Well, Gove has finally revealed the Tory's post-Brexit trade plans. And to think that we were all worried sick... A ripper, isn't it?
Sovereignty + THE BESTEST TRADE DEALS (Express style) + Big in the pig ear game. We're sorted Brexit was a great plan after all.
http://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/special-brexit-deal-struck-northern-13703661 Northern Ireland to get a 'special brexit deal' allowing the country to stay in the single market - a deal pushed forward by Sinn Fein, and one that could see The Troubles flare up again. A kick in the teeth for Scotland, but one that must surely increase support for independence to even higher levels.
Productivity growth at its lowest level for 200 years - even though we're still really only at the 'chatting about Brexit' stage. Corbyn's desire to take us back to the 1970's is looking to be a desirable option - given that May's plan appears to have us heading back to the 1770's...
As an occasional visitor to the UK you certainly see changes to the prices of things. Typical pub meal had gone from 6.99 to 9.29 iñ just six months. The place was no longer full and the waitress said life for her was much easier. A real turn off for some of the older voters has been the necessity to do some shopping at Aldi or Lidl to try and save a bit on the weekly shop. The family run supermarket can't compete.
For those needing to eat pub grub on a limited budget they should try one of the 1,000 excellent value Wetherspoon hostelries owned by the impressive Brexiteer Tim Martin. He has a fine range of non EU wines, soon to be expanded no doubt.
The facts are the food and drink prices at Wetherspoons are excellent value, especially for those on a limited budget. Tim Martin has expressed his intention to supply less wine from the EU if costs rise through the refusal of EU negotiators to act reasonably. Discuss.
Well that rules Wetherspoons off my list of possible drinking houses in England then. As you know I would never drink wine from the other side of the World - not because of the EU. but because of the environmental impact. There really is nothing to discuss, because you will stick to your stubborn belief that the EU. is refusing to be reasonable and not provide any evidence for your claim. Of course if you want access to EU. markets in future then there will be conditions attached to that - they cannot give you the same conditions they would give to another EU. member. Do you honestly expect them to get down on their knees as pleed with us not to go - maybe offer us titbits and incentives to stay in ? Life is not like that - you want to go and those are the conditions - there is nothing unreasonable about it.
I'm sure there will conditions attached to new trading with the EU for both sides. It would make sense to have a free trade deal between the two sides to benefit all. Unfortunately common sense is overruled by the EU's desperation to protect the fragile political project.
I agree that the political project is looking a bit fragile at the moment - but not because of Brexit. To be honest I am sickened by the EU. at the moment - but don't think I am coming over to the Brexit side in saying that, because May has not responded in any way differently. I understand that the EU. cannot automatically recognize an independence declaration within a member state - but wonder how far they will go in this blind support of Spain. It resembles the monarchies of the past ie. all stick together in time of need. The EU. has recognized so many independence declarations in the past when they were at a safe distance ie. Slovenia, Croatia, the breakup of the USSR etc. sympathizes with so many others eg. Kurds, Tibet - but all at a safe distance. Now separatism has come home to roost and there is just a deafening silence and a shaking of heads. Do we have to wait until there are deaths on the streets of Barcelona, or political prisoners carted off to Madrid before there is a whisper of criticism. For centuries gone by the political borders of Europe have always changed - but now the EU. nations apparently have inalienable, permanent borders fixed for all time like prisons. Anyone which shakes that static picture, like Catalonia, is a paria. They all group together with the claim that Spain is a model democracy - yes, so democratic that referendums are not allowed, and there is no legal possibility of a road to independence however bad things get. A state which cannot come to terms with its past and where research into the final resting grounds of the 200,000 people listed as missing in the time of Franco is prevented by the authorities, and where books about the Franco regime are still censored. Because of an apparent fear of this separatism spreading like a cancer, or of offending a member state it is losing it's heart and it's morality - and, more importantly, going against an important UN. resolution which guarantees support for self determination. Rant over - Viva Catalunya !
Good post but maybe your support for the result of the Catalonia referendum is stronger than the UKs?
The difference is that the referendum was allowed for the UK. As it was allowed for Scotland. Imagine if the UK. had decided that all mention of a Scottish referendum was illegal - now, and for all time, had sent in police with rubber bullets onto the streets of Edinburgh to stop people expressing their opinions - had threatened to assume direct control and abolish the Scottish Parliament, arresting it's leaders along the way. This is a completely different scenario from the Scottish or UK. referendums which you know well enough - the Spanish do not deserve to hold onto Catalonia. By that I mean the Spanish government not the Spanish people, because I have never known a Catalan who actually hated the Spanish as a people.
Exactly..... listening to May speak yesterday was like looking at a flow chart of: if this then this but if that then that and if not who knows... all very strong and assertive but little substance
The EU's negotiating position made it perfectly clear from the start that they were looking to humiliate the UK, not find a sensible agreement. The government should have realised this much sooner and prepared for a 'no deal' ages ago.
Rather than just using constant soundbites can you explain clearly just what you find unreasonable about the EU. negotiating position ?
Demanding a huge ransom before any talks on the ongoing relationship between the two entities is an aggressive and unhelpful stance. It is obvious that the protection of the EU project is more important than securing a mutually beneficial deal. The EU's main priority is to deter other member countries from even contemplating leaving the Union. Once the UK has left the EU it is unreasonable to claim that EU migrants living in the UK should be subject to ECJ law. Can you imagine the response if the UK demanded UK expats were ultimately subject to UK law?
There you go again SH. Why talk of ransom ? Are you disputing that Britain is obliged to pay outstanding debts and long term obligations which it signed up to ? Is it not reasonable to expect that a plan for these should be agreed before any talk of future trade agreements can take place ? You talk of a 'huge ransom' yet the only quotes as to the final sum have come from the British media. It is also clear that those EU. citizens already in the UK. have acquired rights by view of their residence and the conditions under which their residence commenced - these rights cannot be interfered with in any way. How Britain regulates future immigration from the EU. is it's own concern - but those already there are covered by pre existing rights which cannot be left for Britain alone to decide.
