Today saw an agreement by the European Union on the rules that they expect the UK to follow during any transitional arrangement. This transition being the time straight after we nominally leave the EU in March 2019.
These rules require the UK to incur all the downsides of membership – without the UK having any form of control. Everything – free movement, unconditional acceptance of EU laws, millions in fees, no trade agreements, etc – will be just the same as when we were a member; except that the UK would have no MEPs or any say in EU decision making. A situation where the UK could be quite literally bled dry. Also a situation which means that no actual transition can happen.
In short we would become a vassal state – a puppet government controlled by Brussels. A nation totally subject to foreign control and having to pay the EU’s taxation without any representation.
On this basis the only option for the UK is to state that the start of the transitional arrangement was 29 March 2017 and that it will run for no more than two years; terminating on the same day as we leave.
Sadly our lack-lustre leaders and fifth-column elitists seem destined to continue to squabble over the carcass of Brexit – like vultures over a dead buffalo.
Back in 2016 it was pretty clear what needed to be done as quickly as possible – issue resignation letter, suspend payments until agreement reached and repeal the European Communities Act. Just look what has happened instead. Poor Britannia indeed …