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Michael Gove and David Frost are up in front of the Future Relationship with the EU Committee very shortly to discuss all things Brexit.
As ever, I will be watching and tweeting out some highlights and analysis! Unfolding thread to follow...
As ever, I will be watching and tweeting out some highlights and analysis! Unfolding thread to follow...
Frost: we don't yet have a date fixed with the EU for the high-level summit which is due for June. But there is no doubt that it will take place at some point in June. Expectation is that it will be done at leader level, and the PM will attend.
Frost asked whether his letter to Barnier was designed to change the EU's mandate.
He says no - it accompanied the UK legal texts and was designed to restate the UK's position.
(Here's the letter in question) https://twitter.com/DomWalsh13/status/1262775410972151811
He says no - it accompanied the UK legal texts and was designed to restate the UK's position.
(Here's the letter in question) https://twitter.com/DomWalsh13/status/1262775410972151811
Frost: we don't think a deal can be done on the basis of the EU's existing mandate, and their position will need to evolve to reach a deal.
But whether the mandate itself necessarily needs to change to achieve that is different; it didn't when the WA was renegotiated.
But whether the mandate itself necessarily needs to change to achieve that is different; it didn't when the WA was renegotiated.
Gove now. Doesn't give a concrete answer to Hilary Benn's question of how many customs declarations will be needed from 1/1/21; says work on estimating this is ongoing.
Benn now brings up implementation of the NI Protocol: when are businesses going to know what to do?
Gove draws attention to the Command Paper (which we've analysed below). But the Command Paper, while good, is high-level, more detail needed for biz https://policyexchange.org.uk/what-the-governments-command-paper-on-northern-ireland-means/
Gove draws attention to the Command Paper (which we've analysed below). But the Command Paper, while good, is high-level, more detail needed for biz https://policyexchange.org.uk/what-the-governments-command-paper-on-northern-ireland-means/
Peter Bone now challenging Frost on his role within Govt as a special adviser leading negotiations (in the past when it was led by either a minister or a civil servant).
Frost says he reports to the PM and the Cabinet XS Committee, which meets every 2 weeks or so
Frost says he reports to the PM and the Cabinet XS Committee, which meets every 2 weeks or so
Ha. Bone now brings up Dominic Cummings: does Frost have to report to him or go through him? Who is more senior?
Frost: "I've never had an instruction from Mr Cummings on these negotiations"
Frost: "I've never had an instruction from Mr Cummings on these negotiations"
Bone: Would the Brexit policy collapse if Mr Cumming wasn't there?
Frost: Brexit policy is set by the PM and the XS Committee, I am confident it would continue whatever the arrangements of special advisers
Frost: Brexit policy is set by the PM and the XS Committee, I am confident it would continue whatever the arrangements of special advisers
How has Covid-19 affected the talks?
Frost: initially it caused a pause in March; virtual rounds have resumed since then. Main difficulty has been mimicking by video what happens in a real meeting. Hasn't changed UK's stance on the substance.
Frost: initially it caused a pause in March; virtual rounds have resumed since then. Main difficulty has been mimicking by video what happens in a real meeting. Hasn't changed UK's stance on the substance.
Frost on extension: I don't make policy, I only advise on it, but government policy is no extension and I work within that.
Frost: my objective in writing to Barnier was to set out what we're trying to achieve and the state of play, and also to explain our position to wider observers such as EU27 (although *not* seeking divide and rule). Barnier's reply was "courteous and forceful, just as mine was"
Frost: "a small number of my team" were redirected to Covid work at the start of the crisis but most of those have now come back.
Frost: UK's draft legal text is principally drawn from the EU-Canada FTA, but also drawn on EU-Japan and the offers the EU has made to Australia and NZ. More sophisticated than copy-pasting CETA and replacing Canada with UK.
(Hmm. see below) https://twitter.com/DomWalsh13/status/1262735725532860418
(Hmm. see below) https://twitter.com/DomWalsh13/status/1262735725532860418
Frost: fisheries text is based on EU-Norway.
He notes that, while EU mandate is maximalist, Barnier has publicly hinted that this may not be realistic and the EU will have to compromise somewhat.
Adds: every other EU fisheries agreement is free-standing, not part of an FTA
He notes that, while EU mandate is maximalist, Barnier has publicly hinted that this may not be realistic and the EU will have to compromise somewhat.
Adds: every other EU fisheries agreement is free-standing, not part of an FTA
Frost: "the EU is still coming to terms with the fact that there is a large country in Europe that doesn't want to be part of the EU's structure." This must be understood if a deal is to be done. The job of a good negotiator is to engage with reality; Barnier is a good negotiator
Good question as always from @SKinnock. Has government done a timetable estimate for their idea of a non zero-tariff agreement that would be negotiated line-by-line?
Frost: Doesn't regard time as a practical difficulty, though it has policy implications.
Frost: Doesn't regard time as a practical difficulty, though it has policy implications.
Frost: we still want zero tariffs. Floating tariffs was "a matter of logic". EU says a zero-tariff agreement is unprecedented and therefore requires strong LPF. Their refusal to consider a "precedented" balance of tariffs and LPF shows their demands are about control, not access
Frost: "We are not saying there should be no level-playing field provisions, we are saying there should be provisions that are appropriate to a free trade agreement."
Correct.
Correct.
Frost says he is beginning to think the 30 June deadline in the Political Declaration for reaching a fisheries agreement will not be met, though he highlights that this deadline is not binding.
MP pronouncing it as "Michael Barnier" klaxon...
Resuming thread now, sorry.
Frost asked about UK position on Geographical Indications (i.e. to agree to supersede Article 54 of the WA). Frost says the WA protects EU GIs in perpetuity, but not those of the UK. Article 54 itself envisages that it might be replaced.
Frost asked about UK position on Geographical Indications (i.e. to agree to supersede Article 54 of the WA). Frost says the WA protects EU GIs in perpetuity, but not those of the UK. Article 54 itself envisages that it might be replaced.
Frost asked: is the UK not asking for an unprecedented deal on transport?
Frost: on
UK wants standard deal. On 
there is no precedent.
Frost: on
UK wants standard deal. On there is no precedent.
(By the way, I don't buy the argument - made by SNP's Philippa Whitford there - that the UK is being a hypocrite about whether geography matters or not. Geography matters for road haulage for obvious logistical reasons. That doesn't mean it matters for LPF)
Barry Sheerman: why can the UK do a deal with the EU in a year when it took 8 for Canada to get a deal?
Gove: this isn't a matter of complex and time-consuming technical detail. The obstacles to a deal are political.
Gove: this isn't a matter of complex and time-consuming technical detail. The obstacles to a deal are political.
Gove on NI->GB checks: no paperwork should be required for >99% of goods. Tiny exceptions due to international conventions on e.g. endangered species and blood diamonds.
Market surveillance will guard against potential leakages from EU into GB via NI.
Market surveillance will guard against potential leakages from EU into GB via NI.
Gove on GB->NI trade: Joint Committee will decide which goods are "at risk." Command paper outlines position UK Government will take on that.
(To plug again, we've analysed this here): https://policyexchange.org.uk/what-the-governments-command-paper-on-northern-ireland-means/
(To plug again, we've analysed this here): https://policyexchange.org.uk/what-the-governments-command-paper-on-northern-ireland-means/
Gove asked how businesses will adjust to major trade changes at the end of the year, given impact of COVID-19
Gove: some changes, such as leaving the customs union, are well understood. On others we continue to work closely with business.
Gove: some changes, such as leaving the customs union, are well understood. On others we continue to work closely with business.
Is the Government considering an implementation phase as an alternative to transition extension?
Gove: "We are not considering an implementation phase." (
) But we will seek to support businesses in adjusting to leaving single market and customs union.
Gove: "We are not considering an implementation phase." (
) But we will seek to support businesses in adjusting to leaving single market and customs union.
On financial services:
- EU equivalence decision should, technically, be a formality. But UK is "completely in the EU's hands" on this, says Frost.
- UK's proposals on financial services regulatory dialogue are based on EU-Japan, yet EU says they would infringe EU autonomy
- EU equivalence decision should, technically, be a formality. But UK is "completely in the EU's hands" on this, says Frost.
- UK's proposals on financial services regulatory dialogue are based on EU-Japan, yet EU says they would infringe EU autonomy
And that's it. Not sure we learned anything momentous there but lots of interesting titbits to mull over. Thread ends!
