Again & again it looks like the UK is only willing to apply if they get a 100% assurance + no euro + no Schengen in advance. Weird concept: asking to be admitted before applying. What's wrong with facing their own voters first? Why does the EU have to clean up the mess of their own making?
There are currently about 15 different versons of a (re) Join campaign all wanting slightly different things From "euromaniacs" who think Europe is dragging it's feet, to those who want to be exempt from Schengen rules in the meantime, with some absolutely against joining the eurozone and others
wanting vatious other concessions We want to join again, but apparently only on our terms which is why it is unlikely to be happening anytime soon unfortunately
Indeed Because joining the EU is seen as some kind of a big favour we would do to Europe. Britain is not yet mature enough to realise why it is better to join fully and take back its historical role at the heart of European affairs (where the model is of shared sovereignty)
What on earth is a euro maniac?
It’s how Naomi Smith described herself in a reply to one of my posts
Ok thank you.
It would be interesting to see what would happen if a major party wholeheartedly came out and argued for membership without exemptions or special treatment. Would 'rejoiners' then coalesce around the idea, or keep on about their own specific wants / red lines?
It would be fascinating. It would be a game changer, because immediately the other parties would have to either move their position towards Europe, or defend Brexit.
They would of course coalesce.
Yes what is missing is leadership
The Greens wouldn't be enough. However if the Lib Dems joined them..Lab, Cons and Ref would have to come out with their plans.
The arguments to counter the special pleaders are very, very obvious.
That has real implications for Scotland, incidentally
Indy is our problem to solve & diplomacy is important. I don't think the Euro will be a problem but I guess Schengen will be. In the end Scotland will accept all that's required. I think Scotland is still viewed positively within the EU but it's our job first.
Then just join the SM. Join the customs union, integrate with the SM. Why does everyone think it is membership or nothing?
It's a good question. There's still a lot of confusion out there. There are just 2 ways for the UK to join the EU SM now: via EFTA or full EU membership. The EU is moving away from bespoke EFTA/Swiss style deals and during brexit negotiations the UK was told it wouldn't be welcome in EFTA. 1/2
It's also worth adding that labour is a pro-brexit party. So, triggering article 49 (apply to join EU) will not happen "in my lifetime" was the Starmer/labour election promise in 2024. Yet, to get a SPS deal, labour will have to accept ECJ oversight! 2/2
Indeed. Why the UK did not do so to start with is beyond me. #BitFikMe
Because 13 LibDems abstained from it and the motion lost by 13 votes
Because Brexit is a philosophy of permanent revolution. No agreement among mainstream politicians and parties would ever be acceptable. Brexit is never finished. There is always something - or someone - to burn down.
Immaterial
So how would YOU explain the shift from expectations the UK wouldn’t leave the single market through May’s “citizens of nowhere” stance to the even harder Johnson Brexit reached, that nevertheless failed to satisfy the ERG and the strong as ever Faragists?
I genuinely only care about the EU as it is and will be in the face of the many internal and external challenges we face. What Britain is, if of its own making, and that is for it to sort out.
If British people want to act like they're EU citizens in exile then that is up to them. If they want to change that they should mass and vote with the same passion as their opponents. Either way that's up to them.
So basically you were rude to me without having anything to say.
Indeed. The U.K. can join parts of the EU, but the politicians don’t want to do it because of their racist voter base. However the best for Britain would be to fully join asap.