Labour spin doctor, Alastair Campbell Slammed the Prime Minister for Revealing the Article 50 Timing. Others have done the same.
Timing of the article 50 announcement, by March 2017, is ahead of French and German elections. Politicians will have elections, not Brexit on their minds.
Many blame Theresa May because it will take time off the negotiations.
Politically speaking, May knows precisely what she is doing.
Those who think otherwise, need to consider how well she has rounded up support in many quarters by offering something to everyone: UK Prime Minister Attacks QE, Irresponsible Capitalism, Tax-Dodging Companies.
The date was carefully timed, precisely to put pressure on Angela Merkel by German car manufacturers (European car manufacturers and businesses in general), telling Merkel to go easy.
Late last week the Financial Times reported Merkel Warns European Business Not to Press for ‘Comfortable’ UK Trade Deals.
Mrs May’s insistence on new immigration controls and an end to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice makes it highly unlikely that Britain would seek to stay in the EU’s single market.
British ministers instead now speculate on the possibility of seeking sectoral deals to keep trade flowing, including a special regime for key traded goods such as cars. They also argue that the importance of the UK as a market for EU goods will oblige European governments to offer favourable trade terms.
Ms Merkel urged companies in sectoral talks to resist “pressure from European industry associations” and avoid the temptation to set aside EU principles — especially the freedom of movement — because it was “comfortable” to do so.
The chancellor dropped her usual references to the importance of maintaining close ties with the UK and instead highlighted her main priority — keeping together the EU 27.
She told the annual conference of the BDI, the German industry association: “If we don’t insist that full access to the single market is tied to complete acceptance of the four basic freedoms, then a process will spread across Europe whereby everyone does and is allowed what they want.”
That Merkel felt the need to make such statements shows precisely whet she is up against.
Businesses are going to press for free trade, and they should. Is the loss of jobs worth the alleged “integrity” of the “single market”?
If you have to act like gang leaders to maintain integrity, how much integrity do you really have?
Merkel will not listen of course, but will she be around? Another mess could just do her in. Well done, Theresa May!
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Mike “Mish” Shedlock
I’m more and more impressed with Theresa May…..Brexit is the gift that keeps on giving…
The bottom line is Germany is an export driven economy.
The UK is a huge market for German products.
If Germany foolishly cuts off that market for political reasons, there are plenty of other countries that will happily take the Germany’s place.
Yes there are other markets to replace Germany export i.e Mercedes Cars from Columbia or BMW from Brasil.
How about BMW built in Britain to ship globally with a competitive exchange rate? Merc too? Personally I quite like the new Jaguars and Lexus.
UK won’t be able to afford German built models.
Brussels and Merkel to May: “The beatings will continue until attitude improves”.
I bet 300 000 Brits arriving each year in Germany to seek permanent residence and exit socialism to enjoy capitalist welfare will be happy after Brexit.
You miust be joking!
A few points.
A) Germany will look to impose limits on eastern European migrants moving for benefitsb – benefits tourists. A move towards UK position. So much for free movement of people. More hypocrisy.
B) Long story, I think a leaving ante room will be looked at by EU under pressure from Germany. EEA, Norway etc, is ante room to join, not suitable for the UK.
C) Why B)? Various in Germany and Austria have expressed hopes UK will rejoin some time. Why return if you get beaten up on the way out?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/10/06/german-minister-eu-should-leave-door-open-for-uk-to-return-in-fu/
Attitudes are hardening in other quarters.
Germany will very much miss the British support in the EU parliament. That may be the biggest cost of all to them.
UK businesses are already being locked out of discussions in Brussels they would have otherwise been invited to. UK is still paying into the budget though. Shows who you are dealing with, what types.
Meanwhile, actions are being taken to narrow down areas of negotiation.
On exit day it is hoped ECJ will be free of the UK and in a very short period there will be free trade deals already signed to help soften the blow a little.
Anyone who sells their soul to BLiar has nothing of value to say on this matter.
Good luck to May who, in my mind, is a breath of fresh air.
You are so right & Cameron was the heir to Blair, used to call Blair the Master. ‘What would the Master do?’ when faced with need to press release stuff. Spin and bullish.
Nothing highlights free trade violations more than the exposure of cartel’s protection arrangements. Reminds me of the Black Hand in New York City prior to Prohibition.
French farming lobby are a force to be reckoned with that explains the Common Agricultural Policy that has deformed the market. It has also not helped a number of developing countries who only have agricultural products to offer the market and just don’t stand much of a chance.
Theresa May’s pimp hand is strong
Meanwhile the UK abides by its commitments as an example to the likes of Hollande.
https://www.ft.com/content/dd0313ec-ce78-11e5-831d-09f7778e7377
And Royal Navy helicopter based on German Naval vessel in the Mediterranean.
UK should work to abide by its commitments and at all times avoid inflammatory language as an example to others less able to control themselves.
We are being victimised, we are not the aggressor.
Just a shame Obama is no ally, but Heyshott, what goes around comes around.
Worth reading this. UK will suffer most but Germany is so dependent on exports that support domestic demand that a drop will feed through. What still looks like a titan of an economy can feel the pressure quite quickly.
https://global.handelsblatt.com/edition/487/ressort/our-magazine/article/how-vulnerable-is-germany
Look at the #’s to the UK for cars. This doesn’t include Peugeot/Citroen, Renault, Seat, Skoda etc. etc.
As goes Germany, so goes the EU. Germany is very export dependent, supporting domestic demand. China and the UK have been 2 important end markets. They are looking to work with Russia again and running to Iran, fully aware there are problems brewing elsewhere – UK and China are likely to weaken. What does that say should a global slowdown quicken its pace? What happens to the EU if Germany stumbles?
The TTIP is not welcome in Germany but it will be foisted on them and they will accept it. A little DB pressure can help get there.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/10/09/china-must-wean-itself-off-debt-addiction-if-it-is-to-avoid-fina/
US Bank comments. Don’t agree with the military success comment. Chance they would rather ship back to New York than go to Paris or Frankfurt. Can’t blame them.
https://www.ft.com/content/40851fd2-8da5-11e6-a72e-b428cb934b78
Jamie Dimon said he thought Brexit “made the chances of the eurozone not surviving in the next decade five times higher”. What about the entire EU project?
Think Greece negotiating with the EU, only this time Germany is Greece and Great Britain is the EU. Big talk up front followed by complete collapse when negotiations begin.
“The_Fish” needs to write his own blog.