This has been signposted for a long time by the fact that we have not done any regulatory realignment after importing the EU laws into the UK wholesale.
this post was submitted on 22 Dec 2025
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Increasing our trade with Europe (whether it's with a customs union or some other measure) would be good for two reasons:
- It would grow the British economy, create more good jobs, increase wages, and increase the amount of money raised in taxes for public services
- It would annoy Brexiteers
The UK specialises in services exports, which are unaffected by a customs union.
Perhaps the EU should become less protectionist, it might help their stagnant economic performance.
I don't know if the right solution is a customs union, or participation in some areas of the single market, or something else. I just read that the UK's post-Brexit arrangements "will reduce long-run productivity by 4 per cent relative to remaining in the EU", so presumably if we boost trade with Europe in certain ways, it should increase British productivity
Returning to common law for regulations more than offsets an annual 0.26% loss of productivity.
And the UK's productivity problems occured while in the EU anyway.
Weirdly archive.is sometimes doesn't load for me
So here it is on archive.ph too
Oh thank you π. It's the reverse for me.
A customs union (as opposed to a free trade area) would require us to allow the EU to control what external tariffs we set, that would effectively make Chinese and American goods a lot more expensive.
And given how much China and the US are our friends, that would just be terrible.
Oh no, weβd buy more stuff more Europe, how terrible. Then itβll have to get shipped locally: the terror!!!
And then European businesses and consumers might start buying from the UK again! That will not stand!!
Spiking the cost of living is generally a bad thing π€
Good.
They trying to hand the keys early to Reform?
Yes, because pandering to fascists ended up so well last time. Oh, hold on...
?
Which word caused you trouble?
What was the point you were making? Are you insinuating I was suggesting pandering?
Yes.
It doesn't and shouldn't matter what fascists think.
You see, that's the problem. Many people voted for Brexit. Left and right. I know if those from the right that cannot stand Reform. You cannot say Norway is racist for not being part of the EU. We have always been arms length, hence why we kept the pound. The public never signed up to the EU fully. It was voted for, decided and any democrat would accept it's a constraint the country needs to work within. The whole wait 5 years, ignore it and rejoin later just drives folk to Reform, angry that they aren't being listened to.
You don't fight fascism by ignoring democracy. You normalise it. And yes, I voted remain, but arrogantly thinking you're right and folk are dumb or evil, serves your ego rather than decent principles like democracy which is the cornerstone of our society.
I do agree we shouldn't pander though and these punish migrant policies Labour are pushing is normalising this. With their people snooping policies, its fascism lite. An introduction.
Many people voted for Brexit.
Three kinds of people voted for Brexshit:
- Racists
- Idiots
- Total cunts who actually benefited (hedge funds, tax dodgers etc.)
Opinion of neither should be taken into consideration.
You cannot say Norway is racist for not being part of the EU
For all practical intent and purpose (apart from fishing), Norway is part of the EU.
The public never signed up to the EU fully
Is your name "the public"?
It was voted for, decided and any democrat would accept it's a constraint the country needs to work within.
This is a completely moronic argument used in bad faith by Brexshiters as it assumes voters don't change their minds and no new voters enter the voting age. People voted for Thatcher, no election needed since. π
The whole wait 5 years, ignore it and rejoin later just drives folk to Reform, angry that they aren't being listened to.
Fascists, racists and nazis shouldn't be listened to. They should be educated or compulsorily re-educated if needed. There should be a new legislation and people presenting such views should have their electoral rights taken away.
There should be no democracy for enemies of democracy. NSDAP was democratically elected. Appeasement and ignoring lead nowhere - these people should be removed from public life.
Anyone who disagree with you is x, y and z. Ad hominem attacks due to your poor reasoning skills.
Anyone who votes against what you want should have their rights to vote taken away, so with one fell swoop you'll remove the vote of 17m people. Looks like you're a pro-EU fascist to me.
Are you young? Do you have no idea why the UK didn't accept the Euro? It was the only way politicians could get the deal through. It's not a new thing. Folk voted UKIP in European elections as a middle finger. They didn't want to be part of the EU.
Elections in the UK happen every 4/5 years. You can hardly do the same with an EU vote. Though you want to run it until you get result you want then never again. So not exactly a democrat. Something Wes wasn't really advocating either. Democracy is secondary to self-interest.
Guessing you're from the city, pretty comfortable and cannot comprehend why people from working class towns may not have had the same comfortable economic situation. As Westminster traded industry and fishing rights for financial service gains, it's all good. I'm alright, Jack.
I made clear I voted Remain, and you still imply I'm a Brexiter. It's so hard for you to comprehend that folk think differently than you, that you call them liars.
I guess right-wing and EU fascists are intolerable. By your logic, you probably ain't worth listening to.
Anyone who disagree with you is x, y and z.
No, anyone who voted for Brexshit is in one of the three groups.
Ad hominem attacks due to your poor reasoning skills
Being factual is not "ad hominem attack"
Anyone who votes against what you want should have their rights to vote taken away
No, fascists, racists and nazis should have their voting rights removed.
Are you arguing in bad faith, completely distorting everything I am saying or are you going to claim you are seriously that thick?
You've ignored and twisted my points and I'm the one arguing in bad faith? Lol
Wasted enough time on little soap box, arguing to yourself.
You lost, lol. Get over it, enlightened centrist remoaner.
You've ignored and twisted my points
Which of your points have I twisted, sweetie?
I'm the one arguing in bad faith?
Yes.
You lost
π€¦that must be your bedtime by now.
I understand the strength of your feeling on this, but I'd suggest that using terms like "racists," "idiots," and "cunts" to describe voters is counterproductive. That kind of language tends to alienate rather than persuade, hardening opposition and overshadowing any valid points you may have.
I'd suggest that using terms like "racists," "idiots," and "cunts" to describe voters is counterproductive
It is factual and this is what matters to me.
That kind of language tends to alienate rather than persuade
See the rest of my comment - I have no intention of persuading anyone. Racists/nazis/fascists should have their voting rights taken away.
Yeah I have to agree that simply labeling people as this is reductive and doesn't help things. There are valid reasons for not being in the EU from a left wing perspective, and the reasons for voting for Brexit are wide. I believe that it was wrong of us to leave. But we shouldn't simply attack and insult people for voting for us to leave when there are various longstanding socioeconomic conditions that have led to it. Racism/xenophobia was a big factor, sure, and the people that voted for it based off that are bad. But it's far from the only reason. The problem is that so much of our situation, or what could have been our situation, has been put down to us being in/not being in the EU. We can address those socioeconomic conditions that led to the leave vote winning without being in the EU. Unfortunately we haven't had a government since the vote that's been willing to do what needs to be done
There are valid reasons for not being in the EU
No.
the reasons for voting for Brexit are wide.
See my previous comments as to who voted for Brexshit.
But we shouldn't simply attack and insult people
Being factual is not insulting.
Thanks for the productive discussion. I'll take these well thought out and explained points of yours against my own and think on them
Have you considered a career in politics? You'd be so good at convincing people and not just sitting on a supposed "intellectual" high horse while what you want to happen doesn't
Thanks for the productive discussion
You are very welcome, anytime.
Duly noted.