rationalskepticism.org

Beatsong wrote:

Scot Dutchy wrote:

chairman bill wrote:

Byron wrote:In pledging to keep "the benefits of the Single Market and the Customs Union" and end free movement, Labour's promising two incompatible goals. The EU's clear: the only way the UK keeps EEA perks is by accepting the Four Freedoms; and they'll not budge. One or the other must give. With Labour, I expect it'd be free movement, but a coalition will ensure that.

The benefits of the single market doesn't mean being in the single market. It would be interesting to know what Corbyn et al.'s thinking is on this.

So how do you get the benefits without paying for them?

You do pay for them. Nobody's suggesting you don't have to pay for them. But if you're willing to settle for 80% of the benefits, you might be able to only pay 80% of the price.

But a softer Brexit could mean introducing only modest curbs on free movement, staying in EU regulatory agencies and avoiding a dogmatic rejection of any role for the European court of justice (ECJ). It could even mean maintaining the customs union. There would then be no need for controls and perhaps queues on the EU-UK border – or for customs posts between the north and south of Ireland. But the UK would have to adopt EU tariffs and could not negotiate its own free trade agreements with countries outside the EU. Staying in the customs union would madden the Tory right as much as it would please businesses.

The shape of Brexit, of course, does not depend only on the UK. EU leaders want a deal, but believe they can insist on their terms, since no deal would damage the UK far more than the continent. They would be happy if the UK sought a softer Brexit, which would be less disruptive for their economies. But they will stick to their principles: the single market must include free movement of people and the jurisdiction of the ECJ; Britain must not “cherry-pick” parts of the market, lest it undermine the EU’s institutional and legal coherence; and life outside the EU must be visibly less agreeable than membership. The EU will make it clear that if you want more economic integration, you must give up sovereignty.