Has This Hampton Checked History?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-42027859
The British do not respond well to ultimatums sunshine!

[Mamyalynne]

Nah.

[New Judge]

So the two weeks that Barnier mentioned a week or so ago has begun again.

True, the British do not respond too well to ultimatums. But the mob "negotiating" our leaving do not seem to follow the script.They seem, for some unfathomable reason, petrified of "crashing out" of the EU with no deal. A crash that takes 33 months to occur is easily avoided. It just needs somebody to grab hold of the steering wheel.

[ToraToraTora]

I think we'd do well to walk away now for at least 3 months and refuse all contact whilst pushing through what we need to in parliament. Just tell barmpot and Junk to go forth and multiply then keep schtumm till easter.

[Old_Geezer]

Ball isn't in our court. No matter what they say.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DOSyOuXW0AAChmV.jpg:large

[jno]

hello, the armchair generals are ready to go to war!

Well, to send other people to war, anyway, like all good generals.

[ToraToraTora]

who mentioned war jno? I mentioned doing nothing at all.

[cassa333]

One of the reason she we have so many Europhiles willing to shout down our government and ability is because the EU use terms that make it appear as if we are being unreasonable. When the fact is they have a red line and won't budge from it.

We have, apparently been giving ground but are getting nothing in return.

WE need to show more progress. Which means more money of course but it is the terminology and the way they say what they do that makes it appear to be us not pulling our weight. Not helping but hindering negotiations.

I really do think our team should come out of those meetings and say we have made a good offer but it has been rejected because xxx.

We need to say and show we have tried to negotiate. What is happening now is Davis comes out with a nice smile and say progress is being made or it's a bit tricky but we are getting there and the EU come out and say not good enough, you haven't promised us enough money or whatever. They keep putting the onus on us to give as if we are not doing anything.

[webbo3]

[Gromit]

The UK have until October 2018 to get their act together and have something on the table to be voted on by the rest of the EU. That has always been the timetable, and still is.
The 2 week deadline is not to try and stop the UK , it is to try and make them progress to the next (agreed) deadline.

[Davemano]

^^^ Looks to me as if the UK is being forced into giving more money, but I hope they don't. Some tories are saying just forget the dealing and walk away - I agree with that - it will put pressure on EU.

[anneasquith]

Why don't the government just " walk away " now ?

[vetuste_ennemi]

//...make them [the UK] progress to the next (agreed) deadline.//

Make? and agreed? I suppose there are sufficiently clever types who can devise reasons to construe Gromit's post as an accurate and balanced assessment of the situation.

[Davemano]

^^^^^I think it's because they think they can do a deal, but Tusk has said today that a deal is not likely. One of the main problems I believe is the problems in Parliament with some members thwarting progress by opposing all matters concerning Brexit.

[vetuste_ennemi]

Isn't there a point when even the most accommodating person rediscovers his self-respect and says "Enough of this - **** off!".

[Davemano]

Let's hope that's soon v e.

[anneasquith]

Indeed. This government with TM is going to walk away with no deal in place ?

[sunny-dave]

We need (as I have said before) a career negotiator/prevaricator who can deal with these jumped up jobsworths at their own level.

Then, when the EU agree to send in Elected Politicians with a brief (and the power) to actually negotiate, we send in our Ministers.

It's a game - so let's all play by the same rules.

[anneasquith]

Are EU the baddies Dave ?

[Jackdaw33]

Although there are issues far too complicated for me to understand I am of the opinion that we should have walked away from day 1 and then embarked on negotiations either on an EU or country basis. It has been a forty year battle top win back our sovereignty, don't let us lose it again, drip by drip.

[Old_Geezer]

In real life only a very small percentage can be labelled total 'goodies' or 'baddies'. Most fall in-between the extremes.

For example a group could do a good thing like arrange a trading block where members can more easily export/import and thus increase their prosperity, but behind it that same group may try to dictate to the members and force them into a single entity that they can control as top level government, unelected.

The thing is to sort the good from the bad.

In this case the EU is steadfastly refusing to budge on demands that they have made no reasonable case for, and refusing to accept solutions to problems they themselves have created. So at the negotiation table they have opted to take on the mantle of the 'baddies', yes.