Starter's Orders

Yesterday, Monday 19th June, the Minister for Exiting the EU, David Davis, met his EU counterpart in the first face to face negotiation regarding Britain leaving the EU.

The British delegation did not have any briefing papers with them, it has been reported.

Almost from the off, Davis had agreed to the EU's timetable in discussing the fate of EU Nationals in the UK, UK Nationals in Europe, Ireland, then everything else, no parallel talks regarding trade, trade talks would only begin if the EU themselves thought sufficient progress had been made to that point.

So much for the bluster from Davis a couple of weeks ago that this was going to be the fight of the summer. When push came to shove, Britain had no opposition the larger party in the discussions. As was predicted, It does mean that now that is not going to be argued, that some kind of discussion can now take place, but that still gives both sides just 15 months now to conclude all discussions before the six month ratification process at home and in the EU can begin.

If any one country, parliament (national or regional) fails to ratify it, then there is no Deal. And Britain crashes out with no deal, and chaos will be unleashed.

Today, the Chancellor gave a speech in which he stopped pretending there was any upside to Brexit: "Monetary policy cannot prevent the weaker real income growth likely to accompany the transition to new trading arrangements with the EU".

The Governor of the Bank of England was even more pessimistic: "Before long, we will all find out the extent to which Brexit is a gentle stroll along a smooth path to a land of cake and consumption". Obviously, Brexiteers and its supports suggest this is naked politicking, but it his job to try to protect the national economy.

Who would you believe, the Governor of the Bank of England, or the Editor of the Daily Mail or Express?