Why Is This A Gimmick?

[cassa333]

Surely a finite date and clarity of when galvanises the effort made to sort things out??

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41978013

This has been on the news website for ages so if it has already been posted ... sorry.

[-Talbot-]

And you can see no fault at the EU door, Gromit?

They are accomadating and we are being ***?

[New Judge]

"What has our wonderful Government achieved towards a orderly and timely exit?"

Very little of any significance and that's principally their fault (enhanced by a bit of intransigence on the part of the EU). The reason that little has been achieved is that they are trying to achieve the impossible - negotiate with the EU. They should be adult enough to realise this and prepare the country for departure in 3/19 with no "deal".

[Zacs-Master]

The reason it’s not being progressed is that we have a largely Pro EU Govt and it’s taking a damn site longer for them to decide how the feathers in their nests should be best left unruffled.

[jourdain2]

I know this sprang to mind earlier, and I'm sure the point has been raised in this thread, but does anyone remember a certain T. Blair giving away to the EU lots and lots of money (in the form of reduced subsidies, if I remember right - I may be wrong) but he conceded loads of money in return for massive amendments of the Common Agricultural Policy. I'm still waiting to see the reforms.

Anyone out there ever heard of 'Danegeld'?

[ToraToraTora]

well it doesn't help having every treacherous anti British popinjay trying to throw a spanner in the works because they lost the referendum.

[jim360]

Wow, it really must suck to live in a democracy if you can't even cope with winning.

[Jackdaw33]

Kipling:

"As long as you pay the Danegeld"
"You'll never get rid of the Dane".

[jourdain2]

Yup! :)

[Gromit]

Actually we don’t know who is to blame for negotiations stalling. The problem is it is all being conducted in secret. Every other part of UK and EU Government is televised, perhaps we should bring in the cameras and then we can see for ourselves how our team is performing. I’m not holding my breath.

[ToraToraTora]

it's not be trying to sabotage my own country jim.

[cassa333]

NJ got to the answer I was going to give you Gromit.. or would have if I was as eloquent as he is.

However I would add that Labour would have just given them 100billion and bent over waiting for the smacked backside that would be a very expensive future trade deal that disadvantaged us. so although the present government haven't made much headway (as said not all their fault) and not covered themselves in glory they are 1000% better than the alternative.

[ToraToraTora]

dam! it's not me trying to sabotage my own country jim.

[ToraToraTora]

"Actually we don’t know who is to blame for negotiations stalling" - have you been off world gromit? everyone knows the EU wont talk about anything until we give them a blank cheque. That's the sticking point. We could talk about other things and get back to that but nooo!

[Zacs-Master]

No, it’s you and a few million of your Cavalier chums.

[Gromit]

Tora,
I have news for you.
Whatever my guesses of how this is panning out, my opinion (and yours) has no influence on the eventual result.
I am not collaborating with anyone, I do not have Barniers ear, Tusk is not in my Whatsapp group, Juncker is not a FaceBook friend. I am just reading about our brexit process, and I am not impressed. So lay off the treason, vichy, collaborator nonsense, because you are just making yourself look silly.

[ToraToraTora]

.... but you want it to go wrong for Britain, so you can gloat.

[Ellipsis]

Has anybody done any serious analysis of what we buy from and sell to the EU?

And how much we could supply ourselves rather than buy from the EU?

And how much the EU could supply themselves rather than buy from the UK?

And therefore what the true impact of trading on WTO rules would be on us and the EU? Not based on the trade position pre-Brexit, but on the likely change in the balance of trade post-Brexit.

[cassa333]

But Gromit every hiccup or setback you attribute to the UK.

Try looking at the EU as well.

Try looking at their modus operandi, at their past 'negotiating' stance.

Try looking at why we can't move on to other areas and aportion blame where it needs to land. Not solely on the UK team.

[ToraToraTora]

no doubt some work has been done in those areas elipsis but they are not publishing the details, I imagine, because they don't want to tip our hand to the enemy.

[Gromit]

Tora,
You are wrong.
I want us to leave in 500 days.
I want us to have trade agreements in place then.
I want the UK and EU to prosper after 29.3.17
I want the divorce to be amicable and acceptable to both sides.

I do not want a trade war that will damage the UK.
I do not want us to be ostracised, and sidelined.
I do not want our economy ruined as the price for keeping a very weak leader in power.
I donot want us to be in any way worse offthan now, but the signs aren’t good.