Brexit and the waning days of the United Kingdom

[mongers]

Johnson:

"It .. Is .. Not ..Too .. Late .To .. Save ... ( My Ambition ). '

[ulmont]

THERESA May has revealed ministers are about to start issuing a raft of advice for Britain to go it alone in a bid to appease revolting Brexiteers.

The PM pledged to visibly step up no deal preparations, starting next month with the release of 70 different technical notices to businesses and individuals.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6813899/theresa-may-tells-ministers-to-start-giving-out-no-deal-brexit-advice/

I'm sure these will be as well thought through as the FEMA evacuation plans.

[OttoVonBismarck]

Just checking in to reiterate that making major national decisions (like Scotland leaving the UK, or Britain leaving the EU), should never be subjected to a simple majority rules referendum. One instant in history a bunch of people can choose something stupid and they end up causing dire consequences for untold millions of future generations. For this level of national decision I am glad the United States has so many blockers in its government system. 3/4ths of the states to alter the constitution and it requires 2/3rds of the Senate to enter into treaties.

[Valmy]

Just checking in to reiterate that making major national decisions (like Scotland leaving the UK, or Britain leaving the EU), should never be subjected to a simple majority rules referendum. One instant in history a bunch of people can choose something stupid and they end up causing dire consequences for untold millions of future generations. For this level of national decision I am glad the United States has so many blockers in its government system. 3/4ths of the states to alter the constitution and it requires 2/3rds of the Senate to enter into treaties.

Completely agree. Ridiculous that the UK is moving forward with this insanity with so weak of a popular mandate. I mean if everybody knew it was going to be a hard Brexit would they still have gotten the same percentage vote? The Brexiteers were able to promise 10,000 unicorns and all sorts of things because nobody knew what the hell Brexit meant.  How can a vague election with a narrow margin of victory be a determining factor for something like this?

[Josquius]

Just checking in to reiterate that making major national decisions (like Scotland leaving the UK, or Britain leaving the EU), should never be subjected to a simple majority rules referendum. One instant in history a bunch of people can choose something stupid and they end up causing dire consequences for untold millions of future generations. For this level of national decision I am glad the United States has so many blockers in its government system. 3/4ths of the states to alter the constitution and it requires 2/3rds of the Senate to enter into treaties.

The US' controls are perhaps a bit too strong.
But yes 50%+1 is absolutely fucking ridiculous.
It should be at the least 55% of the total electorate (not just turnout).

[garbon]

Bruges speech revisited.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/21/margaret-thatcher-backed-single-market-in-draft-bruges-speech

[Admiral Yi]

Whats disturbing is we haven't seen too much support for her from the moderate tories.

This is a damn good point Squeeze.

[Admiral Yi]

Just checking in to reiterate that making major national decisions (like Scotland leaving the UK, or Britain leaving the EU), should never be subjected to a simple majority rules referendum. One instant in history a bunch of people can choose something stupid and they end up causing dire consequences for untold millions of future generations. For this level of national decision I am glad the United States has so many blockers in its government system. 3/4ths of the states to alter the constitution and it requires 2/3rds of the Senate to enter into treaties.

Agree, except for passing budgets.

[Josquius]

Bruges speech revisited.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/21/margaret-thatcher-backed-single-market-in-draft-bruges-speech

Interesting timing in the article

But I don't think it really matters what the original intent of the speech was. It was the founding moment of the modern brexit movement whether intended or not.
Also don't forget "We voted for a trade agreement not the EU!" was a common complaint of the brexiters (until after the referendum when they moved the goal posts to be against everything)

[Syt]

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-44918262

Brexit: Jeremy Hunt warns EU of 'no deal by accident'

Jeremy Hunt has warned that without a "change in approach from the EU negotiators", there is now a "very real risk of a Brexit no deal by accident".

The foreign secretary said "many" in the EU believed they just had to "wait long enough and Britain will blink" but "that's not going to happen".

He warned of "unintended geopolitical consequences" with just Vladimir Putin "rejoicing" if there was no deal.

Germany's foreign minister says it wants a deal "not a disorderly Brexit".

Heiko Maas, who held talks with Mr Hunt in Berlin, said: "We know that everyone has to make mutual concessions to get this deal.

"We know that the European Union has its interests, overall interests, so not just individual member-states but EU institutions.

"And of course Britain doesn't want to unnecessarily complicate framework conditions for economic activity, but also security questions, or our foreign policy cooperation.

"It becomes more difficult anyway as a non-member of the European Union.

"So, we've agreed we will prepare bilaterally for the time after Brexit."

Mr Hunt said a no deal would be "challenging" but the UK would still "thrive economically".

The UK is due to leave the European Union on 29 March 2019, but the two sides have yet to agree how trade will work afterwards.

Mr Hunt's trip to Germany comes at the start of a concerted push by British government ministers to sell the UK's latest Brexit blueprint across the Continent.

Prime Minister Theresa May will meet the Austrian chancellor and Czech and Estonian prime ministers this week, saying both sides know "the clock is ticking" on negotiations.

The EU and the UK want a deal in place by October.

Speaking to workers at a factory in Newcastle, Mrs May said she was working to get a deal that MPs would support when it comes before Parliament - but was also "stepping up" government preparations for no deal being reached.

She was asked about Treasury forecasts of an economic hit to the North East of England after Brexit - in response she said the government wanted "frictionless" trade at borders and also promised investment in transport infrastructure and skills.

And asked how she unwinds from the "world's most stressful job", she said she enjoyed walking, cooking and watching US crime TV series NCIS.

The government's plan has been set out in a White Paper which proposes close ties in some areas, such as the trade in goods, but will end free movement of people and the direct jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the UK.

Critics at Westminster say it is an unworkable compromise, which would leave the UK governed by the EU in many areas, but with no say in its rules.

The plan sparked two cabinet resignations - former Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

After Parliament rises for the summer recess on Tuesday, Downing Street said the UK negotiating team would be travelling to Brussels while the foreign secretary, chancellor, home secretary, business secretary and the minister for the Cabinet Office will meet counterparts across Europe.

The EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, questioned on Friday whether UK plans for a common rulebook for goods and agri-foods were practical and said the EU would not run the risk of weakening its single market.

He questioned whether the plans could work without causing extra bureaucracy and said there were "practical problems" about how tariffs would be determined and collected.

New Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab has said a deal could be done by October - but also that making "no deal" preparations such as hiring extra border staff was part of being a "responsible government".

The Times has reported that the head of Amazon in the UK, Doug Gurr, warned of potential "civil unrest" in the event of "no deal" at a meeting with Mr Raab on Friday.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said it seemed the government's priority was preparing for no deal, which would be bad for industry.

"There has to be a serious stepping-up of negotiations to reach an agreement on customs and on trade," he said.

[Tamas]

 

[garbon]

Can we focus on the truly awful bit?

And asked how she unwinds from the "world's most stressful job", she said she enjoyed walking, cooking and watching US crime TV series NCIS.

[The Brain]

So the UK foreign minister basically said that the UK is going to blink. Well let's hope so.

[mongers]

Can we focus on the truly awful bit?

And asked how she unwinds from the "world's most stressful job", she said she enjoyed walking, cooking and watching US crime TV series NCIS.

I think that's just calculated to appeal to the core DM reading conservative party members; I doubt she watches that pap.

[Richard Hakluyt]

Shades of Brown's Arctic Monkeys craze and Cameron's love for Aston Villa - or was it West Ham?