What can TM be thinking of?

Yes, it was quite enlightening. I'm afraid I've gone over to the dark side and joined the LDs, but the discussion was all very friendly. We have County Council elections, but there'll be a repeat in a few weeks for the GE.

The only people who screech and squawk are those in Brussels, with their ever increasing hysterical demands especially financially. Was TM really expected not to react. Brussels started this spat not London.

To be fair to TM it was the EU who "leaked" the result of the talks over dinner. I think she had to come out and reply in strong terms. I have read reports where the EU negotiators are admitting that UK leaving will cause a big "wobble" in the EU and that they are concerned about the money the remaining countries would have to contribute which could result in calls to leave by other members.

I have a real leaning in that direction Daphne but when the SDP (of which I was a member) merged I did feel that the social democracy was buried under the liberalism but I am currently watching with interest

Mature negotiators do not engage in "spats" via the media - they work hard behind the scenes using their knowledge of conciliation skills (in this case none!)to reach a measured and sensible compromise.

TM's behaviour is akin to Trump's tweets.

Was TM really expected not to react. Brussels started this spat not London.

Is she a child niggly?

I would like a calm, competent and diplomatic negotiator and she is none of these. She is very used to doing what she does in order to get her own way which is alright with underlings or when most of the cabinet are on your side but she is not in that position currently. She is dealing with 27 other countries who know the upheaval we have created will make their lives worse and they have every right to feel like that and react in anyway they choose as long as it is legal.

I am actually beginning to think Corbyn would be better at negotiating on this for all his faults and I really didn't think I would reach that point.

www.opendemocracy.net/uk/james-cusick/theresa-may-democratic-accountability-television-debate-refuse

This is an interesting article about why May will not debate on the television.
Someone who is told what to do by a political strategist is not acting in the best interests of the country.
Time she grew up.

Wasn't it childish of Juncker to say to Merkel that TM was "living in another galaxy" and was "deluded", for him to say it was more likely that talks would fail unless UK paid the "divorce bill" and for these comments to then be "leaked". I too would like to see calm, competent and diplomatic negotiations - from both sides.

Don't be ridiculous GG, TM is not a child, far from it! what a silly comment. Rumour has it that Jeremy has no desire to be PM never mind handle brexit!! and lets face it it would be Keir Starmer in the hot seat, and no one can seem to fathom out what his stance would be!

Wow, Gracesgran. I bet that took some soul searching to reach that conclusion.

Niggly I can see that you are totally against the EU but could you explain to me who/what the 'beaurocrats' actually are please?

Not reached it yet Jen but it is popping into my mind that he might realise it is not all about him but about an unassuming team. Reaching a good conclusion is only partly political and considerably more about understanding negotiation and diplomacy and the people who are good at this don't tend to be overly pompous politicians.

I agree sunseeker! Theresa May did when first asked gave a diplomatic reply. It was only when the childish garbage came out of Brussels that things went up a notch. What's she supposed to do, just ignore the extreme rudeness and personal attack that was levelled at her,or are you saying that its ok for Brussels to behave badly and they should be ignored? like the ill mannered ignoramus that they are?!

Sunseeker we don't get to choose the other side although reading some of the posts on here you would think we rule the world. We can only choose what is best for us and smile on while others do what they do.

ww. The commissioners, who curiously get re-elected by their obedient parliament virtual unopposed time after time. Puffed up and full of their own smug self importance just doesn't come near it particularly when it comes to anyone questioning or querying their decisions. They don't seem to be responsible to anyone and imo are virtually dictators. We should never have allowed ourselves to get so embroiled in this outfit. The common market was an excellent idea, but what it's now become is grim! As for the gravy train and the fat cats? I just can't be doing with it, our own ones in particular whoever they are and surely left wingers can't possibly approve?!! Mind you most of them end up in the H of L, having spent their whole lives opposing it! I expect J.Corbyn will one day! It's quite baffling!

Surely we can expect courtesy?!

Theresa May could not be diplomatic if she tried really hard!!! None of that lot could - the word does not exist in their dictionary.

At least she didn't resort to personal insults, or perhaps you consider these to be diplomatic?!

If you went out and kicked someone in a delicate place would you expect courtesy Niggly? We have every right to leave the EU if that is what we choose but having agreed along the way with everything that the EU has built into we certainly do not have the right to expect everyone to greet our decision with glee. We will not only be worse off ourselves but we are making it more difficult for the other countries, not because we make them better off but because the larger group makes us all better off. Why would they want to be polite?

"Instead of calmly and confidently dealing with the EU’s opening gambit from a position of strength, the Prime Minister is whipping up hostility on all sides with no real plan behind it. She’s all hot air without any serious substance to deliver. The result is that she is weakening the country’s position for when the real negotiations start. And she is increasing the chance of getting no sustainable deal at all - putting jobs and livelihoods at risk.

Too often that is what happens with this Prime Minister. Her desperate rush to visit Donald Trump wasn’t strong, it was weak. Her threat to withdraw security and terrorism cooperation from Europe if she doesn’t get the deal she wants wasn’t stable it was foolish - for our national security as well as their’s."

Yvette Cooper.

Sounds as though you needed to get that little rant off your chest niggly!

Who do you expect to govern us? Or would you prefer anarchy?

Of course personal insults are acceptable nigglynellie if made by Brussels they can do no wrong in some peoples eyes.

There are 28 countries involved in these negotiations. One wants talks to be kept secret. The other 27 want talks to be open and above board.
Who should get their way?
You expect us to accept the referendum when it was 52-48.
I expect May to respect 27-1.

ww did ask!!!!!!

Ninny that is just so unhelpful. We have decided to turn upside down 40 years of the EU. No, insults are not good but I have to say that I feel some in this country are viewing this in a very odd way.

If you told your husband/wife you were splitting up the family would you expect them to great you with joy or even, necessarily politeness? They might be saying all the negative things they had always thought about you and your part in what you have established between you. They might do that even more if you had been slagging them off before you got to the point of serving the divorce and saying they took all your money; they didn't put you first, etc., etc., when, in fact, you had agreed with what the family was doing. We are not superior to them and we will be lucky if they see us as equal to the 27 countries we have presented with real issues and challenges.