THE BREXIT NEGOTIATIONS - 2016-2018

Right from the beginning of the EU/UK Negotiations in 2016, the EU outgunned the UK Conservative Government.
The EU demanded that -

The UK had to agree a Divorce Bill which was eventually agree at £ 39 Billions.
I have never seen the justification or breakdown of this huge sum of money.
There was also other questions such as the future relationship of EU citizens and UK citizens post Brexit. The EU insisted that no negotiations on Trade could commence unless Part One as listed above were agreed.

Now, over 2 years there is no Trade agreement, disputes in the British Parliament and chaos.
What has the UK negotiators been doing all this time ?

First David Davies - smiling and shaking hands with his counterparts in the EU on TV - " All is well." Then, Raab doing the same "We are nearly there".  Dr Fox - "A Trade deal is in our grasp. "
Theresa May has tried her best but the fact is, the UK has not concluded a Trade deal with the EU.
This is a pathetic outcome. So what next ?

There can only be one sensible outcome to the gridlock  in Parliament  and in the EU. COMPROMISE.
What is the Compromise ?

The UK must stay in the Single Market as far as trade with the EU is concerned BUT the UK can make its own Trade deals with the rest of the World.
This means No border in Ireland between North and South, Certainty to Business and Prosperity for all.
Al the other EU concessions remain - UK has own Immigration Policy, British Parliament Supreme, British Laws supreme except for Trade between the EU and the UK when the European Court of Justice remains supreme.

We must consider the 48% who voted to stay in the EU. They get the compromise of the UK staying in the Single Market. Theresa May must abandon her Red Line.
The Leavers 52% get control over Immigration - a big reason for the Leave vote.

The present impasse is because the UK Negotiators have not been listening to the EU.
If you leave the Club you cannot enjoy the same benefits of the Club. If you leave the Single Market, you cannot have the same benefits as the members of the Single Market.

Parliament is split into factions. A complete withdrawal from the EU - NO Deal - is chaos for the UK and the EU. Stop asking for this. Norway deal, Canada deal, Switzerland deal, Bespoke deal ( which might or might not be agreed, Irish Backstop problem.

I wish I was a Politician in Parliament at this historic moment. All I can do as a humble British Citizen is to write these articles.

BUT, is anyone listening ?

CHRISTMAS PANTO 2018 - ODE TO BREXIT

“ ODE TO BREXIT “

EXTRACT FROM CHRISTMAS PANTOMIME 2018

MAY be this or it MAY be that
MAY be that or it MAY be this
There could be a twist
Or MAY might be a Miss
Should we leave ?
What should we believe ?
Do you know if we should Go ?
Do you know if we should stay ?
MAY be this or it MAY be that
I can smell a rat
So, take your pick
It’s not a trick
It MAY be this or it MAY be that.

Sung by Fairy Godmother. ACT 3 Final Scene....or is it ?

CHARITIES APPEALS AT CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS CHARITY APPEALS

My Wife and I have been strong supporters to various charities for many years now. We do our best to support certain Charities. My priorities are RAF Bomber Command Memorial, The Royal British Legion and Cancer Research as well as our local Church. In my case I have donated a New Saint George’s Flag on Remembrance Day to the Church in Beaconsfield for the past 20 years.
We are also Volunteers in the local Community. We are doing our part and most of our friends are doing their part too.

Of course, Millions of other people donate to Charities from time to time during the course of the year. These people are caring people and I have every respect for them.

This year 2018, I am saddened by the heart breaking appeals on television. Appeals for clean water in villages across Africa.
Appeals for children dying in Yemen.

Here are some examples of some of the Charities advertising on TV this year.....

MSF Hospitals - “ Medicin Sans Fronieres “. Send £10

Water send £3

Adopt a child - Give £3 per month

Dogs for the blind - Send £3 per month

Great Ormond Street - Send £10, £20, £30

British Heart Foundation _  Send £5 per month

Cancer research - Send £3 per month

Send toy for a child - £3 per month

Shelter - Send  £5 for children homeless

Macmillan - Send £3 per month

Guide dogs for the Blind - Send £3 per month.

Care International - Send £3 per month

Salvation Army -  Send £5 per month

There may be more. These example are only the ones I have viewed on TV.
They are all very deserved appeals but........

All these appeals made me so sad. They are all desperate for money.

Now, here is my disgust ! I do not blame the Charities at Christmas. I blame the British Government and The United Nations. Why ?

The British Government sends £13 Billions in Overseas Development Aid. Isn’t Clean Water for villages in Africa a priority ? Why do Charities have to beg for donations at Christmas ? It is shocking.
Isn’t Guide Dogs for the blind a priority.
Much of the Overseas Development Fund is wasted - in Government corruption in Africa, Officials taking their “ Commission “ as well as Middle Men taking their Cut in distribution costs.
There does not seem to be Accountability. Government Priorities are wrong,

My solution, is to give the money to the Charities first. Let them provide more water pumps. Let them feed the starving. Let them heal the sick like MSF.
Only if there is money left over, give it to other overseas projects like - Farming, Schools, Hospitals, Training Doctors and Nurses. There should be plenty. If The UK give £13 Billions , what is the total sent worldwide ? The USA is the biggest donor towards World Poverty.
What about the recent United Nations Report that says that in the UK there are Millions of children living in Poverty ? Let us start dealing with this before we give away £13 Billions. Get the Priorities right.

It is so shocking that each Christmas, out of desperation, the Charities have to bombard us night after night asking for money. Note also, they ask for between £3 and £5 per month.
This amounts to £36 per year or £60 per year.
Most Pensioners find it difficult to live on their pensions but the TV adverts prick their hearts and they feel obligated to donate.

The same priories apply to The United Nations and UNESCO.
They should raise more money from the countries forming the General Council in New York.

I am pessimistic ! For the duration of my lifetime, there have been terrible suffering in the World.
We need to revise the Priorities.

The Churches and the Charities are the best routes for spending money not the Governments. However, the Charities also need accountability, scrutiny and monitoring too.
Something has to change !  There are so many examples of Aid being abused in the World.
The UK cannot solve all the problems in the World but the UK can help solve the desperate TV calls for help - the list that I have provided all need more help. The Public cannot be burdened at the expensive Christmas period when £13 Billions are spent on other Overseas Projects.
A review of the UK Overseas Aid budget is long overdo. Many people believe that the money should be spent on solving some of the problems in the UK. The UN should be responsible for Overseas Aid so that the burden is shared by the World Community.

But, will anything change ? I hope so, but I am doubtful.
Next Christmas I expect even more appeals from all these caring Charities. 
Next year, I will be even more saddened by the plight of children in Africa, children in Yemen, Homeless in Britain ans elsewhere in the World !