Why are Brexit supporters blaming the EU for negotiating tough?

@Xuan12 While I don't trust media sources entirely, my gathering with reading as a Canadian, there appears to be a distrust in whether or not the population wants to actually exit now. The UK can decide not to divorce themselves still, thus the EU may have a diligence in making that exit hard.

@Xuan12 Yes you understand this well. There are a lot of similarities with Trump and Brexit; not least actual factual reality disassociating being bypassed by emotional appeal to favour the nationalist right.

@SW-User The EU does want to make us leave difficult because they don't want other member states to follow. The British public wants all the benefits of the EU (easy travel an economic prosperity) with none of the downside (money and immigration). Our Conservative Government are realising in baby steps that they can not do what they promised.

I actually have a lot of problems with the EU but I still voted Remain because I knew this would be a clusterfudge.

The referendum won't be overturned, whether it was based on lies or not. A soft Brexit option would be better and do less damage though it would allow the crank right to say that democratic will had been subverted because we did not shoot ourselves in the foot fast enough.

99 problems. Well... 100 tbf

@Burnley123 I imagine there is not a soft 'Brexit' option, really. I'm guessing that's why the negotiations are tough. I can't blame the EU on this.

@SW-User There could be a soft Brexit option would do less damage. Staying in the single market, customs union etc but without voting rights and allowing freedom of movement. Norway has a similar deal. This is Brexit without Brexit though, which would anger people. Though the actual Brexit reality is much much worse.

@Burnley123 I do really get a sense a lot of people in the UK no longer want Brexit. Beyond that there has been much trepidation (for lack of better word) between Scotland and England since, would this sort of soft exit maybe help the Scottish accept?

@SW-User The last general election went badly for the SNP so independence is not on the cards. Our COnservative Government don't care much for Scotland anyway because few scots vote Tory. It would be like asking Stephen Harper to respect all the wishes of Quebec people I guess.

There is a slight shift in opinion but it is not substantive enough to overturn Brexit IMO. People of all countries tend to vote in the here and now in how they see things affecting their day to day life. Economic forecasts and can be passed off as spin and our tabloid print media is very pro Brexit anyway. Unfortunately, I think Brexit will happen and it will be bad. People will turn against it when it is too late.

@Burnley123 Then what's stopping the UK government asking for the referendum the Scots asked for? Even in symbolism? Triteness? The whole idea to me doesn't add up - ie what will happen won't account for the sum of consequences, but that's my opinion.

@SW-User Asecond ref would be controversial because it would be seen as politicians repeating a process until they got the 'right' result.

The people have Democratic will, even if they are wrong imo.

@Burnley123 Certainly, in politics the 'people' should have democratic will. I think, personally, in regards to Scotland they should allow a referendum now.

@SW-User I would like Scotland to remain but have never been against their right to hold a referendum. The thing is that the Scots don't want that now and they would not be able to pass a referendum bill through the Scottish Parliament.

@Burnley123 I'm from across the 'pond' so everything I observe might be a little off .... but I do recall a lot of talk about the want from Scotland after 'Brexit' for a referendum, and the UK government squashed that talk.

@SW-User I am not saying this with partisan bias but because it's what is generally accepted over here, though I welcome your questions.

May did say she was against a referendum but the SNP were geared up to fight her on that and - ultimately - if there was enough support for a referendum, it would be hard to deny it one. It would lead to legal and constitutional battles, though the UN right to self-determination would ultimately leave the UK Government in a weak position. Scots indie is off the agenda because Scotland does not will it.

The SNP fought the last election on Indy and they did badly and lost a third of their seats. This still leaves them as the strongest party in Scotland but has dented their mandate and their confidence, as they got less than 40% of the popular vote. A referendum will not happen in the next two years but after that who knows because we live in volatile times.

@Burnley123 I get that - and I do get May in her response even if Scotland separated now, they equally wouldn't just have the status quo continue with the EU as they were. They were part of the sovereign nation that voted 'yes' to exit during that time. Regional politics are very hard to manage in this day in age.

@SW-User They would have to apply to join the EU. They might get accepted but then a further complications is that Spain might have a problem because they don't want Catalan independence