To cover posts relating to Brexit
Writing in the Daily Telegraph on 9 May, Daniel Korski asks us not to panic, or to get too pessimistic about the outcome of the forthcoming Brexit negotiations. “For all this heat belies the positive progress that has been made over the last six months or so. Working quietly and with none of this week’s … More Messages by Telegraph
The result from France indicates that some extreme reactions against the EU are not sufficiently popular to get governments overthrown. EU leaders will take these results as confirmation of their success; they shouldn’t, the resentment continues to smoulder but a majority of Europeans appear to be rejecting xenophobia and extreme nationalism as solutions. But that … More Can EU be rescued?
It must be quite rough in the English Channel (La Manche in French, Ärmelkanal in German, both meaning ‘sleeve’) just now, with the hot wind from pre-negotiation posturing blowing up our sleeve, even if there’s little else up it. Richard North, in his blog EUReferendum (Friday May 5), ascribes the heat and noise to justified obligations … More Mercury rising
If re-elected, the Prime Minister has promised that Britain will leave the EU’s Single Market (SM) and Customs Union (CU). Some call this a “Hard” Brexit, others call it a “Clean” Brexit; the former raises concerns for the future of our trade, but are these fears exaggerated? Whilst the minutiae of a post hard-Brexit look … More A Clean Brexit
There is growing evidence that Germany is using its weight to drive the EU in the direction it favours; towards a federalised Europe. We open with thought-provoking advice from Germany: http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-europe-39705689/son-of-nazi-leaders-warning-on-germany Niklas Frank, son of a wartime Nazi leader, spoke to Stephen Sackur of the BBC’s Hard Talk programme. Frank is not confident that Germany … More Germany calling the shots
WTO rules are the default in the event that the UK cannot strike a trade deal with the EU. How bad might that be? Will there be a tariff wall against UK exports that kills our trade? We should clarify that whilst the EU has handled all negotiations on behalf of its constituent states, all … More WOT, no trade deals?
Many Remainers have been demanding a second referendum because: the first was only advisory, the terms were not understood by voters (they didn’t vote to become poorer), they were lied to, or for any reason that might give them another chance to keep the UK in the EU. A General Election is not the same … More UK General Election
The European Parliament is unlovely and unloved, except by itself. It appears to exist as an attempt to cover the absence of any real democracy in the EU. It makes a lot of noise and smoke but achieves little of note. Such influence as it does exert probably acts as a reminder to the other … More Parliament Pontificates
The Rock and a Hard Pace The comment in the Divorce Guidelines has produced the expected response from the British government and others: “After the United Kingdom leaves the Union, no agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom may apply to the territory of Gibraltar without the agreement between the Kingdom of Spain and … More Shorties-8
Some recommendations on how the UK Government should deal with its commitments to the EU after Brexit. Brexit-supporting organisation http://www.theunituk.org.uk has an article by Robert Henderson recommending that the UK should simply walk away from its EU commitments, adopt WTO status and immediately start negotiations on trade agreements with non-EU countries, as well as with … More Law or Order?
This EU Won't Work 