What about the Future Framework?

Alongside the Withdrawal Agreement, which is getting the lion’s share of media coverage, the Brexit 'deal' also has a “Framework for the Future Relationship”. This is also being referred to as the "Political Declaration", which is part of its full title.

What is this Framework and is it acceptable?

As the name implies, it is looking to how the UK will interact with the EU in future.  At only 7 pages, there is very little on trade, and only one short section on each collaboration topic such as aviation.

This means that the future relationship remains to be negotiated AFTER the UK has left the EU on 29 March 2019. A Blind Brexit.  That is unacceptable.

There is nothing in the Framework to suggest the level of contributions the UK will have to pay to the EU.  Yet the Withdrawal Agreement suggests there will need to be contributions, both for the Transition Period and thereafter.  No way to judge whether the almost £40billion demanded in the Withdrawal Agreement makes any sense.  That is unacceptable.

Once the UK has left the EU, any negotiations will leave the EU in the driving seat.  The EU has a lot to lose after the Transition Period ends, but the UK will be more desperate, with no easy way to rejoin the EU.  The final deal will inevitably be to the EU’s advantage.  That is unacceptable.

Theresa May is right on one thing.  This is the best ‘deal’ the UK can get.   The EU cannot bend the rules to undermine its foundations.  Yet this ‘deal’ is only agreement for the UK to be screwed over in the next round of negotiations.

For those that say that is why the UK should leave the EU, and would have a stronger negotiating position after No Deal, I'm sorry. The UK will be even more desperate for a deal, and weaker.  The UK will be kicked around by the USA and the EU, like a mid-Atlantic football. Better to be in with the EU as one of the big boys, with some influence over its activities.

So whatever you think of the Withdrawal Agreement, the “Framework for the Future Relationship” is utterly unacceptable. It's a Blind Brexit.

There is only one credible option.  Like it or not, the UK must #StopBrexitNow

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