Vocal Voices

I believe the outpouring of Invective and sheer Spite from the EU comes from their sheer powerlessness.

During the financial crisis, the EU were the masters. In control, removing governments, wielding power.

Now? What?

We didn't join the Euro. So "well crash your banks" is not an option. We didn't join Schengen so "you'll have to reinstate the borders" is not an option. We have not removed our embassies to the world at large so "you'll have a huge cost to re-establish your presence in the world" is not an option.

What do they have left?

Huffiness. Threats. Anger. Spite.

But in all reality they are totally powerless in this situation. The power rests with they UK and they know it. The best they can do is try and down our economy by direct divisive action of the ECB, over whom we have no control, or veto.

Of course trying to trash the UK economy is fraught with danger. They rely on us way more than we rely on them so their 60bn of net exports to us would be hurt more. Also the more they trash the pound the better our exports do and we now do 55% of our export business with the rest of the world, not the EU. Which is why there is such a trade imbalance with the EU.

Oh and the UK is an Oil exporter too. So that benefits us if the £ drops.

I must admit, right now, I'm missing being in Brussels. I would be sitting in the Hairy Canary, or those pubs around it and Schuman and just listening.

The indignation, the outrage. We DARED. Yes we did and like an abusive and overly controlling husband; the EU is lashing out when the unhealthy relationship is being divorced.

I do wonder if anyone will ever subject the whole thing to a psychological analysis in later years. That would be fun...

I like your summing-up of the present situation, Suff.
It makes me feel a lot better.

I'm so glad the 'Leave' brigade won the day.
Now I'm wondering how many other countries will follow suit?

I think that's an eminently fair analysis, Suff.

The bureaucrats are now jockeying for key starting positions for the upcoming divorce negotiations. But the EU doesn't hold all the cards. Two can play at hardball.

36 hours on, I have no regrets at voting Leave from an organisation happily turning itself into a rigid Superstate, even though on a personal level, we've taken a hit in the sense that it has probably cost us a house sale. But that's life.

It's reported that 800,000 Poles working in this country - that's the population of Birmingham. Went through the city centre on Thursday morning; Eastern European Big Issue sellers on the streets, virtually every language being shouted into mobile phones except English. Not my city any more. Hopefully we can slowly, without rancour, push back the tide.

What did anyone expect? Gentle handshakes, hugs, and an aperitif or two?

Both sides are going to be chanting across the channel at each other like football fans. The behaviours of both sides will be pathetic. Yes, theirs and our perfect selves'.

Anyone would think that we now have the moral high ground and that all will kneel before us. It is not going to be like that. Live with it and move on.

The huffs and the spite isn't just coming from the EU, it is coming in spadesful from those who voted Remain too.

Workingman wrote:What did anyone expect? Gentle handshakes, hugs, and an aperitif or two?

Both sides are going to be chanting across the channel at each other like football fans. The behaviours of both sides will be pathetic. Yes, theirs and our perfect selves'.

Anyone would think that we now have the moral high ground and that all will kneel before us. It is not going to be like that. Live with it and move on.

I expected nothing else. But I know a significant amount about the EU and it's aspirations given my extensive work in the EU and a fair amount of working with people who work for the EU.

No we're not perfect. But, as we're seeing, they are less perfect and more enraged. They have lived with the knowledge that nothing they did would stop the juggernaut.

Too big to fail? Not any more.