All true. I still believe the "Norway/Iceland" option was the best (52/48 split) compromise way forward after the Brexit vote... But do not let anybody tell you a customs union has no worth. There are 16 of these around the world (including Turkiye's - exc. agri -with the EU) for good reason. It does mean having no individual tariff schedule for negotiating your own trade deals, but the common external tariffs agreed with your fellow CU member/s mean you have easier, thus more, trade & growth with your fellow CU members. The honest debate is over which you prefer & which would, surely, be more appealing to your (external revenue raising for a better balance of trade) *exporters* over your *importers*? UK's FTA with the EU (tariff free AND quota free) is unmatched anywhere in the world. One you could only dream of with any other; especially with Trump. But The/a single market AND the/a full customs union with any other(s) is the ONLY way to have "unfettered" trade with the or any other(s). The UK is economically suffering because no FTA can ever match what we did have and could have (partially with a "Norway/Iceland" type deal) again... Do not forget it was the UK (Lord Cockfield) that was the driving force behind the Single Market (with added on prior customs union) which was & is an incredible achievement, unmatched anywhere else in the world. The newest trade bloc, AfCFTA, however, does aspire to be the new EU. UK Politics, perversely, is the only destroyer and preventer of what we had, being returned to us all.

NO!!!! They were told what the consequences would be (by the likes of me working at the trade moving coalface & @RobinPirates )... but they chose to ignore us, in favour of the ("it's Project Fear") self serving, political charlatans, they *wanted* to listen to. The final Brexit deal (any FTA) was irrelevant. The destruction was always coming from leaving the SM (here especially)/CU

Future historians will marvel at it all. 1/ Early 1970s: the post empire, in decline UK "Sick man of Europe" joins the EEC. 2/ UK grows into a leading member of the EU in a healthy 5th largest economy: the UK mattered in the world. Its greater influence & extended freedoms/benefits/choices/opportunities for its businesses & citizens gradually being taken more for granted & attributed to being British & not because of being an EU member state. 3/ 2016 it votes to Leave 4/ UK starts its full circle return to being the "Sick man of Europe" 5/ Voters double down in voting for those that caused the decline & for greater nationalism; with politicians that know better too afraid to state that the UK needed & now needs the EU more than ever. 6/ 2029: The UK (thanks to England & FPTP) votes for Reform & installs their Oswald Mosley reincarnated, snake oil grifter. 6/ Early 2030s: Ireland unites 7/ Late 2030s Scotland and Wales leave the UK & join the EU including the Euro & Schengen. Meaning regulatory, customs & immigration checkpoint borders with the rapidly declining, still deluded, England. 8/ 2040: England joins the 40 country EU (now a nett EU funds receiver, from the booming prosperous former Warsaw Pact countries) with a much smaller voice & far less favourable terms than when at its (one of three leading members) peak in 2016.

Any Brit that still says we should not now unequivocally apply to rejoin the EU is either in continued denial; a cultist; nuts; a fascist; stubborn; a thick c u n t; a Man Utd fan; hates Germans; loves having less choice & fewer rights for more cost; or is away with the fairies

Exactly

Regulatory & customs borders between diff regulated & customs territories are the highest of barriers to trade, prosperity & growth. FACT. UK chose to resurrect both against the EU27 without removing either against any other country. FACT. Even if had, Trade Gravity applies. FACT

I hope you can persuade him & others to value the return of reciprocal freedom of movement (the 4 freedoms) by rejoining the EEA, or Swiss like, reciprocating FoM, within the TCA (it'd allow this) .. (& agreeing a customs union) If not rejoining the EU.

It's a simple question Reform voters & political hosts never ask Farage & co. Why would *any* Gov. (wanting to remain popular & in power) not turn on & exploit the "opportunities" & "freedoms" of Brexit if they existed to benefit Joe Public? This applies to you too @KemiBadenoch