2020-12-18
Brexit Watch makes a good point.
Interminable never-ending "negotiations" may end up effectively leaving us indefinitely "in transition" (ie: BRINO) to all intents and purposes - how could this be?
It's up to Boris - if he permits this sleight of messaging then he will have only himself to blame for not cutting the negotiations off at the knees at 24:00 on 31st December.
After all, on 1st Jan, even if the EU wants to let current arrangements continue, we don't have to - we can pick and choose!
We can have no objection to negotiating after the 1st January, but Boris would be well advised to put some clear blue timing between ending pre-exit negotiations and starting post-exit negotiations, and should emphasize the different basis on which these are being undertaken (not to mention the immediate changes that he would unilaterally announce and implement at 00:00 on 1st Jan).
That would confirm his credentials at home and give the EU something concrete to motivate them.
Businessmen would rightly be furious at such a last-minute fiasco that leaves them no time to prepare but Boris only has himself to blame - and the changes could be to remove obstacles to business rather than impose them.
If he just lets things ramble on then he will have an extraordinary number of people pointing up the error of his ways in short order, ripping his non-performance on his promise to leave to shreds.
Toasting-forks are being prepared.
