Brexit and the waning days of the United Kingdom

[Tamas]

Two days since the official Article 50 invoking.

We have had the UK's thinly veiled threat to remove from security cooperation if they don't like the trade deal they will get.

And now it seems Spain is threatening a veto if Gibraltar doesn't get some kind of special treatment in the divorce deal, to which Tory MPs rally around the flag and urge resistance:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39453535


Oh my, this is not going to end well, is it? 

[Richard Hakluyt]

Just about to post on the same issue.

The negotiators are all going to have such fun in their pointless task.

[derspiess]

Spain just needs to get over the Gibraltar thing.

[Tamas]

Yeah once that is done then we will just need Ireland getting over the Northern Ireland thing, Poland, Romania, Hungary over the immigration thing, and we will be ready to start!

[Jacob]

Spain just needs to get over the Gibraltar thing.

Why do they need to do that?

[Josquius]

I'd heard completely opposite news about Gibraltar today. That the document released by the EU on their response to brexit states that anything with the UK doesn't apply to Gibraltar. Which is curious

[Valmy]

Yeah well the purpose of the EU was to get beyond these European rivalries so it is no surprise that those rivalries would assert themselves once it starts to dissolve.

[derspiess]

Spain just needs to get over the Gibraltar thing.

Why do they need to do that?

Because it makes them look petty and it annoys me.  But mostly because it annoys me.

[Valmy]

Spain just needs to get over the Gibraltar thing.

Why do they need to do that?

Because it makes them look petty and it annoys me.  But mostly because it annoys me.

You might as well ask dogs to get over peeing on trees. Euros are going to Euro.

[celedhring]

You never let go of bargaining chips, particularly when the other side suddenly decides to give you leverage.

[Richard Hakluyt]

I'd heard completely opposite news about Gibraltar today. That the document released by the EU on their response to brexit states that anything with the UK doesn't apply to Gibraltar. Which is curious

Yes, the reports do seem a bit muddled and confusing. Might be best to give it a few hours, when the analysis of what is being proposed will be consistent.

[celedhring]

Besides the irredentist mumbo-jumbo, the fact is that Gibraltar's "best of both worlds" status as a British overseas territory with lots of tax advantages AND an EU member with access to the Common Market sitting right by the Spanish border is something that Spain would have vetoed had it been a member when the UK accessed the EU. Now the UK has decided to make it possible for this status to be terminated, and you can bet our government is going to seize the chance.

[Josquius]

Besides the irredentist mumbo-jumbo, the fact is that Gibraltar's "best of both worlds" status as a British overseas territory with lots of tax advantages AND an EU member with access to the Common Market sitting right by the Spanish border is something that Spain would have vetoed had it been a member when the UK accessed the EU. Now the UK has decided to make it possible for this status to be terminated, and you can bet our government is going to seize the chance.

Spain looks set to be the UK's prime enemy it seems.
You've:
*Gibralter
*A massive imbalance of  UK migrants (most countries have more of their nationals in Britain than the reverse)
*Most of these migrants being unproductive and expensive retirees.
*Fishing

Anything I missed?

[Tamas]

Besides the irredentist mumbo-jumbo, the fact is that Gibraltar's "best of both worlds" status as a British overseas territory with lots of tax advantages AND an EU member with access to the Common Market sitting right by the Spanish border is something that Spain would have vetoed had it been a member when the UK accessed the EU. Now the UK has decided to make it possible for this status to be terminated, and you can bet our government is going to seize the chance.

Spain looks set to be the UK's prime enemy it seems.
You've:
*Gibralter
*A massive imbalance of  UK migrants (most countries have more of their nationals in Britain than the reverse)
*Most of these migrants being unproductive and expensive retirees.
*Fishing

Anything I missed?

Well, they will be a huge enemy to independent Scotland joining the EU.

[Valmy]

So then maybe they are also the UK's prime savior