For a bit of light relief I've been looking at the latest Westminstenders thread on Mumsnet. Someone has posted a google translation of a long article from a 'conservative' Spanish newspaper about the current UK threat to renege on the Withdrawal Agreement. It's interesting as we rarely get the perspective of EU member states on here. Mumsnetters are more far ranging.
It's very long but I think that many of the Brexit critics will find it interesting.
It starts from their reaction to the aftermath of the Referendum. This is some of it. It makes the point that the UK got rid of most of its EU experts who could have given sound advice and help during negotiations.
I read today an article on "El Confidential" a conservative Spanish newspaper which explains the feeling about Britain and Brexit these days. Indifference.
From wrong beliefs to miscalculations: Brexit enters the impasse
The UK has misjudged its cards and has embarked on a move that could end in a no-deal Brexit. Far from getting attention, indifference has deepened
What surprised the most about Brexit in its first years of negotiation was the lack of preparation of the British team . No one had understood the Union better than the United Kingdom. They had the best diplomats, the best technical experts, and therefore the best cards within the community bloc. London would be was going to be the loser in negotiating with the Twenty-Seven, but it could make things difficult: they were still the best negotiators in Europe .
The amateurism and lack of preparation surprised many. At each step taken, London measured poorly, made mistakes, had unrealistic perspectives or simply did not understand the consequences of what was being negotiated. It is true that Brexit is the result of a revolt that precisely sought to oust experts , true diplomats or politicians who were not manifestly committed to the Eurosceptic crusade.
When we thought that Brexit had already given its all, the new season returns more powerful than ever. Olly Robbins, a henchman who was put at the forefront of negotiations by former Prime Minister Theresa May as the UK walked off the cliff, managed to earn the respect of the Union, but at home he had to deal with the 'Brexiter' coven in that he was one of the greatest traitors to the country. This is how the United Kingdom lost what would have been one of the key players in a negotiation that is probably much better managed: Sir Ivan Rogers, the ambassador to the European Union between 2013 and 2017 and one of the people who best understood the negotiations. Accused by conservative party radicals to be an EU sympathizer above his commitment to the government, Rogers resigned .
That is why, and in the midst of the crusade of Boris Johnson's new Tory party center of power, led by his eccentric adviser Dominic Cummings, against Whitehall's line of good technical experts and diplomats, it should not be completely surprising what has happened in recent years. days.
There's much more, of course...
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/eu_referendum_2016_/4021700-Westminstenders-Pah-International-Law-Who-needs-it?pg=23 scroll down about half way.
There's also a link to the Spanish original if anyone wants to read it.
Some of the ensuing posts are interesting, too.. There's an account on p24 of exchanges involving Lord Keen (before he resigned) in the House of Lords. Reading them I suspect that he resigned from acute embarrassment at having to defend the indefensible in the Lords; he wanted no more of it.
? have they ?