|Memo to David and the Cabinet

Dear elected politicians of any sort, please can we address the issues now facing us? Can you put your own self-promotion aside? For those of you who are career politicians and have no idea what the real world is like please ask a colleague who had a real job prior to them becoming a politician. I have made a list with suggestions to as who should be accountable (in the current government)to help you, please free to allocate the tasks among yourselves though.

1. Invoke Clause 50 (David you need to complete this before you go)
2. Trade Agreement: The EU in 2015 accounted for 53% of imports and 44% of Exports (47% and 41% if you take the Rotterdam effect into account). So there was a deficit last year. The current exchange rate will put pressure on us. We are important to the EU but they have the option to look elsewhere, either way our import bill will go up. A trade agreement needs to be made ASAP, especially considering that overall exports to imports are in deficit by £37 billion, of which the EU is driving £68 billion (Thankfully with the rest of the world we are not in deficit with a net gain of £31 billion) (George, Justine and Sajid ?)
3. New Budget. The probable change in our income and expenditure warrants a budget for the future. This is also needed to protect the £496 billion of inward stock Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from the EU, which is 47% of the total FDI. In fact, we attract more FDI than other EU country in 2014. We need to maintain this. Demonstrating we have our numbers in order is vital in continuing to attract this level of investment. (George can you prioritize this?)
4. Reallocation of payments to the EU: So this was a large topic in the debate. We can agree the net figure is much less than certain quarters put out in the media, being £8 billion pounds and hence £153 million per week. To gain the public confidence going forward the allocation of the EU payments for investment in the UK must be transparent. (George also)
5. £6 Billion Grants Deficit: We estimated that the EU gave almost £6 billion in grants to us last year. About £1.4 billion to private organisations and £4.4 billion to UK public bodies. When we put the new budget together we need to account for this loss in revenue / support for our public services. (George you again)
6. Safeguard of Jobs associated with EU projects: Again to seek public confidence the 28,250 jobs associated with the 658 EU projects (of which only 6,686 are safeguarded) need to be looked at and reassurance given to the individuals concerned. However, there are an estimated 3.3 million jobs linked with EU trade so it is vital a plan is created to prevent major job losses. (Michael G, but get George and Theresa to help)
7. Financial Passport: This is simple; we need to maintain our freedom to interact with the financial institutions of the EU. An agreement need to reached ASAP. A failure to achieve this will endanger our position as a Financial Capital of the World. (George and Justine)
8. Immigration: Without doubt clarity is required on how we now control our borders. A cohesive plan is needed before public trust is eroded even further. Ease of mobility is crucial to protecting our financial wellbeing, both for trade and academia. (Theresa this is your gig)
9. Research investment in the UK: In 2014 we were only second to the Netherlands in securing grants for research from the EU, receiving £687 million. I think the total pot is about £7 billion. We can, like some other non-member states, continue to apply for these grants but we need to negotiate it with the EU. It should be noted in 2014 that 70% of our applications were successful. The income generated by EU students studying here, which is £3.7 billion also needs to be protected. (Nicky, Sajid and George Freeman)
10. Support for the MHRA – We are a slow adopter of new drugs and if we do not help the MHRA negotiate with the EMA to remain part of that group, we may become even slower, having to instigate a new drug approval process – similar to Switzerland. Access to innovation may decrease if we cannot resolve this ASAP. (George Freeman)
11. New Human Rights Laws: With the UK falling outside of EU jurisdiction in the future we need to debate in parliament the legal framework we have for the protection of the rights of individuals, especially the vulnerable. The exit from the EU does not dramatically change our legislature but it is imperative we check that it is fit for purpose. (sadly Michael this is yours – get some assistance on this, it’s a lot for you to take on by yourself, plus this isn’t your area of expertise)
12. Someone needs to check we can still take part in Eurovision. (Jeremy you can handle this one)