I'm not sure where he's been, and I may still be on his "ignore" list, but (for new readers and old) here is the record of his advocacy for EEA and EFTA membership before the referendum... (all from the closed referendum thread). I've not trawled all his posts where he doesn't mention EEA or EFTA, just searched for EFTA in the thread.
Enjoy...
In April 2016 Ken the Landlord asked him:
There are 7 realistic scenarios for what happens next if the UK pulled out
1. The UK negotiates a treaty that provides a customised relationship with the EU.
2. The UK joins the European Economic Area (EEA)
3. The UK rejoins the European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA)
4. The UK follows the Swiss model
5. The UK negotiates a free trade agreement with the EU
6. The UK seeks a customs union with the EU, along the lines of the customs union between Turkey and the EU
7. The UK does not conclude any trade agreement with the EU and relies on WTO rules to manage trade with it
So which is it?
MB replied (6 April 2016):
Which is what? Are you asking me now to divluge my personal preference, a viewpoint that in my opinion has no basis on the debate regarding the referendum itself? That will come after the nation has decided and we can all debate what direction the UK should take next.
It seems to me that what you want to do is drag me into a debate about how my choice would be 'wrong', and once I tell you which scenario i'd prefer to see the UK follow, I can already sense you'll wish to debate on how 'wrong' it is in order to stifle the debate; not because it is in any way illogical or unrealistic, but because you yourself personally disagree with that action. All you need to know is that my preferred action for this country to undertake in the wake of an exit from the EU may nor may not be one you have listed. My choice is my choice and you don't need to know it unless you wish to give your own choice first, given that you're placed in the scenario that the leave campaign actually succeeded, so that I can have an understanding as to the type of debate we might have. In other words, if you yourself do not agree with any of these scenarios you listed or how they could work to the UK's benefit, it's pointless asking me to choose one of them, isn't it.
So actually refusing to say he wanted EEA / EFTA (that correspondence went to and fro but he wouldn’t say what he thought should happen)
Then he did his “Why I’m voting to leave” manifesto. Basically it’s ideological opposition to the EU with the full range of Leave Lies, but now “I want the UK to join the EEA or EFTA at worst and am prepared to see Britain take some financial hit within the first 5 years if it means an end to the political union”.
4 May 2016
Just vote how you feel personally about the organisation of the EU itself.
I myself believed in Europe once, but am voting out for these reasons:
TTIP -
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices...-why-the-answer-should-scare-you-9779688.html (It is a 'scaremongering' post, but it does contain the same concerns I have about it and how the EU endorses it despite public criticism and opposition)
Secret plans for a United States of Europe already drawn up -
http://presstv.ir/Detail/2016/04/25...pe-deceleration-Britain-EU-Army-German-Dutch/
Formation of "EU Army" taking shape, annexing other member states armed forces personnel -
https://next.ft.com/content/e90a080e-107b-11e6-91da-096d89bd2173
(If link does not work, search for "Germany annexing Dutch military regiments".)
All EU countries must adopt Euro by 2020 -
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/uk-will-be...ussels-power-not-reformed-says-report-1453735
Cameron's reforms not yet accepted; will only be voted on until after referendum, only requires 8 states to vote against to be refused and which members are likely to do so -
http://openeurope.org.uk/today/blog/europe-responds-to-camerons-eu-reform-proposals/
There are a number of other reasons aswell, but for me these are the main sticking points. I want the UK to join the EEA or EFTA at worst and am prepared to see Britain take some financial hit within the first 5 years if it means an end to the political union, but allows us to conduct trade deals with the other 160 or so countries as well as forming a trade deal with the EU, like Norway, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Iceland do and should after a while recover any immediate losses that resulted from leaving the EU. No-one can guarentee this as a certainty, though, but that's where the 'believe in Britain' rhetoric comes from, and I firmly believe this nation has the clout, determination and connections that will mean there will be no long term 'damage' to our economy or security.
Many in Europe want the Federal Europe and to do away with 'national identities' vis-a-vis the Soviet Union. Voices in Denmark and the Netherlands have stated that if Britain does leave, they want out of the EU as well. So at the moment there is no one side with a clear advantage in the debate and I can understand how annoyed about the whole discussion you can be considering how both sides have behaved. It could come down to yourself personally on whether or not you believe in the European Dream or stand by the idea of British self-determination.
Then a month before the referendum
20 May 2016:
....I'm between an EEA and EFTA arrangement or neither...
And a year after the referendum:
We leave the EU, we renegotiate terms of trade under EEA or EFTA rules or WTO. I'm now leaning towards WTO personally and then making a new arrangement later down the line.
