Tranquillus in Exile
New member
Britain’s best chance of getting revenge on Brussels for its Brexit bullying is to remain in the European Union.
For the EU’s most fanatical and full-throated theologians, few outcomes could be more horrific than an intransigent, hostile Britain trapped in a project that it plots to undermine from the inside.
They took solace in the galvanising effect Brexit had on their moribund dreams of closer integration but would be hamstrung in their efforts to stop Britain systematically dismantling them by using the bloc’s rules against it.
What should be clear by now is that all hope of a successful Brexit has been lost, irredeemably fumbled by this blundering government, out-thought and out-fought at every turn by an organised, professional EU.
Britain still has the right to unilaterally revoke Article 50 and retain all its rights and opt-outs as if the referendum had never happened.
Doing so would come at a short-term cost, most likely the defenestration of Theresa May. It is at this point that true Brexiteers must take control of the government and wage a guerilla-style campaign of sabotage and frustration.
At the same time, they must maintain a facade of dutiful observance of the EU’s many tedious rules, procedure and protocols. Britain must be wiser, cannier and more cold-blooded in how it wields the influence it would retain as a populous, rich EU member state.
Desperate times call for realpolitik. As Britain’s hand is firmly replaced on the brake of the Franco-German engine of EU integration, it can accrue allies in the fight against the Brussels orthodoxy.
The EU reacted to Brexit by circling the wagons, but that only works if the wagons are all on the same side. And, despite the facade of unity in the bloc displayed in the face of Brexit, the EU remains deeply divided. Those divisions, on issues such as migration or EU fiscal rules, are there to be exploited if Britain remains.
Italy, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and soon Romania will be on the EU’s naughty step. If led by Britain this bloc of countries could wreak havoc with the plans laid by the Macrons and Merkels of Europe.
Denmark, the Netherlands and others could be tempted to stand against an ever increasing EU budget and ever closer union.
May’s European elections could strengthen this new partisan government’s hand as furious British voters flock to Eurosceptic parties. Machiavellian blood-alliances could be struck with these insurgents to block or even vandalise EU legislation.
If they were to join forces with similar parties in the European Parliament, the anti-Brussels bloc could even delay or prevent the appointment of a new European Commission.
As for Juncker’s commission, it would be honour bound to treat Britain with all the deference an influential member state can command in Brussels. A sweet irony after the humiliation meted out to Mrs May.
If the strategy is carried out with single-minded discipline, Britain will be a force to be reckoned with in the EU. When the EU’s treaties are reopened, as they must be one day, the time will be right to rewrite Article 50. In the meantime, Britain could satisfy itself by making life so awkward that Brussels will be begging the UK to leave as quickly as possible.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politic..._source=LI&li_medium=li-recommendation-widget
It will never happen - British politicians are too well-behaved. Unless you really annoy them.
For the EU’s most fanatical and full-throated theologians, few outcomes could be more horrific than an intransigent, hostile Britain trapped in a project that it plots to undermine from the inside.
They took solace in the galvanising effect Brexit had on their moribund dreams of closer integration but would be hamstrung in their efforts to stop Britain systematically dismantling them by using the bloc’s rules against it.
What should be clear by now is that all hope of a successful Brexit has been lost, irredeemably fumbled by this blundering government, out-thought and out-fought at every turn by an organised, professional EU.
Britain still has the right to unilaterally revoke Article 50 and retain all its rights and opt-outs as if the referendum had never happened.
Doing so would come at a short-term cost, most likely the defenestration of Theresa May. It is at this point that true Brexiteers must take control of the government and wage a guerilla-style campaign of sabotage and frustration.
At the same time, they must maintain a facade of dutiful observance of the EU’s many tedious rules, procedure and protocols. Britain must be wiser, cannier and more cold-blooded in how it wields the influence it would retain as a populous, rich EU member state.
Desperate times call for realpolitik. As Britain’s hand is firmly replaced on the brake of the Franco-German engine of EU integration, it can accrue allies in the fight against the Brussels orthodoxy.
The EU reacted to Brexit by circling the wagons, but that only works if the wagons are all on the same side. And, despite the facade of unity in the bloc displayed in the face of Brexit, the EU remains deeply divided. Those divisions, on issues such as migration or EU fiscal rules, are there to be exploited if Britain remains.
Italy, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and soon Romania will be on the EU’s naughty step. If led by Britain this bloc of countries could wreak havoc with the plans laid by the Macrons and Merkels of Europe.
Denmark, the Netherlands and others could be tempted to stand against an ever increasing EU budget and ever closer union.
May’s European elections could strengthen this new partisan government’s hand as furious British voters flock to Eurosceptic parties. Machiavellian blood-alliances could be struck with these insurgents to block or even vandalise EU legislation.
If they were to join forces with similar parties in the European Parliament, the anti-Brussels bloc could even delay or prevent the appointment of a new European Commission.
As for Juncker’s commission, it would be honour bound to treat Britain with all the deference an influential member state can command in Brussels. A sweet irony after the humiliation meted out to Mrs May.
If the strategy is carried out with single-minded discipline, Britain will be a force to be reckoned with in the EU. When the EU’s treaties are reopened, as they must be one day, the time will be right to rewrite Article 50. In the meantime, Britain could satisfy itself by making life so awkward that Brussels will be begging the UK to leave as quickly as possible.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politic..._source=LI&li_medium=li-recommendation-widget
It will never happen - British politicians are too well-behaved. Unless you really annoy them.