Now that we are leaving the EU...

And actually my fear on reflection was that Johnson is talking an approach that will appeal to Brexiteers rather than a pragmatic approach that will appeal to the EU.

As I said I suspect that is because he doesn’t actually want an EU deal, he wants one with the US.

Oh god, this is utter delusion.

I disagree, Raab was talking sense.For too long the EU hoped we would have a weak government and would have to accept anything they chose to give us.No longer the case!

I had hoped with the ERG being put back in its box we may be able to actually negotiate a sensible deal, but those hopes are rapidly disappearing.

I saw the same Greta and my heart sunk.

Leo Varadkar’s response (treating is a ta tantruming toddler) seemed the only appropriate one. I suspect the EU is going to look like the grown up in these negotiations.

I still suspect that they don’t actually want an EU deal (Trump doesn’t want us to have an EU deal, so I doubt Johnson does).

I watched Dominic Raab in conversation with A Marr this morning. He (Raab) wanted to make it clear that there will be no concessions from the UK in the forthcoming EU negotiations. We will not be rule takers. Also, our diplomats have been given instructions not to sit with diplomats from other nations at events. This will give a clear signal that we are independent.

I wasn't surprised to hear D Raab's idea of how we should approach these very important talks with the EU. I was, however, disappointed. Do we never learn? This aggressive, ”we know best” attitude will not succeed. If we really intend to go to Europe and lord it over them I fear there will be a sorry end for us all.

I expect we do have some skilled negotiators because some of them will have been part of EU trade negotiating teams*. But I doubt that we have enough to be working on the myriad 'deals' needing to be done over the next 11 months.

*Yes, believe it or not, EU negotiators were drawn from the member states; because 'Brussels' is not a country and has no bureaucracy of some alien breed of 'Bruxelloise'. People from all the member states worked for the EU civil service.

Here's a thread written yesterday by a British EU 'bureaucrat'. It details the work they did, the influence the UK wielded and how they achieved that influence.

threader.app/thread/1223338503565606915

There’s this as well www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/01/brexit-trade-talks-eu-to-back-spain-over-gibraltar-claims?CMP=fb_gu&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1580564088

And of course Ireland.

No

Now that we have left the EU and have to start negotiating with other nations in order to strike trade deals we will rely on skilful, experienced negotiators to negotiate on our behalf. This is something that I don't feel at all confident about. Remember David Davis? Dominic Raab? A jubilant lady this morning on the radio commented ”We now want to get the trade deals that we want”. And my heart sank.

Serious question: Do we have these skilled negotiators?

www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/andre-rieu-enters-top-30-chart-on-brexit-day-1-6493031

Oh give it a rest Varian FFS’S

Don't worry Chestnut, I'm already at the party, come and find me for a

The majority of the British media, in particular the BBC, is NOT anti EU though.

ha ha! Independence..... hic! ? ?

Thank you Opal. The party is being held on the Interdependence day thread. You are invited! ?

ExperiencedNotOld

"Just do your best for yourself and those close to you"

There are some of us who care about people outside our immediate circle which is why we worry.

Sadly, I don't think humour is a particular trait of certain posters Chestnut, but your post made me smile anyway . Happy Brexit to all of us.

MaizieD: So that's a positive benefit of Brexit is it? Everything is corrupt and fraudulent and that's our future?
Clearly humour goes straight over your head, Maizie. I was joking because varian posts ad nauseum about fraud and corruption, endlessly....on and on and on. Nothing new to say ever.

We aren't an Independant country, we are the United Kingdom lol

So pleased we are now an Independant Country, didn't think I would see the day.

Jabberwok For what it's worth:
In this speech given after the end of the Second World War, Churchill concluded: We must build a kind of United States of Europe. In this way only will hundreds of millions of toilers be able to regain the simple joys and hopes which make life worth living.

Well said ENO.

Gorbachev's quote from the 90's speaks volumes

'The most puzzling development in modern politics is the apparent determination of Western European leaders to re-create the Soviet Union in Western Europe.'

Rather interesting article here

www.rt.com/op-ed/359327-soviet-union-eu-history/

I doubt it will exist, as is, in the next 20 years

What happened to just letting life roll on by? Why do people have to get so viciously angry and lash out instead of presenting a reasoned point of view. Whatever the end result of the referendum had been the ‘laws’ of economics mean that we’re bound to have good times and bad times in the future. Just do your best for yourself and those close to you. Don’t worry about things you can’t change.