To think we couldn't really be in a worse position to start Brexit negotiations tomorrow

[Bearbehind]

My reason for voting Remakn was always that there was no credible case for Leaving imo.

One year on and on the eve of negotiations, we are in a worse position than ever before

• we don't have a majority government
• we don't have even the beginnings of a consensus of the type of Brexit we should aim for
• people are realising that 'a few years pain for long term gain' is going to hurt too much

Are there any positives here?

I cant see one

We seem to be in a weak state

Surely we don't even have a government.

We need to ask for a delay while we sort ourselves out. Anything else is crazy.

The positive is that a weak team means they can only go for a win/win deal - the nonsense that we might somehow put one over on the eu by being a 'bloody difficult woman' has to fail.

Also useful to remember its the civil servants that craft the deal with the ministers setting direction/approving - hung parliament means the civil servants have stronger counter arguments against 'difficult' politicos

And to be sitting down at the negotiating table across from the EU who our PM accused of interfering in our election, and from Juncker who has been blamed for making TM call an election...they're not going to be looking on us very kindly are they?

Apart from that, our leaders can't even negotiate pay with a top negotiator (so he refused the job) and are failing to negotiate with the DUP. Doesn't bode well.

The EU have said they don't know when Britain can start negotiations, but that "they know when negotiations must end"
i.e. end March 2019

To be exact, to get any deal passed by the EU Parliament, the 38 parliaments and member regional assemblies, then negotiations must finish by about October 2018

It's bloody mortifying. Take back control indeed. We have never had less control.

Macron said last week that it would be possible for the brakes to be put on this whole thing and for us to stay. I wish we were biting his hands off

We're engaging in a collective act of self harm that is already making us weaker and poorer - not to mention being an international laughing stock (and there's plenty of challenge for that particular role). Tragically unbelievable.

The Queen's speech has been delayed until Wednesday and next years one has been cancelled. We seem to be creeping rushing headlong towards something that is not democracy as we recognise it.
I am waiting for them to rename the country The Peoples Democratic Republic of the totally United Kingdom.

I typed an erudite (trust me!) response which got lost so I will just bellow YANBU.

In addition to all the comments above, the EU has had a whole year to work out its position.
I do not think the UK has anything to negotiate on or with. I strongly suspect that the EU will present a (huge) bill and ask the UK to close the door quietly on its way out.

YANBU. It's a total shambles.

Spot on Gin never mind, we can sell the NHS to fund the bill.

It's humiliating. I voted remain but at least felt that Leavers had, you know, a plan. I expected certain people to step up and guide us through this. It's an absolute shambles. It's all going to go badly wrong. We're an absolute joke.

You're not being unreasonable at all for thinking this. And as other posters have said, it's embarrassing and humiliating. I voted to stay in Europe, but accepted that the slight majority had their way. I do feel now that things have changed. Seriously, this could be reversed. Better fences do not make better neighbours.

Totally agree dust.

I guess Remainers were always going to be a little disappointed but this is on an epic scale.

Are there any Leavers who think there are still positives and that this is actually going to work out well in the end?

By that I mean based on where we are now, not where you wanted us to be right now.

Also useful to remember its the civil servants that craft the deal with the ministers setting direction/approving - hung parliament means the civil servants have stronger counter arguments against 'difficult' politicos

The civil service has been stripped to the bare bones and most of those left voted to stay.

At present we're not fit to negotiate a slice of bread into a toaster.

I watched Hammond on Marr this morning still posturing and speaking in meaningless legalese.

And we also don't have skilled trade negotiators. The EU has them in spades. This isn't about just the 4 tenets of the EU, there are literally 100s of laws that have to be re-considered. Some incredibly obscure that took years to procure. Impossible to have all this done by March 2019.

It is laughable. I know the argument is that the government have to press ahead with their "hard Brexit" for political reasons but I really, really can't see how dragging the economy over a cliff edge is going to make political gain! The British public is fickle like that. I think the Tories will wish they had come second to Labour in this election as the pig's ear they're about to make of this will probably haunt them for years to come.

At least if May has said no deal is better than a bad deal and two of the major leaders in the EU have said it isn't too late to stay then we can just drop the idea if they can't work it out.

I think they feel sorry for us oddboots

I hope so Odd, despite the shameful waste of time and money that will be involved. I wouldn't blame them if they wanted to see the back of us asap

Yanbu - it's embarrassing.

I watched Hammond on Marr this morning still posturing and speaking in meaningless legalese

Me too, so fed up right now. Out of the single market and out of the customs union.

I'm sure this is someone's cunning plan to reduce net migration. Utterly trash the economy so no one wants to move here.

If 'no deal is better than a bad deal' meant us giving up on the whole thing and staying in, I'd be delighted.

Unfortunately, if the deal for leaving the EU is bad, 'no deal' means leaving the EU with no trade deal in place, which is just crazy.

You wouldn't think so but there's still a few hours, they might surprise us?