Brexit. Why do Brits want Out of the EU?

Theresa May has declined to rule out continuing to pay significant sums into the EU budget after Brexit.

Asked about the issue in the Commons, the prime minister would only say that the government would be able to make decisions about how to spend taxpayers’ money after leaving the EU.

The Conservative MP Philip Davies urged her to make a pledge not to pay any money into the EU budget. He argued that even “contemplating that would be contemplating betraying what people voted for” in June.

May replied that Britain would live up to its obligations while it remained a member, adding: “When we leave the EU, people want to ensure that it is the British government that decides how taxpayer money is spent.”

The comments leave open the possibility – already hinted at by the Brexit secretary, David Davis – that the UK could pay in money in an attempt to retain access to the single market.

The subject is politically difficult for the foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, and other frontbenchers who told voters during the referendum campaign that Brexit would mean clawing back £350m a week to spend on the NHS.

May was also asked about reports that the EU would charge Britain a £50bn exit bill to leave the EU, and made no comment.
[...]
May reiterated her desire for a “smooth and orderly” Brexit, and said she had raised with the EU leaders her desire to protect European citizens already living in Britain – suggesting that it was the other countries stalling the process.

... ... ... ...

A pressure group backed by a string of former Vote Leave campaigners from Michael Gove to Gisela Stuart has claimed that exiting the EU with a “clean Brexit” could save the country £450m a week.

During the referendum campaign, Vote Leave controversially argued that leaving the EU would leave an extra £350m a week to spend on the NHS.

But research from Change Britain goes a step further by arguing that a complete break with the EU could be even more beneficial.

However My perception is that the chief motivator in the political debate within the UK for BREXIT was an escape from the bureaucratic rule of the EU and greatert autonomy for themselves.

Seems like the only option is negotiating tariff rates. Seems like a lose-lose proposition from here.

Former Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, who once worked for Sir Ivan in Brussels, described his resignation as a "body blow to the government's Brexit plans".

Labour MP Hilary Benn, who chairs the Brexit select committee, said it had come at a "crucial" point and urged the government to "get its skates on" in finding a replacement. "It couldn't be a more difficult time to organise a handover," he added.

Mr Benn told BBC Radio 4's The World at One the permanent representative's job was to convey the view of the UK to other member states, as well as "honestly and fearlessly reporting back" what those countries in turn said about the negotiations.

Prime Minister Theresa May says she will trigger formal talks between the UK and the EU by the end of March, setting in place a two-year negotiation process.

Sir Ivan is a veteran civil servant whose previous roles include private secretary to ex-chancellor Ken Clarke, principal private secretary to ex-PM Tony Blair and Mr Cameron's Europe adviser.

He was criticised in some quarters for "pessimism" over Brexit after his advice to ministers on the negotiating timescale was reported.

UKIP donor and Leave.EU chairman Arron Banks said Sir Ivan was "yet another of the establishment's pro-EU old guard" and welcomed his resignation.

They think/thought that British problems weren't solved, that it is a dysfunctional economic entity ... . They don't/didn’t think that EU can/could throw up trade barriers against Britain but that they get an even better deal than being a member.

I'm beyond what I know well here, but did the Brexit folks in the UK debade believe they would get a deal somewhat like that of the Norwegians? Is/was that a realistic idea?

An analysis by Change Britain, a group with the backing of Michael Gove, said that leaving the European Union’s customs union and striking trade agreements with just eight foreign countries will create hundreds of thousands of jobs in manufacturing and service industries.

Using European Commission figures on potential trade deals with countries such as India, China, Japan and Canada, the Change Britain analysis found Britain would get nearly £20 billion from extra exports and create 387,580 jobs.

As a member of the EU’s customs union, Britain is not allowed to make its own free trade agreements with non-EU countries and must instead rely on the European Commission to do so.

Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage calls for more ambassadors to be removed from their posts “all over the world” after Sir Ivan Rogers, the UK’s top diplomat in Brussels, announced he will be stepping down from his ambassadorial role within the next few weeks. Calling Rogers a “fanatical remainer”, Farage says he hopes there will soon be a “clear out” of diplomats to make way for people who will pursue a “global, not a European” future for Britain

Serious multilateral negotiating experience is in short supply in Whitehall, and that is not the case in the Commission or in the Council.