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EU still open to Britain changing its mind on Brexit

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My opinion is this: if a Canzuk union will become a reality, then Brexit will be an excellent thing for the UK. If the UK decides to go at it alone, then Brexit will be the biggest disaster ever to have befallen the British people.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

A second referendum potentially more politically toxic that the first!?

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Typical EU arrogance. They want the UK to remain a member (obviously) but are not willing to make any concessions to make the prospect more appealing. British voters made it clear they were not happy with the current terms of membership. So either give Britain a better deal or just accept that the UK is leaving. The EU will be greatly diminished, economically, militarily and politically, but they only have themselves to blame.

3 ( +13 / -10 )

Do over? You get one of those?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The people of UK made his choice, there shouldn't be any more referendum or going back.

But Scotland should have the right to a new vote on its independence.

 The EU will be greatly diminished, economically, militarily and politically

Nah, EU will be just fine !

0 ( +8 / -8 )

The people of UK made his choice, there shouldn't be any more referendum or going back.

But Scotland should have the right to a new vote on its independence.

Right, so what you're saying is one 'once in a generation' referendum should stand, and another shouldn't. That sounds entirely democratic.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

There will not be a second referendum as it will be as close and divisive as the first.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

@0orei0

Scotland voted to stay in the UK because they didn't want to leave the EU, which is fine. But it was just to be screwed over by a referendum on leaving the EU. Is THAT democratic ?

On the Brexit referendum, people chose knowingly despite being informed of the consequences (which is why Scotland voted against it massively by the way). But the people of Scotland were duped and treated like second class citizens, so yes, I think they have the right to ask for a new vote.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

Leaders of the European Union institutions weighed into a new British debate on whether to hold a second referendum

I'm not surprised, but ultimately the leaders of the EU institutions will have exactly zero say on the matter. Reversing Article 50 (if it is even possible) would require unanimous agreement from all national governments of the member states. The national politics involved make this inconceivable. Is the Netherlands going to give up the medicines agency they were awarded? or all the banks and finance jobs which are relocating to Amsterdam? Are Slovakia or the Czech Republic going to agree, considering they have the their sights set on attracting UK automakers to move? Is the Walloon parliament going to let Belgium agree without massive concessions?

3 ( +6 / -3 )

I think both sides have now realised what a bureaucratic (and costly) nightmare Brexit is. They can't be bothered. Just not that easy to make the first move and tacitly admit you need the other more than they need you.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

I think Scotland should be allowed to have another referendum. The SNP is losing droves of support and many Scottish nationalists are realising that the SNP are not really nationalists. The SNP want to leave the UK to then join the EU, having no sovereignty.

I think there will also be another EU referendum, even though it's a terrible idea. It will happen because there is almost zero political will in Westminster to leave. A second referendum will be a waste of money, horribly divisive and will not bring a clear result. You are not going to get more than 66% either way.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Have another referendum if you want, it will just delay the inevitable. At some point down the road Brits will demand to leave the EU again. Might be 10 years, might be 20, but the UK has no long term wish to be part of an increasingly federal Europe.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Nigel Farage, one of the key players in Brexit, has endorsed a second referendum to put this to rest ‘for a generation’ as he put it, and clarify what kind of Brexit the UK should pursue.

Not my opinion, but it does show the calls for a second referendum are not just from the remainers.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

For the UK Independence Party, which campaigned for Brexit, David Coburn accused Barnier of trying to "destroy Britain" as a centre for financial services by rejecting London's efforts to retain existing access to EU financial markets

I thought UKIP wanted to be out of the EU, out of the single market and out of the customs union. If so, why are they now whining about not being allowed access to the EU markets? Out means out. They can't say they weren't warned.

Although I think the UK would be better off in the EU, I don't think another referendum is the answer right now. The British people first need to suffer the consequences of leaving the EU and the consequences of electing a bunch of dishonest incompetents to government. They need to realise that the lies they were told about the EU, and pretty much everything the EU was blamed for, were actually the fault of our own politicians. The red/blue passport nonsense is just one example. The UK could have blue passports tomorrow if they wanted; the decision to use red passports was made solely by the UK government.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

@ClippetyClop

At some point down the road Brits will demand to leave the EU again. Might be 10 years, might be 20

Since it was overwhelming older people who voted leave, there was an academic immediately after the referendum who calculated the exact year that enough leave voters would die off to ensure a remain victory. Maybe that's why Farage is pushing for a new referendum now rather than later?

 Might be 10 years, might be 20, but the UK has no long term wish to be part of an increasingly federal Europe

On the broader point, I think the EU will be a very different place in 10-20 years. We see a shift to the right in politics and culture across the continent and this will inevitably trickle into EU institutions as new appointments are made. The departure of the UK moves the centre of political power in the EU slightly further towards Eastern Europe and there is a general consensus that it can no longer be business as usual. The worst excesses of the EU might be behind us. I actually think the working and middle classes in the UK have a much more precarious future to be honest.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

You've gotta laugh at the silly brits: they give away the biggest empire ever, then turn their backs on Canada, Australia, NZ, etc. countries with which they share language, culture, kin and values in the 70s for a continental union with a load of countries they have traditionally been at war with and can't communicate easily with because of language barriers. A UK-Canada-Aus-NZ union would've been awesome...

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

A UK-Canada-Aus-NZ union would've been awesome...

It would definitely not inspire awe. Britain does more trade with Spain plus a few tiny EU countries than Aus, NZ and Canada combined. Canada does 4x more trade with just the state of Michigan than the UK, Aus, NZ combined. What products would they trade which aren't already tariff free, and why would they want to pursue regulatory alignment when they each have larger markets to cater to?

Free movement of labour might be nice for individuals, but it would likely lead to a brain drain out of the UK considering how much more appealing the quality of life is in the other 3. The UK government would probably not be keen on this. Not at all.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

I am of the opinion the issue is of those that the UK people see as governing, spending or wasting there hard earned money must be seen to be accountable.

The Council of Minsters lacks that accountability. Also European Union/comission and certainty Macron/Merkel/ Shultz have a agenda that will ultimately see federalism as goal.

Can this politically be in Great Britain's interest?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

@Scrote

Being "in" something and "having access" are very different things. There are countries around the world that are not in the EU but have access to its markets. If you want to be in the single market without any restrictions then you have accept full membership. It is entirely possible for a country that isn't in the EU to negiotiate a certain level of access. No country has ever tried to negotiate access for Financial Services, but there is no rule that says it can't be negotiated.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

EU was created for a reason. And it greatly contributed to the economic success of UK in recent decades, making it a financial superpower. It was the EU that made Great Britain great again.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

So either give Britain a better deal or just accept that the UK is leaving. The EU will be greatly diminished, economically, militarily and politically, but they only have themselves to blame.

Naaa, you're not that special mate. Why should you guys have special status? You're seriously deluded if you think the EU needs Britain more than Britain needs Europe.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Civitas Sine Suffragio

A UK-Canada-Aus-NZ union would've been awesome...

Don't you worry about it. Its in the works-

Check it out!

http://www.canzukinternational.com/

CANZUK Trade Deals “A Priority” For The UK Post-Brexit

http://www.canzukinternational.com/2017/10/canzuk-trade-deals-priority.html

Former Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott, has proposed a comprehensive free-trade deal between Australia and the UK to be negotiated immediately and come into force on the day Britain formally leaves the EU.

http://www.canzukinternational.com/2017/08/former-prime-minister-free-movement-trade.html

As the United Kingdom continues its negotiations for exiting the European Union, CANZUK International will be formulating and coordinating an international cross-party group to promote free movement and free trade between Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

http://www.canzukinternational.com/2017/08/canzuk-international-to-develop-cross-party-support-group.html

Its happening really quickly and the EU is alarmed. This is why they are trying to bully other countries not to do deals with the UK.

EU threat: Switzerland ‘told NOT to make deal with Brexit Britain’ in plot to punish UK

THE EU is pressuring Switzerland not to make a bilateral deal with Britain after Brexit, it was revealed last night. The move appears to be part of a “punishment agenda” by Brussels and has led to concerns that the European Commission is not negotiating with Britain in good faith.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/905143/EU-threat-Switzerland-told-NOT-to-make-deal-with-Brexit-Britain-in-plot-to-punish-UK

This is going on as the EU tries to pull the UK back into Europe. The EU is genuinely afraid of CANZUK as this movement might Strengthen the UK even more than if they were back in with the EU.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

@Aly Thanks for the info! I am glad to see such moves. The UK should've been putting this together in the 1960s as it de-colonised its empire.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

David Cameron can claim the worst-ever missed checkmate in the history of political chess. Instead of the result of the referendum going straight to a Brexit, his government could have wielded a huge stick at the EU and said an exit vote would lead to direct renegotation of the UK's deal in the Union. Cameron could have gone straight to Brussels and said, look, the majority want out if you dont give us renegotiated membership. And he would still be PM now. I do not understand why he needed to tell the electorate that the result would go straight to an exit.

As for Farage, he never finished a job or led a movement in his life. He's just good at stirring the pot. He's also good at claiming an EU salary and cheating his expenses from Brussels.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

No country has ever tried to negotiate access for Financial Services, but there is no rule that says it can't be negotiated.

The EU position is very clear: if you are not in the single market you cannot provide financial services to the EU. It's a very clear and easy to understand position, yet UKIP and others seem unable to grasp this very simple concept.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Well as the EU commission always say "Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed".

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Aly Thanks for the info!

Anytime!

I am glad to see such moves. The UK should've been putting this together in the 1960s as it de-colonised its empire.

Agree 100%.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Scotland voted to stay in the UK because they didn't want to leave the EU, which is fine. But it was just to be screwed over by a referendum on leaving the EU. Is THAT democratic ?

On the Brexit referendum, people chose knowingly despite being informed of the consequences (which is why Scotland voted against it massively by the way). But the people of Scotland were duped and treated like second class citizens, so yes, I think they have the right to ask for a new vote.

Sorry, but you are misinformed. Scotland voted to stay in the UK. Remaining in the EU was not officially in the referendum. Membership was known to be up for grabs a few years later. Despite that the majority of Scots voted to stay in the UK.

Never believe the promises of campaigning politicians.

And yes, staying in the UK and consequently accepting the political will of the majority IS democratic.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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