Brexit Facts4EU.Org summary of the ERG's policy document for Brexit

“A Clean Managed Brexit”

This ‘one-pager’ summarises what is a clear and deliverable plan for the next three months and thereafter

Leaving the EU on 31 October 2019 while seeking a better deal - As things stand, the UK will leave the EU on 31 October 2019 in both UK domestic law and in international law. The European Communities Act 1972 will be repealed, restoring total sovereign control to the UK, including over agriculture, fisheries and the environment.

There is no democratic case for stopping or further delaying the process of leaving the EU. Any further delay risks grave corrosion of public trust. The Government must rule out requests for further extensions. As the EU refuses to negotiate it must be the Government’s policy to exit the EU without a deal unless they offer substantial changes.

Leaving the EU without the draft Withdrawal Agreement – This does not mean the absence of cooperation. The EU has already prepared mutual guarantees for the rights of citizens, the continuation of air services, road haulage and other matters. The Government should seek to build on these. The UK will remain part of numerous multilateral agreements covering the UK and EU and will continue to agree deals which WTO states have with each other.

The financial settlement and the windfall - In the absence of a Withdrawal Agreement, the Government must not consider the UK to be liable for the estimated £39 billion bill, as confirmed by the House of Lords European Union Committee in 2017. If the EU challenge this, an appropriate international arbitration mechanism could be used.

A substantial part of the estimated £39 billion saved should be used on measures including tax cuts, to mitigate any potential negative effects of leaving the EU on WTO terms, to compensate some businesses, to increase business investment, and to encourage economic growth. The prospects for growth will also be enhanced by removing the period of uncertainty for business and investors caused by the Implementation Period.

Citizens’ rights - The UK should unilaterally guarantee the rights of EU citizens currently in the UK to continue to live and work in the UK broadly as they do today. The EU citizens should have the same rights as UK citizens.

Trading arrangements - The UK should assume a trading relationship on WTO terms. The Government should accelerate work to mitigate the consequences of exiting without the Withdrawal Agreement in place, including taking unilateral and reciprocal measures in our mutual interests. The UK should propose continuing our free trade with the EU, using a minimum two-year GATT standstill arrangement, while negotiating a comprehensive FTA.

Tariffs and quotas - In default of an agreement with the EU, the UK should take such measures on agri-food tariffs and quotas as are necessary to avoid inflation, and do deals with exporters such as Canada, Australia and NZ.

Services - The UK will seek to implement two-way arrangements for mutual recognition on services, including enhanced equivalence for financial services. The drafting for services can be relatively simple, and could be implemented in final form, effective from exit day.

Offers of bilateral cooperation with the EU – These should be offered in areas of mutual interest in a spirit of goodwill and cooperation, with draft treaties providing for a UK-EU Free Trade Plus agreement, cooperation on defence and security without prejudice to the primacy of NATO, and other issues such as Gibraltar and education.

Northern Ireland - Alternative arrangements should be proposed to provide an invisible and compliant border between the UK and the Republic of Ireland using currently available administrative and technical procedures but without any need for new technology. No new infrastructure or checks at the border will be required.

The UK’s future trade strategy - Political, trade and regulatory independence for the UK is the basis on which most countries around the world choose to govern themselves. Independence will bring new growth opportunities for our economy, and will allow the UK to conclude other FTAs, whilst also strengthening the UK in EU negotiations.

The document proposes a range of unilateral, bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral measures – concerning the EU but also countries around the world. Many EU regulations impede growth; the UK needs the freedom to do better. This will enable strong trade with both the EU and the world, as well as strengthening the precious union of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

This summary is available as a one-page PDF here