Of course, but she didn't mean it and the peeps on the other side know it. It's the only card she has in her pack that will keep her media supporters happy. I really despise the attitude that means we act as though we're at war with the EU just because the EU wants to take action to minimise the damage we're doing to them by leaving. We're better than that. The UK electorate advised the Government of the time that they preferred to leave rather than stay. Some of the people who voted to leave think that also entitles them to dictate what the EU does, now we've told them we're off. The EU has its own priorities. Some of them may be in line with our own, some won't be. BTW, Strolls, I didn't think you were blowing dog whistles or stirring up anger. That's done by people with cold hearts and hidden objectives.
Interesting interview with the PM of Estonia on Radio 4 Today, who thought that May's Article 51 letter was positive and who had no problem with reference to security because the EU needs to bear it in mind (Estonia may be heavily reliant on UK troops to man its eastern border). I'm reading that certain serial remoaning MP's (Osborne, Farron, Clegg, Tony Blair, Anna Soubry and (hopefully) Nicky Morgan) are investigating starting a new political party. It's not yet April 1st, so I have to assume there's some truth in it. I hope it happens - perhaps they could Launch on a wooden raft pushed out to mid-Atlantic in bad weather
Read a really good article in the Atlantic magazine (an impeccably liberal US publication, where most articles are slack jawed analyses of the Trump administration) which unfortunately doesn't allow me to link the piece. Using government sources from each country it set out the 27's priorities from the negotiations by country. There is very strong alignment around maintaining EU unity, protecting EU citizens and a budget/financial settlement. They want a trade deal too, but recognise that this is going to be more divisive amongst the 27 so will focus on the disentanglement first as the best way to keep a united front. If the government accepts that what the 27 wants in the negotiation order is what it will be (I haven't read the Tusk document yet) I would have thought agreements in principle could be reached on citizens quickly, and if, as May said in her letter, we agree to meet our obligations re the money, this things could be done quickly and we move on to the future stuff. I have seen a potential figure of €35bn as the ask. If this was spread out over 4 years from 2019 it would be less than we pay in annually at the moment so should be manageable. Although I am pretty sure we will end up with a 'pay to play' trade agreement too. The people who can bugger everything up are the hard core Europhobic Tory MPs, like the one who wants to repeal everything single bit of 'ghastly' EU regulation.
I had to waste 10 minutes of my life last night listening to Alistair Campbell on This Week. To say he made himself look a tw@nt would be an understatement. He lied and gave false information only to be put down by Andrew Neil and Portillo. Portillo was talking a lot sense re the EU and how they work. Question Time was a bit boring, especially with the two scousers. The girl on the end stood out for me as she had all the facts and figures whereas the others just seem to waffle on with their political agenda.
I was thinking along those lines of 3-4 years at a descending rate to finally zero would be reasonable. The EU should be aware just how much we trade both ways and not set any silly tariffs that would actually harm the economies of some of their members. Whatever the outcome I still think this is the beginning of the end for the EU...
The UK government should do to Uber what the Irish government have done, refuse them the right to operate unless the drivers are vetted and licenced in the interests of public safety. I see one of their driverless cars crashed this week in Arizona or somewhere and they are stopping the whole driverless car programme for the moment. Delighted for them.
Yes but let's not forget the owners are entrepreneurs and innovators and are merely doing what this government applauds most. Making as much money as they can in a way that is entirely legal. I see a bit of political posturing to keep public opinion sweet but am yet to be convinced that Theresa May's government stands for ordinary working people whatever carefully scripted press announcements are put in front of her. I expect a bit of noise and an exhortation to Uber to play nicely with the public and then we can all concentrate on Brexit again
So where exactly were you Uber when your doppleganger was trying to fleece customers? Give us an alibi and we'll suspend judgment until we've investigated your story.
This bloke (the one the Tories always put up to take all the ****) couldn't even say that we would end up paying less than we do now.
Right As it's Easter coming up I have a house load of brats/eggs/DIY/family meals and rest time I thought they were 27 united voices? Gibraltar? No chance. The Spanish are just being cheeky with that one. I would tell them to go jump off a rock. Will never happen so do let the press worry you.
FFS mate!! Our intelligence agencies will never, ever let innocent people die by withholding information. Even if the government were to propose such a thing (they won't), the agencies involved would continue anyway. It is a fact, however, that the Countries on mainland Europe rely heavily on our intelligence services and we share intelligence with and get intelligence from other sources by and large known as the five eyes (UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand).
And let's not forget any of the other 26, particularly the micro-states, who have to be persuaded by the deal. This is one of the major weaknesses of the EU. On most important decisions each country has effectively a veto or a cast iron delaying mechanism on any decision taken by the majority however large that may be simply because it does not suit their own national interest.
Gibraltar voted by 96% to remain in the EU. So presumably we don't really care what they want now anyway, just like the ****ing Scots. The Spanish have already offered dual citizenship to all Gilbraltarians in exchange for joint sovereignty of the territory, which means the locals stay Brits and in the EU. Which is what they say they want.
Yes Family coming over for Easter . Sorry I should have finished the sentence. With all this going on I shall take a 2-week break from politics thread and let them get on with it. After tomorrow that is.
