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Bremain in Spain Comments on The Troubles with the Brexit Negotiations

06 December 2017
by Bremain in Spain -- last modified 06 December 2017

Bremain in Spain, a group campaigning for the rights of British citizens in Spain, comments on the latest round of Brexit negotiations.


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Sue Wilson, Chair of the organisation, says: "On Monday 4 December, we watched avidly as the latest episode of the Whitehall Brexit farce unfolded. It came as no surprise that DUP rejected Theresa May's proposals regarding the Irish border issue, although it did seem to thoroughly surprise May. Following May's meeting with Juncker, the only surprising element was Juncker saying that May was a strong negotiator despite, it would seem, any supporting evidence. And, with a few days to go until the EU summit, the prospect of an agreement that 'sufficient progress' has been made in the negotiations seems increasingly unlikely."

She continues: "The three priority areas of citizens' rights, the exit bill and the Irish border have proved trickier for the UK government to negotiate than it expected, or led the country to expect. The government is caught up in delusional thinking. While the question of money seems to have been resolved, the thorny issue of the Irish border is proving a major sticking point."

John Moffett, Bremain Vice Chair - who originally hails from Northern Ireland - said: "The UK government needs to recognise that the majority of the Northern Irish electorate voted Remain for a reason. They see that the benefits of EU/single market/customs union membership plus the Good Friday Agreement equate to peace and stability after years of political insecurity and violence."

Sue Wilson concludes: "With the focus being placed on the Irish border, yet again citizens' rights are being pushed to the back of the queue. Reports of a deal on citizens' rights being within 'touching distance' are misleading and inaccurate. So much for us being number one priority in the negotiations. To many people in the UK, we are clearly an irrelevance or an afterthought. They say we chose to leave and we must accept the consequences. What many fail to realise is that any rights or freedoms we lose, they also lose. I still believe the best way to protect citizens' rights in the EU and the UK is to stop Brexit. With each new twist and turn in this Brexit soap opera, the prospect of that happening becomes ever more likely."

Bremain in Spain is a group campaigning for the UK to remain in the European Union and to protect the rights of British migrants living and working in Spain. Run by a team of volunteers and chaired by Sue Wilson - a resident of the Valencian Community - the group advocates a tolerant and outward-looking society. It believes this is best achieved by the UK remaining a member of the EU. Bremain in Spain is part of the British in Europe coalition of 10 UK citizens' groups across the EU. It is also affiliated to Britain for Europe and European Movement.

Bremain in Spain
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