Flint Managing Partner Simon Fraser commented on the latest state of Brexit talks. “This negotiation was always going to come down to a political moment. If there is political will on both sides, the technical issues can be solved – but we are now in the realm of political choices.” He added, “The political fallout of failing to negotiate an agreement after 4.5 years will be considerable – the EU will not be ready to come back to the table very fast. In the EU’s view the consequences of no deal, while bad for both sides, are far worse for the UK. So when the EU eventually comes back to the negotiating table, as no deal is not a sustainable long-term outcome, they will think the UK is in a still weaker position.” 

Our Chairman on how the EU’s quarrel over skiing augurs ill for much weightier matters.

Flint Specialist Partner Philip Rycroft provides his views on why a Brexit deal – although relatively thin- is better than a no deal. He argues that with a no deal, sectors like agri-good and automotive would be hit be high tariffs, and the EU would have little incentive to put in place easements to help manage the new trade border from 1 January. He adds that such a scenario would make it harder to get deals on other aspects of the relationship like internal security. A no deal Brexit would also further destablise the Union.