Brexit MegaThread - part 14

[Peregrina]

Thread 13. We had a debate about whether there should be a new one but if no one answers this the whole series after 8 years plus will come to their end.

Brexit happened, although one time Leavers do not seem to appreciate this.
It's worth noting I think that Brexit was a Tory initiative and the Tory party has just received its worse electoral thrashing since 1832. Could it be entirely unrelated?

What next? A gradual rapprochement with the EU? A Norway style agreement?

At least EVDL was sensible enough not to gush in the way that Starmer appears to have done.

Why EVDL? I've seen a couple of people say EVDL.

Von der Leyen

Now can we get Starmer to be brave enough to return free movement to the Under 30's

He's got a HUGE majority and years till the next election
what / who is he scared of ?

what / who is he scared of ?

The Right wing press who will scream Freedom of Movement.
He needs to package the idea properly. Then try out the idea in the Red Wall and get his canvassers to ask older folk how they like the idea of their grandchildren being able to do a stint of work in the EU without the bother of visas. I doubt if anyone would object.

But the press are toothless until the next election
if only he had the balls to face them down

The Right wing press who will scream Freedom of Movement.

Like it's a bad thing.

Although UK citizens giving up their freedom of movement appears to have gone quite well. Maybe there's something in it ?

Not sure where the E comes from either

It's Ursula vd Leyden

And this was her message

I warmly congratulate Donald J. Trump.

The EU and the US are more than just allies.

We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens.

So let's work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them.

I don't see how anyone can have an issue with that message.

I just spotted I put a random 'd' in von der Leyen's surname, oops

Sorry I started that I should have typed UvdL, somehow I tripped up between EU and Ursula!

if Kamala Harris had won on Tues/Weds, do you honestly believe that Von der Leyen's message would have read:

'I warmly congratulate Kamala Harris
The EU and the US are more than just allies.
We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens.
So let's work together on a strong transatlantic agenda that keeps delivering for them.'

That one sentence of congratulation? Do you really believe that's all she would have written if Kamala Harris had won?

Yes, I think that would still have been an appropriate message.

@LouiseCollins28 not sure, on this occasion, what particular negative slant you are seeking to apply to Ursula von der Leyen as the congratulations proffered to Donald Trump is broadly similar to that offered the previous election winner. - The internet can be a wonderful resource. Both are from the EU published statements - opening paragraph of 2020 and 2024.

"I warmly congratulate Mr Joe Biden on his victory in the US presidential election and look forward to meeting him at the earliest possible opportunity." (7 November 2020 Statement)

"I warmly congratulate Donald J. Trump on his election as the 47th President of the United States of America. I look forward to working with President Trump again to advance a strong transatlantic agenda." (6 November 2024 Statement)

Maybe she had her fingers crossed ?

Well she doesn't use the word "friends" in her 2024 statement, but she did in 2020 when congratulating Biden.

Interesting that they are otherwise so similar. Maybe it's just the EUs standard beureacratic language comming off as rather cold and unfriendly to me rather than the micro-aggression I perceived it as originally.

Also, people are dodging the question. I didn't ask whether the statment was appropriate or not. Clearly it's appropriate, if rather perfunctory. What I asked was if Kamala had won, would the statement have only said exactly the same? Maybe if my point about EU langauge is correct it would.

What I asked was if Kamala had won, would the statement have only said exactly the same?

Respectfully, how the fucking fuck would any of us know ? It may have been ... it may not have been. If a dog wasn't a dog, would it be a cat ?

If you really want to pore over semantics to that degree, then I am sure there are loads of old manuscripts in museums and libraries that would be glad of the help. How's your Etruscan ?

I think, @LouiseCollins28, you will find that statements from national and international political representatives on these occasions are always appropriate, carefully thought through and specifically not partisan. They all recognise the importance of diplomacy and rise above 'playground' micro-aggression.
Your comments 'the EUs standard beureacratic language comming off as rather cold and unfriendly", "rather perfunctory" reflect your biases. Maybe do your own 'compare and contrast' of the statements made by a wide variety of country leaders etc on the occasion of a US Presidential election outcome.
And to answer the question you later posed, I would suggest that the language used, had Kamala Harris won, would have been much the same.

Of all the things to worry about around Trumps election win and this is the one you highlight?

I guess all the rest fades into insignificance compared to not being a friend of Ursula.

I think Louise's desperation to find fault with all things EU may, just possibly, be slightly clouding her normal objectivity...

Wonder if this message is better?

Great catching up with Keir Starmer today.

We are united in tackling global challenges, starting with our unwavering support to Ukraine.

The strength of our historical bond makes us great partners for the future.

In other news there seems to be a bit of momentum behind #MEGA
"Make Europe Great Again" which I find very interesting.

Guy Verhofstadt on X: "There is only one good response to the outcome of the American elections … MEGA … Make Europe Great Again ! 🇪🇺 https://t.co/aTpaNxv2PN" / X

Who said that, and when?

Hmmm

Quite a lot of the world still bears the scars from last time Europe was "great".

Possibly a badly thought out idea ....

UvdL, today