I feel it is time to retell my Norway story. I visited Oslo before the referendum, I went for In Business, the Radio 4 documentary series now unfortunately no longer with us. I reported on Norway’s relationship with the EU and concluded, as the Norwegians themselves did, that for the UK the model wouldn’t work.
Norway expends a huge diplomatic and lobbying effort to influence EU legislation, pays into its funds and even gets consulted on new proposals, but it does not have a vote at the meetings where things are decided. Normally it just accepts changes to EU law, very occasionally it refuses and occasionally it doesn’t see a policy coming that hits its economy. But it is oil rich and can afford that, it also cuts its own trade deals, subsidises its farmers far more than the EU does and controls its fishing waters but it is in the Single Market. Everyone I spoke to, from Professors, to Government ministers and business leaders said this wouldn’t work for the UK, as it had too much at stake to not have a vote or even a seat at the table.
At the time I got a wave of obscene abuse, saying that Norway’s model would be great for the UK, from Brexiteers funnily enough. Saying that staying in the Single Market would be brilliant, the UK could lobby Brussels effectively, would have influence because of its size and yet not have to waste time and effort following every stupid rule. It was not a Brexit policy that lasted 5 seconds beyond winning the referendum, when the membership of the Single Market became vassalage.
I mention it just to point out how much things changed after the vote in 2016 but also why having a seat at the table matters.
The UK isn’t in the Single Market, it can lobby all it wants, it is now a rival of the EU. They will help the UK when it suits them.
https://jonty.substack.com/