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Dear President Tusk
On 23 June last year, the people of the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. As I have said before, that decision was no rejection of the values we share as fellow Europeans. Nor was it an attempt to do harm to the European Union or any of the remaining member states. On the contrary, the United Kingdom wants the European Union to succeed and prosper. Instead, the referendum was a vote to restore, as we see it, our national self-determination. We are leaving the European Union, but we are not leaving Europe – and we want to remain committed partners and allies to our friends across the continent.
Earlier this month, the United Kingdom Parliament confirmed the result of the referendum by voting with clear and convincing majorities in both of its Houses for the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill. The Bill was passed by Parliament on 13 March and it received Royal Assent from Her Majesty The Queen and became an Act of Parliament on 16 March.
Today, therefore, I am writing to give effect to the democratic decision of the people of the United Kingdom. I hereby notify the European Council in accordance with Article 50(2) of the Treaty on European Union of the United Kingdom’s intention to withdraw from the European Union. In addition, in accordance with the same Article 50(2) as applied by Article 106a of the Treaty Establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, I hereby notify the European Council of the United Kingdom’s intention to withdraw from the European Atomic Energy Community. References in this letter to the European Union should therefore be taken to include a reference to the European Atomic Energy Community.

60 thoughts on “Tee Hee”

  1. As for the people of Europe–even the cowardly cucks–God Bless them. They’ll need it if they are fool enough to stick with the scum of the EU.

    To Europe’s political/bureaucratic dross and esp to the vile scum of Brussels apparatchiks–go straight to Hell and take all of your lying, sanctimonious bullshit with you.

    Ta-Ra.

  2. I read the letter earlier and thought it really rather well phrased.

    Re. Tusk’s “miss you already”… err, miss our money already, you mean…

  3. @Steve – is your schadenboner as tumescent as mine on this fine, fine day, that shall forever be known as Freedom Friday but still on a Wednesday?

  4. I’m impressed she has managed to get this far although I notice that there is now talk of ‘being able to change our minds’ from some Europeans before we actually leave.

  5. No date. Too informal. Too friendly.

    That letter might have been ok if it had ended with a nice Bricktopian, “Now fuck off.”

  6. European Atomic Energy Community

    Interesting that Switzerland participates in Euratom programmes as an associate member. There might be an element of the letter we go back on, in that case.

  7. PJF

    She didn’t need to put a date in, it’s automatic. Two years to the day after the date of the letter: 29 March 2019.

  8. Gamecock – I don’t think they did (did they?). Article 50 was only added in 2007 in the Lisbon Treaty. Neither the Treaty of Rome that formed the EEC nor the Maastricht treaty that formed the EU had escape clauses, AFAIAA.

  9. Recusant, that’s the soonest. The other side is talking 2022, with us grovelling in the meantime.

    I’ll believe it when I see it, and will celebrate when we’re out.

  10. I voted remain (not a popular thing round here I note) bit obviously respect the result and knew this day was coming.

    This beget be a bloody success or I will be a me cheesed off!

  11. There are at least 9 self-governing entities in northern and western Europe that are not EU members. All have better scores on quality and material life indicators than their EU neighbours.
    My only fear is that the Conservatives here are uniquely able to feck it up, but the averages are in our favour.

  12. Charlie Suet,

    Re rejoining European Atomic Energy Community,

    No, let’s not pour more money into the endless pit which is Nuclear Fusion technology.

    As for ordinary nuclear (fission) energy, I haven’t seen much of that lately either. We’re still awaiting first concrete on Hinkley Point C.

  13. Did read somewhere that they only added the out clauses because with EU expansion there was concern of a dictatorial government in a EU country and they wanted to ability to kick them out, didn’t think it would be used to voluntarily leave

  14. PJF, no the two years is a maximum; we could leave earlier. The negotiating period can be extended beyond two years, but that requires the consent of all of the EU27 and I’m pretty sure that by then at least one of them will just want it over with.

  15. Shame it isn’t October. European Independence Day would be a good new bank holiday if in the autumn. We already have too many in the spring.

  16. This is not the end.

    This is not even the beginning of the end.

    But it might be the end of the beginning.

    The Remainiacs will dog this process the whole way, always looking to yank us off the bike and tear the whole thing to shreds.

    Make no mistake, the process will continue to be under existential threat as long as they sniff even the remotest chance of overturning the result without riots in the street.

  17. Jolly good, the deed is done. Let’s leave the EU as we (that’s me and the rest of you) voted.
    Now I just hope that the un-informed idiots of our govt somehow can salvage what looks like being a multiple-plane-crash-brexit. They were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off – crashing into customs gridlock as we suddenly become a “Third Country” wasn’t on the ballot paper. Me – I’d prefer the EEA/EFTA path as a good stepping stone that avoids this (see Flexcit for details).
    It’s been said that civilization is only three food less days from riot. I’d prefer not to test this, but the upside would be to see the tumbrels as they pass. It will of course be worse for you townies 😉

  18. Have opened old bottle of gran reserva rioja and am sipping a glass in celebration and to toast those who campaigned so hard and so long for this.

    @Andrew M
    “No, let’s not pour more money into the endless pit which is Nuclear Fusion technology.”
    I am reliably informed by someone who was very involved and a very eminent scientist (promise it’s reliable) that this is feasible. We are now hiring engineers after the “proof of concept stage” which did seem to take several eons.

    I asked him whether we were talking 10 years or a hundred before we had a fusion reactor attached to the National Grid and he said “much less than a hundred and definitely more than 10. Probably 20 to 25.”
    That’s worth some funding IMHO.

  19. The Inimitable Steve

    Komment Macht Frei is gorgeous today.

    Some guy with the silly name of Chakrabotty suggesting/hoping the EU will stop us signing a trade deal with the USA or Australia.

    Polly’s predictable post-prandial projectile prattle.

    The “Reverend” Giles Fraser – who looks like an Operation Yewtree suspect – snarking bitchily and most un-Christianlike at the Prime Minister.

    Wee Angela McKrankel herself muttering some sort of Irn-Bru-fuelled jibberish about something or other.

    Trebles and Tena Lady all round!

  20. So Much For Subtlety

    Charlie Suet – “Interesting that Switzerland participates in Euratom programmes as an associate member. There might be an element of the letter we go back on, in that case.”

    Britain already has nuclear weapons. Doesn’t need to be a member. Switzerland is allegedly a member of the “three screws away” club in that they could be a member of the nuclear weapons club by this time tomorrow if they wanted.

  21. I don`t object to your small minded ignorant own-anus- licking triumphalism. I just don`t see why I should pay for your mistake. We will spend the next two years discussing trade in an environment ( one or two ‘characters’ aside ) no-one actually trading wanted to touch with a barge pole .
    Did I say discussing ? Well how much do you discuss whose seat on the train it is with someone ten times your size
    They can destroy this country merely by waiting , we can do them little harm and after a poisonous anti Europe lying racist flavoured moron fest of a referendum I think we may be a tad short of chums . What you think they weren’t listening ?

  22. Bob Grahame
    March 29, 2017 at 4:49 pm

    =====================

    Thx for info. I had assumed it was designed in.

  23. Being ignorant, I turned to Wikipedia to see what the European Atomic Energy Community actually does.

    Wikipedia has a section titled “Achievements” which I quote in full.

    “In the history of European regulation, Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty represents pioneering legislation concerning binding transfrontier obligations with respect to environmental impact and protection of humans.”

    Given that it’s been in existence for 60 years, am I wrong to feel underwhelmed?

  24. So Much For Subtlety

    Paul Carlton – “Given that it’s been in existence for 60 years, am I wrong to feel underwhelmed?”

    That is not fair. They also played a role in giving Dutch uranium centrifuge technology to Pakistan.

  25. They can destroy this country merely by waiting

    Who is “they”?

    We have a 27 billion trade deficit with Germany, for example. Were “they” to destroy the UK, this would mean considerable damage to the German economy. And that, of course, is just the deficit.

    You seem to have a much dimmer view of Europeans than I do: I’m pretty certain that the end result will be okay for both sides, if only because the alternative will be bad for both sides.

  26. I see Professor Spud is back with :
    A) one of his crappy venn diagrams (basically 2 circles) re Article 50
    B) Some old bollocks re Gers.

    I must desist from visiting that site – It’s bad for my blood pressure .

  27. Whoever upthread was cracking open the Rioja – don’t put a dent in the cellar. Unless they get the customs and excise rules sorted in double quick time, it will be a hell of a lot more expensive in a few years time.

    I’m all for Brexit and I’m aware the Italians and French won’t want to lose the huge amounts they export to us, but between incompetent UK civil servants and vindictive EU officials, it has the potential to be an almighty balls up

  28. “I don`t object to your small minded ignorant own-anus- licking triumphalism. I just don`t see why I should pay for your mistake. ”

    Does the same run when your lot vote for higher taxes on anyone else who actually does some work and makes some money? Can we all just ignore democratic votes we don’t like the outcome of? Fine by me, that means I can ignore everything the UK public keep voting for that I disagree with, which is a lot. I think I’ll start by not paying any taxes for the State education system, having no kids, and no taxes for the pension system, I’ll sort my own, and no taxes for the welfare system(ditto). With hardly any effort I’ll get my tax bill down into low 4 figures, defence and the police don’t cost much.

    This is fun.

  29. “Whoever upthread was cracking open the Rioja – don’t put a dent in the cellar. Unless they get the customs and excise rules sorted in double quick time, it will be a hell of a lot more expensive in a few years time.”

    And why pray should that be? Do we have a domestic industry that we have to protect with tariffs, or could we not get by with lower duties than the EU external tariffs?

  30. As an actual street campaigner for the cross-party Leave.EU campaign I must admit that I thought this day would never come and that we would be trapped in the hegemony of the Franco-German union until it collapsed in on itself or broke into open warfare.

    To be able to leave on the basis of a democratic vote and a 6 page letter of intent to disolve our partnership is actually quite refreshing.

    Can it be stopped, fucked up or undermined by traitors within and enemies without? Sure it can and it is against that that we must be both vigilant and wrathful.

    Have no issue with those who voted remain. Indeed with many I completely understood their fears and concerns.

    The ones I take issue with are those like Tim Farron and Labour, who are arguing for conditions that are a retention of our EU membership in all but name.

    Those swines new to be swatted down at every opportunity.

  31. Poor Violet Elizabeth Newremaniac, curled up in the foetal position sucking his thumb because we, the people, voted to leave a club that only wanted us as a member because we paid more in fees than anyone else. You do know you don’t have to stay in the UK. If you want, there are 27 other countries you can migrate to if it is the warm fluffy cocoon of EU bureaucracy you prefer.

    70 years ago, I suspect that there were similar Newremanias cowering under their beds at night worried that the nasty Mr. Churchill had doomed us all.

  32. Shame it isn’t October. European Independence Day would be a good new bank holiday if in the autumn. We already have too many in the spring.

    June 23rd, or the nearest Thursday to it. A lovely day off in the middle of summer. Remoaners can choose to work that day if they wish, or enjoy it with gritted teeth.

    It could be called “Independence Day” or something, the American reference alone will give at least a dozen Remoaners a stroke.

  33. Article 50 was inserted into the Lisbon Treaty because without it countries signing it were irrevocably transferring sovereign power to the EU and some of the countries (specifically the UK) had existing rules that required a referendum if that was to be the case.

    Article 50 allowed Gordon Brown to claim that the UK was losing no sovereignty as we could leave anytime and so did not require a referendum (that they wouldn’t win), he sloped off after tea one night and signed it before anybody had the chance to object.

    Article 50 was badly written because it was assumed it would never be invoked (there is no mention of revocabilitly), it simply states

    1. Any Member State may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements.

    2. A Member State which decides to withdraw shall notify the European Council of its intention. In the light of the guidelines provided by the European Council, the Union shall negotiate and conclude an agreement with that State, setting out the arrangements for its withdrawal, taking account of the framework for its future relationship with the Union. That agreement shall be negotiated in accordance with Article 218(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. It shall be concluded on behalf of the Union by the Council, acting by a qualified majority, after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament.

    3. The Treaties shall cease to apply to the State in question from the date of entry into force of the withdrawal agreement or, failing that, two years after the notification referred to in paragraph 2, unless the European Council, in agreement with the Member State concerned, unanimously decides to extend this period.

    4. For the purposes of paragraphs 2 and 3, the member of the European Council or of the Council representing the withdrawing Member State shall not participate in the discussions of the European Council or Council or in decisions concerning it.

    A qualified majority shall be defined in accordance with Article 238(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

    5. If a State which has withdrawn from the Union asks to rejoin, its request shall be subject to the procedure referred to in Article 49.

  34. Henry Crun: Back 70 years ago NewRemainia would have been painting his face with a red, white and black swastika.

    Or likely he wouldn’t because in those good old days such a traitor as he would have got the hanging he so richly deserves.

  35. “Practical Fusion power has been 10 years away for the past 50 years.”

    That was certainly the case 30 years ago when I went to school not far from the JET lab at Culham, and would often be regaled by science teachers about how its was going to provide limitless energy within a couple of decades.

  36. @Bigfire and @Chris Newman
    re practical fusion-I know, I know. They’ve been talking bollocks about this forever BUT we have never been hiring engineers to work on it before.
    They have performed repeated test runs with positive net energy output (the energy generated exceeded the enormous amounts to heat up to plasma temperatures (c20 milion kelvin) and to run the magnetic containment “bottles”). That wasn’t true 10 years ago.
    Amazingly, I am told that they think the biggest problem is what to make the (physical) walls out of!

    @Pablito and AlexM Re Rioja- I’m with AlexM, it’s entirely up to us, not the EU, how much duty we put on it. It’s f***ing enormous already and I don’t see any reason for it to increase. I know Pablito is not actually saying otherwise but for today I shall remain confident until I see it all go t*ts up.

  37. The Inimitable Steve said: “Some guy with the silly name of Chakrabotty suggesting/hoping the EU will stop us signing a trade deal with the USA or Australia.”

    This is similar to one of the things that the Treasury’s predictions included, without ever explaining the mechanism for it. That despite the UK having left, the EU would somehow be able to damage our prospects of making trade deals with others.

  38. Re The Rioja. British supermarkets hoover up the stuff. The largest customers they have. The prices will change but not because of Brexit, but due to good years, bad years, super harvests, low harvests..

    We (the UK) are the ones who will put tariffs on it in the future (or not). There’s a chance there for a future government to ensure my vote if I ever return 🙂

    Incidentally, Spain is currently the most interesting country in the world regarding innovation and variety in wine. Spectacular, truly spectacular.

    You could spend a very alcoholic 12 months doing the rounds and learning about wine. Even the old areas which used to produce diluted redberry juice for €0.60 a litre are now producing incredible wines. The posh ones are increasing their prices, but we still have fantastic bargains that will tickle your fancy.

    And the EU is going to make the producers lose money but saying they have to sell more expensively to the UK? I don’t think so.

  39. The Inimitable Steve

    Gareth – mebbe Donald Tusk will phone up Australia and tell them we no longer care for HOME AND AWAY, or something.

  40. AlexM, Clovis Sangrail and bilbaoboy – on any wine imported into the UK from outside the EU, customs duty is levied as well as the already enormous UK excise duty rates and VAT.

    Yes, this is an EU customs duty and it would be entirely possible (and logical and good for business) for us to drop it on all wine imports once we leave. But do you think the Treasury is likely to follow that route or see a chance to grab a bit more cash and extend the duty charge to cover all imports? I’m not hopeful that they will follow the sensible route.

    But added to government imposed costs are the costs of actually importing the wines. It is currently exceptionally easy and quick to import wine from the EU and there are no customs controls imposed at the ports – unlike for wines imported from the rest of the world.

    Quite apart from the disastrous effect suddenly imposed customs controls on all imports would have on UK ports, there would be the added costs of the extra red tape that importers would have to deal with. The margins in the UK wine industry are not large and any increase in costs would have to be passed to customers.

    All of this is eminently avoidable but as I said, between incompetence and vindictiveness, I am not optimistic about what will happen. Tough times ahead for the UK booze business. (Probably a good time for bootleggers though…)

    Bilbaoboy – yes Spanish wine is in a fantastic place at the moment, realising that they can do quality and value at the same time. Very exciting stuff.

  41. ‘The Inimitable Steve said: “Some guy with the silly name of Chakrabotty suggesting/hoping the EU will stop us signing a trade deal with the USA or Australia.”’

    During the exit period the UK is still a member of the EU and cannot sign any trade deals, once the UK leaves it can sign anything with anybody.

    This does not prevent the UK negotiating deals in the intervening period but any deals cannot be officially signed into action until the UK is officially out.

    (channeling Humphrey there)

  42. PeteC,

    ‘Have you any recommendations for wineries to visit, please?’

    Plan a long stay and visit all of them 🙂

  43. @ Newmania
    I am quite happy to give up a seat on the train to someone who is one-tenth of my size because I assume that he/she needs the rest and comfort more than I.
    I doubt that anyone ten times my size could get on a train, but if he/she did and wanted to push the kid out I should tell him/her not to do so. And if he or her partner wanted to apply violence that would just make my reply somewhat emphatic.
    Two or three guys have bust their fists hitting me – which proves I’m British – but I’ve never run away.
    You really don’t understand the British!
    I actually voted “Remain” – so your attempt to blame me for what you think is a disaster is inappropriate – but I am a democrat (small ‘d’) so I accept the decision of the majority.

  44. PeteC

    BobRocket says it. The country is split into official regions (not coinciding in many cases with adminstrative regions). Look up a list of the Denominaciones de Origen and get working on internet. That is part o the pleasure.

    All regions are doing good stuff. Depending on time available you can further. Internet is the way to go. Cataluña, Ribera del Duero, Bierzo the list is interminable. Many bodegas are set up for visits and more and more have hotels.

    The Rioja is good for a short visit. Fly to Bilbao, we are less than two hours away by car. Perhaps for wine tourists the most developed. The countryside is spectacular and somewhat brutal. You have the biggest wine museum in Spain set up by the wholesaler Vivanco who now markets his own wines. Not my favourites but…

    Also try this page. A list of bodegas to visit in the Rioja: http://visitabodegasrioja.com/bodegas/
    And they are not all there. You want the Guggenheim of wine:
    http://www.marquesderiscal.com

    Bodegas Palacio (lovely rural hotel). Bought a barrel with some mates and 4 years later the cases bowled up at home!

    Try Campillo, CVNE (includes Contino their special viña del Olivo spectacular)….

    When driving round Spain the local tourist office can push you in the right direction.

    I stop off and even in the dodgiest looking place in the south I find a family bodega selling fino at bargain prices. Galicia, Castilla, Somantano in the lower Pyrenees, Navarra, Valencia. I even found a fantastic wine from the Balearic Islands. Drank it and can’t remember the name.

    Have fun studying up and make a trip. You won’t go wrong.

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