The last member of Theresa May’s
cabinet who could give a passable imitation of having some grip on the reality
of Brexit has caved in. Chancellor Philip Hammond, has surrendered to Brexit
fanatic and disgraced former defence minister, Liam Fox.
After arguing for a meaningful
transition phase after the UK leaves the EU in March 2019 to spare us from the
worst effects of Brexit, Hammond has now agreed that instead, we will jump off
a cliff, leaving the Single Market and the customs union.
This is precisely what UK businesses feared and had been arguing against, but the modern day Tory party has little
interest in jobs, the economy or prosperity. Many will see Hammond’s
decision as the ‘certainty’ they have been asking for. Unfortunately for you
and me, that ‘certainty’ will be that the UK is no longer a viable country in
which to invest.
Fox and Hammond’s joint letter
repeats the lie that in the referendum, voters voted to leave the Single
Market. They did nothing of the kind, of course, and indeed a whole series of
Leave campaigners promised we would stay in the Single Market. It is important
that this lie is contradicted every time it is uttered.
This odd couple say we need the
transitional arrangement so that goods can still cross borders, and businesses
can still trade and recruit the staff they need. The corollary of that, of
course, is that once the arrangement ends, these things will no longer be
possible. What Liam Fox does not explain is why, if Brexit is as marvellous as
he says, is it so important to delay its effects?
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