It's fair to say somewhat damaging. But not basic (just nothing like membership). Europe got what it wanted and can live with the trade terms
Replies
Fair If we get back to Draghi’s view when we need to work a lot better together to face bigger external risks, ai would say #Brexit was extremely damaging from a strategic point of view.
aug 31, 2025, 3:38 pm • 4 1 • view
Yes, agreed. It has hurt us all strategically
aug 31, 2025, 4:05 pm • 4 0 • view
May I say a few nuances? We have strategically progressed in the EU thanks to Brexit : we have set up policies in pharmaceuticals, arm industries, common debt, strategic autonomy, digital rules … EU citizens have massively benefited from Brexit.
sep 1, 2025, 7:33 am • 13 3 • view
Yes, in the round. But we would still be better-off with a committed and pro-European UK
sep 1, 2025, 7:47 am • 9 1 • view
À l’impossible nul n’est tenu … (Auld French).
sep 1, 2025, 7:56 am • 2 0 • view
Such a UK doesn’t currently exist.
sep 2, 2025, 5:27 am • 6 0 • view
That's where the fight is at
sep 2, 2025, 6:47 am • 5 1 • view
Correct. Many of us are currently working on this. It is not easy and we may not succeed. But we are doing our best.
sep 2, 2025, 6:49 am • 7 1 • view
Exactly. Someone has to do it, and it's best to start now.
sep 2, 2025, 7:00 am • 4 0 • view
IMHO, as long as Britons have not got this ⤴️, a come-back would be damaging for us.
sep 1, 2025, 7:33 am • 4 0 • view
Draghi’s propositions are our next steps. Don't be so impatient!!!
sep 1, 2025, 7:34 am • 2 0 • view
That is a fair comment. The issue is the exceptionalism and sense of superiority in Britain. And is difficult to change as the propaganda works like clockwork and is being fed from birth.
sep 1, 2025, 7:34 am • 5 1 • view
What we miss in the EU are British Europhiles, musicians, artists, scientists, etc. All the enlightened Britons.
sep 1, 2025, 7:38 am • 2 0 • view
Including europhiles farmers and fishermen ⤴️
sep 1, 2025, 7:39 am • 2 0 • view
A very small minority unfortunately painted by populists as out of touch elites and in some cases even as enemies of the people. My hope is that this is just a phase from a counter cycle. But deep down the roots of exceptionalism are there and fed every day into the public.
sep 1, 2025, 7:44 am • 2 0 • view
Exactly - and because of this progress, it would be impossible for the UK to re-join on the old terms (or anything near it). That ship has sailed.
sep 1, 2025, 8:43 am • 5 1 • view
It's not true. Ask anyone in pharma, finance, the sciences around the EU and they will say the same thing - brexit has been disastrous for so many sectors & projects. EURATOM is a great example. brexit impacted so many projects negatively, the british are not welcome back into it.
sep 1, 2025, 12:20 pm • 5 0 • view
Well said. The british, on occasion have held back some EU initiatives, like the Euro, the bailout of greece or the EU Army idea but it's utter nonsense to suggest "brexit has been a good for the EU".
sep 1, 2025, 12:41 pm • 2 0 • view
MisterDac, the other poster, is very mistaken. brexit has been hugely damaging to the EU. The UK has been a pain in the arse, as a member, true, but, so many EU sectors & budgets have been impacted so negatively by brexit and the EU made so much weaker, what he claims is nonsense.
sep 1, 2025, 12:37 pm • 1 0 • view
I think you are both right. Obviously Brexit was a disaster (both for the UK and EU). However, the EU has moved on significantly. To stay relevant, the EU member states have to integrate to a much higher level. That will be extremely difficult, and I don't think that is possible with the UK.
sep 1, 2025, 2:05 pm • 0 0 • view
The opposite is true - the EU is much weaker without the UK. On tariffs the EU & UK could have responded to Trump with a stronger, unified response. On defence, the EU could have moved much quicker with the UK on board and as a member. On Science, the UK was at the heart of EU fusion research.
sep 1, 2025, 2:25 pm • 0 0 • view
That would be utopia. Based on what do you believe that would have been a real possibility? There has been no love for the EU from the UK. They have obstructed/vetoed all meaningful progress for decades (or asked for an opt out). Why would this have been different now?
sep 1, 2025, 2:33 pm • 1 0 • view
the opposite is true. the UK did cause friction on some points e.g. financial regs, the Euro, the greek bailout, but, the single market - one of the greatest achievements in Europe - was largely a british design.
sep 1, 2025, 2:40 pm • 0 0 • view
He was an influential bureaucrat, but not more than that. Delors had the political cloud. And Thatcher was eager for the economic single market, but not for the wider integration that came with it. She refused the Social Charter and delivered the Bruges speech (warning against a federal Europe).
sep 1, 2025, 3:22 pm • 0 0 • view
The other ways will take a little bit of time. open.spotify.com/track/7uer77...
sep 1, 2025, 8:56 am • 2 0 • view
If the EU construct is good for 20+ nations, including Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, etc, why should Brits be any exceptions? Every new EU member will have its own Treaty of Accession with some specifics, but the big picture should be the same.
sep 1, 2025, 9:02 am • 9 3 • view
Yep.⤴️ That means that the big picture is consciously accepted in the UK. If nobody makes that case in the UK politics, there is no way. That’s why Niall is relentlessly posting. That’s also why Samantha is personally despaired when she’s getting to read frequently Niall’s posts. ⬅️ just an opinion.
sep 1, 2025, 9:10 am • 3 0 • view
In general I don't block & don't mute unless people are " beyond the pale " or doing a " Gyles ". To walk away because the truth is unbearable ( like Samantha & snowflake Alex do) isn't a smart way of operating: it tells us something about their degree of exceptionalism ( others must change)
sep 1, 2025, 11:55 am • 1 0 • view
Samantha is absolutely not exceptionalist. She muted Niall only because it’s hard for her to see that there is no workable solution.
sep 1, 2025, 11:58 am • 1 0 • view
I am fed up with workarounds concessions etc etc just to please one country that never committed in the first place leading to brexit. Being pro EU in the UK means confronting & persuading convincing educating the public. Same for me re pro scottish indy even if it's uncomfortable.
sep 1, 2025, 12:19 pm • 2 0 • view
I think she does. But let’s accept that it doesn’t work …
sep 1, 2025, 12:29 pm • 1 0 • view
Maybe a ' light version " compared to snowflake Alex but I read her post that things were difficult to change because of eg " parliamentary sovereignty ". The suggestion was that the EU should adapt because of situations that are unchangeable in the UK. Being " desperate " is no excuse!
sep 1, 2025, 12:08 pm • 2 0 • view
The parliamentary sovereignty is absolutely not anything close to an exceptionalist excuse by Samantha! This is a complete misunderstanding! It’s the deep root why she thinks that the UK, or England, is in a dead end today. Just a fact, that she is not happy with.⬇️
sep 1, 2025, 12:23 pm • 1 0 • view
I’m making the case for rejoin as it is hugely beneficial for Britain from every angle you look. It’s simply incredible the British society is so weak it allows the corruption and cowardice in their political class.
sep 1, 2025, 9:50 am • 10 3 • view
It is also the case that Britain has a responsibility to the wider community, and that Britons should want and be able to be part of that community.
sep 1, 2025, 11:38 am • 6 0 • view
I know. But I find it difficult to make the case for generosity in the current political climate dominated by selfishness…
sep 1, 2025, 11:42 am • 2 0 • view
… 2/2 Labour used to do that cases… but that was 100 years ago.
sep 1, 2025, 11:43 am • 2 0 • view
It’s always been the fundamental question of democracy : how get corruption out of government ? We don’t have the answer yet. Nowhere. ⤵️
sep 1, 2025, 10:18 am • 3 0 • view
Sure, but at least some countries such as Italy or Romania KNOW they have a corruption problem. UK is in denial they have one.
sep 1, 2025, 11:06 am • 2 0 • view
I guess that corruption comes with the rest ?…
sep 1, 2025, 11:40 am • 1 0 • view
Do we really need another Poland when we are about to try and integrate the headache that is Ukraine?
sep 1, 2025, 11:47 am • 1 0 • view
the EU has moved away from big-bang enlargement, ala 2004. It's more step-by-step now for candidate countries. that's reflected in how Ukraine, Georgia & Moldova are getting access to the SM soon, but, not yet members.
sep 1, 2025, 12:57 pm • 0 0 • view
that's a fair point, but, I wouldn't describe the Ukraine as a "headache". They were shafted royally by the british and USA. The british & americans persuaded them to give up their nuclear deterrent in the 1990s promising article 5 style protection in return. That aged well.
sep 1, 2025, 12:55 pm • 1 0 • view
Bringing in an unsettled or semi-settled war zone, ravaged by mass emigration and infrastructural damage and with huge legacy problems surrounding corruption and the rule of law is a headache. I am sorry if people think I am anti-Ukraine I am not, but joining the EU wont be easy or tidy
sep 1, 2025, 3:49 pm • 0 0 • view
As said the French democratic socialists a long time ago, in Auld French : « l’union est un combat »…
sep 1, 2025, 11:49 am • 2 0 • view
I would not describe Ukraine as a headache. It’s not fair to the thousands who died and the millions who suffered and are still suffering.
sep 1, 2025, 11:48 am • 2 0 • view
Hungary is a headache … 🤕
sep 1, 2025, 11:50 am • 0 0 • view
In constitutional terms absorbing it will be massive, so it is an insitutional and consitutional headache, because we will be a radically different union as a result. That doesn't diminish at all from what they've gone through.
sep 1, 2025, 11:51 am • 2 0 • view
russia is the headache dikhed. What an absurd statement.
sep 1, 2025, 11:50 am • 1 0 • view
The status quo suits us just fine. The UK is no longer a liability, Brexit has been ring fenced. It might be a disaster for the UK but that is another matter.
aug 31, 2025, 11:33 pm • 3 0 • view