I refer, of course, to the altercation between Britain and Europe which will, probably, break out later this year. I have mentioned before, many a time and oft', that Brussels has absolutely no intention of attempting to cut a trade deal with us. It's over, it's finished, this, er, 'deal' is a dead deal! Of course, there is a difference between what the 'Eurocrats' want in Brussels and what individual countries within the EU want as an outcome. The latter recognise that Boris, with a recently acquired 80-seat majority, has no need nor desire to let Brussels strap us down to the whipping block. Equally, many of the individual nation-states of the EU absolutely do not want trade links with Britain destroyed. Such an outcome will hurt them more than us and, even worse, will only lend support to those nationalist forces already growing in strength with in their own nations.
The Brussels bureaucracy has grown and grown and then grown some more and the big losers have been European national interests. What is the Polish/Swedish/Italian/Greek etc, etc, for give us back our independence?
We have already given the peoples of Europe an object lesson in how not to leave the EU. Fingers crossed by year's end we will also have shown them how it can be done.
This would be valuable information for any wishing to follow our example.
And having an independent European power with which to ally should also ease their path.
The rest is up to them.
Posted by: Pat | Thursday, 27 February 2020 at 17:42
The EU rich man's club is in no mood to compromise as it is their possible death. The EU doing a deal with the UK means anyone can do a deal, end of EU.
Posted by: Glesga | Thursday, 27 February 2020 at 18:39
Equally, many of the individual nation-states of the EU absolutely do not want trade links with Britain destroyed.
They're all delighted to have an excuse to throw up protectionist barriers against "Singapore-on-Thames" too, you silly sausage. Especially the nationalist, populist, (Br)exit (replace Br as appropriate) movements in those countries. The tariff take from Blighty's exports to those countries is a welcome boon to their government coffers also.
As I've said many a time and oft': nationalists, populists and (Br)exit movements don't do what they do for free trade and movement of labour and capital.
Brussels is accurately representing the will of their people in going protectionist at the EU border with the rest of world while single market internally.
It's a political system and stance that will weather the coming storms.
Blighty's confused muddle of "levelling up", which is of course the antithesis of a single market internally, plus blue, yellow and red socialist DNA in the body politic leading only to retaliatory and up-the-ante protectionism at the external border, is a recipe for utter life changing disaster.
"Singapore-on-Thames" was the only model sustainable for Blighty outside the EU. It doesn't look like it's on the cards, we're heading to Armageddon.
SoD
Posted by: Loz | Friday, 28 February 2020 at 07:51
"Brussels is accurately representing the will of their people".
We have little idea of what normal people in the EU countries think of us and our exit. We know, of course, what their rulers think.
Posted by: Backofanenvelope | Friday, 28 February 2020 at 11:28
WW3? I thought we were up to our eyeballs in war with Iran? Different theater I guess.
Posted by: Whitewall | Friday, 28 February 2020 at 13:38
And we know, BOE, the overlords do not heed the rabble.
Posted by: missred | Friday, 28 February 2020 at 14:59
BOE, the EU citizens elect their rulers and their rulers sit in the executive and legislative bodies appointing unelected officials to do their bidding, just like Westminster.
Whether or not that represents "the will of the people" yes or no it would be the same for Westminster as for Brussels or Prague.
And the very fact that Brexit is happening shows the lie to the EU being more than a treaty and some kind of undemocratic sovereignty threat.
Missred, the overlords seem to be heeding the rabble quite admirably just now, quite a turnaround I'd say. We shall be finding out if the Gaffer's new habit of dropping the suffix "- dread words!" from the end of his beloved phrase "The will of the people" was a good move or nay in due course.
SoD
Posted by: Loz | Friday, 28 February 2020 at 20:58