Originally Posted by Mick

The nastiness is expected, but what we need to do, or not do is not look like we need to go cap in hand. The EU position now is to set an example, they don't want other EU member states to follow the UK.

So while it's interesting to note Francois Hollande's response and Angela Merkel's. The French and German Elections are happening this year, we know Hollande is not running again, Angela's open border policy could see her lose. So while these two will be there are at the beginning of the negotiations, the pair of them won't be there (If Merkel loses) towards the latter end of the negotiations.