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| Welsh is a semi-official EU language |
What does the EU's crib sheet Citizens First say?
"the Commission . . . can contact the national authorities concerned to ask for an explanation and to request . . . the infringement of Community law be terminated."
Was this done? I don't know.
"If the Commission is not satisfied with the response of the national authorities it can open infringement proceedings against the country concerned."
Was this done? I don't know.
Were voters provided with a copy of the EU's brochure Citizens First prior to the referendum so that they would be better informed?
I don't know.
My gut feeling tells me that when it comes to Brexit the EU Commission and the UK Parliament are more than incompetent.
'Something reeks in the state of Denmark'.
Update: Yesterday the PM used the words "subversion of democracy" to describe her looming defeat. British democracy is about to be subverted. I never thought I'd live to see the day.
Commonwealth citizens resident in the UK could or can vote in elections and referendums. But 900000 expats like you and me were not able to vote in the last referendum.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lot.
DeleteIf you leave the country and haven't lived here for 15 years at least I see no reason why you should have any say on it. You have made your choice and you have moved to your new life.
ReplyDeleteI have children and grand children to consider and I once had parents and grandparents who fought in two wars to protect core British values. Some were badly wounded and handicapped for life and at least one was killed. Regarding myself - they owe me too. The point of the post is to defend a principal. There has been 'incompetence' and the 'hoodwinking' of the electorate on both sides. I think the EU will not last much longer in its present form and Britain will renew it's special relationships with the British Commonwealth and the US and Canada and the Transatlantic trade routes will boom again which will be good for ports like Liverpool on the UK's west coast. But that's another matter.
Deleteprinciple
DeleteThat is another matter. It is up to your grandchildren and children to look after themselves, not you who moved away.
DeleteAs I said to Shawn (below) I've always said I'd go along with whatever the British people decided. And I still do provided everything was done and seen to done as it should have been done which clearly it wasn't. Are we happy to see people resorting to yellow vests on the streets of the U.K. like Macron's France?
DeleteMy views have been clearly stated on this on blogs for 2.5 years. Why raise it now on eve of very significant day in Parliament? My longer view is that Brexit will not happen and we will remain in the EU.
DeleteI raise it now because we are finally having the so-called meaningful vote in parliament which we were supposed to have in December but it was postponed.
DeleteIt has taken an eternity to get this far. Trump said they should get on with it and have it done within 6 months. I expect a general election in the near future which could be a second referendum in disguise depending on who is standing and for what.
I have to say I agree with Rachel, for once!
ReplyDeleteThanks Shawn. Please see the reply to Rachel.
DeleteI still agree. Nowhere does having progeny grant the right to vote when it otherwise doesn't exist. I sympathize with your frustration but do not accept your argument.
DeleteThat's fine. I've always said that I'd go along with whatever the British people decided.
DeleteGood job Fifa have the grandparent rule. You can choose to play for the country of your birth or your grandparents country. Puskas played for Hungary and Spain.
ReplyDeleteWhat if ex pats decide to return to Blighty? Should they not be allowed in?
Who remembers John Charles, Jack Kelsey, and my good friend Roy Vernon these days?
DeleteI'd like to see them stop me, Dave. When I return to Blighty it'll be in my urn.
Forgot to say: Ex pats hold British passports. So surely they should have a vote in the country of their birth? I am allowed to vote in the Irish and Eu elections.
ReplyDeleteAustro-Turks vote in Turkish elections, Austrian elections and EU elections, Dave.
DeleteFor the referendum, my wife and I just qualified for a postal vote. Now we wouldn't. Two less 'remains' if there's a re-run.
ReplyDeleteHow did you qualify?
DeleteHopefully Plan B will be revealed tomorrow if it even exists. It's like pulling teeth.
DeleteThey couldn't organize a piss up in a brewery.
We'd been in the UK for a short while about 13 years previously, and there just happened to be some election at the time for which we qualified to vote. This meant that we still qualified for the next 15 years, even living here in France.
DeleteCameron - didn't take him long to resign did it? Me thinks he knew exactly what lay ahead.
ReplyDeleteThanks Pat. I think we're singing from the same hymn sheet. See my reply to Cro (above).
DeleteCui Bono?
DeleteCan anybody tell me why the MP's are not following the wishes of their constituents?
ReplyDeleteMP's who represent Brexit constituencies should vote for the Brexit deal and those who represent Remain constituencies should vote for to remain. But it's not happening that way. Some are voting the opposite way to the wishes of their constituents. And many are voting to support a Corbyn grab for power or a Boris manouver or something else.
Brexit means Brexit and Remain means Remain and MPs should vote on behalf of their constituents wishes. Those who do not will be out on their ear very soon.
British democracy may well be subverted today.
DeleteThe government have been totally incompetent all the way through, the referendum was run without informing the country well enough what we were really voting for and the whole process has been managed incredibly badly and has taken political energy away from important issues
ReplyDeleteOch aye! to quote my old friend John at zen speug
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