And even with a big gesture, Mr Freedland is wrong about this reaction. It won't be Meloni and Sánchez getting stuck in directly with Stamer and. Milliband to hammer out a compromise.

That is David-Davis-esque fantasy, and of course would directly harm European unity.

7

Europe will make it's decision on a mandate as 27, not 28; then engage the Commission (almost certainly) to negotiate the deal. There won't be division.

I don't mean to be hard, I'm delighted that the abysmal failure of leaving our union is being highlighted in the UK press.

8

In particular our redlines -

α) Unity of the 27
β) Demonstrating the advantages of membership
γ) Retaining decision-making freedom

- aren't going anywhere.

With that in mind, negotiating "a" customs union might work, but it will have strings to protect our redlines

5

This has made meaningful growth hard (the growth is coming from adding millions of people through immigration, which UKG intends to stop)

Mr Freedland is right to say the UK has to drop the redlines.

But that won't change the fundamentals on the European side.

4

So what are we actually talking about here?

Mr Freedlamd is right to make the connection explicitly between the UK's parlous situation and Brexit, and to wish for a UKG to speak directly about this

On top of structural issues, the UK has added Brexit friction

3

In this case, it has publicly made clear that the next steps of integration will include payments to the European budget as normal.

I will add that FoM of people will *have* to be on the table.

And Europe will want to discuss services and capital because they are inputs to goods.

2

And use of the indigenous population as cheap labour, either in the colony or in the metropole.

The effect was catastrophic in terms of Ireland's people (dead, fled, or impoverished) or land (denuded of tress to build the Royal Navy, or of people for extensive grazing)

4

Economy and culture are key.

Ireland was the test bed of colonisation for the English crown. That involved "planting" (taking land and putting in settlers from outside, as later used in North America); extraction or raw materials and destruction of manufacturing and services (mercantilism);

3

Let me start by saying I am not a cheerleader for Irlgov, nor do I have a historical axe to grind.

The effects of colonisation on a country are full spectrum. I want to focus on two aspects, but this should not diminish the filling of charnel houses, poorhouses, or coffin ships.

2

There's a good thread to be written about ireland responded brexit.

Realistically, the UK should be more thankful. It is being given opportunities by Bxl and the MSs.

It certainly isn't being bullied, despite what the UK press might have you believe.

Being outside, when you're used to having more of a say, can be disorienting.

5

European countries have got the message loud and clear.

Except one? While the UK is taking on our law, particularly as regard the north of Ireland, it is still treating shared standards as a burden for which it exceptionally needs exceptions.

4

Indeed for states and territories within and without, it is not obvious that Europe is the last redoute of fairness in a dog-eat-dog world

Whether that's 🇳🇴, traditionally mildly Eurosceptic 🇩🇰 microstate 🇱🇮*, hard neutral 🇨🇭, or territories like 🇬🇱 and 🇬🇮, European law is a haven

3

As @carolinedegruyter.bsky.social makes clear, Europe is not only the most dependable and honourable big power on the world stage, it is also an oasis of democracy and free trade is a world spinning out of control.

Small countries volunteer to take on European law for that reason.

Like Iceland

2

John Major is on the right track : Brexit’s been a crime.

All those who publicly supported it should politically and legally face their responsibilities.

John Major is right : as long as Brexit is not identified as a folly, the UK will not be able to move forward.

..which there for sure are.

The battle to Rejoin is fought in UK, and what we in EU can do is to make clear what the loss is of not being in EU - and to protect ourselves from those that want to harm us.

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