Why we need to worry less about Get Brexit Done and more about Getting Brexit Right - Mark Casci

For more than a year now we have seen the posters, placards, TV adverts and social media postings telling us one clear and simple message; Get Ready for Brexit.

For many millions more, the wait has stretched back a great deal longer.

The vote in June 2016 is close to five years old. The UK only ceased being a member state of the European Union in January of this year, all this despite a vote to leave in a referendum, and two general election victories for a party which supported leaving.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, the departure from member state status at the start of the year was only the beginning of the hard work.

The Conservatives' Get Brexit Done slogan was popular with voters.The Conservatives' Get Brexit Done slogan was popular with voters.
The Conservatives' Get Brexit Done slogan was popular with voters.

Due to the pandemic, the talks on our future trading relationship with the EU have received scant attention, until this past few weeks when the deadline of December 31 has begun to loom, iceberg like, from the mist. I had hoped that the onset of the pandemic, which has ripped through France, Spain, Italy and other key member states in a manner not dissimilar to the UK, may have led to the seemingly arbitrary cut-off point of the end of the year being pushed back.

After all, our economy is facing a plunge in activity unseen for three centuries.

Renegotiating how we will do business with our biggest trading partner on the planet is extremely important but also time consuming. Why rush it when there are such pressing realities to deal with on the home front?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, in a matter that surprised many, most of the details have been ironed out between the UK Government and the European Commission, staffed by capable yet unelected officials.

The EC chief has remained firm during talks.The EC chief has remained firm during talks.
The EC chief has remained firm during talks.

However, we have for the past few weeks been stuck on two issues; the so called level playing field that sets out that both parties adhere to similar standards and regulations so as not to disadvantage the other and fishing, a sector of our economy worth less than 0.1 per cent of GDP but which carries considerable political weight.

True to form, there has been much sabre rattling from both camps. For all his faults our Prime Minister has, for once, taken a consistent line in the negotiations, stating that the UK is now a sovereign, independent nation which must and should be allowed to make its own way in the world without direct or indirect influence or control from abroad.

This was one of the key selling points of Brexit and one of the issues that proved so enticing to voters. He cannot row back on this pledge at the eleventh hour.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Equally, however, it is fair to point out that the EU is entitled to call for regulations to be standardised to a degree so as to ensure that the UK is not allowed to begin cutting corners to undermine it in the global marketplace. After all, we are talking here of matters which are actually very important to people’s lives such as workers rights, environmental standards and state aid subsidies.

Fishing remains one of the key sticking points.Fishing remains one of the key sticking points.
Fishing remains one of the key sticking points.

While the UK has very high welfare standards in agriculture, it lags behind on workers’ rights and has a mixed record on state aid. One can see why trust is low on the level playing field issue.

The development and roll out of vaccines to counteract Covid has given us a proverbial light at the end of a very dark tunnel. Covid is highly unpleasant and extremely transmissible but is only fatal for a small percentage of humans. Once we can begin to vaccinate at risk groups then the economy can begin to reach a stage where it is able to open to levels akin to those seen this time last year. Indeed, some have estimated this situation may be reality by as early as the spring.

After a weekend in which yet another deadline for an agreement on trade with the EU has come and gone, I am compelled to ask why we are in such a hurry?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The actions of many politicians ensured that it took four years for Britain to act on the instruction of its electorate.

While it is disagreeable to ask for those who voted for Brexit to ask for further delay I am sure the majority of business people would desire a good deal to a hastily produced one and certainly preferable to no deal at all.

Getting Brexit Done may no longer be a slogan. Getting Brexit Right should replace it. It is time to move on, and in a manner that brings everyone together.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.