People are lazy and it takes some effort to cut through the internet and tabloid crap to form an informed opinion. We reap what we sow. That said, Mrs May needs to properly consider two things: 1. The result is not binding by law. 2. Occasionally we need Parliament to save is from ourselves. This is one such occasion. Unlike dodgy Chinese nuclear power stations and vanity railway projects there is nothing here to grease their palms. Do what you were elected to do FFS.
A report from the high-powered House of Lords EU committee has warned the government that simply offering parliament a vote after article 50 has already been triggered amounts to a “rubber stamp”, not effective scrutiny. Tim Boswell, the committee’s chair, said: “Ministers keep saying that they won’t offer a running commentary on the negotiations. What they offer instead, namely parliamentary scrutiny after the fact, is in reality not scrutiny at all – it could be no more than a rubber stamp. That is not good enough, given that these are the most important and complex negotiations the government has ever undertaken”. I know Tim Boswell very well as a principled person and a brilliant MP. What he and his committee are saying is very much the same as the arguments presented in the High Court this week. It is time for the government to stop using meaningless phrases, and come clean that they still do not have a workable plan.
I doubt very much that parliamentary scrutiny could actually take place anyway. If done during the course of negotiations it would only really hinder progress - and there wouldn't be time after negotiations had been completed. My understanding of the process is that whatever 'deal' is agreed wouldn't be formalised until midnight on the penultimate day, leaving no time for scrutiny/debate/objection. The only time parliament need to be involved is prior to triggering Article 50 - to debate/decide whether or not to go ahead. I doubt that will happen as May & Co seem hell-bent on going ahead regardless, and they know that they don't have the numbers to get their way.
The advantage about May and her cronies activating article 50 without consulting parliament is that there can then be no 'sharing of guilt' by association. Parliament would probably not have the spine to actually ignore the referendum result and so it is better to let the government go it alone ( using 'Royal prerogative', or whatever description they choose to describe their undemocratic practices). Then, only they are to blame. This unnecessary referendum was called by a Tory (purely for inner party reasons), we have been lied to almost exclusively by Tories and ex Tories - and all of the economic upheavals and uncertainties, and loss of prestige in the World will have been on the account of decisions made by Tories - let them take the responsibility as well ! If a result of this fiasco is that the Tories finally lose the, commonly held illusion, that 'they are better for the economy - and never get elected again, then it may be worthwhile. There will be no 'British negotiations' - there are only 'European ones' ie. decisions made behind doors which are now closed to us, which we can either accept or reject. There is no 'soft Brexit`option available - only hard Brexit or no Brexit.
I'd like to think you're correct cologne, but have reservations. The current government have shown themselves to be morally bankrupt since 2010 - they have governed for themselves, not the country, and have done so using a mix of inhumanity, viciousness and bare-faced lies - yet they still got re-elected. There is simply no credible alternative for the electorate to turn to - in England at least.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/albertonar...t-britain-woul?utm_term=.qfX078obJ#.glKzoPdmR Theresa May put firmly in her place by Donald Tusk. Ironic that she should complain about EU meetings being held without Britain being involved - now she knows how Nth Ireland, Wales and Scotland feel.
It looks as if the trade deal between the EU and Canada has collapsed. Despite Germans trying through the courts unsuccessfully to halt it, it has taken a regional government in Belgium to put the skids under it. This scheme was one that David Davies was holding up as a good model for the UK to follow. Seven years in the making, and now all that work seems to have been wasted. Some would say that it shows that the EU is trying for agreements that are too large, too extensive, but it is one that the Canadian government really wanted to boost their failing trade, despite not have total access to the markets. So the type of agreement that the UK might seek is unlikely to be any easier, probably even more difficult now, and will the EU wish to start all over again to try and come up with something advantageous to the 27 and the UK. The agreements currently in place are unlikely to be bettered, so maybe it is time for some truth to come out of Westminster to tell people that they are going to lose out badly in the years ahead.
We can only hope that it has collapsed - Ceta would allow any corporation operating in Canada (wherever its HQ is) to sue governments, would threaten to tear down all inconvenient environmental laws and prevent governments from acting on behalf of their voters. It was an attempt to bring in TTIP through the back door. When will the next attempt come from the corporate lobbyists to circumvent all democracy, and what new name will they give it ? Thank God we have, hopefully, kicked this one into touch.
It would seem to me cologne that your government wanted it to go ahead, despite what appeared to be quite a lot of protest from some of the voters. Unless you can take a large percentage of a population with you, and I don't consider 51% to be in that class, then it is time to think again, and not get into the situation where something can be vetoed the week before it should be signed off. At least the Belgium system of regional government makes the national government accountable, and also shows that the EU is not an organization that is accountable to no one.
I agree Frenchie. When I said 'we' I didn't mean the excuse for a government which Germany now has - but the thousands who made their voices heard against TTIP and Ceta. I can't call it 'my' government here in Germany because I couldn't vote at the last elections here - but will be able to next year. The present German government rules on behalf of Siemens, Daimler, Bayer etc. nothing more nothing less. Another good reason to move to Belgium, apart from them having the best beer in the World.
The way to succeed no-one gets it Whether it's Remain or this Brexit For the rich and the poor One thing's always sure Whatever we've got someone wrecks it
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/21/theresa-may-brexit-negotiations-language-french ofh - hope you're not busy for the next two years. Your language skills may be needed.
As far as I know everyone speaks their own language in all negotiations in the EU. They all have simultaneous translation of the others. The report is that because Ireland will be the only English speaking country left in the EU. then Irish English will now come into its own as the dominant language Angela Merkel only understands German, Russian and English as far as I know.
They do - but I suspect that May is paranoid about possible leaks. She seems determined not to let the country know what's happening until it's happened - and is too late to do anything about. I don't think Ireland will be the only English speaking country left in EU - I know we're hard to understand at times, but the Scots also speak English...
Now that would be interesting. I am sure that I could do quite a decent job of it with my large Chambers, Google Translate and unlimited Bordeaux. I wonder just what trouble I could create?
I've just watched a rerun of last night's STV show Scotland Tonight, which included, amongst others, Westminster's Man in Scotland David Mundell. When asked about Brexit causing growing support for another Independence referendum, his reply gobsmacked me - so much that I replayed it just to be sure that I'd heard correctly. It doesn't matter what the people of Scotland think. When that hits the social media and gets around, he's sure to regret it - and the Yes supporters are sure to rejoice.
