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Sovereign equal has become a #Brexiteers shout
EU does see UK as a sovereign equal in same way UK sees Thailand as a sovereign equal (Thailand 6 times smaller than UK) or US sees Mexico as a sovereign equal
Sovereign equal yes but economic equal not at all This is in the same way no British MP would compare UK with Thailand or Little Englanders in Tory Party see Scotland
What the British Government needs to learn is that size and economic power gives influence and having nuclear weapons or GCHQ does not change this - there are only 3 economic powerhouses China, EU and US - UK needs to decide which it wants to align with
Gravity says EU, Tory right wing says US but Trump lost so at least a wait to 2025 and we know @trussliz wishes to move UK to the Pacific which says align with China BUT we all then shout defence Hence you return to EU
Switzerland will become our model it will just take time Sadly UK’s strength as the bridge between US and EU gone
In addition China and Japan’s perception of UK as the best location in Europe market has gone
Demergers are always very difficult and #brexit is arguably the hardest ever - a very sad legacy like leaving single market for Thatcher
To be a success #brexit needed to be delivered in a pragmatic and visionary way This meant slowly over 5-10 years with small incremental change which no one noticed
Instead we have had 3.5 years trying to leave and a year of so called transition but actually no period of transition as no one still has the foggiest on what they are transitioning to The cliff coming is the same one that existed in June 2016 - a jump with no bungee
A pragmatic UK Prime Minister would still now agree a phased change over the 3 years so everything delivered without headlines prior to next General Election
But we have the opposite because hard line #Brexiteers realise they are now a minority in UK despite referendum win and Johnson GE majority they fear reversal
This fear drives the wish to make EU/UK relationship as distant as possible and hopefully acrimonious - if #brexiteers were actually confident of economic success post separation they would be requesting slow change Albeit some think short deep shock will be forgotten in 4 years
This is wrong because people do t forget being poorer, food & medicine shortages plus general incompetence
The other catch 22 for #Brexiteers is that a successful #brexit requires the nearby powerhouse the EU to boom and for us to benefit in slip stream This is hard to admit when so many hate the concept of EU
No deal will deliver heartache and accusations between EU and UK and then over next 5 years a slow return to sense and the required close relationship
Blaming EU will fail when actual majority in UK are against this #brexit - 48% plus Leavers who have changed their minds and 3m EU citizens in UK is a clear clear majority
In addition the little (big) lies in 2016 will start to hurt with public opinion namely - right to travel/work/retire in EU, health, driving, instance, pets, passport lanes etc etc
@EFTA4UK showing the start in terms of a potential alignment again to EEA with resulting upside on the aforementioned annoyances and it will be interesting if they persuade ex Tory Remainers to support them on what will be a journey with Labour and Lib Dem’s
At some stage history says Tories will return to economic mainstream which will mean good working relationship with EU but seeing the composition of party membership and Tory MP attitudes on non EU matters it will I suspect t take 3 election losses
Remember “ how do you put Conservatives out of power for 20 years” Answer appoint “ Johnson and wait”
The end of my ramble
