Hands up if you’ve read David Frost’s speech in Brussels. And they will use any means – fair or foul – to prevent that from happening. David Frost set out the UK's stance ahead of post-Brexit trade talks
"He said this was not a "a simple negotiating position which might move under pressure - it is the point of the whole project".He said the UK will set out more details of its vision for the future relationship with the EU next week.Mr Frost also reiterated the government's insistence that it will not extend the transition period beyond the end of this year.The transition period runs until 31 December 2020, during which time the UK continues follow EU rules - including freedom of movement.It is intended to allow time for the UK and the EU to agree a post-Brexit trade agreement.One of the key sticking points could be the idea of ensuring a level playing field - which was referred to by Mr Frost in his speech.
Firstly, do everything to go after the Labour unionist vote and, secondly, articulate the case for the Union better than anyone else.It’s no good just slagging off the SNP or just undermining their case; Unionists need to win hearts and minds by being positive about Scotland’s role in the UK. Message discipline is all very well, but there has to be someone to promulgate that message.Hands up if you’ve read David Frost’s speech in Brussels. "The more thoughtful would say that such an approach would compromise the EU's sovereign legal order. Japan wouldn’t stand for it. Their opinion poll ratings are still far higher than anyone could have expected at the time.So Carlaw starts his tenure with a fantastic legacy. The EU wants the UK to sign up to strict rules on fair and open competition - known as level-playing-field guarantees - so if British companies are given tariff-free access to the EU market, they cannot undercut their rivals.The EU has repeatedly warned that the UK cannot expect to enjoy continued "high-quality" market access if it insists on diverging from EU social and environmental standards.It also wants the European Court of Justice to have a legal role in policing any free trade agreement reached.But in his speech, Mr Frost asked: "How would you feel if the UK demanded that, to protect ourselves, the EU dynamically harmonise with our national laws set in Westminster and the decisions of our own regulators and courts? It articulated the Government’s plans for a post-Brexit Britain better than anyone else has done. Congratulations to Jackson Carlaw for becoming leader of the Scottish Conservative Party. She was an outstanding success who grabbed the party by the scruff its neck and gave it a good shake. If Britain doesn’t have the right to make its own laws after Brexit and is obliged to mirror EU legislation, despite having no input into its drafting, we might as well not have left.That doesn’t mean that regulatory equivalence on some (but not all) issues isn’t something that we shouldn’t consider. Future historians will look back on it and regard it as just as significant as Margaret Thatcher’s 1988 Bruges speech.t’s actually a speech that Boris Johnson should have made, and quite why cameras weren’t allowed to film it, God only knows.
Brexit: France warns UK of bitter trade negotiations Brexit: EU's von der Leyen seeks 'unique' trade deal with UK Brexit: Britain 'will not be aligning with EU rules' - Raab Speaking at a security conference in Munich, Mr Le Drian said the two sides were far apart on a range of issues.The return of millions of pupils begins as teachers make final changes to meet latest guidelines. Nor will we.The grandstanding of Barnier on proximity demonstrates their fear that Britain will outcompete the EU on the world stage. When Ruth Davidson became leader of the party in Scotland, no one rated her chances of success. The Home Office has seven ministers. It set some red lines which Brussels will actually believe we won’t cross.And if they don’t believe in them, well, yet again they may be in for a big surprise. “We bring to the negotiations not some clever tactical positioning but the fundamentals of what it means to be an independent country. She lacked experience.Well, everyone was wrong.
David Frost has set out the UK's stance ahead of post-Brexit trade negotiations, due to start next month. Read his full speech here. The question is whether that can be reconciled with the EU's position that it has to apply more stringent safeguards to its neighbour than it does to Canada, Japan or South Korea. If not, do yourself a favour and do so. We are independent of the Conservative Party but supportive of it.