High Peak Liberal Democrats

UKIP: our jobs depend on Europe. And EU?

Derek Clarke (UKIP) declares "Our jobs … depend on trade with the EU which would continue if we left ... The business people in those countries are not mad. They will want to go on trading with us ..." His conclusion is that UK does need the EU trade but outside the EU we can trade without the 'daft laws' from Brussels. Allow me to develop that argument.

George Smid with Bill Newton Dunn MEP

Any business person who has done a cross border deal will know the pitfalls: making sure that what you specify is what you get, settling accounts, the need for legal framework, VAT arrangements, custom duties, transport, etc., etc. To make the trade you need an agreement on a common platform first: goods specification requires mutually recognised norms; reciprocal payment channels imply a universal banking platform; you have to be able to visit the country …

In short you have to rely on each other's system. The reliance on each other's systems is what drives the creation of ever bigger trading blocks. Thirty or 20 years ago we did not have ASEAN, we did not have NAFTA ; Derek Clark's reference to 1973 is misleading.

Let us assume the UK does pull out of EU. What will the UK position be in the world covered by powerful trading blocs? First and foremost an additional cost. For example, importing from Europe outside the EU a single CMR form (export/import document) takes two man-days to complete. Within the EU that cost has been removed. To re-introduce it is sheer madness. Enterprises do follow the low cost route. They will move to places with lower costs - the loss of jobs in the UK is real.

The British manufacturers would be forced to follow 'the EU daft laws' regardless if we are in or not. Norway does exactly that - follows EU directives to the letter. It is said that an American in his/her morning routine is 'fully subjected' to European directives: bedding - allergy, soap - chemicals, Kelloggs - food, cosmetics, etc. So minute Norway and mighty America follow EU directives - because their jobs also depend on the trade with EU. So they are forced to comply - but they do not have any representation.

The position of UKIP is therefore self-defeating. If the UK wants to trade, the UK will have to comply even if 'not in the EU'. The debate should not be about 'In or Out'. It should be about projecting our influence to protect our jobs, to secure our trade, to fight for our value. It should be not about us 'leaving Europe' it should be about us 'leading Europe'. With Labour and the Tories dithering and UKIP pulling out only Liberal Democrats fight for the UK position in Europe. So, if you don't want to queue at the borders, if you want to stop 'daft laws', if you want the trade, if you want the jobs, then there is only one choice: vote Liberal Democrats in 2014 May elections.

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