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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Norway or no way? Can Efta fix it for Brexit Britain? | Norway or no way? Can Efta fix it for Brexit Britain? |
| (30 days later) | |
| Letters | Letters |
| Tue 13 Jun 2017 20.06 BST | Tue 13 Jun 2017 20.06 BST |
| Last modified on Wed 14 Feb 2018 15.38 GMT | |
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| In your Brexit policy editor’s account of the “rapidly emerging consensus” in favour of the “Norway” route to leaving the EU while remaining in the single market via membership of the European Free Trade Association (which allows access to the single market via the European Economic Area agreement), he writes rather glibly about Efta having a “requirement for members to maintain a degree of free movement of people” (It’s hard to ignore the clamour for lite option, 12 June). Let us be absolutely clear: the Norway/Efta/EEA option requires adoption of the four freedoms, including free movement of people, with the implied loss of control over immigration policy. | In your Brexit policy editor’s account of the “rapidly emerging consensus” in favour of the “Norway” route to leaving the EU while remaining in the single market via membership of the European Free Trade Association (which allows access to the single market via the European Economic Area agreement), he writes rather glibly about Efta having a “requirement for members to maintain a degree of free movement of people” (It’s hard to ignore the clamour for lite option, 12 June). Let us be absolutely clear: the Norway/Efta/EEA option requires adoption of the four freedoms, including free movement of people, with the implied loss of control over immigration policy. |
| Let us also remind ourselves of two key political facts. First, there can be no doubt that the vast majority of the 52% of those who voted for Brexit did so because they want to stop the immigration of EU labour into the UK. Second, the Conservative position on Brexit is clear. Our Plan for Britain, setting out the party’s 12 Brexit objectives, states that seeking a free trade agreement with the EU “cannot … mean membership of the EU’s Single Market. That would mean complying with … free movement and other EU rules”. | Let us also remind ourselves of two key political facts. First, there can be no doubt that the vast majority of the 52% of those who voted for Brexit did so because they want to stop the immigration of EU labour into the UK. Second, the Conservative position on Brexit is clear. Our Plan for Britain, setting out the party’s 12 Brexit objectives, states that seeking a free trade agreement with the EU “cannot … mean membership of the EU’s Single Market. That would mean complying with … free movement and other EU rules”. |
| Finally, a memo to Jeremy Corbyn. Steer well away from any involvement in the Brexit process. It is a can of worms. The dilemma between remaining in the single market and restricting immigration from the EU is insolvable. Unless the EU negotiators are very, very nice to us (after May’s repeated flag-waving anti-EU outbursts), in two years’ time we shall be out of the EU and relying on World Trade Organisation rules, which (according to the Leave Alliance), means that “seven or eight million jobs are at stake”. Oh dear. What have we done?Ian RutledgeChesterfield | Finally, a memo to Jeremy Corbyn. Steer well away from any involvement in the Brexit process. It is a can of worms. The dilemma between remaining in the single market and restricting immigration from the EU is insolvable. Unless the EU negotiators are very, very nice to us (after May’s repeated flag-waving anti-EU outbursts), in two years’ time we shall be out of the EU and relying on World Trade Organisation rules, which (according to the Leave Alliance), means that “seven or eight million jobs are at stake”. Oh dear. What have we done?Ian RutledgeChesterfield |
| • Jeremy Corbyn has destroyed Theresa May’s mandate for a hard Brexit, but Labour’s position is still vague. Although its manifesto emphasises “retaining the benefits of the Single Market”, Corbyn now talks only of tariff-free access. The single market removes many more barriers to trade than tariffs, ensuring pan-European standards, from packaging to chemical particulates. Access to that single market is the only way to protect our economy and future prosperity (not some fantasy deal with Trump). | • Jeremy Corbyn has destroyed Theresa May’s mandate for a hard Brexit, but Labour’s position is still vague. Although its manifesto emphasises “retaining the benefits of the Single Market”, Corbyn now talks only of tariff-free access. The single market removes many more barriers to trade than tariffs, ensuring pan-European standards, from packaging to chemical particulates. Access to that single market is the only way to protect our economy and future prosperity (not some fantasy deal with Trump). |
| It’s in Europe’s interest that we stay in the single market, and it might be enough to insist on the hard border with Ireland if we leave it. More positively, they might revisit the temporary “emergency brake” on immigration – on a sector-by-sector basis. If, for example, we felt swamped by Spanish flamenco dance instructors, we could withdraw this sector temporarily from the single market to give UK dance teachers a lift. Norway has this option in its “everything but fish” approach to the single market, unexercised for fear of retaliation. By not being a fully paid-up EU club member (they enjoy a 6% discount) the Norwegians implement EU rules without having a seat at the table. It’s a compromise, but they can be proudly patriotic and say: “We had our fish and ate them.”Stefan WickhamOxted, Surrey | It’s in Europe’s interest that we stay in the single market, and it might be enough to insist on the hard border with Ireland if we leave it. More positively, they might revisit the temporary “emergency brake” on immigration – on a sector-by-sector basis. If, for example, we felt swamped by Spanish flamenco dance instructors, we could withdraw this sector temporarily from the single market to give UK dance teachers a lift. Norway has this option in its “everything but fish” approach to the single market, unexercised for fear of retaliation. By not being a fully paid-up EU club member (they enjoy a 6% discount) the Norwegians implement EU rules without having a seat at the table. It’s a compromise, but they can be proudly patriotic and say: “We had our fish and ate them.”Stefan WickhamOxted, Surrey |
| • It is simplistic to see Norway’s relationship with the EU as harmonious (Letters, 12 June). I spoke at the No to the EU annual conference in Oslo in March 2017. No to the EU is organised by the Norwegian trade unions and the Norwegian left, and its case against the EU is similar to the left’s case in the UK. Unfortunately, in Britain the mainstream media never reports on the left’s leave agenda. | • It is simplistic to see Norway’s relationship with the EU as harmonious (Letters, 12 June). I spoke at the No to the EU annual conference in Oslo in March 2017. No to the EU is organised by the Norwegian trade unions and the Norwegian left, and its case against the EU is similar to the left’s case in the UK. Unfortunately, in Britain the mainstream media never reports on the left’s leave agenda. |
| The Norwegian left is against the single market as it means production wherever is cheapest. But being cheapest does not take into account the cost of air pollution from 44-ton lorries travelling all over Europe belching out diesel fumes. | The Norwegian left is against the single market as it means production wherever is cheapest. But being cheapest does not take into account the cost of air pollution from 44-ton lorries travelling all over Europe belching out diesel fumes. |
| If the tax on diesel fuel was to be increased to cover the cost of pollution then, suddenly, it would be cheaper to manufacture locally. So the reality is that the single market is not a genuine market but one that is fixed in favour of money, not people’s health. | If the tax on diesel fuel was to be increased to cover the cost of pollution then, suddenly, it would be cheaper to manufacture locally. So the reality is that the single market is not a genuine market but one that is fixed in favour of money, not people’s health. |
| As a member of the Green party I am against the single market and want to see more local production for local consumption.Michael GoldLondon | As a member of the Green party I am against the single market and want to see more local production for local consumption.Michael GoldLondon |
| • Your Brexit policy editor’s mention of a Norway-style deal with the EU reminds me, a former English teacher, of my Norwegian business clients who wanted advanced English skills so they could read, implement, and comply – to the letter – with all the directives arriving in Oslo in English from Brussels, directives over which they had neither say nor choice. The Norwegians called it a Nike deal: “Just do it.” How skilled a negotiating team would we need to arrange this on our behalf, and how could it possibly take several years?David BeakeBudock Water, Cornwall | • Your Brexit policy editor’s mention of a Norway-style deal with the EU reminds me, a former English teacher, of my Norwegian business clients who wanted advanced English skills so they could read, implement, and comply – to the letter – with all the directives arriving in Oslo in English from Brussels, directives over which they had neither say nor choice. The Norwegians called it a Nike deal: “Just do it.” How skilled a negotiating team would we need to arrange this on our behalf, and how could it possibly take several years?David BeakeBudock Water, Cornwall |
| • We long ago accepted that devolution was “a process not an event”, and we need to adopt the same long-term view towards Brexit. | • We long ago accepted that devolution was “a process not an event”, and we need to adopt the same long-term view towards Brexit. |
| It will take at least a decade for us to separate ourselves legally, economically and mentally from the EU, and so whatever settlement we reach will inherently be transitional. In those circumstances joining the EEA (the Norway option) is the most practicable option to provide stability while Brexit gets fully established. | It will take at least a decade for us to separate ourselves legally, economically and mentally from the EU, and so whatever settlement we reach will inherently be transitional. In those circumstances joining the EEA (the Norway option) is the most practicable option to provide stability while Brexit gets fully established. |
| Joining the EEA would provide continued membership of the single market and the right to negotiate trade deals, and both parts of Ireland would probably accept a Sweden/Norway-style border. | Joining the EEA would provide continued membership of the single market and the right to negotiate trade deals, and both parts of Ireland would probably accept a Sweden/Norway-style border. |
| Above all, the EEA already exists, so no time would be wasted reinventing the wheel, which is what negotiations with the EU are likely to end up doing.Neil AddisonLiverpool | Above all, the EEA already exists, so no time would be wasted reinventing the wheel, which is what negotiations with the EU are likely to end up doing.Neil AddisonLiverpool |
| • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com | • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com |
| • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters | • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters |
| Brexit | Brexit |
| European Union | European Union |
| Foreign policy | Foreign policy |
| Norway | Norway |
| Europe | Europe |
| letters | letters |
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