Sir, – The British Labour Party is now arguing for continued membership of the customs union and the single market, as are a minority of Conservatives. However, both parties hold that it would be wrong if the European Court of Justice (ECJ) were, after Brexit, able to decide cases affecting Britain while the country is excluded from making any input into its processes.
I suggest that the UK should propose to remain in both structures indefinitely, and should agree that, for a lengthy period, say seven years, it would not conclude any trade agreements with third countries. By the time it becomes clear that such agreements would confer no particular advantage on Britain, passions might have cooled sufficiently to allow the two indefinite memberships to continue.
In return, the UK should propose that a specialist British judge should participate in ECJ decisions on matters concerning the rules on customs and trade in goods and services, either as a full member of the bench or as an adviser with the right to be heard in all such cases.
Likewise, there should be a British associate advocate-general, given how greatly that office influences ECJ decisions.
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With the UK allowed to participate at both levels, nobody could argue (though many do, unjustly, already) that the ECJ is a foreign body exercising despotic control over British affairs. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL DRURY,
Brussels.