No 10 claims coronavirus crisis strengthens need for UK to be free of EU regulation after 2020

[Soph0571]

But, as James Forsyth, the Spectator’s political editor reports this week, there has been speculation that the EU itself could request an extension of the transition. One theory was that it would be hard for the UK to refuse.

But the UK would refuse such a request, the spokesman said this morning. He told journalists:

We will not ask to extend the transition. And, if the EU asks, we will say no. Extending the transition would simply prolong the negotiations, prolong business uncertainty, and delay the moment of control of our borders. It would also keep us bound by EU legislation at a point when we need legislative and economic flexibility to manage the UK response to the coronavirus pandemic.

What is also interesting about this comment is that it shows No 10 is now arguing that coronavirus strengthens the case for the UK to break away from regulatory alignment with the EU. Opposing regulatory alignment could end up with the UK having to negotiate with the EU on WTO terms (what used to be called a “no-deal” Brexit), although of course the government says it wants a Canada-style trade deal.

[link:https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/apr/16/coronavirus-uk-live-news-covid-19-lockdown-extension|]

I really had hoped that due to the current economic crisis they would put their zealot brexit plots to one side for the moment while we fought the pandemic. But no, of course not. So on top of the covid-19 crash we will be going on WTO trading rules at the end of the year. This will take decades to recover from. It is shocking that they are pushing their ideology this hard right now. SHOCKING.