Not really.

We're both on the edge of a knife if we leave. If the EU acts out of spite and this process becomes messy, it will become a serious detriment to both of our economies.

Again, special treatment is bullshit. You benefit from a trade relationship with us in the same way we benefit from one with you. It's just pragmatic to get it out of the way considering our economies are already intrinsically linked and we are geographically on each others doorstep.

Sure your trade with us is a smaller chunk of your economy but it is still large enough to damage confidence. Markets are fickle. And the global economy is in a questionable state.

I mean, come on, you should absolutely give us special treatment. We're still gonna be sharing intelligence, fighting wars, catching criminals and doing science with each other. It's not like we bring nothing to the table.

It just seems stupid to me to not have a unique agreement. Shit I have unique agreements with every single individual graphic design client I have. In the real world an element of flexibility is necessary.

The EU is the one completely unwilling to compromise. The pillar of freedom movement has proved non-viable in its current state.

Brain drain + mass population displacement (which is just getting started) + refugee family reunification + eventual citizenship.

Cheap labour and being able to travel visa free* just don't outweigh the negatives of freedom of movement for most people. If there is democracy in Europe there will have to be sensible changes to migration policy.

In fact I don't know why this hasn't been a priority. A proper border and refugee management policy and my countrymen would vote In.

I'm left wing. I used to rage against the anti-immigration folk. But on the issue of immigration Nigel Farage (who I've compared to Hitler before) has been vindicated. The left needs to accept this or Europe will be lost the right.

You can change rules. Nothing is set in stone.

It may seem exaggerated from your perspective. But that will be the perception. A union held together by threats of economic warfare.

*Look at the UK passport. We already freely travel all over the world. It would be unusual and unequal for us not to be able to freely travel around Europe. That would be special.