New EU Treaty - a good deal or not?

"Which would still be decades less ‘harping’ than the Tory right."

I am always intrigued by the assumption that the 'Tory Right' has always been anti-EU/EEC/Common Market. In fact, for the first 15 years or so of UK membership, it was the Labour Party who opposed our membership. Their 1983 Manifesto actually contained a promise to leave the EEC if they were elected. It would seem that the more a simple free-trading arrangement gradually morphed into a political union run by bureaucrats, the better the Labour Party grew to like it.

Tomorrow and the day after and all the days after that I will be a European

You could put that on a T Shirt, Whitewavemark2

Actually we are all European. Whether we voted Leave or Remain.

You could have it tattooed on your chest ?

I'm in such a happy mood today shame I've got no where to go because of lockdown you can't have everything I suppose lol. I do love a lol?

seamstress

All the calls for lets unite and get behind this marvellous new dawn, are doomed if the nastiness and name calling are anything to go by. Im so glad to have EU citizenship still yay! I know I'm joining an ever-growing band- welcome Stanley Johnson!

It’s hard to get enthusiastic about a new dawn when I can nothing to aim for, maybe Im missing a golden opportunity.

Maybe others could give me a few pointers, just in case I’ve missed something.

I had thought that covid would be a common enemy against which we could unite to fight. But it isn't with so many arguments against whether to have the vaccine, to wear a mask or to isolate.

I honestly don't see how the country will unite - unless the brexit experiment goes wrong.

Dig up a French relative and go on French radio to talk about your application for French citizenship maybe David. Works for Stanley Johnson

To be fair Stanley Johnson is a remainer, he hasn’t made a secret of it. The family dynamics must be fascinating.

Casdon

To be fair Stanley Johnson is a remainer, he hasn’t made a secret of it. The family dynamics must be fascinating.

And they still appear to love each other!

How far back are we allowed to go for French relatives to claim EU citizenship? I'll have to dig deep.

Bodach

"Which would still be decades less ‘harping’ than the Tory right."

I am always intrigued by the assumption that the 'Tory Right' has always been anti-EU/EEC/Common Market. In fact, for the first 15 years or so of UK membership, it was the Labour Party who opposed our membership. Their 1983 Manifesto actually contained a promise to leave the EEC if they were elected. It would seem that the more a simple free-trading arrangement gradually morphed into a political union run by bureaucrats, the better the Labour Party grew to like it.

Interesting!
Am with you on the loony who shouted ‘Stop Brexit’ all day long?but am hoping he has now slunk off somewhere.
Yes, we are all European and most of us love going to European countries and appreciate the different cultures, and anyone who thinks that those who voted for Brexit are against
Europe somehow are sadly deluded.
I think this year most of the acrimony from those who voted Remain will start to dissipate in real life, although social media will still buzz with resentment, because that’s the lifeblood of SM.

Do they? Maybe blood is thicker than water, but both his brothers, and his sister are remainers too so the current family dynamics must be fascinating - given they are even stronger personalities than some of the Gransnet posters.

I think Boris spent the weekend on the family farm with his sister whilst deciding which way to campaign.

She obviously wasn't convincing enough.

I thought he’d always been pro-Brexit?

Brexit: Boris Johnson 'had agonised doubts'

Brexit: Boris Johnson 'had agonised doubts'

The contents of a pro-EU article - written by Boris Johnson two days before he declared his support for the Leave campaign - have been made public.

Composed in February - but not published - it sets out the economic and political risks Brexit might pose.

The Sunday Times has published the pro-Remain column.

The newspaper's political editor, Tim Shipman, explained what it reveals.

Published 16 October 2016

www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-37670906

Johnson isnt pro anything, as far as I can see he has no actual convictions.

Casdon

I thought he’d always been pro-Brexit?

Not at all. There's quite an archive of him making pro-EU statements, both verbally and in writing.

He famously wrote two pieces for his newspaper before the referendum campaign, one pro EU and one anti EU before deciding which to back, Remain or Leave. It could have gone either way, but it is commonly supposed that he saw backing Leave as better for his political career.

The fact that the rest of the family was pro Remain is really quite telling. But, by all accounts they're a pretty dysfunctional family in many ways. Stanley Johnson, according to his biography, was as unpleasant and amoral as his son.

The newspaper's political editor, Tim Shipman, explained what it reveals.

I'd be wary of Shipman's judgement. He's pretty far right and very pro brexit.

Yes, he has been anti EU ish in the past

But he's changed his mind many times

Of course he was a journalist so probably just wrote articles to suit the readership

Boris Johnson first became associated with Euroscepticism in the early 1990s, when he wrote a string of articles for the Telegraph lampooning apparently over-zealous EU regulations.

He did claim to be quite fond of Brussels at a later date.

He could have swung either way

MaizieD

^The newspaper's political editor, Tim Shipman, explained what it reveals.^

I'd be wary of Shipman's judgement. He's pretty far right and very pro brexit.

Sorry, I should clarify. The Times, being a Murdoch paper, has always been pro brexit

He could have swung either way

But, had he backed remain then he would probably not now be PM - David Cameron might still be the PM.

What Shipman said in the link did seem a factual account of Boris's thought processes, as far as anyone knows, but where is the article now ?

Yes, he has been anti EU ish in the past

Brussels correspondent for a newspaper was something of a backwater. Johnson made it all up to amuse himself in what he considered to be a boring post.

www.independent.co.uk/voices/why-are-we-so-surprised-boris-johnson-lied-when-he-s-been-sacked-lying-twice-a7105976.html

Callistemon

What Shipman said in the link did seem a factual account of Boris's thought processes, as far as anyone knows, but where is the article now ?

Behind a paywall I should imagine

There is nothing at all under under the heading.

Room 101

Nasty post there Kamiso about me having a tattoo.
Why so mean?
My post was quite reasonable and I’ve been nothing but polite and tolerant on this thread.
Take note of it perhaps seamstress!