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It would be wise to take any promises made by the current government with regard to the EU with a rather humongous pinch of salt at the moment. The UK will sho

It would be wise to take any promises made by the current government with regard to the EU with a rather humongous pinch of salt at the moment. The UK will shortly be trying to salvage as much of its trading and regulatory relationship with Europe as it can. I’d expect to see promises like this quietly dropped.

tonyedgecombe 7y ago
That was my hope originally but I’m not so sure now. It seems the current government believes a lot of their own rhetoric.
- interfixus 7y ago
  rhetoric, noun: political views espoused by people one does not agree with.
  - gpm 7y ago
    Actual definition (Merriam Webster) Rhetoric: Noun: Verbal communication : Discourse In politics rhetoric refers to the arguments communicated, not the views themselves. People you agree with also have rhetoric. To the extent it has a negative connotation, that is because many arguments (even for good policies) are terrible.
- Zenst 7y ago
  Most of their `rhetoric` was that they would leave the EU, so you can see how that momentum could run. But on results of promises and delivering the current government elected in December, seem to be on target. But early days, let's see how that actually pans out, people saying one thing and not doing; That is `rhetoric`. Actually delivering it, a rare thing in today's times. As for this Article 13 EU Law - not a bad one to not adopt as many a debate has extolled when the law was first mooted. Is it just an easy low-hanging fruit to enable other less socially palatable laws to be ignored - not impossible at all, but without time we can only speculate from perspective. [EDIT - formatting and extra S removed]
NeedMoreTea 7y ago
I don't think this lot actually care about the trading and regulatory relationship with Europe, at all. I can't figure out what is supposed to fill the place occupied by the EU. Which makes for an interesting decade, particularly if you have a business trading within the EU.
- matthewmacleod 7y ago
  It’s possible of course, but ultimately so much business is conducted with Europe that UK businesses are still going to have to be in compliance with the majority of the regulatory regime - at least anybody who exports. I imagine most companies will end up setting up EU-domiciled subsidiaries to minimise barriers, but who knows ultimately!
- jariel 7y ago
  They care to the extent they have to. They signalled earlier that they are not going to align themselves with EU regulatory apparatus - this was to indicate to the EU that they were not going for the 'tight integration' approach, which is important because it was assumed by many this would be the UK position. The UK is seeking to have an independent regulatory system, obviously, this means many things vis-a-vis relationships with the EU. Many products will naturally have to comply with regulations, just as any UK company selling kit in the US or Brazil has to align their products with those regimes. But in reality, obviously, this will evolve given any specific advantages that might present themselves. But it's also impossible to tell what is a 'negotiating posture' vs. what is their real, intended posture, and that's very much on purpose. My bet is that the end result will be something like NAFTA/USMCA.
- toyg 7y ago
  This lot does not even agree with itself about what it wants, or is deliberately making an effort to appear that way. One day the chancellor of the Exchequer (effectively n.2 in gov, the one with actual hands on the purse-string) says “screw alignment, we don’t need the EU, the Americans are our best friend”; the next the Prime Minister says “screw Americans, they are bullies, the EU is still our best friend”; and the chancellor goes “he’s right, I don’t know what I was thinking the other day”. In the next 12 months, the public won’t be able to believe a single word coming from government that might involve (even tangentially) trade negotiations.

tonyedgecombe 7y ago

That was my hope originally but I’m not so sure now. It seems the current government believes a lot of their own rhetoric.

interfixus 7y ago
rhetoric, noun: political views espoused by people one does not agree with.
- gpm 7y ago
  Actual definition (Merriam Webster) Rhetoric: Noun: Verbal communication : Discourse In politics rhetoric refers to the arguments communicated, not the views themselves. People you agree with also have rhetoric. To the extent it has a negative connotation, that is because many arguments (even for good policies) are terrible.
Zenst 7y ago
Most of their `rhetoric` was that they would leave the EU, so you can see how that momentum could run. But on results of promises and delivering the current government elected in December, seem to be on target. But early days, let's see how that actually pans out, people saying one thing and not doing; That is `rhetoric`. Actually delivering it, a rare thing in today's times. As for this Article 13 EU Law - not a bad one to not adopt as many a debate has extolled when the law was first mooted. Is it just an easy low-hanging fruit to enable other less socially palatable laws to be ignored - not impossible at all, but without time we can only speculate from perspective. [EDIT - formatting and extra S removed]

NeedMoreTea 7y ago

I don't think this lot actually care about the trading and regulatory relationship with Europe, at all. I can't figure out what is supposed to fill the place occupied by the EU. Which makes for an interesting decade, particularly if you have a business trading within the EU.

matthewmacleod 7y ago
It’s possible of course, but ultimately so much business is conducted with Europe that UK businesses are still going to have to be in compliance with the majority of the regulatory regime - at least anybody who exports. I imagine most companies will end up setting up EU-domiciled subsidiaries to minimise barriers, but who knows ultimately!
jariel 7y ago
They care to the extent they have to. They signalled earlier that they are not going to align themselves with EU regulatory apparatus - this was to indicate to the EU that they were not going for the 'tight integration' approach, which is important because it was assumed by many this would be the UK position. The UK is seeking to have an independent regulatory system, obviously, this means many things vis-a-vis relationships with the EU. Many products will naturally have to comply with regulations, just as any UK company selling kit in the US or Brazil has to align their products with those regimes. But in reality, obviously, this will evolve given any specific advantages that might present themselves. But it's also impossible to tell what is a 'negotiating posture' vs. what is their real, intended posture, and that's very much on purpose. My bet is that the end result will be something like NAFTA/USMCA.
toyg 7y ago
This lot does not even agree with itself about what it wants, or is deliberately making an effort to appear that way. One day the chancellor of the Exchequer (effectively n.2 in gov, the one with actual hands on the purse-string) says “screw alignment, we don’t need the EU, the Americans are our best friend”; the next the Prime Minister says “screw Americans, they are bullies, the EU is still our best friend”; and the chancellor goes “he’s right, I don’t know what I was thinking the other day”. In the next 12 months, the public won’t be able to believe a single word coming from government that might involve (even tangentially) trade negotiations.