Brexit watch, round 2

I echo G2016. The idea of a European army doesn't appeal! Of course no mention of it any more, but I guess it's still lurking somewhere. I just don't have a good feeling about a future EU. The treatment of Greece was humiliating and horrid to watch. The refugees behind razor sharp fences begging to be allowed in (remind you of anything?) Now we hardly hear a thing about them, oh and Turkey?!! Not now of course, but in ten years time? who knows. Opportunity knocked but once and who knows, in years to come we could well be mightily relieved to have left, and have regretted bitterly an oportunity lost if we hadn't.

Turkey was used to scare people, all that talk of 30m Turks spilling off ferries at Dover was a load of baloney. Turkey will never meet the requirements for entry to Europe however much they may have wanted to do so. Their human rights records, treatment of women, their prisons were all atrocious before Erdogan's latest fake coup which enabled him to impose a dictatorship and close down newspapers, tv stations, arrest teachers and judges. And that is without resolving the Cyprus issue where Greece is concerned. No, Turkey will not be in the EU in 10 years time. As to refugees behind razor wire, wasn't that what Farage used to scare people? Yes, we may one day be glad we have left, but I do not believe that those who voted to leave were in a position to make that decision, based as it was on obfuscation and downright lies.

I voted Remain, but I am long passed the blame stage. I'm far more interested now in what happens with Theresa May and her new Cabinet. I am glad that the Leave campaign had no real plans for negotiating the 'divorce' because I think TM will be able to influence the process (yes, I know others have the responsibility).

Some people forget we haven't left yet and we can't underestimate the amount of discussion that goes on behind closed doors with EU diplomats. It's still very early days yet and soon our attention will turn to what's going on at home right now.

There would always have been an opportunity to have a referendum to leave - whether five ten or 30 years time!
Sterling is an important worldwide currency which is another reason we were allowed quite easily not to join the Euro - also our economy was not good enough at the time.

Juncker said before the vote that the EU realised that not many countries wanted a closer union and it would not progress.

When this Brexit does actually complete I assume that to keep our borders safe the border controls will return to Dover for us and French ports for France. That would mean that the queues to get through passport control would happen after vehicles exited the ferries - major redesigning of the ferry ports will be required to accommodate the traffic between the ferries and the customs/passport controls. Where do you think the Dover one might end up? Calais controls will be able to spread into the space the migrant camps take up at the moment (they will no doubt have decamped to Dover/Folkestone etc) and still be complete before anyone reaches the Cité d'Europe!

Maybe this has already been discussed: if so I missed it. What do people think will happen at the bordr between Northern ireland and the Republuc of Ireland?

And apologies for typos!

Daphnedill,with respect ,we are all old enough to know that there are never guarantees in a political world which is constantly changing.
The UK does have absolute say,but that is not a guarantee of acceptance within a changing EU.
Since 1999 our government has voted against 56 new laws,and they were all implemented by Brussels.Any major changes are dependent on the wishes of all member states.But until a change of heart by Cameron fairly recently,most heads of member states in the EU were pro expansion.
There are many reasons in all why I am not comfortable with the EU but the proposal/desire of future expansion/integration is certainly not to my liking and one which I am not prepared to wager on.
Unlike yourself,I do not view it as unlikely but as a possibility.
Then the little things,like jobs/higher wages for low paid workers.It is generally believed by economists that the lower paid will be better off.

You talk of voting out of fear.
Did you not vote to remain for fear of a downturn in the economy,which may turn out to be not as gloomy as you are expecting?


It is discussed within the EU,it is desired by many within the EU

Good post Granny2016 I do think that a good number of people voted remain out of fear of change.

Wilmaknickersfit.

That is a very refreshing post.
Some of my close family voted to Remain,but are now of the opinion that Theresa May could succeed in reaching a worthwhile agreement for the UK.
I think it will be a compromise,and several posters have mentioned a Brexit .
We shall see.

'I am glad that the Leave campaign had no real plans for negotiating the 'divorce' because I think TM will be able to influence the process'; I also find it refreshing that you must agree with this bit too.

We are still in the EU... So what are some posters on about? The delays to France have nothing to do with Brexit for the love of god!

We've already established that rose!

Posted at bottom of previous page!

rosesarered....I have friends who voted to remain because they feared change,but are now resigned to 'go with the flow'.I am quite hopeful that it will turn out well .
There,s a red sky so at least tomorrow is going to be sunny!

Easy Done rose we all whizz along - brains working at top speed - well for our age I mean cheers!

???

nigglynellie- having talked to French and Swiss customs' officers yesterday-
My word, I am impressed at how many friends and acquaintances you have granjura, fingers in all the pies as they say. Please keep us all informed.

I hope there will be as much security coming the other way too.
The last thing we want is French-born terrorists here in the UK. Good for the French being extra-vigilant imo.

The start of the school holidays - motorways were clogged up here too, miles and miles of traffic at a standstill on the M4 (luckily I was going the other way).

Wow - what sarcasm ;)

I live in a border village, with a significant percentage of the population here, on both sides, including my 2 direct neighbours, being customs' officers- so not very difficult- and they are fascinated with the Border issues post Brexit- thens of 1000s of British tourists pass by the local border posts around here.

@Granny2016

No, I most certainly did not vote out of fear.

I voted to remain, because I like being European and believe that being part of the EU has brought many benefits to the UK and could have done in the future.

For me, being part of the EU has always been positive and a big chunk of what I believe in is now missing.

I still cannot quite believe that anybody voted to leave, which is a major constitutional change, because they were scared of future integration, which has a cat in hell's chance of happening unless people want it. I've just realised I've literally been shaking my head in disbelief.

Couldn't have said it better thanks. No fear, au contraire.

Wow - what sarcasm ;)
Au contraire, interesting to know from the horse's mouth (ie your neighbours) what the reaction is
I can assure you it is a mixture of both heightened security and *let's show them*
Childish spite and vitriol towards people who may have young children and babies with them, caught in an 8 hour queue in the heat, and who may in all probability have voted to remain.

And one or two posts on here in that vein beggar belief.

granjura Tens of 1,000!!! I have driven through Switzerland many times and could count the GB plates on one hand. Exactly the same in every other eu country. The most you will see is in France, and then not that many.

granny2016 I don't want to give the wrong impression because although I may have accepted the result (it is what it is and all that ), I remain convinced that the UK will not leave the EU. That's why I mentioned diplomats behind closed doors. My own relatively minor experience working with EU showed me how often deals are made behind closed doors. Our government - future as well as current - will decide how to proceed over the coming years. I may be accused of having my head in the sand, but time will tell - the eternal optimist, that's me!

Oh Petra when did you last drive in Europe? There are thousands of UK cars in France Spain and Portugal! Many are all year round not just the summer. France has thousands of UK cars and many Dutch and Belgian. What you don't see so many of now are UK lorries - although good old Eddie Stobart still drives through - since the lorry tax or duty was increased I think by Gordon Brown. Such a shame that as there used to be many of them twenty years ago.