Today, it’s our turn to speak, to set out our red lines. Barnier, as we reported yesterday (see here), had his astounding go on Tuesday and yesterday put more fuel on the fire in a speech in the EU Parliament. Over here, ‘sources’ were dropping hints on what might be in the mandate for our negotiators.
I am not sure if Brexit has simply become boring for most of our MSM or if the Remain ones think that there’s nothing to write about it unless it can be squeezed into the usual “EU good – UK bad” template. In any case, people are too thick to understand and Prince Harry and the Coronavirus is far more important, innit like.
But M Barnier did speak again, and he did have some more warnings for us. It’s the well-known carrot-and-stick method:
“Mr Barnier said the EU would offer “unprecedented” trading terms if the UK agrees to rules that stop unfair competition. He warned Brussels would not “take the risk that the UK becomes a kind of assembly hub” for goods from all over the world.“ (link)
Take note of the expression ‘assembly hub’. This is meant to belittle our country: we are too benighted to produce anything ourselves, we can only assemble parts sent to us by other trade nations, as if we’re a 3rd World country. Presumably no EU member state is an ‘assembly hub’ … To make certain that everybody understands the carrot and the stick Barnier repeated himself:
“He added: “We are ready to offer to the UK super-preferential access to our markets – a level of access that would be unprecedented for a third country. Is this something we can do without firm guarantees that the UK will respect the level playing field and avoid unfair competitive advantages? The answer, I’m afraid, is simple. We cannot. We want competition in the future but it must be fair – fair and free.” (link)
A cry about wanting “fair competition” – coming from a Frenchman? Are you having a larf, Michel? The Times reports on a different aspect of that Barnier speech, and in good old Remain fashion the item they focussed on is because they had to show, surreptitiously, how puny and helpless we are in the face of the mighty EU:
“All British goods entering the European Union will be checked to ensure that Britain does not become an “assembly hub” for China or America next year, Michel Barnier warned yesterday. The EU’s chief negotiator said that even with a positive outcome to post-Brexit trade talks, full customs checks would be needed to determine the origin of British goods. All goods coming from the UK as they do from China or the US will have to be checked at the border of the single market.” (link, paywalled)
In other words – no matter how good and diligent we are, bowing to Brussels, those customs checks will be made. I’d like to know if M Barnier means we cannot sell ready-made chicken meals to the EU – not that the French would ever touch such an abomination! – unless we prove there’s not a bit of chlorinated chicken in them? Hm. For emphasis, RemainCentral quotes the Man himself, that new expression ‘assembly hub’ included:
“Of course we love ‘Made in Britain’ but we must guarantee that the goods we import from the UK — tariff and quota free — really are British,” Mr Barnier said. We cannot take the risk that the UK becomes a kind of assembly hub for goods from all over the world, allowing them to enter the single market as British goods.” (link, paywalled)
It doesn’t seem to have dawned on dear Michel that this insistence on border checks cuts both ways. I recall the uproar some years ago about horsemeat being sold as ‘beef’ in ready meals made in EU countries. So I expect our border control to be very diligent. We can’t have imports from that ‘assembly hub’ called the EU, now can we – that wouldn’t be that famous ‘level playing field’ at all, would it, M Barnier!
The other ‘conditions’ regarding social and environmental ‘standards’ on which M Barnier insists are also interesting. Perhaps we shall demand the EU adapt to our standards, in workers’ rights, animal welfare and environment, where ours are higher and better than those in EU member states who presumably want to import to us. It cuts both ways, Michel, remember?
And so to ‘our’ red lines, leaked from No10. If Johnson will really do this then I, for one, will actually and officially be really, truly amazed:
“The Prime Minister has made it clear that he will not be bound by the political declaration attached to the EU Withdrawal Agreement, which sets out the ground rules for a trade deal. […] The Prime Minister believes he is within his rights to go back on previous agreements covering areas including borders, fishing rights and state aid.” (paywalled link)
The reasoning behind this change is breath-taking – not that I’m criticising, I’m just flabbergasted:
“The declaration – originally requested by Theresa May – is a statement of intent from both sides setting out their broad aims for a trade deal. Mr Johnson signed up to it when Parliament passed the Withdrawal Agreement in January. However, Number 10 pointed out that Brussels had quietly dropped some of the commitments it made in the political declaration when it published its own negotiating mandate earlier this week, proving that it is not a binding agreement. Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said: “The Withdrawal Agreement is an international treaty – the political declaration is not of that status.” (paywalled link)
Are we really seeing some fundamental changes in our negotiating stance? Having abolished the DexEU department, the ‘task force’ for negotiating looks to be quick out of the blocks and on the ball. Here are particulars:
“Among the previous agreements Mr Johnson will ditch when he publishes the UK’s negotiating mandate are an acceptance of a “level playing field” designed to yoke Britain to EU standards and regulations, an agreement to negotiate over fishing rights and rules governing state aid.” (paywalled link)
To make quite certain that the rationale for this development is understood by all the DT reports details in what looks to have been a government-sanctioned leak:
“Earlier this month, Mr Johnson said “early progress” on agreements over financial services and personal data protection would be “a test of the constructive nature of the negotiating process”. But pledges in the political declaration to reach an agreement on financial services by June 2020, and on data by the end of December, were dropped by Brussels when the EU’s negotiating mandate was published. Government sources said that meant Mr Johnson was fully entitled to ignore elements of the political declaration. Britain will refuse to sign up to EU rules on state aid, and will not build any infrastructure to deal with customs declarations on goods crossing from the mainland to Northern Ireland despite EU demands that they must exist.” (paywalled link)
That is quite a remarkable little bomb, detonated on the quiet by No10. Like Barnier, like the MSM who believe in reinforcing arguments by repeating them, let me repeat my questions: are we seeing the first glimpses of a profound change in the Whitehall culture of Remain? Are we seeing the effect of Brexiteers in the Treasury, Foreign Office and especially the office of the Attorney General, now held by that staunch Brexiteer Suella Braverman?
Is the ‘culture’ in Whitehall and No 10 finally changing from “The EU won’t like it” to “Eff off, EU”? Fingers crossed while we wait for today’s presentation of Johnson’s official ‘Red Line’ which should really be a line of Union Jacks. Until then I won’t count chickens, chlorinated or not, before they’re hatched.
KBO!
Whilst M. Barnier is still on his high-horse, we should ask him what EU compensation is due to Britain, for two decades’ of damage and destruction caused by the European Water Framework Directive of 2000. This one size-fits-all ruling for all European rivers to be left un-dredged but allowed to overflow into flood plains whilst financially rewarding the building of higher flood defences, has done untold damage to the UK countryside, ruined hundreds of businesses and made thousands homeless.
Based on what facts and assumption was this ruling made to apply, with a single brush to the British Isles, with physical features so different from the wide undulating plains of France or Germany. For centuries our River Boards in consultation with farmers and landowners, had found it necessary to dredge every stream and river to ensure their capacity to carry off any rain or storm water rapidly down to the sea. The arrogance of the EU to appoint the Environment Agency to supplant our knowledgeable River Boards has ensured not only High Street businesses are destroyed but precious family homes too, even those situated miles from any rivers are totally saturated with flood debris and sodomised with insanitary refuse, ruining furnishing and furniture, a lifetime of investment and home-making that led to depression and mental illness, not to mention the breakdown of some marriages and lifestyle that are irretrievable. No sums of money can replace such vast scale destruction of lives, memory and livelihood.
The EU needs to learn lessons and the Commission that gave birth to the idea that British lives are expendable to ensure living organisms in our rivers are not disturbed by dredging, must accept responsibility for any directive that had caused death or loss of property and happiness. The £12 billions paid to the EU annually should be refunded to compensating victims who have lost almost their entire lifetime’s work and savings; words cannot describe their heartbreak nor their misery. “Everything gone in one day!”
The floods of 2009 and 2015 in north-west England were the worst for more than 550 years and current reports of 2019-20 is proving to be another desolate winter, when many flood defences financially promoted by EU rewards, are collapsing before the storms’ arrival. So if M. Barnier wants to hold Britain to account for our Brexit, then let’s enumerate all British losses due to EU regulations and policies. Stand tall and hold your nerves! Boris. The EU has a lot to lose!
Did I hear right during the Labour Leadership Debate that EAW went this morning?
You did!
Thanks Viv,
And you’ve made a lovely meal of it in this morning’s “Betrayal” daily saga, I enjoyed that too.
Incidentally I didn’t hear any reaction during the debate to that momentous news – surely a question from the audience would have elicited a view to whether each of the candidates “was pleased or not”.
Presumably the EAW is one of the Labour party’s red lines
How about eff off EU or it’s WTO. Headlines Boris the Brave. Then at the last minute deal offered by EU. Boris claims they gave in to our demands. But deal really rigged so we are still in. EU claims victory. Boris claims we have left on wonderful terms. Maybe all this prearranged with appropriate grandstanding to fool voters. It’s how they work.
Funny, Mr Newland – I said exactly that to my spouse today. It’s all choreographed. ”You say this, and then I’ll say that, then you stamp your feet and pretend to be angry, then I’ll knock the chair over as I get up, enraged……”
I don’t think BJ will risk offending his ”EU friends”. He’s given them a couple of things to show his goodwill (HS2, climate blurb, insulting the US) and they know where he’s coming from. So should we.
I’m a little worried about ‘The Free Ports’ as this could herald the notion of ‘An Assembly Hub’ of world produced parts. – My own take on the UK is that with the right ideas, and decent investment, this Nation could make quality items, with ‘Made in Britain’ proudly proclaimed !
Strangely enough. I agree with Barnier. We must not become an assembler of shoddy, or a focussed centre for trading of poor quality. cheapy cheapy,.. It is the brainless Shoddy, consumerism, retail dominated, foolish countries that are bound to deteriorate.
To survive “Made in Britain ” has to become defined quality again. Right. Pukka . Genuine. Best or .Leading.
Cheap, careless volume , Market stall crap , has Business attraction for money amongst the foolish and poor.
So Education is what it always comes down to.
IMHO Blaire and his aid and abetters; particulatly “The Cretin Crossland “who destroyed education for ordinary people . Are to blame for lowering standards of everything but particularly the basis of everything….Education.
There’s a slogan the dimwits at UKIP are asking for.:–
Eff off EU.
Although I did once see a sign in a Bond Street window ” Guarenteed Unwashable “
The attitude of the EU towards Brexit has been a known known all along. Can’t say that about the perfidious Tories.
“Brussels would not “take the risk that the UK becomes a kind of assembly hub” for goods from all over the world.“ …”
By George! I think he’s got it! That’s exactly what’s going to happen!
Of course we’ll become an ‘assembly hub for goods from all over the world’ (especially goods designed by British engineers)!
With our flexible self-correcting precedent-based legal system, the English language, a few centuries of practice (anyone heard of the British Standards the engineering world did and probably still does, directly or indirectly, run on?) and an understanding of what begins at Calais etc. etc. we’ll do very well out of it and so too will the rest of Europe. (With or without the EU).
Here’s hoping the civil (and the uncivil) servants get it too and if they don’t someone sits them down and has a quiet word in a way even they can understand.
BSI exists infected by committees bureaucrats, lefty talky talky . But the reality is there in the odd persons brains.One of my harmless ( I thought ) hobbies, when in various companies was to pick peoples brains to write Standards ( No laughter please ). Every company had these peopleand they were astonishing.mostly world renowned amongst a small scattered group.
Don’t know about ‘fingers crossed’, Viv. How about ‘two fingers up’?
Oh, I’m all for ‘two fingers up’ the EU and Barnier especially who ought to be aware of the origin of that British gesture. The crossed fingers are for BoJo actually doing what the leakers imply he’s going to do.
“… we must guarantee that the goods we import from the UK — tariff and quota free — really are British”
Aside from food I suspect much that arrives from the EU originates in China. Pot calling the kettle black as usual.
As ever we can only hope that Boris is strong enough to face them down on all of their demands, and evade the 39bn “divorce bill” or any other payments so hastening the demise of the EU.
Quite, French stores, that I frequent frequently, are stuffed to the rafters with Chinese goods at very inflated prices. The pot has never been so black. Coming the end of March I wonder how empty the shelves will become. Fingers crossed they play hard ball with the hypocrites. We have been let down so many times one can only hope.
Because of the EU ‘s VAT rules – imports taxed at entry or where chosen – goods travelling through the EU are already subject to monitoring,even to the extent of whole loads being X-rayed.
The infrastructure and bureaucracy already exist. This is a non-problem.
JF
Agreed and reinforced.
However I would caution. In the same impenetrable way that the Civil service is ( Maybe ‘has ‘, or was ) infected , Check the computers programs for corruption . Particularly if like wages etc. they are officially sponsored and recommended. .