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Is Macron sabre rattling?

(219 Posts)
Urmstongran Mon 01-Nov-21 10:19:20

What do we think?
Tomorrow he has to put up or shut up I think.

Scones Mon 01-Nov-21 21:44:33

What Macron actually said -
"Since this afternoon, discussions have resumed on the basis of a proposal I made to Prime Minister (Boris) Johnson.

'The talks need to continue. We'll see where we are tomorrow at the end of the day, to see if things have really changed.'

Which in the language of the Daily Mail translates as 'backed down'.

MerylStreep Mon 01-Nov-21 21:45:36

Chewbacca ?

Scones Mon 01-Nov-21 21:46:40

MerylStreep

I know it’s not what some wished to see, but hey, that’s politics for you.

I think it's exactly what a lot of people wished for....that our leaders and their staff could talk it over sensibly and come to a solution.

Lincslass Tue 02-Nov-21 07:23:37

Scones

What Macron actually said -
"Since this afternoon, discussions have resumed on the basis of a proposal I made to Prime Minister (Boris) Johnson.

'The talks need to continue. We'll see where we are tomorrow at the end of the day, to see if things have really changed.'

Which in the language of the Daily Mail translates as 'backed down'.

Yes, in the face of legal action from the UK.

Lincslass Tue 02-Nov-21 07:26:50

MaizieD

Lincslass

vegansrock

Let’s face it the Brexit debacle has given the green light to anti-anyone- foreign xenophobes to voice their opinion of millions of people as in “ the French”, “the Germans”, “the Italians” etc as if everyone of a certain nationality can be lumped together.

Well to be fair and honest. Many of you on here clump all British and our nation in the same way, with disdain and ridicule. If it comes to the crunch I will back my country and it’s people over any foreign President, French, German whatever.

What are you talking about? Most of us on here are British.

I'm afraid though, that I don't subscribe to 'My country right or wrong'.

I don't like my country picking silly fights with its neighbours.

Pardon, who picked the fight. These fishermen have had 5 years, yes five to produce proof of fishing, but no they carry on as if nothing has changed. France has been given more licences to fish than the rest of the EU. Wonder why it’s only Macron whinging on.

MaizieD Tue 02-Nov-21 07:42:54

Five years? Really?

So, when, exactly, were they informed of the conditions they would need to satisfy to obtain licences? Considering that the TCA was only negotiated and signed in 2019 and until then no one, in any business, had a clue what the arrangements would be.

MayBeMaw Tue 02-Nov-21 08:04:33

Matt nails it yet again! grin

lemongrove Tue 02-Nov-21 08:09:29

Hmmm, funny that MaizieD because most of the French fishermen have been able to find evidence to prove they have been fishing long enough to receive their licences.Others either haven’t bothered or haven’t been fishing there for long enough.The UK has granted many licences, Jersey less so, but French boats just need to meet the requirements.
Of course Macron is sabre rattling, it plays well to a home audience with elections fast approaching.

Kali2 Tue 02-Nov-21 08:17:00

Scones

MerylStreep

I know it’s not what some wished to see, but hey, that’s politics for you.

I think it's exactly what a lot of people wished for....that our leaders and their staff could talk it over sensibly and come to a solution.

Ah but no, some on GN want to sabre rattle... and more.

At the end of the day, the UK is in a very very weak position in the real world, with the whole of Europe united, with the support of the USA, and control of the ports and all exports and imports- with a lot of essential stuff we NEED (like water purifying chemicals, as just one of the examples- and a lot more). So huffing and puffing, and shouting 'HE started it ...' is not going to be very helpful, really.

Whitewavemark2 Tue 02-Nov-21 08:37:49

Loved the comment from George Eustace that the fishing agreement was signed as part of the Brexit agreement - oh the irony?

MaizieD Tue 02-Nov-21 08:39:47

Of course Macron is sabre rattling, it plays well to a home audience with elections fast approaching

Johnson is doing exactly the same thing, for the same reasons. He's throwing the Brexit mob a bit of raw meat. We can see on this thread how well it plays to their xenophobia.

And if you had read the thread you would see why some of the tiny boats involved have had problems.

Also, the TCA, (not completed until Dec. 2020, I was a year out) didn't specify what the conditions for licences would be. So even that didn't help the French fishers.

lemongrove Tue 02-Nov-21 08:45:19

Nonsense....we don’t have elections coming up.

MaizieD Tue 02-Nov-21 09:07:21

lemongrove

Nonsense....we don’t have elections coming up.

Could be one at any time, lemon. He needs to keep the voters keen in case he wants a snap election.

Peasblossom Tue 02-Nov-21 09:25:51

Mmm. Tiny boats.

The term was small boat, which is anything under 64ft. If you’re thinking of those little boats you see at night on the Mediterranean then think again.

The 14 miles of sea between France and Jersey is deep and turbulent. Nobody that knew the sea would venture out there in a tiny boat.

As for no gps. Any fishing boat will have GPS to enable them to locate catches. They won’t last long in business if they don’t.
Or if you don’t accept that, every mobile phone has GPS.

It’s a romantic notion of tiny boats with the humble fisherman venturing out to net a few fish. Not the reality though. Still it’ll deceive some who know nothing about fishing.

Lincslass Tue 02-Nov-21 09:35:00

MaizieD

^Of course Macron is sabre rattling, it plays well to a home audience with elections fast approaching^

Johnson is doing exactly the same thing, for the same reasons. He's throwing the Brexit mob a bit of raw meat. We can see on this thread how well it plays to their xenophobia.

And if you had read the thread you would see why some of the tiny boats involved have had problems.

Also, the TCA, (not completed until Dec. 2020, I was a year out) didn't specify what the conditions for licences would be. So even that didn't help the French fishers.

There you go the ˋBrexit mob´. I rest my case.

Peasblossom Tue 02-Nov-21 09:44:29

I’m interested to know why those so impassioned about about the plight of French fishermen were not bothered at all about British fishermen when the EU allocated 85% of the cod catch of the North Sea to France and destroyed the livelihoods of many.

a) I didn’t know
b) I think it’s right that France should have had the bulk of the quota
c) I don’t care about British fishermen
d) Whatever the EU does is fine by me
e) to protest would have meant I had to argue against my political deals

Actually I expect this post will be ignored. That’s the usual tactic when somebody poses a difficult question or points out a fact that challenges.

MaizieD Tue 02-Nov-21 09:48:47

There you go the ˋBrexit mob´. I rest my case.

What case would that be, Lincslass?

MaizieD Tue 02-Nov-21 09:52:10

Actually I expect this post will be ignored. That’s the usual tactic when somebody poses a difficult question or points out a fact that challenges.

A few months ago you were Gnet expert on the woes of Lincolnshire's natives kept in poverty by the unfair practices of farmers employing cheap labour from the EU. Now you're the fisheries expert. I think it would be helpful if you would cite your sources...

MayBeMaw Tue 02-Nov-21 09:54:46

Excellent point Peasblossom
The overfishing of our waters by fishing boats of other countries has been an issue for many years- long before Brexit was a twinkle in the EU’s eye.
Scottish fishermen have long despaired of seeing their livelihood destroyed by (particularly ) France and Spain and no doubt the same applied to the NE and Cornish fishermen.
Remember the Cod Wars when Iceland extended its exclusive fishing rights from 4 miles to 12 miles and ultimately 200 miles?
It seems we are the only country with no say over our own fishing waters
britishseafishing.co.uk/the-cod-wars/

Peasblossom Tue 02-Nov-21 09:55:50

Oh, if you can’t ignore then sneer.

Above all don’t engage in any rational research that might challenge your political stance.?

Alegrias1 Tue 02-Nov-21 09:59:51

Peasblossom

I’m interested to know why those so impassioned about about the plight of French fishermen were not bothered at all about British fishermen when the EU allocated 85% of the cod catch of the North Sea to France and destroyed the livelihoods of many.

a) I didn’t know
b) I think it’s right that France should have had the bulk of the quota
c) I don’t care about British fishermen
d) Whatever the EU does is fine by me
e) to protest would have meant I had to argue against my political deals

Actually I expect this post will be ignored. That’s the usual tactic when somebody poses a difficult question or points out a fact that challenges.

I spent the first 20 years of my life in Scotland's largest white fishing port.

I'm a bit jaded by the fishermen bemoaning their lot from their million pound houses full of Doultons. ( in-joke )

Peasblossom Tue 02-Nov-21 10:01:40

My interest is personal and my knowledge based on both research and what I have seen and experienced.

You don’t appear to have any interest other than to justify your political stance, with no reference to reality. But often se emotive language, exaggeration and factual inaccuracies.

Therefore I would suggest that my posts are of more validity than yours for anyone who is interested in understanding what is happening and why

Peasblossom Tue 02-Nov-21 10:02:31

That’s for Maizie not Alegrias.

Mamie Tue 02-Nov-21 10:13:05

Peasblossom my observations are from reading the local press in French with explanations and statements from the fishing community, plus what I see and hear when buying fish at local ports on the Calvados coast. It may give me a biased view, but it is first-hand (and in French).
I am sure there are some people whose evidence might be limited, but equally there have been plenty of evidenced statements of dubious and bizarre decisions by the Jersey authorities.
The French government is acting to protect the interests of French citizens. I do find it strange that some people find it hard to understand that.

Petera Tue 02-Nov-21 10:23:09

Urmstongran

Well Castex writes a letter clearly stating that leaving the union must damage the UK and Brussels orders the UK not to be confrontational ,this is astounding for its sheer audacity and even the most hard-core remainer can't possibly think this is acceptable,can they?

Just go and read the letter. It doesn't say anything of the kind, let alone clearly, despite how the media have been representing it.

What it actually says is "there is more harm in leaving the union than remaining in it". Even the most hard-core leaver can't possibly think that someone who supports the union would believe that you can have all the advantages without being a member, can they?

Unless, of course, you're Boris Johnson.