Really very sad with France!

[Friendsoftheearth]

I am quietly furious with France. We have been going to France between three and four times a year, every year for pretty much all of my adult life. We have spent most summer holidays, skiing and all the rest, choosing France as our destination over all over countries.

Every week I buy French cheeses, wine and truffle oils, and we are very big fans of France and French cuisine.

Even taking into account that Macron should hope and push for the best deal for their fishing industry, I still find it incredulous and insulting that they should be demanding ten years of fish, and are offering us a paltry percentage. Ten years.
They are in a total stand off regarding an even playing field, I understand the reasons for this, but honestly they are pushing all of us to a no deal outcome, that will see French fisherman with no catch whatsoever, and high tariffs slapped on all imports from France. Tourism will be destroyed as people will no longer wish to go there. It could poison relations for decades.

I am aware of the history between the UK and France, but rather naively thought we had moved on from that a very long time ago, I am in despair at the eleventh hour demands, and feel this is in very bad faith. It has really highlighted to me how little respect France have for us as a country.

I feel like I never want to go again, despite having a tentative booking for a holiday in the spring of next year.

@Friendsoftheearth

I have supported France in every way for decades. I am insulted.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

And yes France needs to accept International law.

Unfortunately, the UK hasn't put itself in a place where it can take the moral high ground on international law. You reap what you sew, and of course other countries and other politicians will look out for their own interests.

@Inniu

Out of curiosity if Brexit triggers the break up of the U.K. what percentage of U.K. fishing rights would go to an independent Scotland and a United Ireland?

Well most fish seems to be landed at Peterhead, so...

sow!!!!

(although I am sure there are also some good sewing analogies - you have to cut your coat according to your cloth maybe?)

@CroissantMuncher

I think Remainers in the UK underestimate support for leaving the EU in other countries.

As a Remainer who moved to France, I was massively surprised to see how much support there is for Frexit here. Having said that, I live in a poor region that voted Le Pen.

Don't forget that in the last election it was Macron vs Le Pen. That's pretty insane when you think about it, it would be as if in the UK the last election has been Johnson vs Farage.

I've even met people here in this region of France who would otherwise be Guardianista types, one heart surgeon who is very "écolo", middle class, liberal - she still thinks the EU controls too much and that France lost out by taking the Euro.

It's been quite eye opening. I'm sure if you went to a better heeled part of France you would get a different story. I'm just saying the UK has been the only country to offer a referendum on this subject, and I think there would be a few surprises were other countries to do the same (not going to happen!).

Exactly

I can't decide if the OP's position is genuinely naive or disingenuous. It's quite funny to read though.

Say what you like about the UK, but it’s one of the richest countries in the world and that will be a miss to the EU purse strings

The uk contributes about 7% of the EU budget, the EU budget makes up 1% of total EU economic income.

Yes it will be missed but it is not the insurmountable, especially in context to the amounts spent on CV.

? It makes sense that the French president is trying to get the best possible deal for French fishermen. He is not the UK president...this is just politics and I don't quite see why you would blame/resent France/the French as a whole.

Just like the current Tory government is (thankfully) not the only representation of the UK and its people.

Brexit was a foolish decision, now we are paying the price and I don't quite see why we would expect EU country to give us a smooth ride.

@Gamble66

You buy French cheese thefore they should allow thier fishermen to be shafted? Your logic is flawless.
*
+++++
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And sadly with logic like this, it is I no surprise that 17 million people voted leave.

@Inniu

Out of curiosity if Brexit triggers the break up of the U.K. what percentage of U.K. fishing rights would go to an independent Scotland and a United Ireland?

That’s what makes me laugh about the Scottish referendum - they don’t want to be governed by Westminster, yet they’re happy to be governed by the EU and all that cones with that.

The irony is, if I’m not mistaken, Scotland gets back more than what it pays thanks to the tax payers mainly from England!

They wouldn’t cope without the financial backing of Westminster. Bonkers

Of course they want to make it difficult, as a lesson to any other country that might want to leave. And make no mistake, there are anti-EU factions in other countries.
Before anyone wonders, I did vote Remain, albeit holding my nose to some extent. You can be pro EU without being an uncritical worshipper at the shrine of Brussels.

@MrsMiaWallis

Our government want to remove remove environmental and worker protections

This is not true.

We manufacture products and have to now be accredited with the new standards rather than the EU ones. They are just as stringent.

It is true, otherwise why would our government be stuck in a stalemate with the EU because the UK wants the right to have lower worker protection than the EU and lower environmental protection than the EU. Obviously the standards will be new - that is not the sticking point. The sticking point is that the UK wants the right to have lower protection for the environment and workers rights than the EU. Why would the UK be negotiating for that, right up to the very end, at the risk of getting no-deal, if it didn't want to exercise the right to have these lower environmental and worker protections in the end?

@Hopdathelf

Do you really think you paid into a club for years and got nothing in return?

I can see how a lot of people in the south east of England feel that way. As a more affluent area they see few of the types of projects funded by the EU in other parts of the UK. I say that as someone who divides their time between NI and London suburbs with family in the south east who I visit often. Lots of projects, buildings, facilities in NI marked up to show EU projects, fewer in London and SE.

EU funding is given because these areas are less affluent than the SE generally. When EU funding stops, Westminster will have to pay and I can see the cycle starting again, leading to, at best, federalisation, and at worst, the total collapse of the UK into six separate countries.

There was a policy in Scotland to label things created with EU money , that was not the.policy in England, meaning that many English areas who benefited from Eu money never realised things like road improvements, Cornish broadband, were done with Eu money but the English were never told

The EU's duty is to its members. We have chosen to opt out of that membership, so they no longer have a duty to balance our interests with those of the other members. The onus is not on the EU to protect us from the consequences of our choices. As a nation, we have decided that we would prefer to go it alone.

This is exactly what so many people seem unable to grasp. The EU has a duty to look out for the EU. Once you leave their duty towards you ends. They don't owe you anything, they can't put you ahead of the countries that are still part if the EU.

Out of curiosity if Brexit triggers the break up of the U.K. what percentage of U.K. fishing rights would go to an independent Scotland and a United Ireland?

60% of U.K. fishing waters are in Scotland, so if we do get independence soon what ever uk gov agree now will be irrelevant.

It doesn't bode well for all the future great trade deals that out politicians are going to negotiate does it if we can't even get a trade deal with out biggest trading partner

@CroissantMuncher

I think Remainers in the UK underestimate support for leaving the EU in other countries.

As a Remainer who moved to France, I was massively surprised to see how much support there is for Frexit here. Having said that, I live in a poor region that voted Le Pen.

Don't forget that in the last election it was Macron vs Le Pen. That's pretty insane when you think about it, it would be as if in the UK the last election has been Johnson vs Farage.

I've even met people here in this region of France who would otherwise be Guardianista types, one heart surgeon who is very "écolo", middle class, liberal - she still thinks the EU controls too much and that France lost out by taking the Euro.

It's been quite eye opening. I'm sure if you went to a better heeled part of France you would get a different story. I'm just saying the UK has been the only country to offer a referendum on this subject, and I think there would be a few surprises were other countries to do the same (not going to happen!).

a) unlikely to be any referendums offered, as you said b) if any other country voted for a self-harming shitstorm like we have, I would be massively surprised

What lower worker protections?

In 5 years time only 2 industries will thrive in the U.K., financial services and Tech (this is why those two industries have kept relatively quiet compared to their size).

@Tellmetruth4, I wouldn't bet on financial services being undamaged by Brexit, the loss of the "passport" for cross-border services will surely have an impact.

@Amortentia

Out of curiosity if Brexit triggers the break up of the U.K. what percentage of U.K. fishing rights would go to an independent Scotland and a United Ireland?

60% of U.K. fishing waters are in Scotland, so if we do get independence soon what ever uk gov agree now will be irrelevant.

Yay!

That’s what makes me laugh about the Scottish referendum - they don’t want to be governed by Westminster, yet they’re happy to be governed by the EU and all that cones with that.

That’s because there is a huge difference. At least in the Eu Scotland would send MEPs we voted for.

@Friendsoftheearth

You need to remember that the UK chose to leave the EU not the other way round.

I don't blame the French, I don't even blame incompetent Boris, the blame sits squarely with the 17 million who voted Brexit.

Pipe down Colonel Blimp.

I’m sure the absolute rotters won’t miss you.

FYI irrational to be cross with a whole nation. Bit of a category mistake in fact. Poor show.

PS The sun now sets on the British Empire by the way

PPS Are you secretly Harry Enfield working on a new character? Mr Cholomendley-Warner’s great grandson perhaps. If so, good show old man. Thanks for the laugh!

@MeowMeowLikeACow

Fun fact. The UK hobby fishing industry brings in more money to the economy than the UK commercial fishing industry.

I didn't know that! Thanks Meow 🐟

So OP, which way did you vote in the referendum?

Because we don't know if YABU unless we have that crucial pice of info.