[rsynnott]

Those countries are essentially part of the EU; they're in the EEA or EFTA, have access to the common market, have to obey most of the rules, and don't get to vote. They chose this situation as politically preferable to the EU from a public opinion point of view; it has few practical advantages.

That'd be what was referred to as a 'soft Brexit'. However, the UK, with its immigration fixation, is now basically committed to a hard Brexit. They won't be in the EEA and they won't have access to the common market. Totally different situation to the countries you named.

[redsummer]

It's a miracle that other top 10 countries like Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Australia managed to get anywhere without being part of the EU.

[nzjrs]

In New Zealand we call what you did there 'moving the rugby posts'. Others might call it 'moving the goalposts'.

[Boothroid]

This often occurs to me too..

[badestrand]

Let's be realistic. In max 20 years the UK will of course be in the EU single market again. My guess is that they will make similar deals with the EU like Switzerland and probably end up in EFTA. And that would be not a bad place to be.

[rsynnott]

Probably. That'll be an expensive 20 years, though.