The European Parliament reminds us they can veto or approve any EU/UK deal on the future relationship.Some of them also say they want to offer EU citizen rights to individual UK citizens who want it. This appears to be a generous offer, as of course the UK will no longer be paying in or accepting the judgements of the Parliament, Council and Court.
It is difficult to reconcile this with their wish as well to ensure insofar as they can influence it that we will not be better off out. Fortunately whether we are better off or not will be mainly up to us, based on the approach we follow when we are free to make our own decisions.
I trust the European army will not be making conscripts of European citizens.
March 11, 2017
More teasing from the EU cabal, and should be ignored. The EU has been littered with popinjays at its heart: Juncker, Verhofstadt, von Rompuy, Barroso, Tusk, Schulz et al. When one goes another one turns up and all utterances from such sources should be treated with disdain.
Would that we could be confident the UK has a competent negotiating team to face down these clowns. Politicians and their civil servants seem less suitable for the job than many one could find outside parliament. We need the hard-nosed, rigid, abrasive, no-nonsense attitude of say a Yorkshire hill-farmer!
March 11, 2017
When I read this:
http://news.sky.com/story/empire-strikes-back-as-fox-seeks-post-brexit-trade-deals-10795199
“But some Whitehall officials fear the Government is placing too much expectation on countries that once belonged to the British Empire, and have mockingly dubbed the move “Empire 2.0”. This language has not impressed international figures.
One former minister of state for India, Shashi Tharoor, told LBC’s Iain Dale that the phrase would “go down like a lead balloon” and described British rule in India as “200 years of plunder and exploitation”.”
my reaction is that if those “Whitehall officials” can be identified then they should be summarily sacked. It’s obvious that they are either completely – and unbelievably – stupid or they are deliberately trying to sabotage the efforts of the minister, Liam Fox, and either way they should be removed.
March 12, 2017
On two counts, I find the cited “Whitehall officials” are unjustified with their fears: first that as an Australian I reckon my countryfolk would greatly welcome a restititution of Commonwealth connections (without the cultural cringe), and as a frequent visitor on business for many years to the Indian sub-continent, I know there remains much respect for what Britain left in the way of law and order, an effectice civil service and material benefits exemplified by the Indian railway network.
Of course, the arrogance of the Brits in the past may still rankle with some, and there is also the question of why the UK, Heath & co, was prepared to dump the Commonwealth peremptorily in pursuit of the EU dream.
In attempting to reinvigorate this cultural and trading heritage, the UK must be anything other than seeking to lead an empire.
March 11, 2017
Yes, another attempt by the eurocrats at fracturing the Brexiters is the latest “suggestion” (actually stronger) to make Cornwall feel less well off outside the EU.
March 12, 2017
That won’t happen. Cornwall hates the EU and all the pto EU Londoners who’ve boyght all their houses as holiday homes.
March 11, 2017
Good Morning,
Do you yet know with whom the UK team is to negotiate; Council, Commission or Parliament? It seems they all want in on the discussions and it may therefore be impossible to satisfy all three at the same time! Our discussions may be further delayed by the EU’s internal schisms, trying to hold a ‘multi speed Europe’ together.
Perhaps Lord Lawson is correct, don’t waste time on trying to negotiate the un-negotiable.
March 11, 2017
Dear sir,
You should see that more as Guy Verhofstadt jockeying for a seat at the negotiation table than an actual proposal. It has no chance of getting through. As you pointed, it’s having your cake and eating it.
Now it is true that the negotiations are likely to be long and hard and could well fail at the last minute. It was just a reminder that Parliaments, including yours, should not be expected to just rubber-stamp decisions.
March 11, 2017
It may look as offering British citizens a status where they can have their cake and eat it. However, the EU will charge a very high price to retain EU citizenship, it will not be free., and it won’t be the price of a passport.
March 11, 2017
Conscription into the new EU military?
March 11, 2017
Exactly. This is a Verhofstadt tax to offset the loss of our annual tribute. It will not be paid by other nationals residing in the EU, not even those from other continents.
The other point of this “offer” is to divide us, by gathering a list, i.e. a petition to the European Parliament, of millions of British subjects who wish instead to be EU citizens.
GV started touting it well before the triggering of A5o, i.e. when the EU was absolutely refusing to dicuss anything at all, not even the status of residents. Yet we could apparently discuss this aspect of Brexit, involving the status of individuals.
The fee may start low, but will climb in the future. Gullible remainiacs should have nothing to do with it, and should bear in mind that besides pauying a tax no-one else in Europe will be required to pay, they might be eligible for conscription..
March 11, 2017
As the EU Parliament has a veto where else is Verhofstadt going to be except somewhere in the negotiations ?
March 11, 2017
Already announced in December 2016, the EU27 team to discuss Brexit has Michel Barnier as lead to represent the Commission and Guy Verhofstadt as lead to represent the Parliament.
What makes you think that there have been changes?
March 11, 2017
As you say:- “whether we are better off or not will be mainly up to us, based on the approach we follow when we are free to make our own decisions”.
Indeed it will, but we have May and Hammond in charge who keep putting taxes up, seem to believe in climate alarmism, want even more red tape, seem to like breaking manifesto “vows”, “promises” and “pledges”, love pissing money down the drain on HS2, Hinkley C, greencrap grants and the likes.
They even seem to think the NHS just needs yet more money, that EU employment laws should be adopted and built on, that current taxes at 37% of GDP are clearly far too low and running a huge deficit on top of this is just fine. This while providing a few public “services” that are generally appalling.
March 11, 2017
Yesterday I had to ring HMRC on behalf of my elderly mother. The two letter we sent earlier having both been ignored completely. After long irrelevant messages from the automated system (which could not be skipped) and irritating music for twenty odd minutes we finally got through to someone. Unfortunately she clearly did not understand very much at all about the UK tax system and so decided the best thing to do was just to hang up.
What delightful public “services” and charming staff we have in the state sector. Such wonderful and dedicated public service.
March 11, 2017
Dear Sir,
As I am sure you know, only 3 out of the 27 EU countries still have conscription. So to speak about EU conscripting its own citizen in an European army is beyond far-fetched. It’s typically the kind of myth peddled by the eurosceptic press and the wing nut section of the Conservative party.
Now, if the EU could in aggregate increase its paltry military spending, then this by itself would be a good thing.
Best regards.
March 11, 2017
Any country which has abolished conscription into its armed forces can later decide reintroduce it. As far as the UK is concerned that is what happened at the start of the Second World War, the system of conscription introduced during the First World War having lapsed in 1920.
I believe the most recent episode of conscription in the UK occurred in 2002, when certain reservists were compulsorily recalled to the colours. Admittedly it was only a small number of reservists who had served before as volunteers, and maybe some of them were able to secure exemptions, but while the general practice was abolished with the end of National Service the principle remains:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/mar/08/september11.afghanistan
“In their first compulsory call-up since the 1991 Gulf war, 49 reservists … ”
Sweden abolished conscription in 2010 but the government recently announced its reintroduction:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription_in_Sweden
Being Sweden the women have the equal opportunity to be conscripted alongside the men. I don’t know whether Sweden is included in your 3 EU countries, nor do I know how many other countries still have a dormant system of conscription which could be activated if necessary.
If the EU insists on proclaiming itself to be a country, as it does, and furnishing itself with all the appurtenances of a country, as it does, then it is not unreasonable to ask where this is all leading, and in fact it would stupid not to ask that.
March 11, 2017
Is that why Sweden is reintroducing conscription then….?
zorro
March 11, 2017
@Tabulazero
That doesn’t stop them from re-introducing it, does it?
March 11, 2017
Good morning.
The EU Army is a worrying development.
I am all for trade and sharing in scientific developments etc. but when it comes to politics and the like, I think it is high time we need to distance ourselves from those on the continent.
History has shown us that when we entangle ourselves with what is going on on the continent, it has cost not just treasure, but lives as well.
March 11, 2017
Of course, they will need conscription to fill this army. Who would join it voluntarily and in what numbers?
zorro
March 11, 2017
What about for the same reasons that some young people voluntarily want to join the Foreces in the UK? Do you really think this idea inconceivable?
March 13, 2017
hefner
Isn’t it likely that anyone who wanted to join the military would have already joined their national military service, how many additional people would suddenly decide that a Euro military is more attractive?
March 11, 2017
Units will be made up from existing military structures. And, eventually, there will be conscription.
March 11, 2017
We hear too much of the European Parliament. We have heard too much of the EU. EU is the only two-letter swear word in the English language, if you’ll excuse my French.
Juncker will be gone soon.Martin Schulz gone. Tusk loved by all the 27 will still be there but ironically his own Polish people are against him. Hard to imagine someone say in the USA being high up in Congress without the backing of Americans. But that is EU “democracy”. Also the “democracy” of our House of Lords We are well out of it and it is time their Lordships were put out to grass.
March 11, 2017
Lamont is half right on Hammond’s foolish NI attacks on the self employed. The flexible gig economy is vital for the country and should be encouraged lower NI and fewer fifths to benefits is good. It is very efficient and hugely flexible as demand varies. It should also not be attacked by the courts as it is being. It is a free contract entered into by both parties the courts should keep out of it.
Where Lamont is wrong is in saying that it was unwise of Cast Iron, Low tax Conservative at Heart, Cameron to make such a promise. Not at all that is democracy, he probably would not have won (only just thanks to Miliband and Sturgeon) without it.
The voters want far lower taxes and better services. The state sector is so bloated, overpaid and inept that this combination is very easy to deliver. Alas May and Hammond think yet more state and more tax is the solution. Half the state does nothing of value or worse just inconveniences the productive, just close them down. Release them to get real jobs.
March 11, 2017
Fewer “rights” to benefits.
March 11, 2017
European army will not be making conscripts of European citizens.
Heavens above somebody had better tell Empress Nick of La La Land that by being a member of the EU could result in her youngsters being conscripted into the armed forces.
As we all eventually find out nothing in this world is for free and every organisation has its rules to be adherred to.
With published row over a two tier EU being reported between Poland, Germany and France I wonder at what level Scotland would be allowed entry. Bit like have two divisions in the football league, what will a country have to do to enter the higher tier?
Pay more take less?
March 11, 2017
It looks to me like a eurofederalist plan to by-pass the UK government and appeal directly to disaffected elements among the UK citizenry, who it is hoped will transfer their primary loyalty to the EU and so will be prepared to work against our national interests.
Of course we already have a substantial and long-established Fifth Column in the upper echelons of our society, including both elected and unelected parliamentarians and civil servants, who have been doing just that for decades and will no doubt carry on.
The answer from the UK government should be that any UK citizen is free to apply for EU citizenship, but that will mean the automatic loss of their UK citizenship.
March 11, 2017
Yes, Denis. Fifth Column is Common Purpose. Still going strong behind the scenes. They won’t give up.
March 11, 2017
Not just los of citizenship, but, crucially, loss of voting rights. We already have far too many non-citizens whose loyalty to either the UK or any of its national components is either secondary or non-existent, who get to vote and thereby influence our medium and long-term future. Often those votes are exercised on behalf of some other country or culture.
March 11, 2017
JM, maybe if you were to talk to some non-British EU citizens, you would learn that most of them might have the possibility to vote in local elections, but (except for some Irish people) cannot vote in general elections, nor did they vote for the EU referendum.
March 12, 2017
Thank you. Since I live in London I can not escape talking to EU citizens from many countries on a regular basis. In any event, I know what the rules are. They way in which they worked in the Scottish independence referendum is notorious. Consequently ,I don’t need, you, or EU citizens to explain them to me.
However,I was not referring only to EU citizens, but also to those from the Commonwealth with voting rights and to anyone with an indefinite right to remain,
Votes in local elections affect our future because they are the building blocks for national elections and national parties and policies. They should be withdrawn. (The checks in national elections on the status of voters are also completely inadequate, so they is no knowing how many EU votes in these are actually cast and counted).
It is not “some” but all Irish citizens who enjoy the right to vote in UK elections. The Republic does not provide fully reciprocal rights to UK citizens resident there.. Unlike Irish citizens in the UK they can not stand for the Irish Parliament (though they can vote in elections thereto), vote in referendums, or in presidential elections. Given Ireland’s position in the EU, the chances are that most votes from citizens of the Republic in the UK went to the remain side – in the Republic’s interests interests, not those of the UK. These fictionally “reciprocal” rights should also be withdrawn.
Finally, there is the issues of the voting rights of the children of EU citizens who are born in the UK, many of whom will already be approaching voting age. It needs to be clear that their right to remain does not include a right to vote
March 11, 2017
James, agree entirely. If Scotland can deny Scots living in England the right to vote in the independence referendum then why can’t we say English citizens only?? Didn’t England do well in the rugby today. Still winds me up when I hear the national anthem!! We should have our own.
March 12, 2017
Thank you.
Yes. A certain amount of noisy satisfaction about the Calcutta cup and the Six Nations is definitely in order.( Dublin on St. Patrick’s weekend is going to be interesting)
I must admit I am slightly conflicted on the anthem. Jerusalem might be good choice, but the fact that Scotland and Wales dropped GSTQ does not seem to me to be, of itself, a reason for England to do so, especially if it has the merit of annoying our opponents. Happy to go with the flow on that one.
March 11, 2017
Hear hear.
March 11, 2017
‘…….. elements among the UK citizenry, who it is hoped will transfer their primary loyalty to the EU and so will be prepared to work against our national interests.’
Denis,
After lobbying the Lords recently, I am convinced that is already the case! Some of the views expressed border on treachery and treason, but then so did the actions of the many politicians who got us into the EU in the first place.
I have warned all along the road to Brexit was going to be strew with potholes, but even I hadn’t bargained on tank traps.
Tad
March 11, 2017
As I have also said, and you are quite right. It is a heart and minds effort by Guy V to tease away loyalty from the UK. Unfortunately, there are a good number of ‘useful idiots’ who will lap this up for meat and drink.
We need very resolute people to stand up for our interests in this battle. May needs clear direction but Hammond is a worry, not just because of his evident leanings but also his very poor if not stupid political judgement with his budget measures…..
zorro
March 11, 2017
Interesting but very worrying proposal from the EU. At the moment the EU is only an observer at the UN, the EU is not recognised as a country or state.
As far as understand it to be an “EU Citizen” you also need to be a citizen of a member country. Are the EU therefore actively encouraging current citizens of the UK to become stateless?
Maybe this should be referred to the International Court of Justice in the Hague!
To me this shows the mentality and direction of the EU (as we know from the five president’s report). The EU truly believes itself to be a state or country in it’s own right. Is this really what those that voted remain understood when they put their cross in the box…
March 11, 2017
“….. appeal directly to disaffected elements among the UK citizenry, who it is hoped will transfer their primary loyalty to the EU and so will be prepared to work against our national interests…”
Aren’t certain members of the House of Lords already openly doing that?
March 11, 2017
If Mr Verhofstadt is sincere then it should be a done deal on day one, so that four and a half million people can get on with their lives. I have only seen him in confrontations with Nigel Farage, which failed to depict his better side. When the contract is signed, make sure that it includes the reciprocal health care benefits, as it does now.
There may be a few who might wish us ill after Brexit. We have plenty of Luddites of our own. However those with half a brain must realise that a failing UK is not a place that will buy their cars and food. Nor would we be in a position to bail them out from their own follies as we did last century. I feel positive about our future providing our politicians leave it to people who know what they are doing in the world of international business and finance.
Conscription is an expensive and inefficient way to run a military. It is also an increasingly high tech business as well as boots on the ground. Unless like Switzerland and Israel your intention is to retain a fully armed instant reserve with their kit at permanent readiness at home, I cannot see government getting their heads round an increasingly questioning electorate who are also fully armed.
March 11, 2017
It did cross my mind on the day after the referendum when I wondered if those that were whining because they lost would be quite happy to see their children called up for “National” service or conscripted into an EU army. Of course my mind was put at rest when Nick Clegg insisted that there would not be an EU army and any talk of such was just lies and scaremongering from the Leave camp. Thank God for people like him who are able to cut through the ……….oh wait a minute……
March 11, 2017
Your last line was my first thought on the offer of EU citizenship – no such thing as the free lunch.
Hopefully A50 will be triggered next week and reality should start about our exit. There will be no comprehensive deal for the EU Parliament to approve or not, likewise the hypothetical grandstanding in our Parliament recently about vetoes will be irrelevant. The exercise will be piecemeal and the first piece looks like the rights of EU residents. Numerous areas are not really EU matters alone, but are European issues e.g. security. Big multinational companies e.g. BAE, BMW, Peugeot will work out what they want together and tell their respective governments. Spanish farmers/horticulturalists will not trust their exports to us to some Brussels bureaucrats. Immigrant issues between France and UK will continued to be addressed by bilateral arrangements.
It is a fantasy to expect some huge document to be created and presented for approval by Brussels/Strasbourg and Westminster.
March 11, 2017
I see Mr Juncker said he hopes the UK will ‘rejoin the boat’ of the EU some time in the future, and Mr Farage quite rightly replied the boat will have sunk by then.
But if the EU wants to punish us when we leave why on earth would we want to rejoin such a vindictive club ?
Messrs Blair and Major et al are under the impression A50 is reversible and hope we will change our minds. When will these people finally get it ? – WE ARE LEAVING, and many of us believe the UK will prosper post Brexit and the EU will implode – Dutch elections on Wednesday !
March 11, 2017
The US offers the green card scheme that gives residency rights in return for liability to US taxes, so it would be interesting if the EU could develop a similar scheme. It’d be something for people like me who can see good job opportunities in the EEA. Sadly, I’ll be surprised if the individual EU member states will agree to this.
March 11, 2017
You may have bought your Spanish villa back when £1 bought €1.43. Now, at €1.14, you could sell it and come home to Blighty, with a 25% forex gain. The snag is, if you stay in the Eurozone, your income / pension is probably in Pounds that are converting to less Euro purchasing power.
March 11, 2017
Given Article 50 (I hope with no amendments) is only a couple of weeks away, we should just wait and see.
The Eu suggest we will have their red line reply within 48 hours, so clearly they have had some discussions in house, and not in public about their response.
So we just need to wait.
Interesting that other than the Single market comments, 27 Countries can keep their side and arguments out of the Press, where as part of our side want to negotiate in public.
Just shows how strong the 5th column behave in the UK.
Let us hope that our team are strong willed enough to get us the promised good deal, and will actually walk away if the deal is not good enough.
March 11, 2017
Guaranteed rights for existing EU citizens already living here. A veto vote on the final Brexit deal. The Lords have decided are a prerequisite for triggering article 50. Both designed to be unhelpful to the the point of sabotage. Incorporated they will put the UK into the same weak bargaining position that David Cameron had with the same no deal results. As A. Sedgwick points out no comprehensive deal is ever going to be possible as the EU parliament, the member states and Brussels can not agree amongst themselves on anything. Apart from which EU demands are going to be so draconian and selfish the UK is going to have to refuse to accept them.
The veto will ensure securing a deal that only satisfies the remainers. Which if we do in practice means adopting the EEA/EFTA option. The government defeating the Lords amendments is an absolute necessity as it looks as no deal is possible and he UK will have to leave without one.
March 11, 2017
We should forget about all of this idle speculation about EU armies, what we are about to embark on now is so serious that it is up there with such happenings in the past as the threat of the Spanish Armada or with the outbreak of war- any war. The outcome of these negotiations with the EU will have consequences not so much for this generation but for generations to come. And just as politics trumped economics in the Brexit referendum so will politics also trump economics in the talks about to start- in other words the BMW workers talking to their local representatives will only be a consideration- it will be their very own Spanish Armada time- could anything be more serious?
March 11, 2017
As the EU is not a state, how can one be a citizen of it? Mischief making, no more.
March 11, 2017
Maastricht Treaty, signed by a Conservative Government, created just such a thing.
If you have a passport, go look at it.
March 11, 2017
It’s probably a good thing that there are Europarl elections in May 2019 – just after we might have left the EU if the timetable to submit notice this month is achieved. The new parliament is perhaps less likely to follow the ideas of discredited politicians such as Verhofstadt and Juncker. Since it is the EU, they will in any case be told to go away and vote again until they come up with the right answer – after all, any deal that is put to them will already be acceptable to a QMV majority in the Council, since otherwise they should tell the negotiators to keep negotiating. We must remember there is no deadline on Article 50 negotiations, which must be continued until agreement is reached and concluded by approval in Europarl and a QMV approval in Council, whenever that may be – and also that under Article 216, the Council vote is all that is required to make the agreement effective and binding on all EU members and institutions.
March 11, 2017
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/10/diktat-every-hospital-change-nhs-logo-ignored-objections-chief/
What a wonderful sense of priorities the “envy on the world” NHS have! It is a virtual state monopoly anyway, so why one earth would the logo matter?
Tax borrow and piss down the drain every single time, while thousands die through incompetence, rationing and negligence.
March 11, 2017
Although I welcome an early call for Article 50, I can’t help feeling it is actually a trap to keep us in as it seem the EU has control of the process, not us. We do have the Communities Act which we can repeal up our sleeve which will cut immediately our relationship with the EU. Lets hope Mrs May keeps her wits about her, she’ll need them.
March 11, 2017
I would be amazed if the EuroParliamnet ‘vetoed’ anything put to it by the Commission or Council – they never have before!
Also – the concept of EU Citizen is baseless because it does not exist seperate from being a National of a member state. Somehow I think it is similar to my being a Kentucky Colonel or Freeman of London – no real privileges attached at all.
March 11, 2017
Well, I can see a UK subject residing somewhere in the EU27, paying local taxes (say, for their dwellings) getting a document allowing for some advantages that a British UK-resident would not get. It is not so difficult to imagine.
March 12, 2017
Yes, but that happens generally around the world (even without the EU!) if you sign up as a resident of another country… i.e ‘some advantages that a British UK-resident would not get…..
zorro
March 11, 2017
Try looking at your passport sometime, Tony. The words “European Union” appear above those of the UK.
It might, like so many things about the EU, be little more than a gesture or wishful thinking, but before Merkel’s very own migrant crisis, it was only going to be a matter of time before Brussels made a move to take over the issuing of passports, at least for residents of the Schengen zone.
It’s all part of the grand plan those at the very heart of Brussels have always had.
Their one overriding purpose has always been to create a State called Europa.
Nothing has changed in that respect and that’s as good a reason as any for us to leave.
If Junker and Co can’t persuade former Eastern Bloc states to take in their quota of Merkel’s Migrants we might yet see them issued with EU passports granting freedom of movement throughout Schengen.
March 11, 2017
Or in another area of our wonderful state sector we have “shoplifting under £100 to be ignored” is that per session I wonder? What a wonderful deterrent for criminals the police are providing! Yet somewhere else a lady was prosecuted just for finding £20 on the floor and not reporting it.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/100-shoplifters-to-be-ignored-by-police-x8593l6qk
March 11, 2017
The EU ‘negatives’ are not our foe and never have been – it’s the enemy within both elected and unelected and Academics and Experts who endeavour to thwart our democratic pathway as determined by the Peoples Referendum last June.
March 11, 2017
I have got no idea why you keep saying we won’t be “paying in” John. Mrs May has already said we will just at at not what she calls “vast amounts”. She also says we “obviously” want to take part in various agencies which are not free.
Ditto the approach to “getting control” of our borders. No one has yet suggested that this is actually going to lead to a reduction in net migration.
Ditto also the ECJ. All international deals require an oversight or dispute resolution process. If a buyer in Bulgaria does not pay us who do we sue ?
March 12, 2017
We will not be paying MANDATORY contributions as an EU member – what we pay and what for is OUR choice – some things maybe nothing – but OUR choice…..
zorro
March 12, 2017
According to it’s website, dispute resolution is one of the core activities of the WTO. We would be insane to rely on any EU body to own the process.
March 11, 2017
What EU army?
March 11, 2017
I guess with a European passport you’d be at the whim of any constituent EU-nation state “democracy” you happened to be holidaying or working in… if there was any domestic political-social trouble.
Could be weeks before anyone in authority had time to hear you saying “Well actually dear boy, I happen to be British” to which a bureaucrat would answer ” Yes, but an EU citizen…all EU citizens are required to..etc etc etc.”
March 11, 2017
A good sell down the river as usual is coming.
March 11, 2017
Offer to make UK citizens also EU citizens with the right to vote in national elections in EU countries :
As well as the possibity of conscription in the EU army for British citizens there is also the possibility of the EU expecting reciprocal voting rights for all EU residents in the U.K. and thereby hoping that they can vote in the future for a U.K. government that wishes to rejoin the EU.
The EU will be hoping that EU migration to the U.K. continues undeminished after Brexit.
March 11, 2017
Europe wishes to replace UK as the financial services centre for Europe. If UK citizens can to and fro that will be much easier and the same goes for all pretty much all value adding activity.
Your unpleasant obsession with keeping “others” out will soon be joined by an urgent need to keep the economically productive in . People doing business in Europe do not vote Brexit and owe this small minded and absurd little island nothing .
It was always obvious that the UK could not under any circumstances benefit from leaving .We have prioritised closing borders over economic security .They will prioritise they own political aims and have far less to lose.
So on , our way back to the 50s, we must of course travel through the 70s with high taxes and brain drain and inflation. Yippeeeeee!
March 12, 2017
‘small minded and absurd little island nothing’…..
Why not do us and yourself a favour for your own work/life balance if it’s really that bad :-)…?
zorro
March 13, 2017
Newmania
“Europe wishes to replace UK as the financial services centre for Europe”
It can wish all it likes but its not remotely likely that this could happen, specifically because nowhere in Europe has the infrastructure to do it. London, New York, Hong Kong and Tokyo are the choices on offer. Thats it.
Banks use the UK legal system as the basis of their contracts, continental legal systems aren’t good enough, banks have a massive investment in London/Canary Wharf, they aren’t moving anywhere and losing billions in property costs.
You seem blissfully unaware that financial services are a global operation and a little backwater of Western Europe is a very small part of the overall market.
March 11, 2017
Tusk says the EU will reply to the delivery of the Article 50 within 48 hours. Surely he must mean 9 months? Something along the lines of 23rd June 2016 to March 2017?????
March 11, 2017
I read that Labour are intending to vote for the two Lord’s amendments in which case it looks like a GE will be required to prevent Parliament vetoing Brexit unless Mrs May can get sufficient of her MPs to vote in accordance with the referendum result.
March 11, 2017
I am becoming ever more concerned at the loss of will to regain our fishing grounds. People are even taking about using them as bargaining chips.
March 12, 2017
Indeed. Well done the dreadful Ted Heath, what an appalling mess he created.
He tried central wage controls like Osborne too it does not end well.