Put Brexit on the back-burner until coronavirus under control
With coronavirus posing such a threat to our economy, it’s time to park trade talks with the EU and stay for now in the Single Market and Customs Union, says chief reporter Martin Shipton
THE coronavirus crisis is now all-pervasive, and it’s easy to sympathise with the former Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies when he calls for all other business at the Senedd to be set to one side while politicians devote their energies to ensuring the survival of our citizens and economy.
It’s disorientating to consider the swiftness with which the virus has transformed from being a news story affecting people on the other side of the world to having a very direct impact on our own way of life.
Had it not happened, and after the floodwater had receded, there is little doubt that the subject which would be dominating the headlines – and our thoughts – would be a familiar one: Brexit.
The issue which only a few months ago was responsible for a polarised society going to the polls after one of the most venomous election campaigns for many years is now barely mentioned.
It’s true that the stark threat to life posed by coronavirus is more intense than anything Brexit could throw at us, but after the public health risk has died down Brexit will still have a huge influence over our collective future.
The phase two talks about the UK’s future trading relationship with the EU were due to continue this week, but the coronavirus has put paid to face-to-face meetings.
There is, for those who may not have bothered to take note, a vast gulf between the two sides.
While the EU wants to protect itself by having a neighbouring former member state maintaining the same standards in terms of workers’ rights, the environment, food and consumer protection, Boris Johnson’s Government wants to have the right to plough a lone path – to the point of withdrawing from any organisation that would entail going to the European Court of Justice in the event of a dispute.
To the great delight of the hardest of Brexiteers, Mr Johnson made it clear that if an agreement seemed impossible by June, the UK would walk away from the negotiations and prepare for a no-deal Brexit at the end of the year.
The two sides were limbering up for a further exchange of rhetorical statements when coronavirus intervened and people stopped listening.
Yet as things stand, the talks are due to continue come what may.
At a time when everyone should be pulling together to contain coronavirus, it seems perverse for the UK Government to be devoting energy to Brexit terms.
It would surely make sense to take advantage of a clause in the draft withdrawal agreement that allows the transitional period – during which we remain members of the Single Market and the Customs
Union – to be extended.
Coronavirus is a huge challenge not only to the NHS, but also to our economy.
With the new advice from the UK Government issued yesterday evening, radical changes to people’s lives are being implemented.
Some people have the good fortune to be able to work from home for their employer, and their pay will not be affected, but many are not in such a privileged position.
Those worst affected will be the low-paid, those who are on zerohours contracts, those who are selfemployed and those who run businesses which are having to close down.
Some workers are expected by their billionaire employer to take an eight-week unpaid holiday.
The suffering for people in all of these categories will be enormous. They do not need additional stress.
We have already seen people panic-buying food and other items like toilet paper, even though supermarket chains maintain there are enough supplies for everyone.
If, on top of the disruption wrought by the coronavirus, we are faced with supply problems and food shortages because of a no-deal Brexit, we risk turning a disaster into a catastrophe.
I don’t want this to sound like the whinge of an unrepentant Remoaner who is trying a new ruse to avoid the implementation of the referendum result. For me, that’s a past battle and we need to move on.
Ironically, coronavirus looks like disrupting our lives to a greater degree than the worst prediction made by the most swivel-eyed Remoaner.
But even the most enthusiastic Brexiteers conceded there would be a short-term shock to the economy in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
The last thing we need is another short-term shock on top of the huge shocks already delivered by the coronavirus.
It’s time to put the trade talks on hold.
I’m not alone in taking this view. The four Plaid Cymru MPs have put down a Commons Early Day Motion in which they make the same argument.
Jonathan Edwards, who represents Carmarthen East & Dinefwr, said: “Every single ounce of political energy should be used to deal with the coronavirus and get the safest and best outcome for everyone.
“Continuing the trade talks would be an enormous distraction and one the EU, as well as ourselves, could do without.
“The time to resume talks will be when the coronavirus crisis has receded.”