Society & Culture0 min ago
Brexit Update
Having not posted on Brexit of late, and to ensure TTT is not suffering withdraw symptoms, here is an update on the disaster that keeps on giving.
When Daily Express readers acknowledge what a disaster Brexit is, you can be sure it is a disaster.
Interestingly one Daily Express reader said ‘Of course Brexit is a failure, it only takes someone with a fraction of a brain to observe the damage it has caused to our economy and the havoc it has played with our businesses – the lifeblood of our nation.’
Unhappy with a Yougov survey which showed those thinking the UK was right to leave the EU at its lowest level of 31%; the Express ran its own poll amongst its readers only to find 62% responded that Brexit had been a failure and only 29% a success.
Some may ask why I’m continuing to post on AB what a disaster Brexit is – based on the replies to my posts, many ABers are of the opinion that Brexit is a fantastic success for the UK – they are wrong.
When Daily Express readers acknowledge what a disaster Brexit is, you can be sure it is a disaster.
Interestingly one Daily Express reader said ‘Of course Brexit is a failure, it only takes someone with a fraction of a brain to observe the damage it has caused to our economy and the havoc it has played with our businesses – the lifeblood of our nation.’
Unhappy with a Yougov survey which showed those thinking the UK was right to leave the EU at its lowest level of 31%; the Express ran its own poll amongst its readers only to find 62% responded that Brexit had been a failure and only 29% a success.
Some may ask why I’m continuing to post on AB what a disaster Brexit is – based on the replies to my posts, many ABers are of the opinion that Brexit is a fantastic success for the UK – they are wrong.
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//I wonder who elects those MEPs, representing their countries in the European parliament?//
The EU Parliament is not worthy of the name. And in any case, the UK had only around 10% of its seats and could be easily outvoted by the other 90% (and often was). The EU has an impossible task. Its aim is to integrate the machinations of 27 very disparate nations and the decisions it makes can never suit all of them. It’s usually a case of everybody gets what few, if anybody wants.
//the “supremacy of eu law” which brexiters pretend to feel oppressed by is primarily for the purpose of resolving disputes…
It is quite clearly stated in the Lisbon Treaty that EU law is supreme. To suggest that principle ”… is primarily for the purpose of resolving disputes…” is rather like saying that member nations can do exactly as they wish…provided the EU Commission agrees to it. Of course it’s for resolving disputes – where a member nation want to do something contrary to EU law. The principle of supremacy doesn’t “resolve” a dispute in the traditional fashion, it simply quashes it.
But that is all by the way. The purpose of Brexit was to ensure the UK was no longer a member of the EU. To me, that is all that mattered and so it has been 100% successful. The fact that the government has failed to make the most of it, and still sees it as their function to operate a damage limitation exercise makes it no less successful. Continually posting YouTube snippets about “the disaster that is Brexit” is wholly unproductive. The UK is no longer a member, is most unlikely to rejoin in the future and we all need to get used to it.
The EU Parliament is not worthy of the name. And in any case, the UK had only around 10% of its seats and could be easily outvoted by the other 90% (and often was). The EU has an impossible task. Its aim is to integrate the machinations of 27 very disparate nations and the decisions it makes can never suit all of them. It’s usually a case of everybody gets what few, if anybody wants.
//the “supremacy of eu law” which brexiters pretend to feel oppressed by is primarily for the purpose of resolving disputes…
It is quite clearly stated in the Lisbon Treaty that EU law is supreme. To suggest that principle ”… is primarily for the purpose of resolving disputes…” is rather like saying that member nations can do exactly as they wish…provided the EU Commission agrees to it. Of course it’s for resolving disputes – where a member nation want to do something contrary to EU law. The principle of supremacy doesn’t “resolve” a dispute in the traditional fashion, it simply quashes it.
But that is all by the way. The purpose of Brexit was to ensure the UK was no longer a member of the EU. To me, that is all that mattered and so it has been 100% successful. The fact that the government has failed to make the most of it, and still sees it as their function to operate a damage limitation exercise makes it no less successful. Continually posting YouTube snippets about “the disaster that is Brexit” is wholly unproductive. The UK is no longer a member, is most unlikely to rejoin in the future and we all need to get used to it.
Eu didn’t do a great deal of telling us what to do though… our politicians still had plenty of power and left voluntarily albeit not with a great deal of enthusiasm
“ rather like saying that member nations can do exactly as they wish…provided the EU Commission agrees to it. “
and the commission can only do what it likes so long as the european council agrees to it… and who sits on the european council? oh look, it was us. how oppressive.
“ rather like saying that member nations can do exactly as they wish…provided the EU Commission agrees to it. “
and the commission can only do what it likes so long as the european council agrees to it… and who sits on the european council? oh look, it was us. how oppressive.
//..and who sits on the european council? oh look, it was us. how oppressive.//
But it wasn’t just “us”, was it? The European Council is comprised of the Heads of government of the member nations. It defines EU policy and direction. But the UK had just one of 28 members. Neither the EU Parliament, nor its Commission, nor its Council had the UK’s best interests (or indeed that of any other member nation) at the forefront. The UK’s interests were easily brushed aside and often were.
However you view it, it is impossible for the EU to formulate policies and enact legislation that is in the best interests of all its members. It is its major shortcoming. Everything must be a compromise and, as with most compromises, they usually suit nobody in particular.
But it wasn’t just “us”, was it? The European Council is comprised of the Heads of government of the member nations. It defines EU policy and direction. But the UK had just one of 28 members. Neither the EU Parliament, nor its Commission, nor its Council had the UK’s best interests (or indeed that of any other member nation) at the forefront. The UK’s interests were easily brushed aside and often were.
However you view it, it is impossible for the EU to formulate policies and enact legislation that is in the best interests of all its members. It is its major shortcoming. Everything must be a compromise and, as with most compromises, they usually suit nobody in particular.
Untitled: you are destroying the last vestige of any reason why anyone should have voted for Brexit. Having been a complete disaster for the UK economy, plus all the queues at border crossings which will be exacerbated at peak travel times (school holidays) for the foreseeable future – no doubt upsetting many Brexiteers stuck in queues.
As many have pointed out, the UK was at the forefront of formulating many of the EU laws/Directives and only had issue with a very small number of laws – which is to be expected being a member of a very large trading bloc.
As many have pointed out, the UK was at the forefront of formulating many of the EU laws/Directives and only had issue with a very small number of laws – which is to be expected being a member of a very large trading bloc.
//As many have pointed out, the UK was at the forefront of formulating many of the EU laws/Directives...//
Was it? Neither the UK nor any other member was "at the forefront" of formulating EU laws and directives. That function is carried out by the EU Commission. The Commission alone is responsible for drawing up proposals for new European legislation, and it implements the decisions of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. The EU had minimal influence over these bodies (one of 28 Commissioners, one of 28 members of the Council and about 10% of the seats in the Parliament).
//...the UK ...only had issue with a very small number of laws – which is to be expected being a member of a very large trading bloc.//
The EU is not a trading bloc. It is a political construction. Trading blocs do not have laws.
Was it? Neither the UK nor any other member was "at the forefront" of formulating EU laws and directives. That function is carried out by the EU Commission. The Commission alone is responsible for drawing up proposals for new European legislation, and it implements the decisions of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. The EU had minimal influence over these bodies (one of 28 Commissioners, one of 28 members of the Council and about 10% of the seats in the Parliament).
//...the UK ...only had issue with a very small number of laws – which is to be expected being a member of a very large trading bloc.//
The EU is not a trading bloc. It is a political construction. Trading blocs do not have laws.
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