How is Great Britain looking from abroad?

[longwayoff]

I've seen various remarks that other countries are confused by our current situation, although surely Ukraine's running it close. Any comments from outside UK mumsnetters?

No deal will hurt in the short term, but it will be for the best in the long run. The insidious creeping EU federalism couldn't be resisted from the inside. Far far scarier than a no deal Brexit has been the possibility that we actually can't, or aren't allowed to exit in an orderly manner. It was never about migration, it was about sovereignty

Oh yes, let’s please talk about sovereignty again. . Which you never lost.

No matter, when you’ve pissed off your long-standing EU allies and the US bury their heads in the sand, who are you going to team up with then?

China? Russia? Better hope Putin plays nice.

But how will you trade oldwhyno? What do you have to sell? How will you protect yourself from crappy deals due to your weakened position?

Witch, you're not alone, nobody knows including the fools who are paid to do so. Seriously, there is no answer. It's madness.

Your own ridiculous carry on has stopped you from exiting in an orderly manner.

That breathtakingly arrogant British attitude that thought you could make your demands and everyone else would bow down to the Great Empire.

The sheer stupid shock of people when they realize that the EU doesn’t have to throw Britain any bones would be hilarious if it wasn’t so fucking infuriating!

Voila212
If I understand correctly - British and Irish passport holders can move freely within what is known as the Common Travel Area - this agreement predates us joining the EU and will continue after Brexit anyway. Non British and Irish passport holders can be checked - away from the border if necessary. Customs checks on goods is the sticking point.

Europeans think we're batshit crazy.

Americans feel sorry for us, and/but it's also a kind of soap opera to watch from afar. Let that one sink in - people under Trump's America, are feeling sorry for us.

Surely the EU has a stake in ensuring that the UK can be held up as a terrible example?

@oldwhyno - Far far scarier than a no deal Brexit has been the possibility that we actually can't, or aren't allowed to exit in an orderly manner

This bullshit really pisses me off. Nobody is stopping you from leaving. The EU have bent over backwards to facilitate it. However, they cannot, and will not, facilitate a withdrawal that allows the UK to renege on it obligations under the GFA. Any other country, other than Ireland, could have had a straight forward withdrawal agreement, with as soft or as hard a deal as they wanted (obviously without contravening the 4 freedoms) without the backstop as no other countries in the EU have signed up to an international peace agreement that requires no border between 2 countries.

The reason you have not left is because your elected representatives are self-serving, arrogant idiots who are putting party and personal ambition before country. In that sense, they are no different to most politicians but when you add in the level of arrogance and sense of entitlement they exihibit, you have the current shit-storm.

I had been very much hoping for a revoke. At this stage, I wish you would just get out so we can start to move on and deal with the important issues facing our country.

Don’t understand it at all.

Can’t have a second vote because it would be undemocratic to vote again - while politicians vote constantly....

Need to be free from the EU - but can’t point out exactly what freedoms are being curtailed

And my all time favorite - my uncle who voted leave to get the ‘pakis out’ (because somehow people from Pakistan are in the UK because of Europe?? My mother wouldn’t let me shout at him and correct him) and who insists Brexit won’t cause any problems but got an Irish passport just in case he wants to move back to Spain again... (Irish here with English relatives and an Irish Grandparent in that family)

Brit in Australia here. After the first year of utter bewilderment re Brexit, the focus has more been on what Trump is up to.

For us expats, we're terrified - I always planned to return to Europe and we have no idea what our options are any more.

The lack of direction, government decisions and varying shenanigans in Parliament are all hugely embarrassing.

@IAmNotAWitch - Surely the EU has a stake in ensuring that the UK can be held up as a terrible example?

Oh for god's sake. Do you believe the moon landing was all a fake too?

Naturally, the EU will not give the UK a deal that is better than the one enjoyed by members. Naturally, the EU will protect its interests. That is not the same as making an example of the UK. In this instance, your paranoia is just that - they are not really out to get you.

It’s funny that everyone is confused and hasn’t got a fucking clue what’s going on because I live in the UK and work for a government department and I still have no fucking idea what’s going on myself 😂

Eh? I am an Australian. No personal stake. But I can tell you now that if I was involved at the EU I would be making it pretty hard. Why wouldn't they? What have they got to lose?

I think in practicalities. If it is easy for the UK to leave then other members might get a bit feisty when they don't like how it is going.

When I have a party who wants to pull out of a client's contract I make it as difficult and as unpleasant as possible. Is how business works.

DSD lives in Brussels and frequently works in Spain (she's an interpreter) and says no-one talks about Brexit.

@IAmNotAWitch But how will you trade oldwhyno? What do you have to sell? How will you protect yourself from crappy deals due to your weakened position?

Do you actually think that Brext means we won't trade? Or that we'll no longer have anything to sell? Or buy for that matter?

@IvanaPee That breathtakingly arrogant British attitude that thought you could make your demands and everyone else would bow down to the Great Empire.

What demands? That we simply be allowed to resign our membership of their club, shake hands and go our own way?

To have all that compromised because of the UKs arrogant, incompetent fuckwittery will evoke genuine fury

I understand but please don't tar us all with the same brush. 48% voted to remain and many more voted for parties other than Tory. I do not accept responsibility for this mess.

The reason you have not left is because your elected representatives are self-serving, arrogant idiots who are putting party and personal ambition before country. In that sense, they are no different to most politicians but when you add in the level of arrogance and sense of entitlement they exhibit, you have the current shit-storm

This 100%.

Really, really stupid.

What demands? That we simply be allowed to resign our membership of their club, shake hands and go our own way?

Really?? Because from what I see, your representatives can’t figure out what they want but not once has any of them asked to shake hands and go their own way...

Probably because of all those pesky little issues like borders, trade agreements, fishing agreements...

I understand but please don't tar us all with the same brush. 48% voted to remain and many more voted for parties other than Tory. I do not accept responsibility for this mess.

I should have been clearer, but this is well understood in Ireland. We know that the country is deeply divided.

Bewildered probably sums it up

Of course not, but you are going from a position as part of a large powerful group to out on your own.

You don't think that other countries will know you are weaker and take advantage of that?

You don't honestly think that there is any softness in international trade? Bargains will be driven hard and you will be on your own.

Hey, you never know you might pull it off. But I can't see how that is going to work? China, Russia, the US, the EU all really big players.

What is the plan?

@doIreallyneedto

Our obligations under the GFA will have to be addressed but we shouldn't be letting that hold us all hostage to the EU's unrelenting federalisation.

I wish you would just get out so we can start to move on and deal with the important issues facing our country

I agree, let's just get on with it, let's start defining our future trading relationship, and trying to fix the Irish issue. We won't be able to focus on those things whilst there's so much obfuscation and negativity from people who really just want to stay in the EU. We all need to put this behind us and look forward. The EU have some major issues they need to focus on too.

“Fix the Irish issue”.

Wow.

Shipping companies will have no need for London.
Somebody forgot to tell the port owners at London Gateway;

"After 5 years of operations, the port (London Gateway) is one of the fastest growing in the world."

27 March 2019; MADE.COM, the leading European design brand, today announces that it has signed the lease for a new 165,000 sq ft distribution centre based at the DP World London Gateway Logistics Park
www.londongateway.com/news-media/news/made-com-secures-warehouse-at-dp-world-london-gateway-logistics-park

Jan 2019 New direct service to Poland
www.londongateway.com/news-media/news/unifeeder-gdynia-service-to-begin-calling-at-dp-world-london-gateway-port

Nov 2018 Flagship vessel arrives to mark start of 2M Asia-Europe service at DP World London Gateway
www.londongateway.com/news-media/news/flagship-vessel-arrives-to-mark-start-of-2m-asia-europe-service-at-dp-world-lond

Oct 2018 Construction work starts on CMA CGM's 107,1555 sq foot multi-temperature warehouse-ready summer 2019
www.londongateway.com/news-media/news/work-starts-at-cma-cgms-multi-temperature-logistics-facility-at-dp-wolrd-london-gateway

June 2018 Halo handed keys to new 108,555 sq ft facility at London Gateway Logistics Park
www.londongateway.com/news-media/news/halo-is-handed-keys-to-new-multi-temperature-facility-at-dp-world-london-gateway