Forum Topic

Brexit negotiations going well...

The Telegraph reports today that "British negotiators had requested that UK nationals should be allowed to use 'EU citizens' lanes after January 1 next year but were told that was not possible."Well,  of course we can't use the EU citizens' lanes, you idiots, on account of our no longer being EU citizens. Is it stupidity or arrogance that led to this request? Both, probably, but it does rather reveal the government's mindset: "We're British so we should be treated differently.". Actually, no.

Richard Carter ● 2278d9 Comments

As I've noted before the actions being taken by EU countries shows how all that nonsense about losing sovereignty to the EU was just untrue. Certain things we delegated to the EU by consensual treaty and then actions agreed jointly but ultimately states retained their sovereign status. Switzerland isn't part of the EU but alongside other non EU countries like Iceland and Norway is a member of the Schgengen area. That's totally different to the US where international travel rules are governed by the Federal government.

Michael Ixer ● 2277d

Nice try, but there's clearly a difference between how countries react to what is (I hope!) a temporary phenomenon and the long term.

Richard Carter ● 2277d

@Richard. With now many European countries closing borders eg Switzerland and Germany it would appear they too seem to have formed their own entry aisles.  Each European country is doing its own thing.

Robert Wheeler ● 2277d

you mean like when he lost before? lolhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-35106581

Matt Palmer ● 2278d

Sue. I couldn't resist that comment, unlikely but who knows where we're heading 🙂 What is interesting is how Trump's hospitality business will do while people stop travelling. Ok, he can self isolate with his family in Florida, stuff it full of secret service agents and flunkies then charge the US taxpayers for their food and lodgings, but his other resorts in places like Scotland and Ireland could struggle - or do the Russian oligarchs need to launder some more money as has been alleged by others in the past ...

Michael Ixer ● 2278d

"Ms Sturgeon could grab his attention  - by requisitioning Turnberry as an emergency hospital facility?Hahahaha you must be joking! 😸 I'd like to see wee Krankie try and take on Trump and his lawyers!

Sue Hammond ● 2278d

Arrogance, definitely; stupidity? Possibly more naivety: Johnson and the other elitists liks him still hang on to a sense of superiority that their public school, Oxbridge backgrounds and financial advantages entitle them to. That won't work with the EU. Johnson has a problem: COVID-19 will delay Brexit  negotiations, it will slip down the EU priority list as the virus causes more damage to their economies than UK hard Brexit on 1 Jan 21 will and Trump won't help as the orange one is more preoccupied floundering in the quagmire of a disaster he's created with the US handling of the pandemic; his only aim is reelection in November - a UK trade deal is irrelevant to that. (Although Ms Sturgeon could grab his attention  - no not grab that! - by requisitioning Turnberry as an emergency hospital facility?) What was stupid on Johnsons part was enshrining a date for the end of transition in legislation, that U turn to revoke legislation will be embarrassing ...

Michael Ixer ● 2278d

Johnson is quite good at u-turns. Probably best to encourage him if one approves of his change of mind.

David Ainsworth ● 2278d

The problem is an ingrained sense of national exceptionalism. It's evident not just in the EU negotiations, but now in the virus crisis too. Johnson says on Friday we'll act differently from the rest of the world on large gatherings, but is told by WHO that is dangerous. So on Saturday the government is forced into an embarrassing U-turn.

Alexander MacLeod ● 2278d