Derek_Stewart wrote:Hi,
The simple answer is that the EU is punishing the UK for daring to terminate the member to their private member club, some might even say the EU is a Cartel, trying to dictate to the rest of the world.
UK government is not the best in the world and being the Conservative party is adding Brexit to its ever increasing mistakes that they have made over the last 40 years...
I broadly agree of course, Derek. I read a BBC article seeking to dispel myths, that the phrase "punishing the UK" can't be true in the context of the quick reaction to block ports by some of the individual EU nations - some will ironically be hurt more by sealing the ports or lack of trade deal because of the balance of trade in those areas.
I hesitate to use the word 'country' in a EU context because of the EU super-state meaning that Germany, Netherlands, France etc are not countries now, merely constituent nations of the EU super-state. Exactly the same as Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, England are all UK nations. Even BoJo uses the term "4 Nations" and he's not exactly the most pro-devolutionist ever.
Rather than punishing the UK (although the likes of Macron are probably out to do that) it's more about protecting itself. The EU is probably scared that Brexit will be a success causing other nations to follow the same path which would begin to spell the end for the gravy train bureaucrats. That is why they will not allow a trade deal, although BoJo and Co are making a very good job of shooting themselves in the foot anyway. Even if the EU negotiators could agree a trade deal, they'd probably have a hard time selling it to all the others. Most, like the UK, voted to join a "common market", a free trading bloc, not a EU super-state, and the EU is scared to show its true colours, knowing that it'll probably lead to *.exit of more countries.
Ironically, the very phrase "taking back control" is leading to loss of control - so many businesses (including many with remainer bosses) are quitting the UK for Europe to maintain access to the EU market.
Now you think I'm a brexiteer, let me explain that I voted "remain" and am still a remainer (Hello EU, I am one of the 48% who wanted to remain friends). I spit equal amounts of venom at both right and left wing parties in this country, but also at our population who are stupid and gullible enough to vote for the lies of right and left wings. At the politicians who made such a poor job of controlling the pandemic, but also at the 20% to 70% (it depends on which area in the UK you live in) of the great British public whom research indicates regularly take the "rules don't apply to me" selfish approach to breaking lockdown rules. It's easy to criticise the Conservatives for everything that is wrong in this country, but remember also that the likes of Corbyn and his lefty cronies essentially made the Labour party unelectable for years, so the right wing in this country has had a free hand to do what they like for too long with no effective opposition. A one party state pretty much.
We made our bed by voting this way, so now we have to lie in it.
See, I can have as good a political rant as anyone in this group
I will now go and find the nearest bunker and hide (self-isolate with a QL?) until the flames have subsided...