Should May Go Yes/No

The Dude

The EU have been telling us there'll be 'no cherrypicking' for over a year now.

They could change their minds and their constitution possibly, in order to accommodate the election result in a single ex-member state.. or they might not.

Sonic67

If we can retain single market access without freedom of movement, with the freedom to do our own trade deals plus escape having laws imposed by the ECJ then I don't think anyone would complain.

Except it is the EU forcing a hard brexit by making some of these things a condition.

Rasczak

Check that. Labour is confused now.

Labour Chaos Latest: Now Back Free Movement - Guido Fawkes

As Guido reported this morning the Tories are all over the place on Brexit, though it’s worth looking at Labour’s shambles as well. On Monday Barry Gardiner and John McDonnell disagreed about staying in the single market. Today Rebecca Long-Bailey amusingly described the single market as a “moot point” and suggested she supports the continuation of free movement:

“We accept the fact that if we are going to have impediment-free access to the single market then there will have to be some element of free movement.”

Labour’s manifesto position, outlined by Corbyn during the campaign was: “clearly the free movement ends when we leave the European Union.” Does Becky speak for herself or the Shadow Cabinet?

Rasczak

I think it depends on what we are after. Nobody sensible really wants to reduce immigration as we need people to come here, so the challenge for the politicians is to come up with something that satisfies the masses without really restricting it. And if that can be achieved the single market remains a possibility. Your point about no cherry-picking is noted but, pre-referendum, Cameron was offered a deal so if a similar package was offered again that would probably go far enough provided it was well marketed.

The Dude

You're kidding. Cameron was offered sweet FA. If he'd got anything even half decent we'd probably have stayed.

nabby

Cameron got the right to limit the access to benefits for a period of up to four years. If we can take something similar now, then that will probably suffice for restrictions on immigration.

Sonic67

You're only seeing things from the big business perspective by the sounds of it?

All of my customers are small businesses, mostly trade based, very nearly all of them (the owners) voted brexit and very nearly all of them solely on the issue of FoM.

EU regulations, red tape and bendy bananas are not really a concern for a local building firm.
Being priced out of every job they quote for by the big firms who are recruiting over in Romania and paying wages 30-40% below UK market rate is the issue.

We need some immigrant labour certainly in the short term until we get over our obsession with university and start promoting the 'dirty' jobs as worthwhile again, but it's got to be controlled and managed possibly on a regional basis or whatever. Freedom of movement in the EU sense will be coming to an end, I can't see any other path appearing and unless the EU have a change of heart it looks like that rules out the single market.

It's not about politicians finding a way of conning the masses into accepting something they never voted for, it's about politicians finding a way of keeping themselves in a job because the masses are getting wise and getting restless.

la gran siete

Boo-hoo. Don't be such a snowflake.

la gran siete

Amazing isn't it? You'd think control of who we make deals with and who we accept into our country are fundamental things about being a sovereign nation. The EU has to control both.

The Dude

Apparently, the Tories are willing to let May continue in the hope she takes all the flack over the next two years as there is bad news on the way, much of it associated with Brexit. As the electorate becomes fully aware , bearing in mind they are sick to the teeth of austerity, there is bound to be recriminations .The party is in a mess without a doubt, with one side pulling one way hoping for a softer Brexit and the other , the diehard swivel eyed loonies, ready to carry on their flight of fancy regardless of the negative effects.I guess they must be  wealthy enough not to too bothered about any negative outcomes - the real life Alan B'stards