Negotiations begin again in Brussels today with both sides emphasising that no great breakthrough is expected. Many newspaper carried reports yesterday like this one in The Express (HERE) with David Davis saying the EU should quit stalling and show more flexibility. The Sun has Davis "demanding" flexibility (HERE). I don't think this will carry much weight in the EU.
If David Davis wants to get on with trade talks he should have spent more time on the three issues that the EU have set as the first priority. But no, he didn't want to do that and still doesn't - so he urges the other side to show the flexibility that he refuses to! You couldn't make it up.
Meanwhile, The Telegraph (HERE) says the EU may be about to climb down on the issue of early trade talks - which sounds impressive - until you read this is contingent on the UK signing up to a three year transition period where we continue with paying money, accepting all the rules and freedom of movement. I don't know if this is true or not. I doubt it, but even if it is true, it's more of a climb down by us than by the EU. Mrs May and David Davis have said repeatedly we will be out of the EU by March 2019 but here we are with The Telegraph hailing as a success the UK remaining a member until March 2022.
And this morning the BBC (HERE) are reporting that the British and German Chambers of Commerce are urging both sides to put economic issues as the priority and to give clarity and certainty as soon as possible. This rather sounds like the work of John Longworth as a means of putting extra pressure on EU negotiators. It's ironic really. Longworth was a passionate advocate of the leave vote, if he had put economic issues at the forefront he would have campaigned to remain. It looks like a last desperate effort to have our cake and eat it.
