21 November 2022 - Swiss-style Brexit deal discussed

In Parliament, the Opposition Parties continue to criticize Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement, saying that it will worsen the economic situation and is little more than a stealth raid on working people. It is the role of the Opposition to hold the Government to account and offer alternative policies. They seem to be succeeding in the former task but failing in the latter. The Leader of the Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer and his Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, have been fiercely critical of the Conservatives, whom they accuse of driving the economy into the ground during twelve years in Government. Still, neither has offered any workable alternative to the tax rises and spending cuts announced last week. There is a row brewing between the Government and business leaders about a proposal that the UK adopt a Swiss-Style arrangement with the EU as part of Brexit. Switzerland has access to the single market and there is free movement of people. In exchange, Switzerland pays into the EU budget.