this post was submitted on 12 Jan 2025
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UK Politics

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Should we try to bolster our friendship with Europe?

The author claims that the UK government "must unambiguously launch talks on a big, expansive trade deal with the EU coupled with a deal on European defence".

Do you agree?

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (4 children)

Should we try to bolster our friendship with Europe?

I once had a girlfriend who started acting like a little bitch, created much drama and dumped me for no good reason. Then she tried to come back to me a few months later. Can you guess what I told her to do? It rhymes with "thereof".

Hint hint Britain.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It rhymes with "thereof".

...clear...off?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago
[–] [email protected] 28 points 3 days ago (4 children)

Holding a grudge is for losers. UK is more than welcome to rejoin as far as I'm concerned, speaking as a Swede.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Agreed, but none of the goodies they had last time around. Take it all or leave it 🤷

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

I'd say anything's negotiable, really. No need to limit ourselves from either side of the table.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

If you can take a ferry to the EU from Canada, you should be able to join.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago

Well, I don't care either way personally. I'm just saying, not everybody is ready to welcome them back, should they so desire.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 3 days ago

Agreed and I feel like people are sleepwalking on this. Between Russian agression and concerns from the USA and China - we shouldn't just be welcoming the UK, we should be working hard to bring them back to the fold. If the EU want to keep living in a world where the EU is possible, they've got to start making stronger efforts to protect and shape it.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

EU is willing to fuck over its own members who they consider to be 'periphery' (PIIGS) or having trade deficits (even though the trade deficits were keeping surplus countries like Germany alive). I think it's ultimately a good thing U.K. left that neoliberal union. Unfortunately, U.K. politics is broken and none of the parties, including Reform are willing to go beyond neoliberalism.

Now that Germany doesn't have many markets to export to, it is suffering too.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The UK doesn't need to necessarily jump straight back into EU membership. There are other ways we can work together with Europe. Maybe at some point the UK government will consider rejoining the EU customs union and/or single market.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

There are other ways we can work together with Europe.

My point was, Europe may not want to interact with a fickle country like the UK anymore than necessary again. They probably don't need the aggravation.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 days ago

True, they probably don't want more aggravation, but they may well be open to closer co-operation on defence for example, which the article mentions.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Who could blame them? Lots of European people take a “you made your bed, lie in it” attitude. When we were in the EU, we were in on excellent terms, which will no longer be available, which will be a hard pill to swallow for many.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago

Not my view for what it's worth. I'd happily welcome the UK back in.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Lots of European people take a “you made your bed, lie in it” attitude.

The problem is, lots of Europeans also think the UK shat their bed, then got up and left. That's not easy to forgive.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 days ago

Still, it is better to forgive but not forget. The deals that lie in the future will....should benefit EU more and will have to have safeguards against parties in power throwing tantrums for selfish gains.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago

Made their bed, shat in it, and in many cases refuse to leave/accept it’s a bad situation. I can understand Europeans who won’t forgive. I was fucking heartbroken when I woke up that morning and found out Leave had won. I wouldn’t shut up about what a stupid idea it was, on social networks and real life.