Workingman wrote:Which, as you damned well know, it did.
Really? I read the whole article. The only thing the EU gave, without reservation, was something which was totally within the control of the UK anyway. Further integration is a unanimous vote situation where some states may chose to further integrate but others cannot be forced as they have a veto.
Everything else? 4 years on benefits block. No, seven years sliding scale, plus complete rejections in specific areas. On the others? Typical EU verbiage where it would "make efforts" Where feasible. In other words, they would not bind themselves to the UK requirements.
I'm well aware how to read what was agreed. He asked for some categoric changes and he got lip service. The voters recognised it as such and voted against it.
This is typical of the EU negotiating stance. The most recent attempt to "negotiate" came when a member state senior minister suggested the UK "just sign" the deal on the table then they would "look at changing it". What a wonderful world these people live in where they can insist you do what they demand before they will talk about changing those demands.
Fortunately not even our MP's are quite that thick.
On the upside Hammond's constituency party is preparing to launch a vote of no confidence in him.
I also read the Guardian's spin on the permanent secretaries response to Corbyn. It was laughable. Do these guys even know the way our parliament works. If government is shut down for an election no major policy decisions will be made. The last major policy decision was to leave the EU on October 31st. To change that would be a MAJOR policy change which the caretaker government could not effect....
As for the other part where Corbyn was told that, essentially, staying in the EU after 31st October was not up to the UK but was actually up to the EU, that was spun as some positive.... Really, delusions are wonderful things.
Meanwhile Corbyn makes his play for unseating the Tories. "Crown me King" he says "and I will lead you to the second referendum". Lib Dem response? "Not likely".
It's becoming the comedy of the year.