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 agree.

Trouble is any government that chooses not to go with the will of (52% of) the people will have it used against them for decades to come. I can't see any way around it.

I would love to know what exactly the 52% want from Brexit - I suspect the vast majority don't have a clue. What we will get is many more years of austerity.

noblegiraffe, shhh, let's give them a way to get out of it all without losing face before we all end up in an even worse mess. :)

YANBU, OP. I actually don't really see how the government can send a delegation to Brussels tomorrow when they haven't actually, you know, formed a government yet. It's a train wreck.

And if I hear one more pro-Brexit MP saying that even people who voted Remain now accept Brexit has to happen, I will start screaming and I may not be able to stop. NO, WE DON'T! Stop airbrushing us out of the picture!

If I don't laugh I'll cry, so here's something to cheer us all up: www.twitter.com/jonathancoe/status/876397019388157952

It's nonsensical. How can anyone defend this farce?!

Absolutely mrslupo I DONT ACCEPT BREXIT either

Sorry just had to get it off my chest!

I didn't vote for Corbyn I voted against Brexit - any Brexit

Ah, but, you know, 90% of the populace (i.e. Lab + Con) voted for 'a party that intended to leave the EU' according to one tosser I heard on the radio the other day, so that's now counting as a really clear mandate for leaving.

I give up.

we can just drop the idea . No!

I'm still wondering about the real reason the Mansion House diner was cancelled. I think there are things Mark Carney and Philip Hammond care about more than poor people in K&C.
Nobody knows where either the government or city are planning in going. The DUP seem a little surprised that they are not heralded as saviour of the British Empire. Actually far too many people seem a little surprised that we don't have an empire anymore.
Ali G almost had it nailed, 18 years ago.

Total shambles. I said so as soon as May called the GE, why is UK wasting 8 weeks on this?

A lot of (Gove's disparaged) experts were saying UK should delay Article 50 trigger until after the German Elections (autumn 2017), and also negotiate a transition arrangement that would be open-ended, that would continue until the exit terms had been agreed. But NOOOOOOOO. May had to interpret the 52% as a clear instruction to plunge us into uncertainty sooner. Just Argh. FUBAR.

I can't believe the people now puzzling over how "it's so complicated". "I had no idea this would go on and on for so long." But they have seen nothing, yet. We will still be struggling with Brexit changes 10+ yrs from now. Mark my Words.

It just makes us look like complete idiots. It's one thing to leave from a position of strength, but when we haven't even got a government?

I don't think Theresa May has the authority to do this.

YANBU, the positive I see is that May didn't get her mandate for a hard Brexit and Corbyn didn't get a mandate for his Brexit, which is also pretty hard all be it for different reasons.

There is a chance for the moderates of all parties to pull together and rescue something although I am far from convinced this will happen.

It is also possible that as more of the financial impact of this continues to grow and people understand that project fear may just have been project reality the need for compromise may become clearer.

Absolute shambles. I am a remainer and rhe more this goes on the stronger my view looks to become on the matter. To my fury I couldn't vote as I was in isolation with suspected meningitis and the doctors wouldn't let me out!! ( yes the fury still rankles never missed a vote before)

We are in such a weak position. Nobody even seems quite clear as to WHAT we want to achieve as the result of negotiations let alone how.

The people who fired up the 52% seem to faded into the background leaving everyone else to pick up the pieces.

This is going to be an embarrassment through and through. DP works with city traders ( hes not one just job overlap) and says vast swathes of investors are liquidising their investments in British companies... Probably hoping to buy again when they crash or just to protect their assets.

I dont see this ending well

Theresa May is completely concentrating on saving her own political skin at the moment. She will do a deal with the devil or the DUP to ensure her survival even if it severely damages the interests of the UK in the long term.

Theresa May's own political survival is her only priority at the moment. She has no interest in negotiating any favourable deal for the UK.

I have Dad's Army quotes going round my head.

"We're doomed."

"Don't panic! Don't panic!"

"Stupid boy."

We are a laughing stock in .Europe. The German and french papers are having a field day.

Private Pike would be an improvement on Theresa May at this stage!

We are a cautionary tale. Immediately after the EU referendum our prime minister resigned, the opposition party fell apart after no confidencing its leader, Article 50 was triggered, then an unnecessary GE was called, the outcome was disastrous for the government and the party in power has fallen apart.

Who wants to follow in our footsteps?

Surely we don't even have a government.

Yanbu. as someone said on the last leg, if they can't even negotiate a deal with the the 10 MPs that make up the DUP then what hope do they have of sorting Brexit.

It was foolish to press the button and trigger Brexit without a clear mandate. Even more foolish to steam ahead with talks right now, with their party so weakened and no clear direction. It is totally embarrassing.

The people who fired up the 52% seem to faded into the background leaving everyone else to pick up the pieces

Yes, where the hell are the 52%. Brexit is in complete chaos, why are they not voicing their desire that hard Brexit must continue no matter what. Are they out there making their voices heard but I've just not picked up on it?

I voted leave.

I wanted the sort of brexit Corbyn spoke about. Free tariff access, keeping trade ties open and not being dicks about eu migrants right to remain etc.

May's uber-hard, 'no deal' which is probably what we will end up with as she can't negotiate with anything animate and deliberate antagonistaion of the eu is not what I wanted.

If it's a choice between May's deal and remaining I'd rather remain. A few people have said that to me in rl too.

(However if Corbyn can somehow sneak in and manage to negotiate like a grown up rather than going on about how difficult he can be then I could get behind it again.)

I remain a Remainer and am infuriated by those who say "I voted Remain but Leave won. We have to accept it. That's democracy".

I don't want a second Referendum as I don't trust the British electorate.
What can we do to turn this around?

What can we do to turn this around?

Negotiate an extension. Then form a cross-party group of some sort.

But mainly we need to repair our relationship with the Continent, approach this like adults, working towards consensus.

Brexit means we leave the EU. Because we have broken our contract we will have to cough up a settlement.
Setting up new trade deals etc is for after Brexit.
Foreigners often take a more holistic view.
An EU-UK trade deal is far from plain sailing, however, with Brussels warning it could take up to seven years after Brexit to agree on one. from Straits Times.

It's a right fucking mess.

We couldn't be in a worse position, and the other member states know it (and hate us).