Lion in Winter

That's the one. Farage who lived off an EU salary for years and years, while barely showing up for work, will now take a 73,000 pound per year pension from the EU. The man is what he always was - a nasty, dishonest little opportunistic lowlife.

EMR

In your world Bipat India dies not need global trade but that the rest of the world needs to trade with India
I think you should ask the Indian politicians and economists if they agree with you,
The EU is not trying to " resurrect" a deal, but as you keep reminding us , negotiations take time and have to be to the satisfaction of both parties.

macliam

Note the number of UK companies that are currently foreign owned compared to those in France and Germany. Those who have already made their money by selling out to multinationals, or who see future advantage in so-doing, would be incredibly anti-EU, given that body's stance on such deals and its actions to control foreign companies. Such people also have have immense power and resource, few scruples and absolutely no loyalty - so they won't really give a sh*t whether the UK population thrive or are reduced to third-world levels.

As has been said, trade negotiations are a matter of each side looking for an advantage. However, post-Brexit, only one side is likely to be on it's knees, so I wouldn't look for an advantage there or any source of optimism either. The Brexiteers have often cited European exports to the UK as a reason why the EU should treat the UK as a special case. But, given the nature of the products imported, it's an empty threat - the actual percentage of European exports made to the UK is relatively small (see Here) and, in the medium term, what choice will UK consumers have but to continue consumption? On the other hand, the EU is a major export market for the UK, trade already runs at a deficit - and without the financial services sector at a huge deficit - so who has the whip hand in negotiations?

However, the EU have already told us what it sees as a greater threat and what will really drive its stance on trade. It simply cannot allow any state to get a better deal as a non-member than as a member - to do otherwise is suicide. Avoiding that would certainly be worth a very slight reduction in exports....

morpeth

Yes you have pointed out the EU has tried to get a trade deal with India, but that isn't point I was making. Britain may negotiate different trade agreements post-Brexit- but simply, if EU is a bigger market certainly India or other such countries will grant same rights to the EU : thus Britain may not gain any significant trade advantages.

Preferential treatment ( such as Most Favored Nation Status) is simply the potential considering overall relationship political/military/cultural ties between Canada/Australia/USA and Britain. For example, British investment in USA certainly has less hurdles for sensitive industries than that from other countries, while not codified it just is what it is. My point is that there is that potential of a deal Britain could strike that the EU might not be able to get same terms. However I doubt either May or Trump have the vision or ability to put together such a deal. As far as preferential , US has in the past granted some trade benefits to countries it has a political interest in closer relations.

As far as Sadiq Khan as Mayor flying over to visit his ancestral homeland and spending a lot of money to do so, hopefully some concrete benefit results. I wasn't aware he had experience in trade negotiations or business experience.

TrickyTreeRed

Tony Blair is back in the news. This time in order to try and usurp the democratic will of UK voters.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics...reverse-brexit

He needs to crawl back under his rock from whence he came.

DaveLovesDee

If Leave had lost and lies by the winning side were proven to have been a major factor, wouldn't you have wanted a second referendum?

Remember, Farage said if Leave lost 52-48%, he'd want a re-run.

jimenato

I agree.

We don't need any border security - just let 'em come - all those foreign welfare scroungers, bombers and the like - millions of 'em streaming over the border.

After all, reducing immigration, securing our borders isn't one of the main reasons for Brexit or anything - is it?

TrickyTreeRed

No. Nor do I share Nigel Farage's position of holding another referendum if Leave had lost narrowly.

A majority of votes were cast in favour of leaving the European Union. It's time to respect this.

EMR

Who in what universe has said that we are not leaving.
The debate is not about remain but not leaving the UK up to its neck in the brown stuff as a result of the leave vote.
Will you accept what ever happens as being your fault and that of every other leave voter ?

jimenato

There is little chance of that. On Andrew Marr yesterday Farage himself said that Brexit is failing and it's the government's fault. No-one involved in the leave side of the referendum from the leadership down to the voters is going to admit any fault.

EMR

Nige can claim no responsibility for Brexit while claiming for the rest of his life his EU pension paid for out of the very divorce bill he objects to.

macliam

I think you assume some integrity on the part of Farage.

Well, there's always a first time......

EMR

Integrity and Farage , that's a new one.

macliam

So, the move to discuss trade issues is scuppered, seemingly by the DUP refusing to accept the proposal to avoid a hard border.

The UK was reportedly prepared to accept that Northern Ireland would remain within the customs union and single market (in all but name), but Arlene Foster told Theresa May that the DUP "had significant concerns" about any deal that gave concessions to Dublin (surprise, surprise!) and she could not guarantee continuation of the agreement to support the Tories.....

Welcome to the world of NI politics, the UK will soon come to understand why there is no Assembly at present - because compromise and the DUP don't go together. Since without DUP support the government cannot be certain to pass Brexit legislation, the DUP hold the cards in this poker game (as I have suggested before) - so never mind £1bn, this could cost the UK far, far more.

As Chaucer said "Therfor bihoveth him a ful long spoon that shal ete with a feend"

macliam

I just heard Sammy Wilson, DUP MP for East Antrim on BBC R4. Whilst accusing the Republic of "trying to bounce" Theresa May, he then said "The last thing I want, as a Unionist, is to have Nationalists in Northern Ireland discontented".....

eh?