Again I am not sure that the EU would be all that difficult about the UK forming a closer trading relationship with them because at the end of the day they are pragmatic and it would be beneficial to both them and us. The EU know very well exactly who has driven the current shitfest and also know very well who they would prefer to work with in the future. I suspect they would be far more welcoming to a new Labour Gov and would try to help them as much as possible to achieve a success as this might ensure they stay in power. In global geopolitical terms they would be more than happy to see the UK closer to the EU fold in both trade and political terms and I suspect would be willing to forgo some of the past 6+ years as a difficult UK aberration, a bit like the US under Trump. Given issues with Russia, China and even the US the EU know full well that an EU with UK more closely aligned to them would be of enormous benefit to them. The UK is now discovering that in this new wide world where trying blocs are large and protectionism is growing that sitting as Johnny-no-mates on a little island on the edge of Europe is a very lonely place with little influence over world affairs and little chance of having meaningful and beneficial trade relationships and therefore economic growth. Who would have guessed this would happen?fishfoodie wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2023 10:23 pmand it would only take about twenty years to achieve ...... because the usual scumbags have done a marvelous job of poisoning the well in the relationship between the UK, & EU; & to this day, your Government still aren't complying with the terms of the agreement, & there are multiple legal actions still in play.dpedin wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2023 10:07 pmBrexit isn't a binary choice though - there is a range of options within it and any new Gov could decide to backtrack on the 'hard' Brexit we got but never asked for and move to a closer and different trading relationship ie rejoin the Single Market and Customs Union. I don't think this would get as much flack from the public as some would expect, many would welcome it if it meant shorter queues at airports and ports and easier to spend the winter in your holiday villa in Spain. However there would be the usual crap from the usual Brexit 'mad as a bucket of frogs, brigade ie ERG, etc. It would certainly relieve the trading issues, sort the NI issue and ease our labour shortages pretty quickly. We could even claim it retained our UK 'sovrenty' whatever the feck that is or was! Given the economic disaster this current version of Brexit is creating for many I suspect it would be seen by many on all political sides as the only real way to stimulate economic growth for the next few years, ignoring the likes of JRM, Bone, et al.petej wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2023 6:43 pm
To speak about Europe and the UK you need this government out of power and time. Polls continue to shift towards brexit being a terrible mistake but conned people have to realise they've been conned and that takes time and you can't force it (also age of remain and leave voters favours remain).
In many ways Starmers position on Rejoin is irrelevant, because Rejoin is a multi-Government journey, & whatever he or anyone else does, will just get sabotaged by the next Tory Government, so until Rejoin becomes Tory Party policy too, the EU know its not worth the candle.
I agree any full membership of the EU would be difficult and lengthy to achieve, mostly because of internal UK politics, but a few years of calm adult like negotiating could see us in a more sensible trading relationship with the EU. If we don't get this then the UK economic decline will be horrendous!