After war cabinet, Britain's May to set out "way forward" on Brexit

[webfact]

After war cabinet, Britain's May to set out "way forward" on Brexit

By Elizabeth Piper

 

Tourists walk past an anti-Brexit banner displayed opposite the Palace of Westminster in London, Britain, February 22, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May will set out "the way forward" for Brexit next week after a meeting with top aides on Thursday intended to resolve differences over strategy that are dividing her team, and frustrating European Union negotiators.

 

Offering little insight into how or whether the rifts that have hobbled talks to unravel more than 40 years of union had been healed, her office said her team had spoken for eight hours on subjects ranging from the car sector to digital trade.

 

May's meeting with her so-called Brexit war committee at her 16th-century country residence was called to try to reach agreement on a preferred vision for Britain outside the EU, opening the way for May to make the final speech in what the government has called the "Road to Brexit" series of addresses.

 

Twenty months after Britons voted to leave the bloc in a referendum, May's government has yet to put flesh on the bones of her vision for future ties - plans which were dealt a blow earlier on Thursday when EU sources ruled out her proposal for "managed divergence" from the bloc's rules as "cherry picking".

 

Britain's prime minister is also feeling the heat from Brexit hardliners in her party who have called her acceptance of a status-quo transition after Britain leaves in March 2019 everything from a "betrayal" to "a perversion of democracy".

 

After a dinner of cream of sweetcorn soup and slow braised Guinness short rib of beef, her office said: "The way forward will be set out by the PM in a speech next week following discussions at full cabinet."

 

Her aides had suggested the meeting would not produce the fireworks some commentators expected. But some lawmakers doubted agreement was likely between those who want to maintain close ties with the EU, and others who are pressing for Britain to strike out alone and diverge from the bloc's rules.

 

"CLEAR DIRECTION"

 

"This is the most important decision any cabinet has made for many years. It has to be got right," Conservative lawmaker David Jones, a former junior Brexit minister, told Reuters.

 

"The party and the country are looking for clear direction, and formulation of the British position must take as long as it requires," he said, adding it would have to be clear in time for an EU summit beginning on March 22.

 

May's cabinet of top ministers is not alone in being deeply divided over life after Brexit. The rifts are mirrored across Britain where the debate over plans to leave the EU after the June 23, 2016, vote has become increasingly angry and divisive.

 

Several groups, and even a new party, are being formed to represent all sides of the debate, ranging from pressing for a Brexit reversal or a second referendum, to those accepting Brexit but differing over whether Britain should be in or out of the bloc's existing trading arrangements.

 

A draft document published by the government on Wednesday incensed some hardline Brexit campaigners.

 

Conservative lawmaker Jacob Rees-Mogg wrote in the Telegraph newspaper that to avoid the "perversion of democracy" that he believed it suggested, Britain must be able to sign trade deals during the transition.

 

May's spokesman said it had long been government policy that Britain would be able to agree and sign such deals during the time-limited period.

 

The EU is also taking a tougher stance. On Thursday, sources in Brussels rejected a proposal made by May in a speech in Florence last year for "managed divergence" from EU rules.

 

May's spokesman was unruffled. "We're in a negotiation," he said. "We've set out our position, the Commission will set out theirs. It's a negotiation."

 

(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Alison Williams)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-02-23

[Get Real]

I guess it´s time to start produce things in the name of Brexit.
 

• Brexit socks! A firm and flexible product that never breaks.
• Brexit Bisquits! Get a hard cookie with a soft inside.
• Brexit Mobile App! Try downloading an application that lasts forever.

 

All this is of course only made up ideas out of pure fiction. Remember that there are no guarantees. They "may" or "may not" work in real life.
 

Edited February 22, 2018 by Get Real

[Samui Bodoh]

Hmm...

 

Twenty months after the referendum, the government is deciding on a plan for the future.

 

What a cluster****!

 

The UK should swallow its pride and remain in the EU as it seems not to have the slightest clue on how to proceed by itself. Why not give it a miss this time and have another referendum in twenty years? You could even make a plan for that one!

 

 

Edited February 23, 2018 by Samui Bodoh
Lack of coffee

[Bluespunk]

 

Edited February 23, 2018 by Bluespunk

[RichardColeman]

Hopefully giving the EU a good old British two fingers salute and tell the EU to bugger off with their demands ! 

[sawadee1947]

3 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Hmm...

 

Twenty months after the referendum, the government is deciding on a plan for the future.

 

What a cluster****!

 

The UK should swallow its pride and remain in the EU as it seems not to have the slightest clue on how to proceed by itself. Why not give it a miss this time and have another referendum in twenty years? You could even make a plan for that one!

 

 

I agree 100%. But not to lose face seems to be a problem not only in Thailand.  (and T. May didn't say anything how to solve the problem with Ireland) 

[sawadee1947]

31 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Hopefully giving the EU a good old British two fingers salute and tell the EU to bugger off with their demands ! 

I like your joke, however you forgot.....who orders the music....has to pay.

[Kenegg]

4 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Hmm...

 

Twenty months after the referendum, the government is deciding on a plan for the future.

 

What a cluster****!

 

The UK should swallow its pride and remain in the EU as it seems not to have the slightest clue on how to proceed by itself. Why not give it a miss this time and have another referendum in twenty years? You could even make a plan for that one!

 

 

Don't believe everything you read a lot is garbage..  the majority of our people wanted out so out it will be.

The only way I would want to stay is with a complete overhaul of the EU system and an end to the undemocratic way they enforce their stupidity.

[Baerboxer]

5 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Hmm...

 

Twenty months after the referendum, the government is deciding on a plan for the future.

 

What a cluster****!

 

The UK should swallow its pride and remain in the EU as it seems not to have the slightest clue on how to proceed by itself. Why not give it a miss this time and have another referendum in twenty years? You could even make a plan for that one!

 

 

 

Nothing to do with UK pride. It's the Tory government and lack luster Opposition politicians who should swallow their pride, admit that they fcked up the "Advisory" referendum by not including rules on margins and admit they've been fckng about making things worse since.

 

Labor haven't got the balls to challenge Brexit and instead waffle on about a soft Brexit full of their usual bureaucracy and wishy washy ideas. The Tories are split between the ones who want clean complete break whatever the consequences and those who like favor fancy some wishy washy middle ground which will inevitably please few.

 

The current crop of politicians are about the most inept bunch of self serving toadies I can ever remember in the UK!

 

 

[Baerboxer]

1 hour ago, Kenegg said:

Don't believe everything you read a lot is garbage..  the majority of our people wanted out so out it will be.

The only way I would want to stay is with a complete overhaul of the EU system and an end to the undemocratic way they enforce their stupidity.

 

A very small majority of those who voted supported leaving; on an ADVISORY referendum.

 

Staying in and fighting for EU reforms, with some allies like the Poles, Czechs, Austrians, even Macron, is possible as a member. Being out gives you no voice. 

[gamini]

1 hour ago, Kenegg said:

Don't believe everything you read a lot is garbage..  the majority of our people wanted out so out it will be.

The only way I would want to stay is with a complete overhaul of the EU system and an end to the undemocratic way they enforce their stupidity.

Majority- 17 million out of a population of 70 million!!

[dick dasterdly]

14 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

A very small majority of those who voted supported leaving; on an ADVISORY referendum.

 

Staying in and fighting for EU reforms, with some allies like the Poles, Czechs, Austrians, even Macron, is possible as a member. Being out gives you no voice. 

Ignoring the 'advisory referendum' comment (as it was made v clear that the vote result would be respected), the problem is that the UK govt. supported/ignored some of the issues most disliked by the populace, whilst only making token efforts towards reform - in an attempt to appease the electorate....

 

I thought the EU would start making much-needed reforms after the brexit result - but they've done nothing of the sort .

Edited February 23, 2018 by dick dasterdly

[Basil B]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43136076

Always like the way Gove poses, look like he is a few backed beans short of a full English... 

Edited February 23, 2018 by Basil B

[RuamRudy]

It's disappointing that not a single MP representing a Welsh or Scottish constituency was present for these discussions.  I am sure, however, that the hotline to Arlene Foster will be kept open to get her approval for each step of the way. 

[the guest]

EU members are leaving the UK in drones, I wonder who will pick all the vegetables and fruit ? British people ?

[Kenegg]

4 hours ago, gamini said:

Majority- 17 million out of a population of 70 million!!

Yes democracy.... leave won the vote :-) :-) and the corrupt gravy train can carry on without us....haha.? 

[dunroaming]

8 hours ago, Kenegg said:

The only way I would want to stay is with a complete overhaul of the EU system and an end to the undemocratic way they enforce their stupidity.

You see I agree with that.  The EU does need radical change  but if we leave (which we doing) then we can't push for that reform.

 

6 hours ago, dick dasterdly said:

I thought the EU would start making much-needed reforms after the brexit result - but they've done nothing of the sort .

So did I.  Maybe after Brexit is done and dusted they will but that will be too late for the UK to benefit from.

[dunroaming]

9 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Hopefully giving the EU a good old British two fingers salute and tell the EU to bugger off with their demands ! 

Sure you are not alone with that thought.  Better have a word with May and Davis about your "hope".  Because instead of doing that they are going round and round in circles and getting nowhere.  Another 8 hour session at Chequers last night and still no clear picture of where we go next.  May has got a week to come up with a plan and has to then announce it to the people.  Leaks today suggest that she will accept that any EU citizen coming to the UK during the transition period (for however long that ends up being) will be able to stay permanently.  Another complete U-turn from what she said last week.

[Grouse]

11 hours ago, Kenegg said:

Don't believe everything you read a lot is garbage..  the majority of our people wanted out so out it will be.

The only way I would want to stay is with a complete overhaul of the EU system and an end to the undemocratic way they enforce their stupidity.

Elegantly put ?

[aright]

More elegantly put!

 

"Perhaps the worst of it has been the political instability: as the EU’s intransigence intensifies, so does the backlash. Marine Le Pen took a third of the vote in France’s presidential election and AfD look set to become the main opposition in Germany: two facts that should appall anyone who cares about stability in Europe. The prospects for real reform in Brussels have never looked bleaker.

 

The never-ending stitch-ups are becoming a source of dark humour. One group of MEPs has offered sarcastic congratulations to Selmayr for winning the “open and fair competition” to become Eurocrat-in-Chief. Some have gone further. Wolfgang Schäuble, Germany’s former finance minister, once said that the difference between Selmayr and God is that “God knows he’s not Selmayr”. For his own part, Selmayr revels in such notoriety, describing himself as “the bad guy”. If no one’s electing you, of course, it doesn’t matter how many people don’t like you."

Edited February 23, 2018 by aright