I note the Irish PM, Leo Varadkar, has spoken an obvious truth when he said at this week's summit that the negotiation - if indeed that is what it is - is not between equals (HERE). I say obvious, but this is only to the realists not the Brexiteers or the average leave voter. It is a failing that is half responsible for Brexit and has certainly contributed to the delusions that have brought us to the present impasse, that Britain is a great world power comparable to the EU and deserves respect.
The Brexiteers fundamentally misunderstand the EU. Having referred to it so many times as a superstate, they actually think it is. What they want is for the EU 27 to agree a common position on a cross border matter, perhaps on the environment or cyber crime or foreign policy, and then come and discuss it with the UK as if we are an equal partner ranking alongside the bloc itself. The UK would then, in this fantasy world, be able to change the EU's common position to our advantage or to prevent a disadvantage to our national interests. This would put us in a far better position post Brexit than we have now, able to influence the EU without being in it. The EU are no doubt wise to this.
The future relationship with the EU is going to be like Canada or Mexico's with the USA or Ukraine's with Russia. We will be the smaller partner with little or no influence - far, far less than we have now - but constantly muttering, sniping and complaining from the sidelines. At least Canada, Mexico and Ukraine have accepted their place as a junior partner but I question if this country will have the mindset to do the same at least for several generations, assuming we stay out of the EU for that long.
Just how unequal is becoming obvious as this item from the rabidly pro Brexit Daily Express shows (HERE), It says Olly Robbins, our chief negotiator, has spoken with secretaries of state ahead of the meeting at Chequers on Friday and warned that Michel Barnier is under no pressure to change his uncompromising outlook in talks with the UK. A Government source stated they came out of the meeting with Mr Robbins and, "thought we were even more screwed than we were before.”
They also told The Times: “I was surprised he admitted how bad it was. If I had to gauge where we are, I would say Downing Street moving towards the Norwegian model.”
In these talks (I hesitate to call them negotiations) we are the resistible force meeting the immovable object. It was always going to be thus except in the fevered minds of the Brexiteers who are stuck in the late nineteen century. Not Rees-Mogg of course, he's stuck in the eighteen century.
