Skip to content

How much better to be out

Boris Johnson has become “privately infuriated” with what he sees as the EU’s attempts to frustrate a comprehensive free trade deal, the Sunday Telegraph can reveal.

The Prime Minister believes Brussels has unilaterally been “changing the terms” of the deal he agreed last year, when both sides set out to work towards an ambitious and deep trade agreement.

If we were still in then we’d be bound, still, by their change in the rules. As we were, when we were in.

Now we’re out we have a veto….

39 thoughts on “How much better to be out”

  1. The EU has made it perfectly clear that they would rather commit ritual suicide on live television than give the UK a fair deal. Why is that so hard to understand?

  2. Some Brits need to be brought to that idea slowly via kabuki theatre.

    We should offer an instant trade deal to anyone who is thinking of leaving. Loudly!!!!

  3. So Boris is infuriated, well the proof of the pudding is the end result, we shall see if ‘infuriated’ has the balls to do what is good for the country or just hide behind a poorly negotiated agreement and say “I tried”, somehow I fear the latter, he will do a May and “seek no advantage” he is only a leaver for the purposes of self aggrandisement.

  4. It would have been interesting – actually, it would have been the whole point of the article, to say what terms the EU was changing, and how, and why, but no such luck. I like the noises he’s making, though: WTO is fine, but be open to getting better terms if possible.

  5. There’s plenty of coverage in the Sundays to suggest that the government’s resolve is strong and, if anything, hardening in the face of EU intransigence (golly!) and bad faith (gosh!).

  6. It appears on the surface that the EU is reneging on it’s own political agreement (in spirit, if not in actuality yet), which is pretty shabby, even for the EU.

    Hopefully, Boris can see that there is plenty of support (especially in his newly conquered Northern constituencies), for poking the EU in the eye if they try to undermine the UK’s hard won independence with the canards of regulatory alignment (i.e. dragging us down with them) or ECJ oversight.

    Sure, Boris’ would betray us if he could, but he’s vain and loves the popularity (as we’ve always known), if pissing in Macron/Merkel’s soup is what is most popular, then that is what will be done.

  7. Not sure if this is a minor or a major point, but Nigel Farage declared he was against a ‘level playing field’. I’m surprised he accepts the term because it carries with it an implication that’s the fair and proper arrangement. In fact you don’t actually need a level playing field to be fair if you switch ends at half time. So we need a better term for European firms playing in the UK market and UK firms playing in the EU market.

  8. “So we need a better term for European firms playing in the UK market and UK firms playing in the EU market.”

    A better phrase than ‘level playing field’ would be ‘one size fits all’. Everyone understands that the best things are the ones that are tailored for your personal needs, thats why off the peg suits are cheap and Savile Row is expensive. Any politicians declaring ‘I’m against one size fits all’ would get approving nods from the audience.

  9. Sure, but the off-the-peg suit that looks good on me would look shit on a bear.

    The problem with all of this is that the EU regulatory “permit Raj” is simply incompatible with the way that the British have traditionally done business and especially the way we intend to do it in the future.

    Now, sure, Boris could be an idiot and do what Treason May intended to do which is BRINO and hammer in a square peg into a round hole whether it likes it or not. The difficulty here is that the constituency of people in favour of that don’t like (and will never vote) for Boris and/or the Tories.

    So, given that any PM’s focus is on his current popularity and winning the next election (the two being pretty interconnected), I suspect that Boris will want to hold onto those Northern constituencies that lofted him into power last December and doing a May style BRINO won’t retain or extend Boris’ majority.

    So this is where Boris turns to Dominic Cummings and asks the two most pertinent questions:
    1. How do we retain the Northern constituencies?
    2. What wedge issues will push the “Don’t Knows” who didn’t vote in 2019 into voting Tory in 2024?

    So, while a trade deal is important, not being fucked over by the French is even more important. Somehow Boris needs to find a balance that evaded (deliberately or otherwise) Treason May and her team.

    I remain hopeful, but vigilant.

  10. @Itellyounothing agree wholeheartedly…

    “‘ Empathy for independent Scotland joining the EU says Tusk”

    It seems the EU are already playing that game…

  11. Jim- I like it but that saville row expensive connotation is unfortunate for a neutral analogy. Could maybe refer to it as the non-compete clause but that doesn’t get to the heart of it either.

  12. “‘ Empathy for independent Scotland joining the EU says Tusk”

    Using weasel words to avoid being accused of interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation and equally, pissing off the EU countries struggling against their own resurgent independence movements (France, Spain et al).

    What a cunt. Is that Polish arrest warrant still outstanding?

    https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/poland-files-charges-against-tusk-before-eu-celebrations-1.3022479

  13. ‘Boris Johnson has become “privately infuriated”’

    Then how could you know that?

    ‘with what he sees as the EU’s attempts to frustrate a comprehensive free trade deal’

    Oxymoron. ‘Comprehensive’ and ‘free’ can’t go together.

    A free trade deal:

    “Y’all can trade with each other.”

  14. The ‘deal’ the EU is offering involves the privileges that Canada has with the responsibilities that Norway has.

  15. ‘Boris Johnson has become “privately infuriated”’

    Translation: “The Sauron-like gaze of Dominic Cummings has moved from how to enable BRExit to how to deal with the EU during trade negotiations.”.

    As The Simpson’s character Mr. Burns would say “Excellent!”.

  16. Gamecock: exactly! “free” trade “deal” is oxymoronic. If you’re trading through a deal, it’s not free trade. If it’s free trade, it’s trade without deals. Free trade with the EU is the simple declaration “The UK government shall not stop any UK consumer from buying any EU goods that would be legal here”.

  17. Dennis, He Who Made His High School Typing Team

    wEars Newmania shudnt hebeHEar to explainto US stoopid PEEplethatits tHE eu THAt shood beemad &^.

  18. Bloke in North Dorset

    WTO is fine, but be open to getting better terms if possible.

    We should be careful what we wish for. The WTO is in serious trouble because the USA is refusing to appoint appeals judges (It predates Trump) and its slowly grinding to a halt.

    Its still better than rolling over to let the EU tickle our tums, for now.

  19. ‘Free trade deal’ is easier to sell than, “We’re going to take over everything!”

    Some years ago, California re-regulated its energy industries. The legislature called it ‘deregulation.’ When the law crapped up everything, the press announced:

    “DEREGULATION DOESN’T WORK!”

  20. Dennis, Tiresome Denizen of Central Ohio

    Probably the best thing Boris could do right now is take Trump up on his offer of a new trade deal with the USA. I think it would give him leverage… and Trump would be more than happy to give him a very good deal, as he wouldn’t mind sticking it to the EU himself.

  21. Says something about the EU that they feel the need to play these public media games over a trade deal, guess when your a politician everything is political.
    Now we have actually left will be interesting to see if the non-hardcore remainers attitude switch to be less pro-EU as it’s a case of it’s done now may as well get in with things.
    No doubt the pollsters and media will be focusing on ‘remorse’ reactions than anything else though to try and keep remain/rejoin support high

  22. Dennis,

    We will have to see how Boris trying to be all things to all men regarding Huawei will be viewed by DJT. I doubt if it has helped.

  23. We will have to see how Boris trying to be all things to all men regarding Huawei will be viewed by DJT. I doubt if it has helped.

    It depends. Maybe it is a negotiating chip to be given away as required?

  24. Dennis, Etc., Etc., Etc.

    We will have to see how Boris trying to be all things to all men regarding Huawei will be viewed by DJT. I doubt if it has helped.

    You are right. It hasn’t helped. But it will not stand in the way of a trade deal… Especially a trade deal that will (1) enhance the prestige of both BJ and DT, (2) slap the face of the EU (both BJ and DT would enjoy), (3) give DT all the more ammunition for November, and (4) give BJ breathing room to bitch-slap EU obstructionists. Huawei is an irritant, not a deal killer.

  25. Boris agrees to sell the UK mobile network to Huargh! and we immedately get struck down by Chinese Flue! Blond Man Bad!!!

  26. …I mean. Who really gives a shit about Huawei?

    The Chinese government obviously and mobile phone companies wanting cheap technology (CCP backdoors or not), but they have no leverage over Boris*, so if he gives up Huawei as the price of a US trade deal, everybody wins. Right?

    …except the Chinese…and they have enough problems of their own to worry about…

    * – …or do they?

  27. In the last few months, the EU have got new MEPs, new Commissioners, several new Presidents – yet the apparatchiks responsible for the negotiations (Barmier et al) remain exactly the same. Which should tell anyone all they need to know about the democratic nature of the EU beast.

  28. Bloke in North Dorset

    Boris Johnson has become “privately infuriated”

    Wouldn’t it be nice to live in a world where politicians think what they think and think what they say.

  29. Bloke in North Dorset

    You are right. It hasn’t helped. But it will not stand in the way of a trade deal… Especially a trade deal that will (1) enhance the prestige of both BJ and DT, (2) slap the face of the EU (both BJ and DT would enjoy), (3) give DT all the more ammunition for November, and (4) give BJ breathing room to bitch-slap EU obstructionists. Huawei is an irritant, not a deal killer.

    Good point Dennis, who used to be a peasant

  30. In the last few months, the EU have got new MEPs, new Commissioners, several new Presidents – yet the apparatchiks responsible for the negotiations (Barmier et al) remain exactly the same. Which should tell anyone all they need to know about the democratic nature of the EU beast.

    …it closely resembles the UK Civil Service?

  31. @John Galt February 2, 2020 at 12:45 pm

    +1

    @Rabid Mickey

    “‘Empathy for independent Scotland joining the EU says Tusk” on Marr

    Spain being encouraged to support: EU to give Gibraltar to Spain (Telegraph)

    @Theo

    +1 but you omitted “many more” before “responsibilities”

    @Dennis February 2, 2020 at 5:02 pm

    +10

  32. Article continues

    In a speech to business leaders, ambassadors and think tank representatives in London, he [Johnson] will say the UK must be treated as an “equal” and make clear there will be “no alignment, no jurisdiction of the European courts, and no concessions” with Brussels.

    The speech will come just as EU leaders set out their draft strategy ahead of a tense 11 months of negotiations before the post-Brexit implementation period agreed between London and Brussels comes to an end on Dec 31.

    Andrew Marr | Dominic Raab : Making the UK follow EU rules after trade deal ‘just ain’t happening’
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4G2rkyaQXw

    Nigel Farage – BBC’s Andrew Marr Show – The Papers – 02-02-2020
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMkAdHyNk-4

    Donald Tusk on The Andrew Marr Show – 2/2/20
    ‘Empathy for independent Scotland joining the EU says Tusk”
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfoYNC56Ve0

    McDonnell on The Andrew Marr Show has a dig at SNP’s Indy Ref whining
    https://youtu.be/-8hFfLYDBao?t=3063

    imo EU can FO and UK go unilateral free trade. If EU tries to block this – UK declares war and nukes Belgium & Germany

    Yes, I’m angry – 3 1/2 years after Ref and still same crap

  33. Anna February 2, 2020 at 10:38 pm

    h*tps://payforessay.n*t – the best helper for student that shoul do a lot of hometask. It help you with writing essay

    ROFL

    @Tim W

    A result from your spam seo articles, congrats

  34. Yes, I’m angry – 3 1/2 years after Ref and still same crap

    As for BBC/C4 etc, utterly contemptible

    BBC etc Refuse to transmit PM’s address to the nation

    Broadcasters have been accused of underplaying the significance of Brexit night after refusing to broadcast the Prime Minister’s address to the nation.

    BBC and ITN’s main bulletins failed to show Boris Johnson’s three-minute broadcast – in which he said that Brexit Day marked the “dawn of a new era”, providing Britain with a “moment of real national renewal and change” – preferring to run only short clips of it as part of their live coverage.

    That prompted anger within the Conservative party and among Leave supporters, who accused the BBC and other broadcasters of ‘Remainer bias’.

    Tory sources are furious at the BBC’s handling of the evening, claiming it showed an in-built left-wing bias among the corporation’s senior managers against Brexit.

    One senior Conservative source said: “Only the BBC could have a special programme on Brexit where the studio is emblazoned with EU colours, they refuse to run the PM’s address, get to Brexit 15 mins in then go to Farage, Widdecombe and a load of Remainers”
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/02/01/broadcasters-accused-bias-against-brexit-day-celebrations/

    Boris Johnson’s Brexit Address to the Nation | This is not an end, but a beginning
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdYNcv-chgY

  35. ‘The speech will come just as EU leaders set out their draft strategy ahead of a tense 11 months of negotiations before the post-Brexit implementation period agreed between London and Brussels comes to an end on Dec 31.’

    Tense? Why tense?

    ‘a tense 11 months of negotiations’ is a ploy. Don’t let the EU set the tone. No pressure. No tension. Agree to meet with them from 2 to 4 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

    And everyone in Britain should be reminding Boris that you can’t negotiate unless you are prepared to walk away.

  36. Not content with refusing to air PM Johnson’s Brexit address to the nation, BBC doubles down by lying to children

    A new chapter in the BBC’s horrible history

    Have Al-Beeb decided it’s game-over and going full on anti-UK before BoJo bins them?

    The BBC needs a kick up its sagging Reithian posterior for this kind of thing

    – History lesson: it took many decades for Brits to smuggle out a China tea-plant that survived weeks on a ship down rivers then over sea to India iirc a glass terrarium was solution

    Worth keeping an eye on:
    TCW’s https://conservativewoman.co.uk/tcws-brexit-watch-2/Brexit watch
    Telegraph not happy Boris is (pretending?) to stand up to EU

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *