Mrthfx

What are disadvantages of joining European Free Trade Association
(EFTA) and negotiating deals similar to the ones between the EU and Switzerland?

It would eliminate the need for a hard border in Northern Ireland (important for supporters of a soft Brexit), let the UK negotiate its own trade agreements and give it control over freedom of movement by making it subject to bilateral agreements (important for supporters of a hard Brexit).

Yet, the indicative votes have shown that this the least supported option in the British parliament. I understand why remainers oppose it, but why is it also opposed by so many Brexiteers?

According to the slides by Michel Barnier (also printed below), the 'Switzerland option' has certain requirements that may not fit with UK red lines.

I will quote the point from the slide, which are possible UK red lines, and say how these could be overcome to make the Switzerland option work.

• No free movement. To overcome this, the UK must give in that it cannot block free movement of people. In the Swiss case that's covered by this agreement.




• No substantial financial contribution. To overcome this, the UK would have to contribute to the EU budget. Consider this article on the website of the Swiss confederation.




• Regulatory autonomy. To overcome this, the UK has to implement some EU laws to have and maintain EU market access. For the Swiss case, consider this page by fullfact.org.

Probably because the "Swiss model" is in flux. DW said

After four years of hard-fought negotiations, Switzerland has shrugged off a deadline for a treaty with the EU. It is concerned that freedom of movement requirements will flood the wealthy country with low-wage labor.

Also FT said

Swiss politicians resent what they regard as “blackmail” by Brussels [...]

Also the EU has granted the Swiss an extension of sorts to figure it out. That sounds somewhat familiar...

In the recent past, the Swiss were able impose some temporary immigration quotas on some EU countries (mostly newly admitted members); a few of these quotas are still in place. However it seems the new (draft) deal EU-Swiss doesn't allow for that. There's still some wiggle room in it for Swiss preemption for "at risk" jobs, itself a hard-fought issue in the negotiations. But this must look like a rather weaksauce solution in the UK given the hardline "take back control of our borders" stance.

Also DW suggested a mutual wait-game of the Swiss and the UK:

the Commission wary of going easy on the Swiss for fear of providing ammunition to Brexiteers. Meanwhile, many Swiss are happy to wait and see what sort of deal the British can extract for themselves out of the EU.