Tuesday 20 March 2018

PIMFA on Brexit transition deal

Yeah, yeah, there was a deal yesterday. 'Big deal, boss!' Eh? 'Big deal, boss. I'm not impressed.' Yeah, me neither, Voice. Big deal, reader(s)! It won't save us.

John Barrass, EU Expert and Deputy CEO at PIMFA, said: "We welcome the first joint draft agreement on transition arrangements close to the status quo as indicating that the government has listened to ourselves and others on the overriding need to avoid a cliff-edge or no deal Brexit scenario at the end of March next year. We have made clear our members' need for certainty during transition and minimum disruption to business as the UK leaves the EU. The proposals in the Draft Withdrawal Agreement go some way towards meeting those requirements and should help to ensure a smooth Brexit involving only one set of changes to a new legislative and regulatory operational framework when transition ends."

Well, I suppose he has to welcome it, our John, because he doesn't want total disaster, but what about the Irish border?

"However, we note the short duration of the proposed transition period, as specified in earlier EU texts. This may allow insufficient time to negotiate the final UK/EU Comprehensive Agreement which will govern our future relationship after transition. PIMFA has made clear its preference for a flexible transition end determined by the completion and coming into force of the Comprehensive Agreement, so that firms know ahead of time what they will need to change towards and can plan appropriately. We welcome reports suggesting that an explicit clause allowing for a limited extension for this purpose could be included in the final text."

Oh. Said John Barrass, again. But, but, but ... nothing about the Irish border! 'No one wants to think about it, boss.' I know, Voice, I know. And remember: Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. / Obviously, it's the will of the people, you know? 'Ha!' I'm past caring, me. I've got different fish to fry.

...

Okay, okay. Anything else? No, not really. Well, I've got that Ashlee Vance Elon Musk book on my phone now, too. The epilogue isn't as good as the one in the updated edition of the paperback, but everything else is the same. / Oh, and I forgot to tell you, dear reader(s), I also have Jordan Belfort's Way of the Wolf on my phone. So I'm pretty happy, you dig? 'You've got everything you need, Mikey.' Fuckin' A, I have!

Later(s), crocodile(s)!