Brexit mega thread part 10 : what's the (s)tory? Incompetence, tax evasion, dodgy loans and economic free fall...nothing to see here...check out those sunlit uploands!

[Chevyimpala67]

Part 10 of our long running thread.
I'm still putting my money on a spring GE.
The tory slash and burn of the UK is right on track.
Bon chance my friends!

In terms of Space Agency what does £1.6 million buy you? I'm thinking one pen that works upside down and pack of adult nappies.

As a wag pointed out (beating me to it) NASAs budget for paperclips exceeds that.

We also need to recall the UKs accounting practices. "£1.6 million" needs to have the "friends and family" discount applied (through various companies run from sheds).

The net amount to UK space research is actually £1.60, two drachma, and an Everton mint.

The Express has become a weird place since they let AI drive it. Quite pro-Lineker, and anti-Fiona Bruce. Certainly online.

Also quite pro-Rishi, anti-Boris.

BBC News - Suella Braverman: Civil servants demand apology over small boats email
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-64890882

Trust Braverman to pass the buck and try to blame someone else.

A new Reak Daily Briefing from Larry & Paul...

on that same page a little lower don - close to the bone

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/mar/08/eu-could-terminate-police-and-security-agreement-if-uk-quits-echr

The UK’s trade agreement with the EU could be immediately terminated if the British government quits the European convention on human rights (EHCR) over the issue of stopping small boat crossings across the Channel, legal experts have said.

Under the 2020 trade and cooperation agreement (TCA), the EU has the right to take retaliatory action including the ending of the hard-fought agreements on extradition and access to the database of biometric data including fingerprints and DNA, said Steve Peers, a professor of EU and human rights law.

Seems the text is laced with the ECHR. Almost - almost - as if the EU didn't trust the UK. And here's a doozy ...

“If the UK left the ECHR or denounces all or part of it, it is fairly clear that the EU would suspend the police and security agreement,” he said pointing out that the TCA locks Britain into a number of provisions relating to the human rights convention as a standard on policing.

One step forwards with our relationship with the EU by acting like adults over the NI protocol issues. 4 million steps back the following week by acting like twats again. Fucking idiots.

Meanwhile, the EU is bringing the Us to heel over the America First act

www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-eu-to-start-trade-negotiations-on-minerals-f5f58d7a

Brexit voters would love that though. Out of the ECHR and a 'no deal' Brexit it one go. I can see them dancing in the streets celebrating.

Brexit voters would love that though. Out of the ECHR and a 'no deal' Brexit it one go. I can see them dancing in the streets celebrating.

You mean "The few remaining Brexit voters" Like a balloon with the air escaping, brexit seems to make more noise with less in.

Macron has already told Rishi to shove it too.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/britain-french-eu-small-boats-crisis-b2297421.html

TL;DR is that it's up to the UK to put in place something France can work with. And since France is signed up to the ECHR, it has to comply.

This is what the dribbling rump of alleged Brexit supporters either do not grasp or grasp, but wish for a different reality. When you want to engage with other countries - be it in trade or security, or alliances - then you end up having to have some common standards. By all means, go it alone if you like. But unless you have the power of Empire (newsflash: the UK doesn't) you need to compromise.

The text about denouncing the ECHR is interesting too. It means the government itself can't really whinge. So I suspect all the anti ECHR press will very carefully have come from "sources close to ...." etc etc, with ministers blandly telling us "this isn't what we think".

The UK is going to pay France to help with migrant crossings

Exclusive:

Rishi Sunak will today announce a multi-year deal with France to stop boats on beaches worth more than £200m

First year alone is at least £75m

Deal runs for at least three years and will easily eclipse previous commitments

twitter.com/Steven_Swinford/status/1634096045847113729?t=_VFFZSNnmZIpn7mhQ5mWwQ&s=19

The UK is going to pay France to help with migrant crossings

Deal runs for at least three years and will easily eclipse previous commitments

That commits the UK to 3 more years in the ECHR, whatever the pond dwellers might think. I can't see the French courts allowing their government to do our dirty work.

(I imagine the deal is preceded by "this is covered by European law").

Via Sky

Not every Tory happy

One said: “‘There is a concern among backbenchers that the French have mugged us off for cash with nothing in return. If giving the French £200 million doesn’t work again, this could be the biggest robbery since brinks mat”

Not every Tory happy

MN needs a small violin emoticon.

Diddums

But curiously they aren't unhappy that the deal would be under the ECJ.

(The real reason being they haven't the faintest clue about anything. Seriously).

I also note the French preference for a UK-EU deal. Which takes longer and (apparently) will frustrate Tories desperate for a quick win.

I'm guessing this is a natural reflection of the fact that there are 27 countries in the EU, and they like to work together where possible. Just a shame that it makes everything that bit slower for countries that want to deal with them on their own. (I doubt the US would face any delays. But then the US is fucking huge, compared the UK).

Are we going to pay them this time? Have we paid the bill we didn’t pay last time?

Maybe the French have more class that to mention money.

How serious is France about stopping the small boat?

Agnes Poirier(French journalist): "It's a British problem.. but brexit makes this difficult, b/c there's no question of returning those migrants back to France.. Britain must put this to the EU... safe & legal routes"

twitter.com/Haggis_UK/status/1634171184576184322?t=trkgDuu6z7RQaMp8dTHvYw&s=19

Macron Sunak press conference

Speaking in English so there can be no misunderstanding. Emmanuel Macron says there can be no bilateral agreement for France to take back migrants who try to cross the Channel

That’s an EU matter, he says. The French president added that migration and the challenge of people smugglers were a wider matter than just between France and the UK.

<mic drop>

Musing - ironic if after all the incompetence over 13 years it's the Tories disruption to football coverage that is the first domino in the fall of the government.

If not I might hope that the overtly tory establishment in the BBC is now toast and the door opens to more critical, ie balanced, coverage

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-eu-immigration-builders-construction-b2297207.html

Brexit U-turn: Builders to get special immigration status to tackle construction industry crisis