Is There Any Point In Mrs May Visiting Brussels? (And Mixed Metaphors.)

[Khandro]

Or would the time be more valuably spent preparing for a 'cliff-edge' exit? It seems from the pre-arranged replies to last-night's amendment she is 'up against a brick wall'.
Dominic Raab has said;
"I would rather we got a deal, but it takes 'two to tango' and the 'ball is in the EU’s court'."
Could he have mixed his metaphors even further by adding, 'and the clock is ticking'?

Any more metaphors? (suggestion; 'are we are up the creek'?).

[Peter Pedant]

what about:
there is a tick from London
but not 'tock' in Brussels

[Old_Geezer]

It's about being seen to be trying. It was always going to be difficult making the EU see sense, especially when I suspect her discussions would only look at the major backstop issue and stop there (necessary is not the same as sufficient); but since the idiots in the House has confirmed that they intend to ignore no-deal if they can possibly do so, then the EU has zero incentive to bother ar all. (Still, maybe that was the plan all along.)

[New Judge]

As I said yesterday there is no point in her visit. Yes, she should spend the time making sure that we will not all starve to death, die through lack of medicines, freeze because the imported 'leccy has been disconnected and all the other perils we are told we face in the event of a proper Brexit. These preparations should have begun at the end of June 2016. The "deal" is an obnoxious document and even if the "backstop" were removed entirely it contains a number of clauses which will mean the UK will not be able to take advantage of the opportunities Brexit offers. It is a bespoke version of the Lisbon Treaty and it does not represent leaving the EU at all other than in name.

[Ryzen]

Negotiations and a begging bowl never mix well.

[vetuste_ennemi]

//Any more metaphors? (suggestion; 'are we are up the creek'?)//

That would be "without a saddle" then.

I always thought "a hard border in the Irish Sea" somewhat oxymoronic.

[Khandro]

I gather that in 2016 there was a near total absence of haemorrhoid suppositories from British chemists for several weeks. It appears that the best known brand of this soothing product is manufactured in Angers (Loire).
So if the French get furious with the Brits if they crash out without a deal, they need only impound a couple of container loads to impose an uncomfortable form of national revenge.

In other words; Brexit could then be summarised as , ' a pain in the **** '

[youngmafbog]

Oh no, Me farmers are going to pay for Brexit then!

[youngmafbog]

And to the OP.

It's pointless. The EU are not going to budge, at least not yet. But she has to be seen to do something or the undemocratic remainers, who want a deal at any cost(preferably one that ties us into the EU forever - as we wouldn't want any more pesky elections going the wrong way would we?) will kick off.

I suspect the no deal preparations are a good deal further forward than we know. There has been a major ad campaign from the Government saying ring some number or other to find out about what to do for when we leave the EU.

[ToraToraTora]

totally pointless, we tipped our hand last night.

[ToraToraTora]

she'd be better of suspending parliament and preparing for no deal.

[youngmafbog]

I'll second that TTT.

[jim360]

Suspending Parliament and preparing for No Deal are mutually exclusive, since there would also need to be various pieces of emergency legislation passed.

I really don't see last night's vote as tipping our hand -- well, obviously, I would say that wouldn't I? But in this case the point would be that a vacuous statement that Parliament doesn't want to leave without a deal does indeed do nothing to stop it, as you pointed out, so why should it make a difference? If, on the other hand, Yvette Cooper's or Dominic Grieves' amendments had passed, then you might have a case.

But as long as No Deal is a technical and real possibility then Parliament saying that it doesn't want it doesn't do the slightest thing to stop it from happening. That should presumably be enough, assuming that bring economic ruin upon us all should ever have been regarded as a bargaining chip.

[weecalf]

Old saying Don’t cast a clout (vote) till mays out .

[jim360]

Also, to answer the question, there probably isn't much point in practice: the EU has made its position and has its own mandate to keep the Backstop as it currently exists. But perhaps there are some surprises left in the next two weeks, and even if May doesn't achieve anything then perhaps the very fact of her failure will give MPs pause to consider their next steps properly and stop just kicking this can down the road.

[naomi24]

//assuming that bring economic ruin upon us all should ever have been regarded as a bargaining chip. //

Never let it be said that he ever misses an opportunity to revel in the drama that is Project Fear.... ;o)

[weecalf]

Why do we have to rely on political correspondents to explain what is happening .The mouth pieces in parliament get paid enough to be able to explain them selves . What this whole sorry saga has proved if nothing else is that there is far to many over paid .over rated MPs in parliament .

[New Judge]

"Oh no, Me farmers are going to pay for Brexit then!"

Or your "Chalfonts" if you reside in the Home Counties :-)

[jim360]

I mean, to be fair, No Deal can't even be any kind of negotiating tactic if it doesn't have negative consequences -- and there can be no-one who takes seriously the idea that all such negative consequences will fall on the EU.

[naomi24]

To be fair, Jim, the claim that No Deal will bring economic ruin on all of us is, to say the least, somewhat hysterical.