This quote is a good summary of the article:
It is time to rebuild meaningful working and trading relations with Europe. This does not have to mean rejoining the EU. But it does mean recognising where our security and our prosperity both lie.
Thoughts?
I don’t care about ‘threats’ from Russia or China, nothing more than new Red Scare propaganda. So, that point can be thrown in the trash rubbish bin.
Joining the customs union would boost trade by eliminating most taxes on imports and exports with EU member states. It would place Britain behind a European tariff wall with the rest of the world. It would help to align rules which, as Sir Ed pointed out, mean that a UK air cargo company currently has to service its planes in the US rather than in Europe. And it would reduce some of the red tape created by Britain’s own post-Brexit regulations.
What will EU even import from the UK? Does it even want British goods? Is there even enough demand backed by purchasing power in the EU countries given their own economic stagnation? Relying on exports as a source of demand is a terrible idea, especially when the Government isn’t willing to step in if and when there are any shocks.
The economic reasons are more valid, I think more open trade between EU and UK would be good. But it’s not going to fix U.K’s problems in any way, that requires Government to do stuff and increase spending, which it isn’t going to do.
Yeah I guess the invasion of Ukraine didn’t happen. It’s just a “propaganda” myth isn’t it.
The UK has had its own attacks from the Russian state (the assassination of Alexander Litvinenko and the attempted assassination of Sergei Skripal). Given that they invaded Ukraine (despite denying that they would), who knows what they will do next.
