Quote:
Originally Posted by Sephiroth
You're still wriggling, Andrew. You want a "deft negotiator" (no objection there) to bring the UK into a better relationship with the EU knowing that the EU holds all the cards. By reductio ad absurdum, you are content that whatever emerges will advantage the EU more than the UK - the EU would call the shots going forward. That is unacceptable.
As to the cards held by the UK, I take your point well. But your point is predicated on improving relations with the EU. We don't need to improve relations, imo. If we hold any cards, it's "deftly" getting the blame for any disruption or disorder in NI blamed on the EU.
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If the EU has things we want, then, by definition, the EU holds cards. It's up to us now to decide if the price is worth paying to get access. You get nothing for free in this world, even if you are the United Kingdom.
The price of maintaining the Peace Process in Northern Ireland was Northern Ireland still being somewhat in the EU, that was clear. If we as a nation decide that a few months later, that isn't a price worth paying, then the Peace Process collapses. That's on us.