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Should we try to bolster our friendship with Europe?
The author claims that the UK government “must unambiguously launch talks on a big, expansive trade deal with the EU coupled with a deal on European defence”.
Do you agree?
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If there just was a union of european countries to be part of, that would be perfect … oh wait.
UK should rejoin EU ASAP. Ideally 6 months ago.
I mean, ideally 5 years ago
The UK government answers to its paymasters which is finance capital so it’s going to do none of that.
It’ll never stop being funny to me that the UK claims to have special relationship with the USA, a thing that nobody over there has ever heard about or cares.
It’s like them thinking they’re the nemesis, in modern EU terms, to Germany and France, who also do not care about this
I think most reasonable people that follow these things don’t think there is a special relationship. They know full well where the balance of power lies and how much of a shit USA gives about the UK (or anyone for that matter).
Not even Ireland has a special relationship with the US, and that would be the closest country I can think of that might be able to claim such a relationship. With their history, and currently a self avowed Irish American president in charge. The US has only one special relationship and that’s with itself. Always has been and always will be.
Hell I don’t think most unpolitical people think there is a special relationship, it’s like a brainworm infecting uk governments exclusively
the special relationship is that they can talk to each other in their native languages
I’m British and I think the claim is fucking ridiculous.
CANZUK cough cough
Thatcher then Blair’s neoliberal privatisation plus a decade and a half of Tory austerity has completely fucked the country, and that’s the kinda weak position that America will use to enforce its will on us.
Kier Starmer’s Labour party has already shown unwillingness to move away from austerity policies so we’re likely on the same track of decline with or without being in the EU.
Should we try to bolster our friendship with Europe?
I once had a girlfriend who started acting like a little bitch, created much drama and dumped me for no good reason. Then she tried to come back to me a few months later. Can you guess what I told her to do? It rhymes with “thereof”.
Hint hint Britain.
It rhymes with “thereof”.
…clear…off?
Exactly! 🙂
Holding a grudge is for losers. UK is more than welcome to rejoin as far as I’m concerned, speaking as a Swede.
Agreed, but none of the goodies they had last time around. Take it all or leave it 🤷
I’d say anything’s negotiable, really. No need to limit ourselves from either side of the table.
Agreed and I feel like people are sleepwalking on this. Between Russian agression and concerns from the USA and China - we shouldn’t just be welcoming the UK, we should be working hard to bring them back to the fold. If the EU want to keep living in a world where the EU is possible, they’ve got to start making stronger efforts to protect and shape it.
Can Canada join, please??
If you can take a ferry to the EU from Canada, you should be able to join.
Well, I don’t care either way personally. I’m just saying, not everybody is ready to welcome them back, should they so desire.
The UK doesn’t need to necessarily jump straight back into EU membership. There are other ways we can work together with Europe. Maybe at some point the UK government will consider rejoining the EU customs union and/or single market.
There are other ways we can work together with Europe.
My point was, Europe may not want to interact with a fickle country like the UK anymore than necessary again. They probably don’t need the aggravation.
EU would definitely need a firm commitment this time.
Yes and readmission should certainly include things that they didn’t insist on before, thing that made it easier for the UK to leave - common currency and the like.
Who could blame them? Lots of European people take a “you made your bed, lie in it” attitude. When we were in the EU, we were in on excellent terms, which will no longer be available, which will be a hard pill to swallow for many.
Not my view for what it’s worth. I’d happily welcome the UK back in.
Lots of European people take a “you made your bed, lie in it” attitude.
The problem is, lots of Europeans also think the UK shat their bed, then got up and left. That’s not easy to forgive.
Still, it is better to forgive but not forget. The deals that lie in the future will…should benefit EU more and will have to have safeguards against parties in power throwing tantrums for selfish gains.
Made their bed, shat in it, and in many cases refuse to leave/accept it’s a bad situation. I can understand Europeans who won’t forgive. I was fucking heartbroken when I woke up that morning and found out Leave had won. I wouldn’t shut up about what a stupid idea it was, on social networks and real life.
True, they probably don’t want more aggravation, but they may well be open to closer co-operation on defence for example, which the article mentions.
There are other ways we can work together with Europe
Like EEA membership.
EU is willing to fuck over its own members who they consider to be ‘periphery’ (PIIGS) or having trade deficits (even though the trade deficits were keeping surplus countries like Germany alive). I think it’s ultimately a good thing U.K. left that neoliberal union. Unfortunately, U.K. politics is broken and none of the parties, including Reform are willing to go beyond neoliberalism.
Now that Germany doesn’t have many markets to export to, it is suffering too.
Ah, yes, continuing to prioritise economy over society, and even humanity, that’s sure to start working out (for anyone other than the billionaires in power) any fucking day now… 🙄
If your economy is in chaos, you’ll quickly find yourself unable to care for society.
Healthcare, pensions, other benefits, infrastructure, schooling, law enforcement, fire services… the list goes on.
And I’m not sure what you mean by continue to prioritise economy. The economy hasn’t been prioritised in a long while. Brexit, covid handling, slashing infrastructure spending, etc have been awful for the economy.
The only way out of the mess we’re in is to make meaningful steps in improving the economy.
We need a good economy so we can afford things like the NHS, but yes the economy ideally would benefit every Brit, rather than just a few rich people.
No, we need to abolish capitalism so we can have free access to healthcare (and food, water, shelter), not to continue playing by the rules set out for us by those who profit from commodifying our basic needs and human rights.
How can you improve the economy when no one has enough purchasing power?
Millions of Brits are unemployed or underemployed. Put them to work first.
First hire health workers, first produce and import medical equipment. “Anything we can actually do, we can afford.” and all that.
