The big Brexit thread - news, updates and discussion

[SpookyFrank]

Well it looks like the Tories are refusing to buckle over state aid - at the cost of a crash out no deal. I guess on balance (and there's a lot of pros and cons on the scales to be weighed) of where we are now this is good news

State aid. Obviously neoliberal states give private companies all sorts of handouts, bailouts, direct and indirect subsidies etc etc. It only seems to become 'state aid' where there's some prospect of the aid in question actually benefiting the general public.

 

[Humberto]

They constantly pump money into the stock market. It's barren of any reason or justice.

 

[gentlegreen]

End tariffs on UK-made ice cream vans - minister - BBC News

The government calls the vehicles a "great British export" and vows to fight for them in trade talks.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Humberto]

clowns

 

[Roadkill]

All going swimmingly...

 

[Badgers]

Former PM of Australia Tony Abbott has been appointed a trade envoy, representing the UK in trade talks around the world.

Should all be okay now

 

[Pickman's model]

Should all be okay now

Yeh just when you thought it couldn't get any worse they hire an Aussie reject

 

[not-bono-ever]

slightly dodgy signing there.

 

[Smangus]

Phew! Now I feel better about it all. Saved by the ocker

 

[Badgers]

Yeh just when you thought it couldn't get any worse they hire an Aussie reject

Do you think Disgraced Prime Minister Johnson is adding cunts like to distract from his own failings? Or is he setting them up just to take the blame for his despicable leadership and failed policies?

 

[Pickman's model]

Do you think Disgraced Prime Minister Johnson is adding cunts like to distract from his own failings? Or is he setting them up just to take the blame for his despicable leadership and failed policies?

Both

 

[SpookyFrank]

Do you think Disgraced Prime Minister Johnson is adding cunts like to distract from his own failings? Or is he setting them up just to take the blame for his despicable leadership and failed policies?

Just more culture war bullshit. I'm sure nobody is expecting Abbott to actually contribute anything. Maybe the desire to give a bung to an otherwise unemployable fellow traveller is a factor, but that would imply some kind of solidarity which I'm not sure these late-era tories are even capable of.

 

[two sheds]

He chose Abbott because Trump isn't available.

Boris Johnson fascinated by Donald Trump, says ex-ambassador

PM is intrigued by Trump’s ‘relationship with the truth’, Kim Darroch writes in new book

www.theguardian.com

 

[ska invita]

It's because we're about to get a turd Australian deal, so we need an authentic Australian turd to oversee it

 

[Roadkill]

Just more culture war bullshit. I'm sure nobody is expecting Abbott to actually contribute anything. Maybe the desire to give a bung to an otherwise unemployable fellow traveller is a factor, but that would imply some kind of solidarity which I'm not sure these late-era tories are even capable of.

Or perhaps they really are stupid enough to think he's the answer. He does share most of the usual Brexiter fantasies about trade, after all, and as a blundering oaf who knows bollock all about the job he's meant to be doing he'll fit right into Johnson's government.

 

[MickiQ]

Just more culture war bullshit. I'm sure nobody is expecting Abbott to actually contribute anything. Maybe the desire to give a bung to an otherwise unemployable fellow traveller is a factor, but that would imply some kind of solidarity which I'm not sure these late-era tories are even capable of.

They're definitely capable of solidarity, if we lived in a society that was actually as meritocratic as they claim, do you think the likes of Johnson, Grayling and Williamson would even be classed as employable?

 

[ska invita]

Or perhaps they really are stupid enough to think he's the answer. He does share most of the usual Brexiter fantasies about trade, after all

He does probably know some senior cunts in Australia, and Australia is now trade low hanging fruit and about our physically nearest sympathetic trading partner lol. All part of CANZUK white dreams too.

 

[Anju]

Or perhaps they really are stupid enough to think he's the answer. He does share most of the usual Brexiter fantasies about trade, after all, and as a blundering oaf who knows bollock all about the job he's meant to be doing he'll fit right into Johnson's government.

Yes, they're stupid enough to think they're the answer so it's reasonable to assume they genuinely think he is also.

 

[not-bono-ever]

the macho bollocks coming from our administration ( directly/ indirectly) and the totally inappropriate recent signing is utterly fucking juvenile .

 

[andysays]

Still talking tough

Brexit: Negotiator David Frost says UK not scared of walking away

The UK's chief Brexit negotiator has said the government is not "scared" of walking away from talks without a trade deal ready to come into force in 2021.

David Frost said the UK would leave the transition arrangement - which sees it follow many EU rules - "come what may" in December. In contrast, he said Theresa May's team had "blinked and had its bluff called".

 

[wemakeyousoundb]

Still talking tough

Brexit: Negotiator David Frost says UK not scared of walking away

I bet the EU negotiators are shaking in their boots

 

[gentlegreen]

I bet the EU negotiators are shaking in their boots

Indeed. Though the UK's leaving will hurt a bit (until even more UK businesses pack their bags and move to the mainland), the bottom line is they can't afford to give in to blackmail.
Presumably the UK going down the plughole may actually benefit the more powerful EU members ?

 

[steveo87]

Brexit: Negotiator David Frost says UK not scared of walking away

Britain will leave the transition arrangement in December "come what may", says David Frost.

www.bbc.co.uk

Nothing else to add, but is he doing it from BEYOND THE GRAVE?????

 

[Raheem]

From the other side of the keyhole.

 

[Pickman's model]

Brexit: Negotiator David Frost says UK not scared of walking away

Britain will leave the transition arrangement in December "come what may", says David Frost.

www.bbc.co.uk

Nothing else to add, but is he doing it from BEYOND THE GRAVE?????

It's the only sensible appointment made by the government. Sir david frost has experience looking after the government's interests in the afterlife and he retains the respect of the foremost statesmen and -women of Europe.

 

[brogdale]

It's the only sensible appointment made by the government. Sir david frost has experience looking after the government's interests in the afterlife and he retains the respect of the foremost statesmen and -women of Europe.

To the Europeans...Hello, Good Evening and you're not Welcome

 

[brogdale]

Earwig oh...

 

[not-bono-ever]

Subscribe to read | Financial Times

News, analysis and comment from the Financial Times, the worldʼs leading global business publication

www.ft.com

as above.

how to impress the rest of the world that you are able to handle complex negotiations honestly.

 

[Flavour]

Yeah that's not gonna do the UK many favors with either the EU or anyone else really, if they rip up the WA (and by rip up I mean "change or override in any way at all")

 

[brogdale]

That’s how desperate Johnson’s negotiating position is; give us a trade deal or we unilaterally impose a hard border on the island of Ireland.