Current Affairs EU In or Out

[davek]

Ah.

Government will be laying two new documents - the first a confirmation that the EU cannot try to trap the UK in the backstop.

He says that if the EU were to act with that intention, the UK could use this as a basis for a formal dispute through independent arbitration.

The second document is a joint instrument which reflects the commitment to replace the backstop with alternative arrangements by December 2020.

So nothing then. Literally nothing new.

Yep.


Keir Starmer is saying nothing has changed as a result of this evening’s negotiations, claiming that it simply restates the joint letter from Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker to Theresa May, which was sent in January.

 

[tsubaki]

"the joint declaration and the withdrawl agreement have to be read together, they have the same legal force"

trans: not one word of the withdrawl agreement has changed

 

[Mutzo Nutzo]

The phrase was legally binding assurances. I’m sorry but what is legally binding about an assurance.

No change as far as I see. Politicians spouting wham as usual.

 

[Carl O'Ancelotti]

Window dressing, that's all this is.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

 

[Tubey]

There's going to be a lot of offended politicians tonight wondering if May thinks them idiots.

Unless they actually are idiots and go along with it.

That's the dilemma for the likes of the ERG and DUP now though - do they pretend this is all OK to get some sort of Brexit rather than none at all.

 

[davek]

May and her gang giving this the full bells and whisltles.

What a catastrophic failure of a political party in government.

 

[Mutzo Nutzo]

He literally said they'd secured 'changes' to the withdrawal agreement.

You know, the one that can't be opened for renegotiation.

There's surely no way that can be true.

I think he means they’ve bolted something to the existing WA that he thinks is legally binding.

I smell a rat

 

[Tubey]

Also, imagine being Geoffrey Cox right now - having to sell any and all semblance of professional dignity for the sole purpose of political partisanship.

Him giving this any legal weight whatsoever is tantamount to treason.

 

[davek]

There's going to be a lot of offended politicians tonight wondering if May thinks them idiots.

Unless they actually are idiots and go along with it.

That's the dilemma for the likes of the ERG and DUP now though - do they pretend this is all OK to get some sort of Brexit rather than none at all.

They want and think they can get no deal. I'd have thought this was now entering their domain.

I could honestly see when this gets shot down tomorrow a 2nd referendum if it had No Deal versus Remain.

 

[allezlesbleus]

Window dressing, that's all this is.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

Bravo!

 

[Tubey]

They want and think they can get no deal. I'd have thought this was now entering their domain.

I could honestly see when this gets shot down tomorrow a 2nd referendum if it had No Deal versus Remain.

Which is exactly the way this should go now.

If May had any political ability, she'd have called one months ago between her deal and remaining. Ruling out 'No Deal' entirely would have been leadership, and taking the country to a referendum with the governing party campaigning for leave on a deal would have been pragmatic.

Instead, she did her usual - fail in every single regard.

 

[davek]

Whole Cabinet accept this "deal".

Over to you ERG.

 

[Jebus_lives]

Oh that news sounds lame.

"legally binding changes that secure and strengthen the WA...and an assurance the backstop cant be indefinite".

So no ditching of it then?

That'll go down well with the swivel eyed gets in the ERG and DUP.

I'm calling it now 'once the technology is in place, we will leave'

So as you were then...

 

[davek]

Whole Cabinet accept this "deal".

Over to you ERG.

...and right on cue....

 

[Armel]

EbS+ Live

ec.europa.eu

23.15 they said.