Before the chaos

Tonight sees voting on a Trade Bill or something, for which the ERG have tabled 4 amendments, among which will make separate trade deals for NI illegal.

To mount the pressure on the PM, in the last week, various junior ministers have resigned their position in protest at the Chequers deal.

So much for protesting that remoaners are tying the PM’s hands.

The Government is currently locked in talks with ERG and it is possible might accept some or all of the four amendments. Which really proves that the PM has spent the last 106 weeks negotiating with itself, and still hasn’t closed the deal.

And all the while, the EU is looking at the White Paper but has yet to respond officially, but it is probable that the EU won’t reject it right away, but might use to draw further concessions from the UK, and realise that in not doing this would result in the May Government falling.

And just a reminder that unless something extraordinary happens, the UK will leave the EU on 29th March 2019, ready or not, with a deal, deal and transition deal or no deal at all. And every day wasted now is really critical.

And Parliament is due to go into recess next week, but there are motions being put forward to force MPs to work all through the summer, which although they will hate, but sensible when you think what is at stake.

Any trade deal with the US will have grave consequences on trade with the EU, as any foodstuffs that violate EU standards, exporters would have to prove their goods origins to show that it is all complying with EU rules and standards. You might be able to avoid chlorinated chicken, as long as its marked, but then all chicken exports to the EU would have to prove it is not American, and the EU would have to be satisfied and no rely on unverified paperwork. These are the EU rules, and only they will decide what is acceptable or not.