How confident are you in a good deal for the UK?

It’s not the government that has made a mess of the negotiations it’s been ( all along) that they have been hamstrung by an appalling Parliament including their own Party, who dithered and refused to agree on anything for ages. Between those who wanted to overturn the referendum results and those who wanted a hard Brexit at any cost they played into the EU’s hands ( who no doubt thought that Brexit would never happen.)
Then came the election a year ago! A resounding yes to a Conservative government who would get things moving and would make sure the referendum results were honoured.
We left the EU and only then could proper talks resume, but the harm done to the UK was already done in terms of bargaining in the EU’s eyes.
If we do have to leave in Jan without a deal in place, this is the result of Parliament’s hopeless ‘log jam’ until last December.

Unfortunately the bottom line is the EU will endeavour to punish the UK this is to put fear into any other member states thinking of leaving.

Exactly GG13 and this has been the case all along.

How dare we eh?!

Vegan

They won’t go back because they are all laid above the salary threshold, they are the class of qualified worker the U.K. is keen to attract.
In any case there is a whole host of other lower paid unskilled workers that are special cases in their own right.

Another ‘log jam’.
Another ‘knife edge’

Over 4 years and still the 3 main sticking points.

Boris is going to Brussels later this week. He & Ursula vdL have asked their teams for a crib sheet outlining the roadblocks.

I can’t decide whether it’s worth going or not. Boris will have to show willing but I think it’s so much in the balance (50/50 as they are saying) I’m less hopeful of a deal than I was last week.

I bet Barnier hopes no other country in the EU want to exit. Italy? Poland? He’d hate to have to do this all over again ....

Vegansrock
Read this and weep. This is how your wonderful eu is treating animals. And, it's from the Gaudian so you'll probably believe it.
www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/24/something-is-wrong-meps-say-eu-is-failing-to-regulate-live-animal-exports

Lemon
I think there are 3? Countries ( or as the eu would call them, States) who have been watching very closely and will now know what to do and what not.

Urmstongran
I'd be telling them I'll get my coat, I'm off. Contact me when you have a reasonable offer.

Agree Petra

Such a shame you weren't leading the negotiating team Petra. With your in depth knowledge of trade negotiations and international diplomacy I'm sure we would have been sorted by Christmas 2016.

MaizieD
If we had walked away 4yrs ago this would all have been sorted. Instead, we've wasted 4 yrs and still in the same position as we were in 2016.
There's nothing like a crisis to focus the mind.

Round and round they’ve gone. Discussing & agreeing on 95% of a deal. So near really. But then so far, as it’s these same 3 sticking points.

I should avoid the news until Saturday when all will be revealed!

petra I know animals are treated appallingly in the U.K., the EU, the USA, China and just about anywhere humans exploit the natural world. I don’t need the Guardian to tell me that. Don’t feel superior about animal exploitation.

Seems the government is winning the votes in the HoC by a big majority.

The key vote on ‘breaking international law’ has been won handsomely with a huge majority of 89.

and you are proud of that - really?

Sorry, but have to say it- shame on them and shame on you.

Urmstongran

Seems the government is winning the votes in the HoC by a big majority.

Well, of course they are, Ug. You don't need to be a genius to deduce that a government with a majority of 79 is going to win votes on its bills. It's not exactly a great accomplishment.

biba70

and you are proud of that - really?

Sorry, but have to say it- shame on them and shame on you.

Jeez. Did they leave that in?

It's nothing to be at all proud of.

It’s insurance. We hope not to need it but in the case of no deal the U.K. has to look after its own interests. (N.I.)

Basically we’re able to say to the EU (if no deal) we’re not putting up a north/south border. Over to you if you want to do it and pay for it.

Bill Cash’s finest hour Boris said, spotting this in the WA.

So, Johnson is rushing off to Brussels on Thursday to beg for a deal...

Why is there such a hue and cry when we propose a bill in order to protect part of the UK from a known EU threat IF that becomes necessary. Yet the EU habitually break international law without a murmur from anyone!! Why are we shameful for even contemplating this and yet the countries of the EU are never considered shameful for actually doing it?! biba, not everyone is like Switzerland, meekly doing as they're bidden for fear of the consequences from their bully boy neighbour.

Yet he’d be blamed by some if he didn’t try his best MaizieD!

Damned if he goes, damned if he doesn’t ...

Perhaps the only good thing so far about Brexit- served as a clear example to the Swiss electorate that abolishing Free Movement would have very serious consequences, on research, innovation, universities and businesses of every kind and every size- which rely heavily on exports for revenue, and tax for services, and for jobs.

And a firm majority finally kicking the extreme right into the touch line for good - with no chance of bringing it all back again for a very long time, hopefully never. THAT was a huge relief- even if it did contribute to boost the Franc even more (Which is not in our own personal interest- but so be it).

And of course because it is breaking an international agreement, approved aand signed just months ago. How can anyone trust the UK again?

But biba, it’s all OUR fault donchaknow.

But of course Johnson has said he’s prepared to ditch his law breaking to get a deal!
What a corrupt bunch . Who can believe a word they say?
How can his deal have been “oven ready” when he’s had to pass a law to break it after a few months? When he wrote it and signed it, well he signed it I’m not sure he even read it let alone wrote it.