What do you want to be done about Brexit now?

[Figmentofmyimagination]

Cards on the table, I’ve never been a fan, but now it feels irrelevant and perhaps even destructive.

I’d like to see a deal that effectively changes nothing - Brexit in name only - for the medium term - 5 years maybe - although we’d need to do something about reinstating some kind of temporary uk role in the EU institutions if we are to eg be bound by new directives. This would provide certainty to businesses, but effectively kick Brexit into the long grass until we have the capacity to think about how we can align it to our long term goals as a country in the light of the revised outlook.

I think I’d prefer this to another extension to the transition period (ends 31 December 2020).

What do people think? It feels almost insulting to be asking this question when people are dying, but perhaps that’s a testament to how irrelevant it’s become.

Of course I’m assuming other EU member states would want us hanging around for another 5 years!

If the pandemic has taught us anything it's this is a small planet and we're all in this together. Pretending we're unique and can somehow 'go it alone' is just poppycock. Time to call the whole thing off, apologise for wasting four years of everybody's time, and get back to making Europe a better place for everyone.

sandman Well yes, my first preference would be to revoke, but I’m not convinced that’s politically possible. Maybe it is now. Who knows. So much has changed.

What do you want to be done about Brexit now?

Cancel it. Same as ever. Coronavirus has made zero difference to my opinion.

Well yes, my first preference would be to revoke, but I’m not convinced that’s politically possible. Maybe it is now. Who knows. So much has changed.

I think if the UK gov went to the EU and said "Statut quo ante?" they would have their hands bitten off - though they would insist on new EU elections.

sandman but what about political feelings in the uk itself?

I feel that Brexit should be kicked into touch. We're facing a depression, the worst time to go it alone.

I wonder whether pressing ahead might actually prove politically toxic.

We just can't afford Brexit. We've spent an absolute fortune over the virus - quite rightly - and what it's shown us is that we need solidarity with other countries and that we need Europe now more than ever. To continue with Brexit now would destroy our country financially. And I think it should be Boris who has the gumption to say so.

Cancel it. But then, I never wanted it anyway.

We can't afford the damage that it will do to our nation.

If anything this pandemic will make people want to really push through with brexit. The UK will feel like it has something to prove. God forbid people's sovereignty gets taken away after temporarily getting it 'back'

Sadly I think we'r stuck between a rock and a hard place with Brexit, more now than ever.

Economically it would be better to call the whole thing off. It will be ruinous in combination with the effects of the pandemic. Socially it will feed the toxic narrative of "blame everyone else" and will isolate us further at a time when we need unity and solidarity.

If we don't go ahead with it, though, the wave of public anger and sense of betrayal will exacerbate the unrest which is probably coming with food shortages and financial damage after the pandemic.

So I don't see a good outcome for us either way.

Practically. I would want it to happen now. No travel, limited economic activity, government bailing people and businesses out etc That way, when we come out of isolation, we'll get time to adjust to whatever new processes they implement.

However, we're in the middle of a pandemic. It's the furthest thing from a lot of minds.

Ide almost forgot about brexit with all of this going on. I cant even remember what it was like being worried about it.

Lets just deal with the pandemic and leave the subject well alone . We have enough to contend with without raking up old rows. Pull together on the common cause ffs

I think the transition period should be extended. With Kier S at the head of the Labour party we may have a more effective opposition, and I saw in the Sunday Times this morning that at least one Brexiteer wants an extension.

I also saw something about the EU not wanting more than 6/12 months, I don't think any artificial deadlines should be set. We'll have bigger problems than sovereignty. Not that I wanted to leave the EU anyway but there wasn't enough time to reach a deal anyway and now there definitely isn't.

Lets just deal with the pandemic and leave the subject well alone . We have enough to contend with without raking up old rows. Pull together on the common cause ffs

I thought the EU was an amazing example of 'the common cause'. But there we go. And it's not an old row. It's very current row that has been drowned out by an even bigger row. Doesn't mean it has gone away and no amount of sticking fingers in ears and going lalalalala! is going to make it vanish.

The problem that the UK government has is that they have to make their mind up pretty sharpish whether they want to extend the transition period. For all the talk of 'getting it done' they have succeeded in doing fuck all. Not their fault (entirely) and the gung-ho 'crashing out', 'No deal' Brexit that they were prepared to go for is now just jumping off an even bigger cliff than it was before.

Selling it to the UK? If the Tories had any balls and admitted they cocked the whole thing up they might get away with it. But they won't.

I feel like if you want it, fine, have it. It's been decided, I (a hardcore remainer) have had enough of it. But there's no justification AT ALL to ploughing on along the same timeline now all this has happened. We are completely and utterly unprepared, vulnerable and fragile in every possible way.

"Lets just deal with the pandemic and leave the subject well alone "

Problem with that is that our economy is in freefall ...

and the transition period runs out on 31 December
Both negotiating teams have the lurgy, not that 11 months was ever enough time to negotiate a trade deal
and the other 27 governments have far more urgent things to consider - as should ours.

Every other country will be desperately trying to help their economy
Full-on Brexit on 1 January next year would be like tying a ball & chain to the feet of our exporters

Brexit was promised and voted for at a totally different time^, when we weren't heading for a Global Depression.
We can't afford to let Brexit mutiply the damage to the UK.

Let's delay for 5 years or so, keep same terms as now,
then once the economy is back to normal people can decide if they want "hard" or "soft" Brexit

What’s done is done, I would like to see an end to the uncertainty and extensions only prolong that.

I wasn’t allowed to vote (Brit living abroad for twenty years) but I’m sick of waiting for a decision.

It would great if brexit could contract COVID-19 and not receive treatment due to not being a case worth saving.

What’s done is done,

What's done can be undone.

I think we'll crash out with no deal and when things go tits up it'll all be the fault of Covid-19 and not at all to do with Brexit (that's how it'll be played politically).

I wish we could just forget about it all, but I accept that I am in a minority.

The EU have been absolutely crap in response to the Coronavirus crisis and basically left each country to fend for itself. Russia has been giving stuff to Italy and Spain as the EU as a group working together has been useless.I think this will actually accelerate its demise.

I'd like the whole thing cancelled but I was fiercely pro EU in the first place.

When it's a horrible failure the government will of course shift the blame.