Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission giving a lecture at the LSE stated that the UK will be a third country to the EU after we leave the EU on 31 December 2020 and implied that it is the UK that will be disadvantaged.

We should be clear the EU is not a state and the 27 EU states will be third countries to the UK. We should be aware that more imports come into the UK from EU member states than the UK exports to those states.

The UK is the 5th world economy

It is essential to both the UK and EU member states that the future relationship between the UK and EU is conducted in a mutually responsible fashion, including a non tariff – mutual recognition – Free Trade Agreement and is concluded by 31/12/2020.

Negotiations start on the basis that we currently have zero tariff trade and legislation is aligned between the UK and the 27 EU member states. By mutual consent the standards, which have been created under the Internal Market regime in the EU, it should be possible to initiate a constructive dialogue to ensure that those standards are maintained.

The UK has been a prominent actor in creating the Internal Market regime of standards. Often our actions have stipulated that higher standards be created. Therefore this business of creating a “level playing field” is but a red herring. If the UK changes any standards because they are but bureaucratic the EU can follow suit.

I am sure that the UK will not put environmental, health and safety and consumer protection at risk.

As far as other economic and social issues, including security and defence – exchange of information on immigration, scientific and education activity, police and law and order, these are and other issues can be negotiated and evolve on the basis of collaboration measures.

Any suggestion that foreign policy can be linked coming under EU policy and EU diplomatic services cannot continue except by intergovernmental designation. The UK has a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and is the second largest contributor to NATO

It is hoped that the UK government will have learnt its lesson following the preparation of the EU Withdrawal Agreement and not allow the EU to come forward with draft documentation, under Union Law, but draft out what we want in a Free Trade Agreement and in the Treaty Agreement for the future relationship between the UK and the EU.

This final Agreement should be simple, preferably drawn up under UK Common Law