We are developing the social individualist meta-context for the future. From the very serious to the extremely frivolous... lets see what is on the mind of the Samizdata people.

Samizdata, derived from Samizdat /n. - a system of clandestine publication of banned literature in the USSR [Russ.,= self-publishing house]

Samizdata quote of the day

In Britain, the EU is often thought about as a single entity — and one that in the end will do whatever Germany says. But Angela Merkel is struggling to exert control over her own government, let alone the continent. Juncker and Barnier see an EU that does not take its orders from member states, but draws (or claims to draw) its own democratic legitimacy from the European Parliament. The EU member states have an interest in a good deal with Britain. But the European Commission — the apparatus in Brussels — has an interest in Britain being seen to be worse off after leaving the EU. The Commission would also receive 80 per cent of the tariff revenue from UK exports to the EU, making ‘no deal’ more appealing to Brussels than to member states.

– Editorial in the UK’s Spectator magazine (£).

11 comments to Samizdata quote of the day

  • Chris Cooper

    The Commission would also receive 80 per cent of the tariff revenue from UK exports to the EU, making ‘no deal’ more appealing to Brussels than to member states.

    I find that extremely interesting – a bias against deals with outsider states presumably deliberately designed to favour Brussels against the self-interest of individual member states. The British negotiators should exploit this to the maximum.

  • Phil B

    The EU are going to have to up their game if they want a “No Deal” result. May seems to be hell bent determined to give them everything they want in the way of money, fishing rights, interference in immigration, EU laws still in force etc. ad infinitum and accept their “negotiated” (Hah!) deal

  • The Commission would also receive 80 per cent of the tariff revenue from UK exports to the EU, making ‘no deal’ more appealing to Brussels than to member states.

    Why this brings to mind the vision of Crassus having gold poured down his throat to slake his greed I have no idea. 😆

    Ultimately it will be the very separate ambitions of the different parts of the EU body that will tear it apart.

    It will not be missed, any more than the Soviet politburo is…

  • Mr Ecks

    To end up not missing the EU as quickly as possible it would help greatly to first be not missing the Fish Faced Cow.

  • Paul Marks

    Clearly the European Union Commission will make things as bad as possible – as it has already shown with fishing. Indeed the “Common Fisheries Policy” was only created because the United Kingdom was joining the EEC (as it then was) – it was a policy DESIGNED to plunder this country (the EEC elite viewed Britain as somewhere to LOOT – and the “liberal” establishment and Civil Service in Britain has been actively helping the looting process for many years). As for European Union regulations – they are actually generally drawn up with German industry in mind (they are normally designed to destroy possible British competitors – especially small business enterprises), but (as the article points out) even if the Germans did not want to harm us, the European Union would still seek to harm this country has much as it can.

    If we had “invoked Article 50” just after the referendum of 2016 (as we should have done) we would have been free of the European Union in June this year (2018), free of its demands for tribute, and its endless regulations. However, now I doubt we will have be free of the European Union – choosing to “negotiate” with these hostile forces has proved to be a terrible error.

  • Thailover

    A union of entities = it’s better to be a crap weak victim member where you can gain from the overall system rather than a strong producer that everyone else leaches off of and drains of their life blood. We can see the results of this Looter and Moocher weakness is strength mentality from the Left. It never ends well. And it’s always the same, whether we’re talking about a voluntary commune, to a cult, to a union of states. There will be those that try to carry everyone else, and those that sandbag. Eventually everyone will see that they have two options for viability for the future. 1. Become one of the parasites, or 2. break away and stand on your own two feet sans parasites. Unfortunately, the latter choice requires courage.

  • Zerren Yeoville

    One of the lesser-known characters created by Dr Seuss was ‘Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose’ (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thidwick_the_Big-Hearted_Moose

    Unfortunately the British Establishment seems determined to ensure that the UK carries on being Europe’s Thidwick. We can only hope that they eventually wise up, as Thidwick did at the end of the story.

  • Regional

    Has the E.U. forgotten they are a net exporter to Britiain?

  • Alisa

    Has the E.U. forgotten they are a net exporter to Britiain?

    The more important question seems to be have May and co. forgotten it.

  • Thailover

    “Thidwick the big-hearted moose”

    No good deed goes unpunished.

  • Fraser Orr

    Phil B
    The EU are going to have to up their game if they want a “No Deal” result.

    I think the have the solution. I am fascinated to compare how the two female prime ministers will handle two very similar situations where the British sovereignty over a small, isolated community of British citizens is being attacked to attempt to take over sovereignty.

    I think even for Ms May that Gibraltar will be a step too far.