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A short thread. 1st I am a Leave voter & I would vote to leave the EU again. The METHOD of leaving the EU was chosen by the Parliamentary Conservative Party (chiefly the ERG) & endorsed by Theresa May who said & believed the EEA = EU – it does NOT. /1
The EEA (Single Market) is a huge geographic are that runs from Iceland to Greece & Poland to Portugal of which the EU is part. i.e. the EEA is the EU26 + EFTA states. The UK choosing to leave the EEA means the other EEA states must enforce the Non Tariff Barriers (NTBs) /2
Mr Johnson, the UK Prime Minister said in his press broadcast on 24.12.2020 that there would be no Non Tariff Barriers (NTBs). This was not true. It was a LIE. There are examples which I am citing from this platform: https://ec.europa.eu/info/relations-united-kingdom/overview/consequences-public-administrations-businesses-and-citizens-eu_en /3
Brixham fishermen who can catch all the fish they like and yet they are ‘inundated’ with paperwork (a NTB) & say they are ‘screwed’. Lorries reportedly being turned back from Dover as they have the wrong paperwork (NTB). Any obstacle to smooth trade is a Non Tariff Barrier /4
Discussions between customs officials & transport companies about WHAT paperwork is required & who should fill it in. Reports of lorries hanging around for apparently no good reason for 8 hours. Reports of lorries being returned from France for incorrect paperwork (an NTB) /5
@ianpaisleyuk Apparently asking that Article 16 of the NI Protocol (the safeguard clause) be invoked. It can be invoked unilaterally for serious Economic Societal or Environmental Difficulties - this is day 7 (SEVEN) of the protocol's operation /6
People who have way more experience than I'll ever have tearing their hair out because they WARNED what would happen ( @vivamjm @AnnaJerzewska @hhesterm @SamuelMarcLowe @RichardAENorth) Generally they were scoffed at & told 'They (the EU) need us far more than we need them' /7
People like @johnredwood & others who basically said 'nothing to see here' & refused to engage with ANYONE who asked them what effect their calamitous decision to leave the SM (EEA) would have. Just 'it will be the same the day before as the day after' RUBBISH /8
This humble author has put in my 5p worth. I've had bile & dismissive attacks for 4 years. Well @michaelgove LIAR @BorisJohnson & @Conservatives This is YOUR doing. You wanted it, drove it & own it. Now FIX IT - fast @EFTA4UK please. Thank you /9 END
