Taking No Deal Brexit Off The Table Only Weakens Britain’s Ability To Negotiate

If I walk into my local car dealership and I say “I want a car and I am not leaving here without one”, what kind of a deal do you think I am going to get off the salesman?

I would wager, not as good of a deal as if I said “I like your cars, but if I can’t find one at a satisfactory price, I am more than happy to nip across the road to another car dealership, and see what kind of deals they’ve got available”.

By saying I am not leaving here without a car, I am taking away all the risks from the salesman, and I am giving away any ability I have to barter for the best deal possible. He knows I’m buying a car off him. I have already surrendered that fact.

The UK Labour Party, by demanding that a no deal Brexit is taken off the table, has walked into the dealership, and handed over all the power to the salesman, or rather the EU.

If you believe the mainstream media in the UK, a no deal Brexit would only harm the UK economically and send the nation back to the dark days of rationing, empty supermarket shelves, and nuclear bombs in public toilets.

Not only are they not mentioning the trade deals with the rest of the world, that the UK would be free to negotiate once out of the European Union, but they’re also not mentioning the negative impact that a no deal Brexit would have on the EU itself.

According to Reuters, a no deal scenario would cost the EU $250 Billion in lost economic output and over a million jobs across the bloc.

Reuters findings are based on IMF (International Monetary Fund) figures.

The IMF predicts that European Union countries will suffer long-term damage equivalent to about 1.5 percent of annual economic output if Britain leaves without a free trade deal.

Now, back to the car dealership.

The hit to the EU is quite a bargaining chip when it comes to securing future trade deals and a smooth transition. The EU’s annual growth rate currently sits at around 2 percent, so a no deal Brexit would all but wipe that out.

By removing the possibility of a no deal Brexit, the Labour Party are taking away any real reason for the EU to partake in a fair negotiation with the United Kingdom.

Essentially, they are walking into talks with Theresa May’s government, risk free.

A no deal scenario must always remain on the table until a deal can be agreed that satisfies both parties.

The thinking behind Labours demands, is anyone’s guess, but I don’t imagine they are blind to the logic behind my car dealership analogy. So it leaves one wondering if it is part of a longer term strategy to secure a second referendum, and ultimately overturn Brexit all together.

Given the Labour heartlands voted overwhelmingly to leave the European Union, Mr Corbyn will ignore their will, at his peril.

Remember when talking about an EU army was “a dangerous fantasy”?

Several of us warned that an EU army was on the agenda during the run up to the 2016 EU referendum. Hell, even Jean Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission had previously spoken about it. It was an open secret. Unless you’re Nick Clegg, that is.

The prospect of an EU army is a very real fear for many British people. After all, having British men and women sent off to fight and die for the whims of an unelected foreign power, is something that doesn’t sit comfortably with many of us. And nor should it.

During the referendum campaign the pro remain crowd were very vocal in dismissing the EU army concerns as baseless fear mongering. I suppose they had to take a break from calling everyone that wanted to leave, a racist, and so focussed instead, on sweeping their genuine concerns under the carpet. As they did with countless other fears regarding the ever growing power of Brussels.

The most vocal of these remainers was former Lib Dem leader and deputy PM, Sir Nick Clegg. Sir Nick Clegg? Jeez, they just hand knighthoods out to anyone these days, don’t they?

When asked about the EU army, Sir Nick said:

“I actually so happen to think that Jean-Claude Junker and Nigel Farage are both dangerous fantasists when it comes to this issue. It’s not going to happen, it doesn’t matter whether Nigel Farage says it’s going to happen or Jean Claude Juncker…he [Juncker] can’t create a European army,”

And yet, despite these dangerous fantasies, that will never materialize, here we are, just two years down the line, and the EU army is not just a very real possibility, but a near certainty. The reason given for such a force being needed, is an obvious one. The Russians!!!

If you want something, blame the Russians. Want to increase your military budget? Blame the Russians. If you want to double down on surveillance? Blame the Russians. If you want to slash internet freedoms and the ability of the alternative media to operate? Blame the Russians.

That is exactly what the EU are doing. Greasy haired loudmouth Guy Verhofstadt is rarely one to keep his unwanted opinions to himself, and on the subject of the EU army, the EU’s Brexit coordinator is acting no differently.

He’s been calling for the joining of 28 armies, into one European army, for some time. In November he said:

“I’m not sure if the Russian army comes towards our borders, we are able to defend ourselves”

German Chancellor Merkel has now taken the EU desires for a joint military to the next level.

‘Angela Merkel has hailed a new Franco-German friendship treaty as being a step towards the creation of a future joint European army.

The German Chancellor said the pact, inked in the German city of Aachen today, aims to build a ‘common military culture’ between the two countries.

In a speech during the ceremony, Merkel insisted the treaty ‘contributes to the creation of a European army’.

Merkel also said that as France and Germany seek closer political, economic and defence integration, they should also work on a ‘joint military industry’.

Sometimes these so called conspiracy theories are actually conspiracy fact.

Back in Prague this March

Hello all!

I hope you had a great Xmas and New Years.

The record is currently being mixed, and I’m assured by the Scottish maestro, that it’s coming along great. Should hopefully be able to hear some rough mixes in the next few weeks.

I’m booking up some shows in Prague for the weekend of the 15th/16th/17th of March. I’m currently confirmed at Bar Number 7 for Sunday the 17th, and just waiting on confirmation of the others.

Been far too long since I have played a show there. It is my favourite city, so really I should make more of an effort.

Will confirm when the other dates are nailed.

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Recording Progress

 

Yup.

Recording is going great. Was up at 4am yesterday to make the 5 hour drive up to Glasgow. There is something liberating about driving on empty roads. It’s what I imagine rural USA to be like. Only without the occasional Romanian driving his truck like he stole it.

I have managed to get all my acoustic parts down, the bass down and Jono has nailed all the drums. Not bad for a days work. Especially when we ended up recording five tracks, rather than the three we had planned.

That said, I hit a wall at 1 am. 21 hours awake, and two bottles of pinot noir down, is not ideal for getting the best bass take. We redid that final track today…

My man Steve arrives today to lay down his guitar parts. We’ve made enough progress to be able to go for a run through Newton Mearns, and eat Lebanese food. That’s a recording experience I can get behind.

We also have the documentary makers coming to film all day tomorrow. I best make sure I look like I know what I’m doing. They think I’m a musician after all. I’m really the last of the small town blaggers.

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Live & Loud Bookings

Ello.

I am now available for bookings via Live & Loud.

Obviously you can always contact me directly, but if you are on of the 5000 venues in the UK that are connected to Live & Loud, you may find it easier to use the booking service they provide.

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