Well, predictably, I have read it. The 34 page summary that is.
I think the agreement is such that it is important to understand my position: I voted Remain, I thought Leave was a bad decision made for the wrong reasons, but the decision having been made then I thought we should absolutely leave and simply try to obtain the best position we could for the future.
Accepting that the devil will be in the detail and the execution, then I think the agreement is substantially better than I thought that they would achieve.
It is a negotiated agreement which means that you don't get everything your own way. Something that, if one judges by political and public statements, neither Sturgeon nor Starmer understand. Or at least are not prepared to admit they do.
The loss of Freedom of Movement is a huge mistake, but that was pretty much inevitable and the negative impact has been minimised to the point that it is unlikely to substantially impact many people. (For me it's pretty much zero impact and probably never will be of any import)
The fishing t***s have got more than they could have reasonably hoped for though not everything they wanted and the airlines and telecommunications people must be over the moon.
There are potential implications for the financial service market, but that is stuff that will come out in the wash and will depend very much on the implementation.
It doesn't offer cast iron guarantees for anybody who chooses to sit on their butts and do nothing, which seems to be troubling Starmer, but offers potential for those prepared to put some effort in.
All in all, it seems to me to be fair though involve compromise, and ought to avoid any train wrecks.
It will, though, be very interesting to look back in 10 years and see what we made of it. I suspect that it will be membership in all but name, but that this experience has put paid to the EU's growing social ambitions.
Unless something comes out of the woodwork which I haven't spotted, that probably signals the end of any interest on my part in Brexit, the referendum, or anything else to do with the sorry period of history.
To those who were obsessed with leaving the EU, and avoiding the ECJ, then you've got far closer to that than I thought you would. So put your bitterness away and step up.
I would caution the whiners to understand that crying in your aprons and whining to your cronies may be personally comforting, but will probably do you a whole bunch of no good.
It is what it is and now we must make it work, make the best of it, and seize whatever opportunity it brings. Which for me, should I decide to return to gainful employment, might be considerable.
Last edited by: No FM2R on Fri 25 Dec 20 at 15:54
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