May wanted an increased Tory majority so as to negotiate from a position of strength. That may or may not have been the result. But losing her majority certainly has her negotiating from a position of weakness.British negotiators have capitulated to key European demands for a phased approach to Brexit talks, agreeing to park discussions on free trade until they have thrashed out the cost of the multibillion-euro UK divorce settlement.
Putting a brave face on a concession that may further strengthen the tactical dominance of the EU, the Brexit secretary, David Davis, insisted his initial retreat remained consistent with long-term government strategy. “It’s not how it starts, it’s how it finishes that matters,” Davis said in Brussels after their first day of formal talks. “Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.”
Previously, Davis had threatened to turn the issue into the “row of the summer” in a bid to avoid being held to ransom over the divorce settlement. He had hoped for talks on trade to run in parallel with divorce discussions, but a politically weakened UK team appear eager to show signs of progress on Monday even if it meant accepting priorities set by their counterparts.
The chief EU negotiator, Michel Barnier, made clear that he believed Britain was in no position to dictate the timing of the negotiations. “The UK has asked to leave the EU, not the other way around, so we each have to assume the consequences of our decisions and the consequences are substantial,” he replied, when asked if the EU was making any concessions of its own. “Please do not underestimate those consequences.”
Kicking a man when he's down.
Re: Kicking a man when he's down.
And from the "elections have consequences" file:
"Hang on while I log in to the James Webb telescope to search the known universe for who the fuck asked you." -- James Fell
Re: Kicking a man when he's down.
It would seem that by its absence from the Queen's Speech, that Lord Dampnut's state visit to the UK is off.
"Hang on while I log in to the James Webb telescope to search the known universe for who the fuck asked you." -- James Fell