16 May 2018

Fantasy politics

It might be better to think a little, perhaps even take the odd decision, before scrambling to write up your conclusions.  But this government likes to put the cart before the horse:
Theresa May has announced plans to publish, ahead of a critical Brussels summit next month, a Brexit white paper setting out her priorities for Britain’s future relationship with the European Union.
In an attempt to get on the front foot in negotiations, the government will for the first time present a “detailed, ambitious and precise” explanation of what it hopes the final deal will deliver. The blueprint is expected to include a plan for a customs relationship that avoids re-establishing a hard Irish border, although the prime minister’s cabinet remains bitterly divided over how best to achieve this.
...
As well as customs, the white paper will cover the future security relationship, the financial services sectoraviation and fisheries. It will form part of ongoing negotiations with Brussels ahead of a political declaration in the autumn.
This might have been a useful exercise if it had been undertaken last year or, preferably, the year before.  But announcing a White Paper before you have decided what it should say is political folly.

   

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