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AIBU?

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Original poster

Really very sad with France!

999 replies

Friendsoftheearth · 08/12/2020 06:52

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
Zilla1 · 08/12/2020 07:32

How dare France?

Still, I was told I was a complete idiot if I really believed the German car manufacturers would let Frau Merkel let the EU not give us everything we want....

Sovereignty - well done the SPAD who said to take that press line.

We can have all the fishing we want. And the ability to sign buccaneering trade deals. Just not with all the access to the Single Market and the other benefits. Boris may want to have his cake and eat it but cake shops/the EU aren't forced to agree.

By the way, the Single Market is worth thousands of times more than fishing.

Where are the UK's fish sold?

Europilgrim · 08/12/2020 07:33

When did you last eat mackerel, op?
I eat it a lot as it is one of my favourite fish. I get it from one of my three local fishmonger's. In my town in Italy. 😉

MrsMiaWallis · 08/12/2020 07:33

@bellinisurge

"France and Germany are not working together."

Based on what evidence. Snarky shite journalism in the Daily Fail isn't evidence.

The Times today.
BackwardsGoing · 08/12/2020 07:33

@WhyDoYouAsk

Backwards 😂😂😂😂 🧀 🐠

I hope you appreciated the "Fin" pun Wink

TriflePudding · 08/12/2020 07:33

Something that you always see on these threads is the inevitable posters who come on to say “we left the EU so we deserve to be left high and dry, I don’t blame the EU for shafting the UK” but these posters completely lack the self awareness to realise that what they are saying is - “if you don’t think the way that I do or have the same values as me then you deserve to be shafted over” That kind of thinking is never going to end well.

SabrinaThwaite · 08/12/2020 07:33

@MeowMeowLikeACow

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

Debenhams employs more people than the UK fishing industry.

AnneTwacky · 08/12/2020 07:34

Unfortunately we did this to ourselves.

It was us who voted to leave the EU.

It was our government who didn't take working out a trade deal seriously for 4 years until now.

It was our government who pretended to their voters we could keep all the benefits of EU membership without any of the responsibility.

It was our own government who's shafted both Northern Ireland and Eire, so of course the EU are not looking kindly on us.

It is our government who lied that we didn't have sovereignty, whilst in the EU and gaslighted us that the MEPs we voted for were unelected.

Macron's job is to look after France and while I'm heartbroken at what's in store for our country, it's not his fault what's happening to us. He has his own sovereign nation in the EU to think of.

Covidnomore · 08/12/2020 07:34

*Cygne

I don't really think you could call it an argument. That suggest there was some basis to what they were saying.

There was not.

This was lies pure and simple.

And unfortunately now we have one of the most corrupt governments in Europe.

AaronPurr · 08/12/2020 07:34

I hope you appreciated the "Fin" pun

Not bad, cod do better… 🤣

KaptainKaveman · 08/12/2020 07:35

@Friendsoftheearth

I have supported France in every way for decades. I am insulted.
You are being ridiculous in the extreme. Hyperbolised nonsense.
HomeSliceKnowsBest · 08/12/2020 07:35

See I may well be being which here but if we take back control of our waters, surely we won't all starve come the Big Goodbye, as we can all eat fish and seafood caught by our UK fisherpeople, in place of all the imported foods which we will supposedly be unable to obtain? In terms of jobs and air miles etc, isn't this a good thing?

MrsMiaWallis · 08/12/2020 07:35

The ambush had been brewing in Brussels for a fortnight, exposing a serious rift between the EU powerplayers, France and Germany

It goes on

Europilgrim · 08/12/2020 07:35

“if you don’t think the way that I do or have the same values as me then you deserve to be shafted over”
No that's not what we're saying at all. We're saying don't be surprised when your idealistic view of Brexit comes up short against hard reality.

Zilla1 · 08/12/2020 07:36

How could Boris' NI deal be great? Then so bad the UK needs to break international law? And how much will that prejudice negotiations with the EU and US and others?

Have you ever seen articulated a solution to maintaining access to the Single Market and signing divergent buccaneering deals without breaking the NI GFA?

The main problem is that Boris, Gove, Rees Mogg and others don't truly have skin in the game and are insulated.

makingmammaries · 08/12/2020 07:37

You’re sad with France about that?

I’m sad/angry with France for police brutality, dictatorial laws, and lack of clarity on residence permits for those of us who moved there before all this crap happened.

And furious with the UK for disenfranchising and abandoning its citizens who live in Europe.

Hey ho.

CitizenClem · 08/12/2020 07:37

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

Grin Grin Grin

Newjez · 08/12/2020 07:37

@Friendsoftheearth

mill France have a great deal to lose if there is a no deal!!
Not really. They can subsidize their fishing for a few months whilst they reek utter havac on us. When our supermarkets are running out of food, our builders have no supplies and we have constant blackouts, then Boris will be dragged back to the negotiations. We are in open competition now, against a large and powerful neighbor, who will act in their own selfish interest. It's what we voted for. Enjoy!
Regretsandregrets · 08/12/2020 07:37

WE decided to leave.There were only 2 options, a bad deal or no deal!
Why do u expect EU to give us a golden handshake and a kiss on the cheek to enjoy our independece?

Europilgrim · 08/12/2020 07:37

And furious with the UK for disenfranchising and abandoning its citizens who live in Europe.
Me too.

Covidnomore · 08/12/2020 07:38

Trifle

I don't want the UK shafted.

What a stupid things to say.

You are essentially saying I want my children's lives to be so much worse than they could have been, because I want Leave voters to realise the mistake they have made.

I have hoped for the last few years that I have been very wrong.

The inevitable hardships we have voted for is not something I would wish on anyone.

bellinisurge · 08/12/2020 07:38

@TriflePudding , it's a negotiation and we have nothing to offer other than "we won't break the law like we said we were going to".
I love both my two countries (I'm a dual Irish/UK National)but we in the UK are being ill served by third rate politicians. And watching them negotiate is like watching a beloved family member making shit stupid choices.

Wellshellsbells · 08/12/2020 07:38

The majority of the U.K. asked for brexit.this is just the chickens coming home to roost.

KaptainKaveman · 08/12/2020 07:38

@Covidnomore

If you voted Leave then please take responsibility.

This is all completely unnecessary.

Johnson does not even believe in Brexit ffs.

For him he thought supporting Leave (who would Lose) would get him the PM job.

We have been lied to and yet people still blame others.

Yep all true.

If you are looking for someone to blame for your terrible plight and hampered access to "French cheeses, wine and truffle oil" Hmm then look closer to home.

HmmSureJan · 08/12/2020 07:39

I knew you'd get replies saying you were being unreasonable OP. People just love to despise their own country on here. You're not wrong.

SionnachRua · 08/12/2020 07:40

It was our own government who's shafted both Northern Ireland and Eire, so of course the EU are not looking kindly on us.

While I agree with your overall point the Irish generally don't like being referred to as Eire in English language conversation. Harks back to the British refusing to recognise our chosen name. Besides, the Irish name of the country is Éire, not Eire. Eire means burden.