July 09, 2018, 03:25 PM
sjtillHere is the full text of Johnson's resignation letter:
quote:
Dear Theresa
It is more than two years since the British people voted to leave the European Union on an unambiguous and categorical promise that if they did so they would be taking back control of their democracy.
They were told that they would be able to manage their own immigration policy, repatriate the sums of UK cash currently spent by the EU, and, above all, that they would be able to pass laws independently and in the interests of the people of this country.
Brexit should be about opportunity and hope. It should be a chance to do things differently, to be more nimble and dynamic, and to maximise the particular advantages of the UK as an open, outward-looking global economy.
That dream is dying, suffocated by needless self-doubt.
We have postponed crucial decisions - including the preparations for no deal, as I argued in my letter to you of last November - with the result that we appear to be heading for a semi-Brexit, with large parts of the economy still locked in the EU system, but with no UK control over that system.
It now seems that the opening bid of our negotiations involves accepting that we are not actually going to be able to make our own laws. Indeed we seem to have gone backwards since the last Chequers meeting in February, when I described my frustrations, as Mayor of London, in trying to protect cyclists from juggernauts. We had wanted to lower the cabin windows to improve visibility; and even though such designs were already on the market, and even though there had been a horrific spate of deaths, mainly of female cyclists, we were told that we had to wait for the EU to legislate on the matter.
Brexit dream dying, Johnson says as he resigns
Raab replaces Davis as new Brexit secretary
Brexit: All you need to know
So at the previous Chequers session we thrashed out an elaborate procedure for divergence from EU rules. But even that now seems to have been taken off the table, and there is in fact no easy UK right of initiative. Yet if Brexit is to mean anything, it must surely give ministers and Parliament the chance to do things differently to protect the public. If a country cannot pass a law to save the lives of female cyclists - when that proposal is supported at every level of UK government - then I don't see how that country can truly be called independent.
Conversely, the British government has spent decades arguing against this or that EU directive, on the grounds that it was too burdensome or ill-thought out. We are now in the ludicrous position of asserting that we must accept huge amounts of precisely such EU law, without changing an iota, because it is essential for our economic health - and when we no longer have any ability to influence these laws as they are made.
In that respect we are truly headed for the status of colony - and many will struggle to see the economic or political advantages of that particular arrangement.
It is also clear that by surrendering control over our rulebook for goods and agrifoods (and much else besides) we will make it much more difficult to do free trade deals. And then there is the further impediment of having to argue for an impractical and undeliverable customs arrangement unlike any other in existence.
What is even more disturbing is that this is our opening bid. This is already how we see the end state for the UK - before the other side has made its counter-offer. It is as though we are sending our vanguard into battle with the white flags fluttering above them. Indeed, I was concerned, looking at Friday's document, that there might be further concessions on immigration, or that we might end up effectively paying for access to the single market.
On Friday I acknowledged that my side of the argument were too few to prevail, and congratulated you on at least reaching a cabinet decision on the way forward. As I said then, the government now has a song to sing. The trouble is that I have practised the words over the weekend and find that they stick in the throat. We must have collective responsibility. Since I cannot in all conscience champion these proposals, I have sadly concluded that I must go.
I am proud to have served as Foreign Secretary in your government. As I step down, I would like first to thank the patient officers of the Metropolitan Police who have looked after me and my family, at times in demanding circumstances. I am proud too of the extraordinary men and women of our diplomatic service. Over the last few months they have shown how many friends this country has around the world, as 28 governments expelled Russian spies in an unprecedented protest at the attempted assassination of the Skripals. They have organised a highly successful Commonwealth summit and secured record international support for this government's campaign for 12 years of quality education for every girl, and much more besides. As I leave office, the FCO now has the largest and by far the most effective diplomatic network of any country in Europe — a continent which we will never leave.
The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP
LinkJuly 10, 2018, 05:54 AM
tacfoleyquote:
Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
“Nigel Farage has today announced that he may make a shock return as Ukip leader if Brexit is not 'back on track' by March next year.
The charismatic ex Ukip leader [who supports President Trump] tore into Theresa May's Brexit plans branding them a 'betrayal'.
And he said that he may return to frontline politics and run again to be party leader is he is not happy with the sort of exit Britain is heading for when the country formally Brexit next March.
His comments as the PM is fighting for her political life after her Government was rocked by the double resignations of Boris Johnson and David Davis…”
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/artic...rack-March-year.html
Mr Farage has a few things that work against him.
1. He is a conspicuous loudmouth, who, having set the house on fire, walked away from the flames.
2. He wears a 3/4 length overcoat with a velvet collar.
3. His first name, Nigel, does not sit well with a large portion of the male population.
The other possible runner in the next election race, Jeremy Corbin, is a commie. No matter what he now calls himself, his brand of Socialism is basically Marxist communism. He has never done a day's work in his entire life that was not promoting his brand of socialism.
tac
August 16, 2018, 02:30 PM
JALLENquote:
Originally posted by chellim1:
Why is this Brexit so difficult? Why do they have to have endless 'talks'? Why don't they just tell the EU to fuck off?
EU rebuffs idea of escalating Brexit talks to leaders' summit
Officials dismiss hopes that May could break deadlock by negotiating with states directly
https://www.theguardian.com/po...ks-to-leaders-summit
This whole thing was prophesized decades ago in this dialogue from Yes, Minister:
quote:
Sir Humphrey: Minister, Britain has had the same foreign policy objective for at least the last 500 years: to create a disunited Europe. In that cause we have fought with the Dutch against the Spanish, with the Germans against the French, with the French and Italians against the Germans, and with the French against the Germans and Italians. Divide and rule, you see. Why should we change now, when it’s worked so well?
Hacker: That’s all ancient history, surely?
Sir Humphrey: Yes, and current policy. We had to break the whole thing [the EEC] up, so we had to get inside. We tried to break it up from the outside, but that wouldn’t work. Now that we’re inside we can make a complete pig’s breakfast of the whole thing: set the Germans against the French, the French against the Italians, the Italians against the Dutch… The Foreign Office is terribly pleased; it’s just like old times.
Hacker: But surely we’re all committed to the European ideal?
Sir Humphrey: [chuckles] Really, minister.
Hacker: If not, why are we pushing for an increase in the membership?
Sir Humphrey: Well, for the same reason. It’s just like the United Nations, in fact; the more members it has, the more arguments it can stir up, the more futile and impotent it becomes.
Hacker: What appalling cynicism.
Sir Humphrey: Yes… We call it diplomacy, minister.
Link August 16, 2018, 04:31 PM
corsairquote:
Originally posted by chellim1:
Why is this Brexit so difficult? Why do they have to have endless 'talks'? Why don't they just tell the EU to fuck off?
Much of the to-do revolves around trade & finance and all the legal framework around it, you know tariffs, docking fees, exchange fees, who in the UK is responsible for what, etc.... There's also a hefty amount of foot dragging by the EU and the UK remain contingent; they're loosing a major banking partner (UK) and the largest financial center (London), if anything they'll keep the UK in limbo rather than negotiate to a less-than-good solution. The Brexit folks have been exposed to have been under-prepared and thus, hadn't even a basic structure to how to implement the whole thing.
April 05, 2019, 04:53 PM
Pipe SmokerI’ve given up trying to understand the BREXIT convolutions. I’ll just wait to see what, if anything, happens. Personally, I think that a no-deal BREXIT will be best for the UK. With Boris Johnson as PM.
“Emmanuel Macron is leading European efforts to stop Britain from getting any new delay to Brexit without a 'clear and credible' plan for leaving, saying we should otherwise be left to quit 'in a disorderly manner'.
Paris today attacked both Theresa May's plea to postpone leaving until June 30 and a separate plan from European Council president Donald Tusk to keep us in the trade bloc for a year.
A French diplomatic source said Mr Tusk's idea for a 'flextension' until March 29 2020 was 'a clumsy trial balloon' ahead of an emergency summit next Wednesday.
And European affairs minister Amélie de Montchalin warned that Theresa May's desire for a short extension of Article 50 with a break mechanism to leave sooner if a Withdrawal Agreement passed through Parliament was not likely to succeed…”
https://mol.im/a/6889671May 24, 2019, 05:59 AM
12131And, she is gone!
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/...leadership-election/THE END OF MAY Theresa May RESIGNS and finally admits defeat after Brexit shambles insisting ‘I’ve done my best’The Prime Minister will trigger a Tory leadership race on June 7 - after Donald Trump's state visitBy Hugo Gye and Natasha Clark
24th May 2019, 10:06 amUpdated: 24th May 2019, 11:35 am
TEARFUL Theresa May today finally admitted her time was up and quit as Prime Minister insisting: "I've done my best".
The PM was forced to resign after she failed to deliver Brexit and lost the support of her own MPs - but will continue in office as a lame duck until July.
Shortly after meeting Tory "executioner" Sir Graham Brady, she addressed the nation in the spring sunshine of Downing Street - watched by adoring husband Philip - and admitted her time is up.
The PM confessed she now has no chance of ever getting her Brexit deal through Parliament but insisted "I have done my best" to deliver on the referendum result.
As Mrs May enters her final days:
- Boris Johnson is favourite to take over as the next Prime Minister
- The leadership election will take around six weeks and conclude in mid-July
- Brexit is now on pause until the new PM is in place
- Tory MPs paid tribute to Mrs May's resilience - even the ones who plotted against her
- Today the PM claimed she had done all she could to take Britain out of the EU with a deal, saying: "Ever since I first stepped through the door behind me as Prime Minister, I have striven to make the United Kingdom a country that works not just for a privileged few, but for everyone. And to honour the result of the EU referendum.
"If you give people a choice you have a duty to implement what they decide. I have done my best to do that.
"Sadly I have not been able to do so. I tried three times - I believe it was right to persevere even when the odds against success seemed high."
Her voice cracking, she attempted to defend her legacy and insisted she has helped to fix Britain's "burning injustices".
Mrs May concluded: "I will shortly leave the job it has been the honour of my life to hold - the second female Prime Minister, but certainly not the last.
"I do so with no ill will but with enormous and enduring gratitude to have had the opportunity to serve the country I love."
After her speech, the PM and Philip May drove off to spend the Bank Holiday weekend at their home in Sonning, Berkshire.
Mrs May will stay in office for the next two weeks, allowing her to welcome Donald Trump to the UK on his state visit, and step down as party leader on June 7.
She will then continue as interim PM until a new Tory leader is chosen, and finally leave office in July.
Jeremy Corbyn today called for the new Prime Minister to trigger a snap General Election and let voters decide who should lead the country, saying: "The Prime Minister is right to have resigned. She has now accepted what the country has known for months - she cannot govern, and nor can her divided and disintegrating party.
"Parliament is deadlocked and the Conservatives offer no solutions to the other major challenges facing our country. Whoever becomes the new Conservative seader must let the people decide our country’s future, through an immediate General Election."
The embattled Mrs May ran out of road this week after her Brexit deal collapsed and ally Andrea Leadsom stormed out of the Cabinet.
Her resignation fires the starting gun on the Tory leadership race, with Boris Johnson at the head of a crowded field of contenders.
But the next PM could face the same Brexit deadlock as Mrs May - with Parliament and the Tory party bitterly divided over how to move forward.
Tories rallied around to praise Mrs May for her time in office - even the ones who stabbed in her in the back and quit her Government.
Mrs Leadsom, whose resignation earlier this week helped lead to Mrs May's departure, tweeted: "A very dignified speech by @theresa_may.
"An illustration of her total commitment to country and duty. She did her utmost, and I wish her all the very best."
Hardline rebel Steve Baker said: "Very dignified statement from Theresa May, beginning to set out the many things which she has achieved in office. This is a sad but necessary day."
Leadership candidate Dominic Raab, who is set to run to replace Mrs May, said: "Dignified as ever, @theresa_may showed her integrity. She remains a dedicated public servant, patriot and loyal Conservative."
Boris Johnson added: "Thank you for your stoical service to our country and the Conservative Party. It is now time to follow her urgings: to come together and deliver Brexit."
Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who is also tipped to run for the leadership, said: "Incredibly moving and dignified speech from the Prime Minister. She has given all in service of her country. Thank you Theresa."
Home Secretary Sajid Javid said: "Nobody could have worked harder or had a greater sense of public duty than the Prime Minister."
Simon Hoare, one of Mrs May's closest allies, joked: "I hope there’s a most enormous gin awaiting the PM."
Mrs May had been warned that if she didn't quit today, Sir Graham would start the process to force her out through a new no-confidence vote.
And Cabinet ministers threatened to bring down the Government if the PM didn't abandon her attempts to force through the Withdrawal Agreement Bill.
Meanwhile the Tories face a near-total wipeout when the Euro election results are announced on Sunday night.
This morning Mrs May faced one final blow to her authority as Helen Grant resigned as Tory party vice-chair, saying she wants to be involved in the leadership race by backing Dominic Raab.
The Prime Minister wanted her legacy to be taking Britain out of the EU, before turning to the "burning injustices" of UK society.
Instead she will remembered for her stubborn refusal to compromise and inability to unite her party.
Her last-ditch bid to save the Brexit deal by offering MPs a vote on whether to hold a second referendum proved the last nail in her coffin, triggering a Cabinet rebellion with Andrea Leadsom resigning.
Mrs May's resignation will kickstart a furious race to replace her with Boris Johnson the favourite to take over.
Dominic Raab, Jeremy Hunt and Michael Gove are also considered frontrunners - but as many as 20 Tory MPs could throw their hats in the ring.
But the leadership election is set to be hugely divisive for the Tory party with the two different wings attacking each other over what should happen next with Brexit.
Today top Brexiteer Steve Baker insisted the next leader must be someone who is fully committed to our EU departure and ready to leave with No Deal.
Jacob Rees-Mogg added: "A new leader can get us out of the EU on October 31, that is in law. Once that’s happened, then we can move on to other issues."
But the veteran Europhile Ken Clarke hit back, saying: "The idea that Conservative and DUP MPs will all come together behind a Nigel Farage-type figure is nonsense."