I will try to do this thread without swearing but it will be hard…
…and I’m afraid im really going to have to spell it out to some of you.
This EU has set out a way back to Rejoin…but many of you remainers still don’t get it....
- A thread -
2/
How many of you wanging on about Starmer actually read the treaty or commentary on it?
Of course it’s lousy. But in 1 way it’s good:
If you’d read it, you'd know EU have cleverly & quite deliberately set out a way back to rejoin..
...with big bl**dy lanterns to mark the way
3/ The treaty sets up not just a framework for constant negotiations but 5 year reviews for “adjustment”. Anything is possible 2026:
Single Market, alignment up to 90% of EU membership – but one thing won’t be – Rejoin.
& that’s as 2024 election won’t be fought on 2nd referendum.
4/
Johnson/a Brexiter will be PM in 2024 – they’ll win any election on 2nd referendum – easily.
Which is why Labour ruled it out.
Also not clear EU would be exactly "enthralled" by a non-aligned state suddenly deciding it’ll (re)join EU.
You – all of us - need to get smarter.
5/
What we all must understand....and fast is:
The road to rejoining the EU runs thru alignment...
....Which runs thru 2026 review...
....Which depends on 2024 election.
So how do we get there?
6/
We get there by working with we have now – not deluding yourself that you can convince a majority of the population to vote for a 2nd referendum barely 3 years after we left EU.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN
That way lies insanity.
7/
So what do I see?
Many remainers whining that altho voting against Boris treaty was pointless “it was important for Starmer to make a pointless principled stand…for me”.
Seriously grow up.
This isn’t about you or even the so-called Redwall seats – its about adult politics.
8/
Also the idea that Tories will blame Labour for voting for Brexit makes no sense. In fact its really dumb.
Its Johnson’s deal.
It got a Tory majority.
Indeed, more than anything else, Brexit is now Toryism personified.
If things turn sh*t it won’t make it Labour’s Brexit.
9/
What Tories can do, indeed has done - & what has hurt Labour - is depict it as constantly trying to thwart Brexit.
UK is exhausted & wants a deal done even tho, revealingly, a majority think it wont benefit UK.
Think.
Where do you want to go?
How can we achieve this?
10/
Here’s how:
Win the argument on competence
Change narrative to UK being forced into this mess by Boris
Don’t offer 2nd referendum but offer “A better deal for Britain”
But most all - defeat Johnson’s Tories.
I couldn’t care less if that’s thru Lab, LibDems, PC, GRN or SNP
11/
But I tell you won’t you don’t do.
You don’t make a coalition with the 10% of hardcore “Never Starmers” to the point they prefer eternal Tory govt & Brexit rather than Starmer win an election.
Which is precisely what I see otherwise sane supposed “centerists” doing now.
12/
The prize is a decent country back in Europe.
We can be halfway, or even more, there by 2026.
But to get there we need to win in 2024.
Just over 3 years away – perhaps less.
So stop wanging on about pointless things or things you can’t change and help make it happen.
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I see alot of friends here are getting angry at various Starmer comments on Brexit.
I get its an emotional time, but with respect, alot of people arent thinking rationally right now.
No Starmer hasn't gone full Brexit - we need to look a bit more soberly at things.
A thread.
2/
The anger at whether Labour votes for the deal is one of the biggest, dullest non-issues of the day.
Its Johnson's deal - as he insists on telling us at every moment.
The ERG back it.
Labour's vote makes no difference either way.
I'd prefer Abstain - but I dont really care.
3/
Agonising over this is pointless.
A case can be made for all 3 options.
But ultimately its Johnson deal, the Conservatives deal and Labour MPs voting for it won't change that.
Nobody is going to come back & say it was Labour that brought this deal in 2 years time.
Let it go.
Complains: 1. Northern Ireland "cut off from the rest of UK" 2. European Human Rights regime "remains in UK" 3. UK "saddled with a rotten fishing deal" 4. EU firms will "still be allowed to tender for UK govt contracts"
2/3
Nigel Farage further on "Boris Johnson's rotten deal"
"In regulatory terms, the EU will hold a Sword of Damocles over Britain with the threat of immediate tariffs if they judge that Britain is being too competitive".
"This is not what I campaigned for".
3/3
Nigel Farage today:
"This is most certainly not what Boris Johnson's supporters voted for in the 2019 General Election".
"These handicaps will not allow Britain to transform itself into the Singapore-style entity in a European time zone that it could become."
2. Immigration will surely be trickier. But is UK govt really going to sabotage this? Will they also make reciprocal EU students going to N Ire unbearably difficult?
No.
As for numbers - English is the most demanded language - so Scotland will have no problem attracting students.
3. Costs - a problem. But not insurmountable it’s a matter of will & priority.
EU as @guyverhofstadt has shown has many interested in supporting UK students in ERASMUS.
In any case ERASMUS is not significantly expensive due to principle of reciprocity & low transport costs.
What many fail to grasp is - as English is more or less obligatory for EU youngsters - there’s always far more EUers wanting to come to UK than any other country. And particularly Brits who are shared out over many countries.
This has 2 effects..
3/
As Erasmus is largely reciprocal this means UK academic institutions don’t have to try too hard while EU colleges tend to be generous with Brits. I know my Erasmus year was much better run than German students going in opposite direction. They couldn’t afford to lose us.