[Big Brian]

Originally Posted by ntluser

I'm sure how that really resolves things.

In the UK the EU referendum is only advisory. A new PM and British MPs may simply vote to ignore it and carry on as before.

The UK is not dictating the time scale, Article 50 is. All the UK government is asking for is time to elect a new PM and to consider the outcome, which has come as a major shock to many people, even Leave campaigners.

People in Europe need to understand that the EU affects parts of the UK in different ways. The split vote indicates that. The rise of anti-EU parties in the Euro MEP elections indicates that in Europe too there are people who feel that the EU management is interfering too much in their lives so this is not just a British phenomenon.

There are many immigrants in the UK and it would be wrong to think that many of the people in the UK do not appreciate the contribution they make to our society. I know I certainly do. Mind you, it is also true to say that there are others in the minority who take a different view.

As for dictation, it is the EU, that, even now, is doing the dictating and bullying despite the fact that we are only acting within EU rules.

At present, Angela Merkel seem to be the only leader prepared to give us the breathing space we need to work things through.

Maybe she has learned from the example of Greece that if you pressure already desperate people they tend to react in unexpected and unpredictable ways.

I think many Europeans have the wrong idea about the UK. They visit London and think the rest of the UK is the same. It's not true. Just as life in Paris is different from life in Alencon, Marseilles & Toulouse.

Both sides need to take a deep breath and really think things through instead of hurtling on at speed into mutual oblivion when it is totally unecessary.

Clutching at straws now? There'd be a riot if they ignored it.