en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/19459780 Comments by Elena_adaal https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2019/10/watch-foster-any-deal-must-respect-the-constitutional-and-economic-place-of-northern-ireland-within-the-united-kingdom.html#IDComment1082297405 Now it will become clear if the Tory party really cares about the UK Union with the UK. My guess: The DUP will be thrown under the biggest bus the Tories can find. Brexit is only about English nationalism. Tue, 15 Oct 2019 18:23:27 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2019/10/watch-foster-any-deal-must-respect-the-constitutional-and-economic-place-of-northern-ireland-within-the-united-kingdom.html#IDComment1082297405 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2019/10/ten-hurdles-that-johnson-must-leap-even-if-a-deal-is-agreed-this-week.html#IDComment1082209030 Its always good to remember the EU and all Europeans that there is no deal that will ever be acceptable by the English nationalists and the extremists unionists. A united Ireland and no FTA with the UK is the only solution Sun, 13 Oct 2019 11:30:00 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2019/10/ten-hurdles-that-johnson-must-leap-even-if-a-deal-is-agreed-this-week.html#IDComment1082209030 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2019/09/stephen-booth-in-eu-capitals-the-conclusion-that-it-would-be-better-for-the-uk-to-just-leave-is-gaining-purchase.html#IDComment1080883160 "Why would the Tories want to destroy the EU-UK relationship" Actually this is a quite interesting question, since it is - to say the least - quite strange behavour of a major political party. I would venture the following causes: - There has been a relentless campaign, spanning decades, in which all the ills of the UK society were attributed to the EU. This campaign was carried out by the right-wing press, picked up by Tory and associated hard right fringe, and many Tories now believe this. - In the UK political landscape - essentially one-party majority rule - there is no penalty for being on the fringe. As soon as someone starts to think of some form of compromise, there is a group that does not want that. So any compromise, no matter what, is being trashed as BRINO (Brexit in name only). Of course this leads to the destruction of any EU-UK relation, since any relation always requires some form of compromise. - Trump wants to weaken the EU by advocating a Brexit that is as hard as possible. This provides an impetus towards the destruction of the EU-UK relationship - The essence of Brexit is the English nationalism, which views the English as the natural rulers of the world. Of course in this world view no dissenting opinions are allowed. Since this is not possible - the EU does not like to be told what it should do - the only other option is the destruction of the EU-UK relation. Tue, 17 Sep 2019 08:03:56 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2019/09/stephen-booth-in-eu-capitals-the-conclusion-that-it-would-be-better-for-the-uk-to-just-leave-is-gaining-purchase.html#IDComment1080883160 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2019/09/stephen-booth-in-eu-capitals-the-conclusion-that-it-would-be-better-for-the-uk-to-just-leave-is-gaining-purchase.html#IDComment1080880582 Its ludicrous to state that the EU has any beef with anyone else in the UK but the Tories and PM Johnson. They know that the Tories are fully responsible for this mess, and should bear all the blame. The dressing down of PM Johnsson by the PM of Luxembourg was happening because of a few facts: - Everybody can see that PM Jonson is not sincere in trying to get a deal. Nobody likes to be played like props. - PM Johnson and the Tory hard right have only destruction of the EU-UK relation as their agenda. There is no need to play nice because there is nothing positive that can be achieved with the Tories - PM Johnson has lost his majority and will be soon out of power. There is no penalty in trashing him. Tue, 17 Sep 2019 06:19:20 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2019/09/stephen-booth-in-eu-capitals-the-conclusion-that-it-would-be-better-for-the-uk-to-just-leave-is-gaining-purchase.html#IDComment1080880582 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2019/09/the-end-of-the-conservative-party-as-we-have-known-it.html#IDComment1080367601 Certainly after the expulsion of the rebels the Conservative party has become the 'do-or-die' Brexiters party. No deal, no matter how good, will ever be acceptable to the Conservative party. All voters will know that voting Conservative will mean a straight no-deal outcome. Wed, 4 Sep 2019 06:45:11 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2019/09/the-end-of-the-conservative-party-as-we-have-known-it.html#IDComment1080367601 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2019/09/stephen-booth-even-a-revamped-deal-would-face-serious-hurdles.html#IDComment1080327336 Any deal with the EU - no matter how good for the UK - will always be painted as BINO, remain or similary. Multiple sources confirm that PM Johnson is not interested in a deal and does not conduct any actual negotiations. He has tabled no proposals to the EU yet, and there is no UK negotiation team. This madman only wants to destroy the UK relation with Europe completely. There is no prospect of any deal whatsoever when he is in power. Tue, 3 Sep 2019 08:49:49 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2019/09/stephen-booth-even-a-revamped-deal-would-face-serious-hurdles.html#IDComment1080327336 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2019/09/stephen-booth-even-a-revamped-deal-would-face-serious-hurdles.html#IDComment1080325115 Here it is again: the eternal Tory search for the fictional "deal". It is crystal clear to the EU that no deal - no matter how good - will every be acceptable to the Tory party. Therefore, no concession whatsoever will be offered to the UK when PM Johnson is in power. It does not matter if the remainer rebels win or lose. The EU knows that Johnson only wants to stop engaging with Europe, end all interactions and sell out the UK to Trump. Its no use dealing with a madman. Tue, 3 Sep 2019 07:48:25 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2019/09/stephen-booth-even-a-revamped-deal-would-face-serious-hurdles.html#IDComment1080325115 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2019/09/johnsons-real-plan-to-get-a-deal-and-stuff-the-spartans.html#IDComment1080235810 What a load of nonsense. Johnson does know the following: - The EU will not agree to his ridiculous demands - The Tory party will at the moment never agree any deal with the EU, no matter how good it would be for the UK The goal of Johnson is to sever all ties with Europe and completely sell the UK out to Trump. Sun, 1 Sep 2019 09:00:18 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2019/09/johnsons-real-plan-to-get-a-deal-and-stuff-the-spartans.html#IDComment1080235810 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2019/08/this-commons-wont-accept-the-northern-ireland-backstop-thats-the-reality-whether-the-eu-likes-it-or-not.html#IDComment1079804140 The EU can of course try to negotiate with PM Johnson, but it is abundantly clear that nothing - really nothing - will pass the House of Commons. Johnson has a majority of 1 and there will always be an ultra-ultra-ultra Brexiter that will stand agains any deal whatsoever, backstop or no backstop, WA or modified WA, it will not matter. Surely there will be a government that the EU can deal with, but for now it is simply over. There is no meaningful interaction possible with the UK government at this moment. How to prove me wrong? Let the House of Commons pass a proposal - anything - that they would accept. The Brady amendmend does not count because it is not a positive, complete deal and several ultra-Brexiters already said at the time of passing that voting for it would not mean they agreed the WA. Wed, 21 Aug 2019 08:54:10 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2019/08/this-commons-wont-accept-the-northern-ireland-backstop-thats-the-reality-whether-the-eu-likes-it-or-not.html#IDComment1079804140 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2019/06/mark-harper-we-need-a-date-for-britain-to-leave-the-eu-but-heres-why-it-cant-be-october-31st-much-as-id-like-it-to-be.html#IDComment1076301534 I do not dispute that both the Tories and Labour did promise to implement the 2016 vote. My position is that they were wrong to do so. The Tories have been in power since then, and bear sole responsibility for what happened. They can just ram through no-deal with all the consequences that it brings - such as the disintegration of the UK -, or step back and leave it to the electorate. Fri, 28 Jun 2019 11:59:03 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2019/06/mark-harper-we-need-a-date-for-britain-to-leave-the-eu-but-heres-why-it-cant-be-october-31st-much-as-id-like-it-to-be.html#IDComment1076301534 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2019/06/mark-harper-we-need-a-date-for-britain-to-leave-the-eu-but-heres-why-it-cant-be-october-31st-much-as-id-like-it-to-be.html#IDComment1076301301 Eventually you will get a 'fair FTA', but it will be fair in the sense that it will be tilted towards the EU, since we have a more economic weight. Fri, 28 Jun 2019 11:54:36 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2019/06/mark-harper-we-need-a-date-for-britain-to-leave-the-eu-but-heres-why-it-cant-be-october-31st-much-as-id-like-it-to-be.html#IDComment1076301301 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2019/06/mark-harper-we-need-a-date-for-britain-to-leave-the-eu-but-heres-why-it-cant-be-october-31st-much-as-id-like-it-to-be.html#IDComment1076301115 We have had elections roughly every four year since the 2005 referendum. If it was really handled so badly, anti-EU parties would have gained far more ground. In the Netherlands the EU has gained in popularity since Brexit, with - from the top of my head - about 10 - 15% of the vote in the recent EU elections going to anti-EU parties. If Brexit indeed leads to the disintegration of the UK this figure will likely fall. Fri, 28 Jun 2019 11:50:40 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2019/06/mark-harper-we-need-a-date-for-britain-to-leave-the-eu-but-heres-why-it-cant-be-october-31st-much-as-id-like-it-to-be.html#IDComment1076301115 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2019/06/mark-harper-we-need-a-date-for-britain-to-leave-the-eu-but-heres-why-it-cant-be-october-31st-much-as-id-like-it-to-be.html#IDComment1076300942 In the end it's what you choose to believe. If you choose to believe one person (Osbourne) that made one wrong prediction, and use that as a basis to dismiss all warning you are of course free to do it. If that leads to the disintegration of the UK than thats on your head. Fri, 28 Jun 2019 11:47:46 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2019/06/mark-harper-we-need-a-date-for-britain-to-leave-the-eu-but-heres-why-it-cant-be-october-31st-much-as-id-like-it-to-be.html#IDComment1076300942 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2019/06/mark-harper-we-need-a-date-for-britain-to-leave-the-eu-but-heres-why-it-cant-be-october-31st-much-as-id-like-it-to-be.html#IDComment1076296354 Certainly it looks like that is the defining point in the Tories' deliberations. In that case we will just have to wait for a no-deal to happen and then pick up the pieces when sanity returns to the UK. Fri, 28 Jun 2019 10:25:45 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2019/06/mark-harper-we-need-a-date-for-britain-to-leave-the-eu-but-heres-why-it-cant-be-october-31st-much-as-id-like-it-to-be.html#IDComment1076296354 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2019/06/mark-harper-we-need-a-date-for-britain-to-leave-the-eu-but-heres-why-it-cant-be-october-31st-much-as-id-like-it-to-be.html#IDComment1076296095 Indeed the electorate was promised that the vote would be implemented. All the consequences of that - such as the implosion of the UK - are on the heads of those that made that promise. Other people should not be bound by these promises. Fri, 28 Jun 2019 10:19:56 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2019/06/mark-harper-we-need-a-date-for-britain-to-leave-the-eu-but-heres-why-it-cant-be-october-31st-much-as-id-like-it-to-be.html#IDComment1076296095 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2019/06/mark-harper-we-need-a-date-for-britain-to-leave-the-eu-but-heres-why-it-cant-be-october-31st-much-as-id-like-it-to-be.html#IDComment1076290715 Of course you are correct that the Tories would likely lose an election, and that normally no PM would call for one in this case. However, since it appears that the choice is between maintaining the integrity of the UK as a whole versus keeping the Tory party in power, a sensible PM should be prepared to let the national interest prevail. Fri, 28 Jun 2019 08:38:46 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2019/06/mark-harper-we-need-a-date-for-britain-to-leave-the-eu-but-heres-why-it-cant-be-october-31st-much-as-id-like-it-to-be.html#IDComment1076290715 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2019/06/mark-harper-we-need-a-date-for-britain-to-leave-the-eu-but-heres-why-it-cant-be-october-31st-much-as-id-like-it-to-be.html#IDComment1076288945 A suggestion from a non-UK citizen (I'm Dutch): Since its obvious that the current WA cannot pass the current parliament and that the EU will not allow sufficient change to the WA to make it pass, the stark shoice is now between 1) no-deal and 2) 'something else'. Of course the Conservatives can choose to go for a no-deal and then wait for the UK to implode. However, for those that are relatively sane the 'something else' option should be explored. My take is that the Tories should at this moment simply throw in the towel and admit they cannot solve Brexit with the current parliament. Call an election, make a pact with the Brexit party, purge all non-believers, and if you win you can go for a no-deal in the secure knowledge that you have a mandate to wreck your economy. Fri, 28 Jun 2019 08:08:43 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2019/06/mark-harper-we-need-a-date-for-britain-to-leave-the-eu-but-heres-why-it-cant-be-october-31st-much-as-id-like-it-to-be.html#IDComment1076288945 https://www.conservativehome.com/highlights/2019/04/profile-nigel-farage-a-career-politician-who-denounces-career-politicians-with-abundant-energy-and-brilliant-timing.html#IDComment1072832810 Farage has as a stated objective the destruction of the EU. As a European (I live in the Netherlands), I do not think this is a good way of interaction between the UK and the EU, but if this is the case that Farage is carried and supported by a large part of the UK electorate so be it. For the EU this means clarity; we cannot expect anything positive coming from the UK, so we should go solely for our own interests. This means in practice that we should minimise any fallout of Brexit, minimise any NI/I border problems by advocating for a united Ireland, and furthermore ensure that as many companies as possible go from the UK to the EU. We should try to minimise all interactions witht the UK as much as possible, and any adverse action by the UK towards the EU should be reciprocated by swift and serious retaliation. The end goal is a complete separation and no interaction at all. Fri, 26 Apr 2019 10:13:08 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/highlights/2019/04/profile-nigel-farage-a-career-politician-who-denounces-career-politicians-with-abundant-energy-and-brilliant-timing.html#IDComment1072832810 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2019/04/inviting-labour-into-downing-street-has-proved-costly-and-benefited-only-corbyn.html#IDComment1071555063 May did not genuinly want to make a deal with Corbyn, and offered no concessions. In that case talks fail of course, and failure is damaging. Sat, 6 Apr 2019 07:08:49 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2019/04/inviting-labour-into-downing-street-has-proved-costly-and-benefited-only-corbyn.html#IDComment1071555063 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2019/04/the-worst-prime-minister-in-our-history.html#IDComment1071020009 Sir Oliver Letwin does not have the vast resources of government, the whip procedures, the tradition or anything else going for him. Yet he commands the HoC business and his actions are followed through. As was mentioned earlier: the HoC can vote against him anytime they wish. He could easily have the whip removed from him, or be deselected. Yet that does not happen. May on the other hand is the UK PM with everything that entails and she has to defer to him. Why can Sir Oliver Letwin get his way? He is a leader and May is not one. Tue, 2 Apr 2019 08:34:14 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2019/04/the-worst-prime-minister-in-our-history.html#IDComment1071020009