You know how when the Admiral of the Fleet is aboard a ship or in a port, they fly his ensign. This big baby Trump balloon should be flown in every city he visits.
1
This is a great opportunity to call for another referendum, citing lessons learned. The popular vote may very well go in favor of remaining in the EU.
2
the 2016 referendum should have included a more detailed Brexit withdrawel that would have addressed all parties' concerns about the specific stragedies and proposals that can give britons both international and national economic presence to stay relevant and compettive among the blocs.
It's galling to chubby old Brits like Johnson that the Empire is gone. No more sending the kiddies to the colonies to become civil servants and lord it over the natives. The EU was the best thing to happen to the UK since England last won a World Cup. It's not like the good old days, blokes. But it's better than fending in the world market alone. Bilateral trade agreements are only as good as long as the signatories remain in power, a common fact back in those good old days.
2
Both U.S. Trump election and UK Brexit have a lot in common, a rather disastrous perspective at the world scenery. But al least the British still have a debate of ideas even at government levels, something badly missing in the U.S.
1
Both U.S. Trump election and UK Brexit have a lot in common, a rather disastrous perspective at the world scenery. But al least the British still have a debate of ideas even at government levels, something badly missing in the U.S.
4
Boris Johnson shares the same love of chaos as Trump. The outward buffoonery is a cover as he seriously wants to break Britain away from Europe. Britain will and is suffering the consequences of his and Farage and little Englanders folly. Both trump and Johnson share the regard for Putin. If I was Boris I'd be very careful as Putin has successfully poisoned several people, one recently died from the poison. It's interesting how Boris gave up so soon on the negotiations. Who knew Brexit could be so complicated!
3
So, deliver a real Brexit including scraping that London «passport» to EU essential for its survival and that hard border in Ireland... and hence resuming of all the inherent historic violence.
2
Why is Brexit happening? I need to be reminded...
3
Putin's spoilt tantrum prone Brexit stooges are quitting the government. If there's a revote and the country rejects Russian colonial rule they won't be able to cash in.
1
Boris is a clown. He fought hard for Brexit but doesn't know how to deal with it. So he walks away washing his hands of the mess.
3
No doubt Putin would be very happy to see Boris Johnson in Downing Street.
4
Johnson’s comment:
‘“We are truly headed for the status of colony,” Mr. Johnson said in his resignation letter.’
Yes, how terrible to be a colony, admits the former empire.
3
Why is it that whenever I see, hear or even think of Boris Johnson, Monty Python's skit,"Upper Class Twit Of The Year Contest" immediately springs to mind?
6
This article is a reminder of how the Russians are de-stabilizing the West with their psychological warfare. It is interesting how such a slim majority vote can make such a dramatic change in the course of a nation and the world. Good work Vladimir et al. You have my respect as a strong yet dangerous opponent. And, no one seems to think (except our friends in the Far East) how this is all going to end up someday.
2
I remember reading in these very (online) pages that that the prized British health service has already been wrecked by this, as many if not most of the nurses and other workers were EU citizens.
4
Brexit was a DUMB idea... they should back out. OH and ejlabnet NO ONE gets along with trump, as he is isolating the US which will be disastrous...as he aligns and gets fooled by Putin, who is much smarter and devious then him. trump is a small time thug compared to dictators like putin and kim... he is looking like a fool... they would sacrifice their peoples lives that cave to his threats....
5
Good riddance to cowardly, chaotic, disrupting LIARS.
8
That the likes of Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg made it so high in British politics kind of says it all.
10
Iceberg dead ahead, Prime Minister!
Too late... it's name is Boris and you steered right into it and now the ship of your "government...it be sinking...
Man the lifeboat pocket jets and golden parachutes! It's every fact-cat for himself/herself!
5
Of course Boris jumped ship when the birds of reality (those nasty things called details) came home to roost. He never had a plan, typical of stone throwers, finding it easier to demolish than construct.
10
We humans live on burrowed time and land. A European Union can bring more prosperity to people of the UK when you compare the the potential disorder and chaos of the brexit supporters demading a more hard-line stance on economic rules and immigration.I am comfident the prime minister Mrs. May will put her leadership skills into good use as she continues to shape her Brexit plan, taking into account all sides of the issue at hand
Hopefully they’ll vote Brexit down, and rejoin the EU.
This would be an excellent pressure valve; countries like Germany and Sweden (who have important elections coming up) could off load some of their migrants to the UK, to prevent yet more progressive governments falling to the white supremacist right. And then once in the UK, these migrants could get the healthcare they need through the NHS, and could add to late communities of “Asians” that are already there, to help give Corbyn support and help these communities push back against the xenophobia and persecution they’re facing.
Not many people know this, but over the past few years the “grooming” controversy has been used to malign and scapegoat immigrants of color, and this needs to STOP! So called free speech advocates keep picking at this non-issue, and keep going to jail for their hate speech, but as more stories come out it becomes clearer that xenophobia and Islamophobia have hit a fever pitch in the UK. It’s not that dissimilar from what’s been happening in Germany and Italy, where a few anomalous cases and false accusations are being used to fuel hatred of the Other.
The way to fight this is to flood the zone with migrants, and to literally outnumber the retrograde racists who keep voting against enlightened leadership from Brussels and Berlin. If the UK can rejoin the EU, the continent can better load balance the flow of migrants to achieve these ends!
2
Who will pay for all of it, then?
The white people of Europe. Consider Denmark. Right now they pay about half of their income to the government, but from a consumption standpoint they consume about $130 USD in goods and services a day. Along with the United States and Norway and a handful of other states, this is among the highest in the world.
There is a tremendous amount of distance between a $130 a day lifestyle and a $30 a day lifestyle in Nigeria or a $3 a day lifestyle in Chad, Cameroon, or Afghanistan. Maybe the golden mean is $60 a day. This would allow both the migrants and the original settlers/citizens to have a good enough life; it would definitely mean sharing schools, health resources, homes, parks, roads, jobs, etc - but it can be done. In other words, yes - white people will surrender some of their ill gotten privilege. Taxes may go up. They may not have as much as they used to. And central planning body will in charge of making sure there is an equitable distribution from those who have, to those who need.
But at the end of the day, there's simply no opposing this. White people can backlash against the imperative to share and be kind all they want. They can elect all of the Trumps, Salvini's they want. They can't turn back a tide of the needy, especially when they have lots of progressives like me working against their selfishness.
That is what taxes are used for. See in the real world people realize that taxes are necessary to insure a fair and just society for all INC,using yiu in the rust beset
Don’t believe it? Just wait til those gop “ tax cuts” hit you in Medicaire and SS
1
England no longer has the world's greatest Navy, or soldiers conscripted from conquered nations to inforce their will upon the peoples of the world. They rarely manufacture anything the world wants to buy. Their new brilliance was in finance, global finance. That didn't work for Johnson, so he set out to destroy England's best plans. His vision is an isolated little island, indignant and failing, where he alone can be worshiped in proper Trumpish fashion.
8
It is amazing how the U.K. and USA have been played for fools by Russia and China.
The U.K. strengths are her strong international banking and institutions of higher learning. Why it is not obvious that a break form the European Union just means that France and Germany will step into the vacuum is baffling to me.
Just as the USA will never be able to isolate itself completely from the world economy and expect to remains at the reins of the world economy, the chances that U.K. will be able succeed at the similar task of divorcing herself from Europe, its banking, and economy are even slimmer.
The USA and the U.K. need to understand that the only way for us to remain the leaders of the world banking and economic order is to give both a big bear hug. Anything else just plays into the Russian and Chinese strategic advantages.
And, anyone who believes otherwise will indeed be taken for a fool by Russia and China.
2
The UK’s relationship with the EU has been festering for many years. It is unclear whether our friends in other countries fully understand this.
Most in UK now realize Brexit will not go away. Regardless of what happens next, whether an unsatisfactory deal or abandonment of the whole project, this will most likely rumble on unless a decisive break can be achieved
1
There is pretty clear evidence that Russia is behind all the right-wing movements in Europe, including Brexit, Italy, Hungary, Turkey, Austria, France, etc. as well as the 2016 U.S. election.
If ever there were a need for a consolidated, uniform effort in the West to reject foreign influence both in social media and in the mechanics of voting, it is now.
And yet, Donald is visiting that fine gentleman, ready to give away the store.
8
Boris Johnson is a courageous patriot. The EU would have, if given time, completely obliterated Britain and transformed her into a German colony, stuffed with all of the migrants the German people would not be willing to accept. Brexit saved Britain. We have security arrangements with the UK and the other five-eyes countries unlike any other agreements in the world. We can't allow Germany to conquer Britain by stealth, installing German puppets in government where they will steal our secrets and give them to the Germans.
Globalists are naive fools. We cannot and should not accept Anglosphere countries coming under the rule of Germans in Europe or Chinese in Asia.
Germany tried to the steal the UK with the EU. China is trying to steal Australia. This battle is not over.
4
Now I finally understand the meaning of the word paranoia.
11
There's a reason why our intelligence agencies target Germany just as much they target China and Russia.
Johnson is getting all this nasty publicity, deservedly so. At first on board with David Cameron, then he turns against Cameron. Brexit was going to unleash a golden age of British entrepreneurial success. David Cameron suffers a blistering career ending defeat. Johnson rides on with Trumpian demagogic furor. But now the Conservative May gov't had to deal with reality. And Johnson stormed out thinking that May was stuck in a extremely precarious position. And he could go off and flap his gums to his hearts content.
8
Aparrent'y Britain wants to race the US to the dustbin of history.
9
It may be that a "hard" Brexit is the only way to teach voters a lesson.
5
Trump and Johnson may go to the same barber, er stylist. One wonders how the ignoramus in chief will further disrupt the situation. A new government may be an ill-conceived, hastily written, unappreciated (except by Johnson, perhaps), tweet or two away -- all at a time when May wants to solidify trade partners.
Hmmm, the regulators or the whacko? Not an easy choice.
5
Long live the E.U., the hope of mankind.
13
The "miss" is intentional.
May should call for another referendum on Brexit. The data that has come in since it was first passed indicates that many people were mislead into voting yes and there is also the very suspicious Russian funding of the pro Brexit campaign through one of the Britons who was the main backer of Brexit. Also there seems to be more Russian connections with other pro Brexit pols.
I say she has a good case for a new referendum which will buy her time.
BTW I think Boris is aiming to replace her himself ASAP.
7
Strongly recommend to British citizens to take a long look at who will benefit from a hard line Brexit. I'll bet that you'll eventually run into Boris and friends...
11
The Best option for the British would be to place the Brexit on a new Vote!
11
It's the immigration issue, stupid! And incessant immigration from overpopulated Muslim and Catholic countries in North Africa, the Middle East, and Central America is the real problem. Of course, overpopulation is a tabooed topic in the MSM and elsewhere. Not to worry, at the rate sperm counts are dropping in the West, our entire species may be extinct by 2047 or shortly thereafter. Mother Nature has been here many times in the past and She knows how to solve overpopulation problems. Good luck with your IVF, etc. Stress R Us
5
Greeley--I sort of think that the "immigration" issue can be dealt with without job killing Brexit, especially now.
4
I'm not sure how you define "species," but ours probably has a few centuries left, despite the US policies that are guaranteeing continued hardship from drought, storms, flooding, etc. Migration caused by our inaction is necessary to prolong the life of the species, and the more we mix up the gene pool the better.
Talk of the damage to the UK economy is valid of course but ignores another major factor: rising resistance to EU government. Following the Maastricht Treaty, the EU has engineered a huge increase in membership to 28, many members (not just the UK) having diverse priorities amongst them. Brussels has become much more powerful and the days when it was a mainly trading bloc are long gone.
Brexit is part of worldwide move in governments to the right (with Brussels very much to the left). No idea where all this will lead but arguments that address only trade and the economy miss a bigger and very important picture.
5
For God’s sake Mrs May ask the public to vote again. The public was lied to, hood winked.
14
Meanwhile, David Cameron stands in a kitchen somewhere, thinking deep thoughts about the future:
"Do I want red or white with lunch?"
"Are we having fish, or was that yesterday?"
"Those biscuits look soggy"
11
In other words, a private citizen and the employer of people like prime ministers and the bureaucratic flunkies that fill government. He answers to no one. Yes, life is good.
1
Brexit was passed with about as much scrutiny as the Patriot Act. Good luck, Britain, good luck.
21
Boris Johnson likes to incite others to act boldly, then, with loyalty to no one, jumps ship the minute things get difficult.
21
England’s shedding of the EU clearly has not been decided. The English are realizing their exit from the Union was hasty and poorly thought out.
13
Boris is a louse and is at least partially responsible for the mess that the UK is in right now. By resigning, he is attempting to show that things are Theresa May's fault, not his, and should the people of the UK come to their senses and vote him into office, he will put the "Kingdom" back into the United Kingdom. Theresa May's big mistake was thinking she could trust him and that he wouldn't undermine her, and she was a fool in this regard.
Unfortunately, with Donald Trump becoming president of the United States by way of a shock election outcome, he has paved the way for Boris Johnson to become Prime Minister of the UK. I only hope the people of the UK come to their senses and realize this man has their worst interests at heart.
11
Show Brexit the EXIT.
10
PM May should start packing. No where else to go with this for her
4
Exhilarating for this Irish national to see this latest weak-kneed English government teetering on the edge of its hubris.
100 years ago, the sitting on their own petard mighty Brits, looked on Ireland as a vassal state, and referred to it as "The Irish Question", which has now morphed into the "The Irish Problem", their own creation because of the madness of Brexit, madness brought on by the self-appointed northern tier EU rulers, as they ignored the equality mandate of the Union, the core principle, and instead floundered into the quicksand of seeking to rule financially the southern tier nations.
The stiff upper-lipped, look down your nose Brits, at all things not British, and the know-nothings in the ruling northern tier EU states, are apparently hellbent on the breakup of what could have been the bridge to an eternally peaceful European continent, a United States of Europe, with Russia and its former satellites clamoring to join.
What an historic colossal misstep, utter failure due to insatiable avarice.
Back to "The Irish Problem"; Boris Johnson, an absolute clown if there ever was one, in the position of being able to start the collapse of this latest faux iteration of governance, epitomizes the myopic, no that's too kind, epitomizes the willful blindness and mindlessness that created Brexit, and created a problem in the sovereign nation of Ireland.
There is much to be learned by reading history, and especially the history of the thankfully dead British empire.
7
Never let it be said that some of my fellow Irishmen couldn't carry a chip on their shoulder and a spite in their heart until the seas ran dry and the sun burned out, rather than just getting on with life, modern sensibilities and contemporary matters.
14
Can't very well ignore that gauntlet ...
Not a chip, as such is generally understood, and certainly while memory of past atrocities is uncomfortable for some, neither I, nor millions of Irish had our ambitions hindered by memory of such atrocities, and in fact because of century long efforts at subjugation, by our frenemies across the Irish sea, we moved on, mightily I might add, with "modern sensibilities and contemporary matters", and our mark is indelible and will endure for millennia.
To treat history with indifference is truly dangerous, and even nonchalance can also lead to great danger.
A character, in the musings of a great writer, likely the greatest to date, said, "History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake" and God is "a shout in the street."
History is indeed a nightmare, and contrary to the oft stated idea that we are now "civilized", even the last hundred years clearly shows that for all of our advancement, we seem to not learn from experience, and we don't just shoot ourselves in the foot, we cut off out feet !!!
Being a "Dublin Humanoid", doubtless you wander, as I did in days long gone, the streets this writer loved.
In any event, while my musings may sound a bit angry, truly I can't fathom what it is we are thinking, why we refuse to see the obvious, why we seem to have lost the ability to reason, even tens of millions seem to have no common sense.
Time to reject morbid thoughts, and embrace 'warm fullblooded life'. (Bloom in Ulysses).
This leadership, torn over how to approach the Brexit dilemma reflects the British society, just as divided over the narrow result of the referendum.
3
First there was the original sin, to wit, allowing a referendum where such a profound change would be mandated by the simplest of majorities of all the UK's united nations. (Keep in mind the Scots and the N. Irish voted "remain.") The Irish border question was not given due consideration, nor was the Scottish independence movement. The PM who made that mistake abruptly resigned. That's the British way.
Then there was the secondary sin which was that the vote was overly simplistic: against remaining in the EEC, but was silent on what the "leavers" were for. This led the way to two years of debate on the fact of the vote. Terrible to debate the "fact." What did the "leavers" vote FOR? Nobody can say for certain.
Then there was the third sin. PM May kept repeating the mantra, "Brexit means Brexit!" for the last two years. Most members of her party took that to mean a "hard" Brexit, that is, we shall leave the EEC and then, like all nations of the world who are not EEC members, we shall be free to negotiate with other nations including the EEC from a position of complete independence. This third sin was amplified by the strong stand taken in the Conservative Party Manifesto (Platform). "we will no longer be members of the single market or customs union" and "we continue to believe that no deal is better than a bad deal for the UK."
5
But when push came to shove the economic interests within the UK rallied around what came to be known as a "soft" Brexit, and that is what PM May presented to the cabinet last Friday. It is not identical to, but is similar to the relationship that Norway has with the EEC. The UK Conservative Party, not unlike the Republican Party here, is after all a creature of the large economic interests. With PM May's movement from a "Hard" to a "soft" Brexit it is no wonder that the "Hard" Brexiteers of the cabinet, the Brexit and Foreign Secretaries, resigned. That's what they do in the UK when they strongly disapprove of policy. So, to have been expected.
So where will this all go? The EEC will probably not accept the plan put forward by PM May. One major problem is that it rejects the free movement of workers that Norway, for example, accepts, even as only an associate EEC member. The EEC will be very careful to see that the UK does not come out a winner and thereby serve as an example for other EEC "leavers" in Europe. That's the EEC nightmare.
Want a prediction? OK. No deal. Then a mild slump in the UK economy. Rumblings in Ireland and a revival of Scottish independence. Then a new negotiation with the EEC on the Norway (EFTC) model. Britain will take what they can get.
2
As the latest tortured episode featuring the overconfident and narrowly educated "best and brightest" navigating the UK through Brexit unfurls across the media, it becomes increasing hard not to ignore that one is reading the world's longest suicide note.
10
More dire than Labour's 1983 manifesto, that's for sure! (The former holder of that title.)
I shall politely say "No, thank you!" to that kind offer.
From Fintan o ’Toole in todays Irish Times.
‘’When you take away all the heroic elements of Brexit, all the epic thrills of throwing off the oppressor and beginning a new history, what you are left with is just this – a country that has gone to enormous trouble to humiliate itself.
Has any country ever gone into international treaty negotiations hoping to emerge with a status greatly inferior to the one it already enjoys? What do we want? National humiliation. When do we want it? Now.
Davis and Johnson know this is the reality they helped to create. They just hadn’t the stomach to face it...''
And I’m predicting their football team enjoys a similar fate tomorrow.
6
I believe the British deserve to vote again on this poorly thought out referendum. There were so many lies and no doubt Russian interference that there is every reason for a do-over.
But will Teresa May have the courage to promote this and possibly lose her prime minister position?
This is parallel to the Republicans who lack the courage to pick country over party.
Will Teresa May do the right thing for Britain, admit a mistake and return to the EU?
7
Good idea to do a do-over. I'd also like a do-over in the USA of the 2016 election where neither Mr. Trump nor Ms. Clinton are on the ballot.
2
During the 2016 Presidential Campaign, Donald Trump took time off to go to Great Britain where he endorsed Brexit and campaigned for it. Since the referendum was very close, Trump could well have been the margin of victory. The British can avoid the severe economic damage that results from Brexit by abrogating the Brexit Referendum due to foreign interference. Note that is an iron clad rule that the United States does not interfere in the internal affairs of our allies. Buy Trump cares nothing about norms and rules. He should be made to pay for this one. Good luck go the anti-Trump protesters in London. Your balloon of a baby Trump is spot on.
7
It appears UK government is in a disarray. Let's hope they figure this out. This is long way from Tony Blair's united government back in 2000's. I remember several of my college professors proclaiming how good UK has it with their government leadership while US was stuck with George W. Bush. Not that the tables have turned with Trump as president, but a little relief to know that the mighty UK makes mistakes. Get well soon.
1
May should have pushed Johnson out months ago. Now at least the UK can negotiate a sensible agreement with the EU. It's time for the opposition parties, who will smell blood, to take the statesmanlike line and support a moderate Brexit.
6
PM May campaigned on a hard "Brexit means Brexit" platform. But when push came to shove the economic interests within the UK rallied around what came to be known as a "soft" Brexit, and that is what PM May presented to the cabinet last Friday. It is not identical to, but is similar to the relationship that Norway has with the EEC. The UK Conservative Party, not unlike the Republican Party here, is after all a creature of the large economic interests. With PM May's movement from a "Hard" to a "soft" Brexit it is no wonder that the "Hard" Brexiteers of the cabinet, the Brexit and Foreign Secretaries, resigned. That's what they do in the UK when they strongly disapprove of policy. So, to have been expected.
So where will this all go? The EEC will probably not accept the plan put forward by PM May. One major problem is that it rejects the free movement of workers that Norway, for example, accepts, even as only an associate EEC member. The EEC will be very careful to see that the UK does not come out a winner and thereby serve as an example for other EEC "leavers" in Europe. That's the EEC nightmare.
Want a prediction? OK. No deal. Then a mild slump in the UK economy. Rumblings in Ireland and a revival of Scottish independence. Then a new negotiation with the EEC on the Norway (EFTC) model. Britain will take what they can get.
2
Both Johnson and Cameron miscalculated when they put Brexit to a referendum: The one who won didn't want to win and the one who lost, hadn't expected to lose.
Brexit makes no sense for Britain or Europe, it is a step back into the stone age. The only reason why it is continued to be pursued is because it is so emotionally charged: Those who want to stay are afraid of losing another referendum and those who supported Brexit are afraid of losing face.
And so the tragedy will continue.
9
Considering the UK, had Russian interference in both the Brexit vote, as well as putting the Tories on power, it looks like a "no confidence" vote is coming. And, with that, then end of the May government, Brexit and a possible swing to a Labour government.
Americans, will get a nice lesson on the benefits of parliamentary style government. That is, you hate the direction your government is going, call new elections and hopefully you get a better government.
Unfortunately, for the US, we can't call for new elections, and we have to continue down the path of autocracy. Next week, after Trump probably pulls out of NATO, he is on his way to his benefactor, in Russia, to learn more about creating an autocracy.
A little side note, the picture of Boris Johnson, contained with this article, makes him look just like Trump; huff and all.
12
So let them quit. Maybe the UK can get back to normal. We should take a page out of the same playbook, but that would require Trump to quit.
4
Rather poor analysis. In fact May has faced down Johnson and the Brexiters in her cabinet and party. One only has do the parliamentary arithmetic to understand this was the likely outcome. The EU are not going to accept her proposal and she will have to make further concessions. She and her chief advisor Olly Robbins know this. The course is set for delivering a more apparent than real exit from the EU. Basically damage limitation.
5
Publicly shamed, privately rich. TI don't know but if he's not cashing in on insider trading then he's been duped by his own "friends".
1
Even in sulking, Johnson cannot provide leadership.
6
This tragicomedy would already be over if Labour were a serious opposition party seen as a serious alternative.
Unfortunately, Labour is led by Jeremy Corbyn, who is little more than a 70's tribute band in a beige coat, has already lost a vote of no confidence in his party but was too full of himself to step aside, and whose party today will pass a new internal definition of antisemitism watered down simply and exactly to get its own members off the hook.
2
You forgot the part where after the no-confidence vote he won the leadership (again) with 62% of the votes compared to 38% for his opponent, rather than obstinately digging his heels in as you, somewhat disingenuously, describe.
This shows "Brexit" referendum was a result of foreign meddling and irrational mob frenzy aroused by a fringe of Eurosceptics, like Boris Johnson and Davis David who were themselves confused about their demand for the Brexit. The current controversy about the soft Brexit vs hard Brexit within the ruling Conservative party is as much about the frustration over the hasty decision as about the internal power struggle among the conservatives, specially the ones opposed to May's leadership.
9
As the British citizens have learned more about the narrow vote to exit the union its clear to me a new vote would be quite different. These kind of votes over major changes in Britain, the USA or anywhere else should require a super majority say 60%. when 49% of people are opposed to a change, it probably needs to reconsderation
3
Maybe, now that the consequences have become clearer, it's time for another referendum. Why throw away 50 years of progress over one moment of collective insanity?
15
Like the old British song, the world has turned upside down since the Brexit vote. Now known is that a) the Russians stirred up Boris and the other dupes, b) that Trump is a Russian chump and Brexit plays into sinister hands, and c) the result is more likely to be ruinous than helpful. Another election turning on this may prove to be Maytime rather than the winter of Britain's discontent.
9
Stop him!! He has Trump's hair!
11
Well then, it's time for RETRAXIT!
11
Boris and Nigel have done more damage to the UK than any migrants that have become the excuse of Brexit. PM May may not be able to survive the no confidence vote.
But may as well, you can't have the crumpet and eat it too. Britain should not and must not expect to have the EU privileges without paying the price.
8
Is it too late to make a Boris balloon?
17
It seems that the Russians meddled in the UK by providing money for those promoting leaving the EU. There are similarities between the British who advocated for Brexit and Trump and his cronies. It’s all about the money! Those in the West, who are cooperating with Putin and benefiting from the messes they create, care nothing about their fellow citizens and are traitors! I hope that many on both sides of the Atlantic end up in jail for selling our democracies down the river.
Thank you Mr. Mueller and team for what you are doing to get to the bottom of the cesspool created by Trump and his pals.
We Americans have to keep resisting; especially now that Kavanaugh has been nominated. He is bad for the US for many reasons. One of these is that he has written that sitting presidents shouldn’t be subjected to criminal investigations. It’s too distracting and the president won’t be able to do his job. He has suggested that Congress pass a law protecting presidents while they are in office. This from a man who worked to impeach Clinton!
See:
businessinsider.com/leave-eu-arron-banks-andy-wigmore-deny-russian-money...
theguardian.com/politics/2018/jun/09/arron-banks-russia-brexit-meeting
vox.com/2018/7/9/17551584/brett-kavanaugh-president-criminal-investigation
9
Boris Johnson had a clear policy about the cake ( his "cake policy"): he was pro-having and pro-eating. It was the same with the Kingdom and its being part of the EU. Today is more complicated: they just ( Boris and the UK) have no pastry left.
4
What in the world can a Trump visit add to this picture? Unlike most of his trashy antics, which I dread, I'm looking forward to this one. Bring it on, Donald. Hopefully your two cents' worth will make it clear to the Brits that it's time to exit Brexit.
5
were it not so dangerous on so many levels, were no harm likely to ensue and fall on so many, the whole circus would be laughable--we are governed by incomparable incompetents and quite shameless dishonest opportunists who make Mussolini look like Pericles or Lincoln; nor are we in in any position to laugh at or speak disparagingly of the U.S. and its own comic-opera misgovernment.
14
Seems to me that Boris is playing the game of well my finger prints are not on this, even though his DNA is all over the victim and the crime scene.
7
Notice how, predictably, the Brexit fiasco has revealed itself to be all about the Conservatives and not about what is best for Britain. What you have is a gang war between two factions of the British ruling class. The interests of the people they work for are all that counts.
Brexit is a desperate, last ditch attempt by certain segments of a senile ruling class to hang on to power, all at the expense of the nation, having safely tucked their money away offshore, just like the GOP. The Brexit branch of the Tory party is trying to execute one more colonial withdrawal, the finale this time, from the 'home' land, another colony to be plundered free of oversight from Brussels. They've found like 'minded' dotards among the electorate and plenty of offshore scavengers stand by to pick the carcass.
When is it going to sink in that it won't be the Tory ruling establishment that is going to pay for the Brexit delusion? Life will go on dreamily in offshore investment land.
Meanwhile, Corbyn lost the plot years ago. Rather than riding this compelling narrative into government, Corbyn has displayed the strategic sense of a gormless tapeworm content to dwell in the downpipe of British leftist fantasy. He just won't come out of there. The Panama Papers and Remain handed him the keys to power and he's blowing it. The spectacle is pathetic and the damage may be permanent. Dump him before it's too late Labour.
10
Most intelligent, thoughtful British are not for Brexit, it is those who want rid of foreigners, who do the jobs they would not deign to do, or those who are businessmen and it helps their particular endeavour. It hurts many more and major companies are not averse to moving, professors realize the UK is no longer a world power of the magnitude it once was and where I live I can say most of the workers seems to do as little as possible and who works on the weekend? Not the NHS, except hospitals, not the pharmacies, not the plumbers or locksmiths. If you get my meaning, there is a problem with the work force these days and this will not help good old England when it is on its own.
4
Maybot's government may not make it through the week after Trump's arrival. Bravo Putin.....
4
It's time for the USA to offer statehood to the UK.
We can figure out how many states, representatives and senators later on.
The UK has had a special relationship with the US for more than fifty years. Time to codify it and make it a reality.
Let's make it official. State of England, State of Wales, State of Scotland, we'll figure out the Ireland issue later. Wouldn't that all be rich. How would the EU like like them apples? Reverse revolution. Incredible!
Oh, one more thing, Boris Johnson retire, you're done politically. You played this all wrong! Leave before you've finished the job you signed up for, exactly what you advocated, shame on you!
1
Thanks mate, but we're OK... I like out floaty inflatable Trump a lot more than your real one.
You can have Boris Johnson though if you'd like!
8
Tea, and that's about it.
We’d rather have Boris as PM than join the US, I’m afraid.
Great Britain's political leadership led society to a major foreign economic policy mistake i.e., to leave the EU. No danger of regime change in London but the current political leadership will pay the price in the voting booths.
6
I can't remember the last time I bought anything British.
2
It is time for a no confidence vote on Brexit
3
Great - he should never have had a cabinet position!
5
Like our economic nationalist (Trump), Brexiteers like Farage, Davis, and BoJo, have neither intelligence, attention to detail or resolve to deal with economic or political reality.
Like our huckster in chief, Brexit leaders promised an overly simplistic interpretation of economic forces. In addition to their economic illiteracy, they also engaged in xenophobic and racist appeals to promote their agenda. Once the results came in Farage pulled out, leaving the actual business of negotiating to others. Johnson was forced to pull out of the race for prime minister, instead becoming foreign secretary. And Davis joined the cabinet at the main brexit supporter.
Once Brexit negotiations began, they realized the complexity of their task and bailed when the EU refused to meet their demands. Like used car salesmen they are sticking the people of England with a bad deal.
The May administration must figure it what to do now. Maybe the Conservative party can find competent members who are competent to replace the two departing cabinet members.
8
Much like a Trump supporters it seems the Brexit fans demand simple answers to complex questions. This won't end well for either group, the problem is a whole bunch of us in both America and Britain have been forced to ride along their clown car of disorder.
11
Chris. No one is forced to ride along for anything. The world is a big place. Elections have consequences Where did I hear that? Oh yeah from the same person who said if you like your Dr you can keep your doctor.
PM May making last-minute proposals to EU but EU refusing to play ball with her fanciful demands. Boris knows in March 2019 Britain will be facing new tariffs and loss of confidence in her Conservative government. His timing perfect; he will return as Prime Minster to save the day. On the other side the Labour leader failing to impress the business community; and scare others regarding his views of Israel expressing his concern over the isolation of Iran leading to another war. Britain in crisis over Europe a non-stop show without a sense of reality. BREXIT built to fail in whatever guise. You have to admire her sheer tenacity as her last supporters fold in front of her; rather like the last days of Margaret Thatcher.
1
The same type of principled, uncompromising men settled the United States. No country can subsume its core identity. Brexit is a statement on this very topic. We will see other EU members follow suit. It doesn’t work. Long live the Brits.
1
Three major manufacturers raise serious concerns about Brexit. They place expansion and development plans on hold. The loss of thousands, maybe tens of thousands of jobs, seem threatened.
But David Davis and Boris Johnson don't even acknowledge these warnings?!?! As members of the entitled class, their post Brexit futures are safe and assured. That cannot be said for all the ordinary middle class Brits who may be forced to suffer through a decade or economic malaise. Or worse!
3
The exit of Boris Johnson et al, is the first act in a three act play: Act two is them saying when it all falls apart, "See, we told you that trying to piecemeal Brexit would be a disaster." Act three is them saying: "Elect us and we will take Britain all the way out and begin a new era of prosperity."
If that happens, we are going to need a new Marshall Plan.
2
The referendum leading to this cheap British theatrics was initiated and implemented by the David Cameron cabinet several years ago. It was just an ill though scam making an effort to milk more concessions and privileges to the United Kingdom as a member of the European Union. It all backfired beautifully brewing up a thrilling comedy. This episode will be remembered for decades if not for centuries in Europe.
The whole idea was to "frighten" the administration of the European Union by threatening it by the British resignation from the EU. The British electorate was used a pawn when the "referendum" of June 2016 was carried out. The vote was naturally whether to stay or not to stay as a member of the EU. The latter alternative proved to be more popular over the other. The result was a great and most inconvenient surprise to Herr Cameron and his cabinet colleagues. Everyone expected a different result. In order to rub salt in the wound, the EU behaved unexpectedly - "You are leaving us then". And that was it. A good work for uncoupling the UK from the EU was launched immediately by the EU. All this was against all the odds in the minds of the cunning British government politicians.
I think the British taxpayers don't necessarily have much good to say about their political swindlers at Whitehall. If they felt betrayed and devastated, I could understand that. Herr Cameron vanished a long time ago. His disappearance is just a start.
12
Recent history well told, thank you.
3
Quite so. Cameron is the culprit for all this and surely the worst PM since Eden in 1956. No successor will find a way out of the maze the UK is now in. That is because there is no way out given decades of increasing global links. May finally recognises this and will now creep slowly towards 'BINO' - Brexit In Name Only - whereupon a degree of economic normality will be restored. However social and cultural demons have been unleashed and Britain still needs to re-assess its role in the world.
1
The fundamental problem with Brexit seems to be that the referendum was inherently flawed. There are three clearly distinguishable and separate positions that the UK could take: remain in the EU, soft Brexit (a la Norway), and a clean separation from the EU. The referendum should have offered all three choices, rather than the disingenuous binary choice.
5
"He compared her negotiating style unfavorably with that of President Trump."
So almost certainly, Mr. Johnson is wrong, whatever the other merits of his position.
4
Is it just possible that this is the end of Brexit? With all the hard Brexiters apparently resigning will this lead to a very very soft Brexit with a face saving return into the EU.
It would also seem that the upcoming President Trump visit may leave Brits thinking that their bread is better buttered on the other side of the Channel rather than across the Pond.
17
When you need to remind yourself how a place like Britain is different from the United States:
In the United States the likelihood that a columnist would become the mayor of the country's biggest city and center of commerce is close to nil.
The likelihood that once mayor, that urban chief executive would then be appointed Secretary of State, is even closer to nil.
4
Wasn’t it you chaps who elected a reality TV star and bankrupted businessman with a history of sleaze to the office of President? I suppose I should pay lip service to the public vote vs the electoral college, but that is tomatoes tomahtoes by now.
But in a sense you hit the nail on the head. Boris has been an MP since 2001. He may have been ‘just a columnist’ - but in the UK the Old School Tie is the only qualification some need to slide into top jobs in any sector. His Eton and Oxford pedigree have been greasing the wheels of his journey in politics since his youth. Daily Telegraph, The Spectator - all Conservative Establishment papers, he has connections from a myriad of school, university and upper class networking and with his background has been imbued with a belief that he is “born to rule”, like so many Etonian politicians before him. And yes, sadly, in this class-addled country this is genuinely how it works in the upper levels of society, things may be a bit more egalitarian these days - but only so far.
7
What are the odds the bloke will then challenge the prime minister for her job and win?
This is perfectly true - and misleading. People of his ilk do find it easier but a glance at the background of many in the cabinet (e.g Home Secretary Sajid Javid, the son of a bus driver) show that it is not a pre-requisite any longer.
1
Time to put the motion up for reconsideration.
11
I think Russia's involvement with Farage and other financially motivated Brexit profiteers suggest there should be a revote.
12
As an Anglophile who lived in the UK for 7 years I always found the common sense of the British public to be one of the bulwarks of your country. When I read about Brexit, I thought that you guys had lost your minds. Then I read about the lies that had been perpetrated. Now, it's clear that the public was misled by the leavers. None of them can figure out how to exit without serious economic and political damage. So, they run away. No fan of the PM but she seems to be the only one actually trying to implement that apparent mandate of the people. I bet a referendum now would come out quite different since the truth is now pretty obvious.
22
I think money could have been repatriated from Luxembourg without the dramatic exit, which is ultimately all everyone ever wanted.
2
Good one!
I couldn’t be less split on this topic, I do understand the gravity of both arguments but above all I love my country and will always be British through and through. The pride we have as a nation and a people is fantastic and we will always have that pride whether we stand tall on our own or if we stand tall with the union of Europe to support the world we live in. Rule Britannia!
1
Better get back there then to fight in the trenches rather than feet up in New Zealand.
Tally ho old chap and Rule Britannia!
1
Are the French not French? The Swedes not Swedish? You seem to be suggesting some special status for British patriotism. It seems to me this is the problem in a nutshell.
1
Bully for Boris!
When, not if, the UK withdraws, the EU house of cards will be blown away with in a matter of years, if not sooner.
So, all these companies (part of the deep-state, global elite that are driving us 1st worlders to the penury of 3rd world status while their plutocratic you know what get larger and larger!) are making a lot of threats and other noise that will amount to naught.
Keep calm and carry on.
4
The UK needs the EU more than the other way around.
5
The UK needs the EU for what?
The UK is not in the euro, thankfully. The euro is a de facto German mark that has severely hampered the necessary economic reforms in France, Spain, Italy and Greece.
The EU's immigration policy is in a complete shambles.
Relevant reforms to trade and financial transactions were and continue to happen around the world and might have been more holistic without the deadening hand of excessive EU regulation.
The benefits of the EU to the global elite in European urban centers are far outweighed by the damage it has done to working class people throughout Europe.
The EU is a noble experiment that has failed ignobly.
Personally, I smell a snap election coming up after a vote of No Confidence
9
And yet Trump continues to thrive
1
Margaret Thatcher was the only woman strong enough to tame those Tory men.
3
No great loss losing Boris as Foreign Secretary. Fancying himself a Churchillian Cassandra, the Bullingdon boor rather is a Trumpian clown. Opera bouffe doesn't play well on the serious world stage.
But methinks Boris is just suspending himself, setting off out of government so his perfidy doesn't play as badly as it would when he tries for PM when May inevitably steps down. The tragedy for the UK is similar to that of the US: there are no statespersons rising to the occasion at a time of dire need. Mediocrities aren't going to cut it in the face of, for example, Putin actively sabotaging Western democracy. (Amy Klobuchar, your country needs you.)
And the populaces are so easily fearmongered into paralysis in both societies. The Brits need to demand a second Brexit referendum; the majority knows they can Brexit but they can't come home again - it will leave (no pun intended) the UK with "no there there." As for the US, it seems to have effectively Trumped itself, at each others' throats over "values," and the "business genius" doing all he can to spike US business and usher in a depression.
It's going to be an interesting next decade. I doubt a fun one. And, meanwhile, the carbon load, the carbon load...
20
I predict a trip to Buckingham Palace soon to tender her resignation as Prime Minister to Her Majesty the Queen.
9
What saddens me is that the people who voted for this, the ones who looked around and saw themselves shut out and left behind, the ones at the lowest rung of the ladder, the ones struggling with prices and seeing what looked like preferential treatment to migrants, will be the ones who bear the brunt of this madness. The Johnson’s, Davis’, Fox’s and Mogg’s will remain fat and well-fed at the money trough. But we’ll be the taxable rubes with no safety net in a land of hucksters with £££ is their eyes. And that is slowly but surely happening - some full time workers aren’t paid enough to afford food, so resort to foodbanks. Even some Nurses have to use them. People are living in cars or families put up in bedsits or B&B’s, homelessness has spiralled (Oxford, home of a wealthy, renowned university attended by many a would-be politician, has people living in tents in the High Street! I know because I’ve seen them).
We don’t need a second vote, a Trump, an EU or a new aircraft carrier. We don’t even need a Corbyn or a Brexit - we need a political revolution of some sort or Guy bloody Fawkes.
22
Living in tents. In Ny we call it glamping, glamour camping. You can do it too, for $650 a night. Of course the private operators benefit by taking over public parkland. It is these types of decisions that lead to Trump and Brexit. Not too tough to figure out
In order for Brexit to succeed, British women need to have more children. Lots of children. And accept that they will work the fields and other menial jobs that pay very little and for which education is t required.
That’s what it takes to be an isolationist. Hear that, Trump?
22
Plebiscite held. Vote clear. Sorry, it does not serve interests of big corporate money.
Foot drag in negotiations for more than two years. Pro Brexit ministers now resign....Farce?
I would say, probably.
"Democracy" a crude shadow puppet show now.
7
Never a fan of the Brits. Mostly because of their blood soaked empire - but now they are giving me the best seat in the house for viewing how to give yourself a swirly. May be a bit overdue but so entertaining to see self-important toads swollen with nationalistic fervor produce nothing but chaos. The English plummet to insignificance is light years faster than Europe's already. They will need a couple dozen royal weddings in the next few years to keep the focus off crushing reality.
15
I think perhaps you need to look at who the President of the United States is before gloating too much. The Brits have a 36-38 hour workweek, a National Health Service that is still resilient despite a persistent campaign of sabotage, and a police force that does not routinely shoot and kill its citizens based on the color of their skin, to name a few things. So put away the popcorn and the smugness, and pay attention to the burning dumpster fire all around you.
13
"But on Monday, Mr. Davis argued that Parliament’s power would be “illusory rather than real” because, if it rejected future changes, the consequences would be too great."
Mr. Davis has just inadvertently pointed out the entire problem with his version of brexit.
The "clean break" demanded by the hard brexiteers would have the very same intolerable consequences.
8
All Boris cares about is himself. No mystery there.
11
Those who wanted Brexit should live with the consequences. No soft exit. Only hard. And let the chips fall where they may.
8
I would like someone to explain to me why Brexit, which experts overwhelmingly view as damaging to the British economy, is supported by conservative politicians. I thought conservatives always fought to protect economic interests. And how about the British people? Now that there has been time to analyze the consequences, why on earth is this separation from the EU moving forward?
12
Just like the politicians in the US House and Senate, the members of the House of Commons are full of jelly. No one wants to admit the Brexit Referendum was a gutless way of passing the problem onto a vote of the people who had no clear sense of the unintended consequences.
19
I wonder if Trump would have the same attitude to NATO if two of his own citizens had been murdered by Putin
11
The answer: No.
If it doesn’t touch Trump personally, he doesn’t care.
15
No matter the country the UK or the U.S, conservatives cannot govern. They can only destroy.
32
Like the US, the UK voters regret not making an effort to get to the polls. Like the US, the economic pain of their inaction will be felt for years.
34
Like the U.S. they were subjected to an assault of disinformation by Putin. It is currently under investigation by the government but as in both countries one will never know the consequences of the assault, i.e., did it cause the defeat of Clinton and the election of Trump and/or the exit victory from the EU by the UK?
25
There should be a price to pay for Putin...The UK and the US should forfeit all the money held in banks by any Russian, as liquidated damages!
Nigel Farage, not Boris, was "the public face of Brexit".
9
The Trump clone is gone!
What's not to cheer for!?
11
Because the current Tory government cannot offer any real solutions for a Brexit-there is a real question as to whether any Brexit is possible. As time goes by, the whole question becomes more and more cloudy. It is time for the British government to decide, perhaps, that Brexit is not possible and try for a delay-a delay which could become a never-never Brexit.
6
Does Boris Johnson look like Donald Trump or is it the other way around?
10
When Brexit proponents complain that May's deal would make Britain a “rule taker, not a rule maker” I'm not sure which world they have lived in all along. Not only is the British economy rather small compared to the remaining EU's, meaning that the EU won't care a lot about rules made over the channel — there were precedence cases in Norway and Switzerland. Both are not EU members but abide by most EU regulations. However, they don't have a say in writing them. It was clear from day one that the UK would get exactly the same deal.
23
Everything Boris Johnson says he says with high confidence when in fact he has no idea what course of action may best for his country. He exaggerates wildly when he describes Mays approach as equivalent to colonial status for Britain, but even assuming he is right, what would the British prefer if the choice is to become like a colony with continuing or improving prosperity or retaining more independecnce and enduring a few decades of economic hardship? Clearly he favors indendence because that appeals to him as a politician. Britain needs another Brexit vote.
6
Who knew Britain also has a swamp?
The British swampers, much like their American counterparts, don’t really care what elections decide. The swamp decides, because the swamp rules all.
It why these guys quit.
4
I have to say CNN International (here in Canada) interviewed a bright young reporter from the Tory Daily Tel (how's that for "fair and balanced") to get the most interesting analysis today: she said May might just have muddled herself into jettisoning the two most disturbing Brexiteer trouble-makers in the Cabinet - Davis and Johnson - and could even be in a stronger personal leadership position than before this weekend's circus. Especially so since the gutless Brexiteers who seemed to agree with her on Friday but jumped ship after weekend "consultations" can't find their way to put forward anything but smiling bromides that are even less convincing than May's.
None of this nonsense brings the UK any closer to demands that don't require the EU to break itself up for Little England's sake, and the May Tories are still at bat 0 and 2 in the game.
6
"We are truly headed for the status of a colony." As the great-grandson of an Irishman who suffered in the Great Hunger, I find Johnson's comment deliciously ironic.
13
Rats/Sinking ship
11
#1. Russia dirty tricks passed Brexit, just ike they passed Trump through our country.
#2. Just like Trump, the Brexit losers had no concept of competency and now like Trump the rats are abandoning the ship they wrecked.
24
"“We are truly headed for the status of colony,” Mr. Johnson said in his resignation letter." Many of us colonials look forward to you experiencing that status. It is clear, however, that Britain is just as anxious to be a part of Europe and the Union as Japan is to be a part of China. However, the EU may even flourish without Britain if it can accept the observations in the Federalist papers and truly become a union of states rather than a collection.
8
May, clearly, is no Trump and there in lies the problem. Nonetheless, Brexit will continue with coming Brussels bureaucratic EU collective failing much sooner than anyone expects--Italians, Germans, and fellow on their way out with others to follow. Macron will have to turn out the lights sans fellow globalist Merkel.
4
We can be slightly less ashamed now of the "Never Trumpers" whose resistance lasted only a few days during the Republican primaries...but only slightly.
This is what happens when anger is governing. Saying everything is terrible and everyone else is exploiting us is easy, finding a better path forward and sticking to it is hard.
The proposed Brexit has Britain following a lot of E.U. rules with no vote in them...seems like a high price to pay to indulge xenophobia. A new referendum now seems more likely than not.
19
The Guardians comment section is about to break under the pressure. More than 30,000 so far.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2018/jul/09/david-davis-resign...
Its a feeding frenzy over here with the cherry on top of Trumps visit...the gutless wonder is avoiding the capital, lurking in mansions and imposing on our Queen.
We are not amused.
31
Trump voters take note, your god will throw you under the bus and bail too, that is unless he’s in prison.
8
From what I've read, it seems like Theresa May has a somewhat coherent plan to proceed that will be least harmful to the British.
Boris does not care about the possible long and short term economic and institutional damage to his country. Much like somebody here in the USA. The world has gone mad.
22
It is interesting to read the comments of these senior British parliamentarians worrying about their status becoming that of a "vassal state" or of a "taker of rules rather than a maker of rules". I thought those changes occurred years ago. Britain's chance at redemption was to become a leading member of the EU, when that didn't work they hung out on the sidelines and complained, then finally voted to exit, the equivalent of throwing themselves off a cliff. Britain is a second tier country. Their internal goings on matter less to the world than they ever have. The sooner they recognize that and focus on improving their circumstances rather than on the way they believe others perceive them, the sooner they will move forward as a country.
11
Typical, these idiots cause a mess then leave. If they were in the states they’d be republicans.
27
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is still smiling and smirking with the success of the malign mayhem and mischief that he has so cleverly and masterfully spread, spun and sown in order to make Russia great again.
Next in line is Putin's primary puppet pet Donald John Trump, Sr. who is embarking on a pilgrimage to Helsinki to pay homage to and give thanks for his Savior aka Czar Vladimir I the Great getting him selected President of the United States.
23
Boris is the UK's Donald Trump.
13
The process was defective from the outset. The referendum should have required majorities in each of the four constituent parts of the UK. The issue of Northern Ireland should always have been front and centre. It never was - until much too late.
12
Isn't Farage connected to Assange and Putin?
Brexit seems like a Putin plan.
10
Might this be what it takes for white, English speaking people to want to emigrate to America?
Trump may be smiling.
3
Jim, it's hard to imagine that Brits will want to immigrate to the US in any numbers.
Your indexes of life quality are among the lowest of the western countries, hardly a motivation to come to the US from other western countries.
This is what you get when you humour those who love the cameras and the attention more than they love the country or the job. Boris, Nigel, Rees-Mogg and the rest of the Brexit Lying Squad will miss neither meals nor country homes, fine wines nor international travel, paid sinecures nor speaking fees. No, they will go on enjoying themselves as they always have - at the expense, the great expense of others who are not so fortunate. A more execrable lot I hope it will never again my misfortune to regard.
24
I find it interesting when the firebrands and rabble rousers discover they phony claims have been found out, how quickly they leave the mess to others to straighten out. They turn tail and get out of town. It’s been evident to any critical thinker from the start of the Brexit charade that the UK would suffer, and suffer greatly from leaving the European Union. A classic case of what happens when you act in haste you can regret in leisure. The UK is no longer an empire, neither is Greece, the Dutch, Portugal, Italy and they haven’t been for decades if not hundreds of years. In union their whole was greater than their parts. United they stood to have a good thing going, divided they will all suffer. Certainly it appears that our current Quisling president and his faith column GOP will do nothing to help any of them and turning our back on our allies and friends will cost us dearly. So eventually we will suffer with them.
37
Extremely well said sir/Madame
5
Ms. May seems to have a couple bouts of poor judgement; her call for a coalition vote earlier that didn't go her way and her assumption that the majority of her cabinet were with her on her Brex plan. No confidence? Posh.
2
...that "pop, pop, pop..." you hear is the sound of the rivets coming apart on the the HMS Brexit. The rats know this, I think, and are jumping ship so as to avoid accountability for the inevitable sinking while maintaining that they could helm the ship better than the current lady captain.
14
One of the many items of the Brexit plan and its difficulties that struck me is the similarity between Britain’s long-standing divides and America’s. In America it’s obvious—the lingering result of slavery. Even long after a terrible war, we are still dealing with the racial and social fallout. In Britain, it’s the “Irish question.” That may not seem the most important, but it is inextricably connected with the issue of open borders, the feeling that we are somehow better than they are, and that is the heart of the issue. In the end, perhaps both our countries, so strongly linked, suffer from some sort of similar superiority complex. We are great, we are white, they are not.
6
It is not only the politicians who are divided (both the Conservative Party and the Labour Party are equally divided on Brexit) but the nation is as well. The EU is a very divisive subject in the UK and always has been. The problem here is that the electorate seem to have been forgotten in the whole kerfuffle, we hear about politicians, both UK and EU, bureaucrats, business leaders so forth ad infinitum but not us mere mortals. So much for a democratic vote, the question is, why do we even bother to vote in the current climate?
5
There is a whole lot of jockeying within the Tory party, because the writing is on the wall(s) that this government is not going to last much longer. In fact it may be wiped out in the next election, but at the same time we all know that it will come back in some form. There are a lot of ''leaders in waiting'' for that premise.
Having said all that, the hard part is not setting up borders and trade agreements/penalties with the rest of Europe, but rather right at home. Me home country is not going to put up with all sorts of duties, tariffs and especially not going back to a hard border in the contested land.
On top of that, Scotland is demanding much of the same thing, along with pockets in Britain itself. This is only polarizing the entire ''nation'' and pushing for the break up, leading to reunification for us and independence for our brothers across the way.
I suspect that Britain will collapse altogether if they don't reverse course, but there are too many trying to save face and hold onto power - hence the resignations en masse.
6
It's as plain as the nose on their faces, but the so-called "conservatives" refuse to see. The people do not WANT Brexit after they realized they were sold a bill of goods that won't benefit THEM, only the rich. Since when have have "conservatives" in the United Kingdom been against free trade? A little longer than the so-called "conservatives" in the US. It's a scam, but the British voters have realized it far sooner than any of the Trump supporters here ever will. To the detriment of the vast majority, and to them too. How silly, and what irreversible damage will be wrought. Once a farm is lost to bankruptcy, it's gone out of your family forever. Once jobs are gone because businesses have closed due to ever-rising prices and falling markets for their goods, they aren't coming back.
14
Has no one who wants Brexit noticed, that the UK is an island and no longer an empire? The UK will slide into chaos and irrelevance on its own.
5
I think think the UK vote to leave the ECU was not well thought through except that the ECU should not allow people coming into the ECU to just move about between ECU countries. Most ECU countries including the UK want to protect their borders from immigrants and possible harm doers and taking badly needed jobs from citizens and legal residents where there is no need for new workers which Hungary and Poland have so rightly done. So the ECU should get to work on their immigration between countries. It's seems the ECU is out of touch.
2
Neither a hard nor a soft Brexit but appears to be an attempt to occupy No10 downing street by Trump's way of Brexit.
6
Watch out for the long shadow of Vladimir Putin in fomenting this chaos in the UK--as he so successfully accomplished in the Divided States of America.
18
I know Boris Johnson is a highly educated man and some would say a very savvy politician; still, I swear he was drunk at the opening ceremonies at the Olympics when they were held in London!
3
He may be intelligent, but he lied consistently about the European Union in his articles for the Telegraph and others (https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2016/07/boris-johnson-peddled-a.... And his lying never stopped - https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/19/boris-johnson-grilled-p.... He should be cast out of politics in the U.K.
10
Better to be in the EU than our colony. Trump and the GOP can't be depended upon and with SCOTUS compromised and with the Russians hacking our elections in Trump's favor the future looks dim indeed.
6
If Putin succeeds here, I dont think he will stop. I think he will move on to the next country, and then the next...
6
Who would have thunk it? Donald Trump, in the next days, may persuade the British to make Jeremy Corbin their Prime Minister. He will stab Teresa May in the back, expecting Boris Johnson to become PM but Brits will reject Trump and turn to Labor after a vote of no confidence forces a new election.
3
Careful, Trump has a huge fan base over here because he's seen as the type that 'gets things done'. The Brits would happily welcome Mussolini because he'd make the trains run on time. And Corbyn is consistently vilified and belittled by much of the press.
4
Time to think outside the box, Madam Prime Minister. Offer the citizens of the United Kingdom another vote on leaving the European Union. The previous vote was illegally influenced by Russians and Americans.
15
Boris Johnson is virtually a parody of a self-serving politico, with no real core of belief and no loyalty to a party; his only agenda is to advance himself and stroke his own ego by getting in the news for any reason, even if mostly a negative light. Combining this with hollow core is a truly superficial parody of a pampered privileged Bullingdon Club toff right out of Evelyn Waugh or PG Wodehouse.
Nobody ever expected Johnson do do anything worthwhile as Foreign Secretary -- May apparently appointed him in a (misguided) effort to keep the loose cannon under control. This worked about as well as most of May's notions. And the court fool is doing his damnedest to crash his own government, in hopes he can somehow seize power.
7
I seriously doubt anyone that will miss that guy. What an opportunist zero.
6
Well, I shall miss Mr. Johnson
He has was geniusly funny, rare in politicians. And his jokes (as all good jokes) were funny because they contained a kernel of truth - sometimes outlandishly so.
On the EU
Asked of questions about the EU, ending in “If the EU were an animal, what animal would it be?”, Mr. Johnson opined:
“The EU would be a lobster … because the EU, by the very way it works, encourages its participating members to order the lobster at the joint meal because they know that the bill is going to be settled by everybody else — normally by the Germans.”
On the art of politics
"My policy on cake is pro having it and pro eating it."
Which is as good a description as you will ever find
Bonne chance mon ami
1
I don’t see the truth in there. Generally what Boris says involves lying. What a mess.
5
Our democracies on both sides of the 'pond' are only as perfect as the people who vote. Which is imp-perfect. We have imps who whisper and imps who scream in our ears and convince us how to cast our precious votes. Imps have unlimited wealth and access to every media outlet and indeed for the most part they own them. They appeal to our better nature and to our lower nature but eventually in the end more times than not, they get their way. They get what you now see in Brexit. Its unheard of and hard to believe this is what we have come to, aka Imp-Possible.
1
David Cameron's decision to have a referendum for party political reasons started this fiasco. At least he had the decency to resign, whereas the Republicans who created our own fiasco for similar reasons are still milking it for all it's worth.
22
It's Britains turn to have a "potato famine".
5
Arranging deck chairs on the Titanic - as they say.
What a farce. This hapless, gutless and rudderless government of Mrs. May-be- not is making some third world countries look strong.
An accompanying article is about NATO and EU folks having difficulties with our POTUS on his upcoming visit.
I submit whether it is us who are having trouble with these folks across the "pond" who cannot make up minds on anything. And there are 27 different opinions as there are members of NATO and EU.
The EU is deadlocked on immigration and many speculate it's very survival is at stake.
Britain is fast slipping into an irrelevant and even irresponsible member of our alliance. Russians kill wantonly on its soil. But it refuses to cut ties with corrupt Russian mafia that has bought it's way with stolen wealth.
So, it is us who should wonder how long can we have this broken community dictate our interests.
So, it now seems fitting the POTUS is meeting Putin in Helsinki.
After Iran and now debacle of Brexit - we should be cutting our losses fast.
1
I would rather be in Britain than here. Just because "we" (and I use that term VERY loosely indeed) make up our minds about "things" quickly - consequential things that affect the lives of hundreds of millions of our citizens - meaning Donald J. Trump makes his decisions at 4 in the morning while on his gold plated toilet tweeting, making decisions via tweet depending on the the number of rumbles he hears in his gut, rather like the ancient Chinese 6000 years ago used to burn and then read the cracks in tortoise shells, doesn't mean that being "decisive" is good. The decisions Trump has made are destroying our country and our standing in the world of nations. We will never regain the stature we had. Nobody will ever trust the United States of America again, unless and until a new unified government of states takes over the name and prior RULE OF LAW first, foremost and forever and kicks the flailing ignorant red states to the curb. That's where I'm at right now, and I'll probably be there, sadly, until I die.
9
But Boris has the hair of a world leader......
15
Boy, I wish our clown would resign.
22
With nationalism on the move - albeit in varying degrees - in France, Germany and Italy, the EU is looking like a bad marriage for which the participants cannot afford the divorce. For this reason, the UK's recent negotiations have watered down Brexit to the extent that it barely exists - hence Johnson's resignation.
Maybe time for eveyone to step back, rethink and heed the words of the great Petula Clark, "the other man's grass is always greener, some are lucky, some are not, just be thankful for what you've got."
3
The Brexiteers supporting a Hard Brexit are increasingly akin to the puritanical communists for whom just one more purge was needed before true communism could be achieved. Like true communism, Brexit is a complete folly, a totally unachievable utopia - and like fundamentalists of any colour they will never, ever be able to accept that the failure of their disastrous and dangerous ideal is entirely their own fault.
They are frauds, liars and charlatans - good riddance.
18
Seems any hierarchical power structure attracts frauds, liars, and charlatans. Just look at churches, the Congress, labor unions, corporations. Not to say everyone who gains power is immoral, but an aweful lot are.
1
Come on US and British citizens if all of us have not figured out that Putin and his thugs are behind Boris Johnson and DTrump than we are all idiots. Boris is a provocateur in the Milo Y way. He says stuff he can't back up just to incite dissension. Dtrump is rich manwhore the repubs created with their corrupt money in politics style of governing. Both nations are in big trouble. Maybe with Boris down and out, we can only hope Dtrump is next. If not, Putin wins. This is what Putin wants is the worst way possible.
13
The Republicans created a petri dish and Trump grew fat and strong in it, much to their shock. Sort of a mad scientist experiment with unintended consequences. Speaking of which, maybe Trump is "the fly."
8
So Britain abandons EU that is Europe. And the US essentially abandons Britain. So I have to conclude Brexit was a very very foolish decision. It's not like the British to be so obtuse. It's one thing to lose an empire another to lose one's mind.
Same with us here in US. We'll be all alone too except for uncle Putin and Brother Kim.
9
If only our stupid decision would resign!
8
Not "our" - Trump lost the popular vote by nearly 3 million, and he only won due to loads of Russian interference and, I will believe this until the day I die, actually hacking into key states' voting systems (those without paper ballots to back up how voters actually voter) and changing votes AND adding votes, enough to swing the Electoral Count in Trump's favor. Why else do you think they're so terrified of Mueller?
7
And Putin scores another goal.
Boris (how aptly named) strikes me as just another Russian tool.
13
Sounds a lot like what is going on over here in the US. Two camps of reactionaries wading into an issue with both guns blazing, when it suddenly it dawns on the not-so-far-right camp that the issue has more subtlety than they ever imagined (e.g. "who could have imagined health care would be so complicated"). The thing is, reactionaries don't know the word compromise, so in the end you get the same thing there as we will, in general, here...antagonize a whole lot of people for what history will prove to be very questionable accomplishments.
6
As with Merke, May is in trouble, at the core on immigration: Welcome by the global elite in London (equally home in London, New York, Shanghai) but disliked by those attached to their country's tradition and culture, shaped over the last 1000 years.
2
Two highest-level British government officials retiring within 24 hours? Is this a coincidence? I think a major scandal is about to break, regarding how the Brexit vote was maneuvered and pushed in the same way Trump was foisted upon us. The Brits are about to find out that they, too, have been played by the Russians, who wanted the EU splintered to further their own ends. Ah, truth and justice, finally are on the way!
8
This is the major scandal, it is happening.
Basically two years ago May initiated Article 50 with the EU, a mechanism that kick starts the leaving process. That effectively starts a timer giving us a time limit to negotiate a deal and get the EU member states to agree etc etc. Then we go. Simple in theory.
So timer starts running and there’s no plan. Absolutely no plan. Cameron hadn’t planned anything, but resigned anyway - nor did the Leave campaign. Tories start cobbling a plan together. Cue months and years of arguing, division, craziness etc. May gives several high profile speeches hinting at a ‘no deal’ scenario and a ‘clean break’ from the EU. The dilemma is our economy has the EU embedded within it - they are our biggest market. Likewise joint security deals, joint scientific & tech deals, drugs, nuclear energy deals etc etc. But May seems to be heading to a clean break where we crash out without a deal at all and revert to WTO rules. All the other joint deals will just vanish. May holds an election to gain max support. It fails abysmally, losing her majority.
Everyone who isn’t a Brexiteer is getting nervous. Business are nervous. Negotiations are a shambles. Ireland are nervous. Shambles everywhere.
May finally has a plan so calls her cabinet together (last Friday). She plays her hand and unveils a very ‘soft’ Brexit - where we keep aligned to Europe on a LOT of things, and not on some others. Brexiters go wild; ‘This isn’t Brexit!’ etc etc.
Cue today.
8
Cause for much celebration here in Blighty. Our own bouffant-headed imbecile resigns, England won a football game. Trebles all round!
However, the worry now is what damage that Destroyer of Worlds, the slimy Jeremy Hunt, might do. He has all but destroyed the National Health Service and he is quite possibly the most incompetent and self-serving of the lot. We are not out of the woods, not by a long shot.
8
With polls not moving on this in the UK you start wondering if a hard Brexit may in fact be the best long-term option -- even if somewhat irresponsible in the short run.
Plenty of manufacturing industry will leave (especially air/space craft, automobile, etc), other cities will take over as financial capitals of Europe, inner-Ireland border a wild mess, currency devaluation, R&D/brain drain, etc etc
The sad backwater island that the UK will become would be warning to other countries and voters with nationalistic/populist inclinations in the long run.
8
Let the brexiteers leave. Better chance for a reasonable split.
2
Let the Brexiteers go. They're living in a past that doesn't exist any more. As it was, they lied about the actual impact of the EU Britain's economy. Russian shennanigans and prevarication ought not become unquestioned policy. Wake up Brittania!
11
Why should a country be able to shape rules for the EU if it is not a member of the EU? This is conservative logic at its finest.
11
May is about to get Trumped. Watch out.
WE are now the biggest threat to the West
7
Exactly. The US is world's public enemy#1.
9
They quit after having done irreparable damage to the UK and the rest of Europe. Further evidence that those who lead the brutish working classes by their noses are only pursuing their own narrow racist ends. At least the UK has the Queen as unifying comfort.
6
Those who led the Brexit movement had no realistic plans for actually accomplishing the deed. No way to deal with the economic fallout of reinstalling barriers to trade, no plan for those whose businesses would disappear with Brexit, no plan for the messy aftermath. This was just all a big hoax on the British voters. (And backed with Russian money, no less.)
Brexiters should put forth such plans immediately, or shut up. Be accountable or step aside and let the grownups get to work.
Let's hope we can make Donald Trump do the same, sooner rather than later. Accountability cannot come soon enough.
11
Like the GOP cry kill Obamacare without ever having an alternative, the Brexit bunch pulled the same deal. They certainly have never have an exit plan. With Trump on his way, the final pieces of the Putin plan to spread discord in the West is on track.
13
Nice to see this opportunistic twit leave the premises....hopefully the last we see of him... Brexit was a poor decision...they'd be smarter to take a second vote.
10
Boris et al had better stop playing around. It isnt a game of ideology.
1
Boris' game isn't about ideology, it's about Boris, and it's about Boris being the Prime Minister. The man is a cold, treacherous, narcissistic political operative who calculates his every move with careful precision.
6
Itz ideological. Even narcissists harbor convictions. That in the case of Boris J if ideological convictions are subordinated to his solipsism it would not be a surprise. But i get your point.
Is it too much to hope that May allows a second referendum on Brexit? In the days after the initial vote it was clear many people did not grasp the reality or long-term consequences of a yes vote. This was in no small part because they were misled by the likes of Johnson and Farage.
If a vote were held today I believe the U.K. would vote to stay in the EU.
Certainly there are downsides to every political union of disparate states - we are living through a nightmare of our own over here. But a good dose of reality has a way of enlightening and energizing people to make better choices.
7
Regrettably, there isn’t much evidence that Brexit would be reversed in another referendum. Very few people who voted Leave have changed their mind, and a substantial number of Remain voters are so sick and tired of the whole thing that they think the government should just get on with it and get it out the way.
4
Just the fellow to calm these frightened British: soothing President Pathological!
8
It is hard to say with honest conviction that the British want Brexit, when the vote was close and irregularities seem to have been largely on the Brexit side. Democracy is hard to support when one side cheats at will and pays no price.
15
I can't say I understand all the ins and outs of Brexit, but it seems to me that Mrs May has a cooler head than most. She appears to be trying to navigate a middle course in a very difficult situation. I strongly suspect that support for her in the UK is deeper and wider than her opponents realize.
6
Trump's corporate decisions are patterned after his real estate model! Despite lots of coaching by CEO global masters, Trump can only think of value and pricing as blocks, not as flow as modern managers and nations do, knowing trade is moving money, not income or profit, a cash flow that accurately glimpses the supply chain, absent political vulnerabilities.
Trump's tariffs opened trade to political vulnerabilities, and several nations have gone directly after bourbon, an American whiskey made in Kentucky. Wisconsin cheese is a target, too. Maine could lost 25% of its lobster sales, with the lost multiplier rippling through the economy.
Meanwhile, Trump's Pennsylvania Avenue landmark hotel is filled nightly, business class and foreign meetings, everyday events.
11
Ah, yes; the "special relationship" between the US and the UK. Who could have ever thought that it would devolve to Trump on the one hand and Brexit on the other. What a sad turn it must be for the spirits of FDR, Churchill and all of the other architects who pieced together something that is, for now anyways, not so special.
10
If I was Brit I'd be rooting for a deal where the economic union stays in place while giving Britain the option of turning away the immigrants that Merkel let in.
Keep Britain British!
4
Does that include Ireland? India? Scotland? Jamaica? Do I need to go on?
16
Hey Boris, if you Brexit you own it.
25
I find it easier to understand cricket than to figure out British government and this Brexit fiasco.
14
Brexit is a purely domestic issue, created by the political elites of a country which now can't find a way to deal with it. Britain's role is the global economy is diminishing and any impacts from trade disruptions will be minimal. Across the channel, Europeans are already working hard to attract service sector investments away from London. It will be interesting to see how Britain and London in particular fares ten years from now!
6
Same, same for US and China. However, given the discontent in the EU--Brussels will certainly be back to being a flower stand but overwrought with bureaucrats looking for a new "collective" to manage.
3
It doesn't hurt that Boris Johnson, the rabble rouser steps down to be replaced by Jeremy Hunt. As former secretary of state, Johnson raised more hackles than smoothing ruffled feathers. He might bid for party leadership should Theresa May be ousted, but there is little appetite for change, because nobody wants to see the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn to win in snap election.
Hunt was a vocal supporter of remain during the referendum but two years of EU negotiations later, he said he was now a Brexit convert, because of the “arrogance” of the EU Commission’s approach.
A number of Tories said they were seeing him as a more plausible "unity candidate" than many of his main cabinet rivals.
4
Perhaps Trump might have an excuse to cancel his working-visit to Britain, given protests everywhere he goes. Theresa May would be too preoccupied to entertain him.
6
To expect that the EU would accommodate them is ridiculous and lacks foresight.
6
Hunt’s “conversion” is down to his leadership aspirations. He’ll happily wear the hat of a Leaver if it lies between him and a crown.
Money well spent, from Putin's point of view.
25
Boris really deserves a balloon over London like Trump's so the two gasbags can fly side by side.
46
If Ms. may is counting on any help from Donald Trump she's going to find herself sorely disappointed. He's not going to anything except add to her troubles.
15
It seems to me, that the NY Times is "Facebooking" Brexit.
How is this article, which is encouraging largely anonymous readers from all over the world, to chime in on a critical event in Britain, so different from the alleged Russian meddling in our affairs?
While it is true that the commenters are not "buying advertising space" for their comments, that hardly makes it any better.
Agitation is quite a different thing than reporting the news - this article is very "Hearst".
3
We’ll be sure to keep our opinions to ourselves and not comment on anything outside our own little private individual lives.
3
The English should demand another vote. Boris Johnson and his ilk will be tossed out never to be remembered.
11
Well darn it, now that all the Brexit backers are quitting, May will just have to cancel it.
13
This is the equivalent of hard progressive Barack Obama losing defense chiefs every to years because no one patriotic enough to know a lot about national defense can stomach working with Alinsky-ite liberals.
PM May has been frantically giving away British culture and European achievement just to try keeping the Muslim crime situation out of as much of the news as possible.
She quit being an actual leader years ago. But I'll not say it's because she bears a general similarity to progressive Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth the house-flipper Warren.
3
Clearly, the vote to Brexit was a mistake.
15
The VAST majority of Brits insist on Brexit and no remaining control over the U.K. from anyone in Brussels.
Ties to the EEC are how so many girls and women feel that they are no longer safe in Britain and throughout Europe after the waves of uncounted and unvetted ISIS-era immigrantion.
1
UK along with US should suffer from this Nationalism. Companies that cross borders should pull back and it’ll hurt these Nationalistic voters. They’d then vote more liberal. This is the idea if elections and the economy were truly efficient.
Reality is voters won’t equate any downfall in jobs, healthcare, or the economy to their vote for Trump and Brexit. The companies and Russia that funded these Nationalistic movements will profit and spread further disinformation to cover their tracks.
4
It is utterly shocking that the UK govt has been compromised so deeply by people apparently associated the Russians. In the same way that the GOP in America is. It seems that this summit is being manipulated and undermined by Putin's cyber team and associates. Given his hackers proven ability to infiltrate banking databases, and steal money underneath, while making the data on the surface appear nromal, it is entirely possible that they have also infiltrated any form of voting system that is computerinzed. Trump appears to be compromised too. Trump goes there with a complete fail in the NK agreement, which serves Russian interest, and is meeting with Putin either in preperation for more anti-NATO strategy, or to report any apparent weaknesses with our traditional Western EU Allies. The American people and media need to wake up to this possibility.
I don't think we can trust the outcome of any election, or any meeting with this level of compromise and potential corruption in place. Meuller's team needs to add people to speed-up the pace.
22
@Mik-
Putin’s billionaire henchmen (think, “Knights of the Round Table”), major-league criminals often called “Oligarchs” in our media, have parked tens of billions of $,£,€,¥ in Britain and throughout Western Europe (and even here, via useful idiots like Donald Trump). Money-laundering City of London banks and ultra-secret hedge funds “facilitate” (to put it delicately) the miraculous transformation of bloodstained loot stolen from Mother Russia (causing the impoverishment of millions of Russians) into clean prime gilt-edged assets. They’ve become so good at it perhaps they should try their hand at changing water into wine.
It’s poisoned UK politics, what they’ve done. “Money is the mother’s milk of politics”, as the late, great Jesse Unruh (Speaker of the California Assembly, no stranger to the slimy underside of the profession) observed several decades ago. A political party as cruel, philosophically vapid and morally debased as UK’s “Conservatives” (or our own “Republicans”, as noisome a rabble as any, also turning more pro-Russian by the day) steps-n-fetches for whomever pays them no-questions-asked.
“Brexit” was hatched in Moscow. FSB fingerprints are all over it. It’s a “Front” in a “Strategic Direction” to destroy the EU, to open the way for dissolution of NATO itself and Russian domination of Europe itself. Were Lenin still alive he would call vapid Boris Johnson a “useful idiot”.
2
Brexit wasn’t hatched in Moscow. This has been an issue in UK govts and the country at large that has existed for 40yrs since we joined the EEC. The Tories nearly imploded over it in Thatcher’s era, then in Major’s. When they got back into power in 2010 it was still there. There has always been a group of fanatical anti-Europe MPs. In the public, there has always been people against it. The right-wing press have always hated it.
Did Putin help the campaign? Maybe so, but the decision to have this referendum lies with David Cameron deciding to silence the anti-EU Tory troublemaking backbenchers for good and give them the vote they always wanted. A gamble that went colossally wrong - maybe thanks to Putin, but he still didn’t need to hold that vote.
1
They should be celebrating his resignation, and that of any other extremist that wants to lead them off a cliff. Many of us in the US would be relieved if our hard-line conservatives resigned. The real problem is that they won't leave!
6
Clearing out the Brexiteers from Government brings the same joy as getting to the semi finals of the World Cup
7
Putin gets what he wants: a disintegrating EU and NATO. Why exactly are Johnson, Trump, et al handing the Western world on a silver platter to a handful of Russian oil and gas oligarchs?
What are guys like Johnson and Trump getting out of it? Makes you wonder where all of their wealth is invested, and what kinds of backdoor deals they are involved in. These guys are willing to sell out their countries and seventy years of a planet without a major world war. Talk about Manchurian candidates!
Still waiting to see Trump's tax returns here -- what global entities is Johnson's money invested in?
19
Above all, what they have in common is that they're both TV personalities more than anything else. I'd be surprised if Johnson has much in terms of business interests, but my, what an ego! He's said some uncomplimentary things about The Trump in the past, but in terms of narcissism and overinflated ego, there's little to choose between them.
4
What a mess ! This is the result of ill-informed populist politics. Boris Johnson is as opportunistic as can be.
19
So some of the leaders of Brexit are now exiting from Brexit? There's a great word-play joke here for anyone who wants to find it.
8
Now, can Boris Johnson finally get a hair cut?
When in power we put up with his mop as an eccentricity.
Out of power, he's just another fool without a comb.
10
Wasn't it fun while it lasted?
Hey, let's catch one of those Trump rallies while they're still around.
5
Boris' hairdo reminds me of the Donald's. Perhaps there's room for him to fill one of those numerous unfilled White House vacancies.
12
As with the United States 2016 presidential election, Britain's referendum is tainted by the interference of Russia in its decision making. The chaos in both countries should be expected to continue when those involved, in and out of government, are still in some unknown agreement with this foreign adversary. The United States and Britain should hold with democracy and let the true people's majority rule until investigations are complete and decisive action is taken against Russia by both nations.
6
Agree with all of the comments that this was bound to happen. But let's not forget what issues led to the populist backlash in the first place -- the most volatile of which was open EU external borders and the invasion (and associated problems) of migrants and economic immigrants from Africa and the middle east.
The Russians (Putin) may have used social engineering to manipulate and push this issue to the forefront, but the problems were already there, bubbling (in every working to middle neighborhood) and ready to explode. Extremism on the left is as dangerous and destabilizing as extremism on the right.
2
It’s interesting that right-wing political correctness in both Britain and the US forbids use of the term “refugees” for people seeking refuge from wars and disasters; instead they have to be called “migrants,” no matter how obvious it is that they are simply fleeing from situations that any of us would regard as intolerable. Cruel, heartless, what else can you call this?
3
Not sure what the big deal is. Even if Brexit passsed with a simple majority of the citizens politicians have the right to walk it back. They know better than the people and their job is to do what they know is best not do what the people cast their vote for. Politicians have the ultimate authority and when we elect them be.ready to do what they want.
1
Why, in this case, even bother with referendum?
1
It makes people feel like their opinion matters on a particular topic when in reality it simply does not.
David Cameron, then Prime Minister opened 'the can of worms' to initiate Brexit, in spite of the fact that 50 % of the country was against it.
And that justifies the turmoil the country is in?
9
48% was against it, Ms. Sour Grapes
1
The margin to leave was very narrow, so irrespective as to what the outcome would be, there would be a lot of unhappy people. What the last two years has shown is that it is almost impossible for the UK to leave Europe and if Juncker had any common sense he would come back and offer May the compromise on European regulations that he failed to offer Cameron.
Now if the time comes that May has to resign, then irrespective whether Boris of Jacob Reese-Mogg become PM, they will still face the same problems.
Someone has to have the presence of mind to admit it that Brexit is an almighty mistake and call it off.
8
It's easy to see why Brexit failed. It may be too late to turn back the clock, but at least now the UK can begin the slow and difficult process of reforging their ties with Europe. There is no alternative. The UK cannot rely on Russia's puppet the United States of America for protection or trade. NATO is history and Russia is free to assassinate British citizens without fear of consequences. Europe needs to take drastic action to defend itself militarily and economically before it's too late. The nations of Europe cannot stand up to Russia and their vassal America individually. If the UK doesn't begin to cooperate with Europe again, Western Civilization is over.
8
Pretty clear to me that what Britain should do is hold another referendum, to undo the Brexit notion. Brexit was clearly a bad idea, pushed by nationalists, racists, and Russia, in order to weaken Britain. Now that the idiots pushing for complete isolationism are resigning from government, it would be a good time to put this to another popular vote. In all likelihood, if the machinations of Russia can be kept out of it, the people will realize their mistake and vote against exiting, and then Britain could put all this unpleasantness behind her.
If they don't want to do that though, if they want to withdraw and weaken Europe against the looming threat from Russia, then so be it. I look forward to visiting England sometime, when the exchange rate drops to about 30 pounds per dollar.
8
Yeah, yeah, it was Russians who decided to have the referendum. It is amazing how the Western politicians love to blame Russia for their mistakes. And sure, second referendum will be a great idea to enrage those who voted for that. And what will happen when the Brexit wins again or looses with low margin? To set up the third referendum? Kind of, kills the spirit and value of referendums.
1
Well Yulia, I didn't say the referendum was the Russians' idea, just that they took advantage of it, influenced it in their favor. But yes, the ideal way to handle referendums is to hold as many as needed until the public finally arrives at a rational conclusion. What we have to accept is that most people are unfortunately biased, uninformed, and slow of thought, so direct rule by the public will never work well.
2
And I thought only the President and Congressional Republicans were complicit in the Russian plot to destabilize the West.
How wrong I was! Boris advances disunity detrimental to both the British national interest and the NATO alliance for some perceived political self-interest.
There ought be a special place in Hell for politicians who put self before country. It will be a crowded space indeed.
7
Since Boris is an American citizen and a close ally of Trump (they use the same hair spray), I recommend he applies for Kelly's job as soon as possible. I think he will find the WH more accommodating than 10 Downing St.
8
Ta-Ta Boris. Don't let the door hit you on your way to your next job interview.
8
This soft Brexit that May is pushing would leave the UK largely subject to the EU's rules but with no say in what the rules are or how they are implemented. This would seem to be an even worse position than remaining in the EU. The whole purpose of the Brexit was for the UK to regain control and this proposal appears to do the exact opposite of that.
4
The whole purpose of Brexit was to make some ignorant, bigoted old white guys feel like they were in control again. Just like Trumpists here. No real purpose at all, just petulant anarchy.
10
PM May & her party did not support the vote on Brexit. That she accepted the outcome of the vote (a vote tilted by Russian trolls in the public media just as in the USA in supporting the mentally ill conman over HRC) is a demonstration of democracy. She should however had a re-vote. The UK will suffer for this misstep just as the USA is & will suffer greatly from the conman & GOP in power.
8
Nobody said exit would be easy, especially when there is no star to steer by. Britain is the first to try and must feel its way. I am disappointed in Boris being such an uncompromising hard liner. Boo on Boris. And here's to a bet on Ms. May pulling us through. Here in Oxford, she is 3 to 5 to win.
1
Erm, did you follow the referendum campaign? Various people on the Leave side repeatedly said it would be easy. They may be trying to gaslight people that they didn't now, but unfortunately for them some of us have memories.
2
Hoping Trump voters turn on the president is inversely, yet desparately synonymous with Britains hosting a Eurotopia reunion.
Dream on!
1
Isn't Boris Johnson nothing else but Donald Trump with even worse hair?
7
No. Boris Johnson is far better educated and really ought to know better despite being American born.
2
He has a much better command of the English language than our guy has!
4
Time for Jeremy Corbyn to get a shot.
For the many- not the few.
2
Just another day at the office.
2
Brexit is an excellent example of how citizens too lazy and not bothering to vote has it's consequences with repercussions. I hope this will be another reminder to Americans come November as our destiny is on the line too.
9
If you were driving and took the wrong turn, later realizing that the bridge ahead was out, would you be required to drive into the river? The Brits apparently believe so.
9
No Jack.
Because we would put flouts on the car, paddle it across
and then dry it out!
Of course, by leaving, Boris & company can claim that the ensuing train wreck Brexit will precipitate will have happened because it was not properly executed. Funny how "conservatives" seem to be anything but conservative these days. The implementation of their poorly-thought-through radical ideas is beginning to make them seem to have a lot more in common with Mao.
5
Johnson just rode Brexit as a power grab, as did Trump. All of this, can be placed at the feet of Merkel and unrealistic open door immigration policies Brexit and Trump and now the right wing Supreme Court.
In short this immigration virtue signalling has done enormous political harm to Britain Europe and the US as they swing to the right, and for that matter increased violent crime, reduced GDP and put millions of unemployable illegal immigrants onto the streets. No less.
1
Theresa May's government coalition is sinking fast.
3
Let’s see if I get this straight:
Democracy is fine so long as your particular point of view is upheld; impeachment, a second referendum, et al. are necessary when the politicians or referenda don’t fit with your world view.
This seems to me like a very selective view of what democracy is all about.
Heads I win tails you lose.
Cheers
Un canadien errant.
1
You’re confusing the issue. Agreed, a second Brexit referendum is dicey from a ‘democratic’ perspective since that possibility was not foreseen in the first vote. But impeachment to remove a president is just as legitimate as allowing the Electoral College to chose a candidate who has not received a majority of the popular vote. Both are constitutional provisions with the same legal status. Is the impeachment of a popularly elected president ‘democratic’? No, but Trump was not popularly elected. Both impeachment and the Electoral College are features of a Constitutional design more republican than democratic in its inspiration.
4
Thank you for your considered reply.
I can’t say that I disagree with your post. That said, it appears to me that the definition of democracy has become rather more elastic of late. Much depends on whose ox is gored. I’m not sure that that’s a positive development.
Wouldn't it be great if they would allow individuals to join the EU? I'd love to create my own little 70-acre state and sign up right away! Because I am a little bit sick of the good ol' USA.
5
Maybe two balloons over London?
7
Boris always struck me as the far edge, a poor example, Mr. Acting Out, an unmade bed.
The PM is orderly. Boris is disorderly.
We are all anxious. 60 million are moving. Migration is old news. Borders came with government. Not empire. Rome fell from within, attacked from without.
Western civilization has Trump questioning most everything. I ask. Why? Is Putin his master? His puppeteer? And where does Mr. Kim fit?
Does Mr. Trump have values that merit respect? Does absolute power corrupt absolutely?
Is PM May going to lead Western Civilization? Will Angela Merkel lead her people or fall?
All feel what’s happening. Who will pose the questions that matter? Leaders must do that.
Mussolini was elected 1922. He took over in 1925. He was killed in 1945. Hitler rose to follow Mussolini.
Who will follow Trump? How will he exit?
Is Trump a Putin asset - of long standing, recent, or am I dead wrong? And Mr. Kim?
China is an impoverished trading nation with a bank account. Russia is Novgorod redux.
We can get along with China. Putin and Kim are another matter.
And Trump, Pence, Ryan, Hatch, Pompeo, et cetera - must go.
How about Romney - Bloomberg? Let the parties endorse both. GOP and Democrats come together. End the fighting.
Rebuild.
We can then look at gerrymandering and all the rest.
Just a thought. We must do something.
We are in a mess. We’re coming apart.
Babies shouldn’t nurse from their mothers?
That’s crazy.
2
Hopefully a sign that the end of buffoonery is in sight.
7
We don't seem to be the only country in the world with self-absorbed and unhinged folks running things.
Take a trip to D.C., Boris - there just might a job offer waiting for you.
10
There is valid critique of Brexit, but none of it applies to Boris' exit.
But if Brexit must be re-litigated as an academic exercise (because it cannot be reversed), it is futile to ignore the misfit between England and the central notions of EU (i.e., we don't have colonies anymore, let's stop killing each other, and create a fortress Europe - else US will eat us alive).
England has never been afraid of being eaten alive. Their gall and ambition are legendary, inventiveness unobserved elsewhere, their passion for dominance and capacity to take risk unmatched (as were the Dutch, but less effective). Colonies (including Scotland) willingly serve as cannon fodder - even today. No nation has succeeded this much for this long with this little in taking control of the world's resources, keeping competition down, and lining up allies as has England.
You cannot cage this tiger, or shackle it with EU.
I am completely bullish on an independent UK; sell if you want because I am buying. I have infinite faith that UK will renegotiate every deal to their total advantage - and will be sitting pretty in 20 years.
And what they will not be a part of is either the Islamic Republic of Eurabia, or a totalitarian response to prevent such a republic - both dystopic outcomes that will emerge around them. Only then will Brexit seem brilliant to those that are doubters today.
4
Perhaps the House of Lords could initiate that second referendum they threatened earlier
It really is the only solution, unless England really wants to help trash their future.
They could point out that both the Kochtopus and Putin's troll farm helped make the UK one of the modern losers in our increasingly difficult world.
Why be a sucker: use this to cancel Brexit! There is no good outcome for the UK otherwise.
17
It is time for Labour to be taking a position. Will Labour move a non-confidence motion in the House and, if so, will sufficient Conservatives vote with Labour or abstain so that the motion passes? Would Labour try and form a minority government by favouring a second referendum and gaining the support of a rump of Conservatives? Or would it be straight to another election? The media need to be quizzing Labour.
3
May is weak ad Boris'departure is wonderful news! I hope trumps visit is a disaster as well.
4
Trump is hated outside America. Thank God he won't have to hitchhike a ride. Otherwise, he may have to sew a Canadian flag on his backpack.
2
I would probably exit any room any of them were in.
It has been a constant source of amazement to me, ever since the Republican primaries, how so many despicable people who all want to do tremendous harm turn on each other.
All seem to have these weird nasty nuanced differences on how to make life miserable for as many people as possible. I still can't get my head around it. To me they always seemed like one blob of reactionary meanness.
17
Divide to conquer is the republican way. So far it's working with the base.
3
They were careless people, Tom and Daisy – they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together and let other people clean up the mess they had made.
14
Thank you. I hadn't thought of this literary correlation, and I'm a literature guy. It might apply to the Silicon Valley disrupters as well.
2
And this is why the rules of etiquette were laboriously crafted. Better to be consumed with the quandry of whether Meghan Markle should cross her legs at the knee or at the ankle than to deal with the intricate demands of a stable Euope. And just wait till BabyFace visits with his crowd-rallying one-liners.
4
If Britain is set to become a colony, it is only because of BoJo's opportunistic and foolish support for Brexit.
Britain was once a rule maker and an influential member of the EU. In fact, according to the Telegraph of all sources, in the 20 years prior to Brexit, Britain supported 2,895 EU legislative proposals, abstained on 65 occasions and voted against 7 times. Yes, you read that right, 7 times!
Now Britain will have rules imposed upon it because BoJo saw in the EU some sort of imperial superstate rather than a common forum for European countries to solve transnational issues and punch above their weight in world affairs.
BoJo (and David Davis, Ian Duncan Smith, Michael Gove and Liam Fox) have made the UK a far less influential, less meaningful country on the world stage. Actually, they have made it an international laughingstock.
18
I wonder if she could do it all over again, Merkel would grant Cameron his request for a cap on EU migration into the U.K. I mean that is what set the U.K. down this path...
see for example - in the Guardian - 11/28/2014 "Angela Merkel forces David Cameron to retreat from EU migrant cap"
4
It seems to me that the whole world is in turmoil. Are there any cheerful news? I care about the well being of all Americans. We should stop to be the police of the world.
Boris Johnson, younger twin of our own Donald Trump, is every bit as facile in playing to the media and the cheap seats as his twin. When he saw the Chair of the Brexit working group leave, he jumped on the chance to roil the waters a bit more in hopes of causing the fall of GB's government, which he will try to use in furthering his own interests.
Let us hope that Mr. Trump is kept distracted enough during his visit to not put his foot in America's mouth again during this very sensitive time for Europe.
9
Frustration mounting as it turns out fish won't fly no matter how hard and high they're tossed. They'll die and stink while inexorably flopping back to the ground. Anybody with an imagination could see the box the UK was jumping into by making such a stupid choice.
9
Aren't the English so cute when they they think they still matter?
It's like they still lead the industrial revolution or command the seas or have an empire.
Their have three claims to influence -- they have a bomb, they have finance until sometime in April 2019, they are the tail of the American dog until Trump severs that relationship as well.
4
Using your rationale, I find it cute that Trumpists think America will still matter after Trump gets though with isolating us from the free world. Apology tour, anyone? Conservative hypocrisy is SOOO predictable.
4
They also still have the Falklands! And Gibraltar!
1
I hate to sound crazy but maybe just don't Brexit.
37
That sounds pleasant!
The European Union has offered the UK three specific deals:
1. A hard Brexit, which is the default result if nothing else is agreed to. The UK is treated like most countries of the world.There are high tariffs.
2. A very soft Brexit of the sort several countries in Europe (but not in the European Union) have enjoyed for years. The UK follows all the rules of the EU but does not participate in making those rules.
3. The UK reverses its Brexit vote and remains in the EU. Nothing changes. European leaders have suggested this option.
Britain may propose another deal, but that deal must have UNANIMOUS consent from the 27 remaining EU members.
Several, both large and small, have long stated that they will not accept free flow of goods and capital (which UK Conservatives want) without free flow of labor (which they do not want). Ireland will not accept closing the now open border with Northern Ireland, which would violate the peace accords. But other countries will not allow only the Eire border to be open. I doubt that with only eight months left such a deal could be agreed to. The UK conservatives have not even begun negotiating with other countries, and the only deals they discuss among themselves are ones the rest of Europe has promised to reject.
This should be interesting. Not fun, not good for the UK in the short, middle or long term, but interesting.
12
At first glance this issue suggests the kind of delicate navigation that Angela Merkel practices to guide the European Community through the challenges of remaining unified despite differences on basic issues. But on mature reflection, Chancellor Merkel displays a formidable capacity to successfully navigate that maze while PM May gives the impression of someone resolved to wade through a swamp who doesn’t possess the galoshes for it.
If she is to succeed on Brexit and survive politically while doing it, the means she uses will need to be aligned to British political realities and to her own limitations. The resignation of some British cabinet secretaries may be necessary to purge the government of people who don’t support the middle-path she seeks on Brexit. It’s either that or find a Tory leader with galoshes better-suited to wading through a swamp.
However, if the Tories had someone available who was markedly more capable of successfully wading through that swamp, that individual would have emerged by now; and hasn’t. Certainly, the Labour alternative shows no signs of arresting its own descent into ideological excess – even highly controversial attitudes on inclusiveness; or even of demonstrating an ability to bring the nation together.
What’s left is to purge the ranks of nay-sayers, as difficult as doing that is in the teeth of their structural requirement for building coalitions, including at the cabinet level. I doubt that Boris Johnson will miss a meal.
5
If only there were the same dynamics in our country, that would produce a similar outcome.But I still have faith in Mr. Mueller.
9
Teresa May should order another referendum on Brexit and I am sure this time the hardliners will lose.
15
No matter what, the EU is going to want a hard Brexit to make a harsh example of the UK. That is becoming abundantly clear. Boris and his ilk are suddenly realizing that this faded empire is not as powerful as they thought it was and are abandoning ship to avoid dealing with the consequences of their actions. It is a classic upperclass cowardly twit move.
Brits, I implore you to remember the day that Boris abandoned you after steering the country into this mess in the first place. He is going to try to run for PM and hope you forget what a coward he is being today.
15
What a preposterous disaster Brexit is. I’m certainly not anti-democratic, but to have such a monumental change dictated by the results of a single referendum is ridiculous. And now, knowing both that many voters did not understand the consequences of their vote and that Russia played a role in encouraging the vote to leave the EU, it is beyond belief that the British government just carries on. They look like a drunk stumbling down a road out of control, not able to steer or stop themselves. Putin (and Bannon) must be very happy.
25
You mean like a referendum on gay marriage in California? Were you against that issue decided by referendum?
1
Sham rock - Flawed logic and false equivalence, but great example of conservative whataboutism topic changing. Leaving discrimination to a vote would result in slavery in more than a few states. Conservatives - so predictable, so gullible, so wrong.
4
Shamrock: Did the referendum in California force you into a gay marriage? All Brits get forced out of EU partnership whether they wanted to leave or not. Was the California vote manipulated by a foreign government seeking to sow division in the country and among partner nations? Two very different referendums don't you think?
First Trump and now a functionally disabled British government.Vladimir Putin will sleep sounder tonight, now that he has removed the re-bar from another pillar of western solidarity with the help of the seditious Arron Banks and, yes, Boris Johnson.
One persistent mystery that may never be solved is why Theresa May ever appointed Boris Johnson as Foreign Secretary in the first place. His uncontrolled personal ego guaranteed that he would never serve as a team player under Theresa May. She swallowed her own poison pill.
The new question is why Johnson's betrayal took so long. Whatever the answer, we can e sure about the new notch in Putin's leather belt of destruction. Bring on the Novichok!
13
Johnson's giving up is symptomatic of the modern breed of "populists" (i.e. who aren't really populists at all, but rather are simply disrupters);
- Disrupt the system.
- Destroy the good along with the bad.
- Create chaos.
- Use the chaos to promote one's own agenda and ego.
- When the time comes to fix the mess, run away (in a fake pique of anger).
- Leave everyone else to fix the mess you created.
Johnson and Trump play from the same script....
48
You’re correct...and I’d like to know (from Trump)...after all this chaotic disrupting...
What the heck is the End Game?
1
I could never understand why the people didn't include a final referendum after a separation deal was hashed out. I suspect that referendum will become a great Historical Blunder in their history. Only a fool and his minions would vote out before hashing out the details. I also suspect this is Putin's second biggest lifetime coup. This is a real mess and the people should demand a final referendum.
8
The only thing astonishing me: Why this appeared so late?
Positions has been incompatible right from the start.
2
I wouldn't trust Donny or his cronies as far as I can throw them. And that is very generous. I wouldn't trust their word, period. They have already sold Europe and England to the king of Russia and they are all on their own.
6
Unlike this country, the U.K. may get a do-over on their Russian-influenced election. They should take the opportunity. First of all, this clearly wasn't the will of the people; and secondly, leaving the EU is obviously a horrible decision.
15
What a bunch of losers (imitating our cowardly bully in chief)!
Here are a couple of hypothetical reviews courtesy of Marina Hyde from the Guardian, drawing metaphors from the World Cup about plucky England:
"Anyway, how do these foreign editorials run? “All eyes are on rebel strongman Boris Johnson,” a leader in the Nigeria Tribune might put it, “once beloved in his tribal lands but whose reputation has oxidised as rapidly as one of the vanity projects to which he siphoned vast sums of public money.”
"“As allegations of democratic corruption swirl,” a foreign correspondent for one of the Mexico City papers could have it, “the slum bars of this humbled nation throb with a pride against the odds. ‘It’s coming home’, runs the local chant, that can be heard from shanty to chic apartment in this otherwise divided country. What kind of home it could return to is, alas, another matter …” And so on for another four thousand words."
imnsho, Chortle!
3
It's impossible to resist this closing argument: Brits, take heed:
"All of which necessitates a popular decree: following the shithousery of the past 24 hours, no Conservatives, at all, are now allowed to attempt to piggyback on the success (or indeed the plucky failure) of the England football side. They are formally banned from even mentioning it. Tories: you all need to realise that this latest self-own is of a wildly different order to Theresa May being tricked into holding up the Hazard Belgium shirt during her visit to Brussels the other week. Sorry to nick your catchphrase, but let *us* be clear: ***if you guys collapse the government in the week England could reach its first World Cup final since 1966 – having already diary-clashed Donald Trump’s visit into that same week – you will carry a mark of Cain that will make all of your other marks of Cain look like henna tattoos.***
"I mean, honestly. Shame on the politicians looking at this sweltering hot, heady summer of football and thinking: “Ooh, this would totally be enhanced by a general election”. Really? REALLY? Let us be very clear: stay away from Gareth and stay out of our fun."
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2018/jul/09/england-team-world...
1
I believe the U.K. needs to hold a 2nd BREXIT Vote.
Divide and conquer is a strategy to gain or maintain power.
We now know that RUSSIA attacked the elections of its adversaries in the UK, the U.S. and other sovereign nations.
We are witnessing the success of those Russian disinformation campaigns, cyber attacks, and other methods.
Why on earth are we going to split the U.K. from the EU without reconsidering the many adverse consequences of that move.
14
Dezinformatsiya.
The same that rants about imminent NATO attacks on Russia's Western borders.
The same that claims "Russia" is a unique civilization, contrary to anthropological or linguistic evidence.
I would not worry too much either way, the EU will implode very soon anyway, regardless of a soft or hard Brexit. If May goes for a soft and wobbly Brexit, it will be moot soon after the EU collapses anyway.
With her unilateral open invitation to mass migration, Merkel has singlehandedly done more to assure the collapse of the EU than any other EU leader combined. So many governments now have an anti-Merkel leader - Italy, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovenia, it will only take a few more elections in other countries to seal the demise. And as long as Merkel remains in power, even by hanging on by a thread the more likely that more conservative governments will be voted in, in the EU.
4
“Politicians come and go, but the problems they have created for people remain,”. This is true not only in the UK but the US. Elections and manipulations of elections have huge messy ramifications. You would almost think that for both countries it was all engineered. Kind of like a plan. A master plan for picking and choosing politicians who will further disrupt stability.
13
but from UK: hurrah! These clowns, like Trump, are good at rhetorical stts to press, bad at hard work; what's been their detailed alternative plan for Brexit?
5
I sure hope that the UK finds out what connections Boris may have with Russia. This man is the low-rent version of Trump and started the international populism ball rolling. Perhaps if his home country can expose his sure to be vile underbelly, it will start to send a message to the rest of these traitorous-minded individuals elsewhere.
8
He is certainly a low-rent version of Donald, but much more intelligent, well read, and dangerous. Trump is headed for the ash heap of history. Boris could still become PM.
2
This is not complicated at all. The UK voted to exit the dysfunctional EU via the democratic process.
The UK was not all in anyway, they were not in the Schengen zone / treaty and they retained their own currency, it should be relatively easy to exit all of the agencies and the EU court etc. Just look to the former colonies and current Commonwealth countries, Canada, and Australia as a blue print, if the mother country has forgotten how to govern! Get on with it already!
About trade deals, I am guessing that the UK probably has a trade deficit with Germany, if Germany was playing hardball, the UK could play right back, they have less to lose than German industry.
3
German industry might play hardball indeed. This will end looking like this for example:
https://www.zeit.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/2018-06/grossbritannien-bmw-w...
In plain language: If the "Hard Brexit policy" is taking place BMW might close Mini and Rolls Royce factories in UK. New investments are already delayed since 2017 - not only by BMW. The loss is affordable when recent models will be overaged and production lines for these cars or parts will be worn out.
The new model will definitely be produced in new factories on new production devices in Poland then and UK will never have to worry about immigration of Polish workers any more. They will definetely stay at home because they are going to work in Polish factories only - as Brexiteers were craving for. But may be they will not like it when British factories will be shut down.
Everybody knows but Mr. Davies did not want to listen. So BMW went to the media on 25/06/2018.
3
Arguments heard frequently from Brexiters during the campaign. I hear the distant echoes of empire resonating in many of them.
Not sure that the former 'colonies' and Commonwealth countries are great examples as the countries mentioned have very different economies and circumstances: Australia's vast mineral resources are being sold into China, with all of the challenges, complications and vulnerability that this brings; Canada has (for the moment) close trading ties with its North American neighbours; New Zealand took years (decades) to re-orientate its economy after it lost preferential access to the ‘mother country’ following the latter’s entry into the EEC. (If limiting yourself to former colonies and Commonwealth countries as economic models then also worth contemplating the economic fortunes of countries like Zimbabwe and Myanmar.)
I hear that some in the UK hope for a free trade deal with the US. With Trump only interested in deals that result in a trade surplus for the US, Britons had better be prepared to trade Scotch for Bourbon and Mercs for Cadillacs.
Th EU won’t ‘implode’… at least not to a degree that will satisfy Brexiters. Meanwhile Britain, having thumbed its nose at the world’s largest economy and trading bloc, casts about for new markets in a period of increasing protectionism.
2
Putin must be loving this
He hasn’t fired a shot and the USA, U.K. and E.U. are going at it.
trump talked about schmucks the other day. He should know. It takes one to know one.
12
If the PM is hanging on to assurances about anyting from anyone as clueless, mendacious, and self absorbed as our little president, she's in deeper trouble than she knows.
6
Brexit is total STUPID. It was tricked by Russia to break up the European Union or Western Democracy. Now those big mouth stupid leaders are hiding and running away from the catastrophe.
11
Johnson is a showboat angling for populist right-wing support on the Trump model, and Davis is who knows what... no loss to England that they have stopped pretending to support May.
That said, May's plan to have free movement of goods (agricultural and industrial) without free movement of people is a non-starter, as the EU has made clear from Day 1. The fundamental principle behind the EU -- that allowing free movement of goods or capital without also allowing free movement of people will cause economic distortion and undermine the Union -- remains. You don't get movement of goods or capital (think the City of London) without also allowing free movement of at least all EU citizens.
You can say that the neo-liberal logic behind the EU's stance may be flawed ... in ways it is, though a viable alternative view has not emerged, really ... but the EU's consistency in recognizing that if the economic world works they way they argue it does (and should), then free movement must apply to all factors of production, not just some, is admirable. And they should stick with it: as more and more of England's industries are making clear, the 'hard Brexit' that populist ignoramuses are so enamored of would in fact cause economic crisis in England (and pain in Europe).
Reality is biting back!
10
International mobility across orders of financial capital has always been a primary basis of "the market" and "globalisation". Why then would the same not be beneficial for human capital? In a so-called "free" market the rights of all forms of capital must be equal, else it can not be called free by definition.
If borders are relaxed a capitalist equilibrium can be reached. Otherwise the sysatem is doomed.
1
A leadership contest only happens if enough MPs of one party go for it. However the Brexiteers have to win the rest of the Tory Party to depose May, and from what I’ve been reading there are enough pro-Europe Tories who won’t go for that (and also hate the Brexiteers). Thus May survives.
If there is a Vote of No Confidence in the govt, then the other parties are involved too. The govt will probably go and that will trigger an election - and to the Brexiteers the danger of Corbyn is equally as bad so that is a real gamble.
What they could also do is spend the next year sniping from the backbenches and then vote against the final Brexit Bill. That’s a bit more alarming, as I doubt the opposition parties will support that either. What happens then, I don’t know. I expect a lot of scheming between parties will occur, to cobble together enough opposition votes that support May’s plan.
May had to finally make a choice - she’s been sitting on the fence throughout this all, but has now played her hand and come down on the side of pragmatism. To Brexiteers a soft Brexit is awful, and to Remainers any Brexit is bad. So it’s a mess and May will have to find support for those nearer the middle who feel they must honour the vote but not wreck the country.
2
It is quite clear that May needs direction from the people. A second vote is needed to de6ermine the people's feelings on the matter.
The choices should be 1. a hard exit; 2, a soft exit; 3, return to the EU.
Only with a clear mandate can Britain decide which course to follow.
5
The Brits already voted. No do overs for those who don’t like the results.
4
There should be do-overs wherever it is shown that Russia interfered in the election/referendum process.
4
Yes, but they voted without being aware of the consequences. The present situation is a what awaits them, and not what was promised. Anyway, they can have it the way they deserve.
They made the mess with no plan on how to execute it, and then quit so they don't have to deal with it. They should still be held accountable.
11
Boris has bigger plans and one should not underestimate him. This isn't an irrational decision, this is planned. He will reemerge when the ship is sunk and then he will have his great moment. Of course then it will not have been his fault, because he was 'right' all along and knew it all better.
2
If this was planned he wouldn't have waited till after Davis went to resign. Once Davis walked he realised it was now or never and had to follow.
Obviously the correct answer is "never"; but Johnson's too stupid and self-regarding to realise that.
I would think economic stability would be the preferable choice over political philosophical stances. Boris Johnson stirred the hornet's nest and has resigned because he would remain where he is and it would not behoove him personally to stay . He is a typical self interested sly egoist whose goal is not the well being of the people . Hopefully Mrs . May has the support of other sensible voices . Men like Boris Johnson leave the debris they have created behind them and for others to clean up .
8
The Brits should reverse course. Leaving the EU, the world's largest economy and on in which they were one of three main players, was/is the height of foolishness -- the equivalent of New York state or city seceding from the US.
4
Maybe NYC should secede. Then make a law to keep trump out. Then give trump tower to the homeless as a first step.
4
Sometimes divorces get ugly, Brexit is going to be a difficult divorce and Johnson is the consummate opportunist who wishes to position himself to take personal advantage of the situation.
4
It's time Mrs. May listens to Mick Jagger: you can't always get what you want.
I'm an expat living in Ireland, with dual Irish & American citizenship, married to a Brit. A Brit with a pension losing value day after day, week after week (who did NOT want Brexit, by the way). He moans, and every European rolls their eyes. Pretty much everyone here says (and Brexit is discussed many, many times a day in the tourist haven) "Britain wants their tea cake and to eat it, too. They're being selfish and greedy."
No one I've talked to has any sympathy for the U.K. No one.
Susan
Expat in Waterville.
6
So the world got into this particular mess when Boris Johnson acted as cheerleader for gumming up the EU with Brexit. After the referendum he admitted that some of his arguments were baseless or based on incorrect data. Now our dear boy wants out of the mess he started, leaving it to be cleaned up by others. Boris Johnson is a fraud, a charlatan, a mountebank but he's really good at it. This is apparently all that passes for real competence and leadership these days.
13
I hope the Britain decides to hold a second vote on Brexit and reverse the first tainted election w/Russian assistance.
7
As Americans, we should be watching this very carefully. We may be seeing a government commit Seppuku because of the beliefs of an ill informed group headed by a charismatic leader.
No nation is immortal, and all are subject to stupidity.
15
Take a lesson from Venezuela. Not a referendum on socialism (as conservatives falsely would have us think), their collapse is the confluence of a fake populist demagogue, massive corruption at the top, and an incompetent administration incapable of governing for the people. Sound familiar? Let's all sit by and cheer as the countries of the western alliance sell themselves, one by one, down the nativist conservative river of ignorance. I know Putin, Kim and Xi have their pom-poms out already.
2
Brexit, xenophobia in Europe about migrants, Trump's attack on any powerless and suffering population shows that tribalism is alive and well in the world. People would rather hurt themselves than deal constructively with "them," and will abandon all reason and attempt to understand reality due to irrational fear of the "other." Even progressive Scandinavia is so afflicted.
It is hard to feel optimistic about the future of the human race.
9
I am on the other side of the planet but it looks like the Brits are starting to realize that they are not going to get a wall paid for by Mexico. I mean, it looks like the Brits are not leaving the E.U. any time soon.
8
Boris Johnson is all about ego & himself. The UK Guardian has an excellent piece today:
Brexit campaigners made impossible mutually exclusive promises. Boris was a leader.
https://www.theguardian.com/us
1
Dear NYT readers,
Speaking as a Brit, could I ask you to provide a home for Boris Johnson? He was, after all, born in the States. The thing is, we don't want him over here and you guys seem to have a taste for populist buffoons who shoot from the hip, and, ultimately, destroy the national interest.
41
Yes you are absolutely correct. We definitely do "have a taste for populist buffoons who shoot from the hip" who do nothing but damage to our society, politics, and most recently diplomatic foreign relations.
We have Trump, the tea party Republicans, Fox (not) News, and Trump voters who vote against their own economic self-interest in favor of wrecking government and society, fusing church and state, and championing white male supremacy.
But we certainly don't need any more of these opportunistic, grandstanding, baffoon politicians enthralled with themselves. The U.S. is full to overflowing. So please find another home for Boris.
8
Can you take Farage too? He’s basically got a gig on Fox now anyway since he ran off with the loot from his currency scam (see Bloomberg) so won’t even need to move his stuff. He’s loathed here by all those who aren’t frothing at the mouth alt-rightists.
Maybe Piers Morgan too, as we, just, y’know, hate him.
In return, you can send us John Oliver. The Motherland has need of his satirical skewerings of those with pretence to government. That’s a fair exchange, honest...
1
How about we send Trump to live in the UK?
Right now would be good.
Thanks in advance.
2
The Brexit folks would be well advised to look at how well Trump's plans re going it alone and destroying structures that have been serving us quite well for decades. Ironically, the word "structures" brings to mind isis and how they want to destroy any hint of the progression, from barbarism to a global economic structure that will soon expand past the earth itself, and return us to tribalism. The methods may be different but the mindset ... the mindset is exactly the same.
4
The problem with Brexit is that Leave has no defined meaning. It is a slogan much like MAGA; which has the United States in an unimaginable trade war over fewer than 200,000 jobs remaining in coal and steel.
The question for the United Kingdom, the European Union, China, the United States, and the WTO is how do we harmonize regulations across so many diverse economies and interests? A resolution on breast feeding and the health of infants shows that we are in a most discordant time.
It is likely time for Brexit Vote II but no one in government has figured out what the resolution might ask the British people to decide.
5
Funny how the fortunes of the two nations of the English-speaking transatlantic "special relationship" are coinciding. Each was subjected to massive disinformation campaigns that resulted in Brexit and trump, both of which coincidentally advance Russia's interest in breaking up western alliances and institutions, both of which are in rare peacetime turmoil, and both of which have significant populations that are too stupid to understand where their collective and individual interests lie. At least, Britain has the constitutional wherewithal to end its farce in short order, if only a few leaders would summon up the courage to use it. As it is, most are too cowardly to offend the Brexiteers, even though the public support of Brexit is waning.
11
The EU has many fundamental problems. It is a finance-dominated, top-down structure that favors crushing austerity as a means of addressing economic crises -- witness what the EU and European Central Bank did to Greece. Austerity favors major asset holders over wage earners, and enables big financial institutions to use government as extra enforcement to enable those lenders to lay off onto wage earners and pensioners much of the downside of making high yield, high-risk loans.
London has boomed, as a result of asset inflation (especially real estate, stocks and bonds, and lets face it, high-level international money laundering), but much of the rest of Britain has lagged horribly.
A popular meme compared "The EU" with "Brexit," using a photo of a smorgasbord of fine imported wines, cheeses, meats etc. to illustrate "The EU," and a tin of baked beans to illustrate "Brexit." But the many people who applauded this meme missed an important, contrary point: for much of Britain, EU-style globalism meant eating baked beans from the can, while those in Greater London enjoyed the asset-inflation-fueled highlife.
Absolutely none of this means that the May-Johnson gang have any solutions that will benefit the mass of Britons. But let's not get snookered into cheering EU-style reactionary globalism, when something much more equitable and democratic can and should replace it.
7
Brexit is a disaster and May is trying to mitigate the damage. Its time for another election. The Brexit hardliners resignations have undermined May.
1
The vote to leave the EU was not close. 52-48 is viewed as a “landslide” in 21st Century elections. If Br-stay wins a second referendum does the UK go for 2 out of three? Mrs. May’s government has wasted valuable time dithering about and wringing their hands. It is time to get down to negotiation of an exit plan that does the least damage to our most valued and trusted ally. Oh, and I dearly hope they claim the Cup
1
For all the people who are, very sensibly, wondering why the MPs don't just decide on another referendum with some idea of what we are voting for; our main tabloid papers are "leave at any cost" and they have shown great enthusiasm for summoning public vitriol on anyone who gets in their way.
I suspect that it's neither the PM nor the public that keep the back bench MPs pursuing Brexit against all common sense, it's the risk of their appearance on the front page of the Daily Mail with a vicious and twisted little biog under the banner headline "Enemy of the People".
3
In Switzerland, we are accustomed to referendums with our direct democracy.
From time to time, our own populists have won a few of them.
As usual, after each of their victories, populists are nowhere to be seen when a real life practical law must be defined to traduce their victory in applicable terms.
As you are now fully aware with your President, populists do not like reality and are unable to make compromise.
So, I'm not surprised Boris is jumping ship.
When reality is catching up, it is the only solution for this kind of politicians... They go AWOL.
12
Boris Johnson (a staunch supporter of the EU until yesterday), was WITH with the 'Remainers', he was a front man in the Brexiteer camp to prevent the campaign to talk about the real issue of the referendum, that is, immigration. Brexit was a euphemism, an ersatz referendum on immigration, like the election of President Trump in America. The elites put their 'ridicule' straw man, Johnson to try to discredit a campaign that they thought they could win with an overwhelming control of the media, academia, etc. It did not work because migration has hit very hard the Working Class and no amount of propaganda could hide reality.
1
The European Union was an idea that was doomed to fail before it ever started. They were never going to get 28 different countries, all with diverging interests, to agree on much of anything. All it took was a failing Greek economy and a little pressure from immigration out of Syria into Europe that began the collapse. Now, Greeks resent the austere Germans who dictated the terms of their financial bailout. European countries are fighting over immigration. The German government is now a lame duck because of the immigration issue. And of course Britain has voted to exit the Union. Russian interference in the Brexit vote is a conspiracy theory cop out for those who don’t want to believe Britons wanted out. The EU is doomed, it’s only a matter of time.
3
The referendum was tainted, like our last election, and it needs to be redone or scrapped altogether.
21
When Brexit was voted on, Trump was very pleased. He knew the same folks who had undermined the UK , were manipulating our election too.
11
It is a pitiful performance. The May cabinet is so confused, that they lost their focus on the project, which, it seems, is still not defined.
Cameron's nonchalance in initiating the Brexit-polls, which led to his resignation, then Ms. May being suggestive of a smooth Brexit, the impression of which being immediately destroyed when then Brexit negotiator David Davis showed up in Brussels with absolutely nothing, no documentation, no suggestions, causing incredulity with the EU chief negotiator M. Barnier.
The next step was even more stupid. Ms. May wanted to gain more support by snap elections, which went awfully wrong.
Since then being a lame duck, her majority gone, and depending on a coalition partner, things went even worse, when the "special relation" with the U. S. suddenly wasn't any special any longer.
Now the U. K. has to cope with the worst worst case scenario of all. No more allies, no idea of damage limitation, plus a deadline of nine months and a former Foreign Secretary preparing to give the Brutus. Plus very clear feedback by many global player. We will witness a homemade Armageddon.
10
First, Boris should donate some of that mop to Donnie.
Secondly
What did they expect? The E.U. isn't going to make it easy. First they want to discourage any other member from a great act of stupidity. Secondly they would prefer they don't leave with the silverware. The E.U. has the fiduciary duty to seek the best terms for its members. If any people on the planet should understand the benefits of being part of a larger entity it should be England. "The sun never sets on the British Empire." Its dusk now.
15
Just where does the country stand on Brexit? Perhaps it's time for a general election to find out.
11
We are experiencing a global pandemic of stupid and selfish people destroying imperfect but generally reasonable institutions they have no idea how to replace, and other people standing around in shock, incapable of preventing them from doing so, or mounting a credible defense of those institutions.
It's an extraordinary moment, likely to end very badly for almost everyone (perhaps excepting Steve Bannon, Nigel Farage, and whatever assorted neo-Nazis find their way onto Republican ballots this year).
16
Boohoo, good riddance, crybaby Boris ! Johnson never had the intention to constructively contribute to the Brexit negotiations. He is a lazy man, and a narcissist. For a truly spectacular exit, please leave on the Trump crybaby balloon and waive to us one more time. And please enjoy the Russian donations to your Cayman accounts.
7
How could this lot of feckless, dim-witted bunglers, who're currently destroying the western world, possibly be the descendants of the generation that fought and won WWII--America's and Great Britain's "Greatest Generation"?
How??
Meanwhile, Putin is smiling.
7
Time to revote your Brexit, Britain; this time without American and Russian influences so prominently at play. Come on then.
2
The May cabinet will change. If she calls for elections, Brexit will be on the ballot. Parliamentary government is flexible. The constitution is live. Ours is structured and far less flexible. Vote of confidence can affirm or reject a prime minister. It takes a simple majority. We require impeachment in the House and conviction in the Senate. Complex and politically awkward. Pence is no prize. Ryan is weak and leaving. The senate is losing its GOP leader. Secrtary of State is not presidential. We are rudderless with a fraud running The White House. 2016 was a perfect storm. Liar vs liar vs delusional. The primary system is rotten. We need constitutional reform. England gets that when The House of Commons meets. We have waited 200 years and it’s a long shot. Mueller will publish. 2018 will pass.
1
Brexit was a mistake driven by racism and immigration. Warming will drive the latter which will drive the former. Brexit will weaken the UK. Trump is controlled by Putin. See New York magazine. Finally, the theory is stated. It will be proven. That proof will lead to impeachment.
3
The people of Britain should be given a chance to vote again - but this time without Russian interference. Mr Johnson is a part of same gang (Putin, Trump , Lord Black, ect.)
10
That goods may freely cross borders but not people is one of the inequities of capitalism. If capital ie goods and services may freely cross borders, why not labor. The freedom of labor is suppressed under the British capitalist proposal.
3
BoJo and David Davis - running for the exits when they realize how difficult running the government and being in charge really is. Now that they've left the hard job of governing, they can go back to opining and objecting to everything the leaders are doing.
Sad thing is, I've seen this script elsewhere. No different than the republican congressmen and senators unexpectedly getting power who are now fleeing for the exits when they have to stand behind their words.
Bojo = Empty suited Paul Ryan
8
Theresa May was always a Remainer, she was agreeing to a Soft Brexit and reneging on what the majority of British people stated they wanted in the referendum. The only way, then, to force the government to pursue the wishes of the majority is to get rid of May by having a vote of no confidence. It's how democracy works in a parliament. I think Americans are quietly wishing that they had the same option. I know the rest if the world is. May is no Maggie and has always been on the back foot trying to play both sides of this game.
4
Like so many Americans having regrets over the election of Trump but can’t do anything about it until 2020( the Nov. elections as referendum will help without removing him completely), Britain can disband the government or at least renew a call for another vote on Brexit.
While the idea of constitutional checks and balances can work in theory, Britain can be a “government of the day”; requiring a more immediate response to rethink mistakes like Trump and Brexit if the people lose confidence in the government.
3
A stupid exit decision egged on by Russian interference in the vote. Sound familiar?
As the failing Trumps says “Putin is just fine, just fine”
I’m sure he is! with con artist, morons like Boris Johnson and failing Trump in office.
14
The results of the Brexit referendum called and organised by those who wanted to remain in the EU, were... 51.9% voted to leave, 48.1% remain (of those who voted). That means that a majority of those who voted, voted to LEAVE an adulterated EU that is in the hands of an oligarchy that is perverting its aims and laws, even though, the media, academia, the different echelons of government and civil service did their best, with threats, insults and other dubious methods to 'convince' the population to vote remain. Other 'democratic' countries also voted against this EU (France and Holland in 2005, Ireland in 2008), but their political classes ignored the verdict of their people. Soft Brexit is not Brexit, it is a conspiracy to overturn the results of the referendum. Like they did with the Irish, the British will be forced to rectify their vote through another referendum or in some other way. Oligarchic 'democracy' is not democracy.
4
Could the timing be any worse? Trump is scheduled to meet with May this week while the fallout continues. Will Trump arrange a secret meeting with his populist look-alike Boris Johnson, hoping he'll be the next prime minister? What a worrisome backdrop that would be for the highly suspicious private meeting next week between Trump and the other Boris!
1
Both the UK and US had ballot votes in 2016 resulting in the exact opposite of what nearly every pundit anticipated, and in each case they've proven to be unambiguously disastrous. Further, the sentiment behind each vote was to a strong degree rooted in horribly misguided nationalism and xenophobia, coupled with intentional distortions of the facts by right-wing activists and their proxies.
The US is already paying dearly for its choice, and the fallout from it could very well linger for decades. The UK, however, may very well still have the opportunity to either reverse Brexit or substantially soften its blow, thanks in significant part to the largest difference between its variant of democracy versus America's: its legislative body can oust its leader with a simple vote of no confidence.
One can only hope Parliament opts to oust its prime minister, and to pursue a "do-over" for a decision that is certain to severely disrupt - if not destroy - Britain's position in the Western world order. One can only wish the US enjoyed a similar option.
12
Boris Johnson's quick attempt to blame a British lab for the Russian poison was disconcerting as are his close ties to Trump. Russia suggested that there be a joint U.K.-Russia investigation of the poisoning, similar to its joke of a suggestion that Trump evidently took seriously of a joint U.S.A.-Russia investigation of Russia's interference in the U.S. election and cyberattacks. Russia's trolling is on a state basis as well as an individual one.
Johnson criticized earlier U.S. presidents such as Pres. Obama and Pres. George W. Bush, so his diplomatic skills are on the level as Trump's in some ways.
What the Brexit U.K. forces and Trump's America need to be careful about is that young people loathe what they are doing and what they represent. When you alienate the rising generation, and when Russian propaganda was a major factor in national decisions, there will be trouble ahead.
4
It seems to me that just as there is no free lunch, there is no good Brexit deal. It's like saying it is easy to win a trade war.
11
It's all unraveling - the Brexit 7-layer cake reduced to crumbs..
When life gives you crumbs, make crumpets.
The "hard Brexit" position appears so far to be:
- we really mean it
- we have no plan
- pay no attention to warnings from businesses that they're leaving
- the xenophobic basis for a lot of the votes won't fly with the EU, so we won't end up with all that we want and none that we don't.
8
The Tory Party continues to drag down the UK because it - the Tories - can't resolve their own internal (and seemingly eternal) split over the EU. David Cameron's historic mistake - an unnecessary referendum he expected to solve the party's problem for him - will haunt Britain for decades. It's really a shame that politicians put themselves before their country, but we in the USA have nothing to teach the world in that regard.
6
Interesting that a major champion of Brexit (and the related weakening of a cohesive Western Europe) is someone named Boris--a Russian name like Vladimir. And Vladimir Putin was quietly behind Brexit.
4
What is it with the British? They treat Europe like it is the "untouchables." Continental Europeans aren't going to like this. There isn't going to be a soft Brexit. The British think they can negotiate anything. Your empire doesn't exist anymore. Why can't you accept that you are part of Europe. Europe needs you. Don't you want to be needed.
12
Not to mention the number of British retirees enjoying life in Europe.
The EU may not be perfect, but it's Superior to economic turmoil and the uncertainty that comes with it.
5
Yes Europe needs them to continue paying so the unelected officials in Brussels don’t have to cut their wasteful spending. Brexit means Brexit!
2
"Boris Johnson resigned... over plans... to soften the economic impact of British withdrawal from the European Union." Hear hear, attempts to resist shooting oneself in the foot cannot be tolerated!
Having said that, however, I hereby want to file a complaint for the existence of a 'Department for Exiting the European Union' as it diminishes the joyful improbability of Monty Python's Ministry of Funny Walks.
5
Britain made a huge mistake when it voted for Brexit. It's no surprise the Russians played a role in moving public opinion in that direction using similar techniques to those that helped elect Trump. Boris Johnson is a clown and Nigel Farage is a Russian agent. As our closest ally, no one should believe for an instant that Russia has Britain's best interests at heart.
The British people are apparently still ambivalent about Brexit, but 10-15% are currently undecided about a split. A hard split will do great damage to the country, and the EU has no incentive to let the Brits leave behind their collective obligations while retaining all the benefits of a common market. Why should they?
The more that the stark consequences of Brexit come into focus, and the more the nefarious means contributing to a very narrow win are exposed, the more likely a repeat vote would have no chance to win.
It's just like our own illegitimately elected president. He'd never be re-elected in a do-over.
7
Brexit was a fraud just like our 2016 election. It's was contaminated by Russian influence. Britain should demand a re-vote on the Brexit issue. We need a united Europe given both Vladimir Putin's and Donald Trump's concerted attempts to fracture the Western alliance and promote authoritarian nationalism. Now is the time, as it is here, for strong leadership to confront the cunning and conniving cancer emanating sadly from here in the U.S. by Donald Trump and from Russia by Vladimir Putin. It's time to remember the apt phrase, "United we stand, divided we fall."
3
Boris Johnson shares some of the characteristics that made Trump the leader of the know nothings in the US.
Like Trump, Johnson entered politics with the purpose of aggrandizing himself
without making any positive contributions with no regard for the damage inflicted to his fellow citizens, and because of his picturesque appearance the media took over and repeated ad nauseam each and every one of his crazy utterances.
But there are differences, Johnson is not unpatriotic and is a well read man.
5
As a UK citizen living in France this is good news. The self-harm that fellow Britons have been inflicting upon themselves has been led by the mad Boris, and we can only hope that the sober Theresa May and her Chancellor will survive the forthcoming turmoil and proceed with the softest of Brexits.
5
This would be comical if it were not so sad. Among Britain’s elites, a hard Brexit is chiefly desired by those who were about to be hit by EU rules concerning tax havens - Nigel “hypocrite” Farage included. Their supporters were and are people who were all too easily swayed by xenophobia and economic fictions. The people who seem to think that Brexit has had no negative consequences, as witnessed in these very comments, should reintroduce themselves to the fact that Brexit *has not yet occurred.*
Ordinary people will inordinately bear the burden of the tragedy that will unfold post-Brexit regardless of how “hard” or “soft” it is. The post-Brexit British economy will undoubtedly shrink and will require more “sacrifices” from the British majority while the thin layer of Oxbridge elites drink to their continued tax evasion and maintenance of unearned economic prosperity. The US will be in no position to help the UK - is that not yet clear? The dollar’s days as reserve currency are drawing to an end far more swiftly than Americans are prepared to acknowledge and the UK will be left alone like a planet suddenly shorn of its magnetic field to face the power of the world’s emerging super-economy, China. In the EU, the UK had a better shot of things despite justified concerns from both the right and left about Brussels. But now? Today I will enjoy a little Schadenfreude because tomorrow, the suffering of average British people will only bring sorrow to compassionate people.
11
Best comment I've seen on this topic...Thank You.
1
Great! And I mean that sarcastically. He made the mess and now leaves it for someone else to clean up
1
All rats are leaving the sinking ship. Farage was the first to do so, the Boris is certainly not the last to do so. They were the advocats of the Brexit, using lies and populistic, sloganesk and fake arguments. They made the ship sink and they can not run fast enough to escape from their (ir)responsibility.
10
Just like the US, where the majority of citizens do not support the actions of its government, a majority of UK citizens do not agree with Brexit, know they have been lied to, and want another referendum to stop the process. The awful people running their government are almost as evil as the ones running ours.
8
Hey Brexiteers, now that you are ever closer to your goal of crashing out of the EU without a deal, hoping for a great deal with your wayward cousin in America based on the much touted "special relationship", recall what the current US president told your PM on her last visit exploring potential future trade deals (not verbatim): "You will not end up at the top, but also not at the bottom."
Examine carefully what trade deals the US dealmaker-in-chief accomplished since. Better luck with the members of your Commonwealth.
PS: If I were a farmer in the UK, I'd start looking for a buyer. US famers have plenty crop to sell right now, enough for all of Britain.
Don’t get us started on US agriculture. We don’t want that trade deal - we like our local homegrown stuff that’s not full of antibiotics and our NHS. We don’t want huge US commerce destroying it in the market. Just mention the words “chlorine chicken” in the UK and you’ll unleash a storm...
Well he hever liked hard work anyway. So this leaves him free to flit around, presumably somewhere where he'll make a lot more money.
The thing I find most amusing about all these high-class Brit politicians is the way they all still talk like they're debating at Oxford. Listening to Teresa May speaking to a reporter at that "off-site" they were having the other she sounded like your typical Oxbridge boy or girl (or maybe your typical public school boy or girl hoping to go to Oxbridge) all tied up in knots & putting on a show regarding the topic of the week at the debating union.
2
Britain thinks it can quit the EU and still have all the bells and whistles from the EU. Well, Boris, it doesn't work that way. ANd if you're still looking to be a P.M., I don't think this will happen - you're too self-absorbed with yourself!
1
Boris Johnson is a lout, just so, and having him gone from the cabinet is wonderfully helpful for Teresa May.
It's hard and dangerous to at a distance opine on another country's government.
That said, a daily reading of 2-3 UK newspapers has left me with the impression that Mr. Davis was not exactly the brightest fellow. By all accounts in his 2-year tenure as Brexit minister he met with his EU counterpart for only 4 hours.
Mr. Johnson is a British knock-off of Trump but with a better education and vocabulary. Also born in New York City of wealthy parents.
Brexit was going to be easy and trade wars are easy to win.
We now have an answer about Brexit.
4
“Thick as mince” is how one of Davis’ colleagues once described him.
(Or maybe ‘thick as ground meat’ in US parlance maybe?).
It is pretty evident that the Brexit vote was compromised by Russian interference. Why not just have another vote which can either legitimize the initial vote, or prove that the initial vote does not, in fact, represent the will of the British people? It seems straightforward to me...
8
Yes! We in US have no mechanism for a do over of 2016 election. Why can't one party back a RE-do because of Russian meddling? Why is it so hard to admit that with the current information Brexit will be more expensive and more damaging to the UK?
1
Yes, its shocking how powerful Putin is. He can seemingly do anything including impact an outrageously advantaged and funded Hillary. Scary.
Far be it from me to advise the British people on which road to take. The only thing I'd point out is the significance of the historic trend they started with the Industrial Revolution and the factory system. They were the pioneers, and its impact on the world economy continues to reverberate. The assembly line, rapid industrialization, globalization, automation, and artificially intelligent systems are all the by-products of the British Empire of the 19th century. The 21st Century belongs to the globalists. Provincialism and insularity just isn't going to cut it anymore.
5
If reports now trickling out detailing Russia's involvement in swaying the Brexit vote are confirmed, the UK should hold another vote to confirm the wishes of voters. We don't seem to have this option in the U.S. for similar interference; perhaps our friends on the other side of the pond will have better luck battling Russia's apparent success altering democratic elections worldwide.
7
Several commenters have pointed out that there was Russian interference, perhaps the deciding factor in the vote, with the intention of breaking up the American and European alliances. This is obvious with Trump here, and their influence continues as he performs as their agent or from blackmail.
Russia is a petro-State. I state this not from the aim of monopolistic manipulation on the world economic system, which does dovetail with that of Western oil giants, but from the devastating effects this is having on the world's ecological systems, most notably (as you know) climate and weather and a steady rise of sea level. The science of more carbon in the atmosphere is now accepted, and more and more by the general population as they become familiar with it and note the daily effects in the news.
Further the Paris Accords are not enough, and with alliances split--the Russian aim--it will be more difficult to deal with this problem. Know that Republicans here and Brexit politicians there are having their day. There is no new initiative being considered, such as a carbon tax with all revenues invested in or used as incentives to buy/switch to renewables. We are even going backwards here with the Trump/Big Oil policies, and the oil industry even proposing that a carbon tax be used to reward buyers for using oil, like proposing a tax on cigarettes be given to smokers to buy more cigarettes.
Whether formally Brexit or Remain, now is the time to strengthen Western alliances.
3
I favor Brexit in that a favor sovereignty over oneselve staying with tje individual as much as possible, and that which is given to government remain as close as possible.
Perhaps liberty is based on individual sovereignty, and that requires government sovereignty be as close to those we feel best represent our personal, local, or regional interests as possible. Liberty begins with individual sovereignty and is progressively minimized as decisions are moved outward..
Much of liberty is being able to make decisions and act in ways others may disagree with. Decisions to say, write, or worship consistent with our own individual, cultural. or nationalist ideas provided we don't infringe on others rights. This is especially true with the handling of the fruits of our individual labor whether spent individually or those we elect to represent our interests.
1
Liberty is based on individual and collective effort. Ask yourself how much "liberty" (what a vague term) would have remained for the Nation of Delaware if we hadn't formed a larger unit after the revolution?
Ask also how much enjoyment of liberty the average people in Europe enjoyed as their smaller nations (closer to the people, right?) fought murderous war after war after war until they finally banded together a little more tightly after WWII. The USA had only one of those events - I won't try to count the wars in Europe over the same time as our own short history.
3
Declaration of Independence:
"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
"Individual sovereignty"? What a joke. This is a completely interconnected world. The UK is much stronger within the EU than a small country isolated. London cannot be the financial capital of Europe when it leaves. It's solo bargaining power for trade is very reduced. The USA is a far bigger economy and we will have trouble as Trump isolates us. The EU, China, and Russia can all make their own deals and we will become easier to ignore.
4
With both this guys out, Britain is in a much more favorable position in this very hard task.
Good for Theresa May!
I just heard a few minutes ago - courtesy of BBC Radio London (online - live) that the big blowhard, Boris Johnson, has resigned from his position as Foreign Secretary in the Conservative (Tory) government in the UK.
Johnson has proven himself to be a paper tiger. When the Tories had their leadership contest 2 summers ago following the resignation of David Cameron as Prime Minister (a 'remainer' whose position as Prime Minister became untenable once the Brexit supporters prevailed in the June 2016 referendum), Boris Johnson 'turned turkey' and ran when he could have conceivably become the Conservative Party Leader and Prime Minister.
Lord Heseltine (a longstanding stalwart in Conservative Party politics) was so right when he said in 2016 that [Johnson] “has ripped the Tory party apart, he has created the greatest constitutional crisis in peacetime in my life. ...He has knocked billions off the value of the savings of the British people.”
Johnson, Lord Heseltine went on to say, was like “a general who marches his army to the sound of the guns and the moment he sees the battleground he abandons it … The pain of it will be felt by all of us and, if it doesn’t get resolved shortly, by a generation to come yet.”
Prime Minister May and the Conservatives have only a few months to get their act together for the UK and its citizens. Otherwise, the UK isn't likely to get the best deal possible when it is bound to leave the European Union on March 29, 2019.
7
Did the Dear White Leader send a tweet inserting himself into this story?
In his sick twisted mind, he firmly believes the world revolves around him.
On the other hand, I have no doubt he doesn't even know who the founders of the Common Market are , when/where it was founded, or when it was changed to EU?
1
Time to reverse the idiotic decision to leave the EU. Chaos and incompetence reminds me of Trumplandia.
15
Good riddance at least as far as the foreign secretary role goes. BoJo was horrible in that office, he & Trump are cut from similar cloth - maybe the hairstyle is a signifier too.
3
Much like the Republican "Repeal and Replace" idiocy, Boris Johnson and his ilk demagogued what they didn't want, power sharing with the EU, without having any idea of what they DID want. Brexit is a slogan without a plan. The right everywhere seems to be loud, mad, and incompetent.
14
We all knew there were deep conflicts regarding Brexit, as the very folks seeking an outlet from the European Union, realize now they'll loose many 'goodies' taken, until now, for granted. Does Great Britain have to lose what it has so to appreciate it? That would be foolish indeed. But then again, stupidity has always been in great supply.
1
SHAME on you Boris! SHAME! You took advantage of people who are struggling with a changing world and instead of helping them you lied to them and told them everything could go back to the way it was. But globalization is a reality now, like it or not, and we all have to accept it, adjust to it and ultimately embrace it. But you lied to them for your own political gain. What a mess you have made. Millions of people now believe your lies. SHAME!
28
Another Russian agent bites the dust. Theresa May knows she bought into a movement that was engineered by the Kremlin, now she is avoiding the rocks at the last minute.
3
Better to live under your elected representatives in the House of Commons - people you can actually physically approach, people who are actually living on the same island with you - than to live under the arbitrary diktats from the Continent. Much like better to live under the diktats of Churchill than the diktats of Hitler.
2
Wholly ignoring that the 'arbitrary diktats' come from the MEPs sent by every country - including Britain's MEPs - to shape the collective will of the continental partnership, rather than the whims of, say, an irrational, uneducated President who likes praising white supremacists and making racial jibes about political opponents.
Are you sure you should be throwing stones from your particular glass house, even though you appear to be making up your own targets?
UK is very lucky that their Putin stooge Boris Johnson resigned. I wish our Putin Stooge Donnie Trump would quit, post haste.
7
Good for Boris. Time for namby-pamby Mrs. Mays to go, to be replaced with someone with some chutzpah.
1
She ain't goin' to reign no more, no more, no she ain't goin' to reign no more! So how in the heck will they live with Brex, if she ain't goin' to reign no more?
1
On a side note, it is really stupid to subject generational decisions to only one election.
8
This man was so incompetent. Brexit was a political stunt gone wrong. He championed this stupid decision based on xenophobia and false promises and had no concrete plan to back it up. He was in over his head and should never have been in such an important post. Good riddance to bad rubbish. Now the rest of this useless crew need to go, along with May.
8
Good riddance Boris; the architect of the Brexit vote and the man most responsible for the current chaos in that country. He lied from day one and ought to be tried for treason in Britain.
7
Good riddance to Boris Johnson.
I could never take him seriously because of his crazy talk, and dare I say it, his bizarre hair.
Sound familiar?
10
One more example of follow the money, and steer your country in the wrong direction as it empowers yourself interests! Boris Johnson is a terrible human being who cares noda a thing for his 'fellow' Britons, but for he himself and him!! Self absorbed, self interest and power....just like Trump working as a puppet for the Russian cause....Bad for the people, but good for him...!
8
Britain was an insignificant part of the world with few resources before the advent of its seafaring economy, industry biased on coal, and culture of democracy and individual rights. It spent its wad in two world wars and has had to claw its way back to relevance since, remaining at base a poor country. The EC, for all its imperfections, has been an economic bolster.
Brexit is like a drowning man refusing a life saver because he dislikes its shape or color. All this suggests a return to insignificance. Too bad, they were great friends for a while.
4
This and a Novichok fatality all in one week, just as Trump visits the UK, the Kremlin is chilling the vodka, no doubt.
13
Just ditch Brexit already. A debacle of a campaign, a mess of a vote and an omnishambles as an aftermath. And where’s Cameron? He started this mess and plunged us into this state, yet he dropped everything and ran when his foolish bluff failed (which it so obviously would).
8
Brexit was a terrible idea, but some politicians just could not help themselves from playing to the public sentiment. Now they have to deal with the consequences, and it is not pretty.
3
Davis might not be putting his hat in the ring - when the inevitable no confidence motion triggers (another) leadership contest - but Boris could. Boris and Trump are both as unstable as the other and the specter of such a special relationship should cause a chill down the spine of any sensible person.
Trump is visiting the U.K. on Thursday for two days.
2
Great Britain appears to be reaping the folly of its narrow choice to leave the EU.
On top of this upheaval, they are meeting with Trump soon. If they think they can depend on Trump for anything, they are sadly mistaken, as Americans have learned. Mr. Trump will do no more than offer a few words, claim a "win" and move on to his meeting with Mr. Putin.
Britain might be wise to reconsider its Brexit decision. May has not delivered and they will not have a soft landing in the current political climate.
2
There's a boatload of money in fear-mongering. No money in peace-mongering. Until we all put a chokehold on the money grubbers at the top of the world, this will continue to happen everywhere. We need a Democracy Spring. Hoping it begins in November.
5
To heck with Jag Rov (Don’t know about rover, but jags are for collectors and fusspots)... Airbus IS the company of importance, And re-designing the companies’ infrastructure - supply chain, would be a survivable but heavy stress
Arron Banks gave more than 12 million dollars to the Leave campaign, more than a third of all contributions to the campaign and the largest single political contribution in British history. How many times did he meet with which Russians? What sort of business deals did they offer him? Where did the money come from? This enormous contribution from a single donor, dwarfing that of all other individual donations, should be allowed to influence the vote?
Time for a do-over.
The do-over will save the UK from suffering for its fantasy of a return to the glorious self-sufficiency of the days of empire. Ain't gonna happen 'cause there ain't no more empire. See Timothy Snyder's book The Road to Unfreedom for an analysis of of this self-delusion.
The Leave campaign has already been fined 70,000 pounds for exceeding the amount it was allowed to spend on the campaign. But the fine won't undo the damage caused by its spending more than it was allowed to.
Time for a do-over.
4
Is it a coincidence that this happened after Trump left U.K. and before he meets with Putin? Seems like a gift for Putin.
2
The unraveling of representative democracy continues around the West. Governments flounder amidst corruption cases, incompetence and treason. Westen citizens refuse to accept that they may not continue to hope for the arrival of a political Messiah that will save them from whatever enemies they perceive to have. It is time to mature and move on to the next form of government, direct democracy by means of technology and the end of the political class. There are dire consequences awaiting just around the bend if we persist in voting scoundrels and proceed to give them all the wealth, weapons and power a nation can produce, hoping that they will do the right thing until the next election game begins. It is time for voters to make decisions instead of appointing a team of professional liars to do it for them. We ought to hire scientists and experts in every field to implement the decisions voted by citizens, instead of con artists with charisma and silver tongues.
2
NoCommonNonsense - Ironically, the unraveling of representative democracy is taking place as the result of plebiscites that are tainted by the very technology that you say is the solution. The voters in the referendum on Brexit, even in the presidential election here in 2016, were worse than uninformed - they were misinformed, because of the ease with which bad actors could harness contemporary technology to provide a flood of false information. Yes, Mr. Trump actually lost the plebiscite but he would never have come even remotely close enough for the gerrymandered Electoral College configuration to skew his way if not for the likes of the Russian interference through Facebook etc. The remedy for fake news is real news, and that's why Mr. Trump continues to bash the institution of the legitimate press. The current system fundamentally is sound but struggling under the weight of misused mass-information technology. I think our task is to shore it up in that regard and not to upend it totally.
There is no going back to print media and controlled information. Those who read and pay attention will not be deceived by blatant fake news campaigns. As for the rest, the same that happens to an adolescent that leaves the parental home to become an adult will happen to them. They will make mistakes but learn from the process, and will mature. As it is now, they will never learn, they go to sleep for four years and wake up just to vote the same bandits again.
Boris Johnson, no great loss. David Davis, didn't even show up for meetings. I would think badly conceived Brexit would be about the details, and these guys couldn't organize a one car funeral. Now I suppose Trump will go over there and try to create problems, fun for him. And it will be interesting to know who else was hanging with the Russians, other than Banks and Farage.
7
I saw Boris on a morning show recently. Dear god, from his skatty performance (which made Trump look articulate), Britain will be better for his departure.
6
If Oscar Wilde were writing his famous novel today he would have to entitle it " The Gallery of Portraits of Dorian Greys". So much corruption. How can one small planet handle so much corruption all at the same time without self destruction?
2
Both the British and the Americans are learning what happens when you vote with your prejudices, anger, fear, bigotry, and racism instead of in your own best interests. In short, you end up with situation for which there is no easy correction or amelioration. Those of us, both British and Americans who voted in their own best interests, are left standing and watching a slow-motion train wreck as the minority rules the majority in almost every facet of local and national life.
8
Imagine if people moved freely throughout the world, that borders and nations didn’t exist. Imagine if there were no religions , no money, no greed and no corrupt politicians. We can’t imagine it anymore. Reality is 7 billion people wreaking havoc on flora, fauna and each other with no hope for a sustainable future. The poverty and endless wars in Africa and Islam gave us Brexit. I wonder why no one tries to emigrate to mother Russia?
3
“... unfavorably comparing the prime minister’s negotiating style to that of President Trump.”
He has to be kind. Boris Johnson is the British Trump down to his appearance. You know, in some ways it would have been better for him to be at the helm. Let the country see that the Brexit campaigners are charlatans.
8
Hate to say it, it appears that all the advantages and pie in the sky phenom in UK based on some legitimate issues but many dogwhistle racist ones are becoming a bit clearer. If London falls as the financial clearing house to Europe, that in itself will bring great pain.
In any case, May seems to be trying to work a deal where UK keeps the huge trade advantages while working on a lesser divorce. But of course the Trump like launchers of BREXIT had a snit and quit. It's a mess going forward and appears they won't do a new referendum now that people are more aware of what they voted for..
2
Boris the Animal at his best, doing what he has done a few times before:
Stepping down to find the time to back stab the boss.
Looks like the next British Prime minister will be Boris Johnson.
Which means that after the US, the UK too will be ruled by a criminal egomaniac with weird hair.
Makes you wonder, if democracy really is the best of all possible ways to get a government?
2
After the blind Brexit vote; the majority voting in favor had no idea what they were really voting for. The logical thing to do would be to hold another vote. After all the two most searched items on the internet after the vote were Brexit and European Union. The willfully ignorant right and their ignorant followers had not a clue what the political and economic realities would be. Which, sadly is the situation here where the Trump voters apparently are ignorant to an astonishing extent when it comes to consequences.
3
Man, it must be great to just quit and walk of the door in a huff whenever unhappy about something. It hardly impresses any of us who drags themselves off to work at something they can’t stand to read about such self-indulgence. This speaks very poorly of all politicians in general. They’re lucky they aren’t farmers, otherwise they’d starve to death.
4
Well, Mr. Trump's oft-delayed visit to the UK in a few days is untimely...what with Mrs May's government teetering on the verge of collapse, the Trump blimp hovering in the skies of London...and the thousands of demonstrators waiting with bated breath to show their intense revulsion at his policies.
No amount of Twitter trolling and no amount of stiff upper lip (underlined by Mrs May's rictus) will change the tenor of the upcoming circus.
Sad.
2
Davis and Johnson wanted hard brexit all along, they were stalling. Not only do they have little idea of how serious it could be, but they were liars and buffoons. It is genuinely pathetic that May has achieved nothing whatsoever and the deadline is looming. Now, the UK and all the rest of us will reap the consequences.
4
For understandable - though mistaken, in my opinion - reasons due to lack of independent corroboration, NYT, WP and other respectable publications have been reluctant to re-publish the Steele Dossier. However, readers can get it from the BuzzFeed site. The dossier became public at a time when what Trump was doing was undermining NATO's confidence in the U.S. through complaining, whining, etc. But it was all more or less innuendo at the time. Now he is in full-smash mode on the Western alliance. Get yourself a copy of the dossier and read it. Certain parts have been borne out by subsequent events. That the weakening of the West is the essence of the whole Russian campaign, and the fundamental Russian goal of the whole Russia-Trump relationship, has been borne out by facts known to the whole international public; that is to say, events subsequent to its publication (for example, the G-7 horror show) have borne out the dossier's basis thesis with regard to Russian objectives in the relationship, even if there is no way for average readers to corroborate specific alleged facts. Another interesting tidbit is that apparently the Russians did not like the TPP and wanted to undermine it. So it is global trade as well as the alliance. Considering that the dossier was the basis of many House Republican attacks on the intelligence agencies and on the Mueller investigation, I think the Times and the WP should have printed it. They can still do so with a large disclaimer, if necessary.
8
Hooray! May’s govt is collapsing! Now need to ensure Mogg and his avaricious ilk are kept far away from No.10...
Tory Catch 22: May probably has the votes to survive a leadership challenge, but not to pass the final Brexit Bill or survive a Vote of No Confidence. However if the Brexit Loons do the latter two options, it will probably force an election and release the Corbyn (who’s just topped the polls).
1
Given the relative narrowness of the 2016 Brexit vote and the recent documented Russian influence campaign that misrepresented the referendum that shook the world, I think the Brits should get a second vote on what Brexit means to them personally and financially.
Last fall, I attended a very candid lecture by the British Consul in Boston who explained the Brexit vote was tightly split along generational and demographic lines. Older, more rural voters were in favor, even if they didn't fully understand what exiting the EU meant for them personally, while younger, urban British voters wanted to remain.
In a parliamentary system such as Britain's, when governments can rise or fall when facing "no confidence" problems, this issue is now so contentious that it's only fair to demand another referendum that's more informative for every voter.
Make each option (remain, soft Brexit and hard Brexit) perfectly clear how it translates financially for the average British citizen. It's the only way to ensure that the true will of the people gets recorded.
4
I don't know if this suggestion is even legally possible. But -- is it time for a new vote to stay or go? When there is so much division, it may be time t correct a not so good plan.
6
The people who voted for Brexit had no idea in what kind of a mass will it lead to. It will affect many industries like Airbus, the car sector, and many more. I think they should have another vote and explain the voters of the consequences what it takes to leave the EU.
Why break something that works and try to build an unknown? People just don't appreciate the good in life.
3
March 2019 is less than a year away. What happens if the negotiations aren't completed? Do they have a plan B? What's more interesting though is that the younger Brits didn't want to leave the EU. If there's a vote coming up for a new prime minister will the younger ones vote in someone who is pro EU?
2
Sovereignty transcends culture and revolves around several interrelated issues: a legal system (federal, state and local; executive, legislative and judicial branches), control of the financial system (markets, currency and monetary supply), border integrity and recognition from other sovereign entities. It is an amazingly complex concept and an even more difficult reality.
To think that it can be altered by the historian's "scratch of the pen" is to bring an 18th-century notion to the 21st century. Good luck with that.
2
Commercial airliners can withstand far greater forces than they're subjected to - and could press ahead much more forcefully - but the rides are kept relatively gentle for the sake of the passengers. Similarly, you can take a country full of people for a roller coaster ride - which as we see is the preferred style of Mr. Johnson and of his idol over here - with the confidence that your strength will get you through, but it would be like asking those Thai boys on the soccer team to just hold their breath during the underwater parts of the rescue.
5
I never understood why May appointed Boris Johnson in the first place. He was always an awful choice. Perhaps she wanted to keep her enemy close.
Anyway, as so many have said, now is a great opportunity to have a do-over vote. I'll bet the outcome will be different. And if not, there would at least be a clearer mandate -- but it's hard to imagine too many Brits voting for more of this Brexit mess.
17
This is a perfect example of the reason plebiscites aren't always the best way to handle things. Matters of international trade and relations require experience on the part of the decision makers and most voters in plebiscites know little about international ties. I understand the plebiscite in Ireland over abortion which was a simpler matter affecting the people than relations with the EU. The US has experience with plebiscites having unintended consequences in California and those plebiscites were simpler than Brexit.
8
There are complex issues involved. But plebiscites have the advantage of getting a buy-in from the people affected. They could be better than the EU-way of ignoring all of people all of the time.
3
"They could be better than the EU-way of ignoring all of people all of the time."
Ill-informed is the best that can be said by this piece thinking.
Go back and read the deliberations of the constitutional meetings in the US. The founders clearly understood that plebiscites are an extremely dangerous form of governing.
I'd love to be a fly on the wall of the "Dead Ringers" writers' room right now. May, Davis, and Johnson have given them much to work with over the last year or two, and these spectacular exits will be a fine end to the current series.
Note for US residents: "Dead Ringers" is a BBC Radio satire show featuring dead-on voice imitations of public figures including the Cheetoh in Chief, who is a boon to satirists everywhere.
13
It has been effectively demonstrated that the Brexit vote was punked by Russia in the same way as the US 2016 presidential election. Is it reasonable to assume that *none* of the Brexit leaders--Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage, or others (including, under the radar, the ever-repugnant Russian asset Julian Assange)--assisted or at least were knowledgable about the Russian attack?
The UK should negotiate with the EU a re-vote on its decision to break away from the Union. Irreversible damage may already have been done to the UK economy as, e.g., businesses, having a need to plan for the future, are making or implementing plans to move to capital cities in the EU. This includes the vaunted London financial sector.
Putin's success at pulling Britain away from the EU should not be allowed to stand. Any underhanded "win" in his efforts to divide the West should be reversed in every case to the extent possible.
17
You would think that there would be more of an outcry about it, but no, not a peep. It's as if parliament wish to sweep it under the carpet.
Putin, Farage and Banks for the Russian camp; alongside Johnson, Gove and Fox bringing up the rear with Cambridge Analytica. In the Russian team is Trump lurking in the background and still there was no collusion!!!!
3
After the Brexit vote many voters expressed their surprise at what their vote against Brexit actually meant i.e..they didn't know what they were voting for, they assumed their vote would have no impact and if they had it to do over they would vote to remain in the EU.So why not have a do over and see what happens??..Like I wish we could have a do over of the 2016 presidential election w/o Russia's interference.
13
A photo of Trump meeting privately with Boris Johnson during Trump's upcoming visit to the UK would be extremely harmful to Transatlantic relations and the political climate in the UK.
So, Trump will probably do it.
15
what the point of leaving the EU if they are not going to break clean and start over?
4
I think the key is that Britain should maintain maintain full sovereignty over what happens inside her borders similar to the Federalism of the United States of America.
In the U. S. the intent was for the Federal Government to provide a common defense, currency, single foreign policy, weights and measures and other things to allow otherwise a collection of sovereign states to peacefully coexist and trade frrely.
Our Federal government has arguably grown well beyond what the ratifier original intent of our constitution allows and I expect the same is happening in Europe.
The people have spoken and it is time for Britain to reclaim any and all sovereignty loaned to the union.
We benefit with different states, European or Americans, implementing their diverse set of competing ideas such that those that work can be willingly adopted by others and those that fail are rejected.
John
1
The world governments seem bent on self destruction. Zero sum positions end in annihilation.
Evolutionary change would have saved a lot of future pain. The EU was a start of a longer journey towards a better union.
The Brits were lured persuasively by the same racist forces that fired Europe in the early 20th century and has been re-strengthened by the economic greed and social elitist grip of the old industrial guard.
The two choices that the British government presented in the referendum were both the wrong choices. Leading the EU to the next level was the only choice and it was never offered.
9
This is what happens when voters think complex issues can be solved by yes/no voting.
37
The wealthy throughout the world must love to watch the games being played among the commoners.
Their box seats far above the madding crowd provide such a glorious view...... and the delicacies?
The reportage of their every visible move?
Oh to dream!
6
Nothing gets the bourgeois liberals more riled up than Brexit. Nothing, that is, except for President Trump.
The EU was great for the big London Banks and Britain's largest corporations. That's it. Everyone else suffered. That is the whole point of the EU: to make the rich corporations richer and everyone else worse off. Small wonder the UK voted to leave it. Now the corporations are trying to kill Brexit by stealth with May, their crony.
To Britain's credit their people had the strength to stand up to their pro-corporate elites and reject what the capitalists were telling them what was best for them. That was impressive.
Before Brexit, before Trump I was under the impression that rich liberals were somehow better than rich conservatives. I see now that's definitely not the case, in fact, in many ways they are even worse.
4
Wow. Haven't heard the word "bourgeois" used as a pejorative in many a year!
4
I see your point. I am coming from a manufacturing-as-an-intellectual-exercise interest only (and hardly employable), and cannot quite even begin to rail against the megarich cleptocorporations with a wooly-drooly (and well funded/endowed) liberal faction as a counter point
2
And so, the highly competitive global race for the most ridiculous hair style sees a rival fall.
But don't despair!
With this, Kim moves up a notch.
11
Well, the sitting did say that Kim Jung Un is a very smart young chap who having been handed a challenge is doing a very fine job. They are now BBFs, thank you. The nuclear threat is evaporated. Hip hip...
2
What I will never understand is why Kim didn't tackle the climate change problem. He could be in the lead now.
(After all, he has solved the N. Korean illegal immigration issue.)
It would appear that the Tories and our Republicans have the same crippling political condition. They can see the reality of what their policies are going to do to the vast majority of their collective populaces yet are unable to right the ship. It will be left to the voters of each country to right-the-ship and get each of our nations back on track and fully engaging in the world.
I cannot think of two more deserving people who should meet this coming Thursday. Ms. May and Mr. Trump are two of the worst leaders each of our countries have have to endure. These two individuals are leading each of their countries to economic hardships that should never have happened, but for their sheer incompetence.
22
I like your post - and I agree with it entirely. I really don't want Trump to visit as we will have to decontaminate even more cities!
5
It becomes more apparent every day that the triumphs of both Brexit and Trump owe much to white nationalism. Immigration and fear of the “other” drove both campaigns. In the face of the obvious dangers that both Trump and Brexit hold for the economies of both the US and the UK their supporters remain staunchly behind them, solely because they promise a whiter future.
8
Sure, he can just walk out. Unfortunately, the Brits he has condemned to economic meltdown with his rabble-rousing, inflated claims and outright falsities cannot quit the course he has set them on.
He is a political hooligan and good riddance to him.
79
He is a disgusting, scruffy, disloyal and dangerous politician and I'm glad he's gone.
2
now Boris can run for the EU Parliament and joing Nigel & Marine in collecting paychecks from an entity they advocate destroying. (Kind of like John Bolotn when he was US Ambassdor to the UN)
8
Ms. May will win in that the UK now realizes that a full BREXIT would be financial suicide. Boris Johnson is too eccentric to be taken serious by his own party and the overall voter.
4
This has Russian fingerprints all over it. Same with the Russian agent in the WH, who is doing everything he can to cause dissension and divide the EU as he is ordered by his master in Russia. Folks in GB should see what the end game here is, to get a Russian agent in charge of GB like they have done in the US. Don't let this happen to you there like it happen to us here.
10
That agent would be Boris Johnson.
2
Another of the Brexit clowns leaves the government. The purpose of these Brexiters leaving the government is to destabilize not only May's government but the UK economy in general just as the rightwing loons in Germany are attempting oust Angela Merkel's government. Just remember that we know now that rightwing billionaires helped to fund the Brexit campaign and that Farage who can't show his evil face in Britain and Johnson led the Brexit charge. The Brexit stupidity was a dream come true for the Russians in their ongoing work of driving Eastern and Central Europe away from Western Europe, dividing the UK from Western Europe and ultimately destroying NATO and the Atlantic Alliance.
Johnson is a piece of garbage just like Trump -- at least Johnson will no longer be in the UK government undermining it.
13
One hopes not, but he has aspirations beyond his abilities. He's just like Trump - blonde, traitorous, self absorbed, a liar, cheat and womaniser and loves grand schemes. To Trump's Wall we have Boris's Bridge. No kid.
5
Good. Maybe Britain will come to its senses and reverse the Brexit nonsense vote!
6
British poet Thomas Gray wrote "where ignorance is bliss, 'Tis folly to be wise" a couple of centuries ago. Were he writing today, he might well have opined "where folly is bliss, 'Tis catastrophic to be ignorant."
There's a whiff of Putin in the air, prowling near, and it is rancid.
20
The forces of xenophobia and populism may have been elected into power in 2016 (just barely) but they are a shambolic lot both in the US and Britain. They have no idea of how to organize and manifest their goals, are economically crippling us, and ultimately against supporting our fellow human beings. It's all of us on this planet now, whether we like or not. We've got to start acting like it...
26
It's time for another referendum on Brexit! Time for PM May to explain that the EU's position on Immigration is changing and that it's getting closer to the position which triggered Brexit, and that the EU would probably reject a soft advantageous economic deal and that a hard Brexit will affect economic growth and job creation...Make the call Prime Minister!
5
The sad truth is that the Robber Baron operatives are leaving government because their job is done. They have managed to further enrich the Robber Barons and dismantle much of what has made America and the Western World since WW2 prosperous and relative peaceful.
The inherited/stolen wealth Robber Barons want chaos, hate-anger-fear, WAR because it further enriches them and gives them more supposed power.
Power is fleeting. Every power monger eventually dies.
The question is, "Will WE THE PEOPLE allow them to destroy OUR lives and world in their demented/lustful, insatiably greedy quest for money/power?"
Not me. Not now. Not ever.
5
Mr. Johnson and other hard line Brexit supporters are comparable to Trump.
I wonder how many U.K. voters for Brexit are regretting their decision and their ill conceived notion of what exiting the EU would look like.
It sounds like May is attempting to make the best of a disastrous decision by the people.
20
Agreed. Brexit supporters should have heeded this saying: Be careful what you wish for, because you might get it.
5
As should have Americans.
Like many others, I voted Leave, with no delusions about what exiting the EU would entail. Blanket comments about “Leave voters”, “Trump voters” and their rationale for voting the way they did and their understanding of the issues are unhelpful and often insulting.
By the way, the EU is just like the US, in that one size does not fit all. We did not vote in 1975 for a United States of Europe, we voted for what was then known as the Common Market. If the EU beaurocracy had been more willing to be flexible in understanding the different needs of different members, Brexit would never have happened.
1
American voters who put Donald Trump in the Oval Office should reflect on that mind-boggling error of judgment and consider a little humility before complaining about our British friends having made a similarly benighted decision.
21
As the countdown to Brexit comes closer, Davis and Johnson may be realizing that Brexit success is a fantasy and so they are bailing on it. If it goes down in history as a failure they will be able to blame it on the way that May executed Britain's withdrawal, as they were not there.
26
Hilarious to see the Brexiteers turn on each other over fine points of detail on an imaginary agreement that the EU has already made clear it will never accept...
47
As far as our present situation in the United States concerning Trump's inept, irrational, and counter-productive ideology, I do not know whether this is an ominous or auspicious sign of what is to come here. It appears, as it did in the beginning, that this ill thought-out Brexit vote and subsequent reality has rocked Great Britain's stability to its core. Bad move, I fear...
If we Americans and this silent but abetting GOP Congress continue to give Trump the total control he needs to have in order to satisfy his insatiable ego, what is happening in England can happen here...meaning a complete erosion of our democratic principles. However, if we wake up and put pressure on this Congress to rein in this so-called president, we can prevent what is occurring to our closest ally across the Pond.
31
Clearly, a majority of U.K. voters have buyers' remorse. A second vote on Brexit is in order, especially since we now know that Russian hackers skewed the outcome on Brexit, just as they helped elect Trump in the 2016 U.S. election. If I were a Brit, I wouldn't want my country to be a province of Russia, which is what it's fast becoming. Putin feels free to poison Brits and to use British soil for assassinations of defectors. What happened to British pride? Have the likes of Boris Johnson sold it to Moscow for pennies on the pound?
40
The $5m that trump's security costs could go a long way in financing another referendum. Brexit is a mess and its about time May admitted it.
44
Yes that £5 million. What's worse, it's not dollars but pounds just so fat boy can play golf, go to dinner and then insult us afterwards.
2
Anyone who’s been paying attention knew Boris was going to bail as soon as the going got tough. Like Trump, he’s a racist and xenophobe, with no clue about the damage to his country that Brexit —any kind of Brexit — is eventually going to rain down on the U.K.
The people who thought Brexit would be a piece of cake when the U.K. stock market didn’t immediately crash after the vote was counted, are the same kind of people who think climate change is a hoax because it still snows in winter, and who think winning trade wars is easy.
The fact that you can’t get something for nothing appears to be a concept lost on way too many people here and in the U.K. Indeed, that concept is lost on Theresa May as well; she naively thinks she’ll be able to retain some substantial economic benefits vis-a-vis the EU, which has less than zero incentives to help her country out. Why? Because the EU doesn’t want any of its other member countries peeling off from the group. Playing hardball with the U.K. disincentivizes other member countries from leaving the bloc.
86
Something for nothing , brings to mind multiple bankrupts that other people paid for .
1
The Tories sold their souls to anti-immigrants just as the GOP did in the States.
People who wanted to believe that there was a simple answer to a complex problem were as anxious to support Bojo in the UK as they were Trump in the US.
Neither of them is probably anti-foreigner at heart, but both understand how to pick the most popular theme with the yahoos in order to win public office.
64
Yet another example of “my way or the highway” partisanship. The questions is after all the angry children have left, will there be enough adults to actually govern?
9
One gets the sense that the EU's current crisis (or more properly crises) has one primary cause- a liberal and inclusive policy towards migrants from Asia and Africa. Beneath all of the technical problems the real passion comes from concerns about immigrants and damage to national cultures. The U.S. is facing a similar scenario. Perhaps unfortunately for the Western democracies, the Left is going to have to satisfy its fellow citizens on the Right that Western culture is being protected before the "liberal" or "progressive" order of the world can move forward with respect to a thousand other issues.
5
Yes, immigration is the elephant in the room that is only sporadically acknowledged. While the Democrats (not to mention any names) might have a more "enlightened" policy, it does not necessarily work, and it certainly does not meet the expectations of the majority of the voters. It would be too bad if we have to put up with Donald any longer just because they don't get the message in time.
you do understand that GB was a colonial power, and many people who came there came from countries which were colonized. Additionally, it sounds like the Brits were just as worked up about people coming from the EU. Until they figured out they cant staff the NHS.
3
Right, so the answer is to let men, women and children that are fleeing war, violence, oppression, crop failure & starvation - just tell them to go pound sand. Is that the answer?
Folks using [more correctly, misusing] these sterile, abstract concepts like "liberal", "progressive" or the particularly en vogue "neoliberal" are just blowing smoke. They are labels w/o meaning meant to obfuscate, not illuminate - at least how most often deployed.
And answer this one: how to convince those on the "Right" (to be charitable) that their racist, nativeist, xenophobic ideas are wrong and counter-productive (because the data proves: the native birth rate is falling and we need more people, latinos are not stealing your jobs and commit far fewer crimes than whites)? How to convince them that their factory jobs with $50/hr. plus vacation and good benefits - are gone and never coming back? In essence, how to tell up from down; fact from fiction; convince people it is 2018 - not 1955?
Ironically, most of the "Right" you speak of are christians or catholics. Those religions that preach peace & love, tolerance. Jesus said love your brother and do onto others as you'd have them do unto you. Yet they are the most hateful, brutal, greedy of us all.
So if you have a solution, then you are a genius and what the world has been waiting for.
3
The Brexit game plan is working. One of the main goals was to get rid of Prime Minister May.
The Robber Barons behind Brexit and The Con Don want to get rid of all women in power. They see their centuries-old Good Old Boys'/radical christian cabal crumbling.
It's about time. Centuries too late.
Good People of U.K. please do not believe the lies about Ms. May. Use your heads. What has the cabal done for you? Nothing. They have enriched only themselves.
NOW is the time to throw the Robber Barons and their operatives out of governments at every level, elect/hire Socially Conscious Women and preserve/restore democracy - and relative peace - in OUR world.
NO WW3. That is what the inherited/stolen wealth Robber Barons want. They get more stolen wealth and power. OUR lives get destroyed.
11
Nothing commended him so much in public life as his leaving it.
"Politicians come and go, but the problems they have created for the people remain...." Truer words.
37
By the time the March 2019 deadline arrives this will not be an issue as the EU is likely to have broken up, with Italy leading the way.
1
Conservatives have predicted nine of the last zero breakups of the EU.
3
Brexit is Britain's Trump.
The common denominator with regards to both is Putin's interference and mission to break up liberal Western alliances.
Both Britain and the U.S. should hold new elections.
74
As Will Hutton commented on Saturday (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/07/soft-brexit-nobody... , it is now "as plain as a pikestaff" that the UK should not leave the EU. There is no realistic configuration that delivers what Leave were selling at the time of the referendum; and outside the union, the UK's influence on its terms of engagement will be a big, fat zero. Even if you voted Leave, will you really beggar your kids, and theirs, just to prove a point?
35
'Speaking to the BBC on Monday, however, Mr. Davis, said the prime minister’s plan to return power to the British Parliament was “illusory rather than real.”'
Mr. Davis is clearly not a fool and he understands that the British public voted for BrExit, not some “illusory rather than real.” rendition.
Soft "Brexit" or "Brexit light" is not Brexit and "hard" Brexit should simply be called Brexit. This is one of those cases where 1984ish "doublespeak" confuses the issue.
The people voted, but once again the elites think they can circumvent the will of the people.
Britain clearly needs their own Trump that actually does what the people want not what the elite with their billionaire funders want. Had a Trump twin been running the government instead of PM May, the British would have their so called "hard" Brexit, which is really just Brexit.
What the Brexit experience is showing that "the will of the people" in Britain is simply illusory -- it is still "the will of the billionaire" and "the will of the elites."
8
Why don't people ever acknowledge that what the call the will of the people is often just the will of a very slim majority or even a plurality? Trump received the votes of about 26% of eligible voters. The tragedy is that his politicians and supporters ignore everyone else.
18
Trump doesn't do what the people want. He didn't win the popular vote. He is not the people's president. He's the alt right populist president and is losing support.
Trump does what is best for Trump. The sooner people understand that, the sooner we can get rid of this sham government and begin to repair all the damage this greedy, incompetent man has caused because he listens to his "enormous gut" rather than consult people who understand the intricacies of how government works.
Brexit was a mistake - Trump is a nightmare!
6
You're forgetting that the Leave campaign was funded by billionaires (some of a shadowy Russian bent) and built upon lies.
3
British pro-Brexit politicians happily lied to the British people about the Brexit, who in turn happily and blindly accepted the lies as the ultimate truth. Now, and in the upcoming years, the British people will pay the price of their credulity. The pro-Brexit politicians, as far as they are concerned, despite a few resignations and a little loss of credibility, will keep enjoying life, privileges, and rainy days on the Thames shores.
19
I think the turmoil roiling the UK government at the moment is a perfect reason for Mr. Trump to be disinvited.
68
Boris, an admirer of Trump and a key architect of the lies that led the British electorate to choose Brexit, quits.
That is good news for those resenting that misguided populism has allowed con men such as Trump and Boris to prevail.
57
As the World Cup capivates the world, England's football success has to be admired. A stunning fact however is that ALL remaining teams in the semis are from within the EU, the political block the UK declares it wants to leave.
The UK and Europe are successful together. No amount of clever Russian propaganda should be allowed to change that fact.
14
Let this pandemonium and circus serve as a stark reminder to entities that try to expunge sound economic agreements driven by little more than jingoism and bigotry.
As for the EU - hold strong and don't give Britain an inch. Let them grovel and beg to get back in.
33
Another case of the grass is always greener on the other side of the hill. Perhaps the Brexit exit was not the wisest thing to do. Seems to fall into the Trump category of dealing with Iran, North Korea, Canada, the EU, Mexico, etc, etc.
What has gotten into these conservative people? Greed??
11
My advice to the people of the UK - pull yourselves together, admit that Brexit was a really bad idea, get rid of your current government, and try to get back to where you were a few years ago (if you still can).
60
Hoping this domino effect continues across the Atlantic and onto Washington, D.C.
64
It’s hard to see how this ends well. The British can’t even figure out what to ask for in the negotiations with the EU. Does anybody really think that the EU will be an easier negotiating partner that the PM’s own cabinet? And if the PM is counting on a special bi-lateral relationship with the USA to soften the blow when Brexit blows up, consider how Donald Trump treats our friends and allies, not to mention how much of the British public despises him (do you think Trump doesn’t notice and that he won’t jump at chance to punish them?).
Never has the danger of running a country based on “populist”’emotional appeal been made more obvious. Never has Britain looked more like an isolated island.
103
"Never has the danger of running a country based on “populist”’emotional appeal been made more obvious."
Never? Just take a look at the U.S.
4
I'm leaving one idiot country (the US) for another (Great Britain) in a few days. Having lived in the UK for a number of years some time ago it will be interesting to watch this not-so-slow-motion train wreck in progress. My British friends are all in despair, including some Tories who during the time of the vote considered leaving Europe an utter act of madness to begin with. I can't wait to hear their tales of woe, although it's not going to be any different than what we all say about Trump on a daily basis. Both our countries need an electoral mulligan, but the only one who ever gets a mulligan these days is Donald Trump -- actually, multiple mulligans: from the "Christian right." who have entirely abandoned whatever imaginary principles and Christian ethics they once have claimed because they have convinced themselves that he is Christ returned, destined to lead them to the land of mammon that they pretend to despise.
90
Johnson represents the outsider that throws stones, but will not help build the house. The sooner people stop listening to the do nothing blowhards, the sooner the hard work will get done.
43
The rats are abandoning the ship that two years ago they helped to steer into the iceberg. Good riddance.
66
Boris Johnson quitting: now, is that really a bad thing...?
12
The rats are getting off the sinking ship. Take note, America.
All this as news breaks that Brexit has made the British economy stagnate--which shouldn't be news to anyone who was paying attention to the "educated elites" no one wanted to listen to.
I'm not saying that academics are always right, but they have a better shot than your racist Uncle Joe who reads Breitbart and believes in Pizzagate (or the UK equivalent)
372
Actually, these rats are leaving because the ship is not sinking as quickly as they would wish. I do not see an analogous movement in the US, of people who would turn on Trump because he were not as Trumpish as they would wish. Trump will observe no limits in pleasing his supporters.
As for Boris, his withdrawal from the cabinet would be welcome if it were part of a departure from public life. He like Trump is an upper-class thug, who demonstrates that no amount of privilege can substitute for decency. He is better educated and more polished than Trump but of no better character.
3
Most of those who voted Brexit were well aware of potential negative implications for the British economy. But then Brexit was never about the economy anyway.
1
Boris Johnson, one of the authors of the lies that are Brexit, is one of the literal rats jumping the sinking Brexit ship. He will now go on to blame PM May for being for a soft Brexit, and desperately wants to become PM. He is Trump with a worse haircut.
27
Agreed on everything but the haircut, which is debatable.
1
Perhaps after all of this has played out, Armando Iannucci can make a film about the Cameron and May cabinets and Brexit. He certainly would be the right one to do it.
5
Boris Johnson was a buffoon in the Trump mode, lobbing grenades with no idea how to put out the subsequent fires. His resignation is no loss to the British public
207
I knew Johnson would walk after the vote. He is a coward and an idiot. This is what passes for charismatic these days.
79
In Ireland there was a nice reply about this:
"A clown to te left of us, a joker to the right,
here we are stuck in the middle with EU." Together with two pictures of the blondies.
2
The only good thing that can be said about Brexit is this: the fascist paroxysm in Britain had its political orgasm with Brexit, which, while extremely destructive to themselves and to Europe, is far less so than the destruction that we have done to ourselves here in electing an actual fascist government. "Populism" is one common thread, the other one being, of course, very focused and skilled Russian manipulation of certain segments of the voting public in both cases. I wonder, BTW, if there is a "collusion" scandal waiting to be uncovered there also. In other words, did the Russians get no help from some British politicians?
48
Yep. They are a shambolic lot like Trump and his idiotic minions in the US.
1
That rarest of things, a breathtakingly beautiful British summer, wonderful performances in the world cup and Tories falling by the wayside one after another. Glorious was it to be alive in that dawn.
65
As it has been well demonstrated that Russia affected the Brexit vote, why not nullify it based on that and conduct a new vote.
We in the US may not be able to nullify Trump's election because of Russian interference (and collusion), although I think we should, but your exit from the EU is still somewhat "pending."
Nullify it and revote. Otherwise your conceding to Russia.
132
Please apply same principle to US election, and do the same.
1
It hasn't been demonstrated, well or otherwise, that Russia affected the Brexit vote. It has only been demonstrated that Russia attempted to affect the Brexit vote.
Was just thinking about the dangers of referendums this morning. I would bet $1,000 that Theresa May wishes she could have a 'do-over' and that this referendum had never happened. The jingoistic fantasy of a Britain standing proud and alone and calling the shots to a cowed EU was sold hard... but the reality of making that happen has proven to be something completely different. The lesson: be careful what you wish for!
160
Of course the elites wish BrExit had never happened. They benefited enormously from policies that hurt normal voters.
For example, the import of cheap labor from Eastern Europe in the UK which made construction and other services cheaper while depriving the British working class of an income.
The Brits had the same trouble with immigration that we have in the US. In both cases, the immigration benefited elites while harming the working class.
4
Let's see if England requests to join the USA as the 51st state...
1
The BBC reports that the constituencies that supported stay or leave in Brexit have remained relatively unchanged in their views. What many wanted in the leave category was a form of British cultural independence but expected, or hoped for the economy to maintain it's course. No more Polish plumbers, but lots of Polish buyers of British goods. Of course the largest portion of wealth generated by EU membership was in the UK's financial sectors, and it is nearly assured this wealth will be decimated by leaving the EU, as banks will lose the smooth and easy flow of financial traffic to Europe once national borders are ressurected.
The consensus among economists has always been things will not go well for the UK after Brexit. But the resignations of two senior advisors directly involved with Brexit negotiations 8 months before Brexit becomes reality is surely a bad sign. Things may be worse than many expected.
76
It is no coincidence that here in the US people who voted for Trump are still quite happy with him. It’s as though they can never say they made a mistake
15
It is worth noting that Boris Johnson is an embarrassment as a policy maker. Born to wealth and entitled and a bit of a buffoon. Just watch some youtube videos of him speaking on important topics to verify he is in over his head.
114
Mayor of London - elected multiple times as an MP - cabinet minister.
It would appear that there are many who would dispute your assessment.
4
The British Trump. Complete package- racist with bad hair.
18
Many might dispute. However, in this day and age capability and expertise in getting elected and/or appointed to a political position matter more than expertise in being able to function once in that poition. Think tRump.
7
For those commenters calling for a "re-do" of the vote to leave the EU, it's my understanding that that isn't possible.
It's like Donald Trump winning the electoral college and getting 3 million less votes than Clinton. He still got the electoral, by our laws, he became President.
Next time, hopefully, people will pay more attention to what they are voting for - but like Brexit, a vote is a vote, this is what you voted for, and there is no "re-do".
Better luck next time, Britain.
23
But if no "re-do" of the Brexit referendum is possible, there won't be a next time for Britain to get any kind of luck. We in the U.S. might or might not be able to get rid of the anachronistic electoral college, but at least we know we'll have the chance of getting rid of Trump in 2020.
11
Despite all the statements to the contrary and that it is impossible, if the UK held another vote and voted to stay in the EU, the EU would find a way to make that happen.
5
Over the years pols of both parties, including Trump, have complained about the electoral college. But the party that wins never ends up trying to do anything about it, because it worked for them.
The irony in all of this is that the Brexit vote passed because an older generation of British citizens were opposed to open borders and the free flow of immigrants into the UK.
Given all of the political turmoil with respect to open borders in the rest of the EU and a growing consensus that something needs to be done to tighten borders and immigration, the rest of the EU may implement the changes the UK had hoped to achieve through Brexit - only without all of the economic impacts.
31
My thought, too.
1
Perhaps the more bitter irony is that the generation of younger Britons who, not to put too fine a point on it, will be around for several decades longer, decisively voted against Brexit, opting instead to maintain their ties to the Continent and keep free movement in Europe.
Speaking as one of them, no amount of jingoistic, nominal 'control' over fiscal policy and fisheries, or the ability to stem the whelming tide of enthusiastic, hard-working, cosmopolitan immigrants and their terrifying desire to live normal lives in the UK can adequately recompense my generation for the stripping away of EU citizenship.
From an economic perspective, it would seem that the U.K. should be either all out or all in. As the latter is not an option currently, being all out at the start would put them in a stronger bargaining position than going forward with limitations. Perhaps future PMs will learn from this painful episode and not relinquish Parliament’s sovereignty for a plebiscite that is a roll of the dice.
8
Who knew that Brexit could be so complicated?
When sold a bill of goods like the trumpcult was here in the US , things get sticky when it doesn’t work out as sold.
Perhaps we can see some common sense, especially after May meets the imitation president tough guy, and tells him where to stick it. Remember that’s his trademark and turning the tables on him would be both satisfying and productive.
It would also further isolate the imitation President, a good outcome all around.
39
Why do "conservatives" (more like mindless radicals of the far right) like Boris, Donnie, Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller insist that we destroy everything that has been working for years?
In case their followers have not noticed, we have had 70 years of relative peace and prosperity in Europe, after two devastating world wars that killed many millions in the first half of the 20th century.
We should destroy the economic and military systems that accomplished that why, exactly?
Do explain, TrumpBots and Boris babies.
(I won't get into the evidence that Cambridge Analytica, brought to us by Bannon/Mercer, planted all manner of fake ads for BREXIT and for Trump. The dirt runs deep with those people.)
867
Chaos for the sake of chaos.
1
Well, Joe, my reply would be that we need not destroy them, but give them a retirement party and send them to the retirement home in their superannuated state.
The system that made the US the founding protector of the NATO forces has served its purpose and is ready to be replaced by the rejuvenated locals. They need to rise to that need, but may not without some urging. The world trading system that was created decades ago, when the US dollar could be gold backed, at $34 an ounce, also needs to be retired with due respect. Something new, and not defined by the dollar alone is needed. The old system no longer works. Times change.
Brexit seems mindbogglingly stupid--stupid on the level of not being left alone with sharp objects. But that by itself makes me suspicious: who is benefiting?
Dollars to donuts, Goldman and friends have figured out a way to make money on this.
The Russian Bear is prowling the west.
81
Russia must be delighting in the damage being wrought in the US and UK. Some of which Russia has facilitated but there are many own goals.
10
If Theresa May truly cared about the future economic, social, and political stability and prosperity of Great Britain, she would resolutely commit to a second, binding national referendum, this time requiring a super majority on whether to stay or leave the E.U.
Having recently returned from a trip to G.B. and discussing the issue with citizens there, there is a widespread feeling of doom and gloom over rejecting Europe, and carelessly forfeiting all of the benefits that have already accrued to the country thereby. The nation seems to be careening, suicidally, to the edge of a fatal cliff without any realistic plan how to apply the brakes, while extreme Conservatives irrationally and irresponsibly believe in its revival as a global "Empire" with the nostalgic strains of "Rule Britannia" stuck in their eardrums. So very sad and avoidable.
301
John, a re-vote every time a vote doesnt go the way some people wanted it to? That is OK with you? What's the point of voting?
4
What's at stake here is democracy, nothing to do with 'Empire' or 'Rule Britania'. How would it be if American citizens were told to obey and follow rules and regulations decided by unelected people outside of the USA? Sounds outrageous and it is. I voted for Brexit, I voted for democracy, I voted government by people who have been elected. It is only the wealth of Fatcats that will career over a cliff. Your comment, by the way shows scant regard for democracy
2
F.Y.I., the vote was audaciously rigged by Johnson, Farange, and other hard-right Tories who, amongst other advertised falsehoods, claimed that by exiting the E.U. hundreds of millions of pounds could be redirected to the National Health Service. Now, with the reality of Brexit there, tragically large numbers of foreign born doctors, nurses, health aides, etc. are leaving or preparing to return to the Continent, ironically leading to serious staffing shortfalls in the N.H.S.
14
Ten pages of contradictory regulations on lightbulb installation are here to stay, Brits. Enjoy!
6
Good riddance. Boris Johnson was a carbuncle on British Politics. They should ALL resign and elect a new government.
61
Apparently, tweedle-dumb will now be joined by tweedle-dumber. The only show on earth emanating from a (barely) less shallow gene pool than Trump world gong show in Washington must be the Conservative cabinet in the UK. It is a terrifically close contest where the contestants are united by two very obvious things; extremely poor judgement and truly silly hair. Where is Monty Python when we really need them? Though satire would be difficult with each group, the Pythons might be able to pull off some sort of Ministry of Silly Walks skit to make it obvious to even those with clouded vision, who really still believe in the utterly fraudulent claims made by them both.
110
I was saddened to see that one Python, at least, was backing Leave (Cleese).
Should have been a standup battle over Brexit between Cleese and the Remain backer, Eddie Izzard.
2
Yes, I noted that Cleese seemed to revert to being Faulty on this one too.
Perhaps May herself can go, with the rest of the Tories who brought the UK the Brexit trainwreck, and let the professionals at Labour run a non-crazy government instead.
Brexit is why putin can so confidently novichok the UK in the first place. While everyone debates how hard borders should be, how to properly commit cruelty to immigrants, and how to reward the stingy employers that demand and attract them, he enjoys a triumph and confidence boost second only to installing his favorite idiot on this side of the pond.
39
Labour is also pro-Brexit.
Be careful what you wish for.
Labour is divided over Brexit? As divided as the Tories? Don't think so, but they're not in power - yet. Their job just now is only to oppose, not to govern, and it's easier to mask disagreements when in opposition.
The only way May can save her government -- and perhaps the British economy -- is to call another vote on Brexit. Maybe the costs of pulling out of the European Union will make Brits think twice about the folly of their first vote, which was as stupid as the American one electing a reality show president.
95
As much as we might hate Brexit, diluting the referendum to nothing undermines democracy and will spawn an uglier populism. It's a shame that May's arrogance blinds her.
10
So the UK should just drive itself off a hard-Brexit cliff then? That would be insanity and May knows it.
13
How is negotiating the exit from the EU diluting the referendum on Brexit? If the UK would just leave the EU without an agreed separation, you'd have likely unrest in Northern Ireland, severe disruptions to manufacturing probably leading to layoffs, and a rapid mass exit of EU nationals currently working in the health services leading to extreme short-staffing of hospitals, amongst many others. For example, in a hard Brexit without an agreement, tens of thousands of trucks moving to and from the UK would need to be inspected at the border every day, and there is simply no place to do that on either side of the channel, at least not for the foreseeable future. All these consequences are simply ignored by many.
14
Perhaps he finally has time to see a barber.
43
The President of the United States--Putin, is happy. Jester Trump is just playing with his toys, but he has no toy balls.
31
How cowardly of Johnson and all these other Brexiters to jump ship as the entire country barrels uncontrollably towards a scary, and quickly approaching, uncertain future. I remember just a couple years ago how these folks were promising UK the world if it were to leave the EU. But then again as we are learning here in America everyday, elections have consequences. This won’t end well.
401
UK is stronger than you think.
As usual, big shot politicians like Prime Minister Theresa May believe they know best, and can thwart the will of the people who voted for Brexit. This woman should resign and allow Brexit to proceed as scheduled.
4
Since you have been following this story of chaos in England it mirrors the chaos here in the United States.
Boris is a talking head who had no clue how to implement a program he was just another loud mouth who is of the elite class and was a backward Mayor of London, he to wanted to be an actor.
This mirrors America ,nothing but insults because the president cant have a conversation based on facts. His vision besides the buzz words is empty
England is going in a new direction and its best that Borissince he doesn't have the mental power to ba an asset he just needs to step aside and write his memoirs.
How do you like those tariffs ? As long as your not in the cross hairs of having your company go under, its easy to say there is nothing wrong with tariffs
9
50 shades of brexit bud. It is not as easy as described.
It seldom is.
7
It’s hard to describe PM May as being a big shot and that she has ignored the will of the people. She’s just doing her best to clean up the mess left behind after an ill-considered vote that was based on deceptions pedaled by the pro-Brexit side and appeals to the ignorance, fears and bigotry of the voters.
Sound familiar? It should. It happened in the USA. It happened in Poland. It happened in Austria. It happened in Italy. And it’s taking us back not to when any of these countries were great, but to the 1930’s, when fear ruled.
6
I wonder if David Cameron ever imagined that his populist whim would bring Britain to this point.
67
No nor did he care if it did
THAT is the crux of his problem.and his party’s
5
Putin has installed an American president who is his toady, has created chaos in Britain, and has disrupted the whole post-WWII alliance upon which both the physical and economic safety of western Europe rested.
And we won the Cold War?
534
worse yet, two world wars were fought to ensure Germany didnt control Europe...today, Germany controls Europe....
1
To say that the West dropped the ball is an understatement.
1
I have been saying this for a minute. Russia was playing three dimensional long term chess while the USA has been playing an elementary game of checkers.
2
Just like Steve Bannon and other Trump supporters, Boris conspired with Russia to spew falsehoods to tip the vote in the Brexit decision. Now like Bannon he is leaving his official position to get paid by more Russian operatives to continue his agitating of hate and fear in the UK.
78
Was there ever a plan or steps involved in leaving the EU? Did the Brexit folks show the public numbers - money the UK received from the EU and money that would be lost by leaving?
I don't blame May, she didn't come up with the Brexit idea. One person can't fix this mess.
50
The Brits have lived under the iron rule of the EU -- unelected officials in Brussels (who earn MILLIONS) -- for many years.
I think they are fully capable of deciding FOR THEMSELVES if the EU has made their lives better or worse.
And prospered.
Good riddance, Boris! Let’s hope this is a precursor to what will happen here in the US: the ruling party, elected on a platform of fear and irrational nationalism with no real plan for governing, begins to resign when people realize they have no real plan.
844
It is more than that...he never agreed with a soft Brexit actually...so the opposite. He wants Britain out more than other Brexiteers. He has been a thorn in May's side. However, that said Brexit is ridiculous. Just as Trump is ridiculous and seen as despicable in Europe, for the most part. His fans are Erdogan (or was), the Philippine Murderer/Leader, and Putin. Cameron was pathetic as a Leader and May is not much better, and they have had no real plan or agenda but gone with the flow, and mostly the British do not like anything that is not like they are. This is the average British person. So this was the people's agenda for leaving. They are as illiterate (the Leavers) as Trump's supporters. All they see is their small little issue or domain and they have no interest in anything else, so their idea for a multi-ethnic population is not all inclusive. But as they are usually the bottom of the rung themselves they cannot reason more than their small concerns. This is going to kill England, not make it better...as those days are gone for the UK, and possibly for the US as well, although I have more hope of recovery in the US, especially when the Republicans are routed.
11
Boris is not gone. He is only positioning himself to lob grenades at May and try to move into Downing Street.
3
Wow.
We are sadly watching the massive destabilization of the EU/Europe right before our eyes.
Putin’s plan is going just as he hoped.
198
And all the planning for *how* to Brexit, now that putin got the Brits to sign on to that, is a perfect distraction for him to novichok and generally push the UK and EU around with impunity.
orban, erdogan, and the other useful idiots think they got a free ticket to dominate, but only one devil will profit from the fine print in that contract—and he roars with laughter in Moscow at the Brexit he touched off and the Dumpster fire the Tories made of it.
1
It's going better than he could have ever expected!
1
The same plan he had for the US of A
It is working well
The Labour Party is as divided, but as the Opposition, it doesn't have to show this division in the public spotlight. Other than another Referendum (why not the best of 2 of 3), a possible "democratic" resolution could be a free vote (no party whip) on whatever deal May can make with the EU. This would ensure that all Members of Parliament reflect what they believe to be the desires of their constituents.
Obviously, with no deal, no vote and a Hard Brexit. Why not a New NAFTA - North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement?
5
However they do Brexit, UK probably needs new partners to give EU time to forget about revenge.
My goodness. Two awful decisions see the light of day - the election of Donald Trump in the United States, and the stupidity of Brexit in the United Kingdom. This nonsense keeps rolling and rolling with ineffective politicians who see life as walking in dark caves without lights. The only question that remains is whether the UK government will surpass the Trump disaster in resignations. This is one loopy world.
98
Those awful Brits that actually want to be ruled by Parliament and not some EU bureaucracy. Honestly, the nerve of some people!
2
Boris doesn't want to take responsibility for the looming catastrophe he created. Watch him pivot his views to lay the blame on everyone but himself.
710
He looks like Trump and he speaks like Trump.
They are clones, one as incompetent as the other. They behave like rowdy brats in a China shop and after they have broken everything they demand their lollipops.
They should be spanked instead.
8
Agreed. And how about the stalwart Brexiteer Nigel Farage, who long ago left the field of battle with his tail between his legs?
5
Is Boris taking a page out of Donnie's playbook, or is it the other way around?
Two peas in a pod, both deserving of the Nobel WHIRLED PEAS Prize.
Are we winning yet? (I am a little dizzy from all the whirling ... er ... winning.)
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If another referendum were held today, the Brexit campaign would be roundly defeated. Why Ms. May does not put this back to the voters is beyond me. The Emporer Has No Clothes!
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You can't have do overs for elections when you don't like the results. Else I would happily have a do over for the 2016 presidential election.
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Sipa - the British system doesn't work like the American system. In this, or in many other areas. A second referendum is possible. Likely? No.
If another vote was held today, the Trump campaign would be roundly defeated. Why this is not put back to the voters is beyond me. Fact is, voters need to realize how important an issues is up front and realize for themselves what the consequences are; 'do-overs' don't happen at this level.
Boris Johnson resigned? This is wonderful news.
The jerk lied about what Brexit would mean for ordinary Britons, i.e. much more money for National Health.
GOOD RIDDANCE!
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No. He didn't lie. This was an interpretation put on what he said in order to discredit him, and far too many people - like yourself - swallowed this interpretation. He actually said that the savings from exiting the EU could be used to better fund the NHS, i.e. it was a suggestion. I should also point out that the Leave Campaign was just that - a campaign. It was not a political party setting out a platform that it promised to implement if it won.
But - even if Johnson had said what you said he said, are you aware that the UK has not yet left the EU? Any judgements on what any of the players involved said, or might have said, or could have said, are entirely premature.
When will May finally come to her senses and Remain?
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As the Brexit was passed by an actual VOTE....if Ms. May betrays the voters, her government will fall and she will be replaced by a different PM.
1
After it became clear that Russia worked hard and successfully to break up the EU, why don't the Brits have another vote?
Then, let's do the same here.
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Why would the EU want to accept Britain's self-serving proposal, even if Britain could figure out what that is?
Brexit was always a delusion of fools. What's remarkable is that a majority of British voters are so lacking in judgment that they bought into the malarky.
The Brexit referendum was not legally binding in any way. The people of the UK may think keeping a stiff upper lip and blundering on is the only way to respect the democratic process, but democracy is not a suicide pact.
Having explored the reality of Brexit and found it not as advertised, the May government should cut bait now.
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@Sam I Am re: "What's remarkable is that a majority of British voters are so lacking in judgment that they bought into the malarky."
People who live in glass houses...
Right, let’s only respect voting when we get the desired, lefty result.
2
Politicians should NEVER listen to voters...should hold referendums and then ignore the results...because politicians KNOW BETTER THAN CITIZENS about "what's good for them" and therefore, should FORCE "what's good for them" down their throats.
Nothing can possibly ever go wrong with that system.
Looks like Theresa May's days as head of government are numbered. She promised hard exit when she took over from Cameron, and appears to have developed wobbly knees as she started negotiating with Brussels on the terms of exit and on terms of future trade relations.
The hardliners are rightly winning the argument here, and May has proven to be hardly the iron lady that one had hoped she would be.
7
Your opinion that the hardliners are winning the argument is highly questionable.
6
This new-fangled word Brexit seems to be getting a whole new meaning now.
Anyone responsible for making Brexit possible and orderly, if such a thing is possible, seems to be Brexiting.
What a pickle Britain has gotten itself into. But who are we to complain, or point out, as we merrily skate on thin constitutional ice ourselves.
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