Quote Originally Posted by cyril evans awaydays View Post
I think chlorinated chicken is indicative of some wider points of our EU free future:


* Freeing ourselves of negotiating trade deals as a bloc has certain benefits as we can focus on the goods and services that we consider most important. We don't have to trade off seeking preferential market access for whisky against cognac if compromise is required. We don't need agreement on the deal with 27 others. The downside is that we have far weaker negotiating capital as our market is much smaller. Particularly if the other side recognises our weakness and need for something that signals success. That seems to be the case in the negotiations with the US.

* The more compromises we make on the existing standards the more friction there will be with trading with the EU. In the case of chlorinated chicken which will still be banned by the EU this will mean increased checks on those types of exports to determine origin. This will be particularly unedifying to the Northern Irish where, contrary to the assurances given by Boris Johnson before the election, there will be Customs checks on goods moving from one part of the UK to another across the Irish Sea. I am not clear whether under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration the Northern Irish will be able to consume non-EU sanctioned products like chlorinated chicken at all.

*Michael Gove gave a categorical assurance that chlorinated chicken was not on the negotiating table and our food standards would only be enhanced when DEFRA SoS. I guess that was then and this is now. Coupled with Boris Johnson's warm words to the 3m people of Hong Kong about seamless visa access and an easy route to UK citizenship this may give those who voted for Brexit for legitimate reasons pause for thought on whether we are heading for the land of milk and honey they were promised. Then again it may not!
I agree with the stance on Hong Kong (not only because my girlfriend is from there). The people of Hong Kong never wanted to be handed over to the Chinese, and the 90 year lease never included Hong Kong Island or Kowloon, those were ceded to Britain in perpetuity (albeit as a result of one of the most shameful chapters in British history) Britain just handed over millions of Hong Kong citizens to an oppressive regime without consulting them.
I don't think that many would actually come here either, the weather is too cold, and the food here is terrible, especially the Chinese food.