The Lib Dems invent absurd figures of how much better off we would be if only we were in the Customs Union of the EU. They clearly do not understand that we are in free trade Agreement with the EU meaning we do not have any tariffs on EU imports or exports already so there is no tariff gain from joining. They do not seem to understand that there would be a substantial tariff loss from joining, as we would have to re impose tariffs on all those imports from non EU where we cancelled the tariffs on leaving the EU. We took tariffs off all the things we cannot grow or make for ourselves, and off things needed for UK manufacturers as raw materials and components for their added value production.
The Lib Dems condemn President Trump for putting tariffs on, so why do they want to put more tariffs on our imports from non EU by joining the Customs Union? Why do they support the ruinous carbon border mechanism, a big EU tariff like charge coming soon to markets near us, and soon to be imposed by an unholy Lib/Lab alliance on UK consumers already suffering from rising prices? The carbon border tax will make many imports dearer.
They claim they want to negotiate fewer border frictions for our tariff free trade with the EU. The EU answers that we need to adopt all the extra rules and costs the EU has imposed on itself since we left, and reverse any repeals or simplifications of EU laws we have so far made to all the older EU law we carried with us into a half hearted Brexit. Far from cutting frictions the EU would ensure there are more.
Some say they want us back in the Single market. That means we would automatically have to adopt all the extra rules and regulations they wish to introduce without a voice or vote over the laws they are making. I remember well as Single Market Minister how excessive those laws can be, and also that even as a voting member the best we could do was delay or dilute a bit. The EU always proceeds by excessive detailed regulation of everything business tries to do, making it a high cost low growth low innovation zone. It seeks to make good new ideas illegal to protect incumbents.
Far from adding to our GDP and to our tax revenues joining the Customs Union comes with a triple cost. More money paid to the EU for administering it. More money paid by consumers in tariffs on non EU imports. Jobs lost as business can no longer import materials and components tariff free from non EU. Less trade with non EU as we have to cancel our free trade Agreements made as an independent country.
Facts4eu published their version of this piece with charts showing how the UK grew faster outside the EU than in it, and has grown faster than Germany, Italy and France since leaving.
December 26, 2025
Expecting Fabian Socialist Remainers to base their arguments on facts is a bit of a stretch Sir John. That socialism has failed every time and in every place where it has been tried is always the fault of others. Next time it will work. Why? Because if it doesn’t it will be your fault, not theirs, because you oppose it. Fabians oppose democracy and the sovereign nation state on which it depends. The nearest they can get to an anti-democratic constitution is to subordinate Britain to the EU, ECHR and global institutions. The EU is a half-way house to the global socialist order ruled by people like Starmer and Hermer, that they want.