Brexit to still go ahead despite coronavirus.

[GerryT]

The EU will consider an extension request upto June 30th. My understanding is johnson implemented law to prevent the UK govt seeking any further extensions. For a  extension to be requested johnson would need to pass/change the law he only very recently introduced. He would have to ask his boss (cummings) what he should do but sound bites so far would suggest a request wont be sent. Most likely at this stage the UK will trade globally on WTO in January.

Why the uk didnt participate in the eu PPE programme is beyond me, but will the UK avail of the EU 500B slush fund, I think they can as "EU" members.

[Thomas]

The other thing is I am not sure whether the July deadline for extending the transition is a real hard deadline or just an arbitrary one.  I wouldn't be surprised if that deadline comes and goes but there is still an extension request later on.

You could be right javert. As i understood it , the end of july was the final chance to ask for another transition or whatever johnsons government are calling it. 15 weeks.



The eu were adamant this would be the final final chance. So they are going to look stupid to the world and appear to be begging the british to stay if they  let johnsons government go over that final final deadline and still offer an extension at a later date.



However covid 19 and the subsequent turmoil might just get them off the hook , and johnsons government . So we could get to the end of the year and barrys blue passport might be nothing more than wishfull thinking and stevlin will still be bleating about paying large sums of money to trade with this nasty nasty bloc of countries when we could do it for free.



Anything is possible.

[Thomas]

Do i detect a whiff of dissent and unrest among the rule brittannia brigade? ::

[Thomas]

 However, I do believe I might have mentioned that before!!

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. aye stevlin several times now over the course of many years , yet you remain completely silent over the fact we are now in april of 2020 , four years on from the brexit ref and your government is still paying the eu a very large fee every month.

[Borchester]

Yes, it will have a Salmon and a Sturgeon on the cover. Sounds fishy to me.  :|

 :hattip  :hattip

[Javert]

This shouldn't even be decided until July anyway as they should be currently focussed on the public health crisis.



I have seen that for the first time since the 2016 referendum, some polls are showing 70%+ support for extending the transition, with one poll putting even 20% of Brexit party supporters in favour of an extension.



Originally the transition period was supposed to be 2 years.



 It was then reduced to 11 months with no clear evidence that the amount of work involved had reduced by 60%.



It was then reduced effectively to 7 months by settin a July deadline for requesting and extension.



Actual negotiating time then reduced by the coronavirus crisis and by having to work in a much less efficient way.



If this was a railway or a bridge they were building even a child could understand that 2 years work can't be done in a few months with your hands tied behind your back.



So in the end it comes down to whether they are determined to go for no deal, which they seem to believe they can rebrand as Australia style!



It also comes down to whether Boris Johnson is prepared to continue this path knowing that even nearly half the people who still want Brexit think a delay is inevitable and sensible.  



The other thing is I am not sure whether the July deadline for extending the transition is a real hard deadline or just an arbitrary one.  I wouldn't be surprised if that deadline comes and goes but there is still an extension request later on.

[Stevlin]

Yes, it will have a Salmon and a Sturgeon on the cover. Sounds fishy to me.  :|

Nice one Barry....and if your claim turned out to be correct, it could be claimed that Thomas would have a whale of a time, instead of his usual wail of a time... however, Brexit should certainly not be delayed  for any reason...we have  borrowed and wasted more than enough to ridiculously subsidise our so called trading partners, even if the annual EU funding is a  miniscule amount compared to the total borrowing now forced upon us...every little helps as they say.... and that 'smal'l annual drain on the UK coffers has amounted to a significant sum since 1973, which could have been far better spent on improving the UK infrastructure. However, I do believe I might have mentioned that before!!

[Thomas]

Yes, it will have a Salmon and a Sturgeon on the cover. Sounds fishy to me.  :|

 :hattip



As i said on here the other day , it sounds though barry you have enough trouble of your own with your fifth columnists trying to use covid 19 as an excuse to kick the brexit can further down the road without worrying about us.



As long as we are out the yookay , they can put a rangers badge on it for all i care. :thup:

[Barry]

Brilliant barry! . You mean im getting to keep my european union passport? :thup:

Yes, it will have a Salmon and a Sturgeon on the cover. Sounds fishy to me.  :|

[Thomas]

The IMF want an extension, but then they would, wouldn't they?

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-brexit-trade-negotiations-imf-uk-boris-johnson-news-a9468201.html">//https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-brexit-trade-negotiations-imf-uk-boris-johnson-news-a9468201.html



We need to be free of the bloc before they want their CV19 bailout or haircut. We'll have enough of our own grief to sort out, without being linked to the 27.



But, don't you worry, Thomas, I hear the SNP have a plan to keep Bonnie Scotland in, so all's good.  :shrg:

Brilliant barry! . You mean im getting to keep my european union passport? :thup:

[Barry]

The IMF want an extension, but then they would, wouldn't they?

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-brexit-trade-negotiations-imf-uk-boris-johnson-news-a9468201.html">//https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-brexit-trade-negotiations-imf-uk-boris-johnson-news-a9468201.html



We need to be free of the bloc before they want their CV19 bailout or haircut. We'll have enough of our own grief to sort out, without being linked to the 27.



But, don't you worry, Thomas, I hear the SNP have a plan to keep Bonnie Scotland in, so all's good.  :shrg:

[Thomas]

Everything #EU do is political.

We're not dealing with a trading bloc, we're dealing with a Political Union with supporters still studded throughout British establishment.

Extending #Brexit limbo is a trap.

Whitehall will be able to chant "4 more years!"

[/b]





https://thecritic.co.uk/time-to-extend/">https://thecritic.co.uk/time-to-extend/

[Thomas]

Downing Street says the UK will not ask for a Brexit extension nor accept one if the EU offers due to certainty:



"We will not extend the Brexit transition period and even if Brussels asked we will say no



"It's better to be clear now and remove the uncertainty for businesses"

[/b]

Boris Johnson's spokesperson also said Brexit will give the UK "economic and legislative flexibility" to deal with the aftermath of coronavirus. Here's the full quote:

[/b]



https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EVuXt31XsAAmBL8?format=jpg&name=medium">



https://twitter.com/SebastianEPayne/status/1250755451974803456">https://twitter.com/SebastianEPayne/sta ... 1974803456">https://twitter.com/SebastianEPayne/status/1250755451974803456