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As the Brexit negotiations enter there last critical phase, DOUG NICHOLLS argues that socialists should return to some first principles to prepare to rebuild Britain as an independent country after March 29

If good trade union negotiators had been asked to take the biggest mandate ever given in British history and negotiate leaving the EU, it would be done by now. We wouldn’t have been bullied by the Brussels bureaucrats.

It’s not rocket science — come out of the single market and customs union, come out of the common fisheries policy, the common agricultural policy,and jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice, pay up any legitimate outstanding dues and liabilities. Voila.

Bearing in mind that the EU needs our market more than we need its, we would negotiate no-strings trading terms that would advantage the rebuilding of our economy.

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