Pragmatism is key to positive EU deal
At his news conference in Brussels to launch the EU’S draft Brexit treaty with the UK, Michel Barnier said the key to success in the negotiations was “to stay calm and be pragmatic”. In the House of Commons, David Lidington, the Cabinet Office minister, said the way forward was to take “a pragmatic and constructive approach” to secure an agreement.
It should, therefore, be possible – with political will on both sides – to reach a deal that upholds the decision of the 2016 referendum to leave the EU while ensuring continuing friendly relations and a mutually beneficial trading arrangement. What is not clear is whether that political will exists.
The Government wants the UK to be free to conduct trade negotiations around the world, while retaining frictionless trade with the EU in areas where it is prepared to align rules and regulations. In doing so, it wants to be free from the legal orbit of the European Court and is adamant that there will not be a hard border between the EU and the UK in Ireland. Nor will there be a regulatory frontier between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. As Theresa May said in the Commons, no British prime minister could accept such a threat to the country’s territorial integrity.
A pragmatic approach of the sort espoused by Mr Barnier would clear away these procedural obstacles and find a creative solution using technology. But why should the EU give the UK anything when leading British political figures give the impression that Brexit can be stopped? There appears to be a co-ordinated effort between British Remainers, including two former prime ministers, and the EU to frustrate this process. Tony Blair has admitted that this is his intention; and yesterday Sir John Major joined the clamour, calling for a free vote in Parliament on the final deal – something he refused to offer over the Maastricht Treaty – or a second referendum if MPS cannot agree.
Yet all his speech did was to repeat the warnings he made before the referendum but which the electorate rejected. He again said overseas business would flee the country; and yet Toyota yesterday committed to building new cars in the UK. He talked derisively of “ultra-brexiteers”, otherwise known as people seeking to fulfil the decision of the voters. Sir John would do his country a greater service if he used his reputation and influence to facilitate Brexit on the pragmatic basis outlined by Mr Barnier.