Sorry to talk about this but in two days’ time Drunker will tell us the EU’s rules on ‘no deal’. Ain’t that just typical? They’ve got rules about everything, even when we’re not negotiating! But the important thing is: no deal means we’re are out, Brexit is done and dusted, the political playground is finally closed and commercial reality in the shape of the WTO takes over. What’s more, Britannia and her acolytes will have the whip-hand again. She will choose where to go for trade – and sucks to Brussels. Next please.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Yaaaaaay! Bring it on.
No deal!!!!
I don’t see any other way forward (or backward)
Way to go! Put the chequebook away.
Just a couple of thoughts.
Firstly, I still cannot decide whether St. Theresa is monumentally inept or a Machiavellian dark force and, secondly, that along with other voluble and opinionated remainiacs, Liberal Democrats are neither liberal nor democratic.
OZ
What I absolutely fail to understand is why the British Government thought that the EU would ever accept Brexit and deal with Britain in a reasonable, honest and adult manner.
It has been clear to me from the very second the ‘vote-counter’ clicked over to show that ‘Britain’ voted to “Leave’ that the EU determined that they would do all in their power to punish the British for daring to be British – and to be as awkward as they could be in order ‘to discourage the others’.
It also seems to me that many ‘so-called’ Britons have also tried to punish the British people for the same reason. From the arch-traitor Blair, to the egotist David Attenborough who said that most people were too stupid to know what they were voting for – and a whole bundle of people in between who have been busily undermining the oldest continual democracy by demanding another referendum. Do they really not understand what they are doing? Or do they simply not care – as long as they get what they want?
On the 23rd of June 2016 the people of Britain voted for Brexit. Over two years have been wasted, because, sadly, in my opinion, the UK government, in their naivety, really thought that the EU would deal honestly with them – why could they not see what I, and I’m sure millions like me, could see?
So the EU have rules for ‘a no deal exit’ – Britain does not have to abide by them, pay the 39 bn exit fee, keep all their criminal citizens, etc, etc, etc.
In the end, and I never thought I would say this, the ‘Big End of Town’ will get it sorted by explaining to the EU Bureaucrats that their needs count more than EU Ideology.
A thought that I tried to incorporate in my earlier comment but didn’t seem to fit.
My view is that Brexit has proved to be more than the simple question of whether the UK remains in the EU – it has become a battle, comparable to the Acts of Praemunire in the 1300s which limited foreign authority in England; Henry VIII’s determination to be the ultimate and supreme power in England – which he won, and the Civil War between King and Parliament in the 17 C – a battle between those who believed they represented the ‘will of the people’ and Charles I’s belief in the ‘Divine Right of Kings’ – and which they won.
Since then, the Commons have acquired such power as Medieval Monarchs, Henry VIII and Charles I could only dream of – and they have no body of people to call them to account – other than an election every five years or so where they can promise what they want and renege on all their promises.
For many years the people elected to Parliament have asserted that they were elected as delegates – to do what they think is right and refused to accept that they are representatives – which was the whole purpose of Parliament from the beginning.
Brexit is the first time for many years that the people of the UK have been given the power to express their opinion. Unfortunately, as far as I can see, too many MPs believe that they are in Parliament to do what they think is right and have forgotten that their purpose is to represent the people who voted them in.
If they get their way and do what they want rather than what their constituents want – democracy in the UK is dead.
……………….unless and until we have a civil war.
It is a great pity we do not have more of a history of direct plebiscites .
And, please, please, can we have a rerun of Guy Fawkes for real first please?
The majority of MP’s have declared themselves as remainers and and they wish to thwart the Brexit vote, but are also aware that if they are seen to openly disregard the wishes of the seventeen million people who voted to leave, then they risk causing their party to suffer severe long term damage. So they all want Brexit to fail, but it’s got to look like it’s somebody else’s fault. It’s all about party politics not Brexit
This is the political elite versus the people and this is how civil wars start isn’t it ? This one would be a bit strange though. It would appear to many that a large proportion on the people of Europe are in favour of a free trade area but don’t want to be part of some vast European super state. If the Yellow vests continue to grow and unite just by following a common course of civil disobedience across large swathes of Europe, it would be somewhat ironic that they became united to fight being dragged into an ever closer union.
On another train of thought entirely, it just so happens that 2019 is the year that Baba Vanga predicted a major collapse of the European economy.
This thing about Brexiteers not knowing what they were voting for really gets my goat. Cameron’s government spent £9 million of our money on pamphlets to every household in the country basically telling us to vote ‘remain’. The electorate looked, didn’t like what they saw and voted leave, much to the chagrin of those who are uncomfortable with the concept of a democratic majority not falling into line.
OZ
I see that the EU have awarded themselves a pay rise. Poor Mr Junker is going to have to get by on just over 32,000. (Per month)
If Teresa “Maybot” May had not been a (obvious) closet Remoaner, the moment Article 50 had been signed, her first action should have been to declare we are leaving on WTO terms (not as Remoaners call it No Deal) and her second should have been to go to Brussels, tell them then say “And what are you going to do about it?”. But, since she is a Remoaner, and also a feeble negotiator, she did neither, but tried to sign away our heritage.
If she succeeds in her plans, I think it is very possible there will violence in the UK, but I hope not. Rather, it would be better if a Brexiteer takes over the premiership and tells the EU where to go. That however, relies on invertebrate Tory MPs growing a pair and getting rid of her.
Funnily enough, Drunky Junky’s Fantasy Euroreich is even less prepared for a WTO Brexit than is the United Kingdom. British businesses have prepared for that possibility. New supply chains have been determined, contingency plans have been made, etc. European businesses have not made any contingency plans assuming that some sort of deal would be worked out at the 11th hour.
Let us now remove all illusions. The EU is treating Britain not as a vital partner and strategic ally, but as a rival. The EU’s structures require that all EU nations back each other. If France and Germany want to be petty and punitive, the others must be, too. If Spain wishes to stir up trouble over Gibraltar, the others are bound to support Spain — even if they find it petty, disagree or really can’t be bothered to fight Spain’s fight. If Poland and the Baltic Trio want to fight old battles with Russia, they will drag all Europe down with them. More and more in Washington — not just Trump and Co — have not failed to note that the USA’s so-called allies have no issues coughing up money for an EU joint defence force whilst baulking at meeting their contributions to NATO. Never mind that the so-called EU join defence force is essentially meaningless without NATO’s largest military backing it — namely, the USA’s. We’re in a position where our best chance comes from simply leaving. For better or worse, the Transatlantic relationship is far more vital. It isn’t always comfortable, but it’s symbiotic. Growing, dynamic markets such as Mexico, India, Kenya, Ethiopia, Vietnam and Indonesia. Established allies such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States are offering far better opportunities for Britain’s largest export: services. I’d be more than happy to trade Dutch and Spanish produce for Californian/US, Mexican, Canadian, South African and Chilean. Better Australian butter and cheese than French, better Australian and Californian olive oil than Spanish or Greek.
As expected, the EU’s ‘no deal’ rules are once again about punishment, not cooperation, taking a swipe or three at British airlines, British trade and British citizens. Has there ever been a worse set of losers?!
Janus: The EU is making itself look incredibly petty. They’re barely willing to meet international standards vis-a-vis transport, travel, etc. I’ve long been growing increasingly disillusioned with Europe, this is really pushing me past what I can tolerate.
“These boots are made for walking
And that’s just what they’ll do…”
Provided, that is, that certain Gummint types don’t obstruct the natural doorwards progression.
Saying of which, does anybody besides me suspect that the recent vote of no confidence on Leopard Shoes was all a put-up job? Produce 48 letters knowing well that enough votes have been lined up to shoot it down, thus (so I understand) making it impossible for another such vote to be taken within a year.
Meanwhile over here in the USA, we have our own problems to worry about. If I were The Only President We’ve Got, I’d clean my act up now because it’s becoming ever more apparent with each passing day that the sharks are circling. There’s not enough (yet) for impeachment, but some have come right out and said things about nicking him the moment he leaves office. Too bad that a childish act of spite such as shutting down the Government, with some 300,000+ people to be placed on unpaid furlough, would affect employees who actually do some work and not TOPWG himself.
Mumble, grumble…
OK, she can’t sing like her Dad, but her legs beat Theresa’s by a country mile. 😎
Today the meeja are reporting that 76% of Tory members agree with me! Yes!https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jan/04/most-tory-members-would-choose-no-deal-over-may-brexit-plan
Janus: Something tells me that a WTO Brexit with mini deals to keep flights flying and goods moving is probably the only sensible option at this point.
Christopher, I suspect that your idea has been the only sensible one from the start. The member states have not been able to keep their so-called civil servants in line and all that has been demonstrated is the desire to punish the UK. Now we have known for some time that the EU cannot be trusted, so let’s go our own way and if the EU suffers, then pardon me for laughing.
Sheona: Two things happened. The first is that the EU’s mandarins were able to keep the upper hand. The second is that the other EU states, rather than being supportive of the UK or at least trying to stay neutral, decided that they were going to try to draw blood and see what they could get out of the UK. Ireland can push the UK around for the first time in history, Spain can try to gain leverage over Gibraltar, France can be France, the Germany can be pedantic for the sake of being pedantic, Denmark can try to get as many fish out of the UK as possible, etc. It shows just how squalid Europe has become. In southern England, councils are leading the way in trying to prepare for a WTO Brexit. Hampshire and South-Eastern Dorset are preparing for longer waits for goods, ports in the North East are preparing for increased traffic to reduce the pressure on Dover, etc. We will be fine. There might be some shocks, but we’ve been through worse and survived. After all, Britain is still standing after how many seasons of TOWIE?
I was surprised to read yesterday that Mutti favours some ‘creativity’ in the up-coming talks between Ms May and selected Europrats. She (and the Vaterland) are hardly renowned for such a thing – in politics, at least. Or are they?