b'On Brexit, we do NOT put forward Norway,The fact of the matter is, in the European Switzerland or for that matter Iceland (norUnion, we have 8.24% of the votes on membership of the EEA) as a blueprint. Forthe Council of Ministers. If Turkey gets EU more on this, see the following exchangemembership, which is what the Conservative from BBCs The Daily Politics on 10Party and the Labour Party want, it will November 2015:be even fewer. MEPs arent particularly important, but we have less than 10%Interviewer, Jo Coburn:of MEPs, and we have one out of 28 Those who wish to leave the EU oftenCommissioners. In the councils of the world, cite Norway as an example to follow.particularly in trade, our voice is muted as Do you acceptthat even from Norwaysone out of 28. But a short answer to your perspective, certainly at an official level,question is, both Norway and Switzerland the foreign minister recently wrote in thehave better arrangements than we do, but we Guardian that Britain shouldnt choosecan do better than either of them. his country as an example, as they would still have to accept freedom of movementIt was impossible to know then that the and accept directives from Brussels. ThisBrexit negotiation would be handled as badly idea of being outside the EU but being in aas it was by then Prime Minister Theresa broader economic area, you would still beMay. Theresa May failed utterly to think subject to those restrictions.strategically or long-term. The lady has set out innumerable red lines only to breach William Dartmouth:them herself. She has failed to win allies No, no. Ive been Trade Spokesman foror build leverage thus having few apparent five years; we dont put forward thecards to play. She has failed to convince blueprint for either Norway, or Switzerlandeither her party or the country of her stance or for that matter Iceland, because weor competence - and the Prime Minister now are the fifth largest economy in the world,approaches a key deadline with no plausible and provided we dont have politiciansroute forward. In the entire annals of Britains at our head like David Cameron whoPrime Ministers, it is difficult to imagine sells the pass before its even begun, weworse. (Even the hapless lord North who lost would be able to negotiate a much betterthe first British Empire, the north American arrangement.colonieshad the excuse of an interfering higher power, George III.) 85'