Britain Unbound

The Campaign for a Sovereign UK - to promote and support the UK’s continued independence outside the EU, our constitution and laws, and our culture and values.

[Britain Unbound @BritainUnbound]

"Power giveaway to EU fails the Makerfield Test"

We have now posted more details of our exclusive polling on our website 👇

https://t.co/VLZLmUUgnz

[Britain Unbound @BritainUnbound]

Timely warning from Norway's PM that if Britain doesn't want to be a 'rule taker' - and our new Makerfield polling is clear on that - then we should stay out of the EU's Single Market.

(This also applies, of course, to 'dynamic alignment' under the so-called 'reset'.)

[Bloomberg @business]

The UK’s economic problems “have nothing to do with Brexit,” former Prime Minister David Cameron tells Mishal Husain.

Read more at https://t.co/E3V5jpHtsZ or watch The Mishal Husain Show at https://t.co/G9sjpSxpLX

[Britain Unbound @BritainUnbound]

David Cameron says Britain should NOT rejoin the EU

"there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents..." 😉

Seriously, the former PM is surely right that any conversation about EU accession would be “very long and painful”, echoing concerns raised by many others.

[Alex Wickham @alexwickham]

***EXCLUSIVE by @MishalHusain***

David Cameron says Britain should NOT rejoin the EU

The former prime minister warns Andy Burnham that starting a conversation about rejoining would be “very long and painful”

Speaking in a Bloomberg interview, Cameron urges Burnham not to trigger another “decade-long debate about whether should be in or out.” He also says the UK should not enter a customs union with the EU

As the PM who led the Remain campaign in 2016, Cameron’s intervention will be seen as significant. He says Britain’s economic problems aren’t due to Brexit

“Today, instead of launching an argument about rejoining, which I think would be a very long and painful argument, and who knows where it would end up, instead of that, focus on how do we be the best friend, best neighbour, best partner,” Cameron says

The former PM also warns Burnham that talking about Britain rejoining could hamper future negotiations

“If you start endlessly producing this idea that we’re actually on a path to rejoining, I think you’re in danger of getting a less good partnership deal because of course the EU countries will just think: well, these guys are gonna rejoin anyway, so what’s the point in giving them a good partnership deal… If you’re not going to, you know, commit to trying to make the partnership stronger because you’re flirting with rejoining, I think there’s some dangers there,” Cameron says

“I don’t think actually necessarily joining a customs union is the right answer. If you look at the economic problems we have today, I don’t really think they’ve got anything to do with Brexit at all. I mean, our economic problems are we are overspending, over-borrowing, over-taxing, over-regulated, and far too much being spent on working age welfare. Those are a set of problems that have nothing to do with Brexit. We need a government that actually gets spending under control, gets taxes down, helps entrepreneurs, deals with our borrowing problem, reforms the welfare, and massively deregulates so we can build houses, build infrastructure. None of those have got anything to do with Europe. So that’s sort of, in a way, that’s my point. Do we really want to go into another decade-long debate about whether we should be in or out, when actually we should deal with our own problems while making the partnership model work?”

“I fought the campaign to stay in on an amended basis, and I obviously wanted to win that campaign. I was desperately disappointed that we lost that campaign. But I’m a democrat, a believer in democracy. We voted to leave, and I think the right thing now is to try and become, you know, not just neighbors, partners, and friends of the EU, but the best friends, the best neighbors, the best partners. And I think we can make that work”

Story by @ChaplainChloe: https://t.co/gKPvWA9LAu

[Britain Unbound @BritainUnbound]

ICYMI, some important polling on the terms Britons would accept as part of a deal to rejoin the EU... 🤔

1⃣ At face value, the poll suggests a majority would accept 'restoring freedom of movement'. But when this is expressed as 'removing limits on immigration' there is a big swing the other way... (1/3)

[Britain Unbound @BritainUnbound]

Yet another reminder that businesses expect the UK to outperform outside the EU... 👇

(The so-called 'reset' threatens this in many ways, including higher energy costs, more red tape on firms that don't even trade with the EU, and increased uncertainty - not least about what this all means for key growth drivers such as AI.)

[Julian Jessop @julianHjessop]

Two takeaways from the latest S&P Global Business Outlook surveys... 🤔

1⃣ UK regains top place, helped by the AI rollout

2⃣ Eurozone falls further behind 'Brexit Britain', with France in particular hit hard by political and economic uncertainty

https://t.co/wsqe8wx1oQ

[Julian Jessop @julianHjessop]

Exactly this... 👇

Rejoiners place far too much weight on the UK's trade in goods with the EU, which is in long-term decline...

[Britain Unbound @BritainUnbound]

ps. more on the poll results here...

https://t.co/U2yDQtivVL

[Britain Unbound @BritainUnbound]

"Power giveaway to EU fails the Makerfield Test"

We have now posted more details of our exclusive polling on our website 👇

https://t.co/VLZLmUUgnz

[Britain Unbound @BritainUnbound]

"I am happy to share with Number 10 the polling I did with Survation in Makerfield this past week..."

A great offer from our Advisory Council member Richard Johnson (@richardmarcj)! 😀

[Richard Johnson @richardmarcj]

'Separately, private polling reportedly showing growing support for closer EU ties, even in traditionally Leave-voting constituencies, is expected to strengthen Burnham’s hand and help persuade those ministers who represent Leave-voting areas they are safe electorally to change their minds.'

I am happy to share with Number 10 the polling I did with Survation in Makerfield this past week. 80% of the PM's constituents believe the UK alone should decide regional development funds. 78% say UK alone should set VAT rates. 74% believe the UK government alone should set UK food standards.

The devil is in the detail, and the PM is at risk of conceding powers to the EU that his constituents do not want to give away.

https://t.co/VvXguIKFEa

[Britain Unbound @BritainUnbound]

Good to see Burnham confirm Starmer's position that the UK won't become an EU rule taker on financial services - the City was originally wary of Brexit but now recognises the benefits.

But if regulatory independence is important for financial services, why not other sectors? 🤔

[Alex Wickham @alexwickham]

EXCLUSIVE:

Andy Burnham won’t accept dynamic alignment of financial services regulations with the EU, backing the City of London’s independence from Brussels but nonetheless showing the limits of his ambitions for a much closer relationship

The Burnham administration does not want dynamic alignment of financial services regulations, UK government officials told Bloomberg

British officials have indicated to EU counterparts that this remains a red line they are unwilling to cross, according to people familiar with the matter

The development will be welcomed by some in the City of London who have lobbied Labour not to pursue dynamic alignment for financial services, but it demonstrates the complications of Burnham’s Brexit push

If the PM wants to take Britain back into the EU in future, as he has implied is possible, or if he wants the UK to join the single market, he would very likely have to sign up to its rules governing financial services

Put simply, rejecting alignment of financial services regulations makes it very difficult to rejoin the EU or the single market

While British banks took a hit after Brexit, divergence over the last decade means much of the sector now opposes alignment with the EU

TheCityUK, which represents the financial services industry, said in July that automatic dynamic alignment “is not appropriate for the UK’s financial and related professional services industry”

And UK Finance said in June: “We do not support wholesale UK alignment or dynamic alignment with the EU in financial services,” arguing Britain’s post-Brexit divergence meant it can now respond more swiftly to risks and market developments, and that its rules should be “tailored to domestic conditions”

Story with @AlbertoNardelli: https://t.co/ma2BHhsgIh

[Julian Jessop @julianHjessop]

More evidence that any support for rejoining the EU (or even just closer alignment) is likely to evaporate once the terms and conditions are exposed... 👇

[Britain Unbound @BritainUnbound]

"Burnham's EU policy fails his own Makerfield Test in big red flag for Labour"

Our Advisory Council member Brian Monteith @TheBluetrot has written for @TheScotsman... ✍️

"People are willing to consider Britain working with other countries to improve their lives but reject losing their sovereignty over decision-making"

https://t.co/Hxm86Yjco8

[Britain Unbound @BritainUnbound]

3⃣ having to give up the pound and join the euro remains the reddest of red lines ⛔️

Even if you believe this Treaty requirement can be fudged, this is yet another policy area where the British public think that the UK government alone should make decisions (see our Makerfield polling for more!). (3/3)

[Britain Unbound @BritainUnbound]

ICYMI, some important polling on the terms Britons would accept as part of a deal to rejoin the EU... 🤔

1⃣ At face value, the poll suggests a majority would accept 'restoring freedom of movement'. But when this is expressed as 'removing limits on immigration' there is a big swing the other way... (1/3)

[Britain Unbound @BritainUnbound]

2⃣ An outright majority would reject having to pay £20 billion a year in contributions to the EU.

In reality the bill is likely to be far larger than that (even in 'net' terms) given the expanding EU budget and the loss of the UK's rebate... (2/3)

[Lord Ashcroft @LordAshcroft]

Would these conditions be acceptable for rejoining the EU

https://t.co/OpvEPad6m7

[Britain Unbound @BritainUnbound]

@andrewhesselden As all the polling has consistently shown, including that which was conducted on our behalf by Survation last week, the British public do not actually want to return to the EU - as they do not accept any of the implications of membership.

So we recommend we stay out.

[Britain Unbound @BritainUnbound]

@andrewhesselden As all the polling has consistently shown, including that which was conducted on our behalf by Survation last week, the British public do not actually want to return to the EU - as they do not accept any of the implications of membership.

So we recommend we stay out.

[Britain Unbound @BritainUnbound]

Timely warning from Norway's PM that if Britain doesn't want to be a 'rule taker' - and our new Makerfield polling is clear on that - then we should stay out of the EU's Single Market.

(This also applies, of course, to 'dynamic alignment' under the so-called 'reset'.)

[Daily Mail @DailyMail]

Norway's PM warns Britain NOT to follow its example by joining the EU single market in Brexit reset because Brussels takes too much control https://t.co/lo8z8M9RLS

[Gully Foyle @TerraOrBust]

Even more polling out tonight from More in Common, showing joining the EU would be wholly unacceptable to the British public.

- Having to adopt the Euro - 79% Unacceptable
- Having to pay £20bn+ a year - 73% Unacceptable
- Removing immigration limits - 59% Unacceptable

[Julian Jessop @julianHjessop]

ICYMI, this warning from Norway is mainly about the loss of sovereignty involved in 'rule taking', which is a big red mark against the 'dynamic alignment' in the 'reset' too... 👇