“We must not fall into this trap: the trap of pushing policies which seem to be politically possible but which we know won’t actually solve the country’s problems.”
Goods and issues which pose the most pressing concerns have been addressed first, but the same framework provides a basis for future agreement in other areas.
The former Cabinet Minister and Johnson adviser says that Corporation Tax shouldn’t rise and that spending should be cut if necessary.
The most likely way through this impasse is a new agreement, sitting on top of the existing Protocol and introducing a new set of principles on how it operates. Such an agreement must preserve Northern Ireland’s constitutional status.
Careless talk costs credibility – a point that politicians who like musing aloud about undesirable outcomes should bear in mind.
The recent history of the Conservative Party and the country is the ultras have had their way on both policy and personnel. The result – for both party and country – is now clear to see.
We shouldn’t assume that Tory common sense protects British conservatism. The fact is that rightwing PC — though in a different form to the US version — is making in-roads in this country too.
My guess is that she is too smart to allow the worst case scenario to happen. To do that, however, she is going to have to move swiftly from focusing on winning the confidence of Conservative MPs and party members to winning the confidence of the markets.
Though it’s hard to see how he can find a seat before the next general election – given the hazardous nature of by-elections.
The Government could dangle before the EU another gain it wants in order to win a revised Protocol.
Taking Article 16 ‘off the table’ is only a tempting offer if the other side believes you’ll actually use it.
Now that we are hopefully returning to something approaching normality, we must focus back on the core issue of driving growth and investment.
Also: Delaying Johnson’s defenestration is not worth the price of heavy local election losses in Wales and Scotland.
The Tories of the 2030s will need to make a complete clean break with the 1980s. We can think new ideas – and return to older ones to conserve and protect the institutions that make up the social fabric of this country.