Another day, another impressive policy announcement from David Davis.
This time it’s to hold a double referendum on the EU. The first would ask the public if they wished to see powers repatriated from the EU. Given a big yes, the Conservatives would then have more negotiating leverage when it came to discussions with other European Governments. Whatever those negotiations produced would then be put to voters in a second referendum.
This is something of a milestone for the major parties, being the first time any of them have offered to put any part of the current EU settlement to the voters. Let’s hope a taboo has been broken.
Davis clearly recognises the need for credibility in negotiations. There’s nothing to stop foreign governments just saying ‘no’, and anything that addresses this is good.
Sadly it doesn’t include the one policy that genuinely would add credibility to negotiations.
Davis: We like to renegotiate the EU settlement please.
Chirac: And what will you do if such negotiations fail?
Davis: Well, then we’d leave everything as it is now.
Chirac: Riiiiight. Well, your proposals deserve careful consideration.
[3 seconds later]
Chirac: We’re done. No.
The sad thing is that if our Government did promise withdrawal if a favourable UK protocol couldn’t be negotiated, the other European governments would immediately have a great incentive to conclude such a protocol to protect their trading arrangements. Don’t forget that the UKs balance of trade with the REU is very much in their favour, so they’d be cutting off their nose if they didn’t agree to it.
Until someone takes such a step, promising withdrawal if negotiations fail, this is all so much hot air.
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From Eu-Serf I learn that Davis used to be called Monsieur Non on the Continent. I like this guy.