Hard Brexit anyone?

Bernard Jenkin, a leading pro-Brexit backbencher, told Today that May should take a tougher line with the EU.

He said: “She would be cheered to the echo if she was to say: ‘Look, I’ve had enough of this. We’re going to get ready to leave in 2019, we’re going to spend the money we need to be ready to leave in 2019, and if the European Union wants to come back to the table and talk to us about what kind of relationship they want with us in the long term then we’re ready to talk.’

“They’re just stringing us along, and there comes a point where you’ve got to say: look, if you want to talk, we’ll talk, but otherwise we’re going to get ready to leave.”

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Burnley123 · 41-45, M

OMFG. Jesus wept.

I read that this morning and I couldn't believe how nuts it was.

"There is no reason why Brexit should be difficult."

"The treasury and the City are taking the line of the EU."

Yes, though only in the sense that they are on planet reality. Jenkins is an elected MP but has no clue how these things even work.

Hammond isn't downgrading his economic forecasts because he a sabateur but because experts (remember those) are genuinely forecasting disruption and problems. All of this was predictable and indeed was predicted before the referendum but then we were told that everything will be fine. Now we are told that it's not fine but blame the EU anyway. The EU are merely acting in their own interests, which again was predicted.

Maybe you can make a case for Brexit, one grounded in honesty and reality. One where the huge disruption and immense logistical and political challenges are balanced out against some yet to be specified benefits. That hasn't happened yet and all we can see is an indistinguishable line between mistruths and lack of basic knowledge.