MPs warn of clash on Brexit aims
Delivering both ‘best possible access for goods and services to the European market’ and prioritising controlling the UK’s borders and coming out of European court scrutiny ‘will be difficult’, an MPs’ select committee in charge of scrutinising the Brexit process has claimed.
The group highlights a possible clash between Prime Minister Theresa May’s stated objectives on controlling borders and Brexit Minister David Davis’s on the future trading relationship, adding however that “a return to tariffs and other regulatory and bureaucratic impediments to trade would not be in the interests of UK businesses”.
It also says that once the article 50 negotiations start then the position of Britons in the EU and EU nationals in the UK must be resolved as quickly as possible.
The cross-party committee of 21 MPs makes the statements it its first report on the Brexit process and negotiating objectives.
The committee calls on Prime Minister Theresa May to publish her negotiation plan by mid-February in a white paper, including her position on the single market and customs union. If it does not harm her “negotiating hand” she should also reveal economic impacts of different future trading arrangements.
However the report also draws attention to the complications around the 2-year period for the article 50 negotiation before Brexit and the need to agree the ‘future relationship’ (especially on trade), which may take longer, and the importance of ‘transitional arrangements’ to avoid a ‘cliff edge’ change for businesses. If an abrupt change looks likely, businesses might leave, the MPs said.
The article 50 deal itself can be compared to a ‘divorce’, where it is decided who owes what and what arrangements will be made for the children (that is, the expats on both sides…).
The committee notes that a separate trade deal, or even a single ‘mixed’ one, may require not only the ‘qualified majority’ agreement of EU leaders involved in a ‘divorce’ but unanimity as well as agreement of all national parliaments and some EU regions as well.
It calls on parliament to be kept informed throughout the negotiation – and to have a vote on the deal.
It also notes that in the interests of UK-Irish relations and the Northern Ireland settlement the Irish devolved assembly and executive need to be involved at all stages including before article 50 is triggered.
A solution will have to be found to the fact that the Northern Ireland Assembly is currently facing a snap election after power-sharing arrangements in the area collapsed, and is not sitting.
The Connexion will be reporting on this in more depth in its February edition. We will be giving Brexit updates every Friday in our regular email newsletter.
