Quote of the week from Markus Kerber, head of the German equivalent of the CBI, when asked if German industry, in order to safeguard the 7.5 per cent of German exports that go to the UK, would demand British membership of the Single Market without the free movement of labour :
“Well, 7.5 per cent is a big number, but 92.5 per cent goes somewhere else. As much as we would like to uphold our very good relations with British customers, it is extremely important for us not to alienate other European markets.”
Angela Merkel said the same thing this week, to thunderous applause. François Hollande takes a similar line, as do his rivals on the French Right. Matteo Renzi, Italy’s prime minister, who is a friend of Britain as well as someone opposed to the EU bullying of his country, agreed with Merkel, saying there could be no special deal for Britain. The heads of government of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary went so far as to issue a joint statement in which they said they would veto any compromise on free movement.
Where does this leave Boris Johnson, who has repeatedly said keeping us in the Single Market would be a doddle? Where does it leave Brexit Secretary David Davis, who last month told the Belfast Telegraph, “with respect to access to the single market, what we will seek to do is ideally have a tariff-free access”. He may have changed his tune since, but what does that say about his judgement?
And where does it leave Northern Ireland, which, in the same interview with the Telegraph, Davis insisted would not have to face up to a hard border with the Republic?
The trouble with the Brexiteers is that, while pretending to keep their cards close to their chest, they actually think they hold ALL the cards. They don’t. Europe is a big place. Britain was an important component, but it is a long way from being Europe’s future engine of growth. Already we are being written out of the script. When British self-interest goes up against the self-interest of the European Union, there can be only one outcome. So let’s hope all those “brilliant” trade deals with America, China, India, Australia, New Zealand and the rest that Boris and Liam Fox have assured us are in the offing can be concluded sometime in the next three years before, to borrow from Donald Trump, Europe puts up a wall and we have to pay for it.
