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Ulrich Speck @ulrichspeck
, 4 tweets, 1 min read Read on Twitter
John Major on Brexit: "What is new is that much of the world will now perceive Britain to be a middle-sized, middle-ranking nation that is no longer super-charged by its alliances. Suddenly, the world will be a little chillier." theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/jo…
Brexit "will damage our national and personal wealth, and may seriously hamper our future security. It may even, over time, break up our United Kingdom. It will most definitely limit the prospects of our young."
“Without the UK, the dynamics of Europe may change. Once the UK leaves, the balance of the EU changes. The free market majority may be at risk: protectionists will be encouraged and, perhaps, empowered."
“Whether we are ‘in’ or ‘out’ the EU is in our neighbourhood; is our predominant economic partner; and our wellbeing is inexorably linked to their own wellbeing."
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Often overlooked but true until now -- James Traub: "Trump’s grossest offenses—so far—lie in the realm of rhetoric and posture rather than action, and thus can be more easily rectified through language and comportment." foreignpolicy.com/2019/01/02/tru…
However, "Among Democrats, the muscular internationalism of Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Hillary Clinton feels increasingly anachronistic."
"The public may find a lot to like in a candidate on the left who tells U.S. allies that the time has come to defend themselves by themselves—whether they’re able to or not."
Read 3 tweets
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FAZ commentary about the fashionable talk about a European army: "Especially the (German) political class wouldn't object if the unloved responsibility for military affairs would dissolve itself in some kind of European army."
That nails it. Germany (and not just the political class) feels uncomfortable with military power. Re-armament in the 1950s happened against widespread resistance and ever since Germans were happy to delegate defense to the US/Nato. Now some hope it can delegated to "Europe".
But a European army isn't a realistic prospect. Without US leadership, Europeans likely to be more, not less divided on strategic and military affairs. And neither Paris not Brussels will be able take over the role of the protector for Germany and Central Europe from Washington.
Read 4 tweets
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Essence of Trumpism: “America shouldn’t be doing the fighting for every nation on Earth [and] not being reimbursed” washingtonpost.com/opinions/globa…
"Several U.S. officials and people who have spoken directly to Trump since his Syria decision tell me they believe that Paul’s frequent phone conversations with Trump ... are having an outsize influence on the president’s recent foreign policy decisions."
"Trump has already decided to slash the U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan, which Paul has long pushed. Is South Korea next? Trump often says he wants to bring U.S. troops there home, too."
Read 4 tweets

Related threads

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Thread:
Lately I have become a bit obsessed with Britain’s trade deficit and Balance of Payments with the Rest of The World(ROW). Let me explain why, and what’s it got to do with #Brexit.
For me as a UK-expat in Euroland I have seen the value of my pension drop by 20% since the dreaded referendum.
Let’s home in on what happened around the time of the referendum. Although part of a longer term decline, the sharp drop did not go unnoticed by the commentariat. Sharp drop in Sterling rate highlighted June July 2016Cartoon of pound falling off cliff
Read 22 tweets
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1) Thread - It's not the Manifesto stupid, Why John McDonnell wants #Brexit
Interesting interview with JMcD on #Marr this morning. He talked about nationalisation of water companies but used "speculators" as a term quite liberally.
So what? Well, pull up a chair
2) however, let's say we do renationalise water, and gas & electricity. Ok, unlike rail (where the rail network is already nationalised & franchises simply expire & can be taken back) the utility companies are real industries with a market value
3) now, regardless of the wisdom (?) of privatisation, it happened, 30 years ago and we are where we are now. Labour would need to buy back these companies at that market value. That's a lot of money to find, a very long term bet and a lot of cash post #Brexit
Read 11 tweets
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1/ Tory #Brexit is not about immigration or strengthening our borders, it's about getting a tax haven. It's about slashing taxes on business and the rich, slashing regulations and workplace rights and privatising the NHS. A thread.
#PeoplesVote #FBPE
2/ Tory Brexiters have repeatedly called for regulations to be slashed, that means health, safety, food and environmental regulations. Often this is couched in terms of the requirements for a trade deal with the US. We all know about chlorinated chicken.
3/ Right-wing think tanks including leading Brexiter MEP Daniel Hannan's IFT and the US Cato Institute called for the NHS to be opened to foreign competition and a bonfire of consumer and environmental regulations
theguardian.com/politics/2018/…
Read 12 tweets
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The #Brexit rant 👇
1) In 2015 Cameron went to EU for reform.
I said, if he returns with something tangible, I'd support his choice on EURef (Remain, turns out).
EU sent him home with his tail between his legs & made me a hardened #Brexit supporter, when I saw them humiliate him.
2) Cameron was a giant amongst mere clowns, but they still disrespected him.
He stands above every one of them, as the leader who steered his nation best through the choppy waters of the 2008 economic crash.
They had no RIGHT to humiliate the man.
3) Ever since then, EU has been arrogant & constantly felt entitled to humliliate our PM.
I've gone from being willing to listen & possibly Remain, to wanting out on whatever terms necessary.
WTO is my benchmark, I'll accept a reasonable deal, but no half-way measures at all.
Read 21 tweets
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*Brexit at the Border: Voices from local communities in the Central Border Region of Ireland/Northern Ireland*
An initiative by @QUBelfast & @europe_icban to gather data on the immediate & anticipated effects of #Brexit for those living on the #Border
qub.ac.uk/brexit/Brexitf…
1/10
Here are some of the key findings from the report in slide form.
First an overview of the study itself:
Rich qualitative data (online survey & focus groups) gathered across the Central Border Region. Detailed examples & viewpoints heard from people on both sides of #border.
2/10
Respondents to the survey came from across the 8 local authority areas of the Central Border Region, moreorless equally from both sides of the border. 50/50 male/female. 80% 31-65 yrs.
There were far fewer Leave-voting respondents so they got extra attention in our analysis.
3/10
Read 10 tweets
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1. You can only have effective politics when you have shared experiences and common endeavours. That is why people are nostalgic for post-war Britain - where everyone experienced the same things through a shared lens - back when the BBC was the BBC.
2. This generation is atomised by way of having insular and atomised lives with multiple and diverse inputs where the things that bind us are few and weak. The fabric of the nation is worn and the politics of London no longer reflect the country. Our politics is dysfunctional.
3. We could not, therefore, ever expect the EU to work. Its institutions are not by the people for the people. There is no common culture, no shared experience (except for the privileged few) and certainly no common endeavour since the end of the cold war.
Read 21 tweets

Trending hashtags

#SingleMarket #pseudoscience #EURATOM #EU #Brexit #KeepTheFaith #ProjectFear #FinDomme #BollocksToBrexit #brexit #PeoplesVote #SarahWoolaston #BrexitChaos #Euref #today #FinancialDomination #PatronState #ExitFromBrexit #FFS #Leave #peoplesvotenow #DExEU #language #BrexitDK #ThePoliticiansKnewAllAlong

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