captain red dog wrote:Considering the narrative before the referendum was doom and gloom, recession etc, a growing economy but at a slightly slower rate is quite the contrast.
Well we are only talking about a leaked forecast that the government itself says isn’t particularly accurate. Even if it is, growth slowing by that amount is terrible, even if it is not as bad as it could have been.
However, the success of Brexit is almost entirely hinged on the ability of Britain to be able to cut trade deals with third party nations after Brexit. If we can't do that, we won't be able to grow at any rate other than one we will be stuck with under EU lite membership.
The same leaked report you seemed to like because it didn’t show doom and gloom also stated the predicted level of an American trade deal. It wasn’t very high.
Deals with third party nations will be essential if we leave everything to do with the EU, but they are not going to be deals that are as good as we already have. Why would America, China or anywhere else decide to suddenly give the UK an amazing deal? Especially when they will know we will be desperate.
That's why I am happy with the idea of a second referendum on the terms of the deal. Pretty much everybody outside of the Tory party believes they have done about as bad a job as possible with negotiations, so I'd like to see their end game put back to the public.
If the choice is being locked in the EU rules with a seat at the table, or locked in the EU rules with no seat then its a complete no brainer and on that basis I would change my vote.
And the government know this. They know that being out of the single market will harm us.
I agree that “EU-lite” membership is pointless, but it is far better than the alternative of no deal.
A second referendum on the terms of the deal wouldn’t solve your issue either, if the questions is “EU-lite” or “Leave with no deal” then how do you vote?
I wanted to leave as I wanted more democracy not less. So membership of the free market but even less direction over the future of the EU is the absolute worst of all scenarios in my opinion.
This is something I don’t understand with Brexit. You wanted more democracy? From the UK? The country with a Queen as head of state and an unelected (some are still hereditary or church bishops FFS!) House of Lords? With a FPTP system to elect MPs?
The EU is far more democratic than our system.