Brexit: Now What? Part IV

[Archie Gemmill Goal]

So we are told we are leaving the customs union and Theresa has immediately put in place a plan to build the infrastructure required to make that a reality.

Only half of the above sentence is true, can you guess which half?

 

[Klimax]

So we are told we are leaving the customs union and Theresa has immediately put in place a plan to build the infrastructure required to make that a reality.

Only half of the above sentence is true, can you guess which half?

First one. Second one would require divulging costs of such leaving and either they don' t dare to know or don't dare to publish it or never thought that far ahead.

 

[fagin]

I'll go with don't know. Closely followed by the rest.

 

[Craig B]

Brexiteer accused of intellectual McCarthyism.

 

[Garrison]

Brexiteer accused of intellectual McCarthyism.

I particularly liked this bit where he tweeted:

To be absolutely clear, I believe in free speech in our universities and in having an open and vigorous debate on Brexit.

and of course in that spirit:

The MP has not responded to requests for an explanation for why the letter was sent.

 

[Information Analyst]

No doubt he means the sort of "an open and vigorous debate" that culminates in the "right" conclusion.

 

[Darat]

I hope folk are ready for a big shock:


MPs’ report finds that Whitehall has not reprioritised its work to be ready for Brexit day

 

[Craig B]

I hope folk are ready for a big shock:


MPs’ report finds that Whitehall has not reprioritised its work to be ready for Brexit day

Another shock from the eternally shock-prone "Irish Question": today's "Times"

The prime minister has ... been warned by Brussels that she must make a legal commitment to prevent a hard border in Northern Ireland within weeks or the EU will 'stall' Brexit trade and transition talks. Both issues are expected to be discussed by ministers today when the cabinet’s Brexit sub-committee meets to try to reach agreement on the next stage of negotiations.​

 

[The Don]

Remember, all of this is the fault of "Remoaners" and the EU for not working hard enough to make sure that Brexit is a success without the Leavers having to lift a finger

 

[Tolls]

... without the Leavers having to lift a finger

Well, you can't expect Davies to actually do any work.
That's haaaaard!

 

[ceptimus]

Another shock from the eternally shock-prone "Irish Question": today's "Times"

The prime minister has ... been warned by Brussels that she must make a legal commitment to prevent a hard border in Northern Ireland within weeks or the EU will 'stall' Brexit trade and transition talks. Both issues are expected to be discussed by ministers today when the cabinet’s Brexit sub-committee meets to try to reach agreement on the next stage of negotiations.​

I assume the EU must already have made or be in the process of making its own legal commitment to prevent a hard border in Southern Ireland - otherwise this would be rather hypocritical.

 

[ponderingturtle]

I assume the EU must already have made or be in the process of making its own legal commitment to prevent a hard border in Southern Ireland - otherwise this would be rather hypocritical.

Look the people voted for a hard irish border and who are you to question that now? Brexit means Brexit and that means a hard irish border.

 

[Hubert Cumberdale]

I assume the EU must already have made or be in the process of making its own legal commitment to prevent a hard border in Southern Ireland - otherwise this would be rather hypocritical.

They do. Its called the Customs Union and associated Four Freedoms, which we are now demanding we leave and repudiate.

How is this so hard for leavers to understand?

 

[Aber]

EU negotiating guidelines published.

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/transition.pdf

Including this gem:

In addition, the Governance and Dispute Settlement Part of the Withdrawal Agreement should provide for a mechanism allowing the Union to suspend certain benefits deriving for the United Kingdom from participation in the internal market where it considers that referring the matter to the Court of Justice of the European Union would not bring in appropriate time the necessary remedies.

which would go a long way to making any agreement effectively worthless.

 

[Hubert Cumberdale]

EU negotiating guidelines published.

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/transition.pdf

Including this gem:



which would go a long way to making any agreement effectively worthless.

Indeed. Its almost like they hold all the aces while we have David Davis.

 

[Aber]

Indeed. Its almost like they hold all the aces while we have David Davis.

This isn't about strength of hands.

This is the EU saying, despite what we agreed about dispute resolution, if you do anything we don't like, we can tear it up the agreement.

Not a good look in international diplomacy.

 

[Hubert Cumberdale]

This isn't about strength of hands.

This is the EU saying, despite what we agreed about dispute resolution, if you do anything we don't like, we can tear it up the agreement.

Not a good look in international diplomacy.

I agree, but why are we in a situation like this where we depend on the good will of a foreign organisation of which we were only recently a powerful and influential member.

Its almost as if Brexit is a catastrophically ill-conceived adventure voted for by people who aren't quite capable of formulating complex thought patterns.

 

[Guybrush Threepwood]

This isn't about strength of hands.

This is the EU saying, despite what we agreed about dispute resolution, if you do anything we don't like, we can tear it up the agreement.

Not a good look in international diplomacy.

It's a fair point, but what is the alternative? Use EU courts to arbitrate the dispute? By the time they rule the UK will not be bound by their decision, effectively giving the UK a free pass in the transition period to renege on any agreement, but demand the EU sticks to its side.

In practice either side can do whatever it likes during the transition period and the only comeback will be worse relations afterwards.

 

[ceptimus]

It's fine that in the event of a dispute the EU can change things. The UK can do the same, of course - for example, stopping payments to the EU.

It seems strange that during negotiation the EU would wish to issue veiled threats - it would be more productive at this stage of the negotiations to talk up the prospects of future trading and cooperation between friendly nations.

 

[Hubert Cumberdale]

It's fine that in the event of a dispute the EU can change things. The UK can do the same, of course - for example, stopping payments to the EU.

It seems strange that during negotiation the EU would wish to issue veiled threats - it would be more productive at this stage of the negotiations to talk up the prospects of future trading and cooperation between friendly nations.

They can whistle for it