My belated condolences. I always enjoyed reading his posts and will miss his insight and wide ranging views. May hew…
The Brexit betrayal.
There’s a proposed deal with the EU to implement the results of the Brexit referendum, and it’s essentially the complete opposite to the will of the voters as expressed in that referendum.
What’s so bad about the supposed Brexit which was negotiated with the EU by Theresa May?
- If the so-called deal is ratified, the UK will have no future legal way of disentangling itself from EU laws and regulations unless the EU agrees to it. This non-bilateral clause to the deal is a unique type of agreement within the EU. Essentially, the UK is still in the EU for all intents and purposes, and there’s no way out.
- It keeps all the EU import tariffs to the UK in place, which nullifies any chance of negotiating any trade deals with countries outside the EU. Why should they grant us tariff-free access to their markets while the UK is still imposing EU tariffs to their exports into the UK?
- There is a “transition” period until the phony Brexit comes into force, but during it, all EU laws and directives will remain in full force.
- There is no legally binding end date to the transition period anyway, so the UK could still be inside the EU and bound by its rules indefinitely.
- If a deal is ratified then at the end of the transition period to completion, the UK is prohibited from any involvement in the ‘the nomination, appointment or election of members of the institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the Union, as well as the participation in the decision-making and the attendance in the meetings of the institutions’. Yes, you read that one correctly. Basically, the UK will have absolutely no control over their laws or economy; that’ll all still reside with the unelected faceless bureaucrats in Brussels.
- The judgments and laws of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) will continue to overrule the local UK courts and legislation both throughout the transition period and even after it. Since the UK will not be allowed to appoint any people to the ECJ, the UK will become a country legally dominated by a foreign organisation they have no representation in.
- The UK will continue to make contributions to the EU, again, during and after the transition period.
Call that a Brexit, never mind a fair deal?
Over seventeen million people voted to leave the EU, and they knew exactly what that meant; no more control over their country by unelected foreign bodies, the removal of restrictions to trade with the rest of the world, to be governed by their own laws rather than the ECJ and to have control over who can settle legally in the country. In contrast, a cursory glance over the bullet points above vividly nails the deception perpetrated by Theresa May in her bad faith negotiations, not with the EU, but on behalf of her own people whom she’d promised a fair Brexit deal.
What was actually delivered was a travesty of Brexit, and the only rational explanation was that it was done deliberately by May and her Remainer fellow traitors, in the expectation it could be rammed through Parliament while at the same time presented to her electorate as a good deal. That may or may not happen, but one thing’s for sure – she’ll not win the next general election and a lot of Tory MPs who vote for it, will be leaving Westminster for good at the next election.
The amount of raw naked anger in the country about this “deal” is palpable.
To get it through Parliament, she might not scrape together enough votes from her own party, so she might have to go on bended knee to the socialist crazies of the opposition to cadge enough votes to get her over the line, but they won’t give her that for nothing. Other imponderables include the position of Northern Ireland after this deal, as well as Spain going to use a territorial claim on Gibraltar to get their support for it.
If the deal does get through a parliamentary vote, then a lot of the Conservative Party’s voters will never vote for them again. I saw one poll asking people if they’d be switching parties at the next election. Of the people who said yes, they’d be switching votes, 94% were from Conservative to UKIP. If that switch vote is accurate, and my feeling on the ground is that it is, then it means the death of the Conservative Party for a generation or more.
There is a broad spectrum of outrage about what May’s pretending is a real Brexit, and it runs from the wry acknowledgement that in the end the establishment managed to undermine the expressed will of the people, to calling her an outright traitor and meaning it.
She’s handed the ruling of the country over to foreigners in the shape of the EU, but most particularly the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whom everybody knows actually runs the EU. Macron is merely her poodle.
A previous German Chancellor tried that one out for size, and in the end got nowhere. He and all his massed forces of the Wehrmacht couldn’t break down the kingdom’s walls and achieve their dream of goose-stepping down the Mall with him in front.
May, the traitor trusted with the keys to the city gates, has just opened the gates wide and welcomed them in.
©Pointman
Pointman's 
Nobody ever claimed that leaving the EU was going to be pretty or easy, after 40 or so years of being handcuffed to this monstrosity that makes our laws and tells us what we can and cannot do, this is not something that can be easily undone.
Most of us accepted the legitimacy of the dreadful Blair and Brown because we lost elections. We saw this as the price of democracy and it was a high one. Similarly the Remoaners have to accept the result. I’m sure they hate it with all their heart. They bang on and on about how we are a caring liberal, progressive democracy, that one of those hallmarks is tolerance, then this result is one that they have to tolerate because if they don’t, all tolerance will evaporate, and fast.
We, in this country operate by consent, by consent to be governed, and by mutual consent, that we obey the rules of our society. Ignore a vote, the largest vote in British political history, then the contract of consent is broken. It will be a genie that you cannot put back in the bottle. It will be an opening of Pandora’s box.
Politicians are rightly regarded as duplicitous, mendacious, and underhand. Should they fail to do their duty, and with outside interference by people like Soros, and engineer a 2nd vote that keeps us in by a narrow margin, do you really think they are going to offer us another referendum?. If you answered “No”, then that tells you all you need to know about them and about the EU.
No matter how hard, or for how long they try to suppress our vote, no matter what treachery they commit to keep us shackled to the EU corpse, they will never be able to keep a lid on it. it will fester and suppurate beneath the surface with the pressure slowly but surely building, until finally it explodes. They do not want to discover what happens when you commit such treachery. They will only then realise, albeit too late, why you have to respect a democratic vote. They are going to pay for this unless they vote this terrible deal down and get rid of the Maybot.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Friendly correction: “this monstrosity that makes our laws and tells us what we can and cannot do” _and_think.
Once again we hear politicians say that “there is no alternative” to this “brexit”.
LikeLike
If this is the best deal that the Conservatives can do, then it is time to dump them in the waste bin. Unfortunately the Labour Party would be worse as they are attracted to vast dictatorial bureaucracies.
What can the UK do? Under this deal the EU has made it impossible for them to get out, and you can expect that they will try and encourage opposition in Scotland and Ireland. The only way that I can see is for the government to call their bluff and go for a ‘hard Brexit’ on March 29, yet apparently the Civil Service is completely unprepared for that move. 2 years wasted.
Well, interesting times are coming. Good luck.
LikeLike
Sorry Graham, ignore the downvote. Fat finger problem on my iPhone!!
LikeLike
…..and for spelling your name wrong!
LikeLike
Now for Mrs May’s frantic fortnight of Brexit arm-twisting: Prime Minister offers Rebel MPs ‘sweeteners’ including peerages and changes to bills in bid to get her plan through Parliament
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6427659/Rebel-MPs-offered-peerages-Theresa-builds-votes-Brexit-deal.html
Win at all costs …
Pointman
LikeLike
Pointman…excellent article. I am angry beyond words at what Trait0r May has done to my native country.
Also, what happened to no taxation without representation?
Go UKIP, go.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is like Mayday for the UK.
LikeLike
Labour’s “six conditions” amount to much the same as May’s negotiated deal, given that being in “a customs union” (rather than “the customs union” would involve accepting the ECJ and total freedom of movement as well, since the EU have been insistent on not reliquishing or diluting any of the “four freedoms” that are enshrined in the EU. In fact, Mrs. May has managed to get the EU to bend more than I expected at the beginning of these negotiations. She probably feels she’s done a good job…. Labour would not have done as well, and we’d have been even worse off.
At the moment I’m assuming that parliament as a whole realises that this is the best deal that the EU will give, and will thus make a lot of noise and bluster and wave it through because otherwise there will be the No Deal scenario and there’s no way that anyone has prepared for that. They’ve prevaricated too long. As such, this deal kicks the can down the road a bit and seems to give more time to get a final deal. What they are missing is that the EU took 7 years to negotiate a trade deal with Canada, and there’s no incentive for the EU to rush on a new deal with the UK. They are also maybe missing that this deal says you can’t leave until the EU agrees to it, and there are 27 other countries who will each want their special pound of flesh. This deal means we’ll never leave the EU.
The EU could have been excellent if they’d left it at a free-trade area, which is what Britain voted in a referendum to join. The ever-closer-union has since been foisted on us by successive governments, without referenda and without many details. A true free-trade area would of necessity get closer regulations as to quality and customs over time. The problems come when you try to rush that slow natural change and make it happen in a few decades instead. Such a free-trade area would of itself reduce the likelihood of wars between the individual countries, which is why the EU was designed in the first place.
The élite making the rules of the EU are not elected by the people. We can’t un-elect them, deselect them or do anything else to get rid of people who do a bad job. Admittedly there’s not a lot of choice in Parliament either, but UKIP showed that there were alternatives.
Macron got voted in in France because he was different from the old tried-and-known-untrue politicians in France. He was the “none of the above” choice. It couldn’t be worse than Hollande, and mostly that’s still true. Still a problem that he knows he’s right and that everyone else is wrong (so yes, still a prat) but maybe he’ll listen in time. Trump got voted in for much the same reasons, but that’s working out a lot better for the USA – maybe because Trump actually does talk to the people in the street, and listens.
What happens next for the UK? All the main parties either say they want another referendum or that they don’t want a real brexit, so who’s going to get voted in? UKIP does seem to be full of loonies for the most part, and may not be competent enough to run a piss-up in a brewery.
I think that going to a full Brexit and WTO rules, and then having zero import tariffs, would be a good gambit. Saves a lot of problems at the borders – except for immigration, it’s all Somebody Elese’s Problem. If the people in the UK will buy it, you can sell it. It may need laws for meaningful descriptions of where the product was made and what’s in it (for example GMO corn, GMO soya beans, Palm Oil from anywhere, Chlorine-washed chicken, that sort of thing) so that the people can decide on whether they want to buy it, but that takes the decision from the governments to the people instead. With an immediate fall in food costs of around 8% I think the people might be somewhat pleased with a true Brexit, even if there are some downsides. You wouldn’t need the UK to have customs posts on the NI border for a start, since their stuff would be more expensive than ours. No smuggling in our direction, at least. If they want to put in border posts on their side, having said they really really don’t want that, then again that isn’t our problem.
Funny thing is that NI and Scotland (as areas) voted to stay in the EU. I’d say give them the option to change who rules them – personally I wouldn’t want to hold areas in that wanted to leave. These things will of course take a while to unwind everything if they went forward, but providing people understand the gains and losses of each choice, it should be a free choice. The English and Welsh, at least, wanted out of the whole EU mess. It may be a short-term loss of trade while we re-arrange things, but it’s a longer-term gain for the kids and it is of course all about who rules us. Do we want a distant faceless bureaucrat we’ll never know, or someone who lives down the road and gets his arse kicked when needed? I’d go for local every time. And maybe some large boots….
The thing is that a confederation of free states would be great. The problems come when you try to impose central control of everything, and try to become the USSE.
LikeLike
Your text, each of its paragraphs, tells _exactly_ what I think. Its is difficult for me to answer honestly the question, “what do you think of Brixit?”, as I am a citizen of another country and another cultural heritage: perhaps I can try, and this reasoning led me to the conclusions that you so clerly have exposed. Your picture of the EU institutions and its relations to the different nations is, I think, very accurate. And the non-elected bureaucracy is a matter of law, so it is not in our hands to change it (given the almost null power of the European Parliament).
The critical point is as you said: “The EU could have been excellent if they’d left it at a free-trade area, which is what Britain voted in a referendum to join. The ever-closer-union has since been foisted on us by successive governments, without referenda and without many details”. In my country there was no referendum, but what we joined, and what we thought we be beneficial and useful, was the EEC, not its later metamorphosis in the EU (and in my country we are still worse: the euro was adopted to replace our currency).
Thank you very much for your analysis, it is enlightening when all European mainstream media are constantly trying to endoctrinate us against any kind of Brexit, “soft” or “hard”. During last century, Britain rebuilt itself after two great wars: a peaceful separation from the EU most certainly would not be as destructive, even without any previous agreement.
LikeLike
UKIP seems presently overendowed with loonies, but there are still some sensible people working away. (I suspect other parties have their characters too, but get an easier ride from the MSM).
My hope is that if many people turn to UKIPnin despair, then the pool of sensible people will get much larger. The loonies can be swamped and marginalised, so that UKIP could become a real force.
LikeLike
Hotel Europe…Union:
“You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave.”
LikeLike
Pointman,
Theresa May brings to mind the image of an opportunistic weasel sniffing the wind, willing to say and do ‘whatever is necessary’ to further her malign agenda, relying on people having short memories.
As Home Secretary in 2015 she banned the use of water cannon bought by then Lord Mayor Boris Johnson to aid in riot control, citing the “British tradition of unarmed policing by consent.” She further reduced law enforcement efficacy by slashing the budgets of Police, Border Force and Customs, while ending police ’stop & search’ policies that have seen knife crime and the London body count soar to unprecedented levels. Meanwhile, current Mayor Sadiq Khan just sold those defunct water cannon for scrap at a net loss of more than £300,000, while wringing his hands and telling people to “run and hide” in the face of terrorist attack.
Policing by consent? In 2018 citizens across the country are BEGGING for some policing … ANY policing … to rid their streets of marauding gangs of thieves, rapists and murderers.
But that’s not all. “The baleful unintended consequences of Theresa May’s “hostile environment” regime for migrants continue to flow, and in the most dismal of ways … The idea that she and her advisers hatched was that making it more difficult, if not impossible, to see a doctor would deter migration.” https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/theresa-may-hostile-environment-home-office-immigration-a8314836.html
Now PM May personally blocks the granting of asylum to Christian Asia Bibi, even overruling the British Home Secretary Sajid Javid, who has said she should be offered refuge in the UK, but the PM doesn’t want to “inflame tensions” with British Muslims.
It seems that those who succeed Theresa May and have to clean up the mess she leaves in her wake resemble nothing more than the blokes who follow horse parades to sweep up the crap inevitably left behind. Does that make her a horse’s arse? The comparisons are endless.
May is a shallow shape-shifter, a reptile adept at camouflage, now busily trying to bribe MPs with peerages, lucrative seats on Boards and Quangos and by any other means at her disposal to corruptly carry her betrayal through the Parliament.
Trump was right – she’s a lousy faux negotiator who should have told Merkel, Macron et al to take a hike. British sovereignty in the interests of the British people, not to be lap dogs propping up the failures of the EU Socialist Cabal.
“They that sow the wind, shall reap the whirlwind”. Sadly, it’s the British people who will reap Theresa May’s bitter harvest.
LikeLiked by 3 people
‘Hypocritical’ UK Govt to Sign UN Migration Pact Despite Pledge to Control Borders
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2018/11/25/hypocritical-uk-govt-to-sign-un-migration-pact-despite-pledge-to-control-borders/
Pointman
LikeLike
For the rest of us, a “pledge” is a ‘promise, undertaking, vow, word of honour, commitment, assurance, oath, covenant, bond, agreement, guarantee, warrant’ etc.
For politicians, Pledge is a furniture polish that “leaves no residue build-up, is suitable for traditional wood, panelling, cabinets’ etc … or … to mollify, pacify or otherwise deceive recalcitrant electoral constituents.
In 2010 Prime Minister David Cameron “pledged” a net annual migration intake of 100,000, a pledge repeated by Theresa May, first as Home Secretary in 2015, and again as Prime Minister in the run-up to the last election. And each and every year British taxpayers have been given another “polish” as immigration figures soar and “pledges” are proven to be worthless and more akin to a patronising insult.
For Britain to exchange the immigration diktats of her EU masters for those of the UN’s “Global Compact on Migration for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration’ is tantamount to a shackled slave swapping position on her masters’ auction blocks – the ‘Orderly and Regular Migration’ component signalling there will be no end to this planned demographic replacement – ever.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nooooo!
LikeLike
No10 fury at Trump trashing Brexit deal: Backlash after president brands May’s agreement ‘great for the EU’ and warns it will hit UK trade with the US
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6431207/Trump-says-Theresa-Mays-Brexit-deal-hit-UK-trade.html
In other words, he thinks it was a crap deal and any bi-lateral trade deal between the UK and USA is now off the table.
Pointman
LikeLike
Pointy – Trump here is somewhat like the boy who said the Emperor was naked. In the story, though, people were enabled to see the reality because of the boy’s comments, whereas today’s media instead try to say Trump is wrong and that the Emperor is instead dressed in many layers of fine clothing.
It’s being spun that Trump has taken the trade deal off the table. That’s not the way I see his words – he’s simply saying it’s no longer possible as things stand if May’s deal with the EU is signed off. Free trade deals are good for both parties (why the EFTA itself is good within Europe) and so I’d expect Trump to negotiate as free a trade deal as possible. The full free trade deal would not be possible.
Not liking the truth doesn’t make it any less true.
LikeLike
Interesting that the MSM has begun ring-fencing Theresa May from the inevitable blow-back her dodgy non-Brexit deal is causing.
Suddenly it’s not Mrs May who’s stamping her size 11 Jimmy Choo pumps in frustrated rage … it’s “No 10 fury at Trump for trashing Brexit deal …” – the ubiquitous ’No 10’ says this, does that, gets furious. It’s not her – just good ole No 10.
Does that mean she won’t be holding Donald’s hand quite so much next time they meet?
Don’t take it so personally dear … it’s just ‘business’ … and Trump is explaining Newton’s 3rd law of motion. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. You don’t get to move the goalposts and expect the game to continue as it did.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Since Labour, SNP, Lib-Dems and Ulster Unionists have all stated publicly that they’re voting against, and since up to 50% of Conservative back-benchers will likely do the same (presumably the other half don’t want to be re-elected), then I think we can safely say this ‘deal’ is dead in the water.
Two points stand out:
1. The EU bureaucrats are so arrogant and stupid that they’ve managed to alienate even die-hard remainers – a few saleable concessions could have swung things the other way.
2. Rees-Mogg and crew were canny enough not to push a challenge to May. By the time the vote is lost on December 11, there won’t be enough time for another referendum before we crash out at the end of March. A postponement of the leave date – even if the UK requested it, would require the agreement of every EU member.
LikeLike
May and Corbyn are seriously planning on having a debate on Brexit in which only people who campaigned for and voted for Remain are allowed to participate. They are just taking the piss now.
https://twitter.com/P_G_Thompson/status/1067467647204409345
Pointman
LikeLike
All politicians are vanity embodied. They long to remain in the nations eyes for the changes they made to the countries culture and history. Mrs Thatcher was hated at the time for the things she did to the nation, I was amongst them. However, time heals all wounds and with age comes wisdom. She did some good things too, which at the time were not obvious, curbing the power of the union barons for one thing.
Mrs May has the opportunity to go down in the history of the UK as one of the most powerful Prime Ministers of all time. The nation is currently shackled to an undemocratic, nay dictatorial German regime. The money spent on the EU by Britain could have transformed the nation. May would be held in the highest regard and respected across the world by all nations if she gave the characteristic two fingered salute the Brits are known for. Her legacy would be one of freedom, respect for the will of the people and the economy of the nation would be transformed for the better. Even people who voted remain are seeing the behaviour of the EU for what it is. So its not 17.5 million people who want to leave, its many more.
May would be compared to Bouddica, Thatcher and even Churchill.
The embodiment of Brittania standing proud and defending these islands.
My question to her is why can she not see this?
LikeLike
I’ll go with Theresa “traitor” May, Angela “migrant” Merkel, Emanuelle “moron” Macron and Charlie big ears.
LikeLike