No-one wants a no-deal Purwell! but there has to be an end to this farce with Barnier, In the end it will come down to a choice of three things, either she goes against the wishes of the result of the Referendum to Leave by betraying us and saying goodbye to democracy in this country, or she goes ahead and calls Barnier's bluff and starts finally issuing what we want and rightly expect out of these negotiations before they get a penny from us. I think there has been enough give from us and take from them. If Brussels still refuse to negotiate sensibly instead of acting like truculent schoolchildren, then we should do what we should have done once she and David Davis must surely have seen in all the meetings that have taken place to date, that Barnier has absolutely no interest, nor has he ever had since the result of the referendum, All he cares about is the establishment itself, he is prepared to sacrifice European trade, jobs and citizens in his quest to humiliate and humble the UK for our audacity in voting to leave. That is why these negotiations are a farce!. Therefore, if what is agreed at Chequers on Friday is presented and pushed back in her face as normal, she and her team must have the guts to say enough is enough and walk away.

I know the latter would be the worst case scenario, but there comes a time when bullies have to have a slap themselves to bring them to their senses, and Barnier and his team are certainly acting like bullies.

Here's an interesting question:. Why are the EU complaining so bitterly about Trump's tariffs when they are proposing the the same for us?

Here's an interesting question:. Why are the EU complaining so bitterly about Trump's tariffs when they are proposing the the same for us?

Here's an interesting question:. Why are the EU complaining so bitterly about Trump's tariffs when they are proposing the the same for us?

Blimey.
So,if we,the UK,don't kowtow to everything the ''mass 27'' [and btw-how many leaders of those 27 countries can you name WITHOUT resorting to a search engine?!?] demand of us...we're doomed???

Hmm...so the WTO,the 'happy to trade with you' countries,the commonwealth,those countries emerging into 21st century commerce...NONE of that matters or has significance?
So in the days of the EEC,when we traded but weren't dictated to,when our Merchant navy was busy across the planet,when docks were bustling as goods came in AND out-and when Charles De Gaulle was our best friend on the European continent,although our MP's couldn't/wouldn't see it,...you're saying our British resolve can't put right,with a bit of effort and a lot of pride,the c#ck-up that has emerged from the chaos of the b#llsh#t that Brussels [or Strasbourg,depending on where MEP's fancy being at £150,000,000 per move...financed by the gullible citizens of the EU,btw] spout on a daily basis??? OK-let's say we,the people of the 'Dark Side' accept all your 'remain' arguments and agree to be put directly under Merkel's hammer...on the proviso that EVERY MEP works for minimum wage-a structure THEY put in place-to prove to the scummy unwashed masses who DARE to question their right to be unyielding & imperious....but ok,for the sake of fair discussion,let's say we do....when they next start another war,for whatever reason-will YOU be eagerly signing up to fight people you have no argument with,for a reason you don't understand,in a land who's language you don't speak,killing people you don't hate,because a bullying,overpaid,self-important,unwilling-to-listen,not-interested-in-you-OR-your-family BEAUROCRAT ordered you to??? Trade,we can sort out by ourselves-we've done it for centuries...but being ordered to take part in other people's arguments...nah-you can keep it. Been there,done that.

I was a child when we joined the EEC. But I don't remember much affluence in the 70s. It was a terrible time for the economy before we joined. Everything was really expensive and we had no consumer choice. Going abroad was really expensive and there was no customer service. We'd had a massive influx of immigration from outside Europe. Inflation was out of control. The class system still ruled the country. Unions still fought against it.

I don't know what kind of delusion people have that's coloured by the rosy specs of poor memory, but it was not an easy time to live in Britain.

Since the EEC changed into the EU our affluence has exploded into people being able to afford to do up their houses, buy the latest car, tv and go on exotic holidays. It also means you can afford food in shops and why we can still have a free health service and some sort of state pension. Without the free market all this will be unaffordable. We are struggling as it is because of the effects of the global financial crash of 2007/8.

I can't believe the lack of understanding of the economy and global interdependence that I see on these threads. But this one takes the biscuit. To crash out is the worst case scenario - a disaster. It's not something to celebrate or champion. Only someone totally uninformed about how things work could feel happy about such a scenario.

So the EU knows you are bluffing. But go ahead. Have a hissy fit. Stick it to them. Stomp out the door. Good luck.

You don't half talk some piffle Annie

We had a health service long before joining the EEC so to say we won't afford it outwith the EU is Project Fear. We also had food in the shops, better schools and there were pensions then as well . We built British designed cars , washing machines and many other products.
Cheaper holidays were the result of a strong pound , new destinations opening up and cheap flights. In fact, you can thank the Fascist General Franco for cheap foreign holidays, not the EEC or the EU. They were different times and not really relevant to today.

There are 10 countries outwith the EU for every 1 that's in it. They manage to crack on just fine in this global interdependant trading scenario you fear so much.

Our current wealth is DESPITE the EU......not because of it.

Flicker, all you have done here is to enforce the view that we have been trapped into a system we should not joined up for.

It's no use claiming that escaping will damage us.

It was the joining which caused the damage.

Now we are faced with some real pain to get out. But, if we don't make the effort, and stay in, the situation will intensify and we'll get more & more frustrated by those EU people.

Perhaps a full scale riot will be on the cards.

The future looks bleak, if we leave, but the future looks unbearable if we stay.

Let's get back our democracy.