,
9 tweets,
3 min read
Read on Twitter
Fucking interminable letter from Theresa May to Donald Tusk 
Headline: She has shifted her planned departure date from May 22nd, when European election is held, to June 30th, when new MEPs take their seats.
But it's all irrelevant really, in the same way the Cooper bill will probably prove to be irrelevant. Reality is we'll take what they give us, and it looks like that's going to be a full year.
If Britain was not off its tits, this would be a major concession from the EU. They are giving up a time advantage. But by this point there's no point pressing it. We've fucked ourselves so hard there's really no need to do it any more thoroughly.
Anyway, there is some really encouraging stuff in that letter. Namely this, which confirms we'll start proceedings for European elections 'just in case'.
And this, which does the same thing. This is beautiful music, playing in the breeze. It removes the immediate possibility of a hard cliff edge, which cannot be moved.
So, yes, lots of the usual things to get depressed about: lies, contortions, self-serving bullshit, lack of self-awareness, the embarrassment of a prime minister asking for something which would reduce UK advantage so she won't upset her backbenches, and then being denied it.
The utter national shame of that last part: Of having a negotiating partner impose more rational policy decisions on you for your own good, like a fucking child.
But dig beneath all that. On the core information - the prep for Euro elections, the expected EU offer of one year flexible extension - this is a really positive development.
