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Been re-reading the @DavidGHFrost speech delivered in Brussels 17 February 2020. It was an extraordinary speech to deliver just before U.K., the weaker partner, was about to open negs with the EU @BrigidLaffan
1. At more than one place in the speech @DavidGHFrost suggests the EU did not understand or respect the U.K. position or Brexit itself-not the case. Brussels understood fully & was prepared to negotiate any deal with U.K. within EU guidelines/redlines. @BrigidLaffan
2. If U.K. wanted a close relationship with little or no friction that was available but if U.K. insisted on total freedom, independence & sovereignty then that too@could be accommodated. @BrigidLaffan
3. @DavidGHFrost embraced friction, said UK was not afraid of it & said impact of non-tariff barriers & customs checks was one-off cost. Upside was regulatory divergence. UK would have a ‘Hugh advantage over EU’ in future & Gov was confident in their strategy @BrigidLaffan
4. So to all those businesses in U.K. struggling to adjust, this was the #Brexit @Conservatives & @BorisJohnson wanted. This is where their confidence drove them. It was all about the sunny uplands of independence @BrigidLaffan
5. I find discussion of independence & sovereignty & the description of Brexit as a ‘revolt against the system’ both curious & odd in 21st century. And there is also the extraordinary fact that this discourse is emanating from a country that never knew domination @BrigidLaffan
6. Also strange that before a state begins a major negotiation that really matters, its chief negotiator feels the need to engage in a critique of the other side. Curiouser & Curiouser . Won’t say anything about the use of Burke in the speech. That’s my frosty ending
