The EU is protectionist and anti-competitive. This is frankly not news.

In our "Post EU world" (as per this topic, as I'm keen I don't find myself re-hashing the same old arguments in the Brexit thread), I want us (as a nation) to cut our reliance on EU imports to the very very minimum, and indeed push exports to emerging markets as much as possible.

The EU are not our "neighbours and friends", or whatever the useless platitudes our politicians come out with. They are our economic rivals. They are willing to threaten access to food (NI), medicines (as we see now) and any market where we take a global lead (Tobin tax), including our major exports (see any single market for services in the EU?).

We must source our imports from elsewhere and begin to rebalance our trade deficit with the EU. Money talks. We spend about £90bn more in the EU than they spend here. Take that custom elsewhere, and start doing it today. Remove as much dependence on food, energy (as we'll see in 5 years) and nationally-critical infrastructure from the EU economy. They must never be allowed to hold us ransom and pursue an agenda against our interests (and trust me, they will if they can).

I have been, and remain a keen "no deal" advocate: I never wanted a deal with the EU, because no deal with the EU is worth the tentacles of control that slither in via treaty obligations. I still hold out hope that we renege on the treaty (or indeed the EU parliament refuse to ratify it). I'm also a realist however: we can achieve much the same approach by cutting the economic bonds these control freaks use to provide their levers of control.

Utterly insane.

Indeed. Why?

We've had 40 years of the EU and yet you expect change in less than 40 days.

One more point

It allows CP to have a go at the cons, 0005 on the 1st Jan he was on here complaining.

You mean them demanding we give our vaccine supplies over?

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Brussels does not seem to have got the memo about what Leave truly means.

LOL. Or do you think that the EU has a right to make such claims on vaccines that are being made in the UK for UK use? Siding with your friends on the Continent are we?

"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." - 1984 - George Orwell.

British jobs exported to the EU.

British businesses strangled by red tape.

Government adviser tells UK firms to set up in the EU.

The trade deal, did the UK ever read it, is full of tariffs and charges.

The UK export trade to our biggest customer cut by a third, customers do not wish to collect VAT for the UK or pay exorbitant duties.

The UK, now a third party, does not understand that the rules it devised for dealing with third parties, actually written by the UK itself, now apply to them.

Welcome to brexit, UK.

How does the 'cakeist' treaty look now.

Starting to sound like it though, isn't it?

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May I remind you that economic rivals do not have to be at war with each other to be economic rivals?

Quite how reducing our huge trade deficit is "economic suicide" probably requires it's own lecture in EU-acolyte remainiac macro-economics. We can be an independent nation and not have to rely on our nearest geographical neighbours.

Particularly when they have:

1. Political ambitions to see the UK fail, as a lesson to other would-be "deserters" to their wonderful club

2. Demonstrated bad faith in negotiations, including threats to UK energy security, food security, medicine supply

3. Member states with a keen vested interests in divinding and conquering the UK, her territories and dependencies

4. A stated desrire to erode and constrain our leading services sector

5. Political leaders for whom UK-bashing and sparking petty tit-for-tat disputes that have serious knock-on effects in the country.

No, it is much better we let them get on with their empire building, and insulate ourselves as much as possible when one of the PIIGS go pop, taking the Eurozone down with it.

Particularly when a large volume of the goods we source from the EU can be imported from elsewhere at a reduced price anyway. There are indeed some things we need to trade with the EU for, but those should be at a very minimum, should not include items critical to the running of the UK, and should only be procured if they cannot be purchased cheaper elsewhere.

You might not see the belligerence of the EU, but many of it's neighbouring states most certainly do. We would be wise to steer clear of their aspirations of regulatory, economic and political supremacy.

So I'm sorry, but no. This is not "ridiculous jingoistic rhetoric". It is pragmatic forward thinking and preparation for an increasingly agressive EU that will think nothing of bullying us if it has leverage to use against us. Remove the leverage.

I"m certainly feeling it, in the wallet- thank you boris, nigel and let"s not forget jacob- you really wern"t lying- my bad for doubting you , lovely lolly indeed!

Personally, I think as a country we are the Crystal Palace in a European PL. Certainly not amongst the elite, just about holding our own but could fall away dramatically if we don't get our act together very soon.

Do you really believe all immigrant workers come here for our schools and NHS? All the Europeans I know work hard for their living and pay their taxes but I have seen plenty of home grown layabouts abusing our institutions.

Covid undoubtedly has had a bearing on the rate of progress on building a life after Brexit. Much has yet to be done but I am far from impressed so far.

Denial is not just a river in Egypt