If we settle for a Norway style deal, then we have wasted our time. That's just a begging bowl. If we are serious we must stand on our own feet. That may be tough for a while , but it will not be the first time that we have stood alone and taken it on the chin. Or maybe the present generation is not made of what it takes.
Yes, we will have wasted our time. That's why people who supported remain but accept the democratic will of the people (like me) are still bloody furious.
Look, it's quite simple: if we remain in the EEA with minor concessions on free movement, we'll basically be back to exactly where we were this time last week when we had a deal to stop EU nationals claiming benefits until they'd worked here for four years. That deal is immediately void, by the way, so unskilled migrants can move over tomorrow and fill their boots for the next two and a bit years while we're still in the EU.
There's a decent chance no concessions will be granted, so we'll have to quit the EEA to avoid a democratic crisis and the ensuing civil unrest.
If we quit the EEA, we then have to negotiate a trade deal with the single market - which trades as a whole bloc, remember - and those terms will not be as good as those we enjoy now. I'm still hopeful a cordial agreement can be reached to minimise how bad the terms are, but they will still be poorer than now.
I'm still baffled as to why anyone thinks any of this is a good idea, but hey ho - we are where we are. Let's try and make the best of this absolute bloody shambles and hope the next PM is able to assemble a VERY good negotiating team. Is David Newton available?