Seeing red
Brexit started with half truths, such as £350 million extra for the NHS on the side of a bus, and Theresa May is keeping up the tradition by saying the only choice is No Deal if her deal is rejected. The Prime Minister has made no attempt to reach out to the other parties to try to secure a deal which is in the national interest. The only reason the EU have been saying no further negotiations are possible is Mrs May’s red lines, such as no single market or customs union. If the red lines are removed, the EU have indicated that a better deal can be negotiated.
The question on the referendum ballot paper was whether or not to come out of the EU. But the EU is not the same as the single market, you can come out of the EU and stay in the single market, as other countries have done, such as Norway and Switzerland. So when Theresa May says that 18 million people voted to come out of the single market, that is another half truth.
Coming out of the single market is a political choice, just like Austerity, the Tories would be very happy to remove workers’ rights and cut environmental protection. There are those who say that staying in the single market means accepting freedom of movement, and the EU make
no exceptions. But David Cameron was offered an emergency brake on free movement in his negotiations prior to foolishly calling the referendum, Mrs May’s red line prevented her from starting negotiations to build on this. Germany sends home EU migrants who claim benefits before looking for work. Mrs May’s red line is the only reason there is now a problem with Northern Ireland.
As for the customs union, nowhere in the Government’s glossy pre-referendum brochure, sent to every household at a cost of £9 million, were the words “customs union” mentioned. The likelihood is that few of the people who voted knew anything about the customs union. Germany has more trade with countries such as China than the UK does, and being in the customs union doesn’t seem to hinder them.
Mrs May’s negotiations have pandered to the right wing of her party from Day One, and her red lines have inexorably lead to the awful deal we are now being presented with. It is time for Parliament to stand up and send Mrs May back to negotiate the deal the UK voted for, which would mean staying in the customs union and closely aligning to the single market, not the hard Brexit the right wing of the Conservative Party wishes to push through.
PHIL TATE Craiglockhart Road, Edinburgh
I will reluctantly give the Brextremists credit for two outcomes arising out of the mockery that they have made of our democracy. They have opened up the way for a long overdue debate on the kind of society we wish to be. This, however, is dependent on the citizens demonstrating themselves capable of taking an active part in the safeguarding of our democracy.
The other, not unrelated, outcome is the opportunity
for a party political realignment. The basic divide will centre on a return to Europe (should we leave) with a continuation of the current degree of “free movement” necessary for the health of our economy
and the continuation in the UK of the current EU regulatory regimes. The latter would scupper the plans of the ultra free marketeers led by Liam Fox.
The core driving forces at
the heart of this political realignment would be the 16 million who voted to Remain but who have been ignored since the 2016 referendum, the response to the demand for a People’s Vote and a determination to demonstrate that lying and breaking the law may be the way to bring about a rightwing coup but they have no place in a mature democracy.
JOHN MILNE Ardgowan Drive, Uddingston
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