Letter: The EU Wants to Teach Us a Lesson

Published on: 21 Nov, 2017
Updated on: 21 Nov, 2017

From David Wragg

The referendum campaign was a disgrace. For the Leave side, it was hijacked by Boris Johnson and his wild promises, while for the Remain side it was Cameron and Osborne with “project fear”.

I voted to leave because I want my country back, believing that sovereignty is important above all. I know someone who voted to remain and was very angry with the result but has now changed his mind because of the way the EU has behaved and the plan for ever closer union.

There is nothing in Article 50 that indicates any type of divorce settlement. The book by Yanis Varoufakis, entitled “Adults in the Room – My Battle with Europe’s Deep Establishment” really is a warning about the difficulties of dealing with the EU establishment. Blair surrendered half of the rebate won by Thatcher in return for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, but the EU took the money and did nothing.

I would be very tempted to point out that, as the EU no longer includes us in their meetings, we should stop paying now. However, to be practical we need to be prepared to meet certain obligations, if only the EU can tell us what they are and put a price on them. That will be difficult for an organisation that had not had its accounts signed off for many years.

On another matter, there is nothing in Article 50 about having to agree certain matters before talks on trade can begin. In effect, nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.

The Remainers failed to recognise that the EU is so committed to its ideal, that it will do anything and everything to stop us leaving or making it hard, not just for us, but for their own people as well, just to teach everyone a lesson.

Responses to Letter: The EU Wants to Teach Us a Lesson

Stuart Barnes Reply

November 22, 2017 at 8:50 am

We should pay them nothing. They are behaving like a mafia gang asking for a ransom payment before letting us go. Just tell them to get lost and we will go to WTO rules like most of the world.

The point made about the accounts not given audit clearance for more than 20 years in succession because of fraud and corruption is an important one. Why should our tax payers’ hard earned money be sent to such an organisation?
Alan Lobb Reply

November 23, 2017 at 9:42 am

Mr Wragg points out, accurately, that Article 50 contains no provisions for a divorce settlement, nor does it contain any methodology over the agreement of any divorce.

Why then, one has to wonder, did this government trigger it when it did?

The EU was not forcing us to leave. The ridiculous referendum was advisory. Whilst, “we must support the will of the people” (although, as Mr Wragg points out, the “people” were not well served in this process) – we did not have to rush headlong into leaving without working out what that meant. This government singularly failed to do so.

But once triggered the clock started ticking. This government wasted time and money challenging a High Court ruling that spoke to the core tenets of our democracy. This government wasted even more time by calling a totally unnecessary General Election causing even more chaos in the process. We still do not know what leaving means. We still do not have clarity over the Irish border situation, the status of EU nationals nor a range of critical issues that will affect this country for years to come.

Meanwhile the clock continues to tick.

I’d point out to Mr Wragg that “we” decided to leave the EU. “We” decided to trigger Article 50. “We” therefore, as in any divorce, need to itemise out what we’re prepared to pay.

Of course the EU is committed to its ideals. It’s shameful that the Tories and this government don’t seem to have any of their own.

I do not agree with Mr Wragg’s assertion that the EU wants to teach us a lesson. But let’s assume he is right. Its a lesson this Government needs to learn. I hope it learns quickly.
Mike Nicholson Reply

November 24, 2017 at 10:13 am

A good piece. It’s all very depressing underscored by the outright vindictiveness of the EU which now, apparently, has extended to banning the UK from competing for European City of Culture.

For those who still cling to the misplaced belief that the UK should remain to effect reform from within, they would do well to recall that our efforts in that regard have been roundly ignored for over 20 years.

Had the EU shown any will to offer some reform to David Cameron we may not have been where we are today. The EU clearly views us as a cash cow.