While the PM must be congratulated for his commendable efforts the revised Deal is still far from good enough.
Jubilation that something has changed is not justification to accept something that still has the flaws that those now cheering the PM had lambasted six months ago.
The backstop has not been removed, but diluted. Northern Ireland may officially remain part of the UK customs union, but, in practice, it will be under the auspices of the EU customs union. This sets a precedent for undermining the Union.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) will still be ultimate arbitrator for years to come (and potentially decades on specific issues).
Britain is also paying an eye-watering £39bn just to maybe agree a Free Trade Agreement. An FTA which the Political Declaration already construes towards being based on high EU alignment, restrictions on regulatory divergence (XIV - Paragraph 77) and which seeks to restrict UK tax, foreign and defence policy.
Furthermore the Agreement has no provision - similar to Article 50 - to allow the UK to exercise withdrawal from it and to cease the rights and obligations created by it in line with the Vienna Convention on Treaties.
The deal still has dire implications for British fishing and coastal communities. Nothing in this deal has changed when it comes to fishing. The UK will still obey all EU law - including the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) - for a Transition Period.
We will have no say, veto or recourse - membership minus. We will be bound under the terms of ‘good faith’ to enforce whatever laws Brussels decrees. In the PM's words we will be a “vassal state”.
The Transition will run until the start of 2021. The provisions to extend it thereafter until 2023 remain. During which time the UK is obliged to ratify the Future Relationship terms in the Political Declaration. These are unrevised and still drive the UK towards CFP associate membership.
The EU will be free to impose any detrimental legislation on any British Industry. What’s left of Britain’s fishing industry won’t survive the Transition period.
The EU has every incentive to do ensure this happens. Under international law (UNCLOS Article 62.2) if a coastal state does not have the capacity to harvest all its resources then it shall give the ‘surplus’ to its neighbour.
The EU will be free to swap what should be UK resources, as negotiating capital in international deals, and abolish the 12-mile derogation that protects inshore fishermen.
It will also have the power to fully enforce the ill-conceived EU ban that is a fundamental threat to the industry's viability.
Under the ban when a vessel exhausts its lowest quota it must stop fishing. Government agency SeaFish models that 60 per cent of UK resources will go uncaught and a similar proportion of the fleet bankrupt.
Article 130 states current 'Relative Stability' quota shares will be maintained. However these are percentage based. The EU is free to cut the quota tonnage for stocks the UK is dependent on. 80% of zero equals zero.
The Political Declaration may recognise the UK being an independent coastal state. We may officially be “independent” but will be effectively pushed toward CFP associate membership.
For a horrific price, the UK is being pushed towards an FTA beneficial to the EU which seeks to envelope us in being bound to, or in associate membership of, EU policy and stifled from being competitive or diverging - hardly leaving the EU or British Independence restored.
Many who previously opposed this deal are now falling behind it because they believe the final destination of a FTA makes this a price worth paying.
They believe that this “gets Brexit done” rather than see further extension and delay imposed. This is sadly not the case and misses the key point.The current dire deal and impasse is due to a Remain-dominated Parliament and Establishment.
The only way a good FTA can be achieved is if the government is able to robustly negotiate for a FTA and/or walk away if the EU demands fishing, Gibraltar or anything else unreasonable.
That's what supporters seem to be pinning hopes on. But this Remain parliament will be able to continue hobbling the government, pushing us towards agreeing FTA terms detrimental to the UK's interests.
So voting for this Withdrawal Agreement Mark4 doesn’t “get Brexit done”. It delivers BRINO and continues the current parliamentary machinations. It will only achieve enraging voters as shown in the euro elections.
Therefore, the price is not worth paying. Despite the PM and governments best efforts Fishing for Leave - along with thus far the Bow Group, Bruges Group, Labour Leave, Facts4EU and the DUP - We implore MPs to vote down the deal
Brexiteers should hold out until an election, when a Brexit Electorate removes the Remain Parliament. Only then will the government have the mandate and majority to demand and deliver a clean Brexit.
Don't take a damaging deal just to pretend we've left.