Beyond the economic impact, there’s a deeper political issue at stake. Ending free movement was a cornerstone of the 2016 Brexit vote.
Rather than “fully and faithfully implementing” the treaty, they have acted recklessly in not only ignoring safeguards but kicking away one of the two props that helped to mitigate economically destructive consequences
Withdrawal from the ECHR would upset the delicate political balance in Northern Ireland, compromise our extradition and security arrangements, and damage our moral authority abroad. Above all, it would betray a tradition of liberty under the law that Britain itself helped to shape.
Labour have been squandering a golden opportunity. The sands of the international trade system built in the 90s are shifting considerably. It is obvious that newly nimble countries like our own have an enormous advantage over the sclerotic bureaucratic blocs like the EU.
Taxes are higher, energy prices are elevated, and we have been reluctantly pulled back into the European Union. We have shifted from being rule-makers to rule-takers.
The public will come to see the need for more prudence and better priorities for spending as the economy loses more jobs and the government’s borrowing bill means higher taxes.
It is a salutary reminder that every piece of legislation, every clause, every amendment, has a consequence in the real world, and a price that is usually paid by businesses and people, even years later.
The UK needs to offer a bold tariff free trade agreement to the US and set out a growth strategy that lowers taxes, gets entrepreneurs and investors back to the UK, and rebuilds our main industries.
Britain should still play a constructive role as a bridge between America and Europe – but Brexit makes that harder.
If Britain hangs back out of a combination of Europhile nostalgia and anti-Trumpery, it risks being left standing when the music stops. The Government should take the win.
During his four years in office Joe Biden allowed more oil and gas drilling – on top of the 50 per cent increase under Donald Trump – permitting more cheaper energy to be made available to American business.
Returns agreements arguably have a bigger role to play; speedier processing is also part of the answer. But to pretend that deterrence plays no part in people’s calculations is silly.
We must take our own steps towards a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism at the Autumn Statement
Fortunately, there are plenty of half-completed measures ministers could see through in time for the next election, from recognising product standards to locking in new trade deals.
Calling for a ‘proper Brexit’ after all those that have been tried and failed over the past decade, is reminiscent of those Marxists arguing that their ideology was never properly tried in practice and next time will be different.