BREXIT! BREXIT! BREXIT!

[Brian Peacock]

At this point it's all theatre. Either Bozo is going to back down and declare he's managed to extract an amazing deal out of the EU or he's going to blame the EU for a no-deal Brexit. Strategically speaking I think the first option would be better in the long run, but the second option will work better for the short-term - and when in the last 20 has a politician ever not gone for the Jam today and pain later option?

[laklak]

I predict a bunch of nothing will happen. They'll sort it out one way or another.

[Scot Dutchy]

"Tongue in cheek"? For them is the best result surely.


Tory grandees’ fury over Johnson’s ‘nationalist’ no-deal Brexit

As fears grow of threat of chaos in new year, Lord Heseltine brands potential failure to strike deal ‘the worst decision of our times’

Boris Johnson faced a rising tide of anger from senior Tories and business leaders last night as he appeared ready to embrace a no-deal Brexit and prepared Royal Navy gunboats to defend UK fishing waters.

With the prime minister and the European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, due to decide on Sunday whether to halt stalled talks and make the momentous decision to accept no deal – an outcome that would lead to tariffs and quotas on UK-EU trade and rising prices – Johnson’s handling of the final stage of negotiations has caused astonishment in his own party, and the EU.

Fearing the disastrous effects of no deal, former cabinet ministers called for talks to resume despite Sunday’s “final deadline”, to make sure 2021 does not begin against a backdrop of twin crises caused by the pandemic and Brexit.

Said this three years ago. Johnson or May never wanted a deal. They want (well they already are) to go into the badlands of offshore accounts and money laundering.

[Scot Dutchy]

I just wonder how many people realise where they are going? This guy does.

Brexit is the worst decision of modern times. Why are its critics in cabinet so silent?

The UK will soon be on its own – sovereign, in charge and control regained. Yet none of that creates jobs or ensures a glorious future

After a lifetime close to the workings of government, I approach drafting an article about Brexit for a Sunday publication with trepidation. Both sides have said a decision will be taken on today, but not what that may be; and anyway, can you believe that any decision will really be the last?

What I do know is that both sides will be presenting the story that best serves their negotiating positions and pleases their most important audiences. Facts are in short supply; there is a plethora of spin.

“Taking back control” will summon up the blood of British patriotism. The union jack prominently displayed before the negotiating table reinforces the demand for sovereignty, while a few asides about cheating foreigners reinforce national prejudices. The leadership necessary to listen to the other side, and understand where compromises may lead, all too soon becomes a cult of nationalism led by the most extreme of partisan groupings.

“I will have my cake and eat it” is rather a good joke on this side of the Channel. It has a quite different implication for the rest of Europe where sovereignty matters as well – theirs, not ours.

I don’t know exactly where all this posturing will end up by January; but I do know that – deal or no deal – we will in theory and in practice be outside the European Union. That is the policy on which the government was elected; they have a mandate and I would not vote against their legislation. I believe that it will be seen as a Tory measure and I will have nothing to do with it. This government will be – and should be – held responsible for quite simply the worst peacetime decision of modern times. I know of members of the cabinet who believe this as firmly as I do. I cannot understand their silence.

So we are where we are. Christmas is upon us and before the country goes back to work we are on our own. Sovereign, in charge, control regained. None of that creates a single job, one pound’s worth of investment or any rise in living standards. We will have risked our trading relationship with the world’s largest market on our doorstep, which accounts for nearly half our imports and exports.

Yet we are constantly told of a glorious tomorrow. All that is missing is a shred of evidence or a single fact.

[rainbow]

At this point it's all theatre. Either Bozo is going to back down and declare he's managed to extract an amazing deal out of the EU or he's going to blame the EU for a no-deal Brexit. Strategically speaking I think the first option would be better in the long run, but the second option will work better for the short-term - and when in the last 20 has a politician ever not gone for the Jam today and pain later option?

Boris has been wasting their time. The EU should walk away.

[Scot Dutchy]

[Scot Dutchy]

Johnson has been given a backdoor.

Brexit trade deal possible within days after Johnson concession, says EU

Barnier says PM’s acceptance of need for ‘evolution clause’ as standards diverge has unlocked talks

A post-Brexit trade and security deal could be sealed as early as this week after Boris Johnson made a key concession over the weekend, the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, has told the bloc’s ambassadors in Brussels.

Barnier said the prime minister’s acceptance of the need for a treaty-level mechanism to ensure fair competition as regulatory standards diverge over time had unlocked the talks. His comments came despite suggestions from Downing Street that a no-deal exit remains likely.

Barnier said, however, that the negotiations on EU access to British fishing waters had gone backwards. The UK tabled a paper on fisheries on Monday, only to take it off the negotiating table on Thursday, he claimed.

Ambassadors and MEPs in Brussels were advised that the UK’s move on the so-called “evolution clause”, ensuring there is recourse to unilateral tariffs should standards significantly diverge, also left work to be done on the “architecture” of how it would work in practice.

Barnier said there were three scenarios: a deal struck by the end of this week allowing for ratification by the European parliament on 28 December; a breakdown in the talks; or agreement being found at the end of the year and the deal being “provisionally applied” to avoid a no-deal exit, with MEPs giving their consent in 2021.

[Scot Dutchy]

The climb down with the red herring:

UK drops push for renationalising of fishing vessels in Brexit talks

No 10 said to have reached a compromise over fishing vessels to be majority British-owned in future

Downing Street has watered down a key demand over post-Brexit fishing rights as part of a broader compromise, EU sources said as Germany’s ambassador in Brussels said there was a chance of a deal by the weekend.

The UK dropped a push for fishing vessels operating under the UK flag to be majority British-owned in the future, it was claimed.

It came as Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons who is responsible for its timetable, suggested it was “theoretically possible” that MPs could be asked to approve a trade deal retrospectively.

“I haven’t heard anyone talk about ratification post-31 December,” he told a ConservativeHome podcast. But Boris Johnson’s spokesman said later this would not happen: “We’re confident that all of the necessary domestic UK legislation required for 1 January will be in force by the end of the transition period.”

[Brian Peacock]

Something smells fishy.

[Scot Dutchy]

It always has ever since fishing areas have played a significant role. Brexiteers always thought it was the great stumbling block that was unsolvable.

[pErvinalia]

.

[Scot Dutchy]

Fish is still going to be the stumbling block:

Fish could still sink Brexit deal, says EU's Ursula von der Leyen

Commission chief says issue of domestic subsidies resolved, but agreement still ‘so far away’

A clash over EU access to British fishing waters could still sink hopes of a post-Brexit trade deal, Ursula von der Leyen has said, with agreement said to be “so close but yet … so far away”.

In an address to the European parliament, the European commission president said the issue of domestic subsidies, so long a thorn in the side of the negotiators, had been resolved.

She reported that legal assurances that environmental, social and labour standards would not be undercut had also been secured, with fruitful continuing discussions on “future-proofing” against unfair competition offering a clear path to an agreement.

But Von der Leyen told MEPs that remaining disagreements on the future arrangements for European fishing fleets in UK waters could yet scupper the nine months of negotiations at the 11th hour.

“The discussion is still very difficult,” Von der Leyen said. “We do not question the UK sovereignty on its own waters. But we ask for predictability and stability for our fishermen and our fisherwomen.

“And in all honesty, it sometimes feels that we will not be able to resolve this question. But we must continue to try finding a solution. And it is the only responsible and right course of action.”

The UK wants the power to shut down European boats’ access to its waters but the EU is seeking three months’ notice for its fleet, with the possibility of compensation or the ability to take retaliatory measures.

Music to Brexiteer ears.

[Scot Dutchy]

Stand by your buckets! The water is up to the gunnels.

European parliament sets Sunday deadline for post-Brexit trade deal

MEPs say date is latest that will enable vote of consent to be held this year

[Brian Peacock]

It had to go through the European and UK Parliaments before 1 Jan 2021 or else no deal. I still think Johnson et al are using this to appear to win the best deal in the history of deals. "Everyone said it was impossible, said it was going to be a no deal, but Boris has achieved the miraculous, a historic deal with the EU ..." etc etc

[Scot Dutchy]

It had to go through the European and UK Parliaments before 1 Jan 2021 or else no deal. I still think Johnson et al are using this to appear to win the best deal in the history of deals. "Everyone said it was impossible, said it was going to be a no deal, but Boris has achieved the miraculous, a historic deal with the EU ..." etc etc

Of course that is how it will be presented and the tory press but fish will not be resolved keeping it for the final exit. So Johnson wont have to accept any blame and the Brexiteers get their goal.