How about a completely random idea in the discussions with the EU - threaten to leave Eurovision? We're one of the big 5 in terms of TV revenue for the event, so I wonder how they would replace that money. One problem is that it also affects the non-EU countries within it, although it would be leverage for trade deals with them.
Got this from a Facebook friend - it's a report on a meeting between Theresa May and one of her constituents at a recent 'surgery' - I've deleted the constituent's name. A bit long-winded but makes for interesting reading... From ************, a constituent of May Right …. Quick summary of my 15 minutes with the PM last Friday. (though long post warning) First impressions – she’s very cold and for someone who relies on votes to keep her job – could do with going to charm school. I opened with my concerns of racism at the top of Government – she refuted this robustly – however I made reference to her own “British jobs for British workers” and “British Doctors would be better for the NHS” and of course the Home Secretary’s “foreigner list”. She went on about wanting to make sure UK companies were investing in UK workers etc etc. I did say if I advertised for a “British employee”, I would be very rightly on the sharp end of the Equality Act – she had to agree with that. I presented her with a copy of the ballot paper and asked where on there did it say that we were voting to reduce the number of EU citizens in the UK? She said “well it doesn’t but the Government has reports that the level of immigration is a concern – I asked for reference which she couldn’t provide. I then produced an infograph illustrating that EU workers add more to the economy than they cost – she didn’t appear impressed. She then started getting very emphatic that “the British people had voted for Brexit and the Government was committed to making it happen”. At this point she got a bit cross and started pointing in my face – I asked her to please not point in my face as I considered it rude! She replied that “People point at me all the time – “indeed” I said “it’s rude so please refrain!”. I then presented the “pie chart” showing voting numbers and pointed out that only 37% of the electorate voted for Brexit which was not the “British people” – she didn’t really answer that one. I also said that the “British people” phrase from herself and her colleagues got me shouting at the tele and I would much prefer to hear 37% of the electorate. She asked me if I accepted the result – certainly not! We then spoke about my own issue – in addition to my day job as an HR Manager with a large social care organisation, my husband and I own a small bistro – with an EU citizen chef. She would not guarantee EU citizens’ right to remain post Brexit. I outlined my wine supplier had increased prices (few British options for wine) food supplies have increased – I buy local where we can but we are always shopping to a price. Fuel costs have also risen due to the plunging pound. She started on about exports to which I replied I was not in a position to export my steak & frites that my diners order! I asked what assurances she could give me – “we will ensure a strong economy” was all she could do. There was more “we’re going to get the best deal”. I told her that was a “hope not an action”. I gave the analogy that the Brexit “best deal” rhetoric would be like me saying I want the “best holiday” without knowing where I was going, how much it would cost, how I would get there, where I’d stay, what currency do I need, what shots I might need etc etc. All very meaningless without substance. She said the Government would not give details of their negotiation. I said that Donald Tusk had said on Thursday that there is either “Hard Brexit or no Brexit” and I was inclined to agree – she said “I am sure I have more experience in negotiating in Europe than you do!”. I said arrogance was not helpful. I then showed her a screen shot of Boris Johnson’s speech the day after the 23rd (the part where he says we can still live, work, study etc in the EU) and asked could she clarify her Foreign Secretary’s comments as clearly this was not going to be true. She blustered and said “he wasn’t the Foreign Secretary then” (not sure what difference that makes…..) By this point I knew we probably would never be friends so I asked her that given Maidenhead had voted overwhelmingly Remain would she vote against Brexit should she lose the Supreme Court case? She then said she was a representative not a “delegate” and was not obliged to be the voice of her constituents…………….. I said I thought the people of Maidenhead may find this interesting in the next election. She said anyone who didn’t understand this, doesn’t understand the role of an MP. I said I thought there would many who didn’t understand this. Time was up – I finished by telling there was a huge groundswell of opposition to Brexit planning tactical voting and protest. I don’t think she’s listening – she’s arrogant and extremely defensive. She also looked very very tired. In my years of people watching as an HR Manager – I would say she is very much out of her depth. I will certainly post the “representative” not a “delegate” comments onto a Maidenhead Facebook page of over 8000 people – they should know their local member feels no obligation to take their views to Parliament. Maidenhead is overwhelmingly Tory but she also stood on an anti Heathrow platform and with Brexit added in – she may be challenged for her seat. (The LibDems do reasonably well on the local Council). I don’t think I’m on her Christmas card list! I would recommend that as many of us as possible request an appointment at Constituent Surgeries. The "representative not delegate" could be a good argument to Remain MPs in Leave areas. (obligation to put country first)
Another remoaner that does not understand democracy in the UK. It is a pity her valuable time is taken up with such fools.
I love the way that the Brexiters have taken up on the use of the word 'remoaner', they have been doing nothing other than moaning for the last 40 odd years. You claim to 'understand' democracy yet it has obviously slipped your memory that 63% of the electorate did not vote for Brexit - so when TM gets up on her high horse and says 'The British People have spoken', what she actually means is 37% of the electorate - minus all the 16-18 year olds who were very effected by the result but were not allowed to vote on it, minus the couple of million EU. citizens in the UK. who you are quite prepared to take taxes from without representation, and minus the several million British living abroad who were also effected by the result but not allowed to vote.
You forgot to mention that LESS than 37% voted to stay in the EU. I know supporters of the EU have been used to its eurocrats ignoring national democracy but even they now accept we are definitely leaving. The Tory government was clearly elected on a mandate to hold a referendum. Parliament voted overwhelmingly to give the decision on membership of the EU to the people in the form of a referendum. The people spoke and their decision will be respected. The only option as far as Donald Tusk is concerned is 'Hard Brexit' which coincides with the views of the leading negotiators for the UK. I cannot see what the remoaners are hoping to achieve? Please kindly enlighten me.
The Tories were the only party offering a referendum at the last election whereas all the other parties were not offering it, therefore you could say that the anti referendum vote was split. More people actually voted for anti referendum parties, so where does that leave your so called 'mandate' ? It is customary in nearly all democracies that where a referendum is held, which involves an actual change in law, then 50% of the electorate are required to vote for it - this is because non voters are held as de facto giving their assent to 'no change'. By the way, I am fully entitled to not accepting the result because, although holding a British Passport, I was not asked for my opinion - along with several million others. This convenient disenfranchisement of a large group of people who are greatly effected by the result, and could only have been expected to vote one way, amounts to a manipulation which is not acceptable for a so called democracy.
Everybody that was entitled to vote in the last general election, was, or should have been, aware of the UK's 'first past the post voting system'. The party with the most votes gets to rule the country and implement the views expressed in its manifesto. As far as I can tell that is what happened. It is irrelevant to quote what would have happened under a different voting system. Given it is perfectly clear that we are heading for a 'hard Brexit' I ask again, what are remoaners hoping to achieve by stalling tactics?
I wonder how many, if any, of the million or so university students who found themselves deleted from the electoral roll last year managed to get back on?
Responding to the fascinating Theresa May meeting... I wonder if the PM will spell out to all MP's when the time comes, that they are indeed 'representatives' not 'delegates' as she clearly stated,and therefore should vote what they believe is best for UK, not what the referendum indicated, or what their own constituents voted. I hope she would, but somehow....
If anyone likes to dig out their de-luxe version of the Tory manifesto, they will find a commitment to staying in the single market. In fact the current foreign secretary told us just before the referendum that we would be able to stay in while reducing immigration from the EU at the same time. As there has not been a general election to change this commitment, I think that the government should be held to account if they try to change policy.
Prior to the referendum Cameron, Osborne, Gove and Johnson all proclaimed that a 'leave' vote would mean leaving the single market. I'm sure most people clearly understood. The British people voted leave to regain control of borders, sovereignty and to stop sending a large quantity of money to Brussels. None of which can be achieved whilst the UK is a member of the single market. Fortunately our negotiators and the President of the European Council realise this simple fact.
Also, why was Gibraltar the only British Overseas Territory to get a vote? Why didn't Cayman Islands, BVI, Falklands etc.? I'm not saying that the Channel Islands and Isle of Man should have got a vote - we're Crown Dependant Territories which is different.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...eep-parliament-live-move-abroad-a7405196.html Much to the annoyance of Brexiteers, the European Parliament are to consider a plan to let individual Britons opt-in to keep their EU citizenship. Interesting times...
I am equally sure that many didn't understand, in fact I had it quoted to me that Boris had said we would be staying in the single market so there was no problem. People voted to leave for many different reasons which is why the whole exercise proved to be such a mess. They thought they were voting for something that was never on offer, such as the huge injection of cash into the NHS. Today we have seen the PM humiliated in India. She will find out that the platitudes she comes out with will cut no ice when it come to negotiating inside or outside of the EU.
There have been moves taking place over the past few months to contact MEPs with similar suggestions. I cannot see why any Brexiteers should be worried unless they think that they should control all our lives.
Boris said "The benefits of the single market were 'wildly overstated'. People mostly voted for border control, sovereignty, and spending the UK's costly contributions to the EU's coffers on better projects in the UK, such as the NHS. They also rejected the EU's slide towards a superstate. The UK will find it much easier to negotiate with countries such as India. The EU requiring to ratify any trade agreement with 27 member states has proved to be long winded and highly flawed. Theresa May will be much more successful negotiating trade agreements than the timid Cameron, his failure to secure any meaningful concessions sealed his plight.
Agreed, I cannot see why any Brexiteer would object to UK citizens leaving the UK to live or work in the EU. My brother-law, who voted Brexit has applied for an Irish passport to counter any possible problems with visas etc.
