October 9th, 2020
Dear Friends and Supporters
Next Thursday, October 15th, 2020 has been set in stone for months as the deadline for any Trade Deal with the European Union to be proposed and agreed. This date was chosen because it aligns with the meeting of the European Council. Just this week, the Prime Minister is reported to have reaffirmed his commitment to this date when talking on the phone to Charles Michel – the President of the European Council. However, while on the surface a commitment to October 15th has been made, various news outlets have already been told discussions could continue for another month, until mid-November. EU Chief Brexit Negotiator, Michel Barnier, has even reportedly ordered EU Leaders not to discuss the idea of compromising at the Summit because it would weaken his position and an extension would be best for the EU.
Such an extension is not in our best interest and would only repeat the mistakes we have made in the past. The only way to get the EU to take us seriously is if we set a deadline and stick to it! Both Boris Johnson and Theresa May before him, have failed to stick to their deadlines and continually roll over to the EU’s demands. If this happens again, then the promises of this Government will not be worth the paper they were written on at the last General Election.
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Before I continue - If Get Britain Out is to continue putting up our fight – especially now we’re on the final stretch, we need donations to keep us going.
We are very appreciative of the donations we have received so far, but even now, at this vital time, these are reducing. The only way we can keep the pressure on the Government is if we have funding to pay the bills and keep ourselves afloat. We are so close now and the next 3 months will either make or break Brexit. We need a REAL Brexit instead of a Brexit In Name Only (BRINO) – and a GOOD Trade Deal OR WE MUST COME OUT of the Transition Period on WTO Terms!
I do understand not everyone can donate, but if we fail to keep up the pressure on this Government, we may find ourselves tied to the EU indefinitely or with Brexit In Name Only!
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This weekend, Michel Barnier is in London to meet with his opposite number, Lord Frost, for informal talks. Surely, if the Government is set on meeting their own target of having a deal by October 15th, these should not be informal talks, but full scale 24/7 negotiations, where the legal nitty gritty will be ground out. Maybe I am overestimating those negotiating for both sides, but in my mind when leaders on both sides claim talks need to be of a high intensity, then I believe this means the meetings should be almost continuous. However, currently we are seeing the amount of negotiating time totals around 55 hours a week - split across hundreds of negotiators in different rooms. Hardly high intensity! I myself regularly work 70-hour weeks - and those are quiet weeks. If I can do it, I’m sure teams of negotiators can at least come closer to matching the time I spend on this crucial issue.
On top of this, Michael Gove MP, the man responsible for No-Deal planning, has claimed the likelihood of achieving a deal with the EU stands at 66%. Such a statement all but confirms talks are not close to conclusion and the Government, once again, has no intention of sticking to their own deadlines. It seems the Prime Minister and his team are trying to tell the public one thing and keep the truth to themselves. This attitude cannot continue.
I have continuously given this Government opportunities to come clean about how negotiations are going and what concessions they are likely to make to the EU - on our behalf – might I add. However, despite multiple Freedom of Information requests and letters they continuously come back with the same copy and paste responses – or an insistence it is not beneficial for negotiations if proposals are made public. I’m sorry, but this Government is representing the people of this country and we have a right to know what is being conceded to on our behalf!
In some good news - it seems the EU does want to dismiss the demands of the French President, Emmanuel Macron, and other EU Member States with large fishing industries. These Member States had wanted the UK to effectively stay within the confines of the Common Fisheries Policy, with no changes made to the current arrangements. However - as always, there is a catch - the EU is already reported to be trying to use a softening of demands overfishing, to blackmail the UK Government into accepting heavy restrictions on the so-called ‘Level-Playing Field’. In particular, the EU is calling for continued UK alignment on State Aid and the level of Government support to businesses. In other words, claiming the right to restrict the decision-making ability of our elected Government.
Such a proposal is quite frankly an insult to the UK. As an independent country, we have no obligation to hand over control of our economy to the EU. This is not a scenario where the EU has any right to demand anything from the UK. We owe them nothing!
Coupled with demands on the ‘Level-Playing Field’, this week has seen the return of EU proposals for a Customs Office based in Northern Ireland – run by EU officials. The Customs Office would oversee the implementation of checks and controls of goods in Northern Ireland, effectively creating border infrastructure on the island of Ireland. This means the EU is once again trying to interfere in internal trade between parts of the UK. We thought this ridiculous suggestion had already been dismissed when it was first proposed back in June, but it seems the EU is truly deluded if they think the UK would accept such a suggestion.
With such ridiculous proposals still on the table, the only way drastic progress can be made before the deadline of October 15th, is if one side caves in on their red lines. My bet is the EU thinks we will be the ones to bow out and scramble for a last-minute compromise. We have done so multiple times since Leave won the EU Referendum over 4 years ago. However, we must not extend the negotiating period or the Transition Period by accepting limits on our sovereignty.
This where we need you, our loyal supporters and avid Brexiteers, to take action please.
We cannot allow this to drag on any longer. Lord Frost already stated in a committee meeting this week: “The door will remain open for ongoing negotiations in the New Year”. We cannot afford to tie ourselves to some new form of extension to the Transition Period, so, here is your call to arms!
We at Get Britain Out have devised and drafted a letter for you to send to the Prime Minister, demanding he stick to next Thursday’s deadline. Another extension would simply be an embarrassment to everything Boris Johnson stood for at the last General Election.
You can download the letter and change it to send a more personal letter if you wish, or just download our template, sign it and post it off as soon as possible. Remember, Boris’s deadline is next Thursday, October 15th.
Download and print off the letter here.
If you want to download an editable version where you can add your own thoughts you can download a Word document here.
Back in Westminster, the House of Lords will sit next Monday, October 12th to vote on the new Immigration Bill which seeks to end Freedom of Movement and implement a points-based immigration system. The likelihood is they will pass the Bill back to the House of Commons with multiple amendments, many of which fundamentally undermine the entire principle of the Bill. It is clear the Lords have no regard for the opinions of the people of this country. It has been revealed over two-thirds of the public believe EU nationals should have to apply to come to Britain and not have Freedom of Movement - let alone the 17.8 million people who voted to Leave the EU. How is this even a debate anymore?
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN UP TO:
Get Britain Out’s Director, Jayne Adye, has written the following articles recently:
IMPORTANT STORIES YOU MAY LIKE TO SEE:
- Two thirds of British voters think EU nationals should have to apply to come to Britain and not have Freedom of Movement – British Social Attitudes Survey
- UK signs strategic partnership and free trade agreement with Ukraine - Politico
- UK sees 66% chance of Brexit Trade Deal, but tells EU to hurry up - Reuters
- Cambridge Analytica probe finds no evidence of misusing data during the Brexit Referendum – The Financial Times
- Goldman Sachs predicts Brexit Deal – The Times
- UK eyeing closer financial services regulation alignment with non-EU countries, says Sunak - CityAM
- It will be a dereliction of duty if Boris Johnson fails to take back control of our fishing – The Daily Telegraph
- UK Internal Market Bill rejected by the House of Lords – The Daily Express
- We can live without a Deal – The Sun
- UK won’t be held over a barrel by EU, says Raab - Reuters
- ‘UK won't roll over for EU' - Boris's defiant message to Brussels in crunch meeting – The Daily Express
- EU poised to CAVE on fishing: Merkel raises Brexit deal hopes after UK's Norway agreement – The Daily Express
- Brexit: Trade deal with UK 'up to EU', says Boris Johnson – BBC
That’s it for this e-Bulletin. I hope you all have a lovely weekend and are able to send our crucial letter to the Prime Minister. The fight for a real Brexit is still not won.
Thank you for your ongoing support which is very much appreciated.
Best wishes from Jayne Adye, Campaign Director and the Team at Get Britain Out
P.S. Finally, please don’t forget, we still need your help with donations for the next 3 months – to make sure we can help to secure the best Brexit for the United Kingdom. We appreciate all the help many of you have already given to the campaign, however, for the best possible Brexit to be delivered by the end of this year, now, more than ever, every penny counts if we are to continue our work.
Donations can be made via bank transfer, bank standing order, cheque or PayPal – all the details are HERE.
Re bank transfers – some banks have fraud contingencies in place – so please just make sure the account number and sort code are correct so your transfer goes through correctly.
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PLEASE NOTE: Cheques should be payable to The EU Referendum Campaign Limited and not Get Britain Out. Unfortunately, we cannot accept credit card donations (unless via PayPal) – or foreign currency cheques.
Your contributions are very much appreciated. If you would like an acknowledgement, please let me have your e-mail address (or write it on the back of your cheque please).
P.P.S. IMPORTANT: Please continue to circulate this e-Bulletin to more people. There are quite a few people who still want more information. Not already signed up for our free fortnightly e-Bulletins – you can do so HERE.
Remember, you can also get daily information and comments, plus press links, via our social media - Facebook and Twitter. There are links to Brexit press articles on our website (once my staff are in the office Monday to Friday) via this link HERE. For updates on our Recommended Reading, you can find them via this link HERE.
Huge thanks again for your help and support. GET BRITAIN OUT will try to continue to fight and make sure we get the best result from our Leaving the EU - whether it’s With or Without a Deal.
Best wishes, as always,
Jayne
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