France's senior politicians could be fully occupied next years as the leading candidate for the presidential elections, Francois Fillon said he would have no qualms about using executive powers to push through his labour reforms and reducing the civil service by 500,000. Union leaders have promised street protests and strikes and they have even threatened to switch their allegiances to Marine Le Pen. There will be many complications to the Brexit negotiations.
Your reading of French politics is simplistic to say the least. What you are right in saying is that the UK will not get anywhere saying what it wants and expecting 27 other sovereign nations to go along with it. Already we have seen that government ministers are realizing that every time the PM opens her mouth she makes matters worse. It is time for the right wing knuckle draggers to get real and accept that no way can the UK fulfill it's promises to companies like Nissan, or the banks, and leave the EU. There will be a period of transition and that could go on for years while the UK economy dives.
Although France's problems are clear for all to see it has not had the stomach for the radical reforms required. Fillon has promised some of the medicine required but we had similar statements from Sarkozy until he buckled under the domination of the unions. The threats from the unions of even more disruption does not bode well for France's poor growth and long term high unemployment rate. It was always ridicules to expect the PM to spell out the government's negotiation strategy, May has done a good job deflecting silly questions. Despite fierce questioning yesterday she has not promised giving parliament a vote on the eventual deal, this is good. It was good for the Australian High Commissioner to rubbish the idea that free trade deals need to take a long time to complete. There is much more to be optimistic about the UK's fate than France's. The UK defeated the politically motivated unions decades ago, France has to go through the inevitable trauma this brings or continue with decline.
I don't know what sort of bubble you live in, but one day sooner or later it will have to pop, and the real world will kick in. Want your sovereignty back. You seem to forget that you, I and everyone else invest our sovereignty in our MPs, and by trying to prevent them having a say is not democracy, but dictatorship. You are clearly happy to be told what you are to think, but others are rather more open minded and can see what is really happening. Time to stop this pathetic nonsense SH and start to worry when the pound/dollar will recover, you can sell your shares, and build Horney Towers.
You seem to forget that our MP's had a democratic vote to use a referendum instead of votes in parliament. Brexit really does mean Brexit, going, going, gone. Just had a look at recent European inward investment figures where the UK had a leading 28% of all investment. France just managed 4%, same as Romania. The figures suggest that there is a real reluctance to invest in France whilst the UK was twice as popular as the next recipient. You really should be more concerned about your chosen country, it looks to be on a slippery slope. I think your desperate attempt to deflect your worries away from the mounting problems facing France is rather pathetic. It should be an interesting 2017. Looking good on the house front, long running planning conditions finally met last week, hopefully start build in Spring.
You seem to forget that our MP's had a democratic vote to use a referendum instead of votes in parliament. Brexit really does mean Brexit, going, going, gone. Just had a look at recent European inward investment figures where the UK had a leading 28% of all investment. France just managed 4%, same as Romania. The figures suggest that there is a real reluctance to invest in France whilst the UK was twice as popular as the next recipient. You really should be more concerned about your chosen country, it looks to be on a slippery slope. I think your desperate attempt to deflect your worries away from the mounting problems facing France is rather pathetic. It should be an interesting 2017. Looking good on the house front, long running planning conditions finally met last week, hopefully start build in Spring.
You seem to forget that our MP's had a democratic vote to use a referendum instead of votes in parliament. If you believe that, you probably still believe in fairies.
Passing the first hurdle: History made as MPs vote in favour of EU referendum by 544 to 53 MPs have voted overwhelmingly in support of holding a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union (EU). By TOM BATCHELOR AND ALISON LITTLE PUBLISHED: 03:18, Wed, Jun 10, 2015 | UPDATED: 08:03, Wed, Jun 10, 2015 please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image 158 please log in to view this image PA MPs backed the referendum bill by a majority of 491 The European Union Referendum Bill easily passed during a vote in the Commons last night by 544 to 53, with support from Labour MPs giving the motion a majority of 491. The Bill will now undergo detailed committee stage scrutiny on the floor of the House, starting next week. An SNP wrecking amendment, calling for 16 and 17-year-olds to be allowed to take part and demanding a "double majority" where each of the four UK nations must vote to leave before a British exit - or 'Brexit' - occurs, was also seen off by a majority of 279, with MPs voting 338 to 59. Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond said: “We've had referendums on Scottish devolution, referendums on Welsh devolution, referendums on our electoral system and on a regional assembly for the North East. "But an entire generation of British voters has been denied the chance to have a say on our relationship with the European Union. And Mr Speaker, today we are putting that right." The EU Referendum Bill makes law David Cameron’s pledge of an in-out vote by the end of 2017 and is a major victory for the Daily Express crusade to leave the EU. Related articles EU scare tactics from the First Minister of Scotland Vote to stay in EU and we’ll get the federal superstate We CAN'T cut migrant benefits: Barmy Euro court risks Cameron's plan to slash handouts Earlier, MPs stepped up warnings to the Government not to “rig” the referendum, amid a row over plans to lift the usual “purdah” ban on Government “publications” in the month before a major vote. Eurosceptics say that will let the Government - which will almost certainly back staying in the EU - as well as other public bodies including the EU itself shower the public right up to polling day with “a deluge of propaganda” in a bid to sway votes. Arch-eurosceptic former Cabinet Minister Owen Paterson told the Commons: “If the public have a sense there is no fairness, that this is being rigged against them, that a deluge of local government, of national government, and above all European government money and propaganda can be dropped on them .... that will be unacceptable. This extraordinary moment in our history, this incredibly important moment, could be seen to be illegitimate Owen Paterson “This extraordinary moment in our history, this incredibly important moment, could be seen to be illegitimate.” UKIP MP Douglas Carswell also backed a purdah period, adding: “If this referendum is to be considered free and fair, it would be wise to ensure the neutrality of the civil service and the machinery of Government.” Tory former Attorney General Dominic Grieve said he expected to argue to stay in the EU but warned: “We have to be very careful to ensure that we provide a clear indication that it will be a level playing field and it will not be abused ... and (avoid) an impression that the Government will come in and try to load the dice.” And Eurosceptic Labour former minister Kate Hoey said the purdah plan must be changed to show people the Government wanted “a free and fair vote”. Hundreds of democratically elected fairies.
Where does that say they gave up their rights to hold the government to account. All it talks about is holding a referendum, nothing else, nothing about what would follow it. You are confused. Time to get a grip.
The government is being held to account by parliament, almost daily. The referendum was the preferred apparatus to decide in or out. The one certainty then is that out it must be. There were no amendments attached to the bill that required a further vote on the matter. Even if there was a vote, there is a clear majority who have declared they will not oppose. No confusion there, it is easy to understand. I think you are desperately clutching at straws.
The government is saying one thing one day, and something different the next. It is obvious to all except the blinkered that they have no idea or plan where they are going, and when asked five times to clarify the situation the Prime Minister cannot. You only have to look at the body language to see that she is totally out of her depth.
please log in to view this image It is a shame that some wish to withdraw into their own little world.
You clearly underestimate the PM. It is not because she cannot answer, she is rightly avoiding it so decisions can be made at a later date. I'm sure she will outsmart the feeble attempts to deny the democratic will of the people by invoking article 50 within her timeframe. She will also achieve a better deal than some, like you apparently, hope she does achieve. I also hope we all stay alive so I can be a smug git and say 'I told you so'.
You would have to be insane to not agree that Churchill would have be horrified by the UK's loss of sovereignty and Germany's economic domination of Europe. He supported the original concept of a common market not the present fiasco of stagnant growth and mass unemployment.
I think what you are saying is that she overrides her Ministers because they have started to realize the problems and she doesn't want to admit to them. She cannot invoke Article 50 legally at present, and her timetable could easily be thrown off course next month. I have no idea what deal you think she can get. Maybe you would like to inform us of what you think she will get.
We don't have any people like Winston Churchill around these days Frenchie, there are no real statesmen left. We have PMs who call unnecessary referendums and then lose them, we have replacement PMs who are 'thrown in' to clear up the mess - but are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. We also have our Bojo's, our Farages, our Goves - not a statesman amongst them - more like the cast of a second rate comedy.
He may not have agreed with the way the present EU. is run but he would have had the trust in Britain being able to change it from within - he would not have run away from it. What I find hard to swallow is that, on the one hand the Brexiters are trying to picture Britain as being totally without influence within the EU. like a 6 year old child having sand kicked in its face. But on the other hand they are telling us how dynamic we are. If Britain feels that it was not able to influence the EU. how does it feel it can influence any other trade block ? In fact from all laws passed by the EU. the British supported 88% of them - this is a higher success rate than any other country - the British have helped to make the EU. what it is today, with all its faults.
I think you are right there cologne, and looking around the world they are in pretty short supply. Churchill was right that you can live in a different country without having to give up your love for where you were born. Many of my English friends from out here have been to the UK in the past few weeks, and without exception are glad to be back here. A country that is split down the middle and has weak leadership is not the happiest of places.
She does not want to invoke it yet, she has clearly stated her preferred date. The PM has already won a vote in parliament on whether the MP's 'respect' the will of the people with a handsome majority of 372. This will, in effect, bind the MP's hands on any final vote on the UK's negotiating stance. Nobody knows at this stage the outcome but we have had some clues. The PM has a red line on the UK having border control. They are keen for the UK to do bi-lateral deals with non EU countries. The UK courts will be sovereign. The rest is to be negotiated.
