The roller-coaster that is Brexit continues to roll. One day positive news and the next negative. This week, British MPs were told that a Brexit deal would be done by the end of November. A few hours later the Minister’s department was forced to correct the record and say there was no set end date for UK-EU negotiations. With less than 150 days to go to the Article 50 end date, it’s like an aircraft on approach without any idea if there’s a runway ahead. Government would do well to remember the rule about flying – Every take-off is optional. Every landing is mandatory.
There are several rules of the air that could apply to the current situation:
Flying isn’t dangerous. Crashing is what’s dangerous.
Never let an aircraft take you somewhere your brain didn’t get to five minutes earlier.
Remember, gravity is not just a good idea. It’s the law. And it’s not subject to repeal.
I’ve written often this year. Now, 42 there’s a number to get to grips with as we reach November. If you are not familiar with THHGTTG then you have missed out big-time. Author Douglas Adams made that number the answer to the meaning of life, the universe, and everything. Nothing I write here can ever match that answer.
Of note in the recent news is the European Parliament vote confirming relocation of European Medicines Agency and European Banking Authority after Brexit. UK loses out on influence as these two Agencies move to ensure minimal disruption to the EU’s Single Market beyond March 2019.
Views of the foreign Press don’t make nice reading. The German media have had quite a bit to say about how Brexit will affect everyone[1]. In Canada, they see the UK as being gripped by a self-destructive madness[2]. In the US, CNN says; Brexit is like a screaming child[3]. It’s clear that Brexit news won’t be slowing down any time soon.
The Treaty of European Union, known as The Maastricht Treaty, came into effect on 1 November 1993. Today is the 25th anniversary of the Maastricht Treaty. It was signed by Ministers from the then 12 Member States. This Treaty is the one that avid Brexit supporters dislike so much. I remember the political climate that year as being one of change and turmoil. Change to the extent that I was elected as a County Councillor in Surrey along with 28 colleagues.
One innovation the Treaty brought to flying was that airport queues, solely for UK travellers were abolished in 1997. The Treaty introduced free movement for EU citizens. Now, the intention seems to be to dismantle that innovation, at least for British subjects. Maybe that’s one reason the Chancellor put and extra £500 million in the budget for preparations for leaving the EU.
[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-45564684/brexit-what-does-germany-s-media-think
[2] https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-a-self-destructive-madness-grips-the-uk-as-a-no-deal-brexit-looms/
[3] https://edition.cnn.com/2018/09/14/opinions/brexit-is-a-screaming-child-opinion-intl/index.html
John Vincent 
Great post 😁