wrote:
In article , (Roland Perry)
wrote:

In message , at 18:18:17 on Thu, 2 Feb
2017, tim... remarked:

You've obviously not been following the recent politics of this.


https://www.gov.uk/government/public...-exit-from-and
-new-partnership-with-the-european-union-white-paper

well it is only hours old

But trailed for weeks.

and promises "What we have come up with ... is the idea of a comprehensive
free trade agreement and a comprehensive customs agreement _that will
deliver the exact same benefits as we have._"

So either we stay in the single market or this is pure fantasy. The
Government will be held to this promise.

Is it a promise, or just an objective? The government is in no position to
promise what the result of a multi-year negotiation will be. It can declare
a public target for the final agreement, and have a private, more
realistic, assessment of what deal is possible, but no more. It may have a
minimum fall-back position, but certainly won't be disclosing it.

So this white paper cannot be any more than a wish list, just like the EU'S
hope for a €60bn alimony.