Tag Archives: EFTA

While support for the SNP remains high and while many Scots support independence at least in theory, there is no question now that both face an intellectual challenge over EU membership. For this reason, the independence movement has become divided over how to overcome the challenges caused by Brexit. While …

There are reports that Conservative ERG MPs are considering not voting Sir Graham Brady’s amendment being tabled tonight. Sir Brady’s amendment calls for the Northern Ireland backstop to be replaced with alternative arrangements to avoid a hard border, while stating support for the Withdrawal Agreement “subject to this change to deal …

What should UK trading relations look like after 2019, when Brexit itself finally happens? We are now being told that the UK must enter the “Single Market “.  The Single Market is, in many ways, another name for being in the EU.  As the EU Commission puts it: “The Single Market …

One of the most used newish words in the world in 2016 was Brexit. But the difficulty is how one defines Brexit. It would seem to come in many different forms – the adjectives ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ might put one in mind of boiled eggs – as well as colours …

The EEA option a.k.a The “Norway option” involves joining the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and trading with the EU via the European Economic Area (EEA) as a means of achieving an economically secure, de-risked Brexit. It greatly simplifies our time limited negotiations, protects our economy, answers the Northern Irish and Gibraltar …

Today brings us the most wonderful news for 50 years as the British people  voted to leave the European Union.  The headline figure for the vote was 51.9% Leave versus 48.1% Remain, a 3.8% margin in favour of leaving. The reaction of pundits from the three main political parties to …

By openly slandering the EFTA/EEA “Norway Option” for achieving Brexit in the event of a Leave vote, the Remain campaign and their allies in the media show that they are terrified of this sensible approach The Guardian is, of course, desperate for Britain to remain in the European Union. The vast …

As the referendum debate heats up there are a thousand reasons and more being discussed regarding why we should leave the EU; but there is very little discussion amongst the general public as to how we leave the EU. Europhiles have been hugely successful in conflating EU membership with Single …

“You can be like Norway […] and you can have full access to the single market but you have absolutely no say over the rules of that market”. In October 2014 there was a coordinated attack on the so-called “Norway option”, the model of leaving the EU which involves rejoining …

“If the British cannot support the trend to more integration in Europe, we can nevertheless remain friends, but on a different basis. I could imagine a form such as a European economic area or a free trade agreement.” – Jacques Delors in 2012 If an ideologically devoted European federalist like …

How many superficial “eurosceptics” claim that they want to have a new relationship with the EU based on trade and cooperation, instead of political and judicial union? Many of these have claimed David Cameron’s fraudulent deal achieves this, which is a bad joke. Others are backing Remain claiming that a …

My position on leaving the EU is clear, as is the way I believe we should go about it. The new relationship I propose we negotiate to facilitate our “soft landing” in a phased secession from political and judicial union with the EU is both realistic and pragmatic. Crucially, it …

Since the prime minister claimed back in October, during his concerted effort to smear EFTA/EEA countries, that Norway “accepts about three quarters of EU rules”, this untruth has become a commonly used argument from remain campaigners across social media. It is a favourite myth of remain politicians from all parties. …

I began writing about Scottish politics as soon as it became clear that there was going to be a referendum on independence. This issue mattered to me in a way no other issue in politics ever had. I began writing even when the referendum was a long way off and …

Amongst all the huffing and puffing of David Cameron trying and failing to get an “emergency brake” on free movement, and coming back with the possibility of minor restrictions on migrant welfare, it has not been reported or discussed that non-EU EEA states actually do have an emergency brake. What …

This is Part IV in a series of V – to read the Market Solution proposal in full go here The “no say” fallacy As part of the proposal to adopt a “market solution” for leaving the EU it is essential to discuss the extremely important and frequently over simplified issue of “influence”. …

This is Part II in a series of V – to read the Market Solution proposal in full go here II – EFTA+UK A relationship with the EU based on membership of EFTA and the EEA is referred to as the “Norway Option” because it forms the foundation of Norway’s European policy. …

In seeking to achieve a Leave vote in the EU referendum there are two essential facts that campaigners need to understand and accept if they are to contribute to victory. First of all, that leaving the European Union is a process (a complex one at that) not an event. It …

We at the Leave Alliance don’t like to spend too much time focusing on number crunching when it comes to building a case for leaving the EU. All of this pointless hot air about how each British family can “save £933” isn’t going to get us anywhere. The figures are …

There are a number of central claims to the Remain campaign. They are easily dismantled with the right analysis and the proper arguments. “3.5 million British jobs are directly linked to British membership of the European Union– 1 in 10 British jobs.” It is dishonest to say jobs depend on …