arrangement until the UK / EU jointly agree that the UK can Leave the EU. 

In effect the EU 27 member states have to be unanimous in giving their permission for the UK to leave the EU

The UK is currently the second largest economy in the EU and the fifth largest world economy. Our security and defence capability is essential to the defence of the continent of Europe and we are the second largest contributor to NATO

We have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council

Are we actually accepting that the EU has to give us permission to leave the EU – WHAT – surely we cannot agree to that.

The first opinion of the Attorney General remains intact as it should be noted, on past record, that EU negotiations with third countries to establish FTA’s and other arrangements, takes many years and there is uncertainty they can agree. 

The UK will be trapped and unable to exit the EU and negotiate FTA”s with other Third countries. We will have to continue to comply with all EU laws under Union Law and accept ECJ rulings.

That is exactly what the 17.4m voters did not want. They wanted the UK to take control and be a SOVEREIGN nation

This simple fact will potentially hamper our external economy. We will not be able to influence any EU policies

THE BACKSTOP

Furthermore the Ireland / Northern Ireland Protocol is not needed to safeguard the conditions of the Good Friday Agreement. We know that Ireland / Northern Ireland and the UK have declared that regardless of any outcome in these BREXIT negotiations they do not want to have a hard border.

The EU have not officially declared that to maintain the integrity of their Internal (Single) Market and their Customs Union they will insist that a hard border exists. This border issue has been used for political reasons by the EU, the Irish government and some UK politicians who support the REMAIN concept.

I am convinced that the government and public of the Republic of Ireland and in Norther Ireland would be horrified if the EU instructed them to have a hard border

We are told by the EU that the ball is in the UK’s court

BUT IS IT

The vast majority of people that I speak to want to leave the EU and have hardened in that direction when they were told last week that a decision of the European Council takes precedence over UK domestic law. Laws that the HoC agree have no force of law if overturned by EU Law. People voted LEAVE to have control over our law making as an independent sovereign state

Those MP’s who took “NO DEAL” off the table fell into the EU trap of capitulation. [Very bad negotiating tactic]

Nobody is explaining the negative effects of this Withdrawal Agreement and how it will affect us all.

<> <> NEGOTIATING SOLUTION <> <><>

Firstly the indicative motions taken last week were a complete waste of time and if repeated on Monday will have the same effect. None of the Motions were passed – all failed.

The UK government should tell the EU that the Withdrawal Agreement is not acceptable to the HoC nor the general public. The text should be amended if a DEAL is to be agreed

The UK government should tell the EU that the text of Article 4 and its general meaning in the text of the Withdrawal Agreement should be deleted. 

The UK is a SOVEREIGN STATE.

The so called NI / Ireland “backstop” text in the WA should be deleted as should the Protocol. It is said this will never be implemented in which case why is it there it is not required other than to force the UK to comply with whatever EU law that is dreamed up.

A new clause should be added that explicitly allows the UK to unilaterally exit the EU after a specific time if the arrangements for the future relationship between the UK and the EU cannot be agreed

Otherwise the UK should Leave the EU on WTO terms in line with the conditions that the UK currently trades with other Third countries 

By Leaving the EU it will then be possible to enter into negotiations with the EU to establish the future relationship between the UK and the EU – we are told by the EU those negotiations cannot commence until after the UK has left the EU. 

If the EU wants a Deal it needs to be on mutual terms.

This WA is not on mutual terms.

We will Leave on 12 April 2019 at 11pm

We could agree to enter into an informal agreement with the EU that for one year the UK will continue the status quo in respect of laws, standards for goods / services and mutual understanding on tariffs. The UK will have left the EU and after one year if there is no negotiated settlement for a future relationship the UK will automatically unilaterally cease to comply with those undertakings and fully exit the arrangement with the EU. If during the year it is obvious that the EU are deliberately delaying this process the UK can unilaterally exit

Negotiations would involve arrangements for the amicable future working relationship with the EU. This relationship could exercise the negotiators to defend their own objectives but at the same time look beyond to a relationship that includes a non tariff mutual recognition pact to manage a FTA

The government has some leverage on this Withdrawal Agreement since the HoC has rejected it and since the EU would like a deal and they cannot ignore – what they keep asking – for the UK to tell them what we want.

The EU also wants our money but whatever amount is finally agreed it should only be paid over once the final future relationship has been agreed and implemented

Let’s tell them what we want