LETTER: The utmost respect

Regular readers may be surprised to hear that Craig Jackson and Alan Meekings, typically seen as representing opposite ends of the Leave-Remain spectrum, met recently in person in Holbeach to discuss how the current Brexit crisis might potentially be resolved and what our future trade relationships with the EU and the rest of world might look like.

Interestingly, we agreed on a range of issues, including:

– Our shared desire, ideally, not to see the UK leave the EU with “no deal”;

– The fundamental flaws in Theresa May’s handling of the Brexit negotiations, which now look like a masterclass in how not to conduct a successful negotiation;

– Article 50 being triggered prematurely, when it should have been activated only once a clear plan for our departure had been developed (as sensibly suggested by Vote Leave in 2016); and

– The serious mistake of allowing the EU to separate the sequencing of negotiations around our exit and our future relationship with the EU.

However, just as in Parliament, we disagreed on a number of key points, not least what type of trade arrangement the UK should leave with.

For instance, Craig believes we should leave with a Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, like the ‘Super Canada’ model the EU offered in 2018, whereas Alan prefers remaining in the EU on what he sees as the past and future benefits of EU membership.

We also disagreed on whether the UK should leave the EU on WTO terms, if Parliament is unable to agree a suitable way forward. Craig continues to believe that “no deal is better than a bad deal”, whereas Alan cannot support the UK leaving the EU with no agreed deal.

Likewise, no meeting of minds could be found on whether the UK would be more prosperous by leaving the EU.

We both believe that, with a sensible, constructive approach, a solution is possible – assuming elected MPs, across the political spectrum, put national interest, not party-political interest, first.

So, while we couldn’t find common ground on every issue surrounding Brexit, we emerged with the utmost respect for each other’s opinions and a shared belief in the importance of everyone in a healthy democracy being able to express their views freely, openly and without fear.

Craig Jackson
Alan Meekings