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Bremain in Spain Comments on Theresa's Current Cabinet Chaos

11 July 2018
by eub2 -- last modified 11 July 2018

When May announced on Friday that the Cabinet had reached agreement on her Brexit plan proposal, the most common response was that the truce couldn't last.


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In an effort to unite the warring factions of her party, May's proposal was yet another fudge, with a list of 12 points that were incompatible with each other. Bremain in Spain, a group campaigning for the rights of British citizens in Spain and the EU, comments on the current chaotic scenario.

Sue Wilson, Chair of Bremain in Spain, says: "The content of the plan was so ridiculous that, when it was shared on social media, people thought it was a spoof. It took the provision of an official link to No. 10 to convince people of its legitimacy. When a response spoof circulated some time afterwards, only then did people start to believe that the original came from the government."

Wilson continues: "It was clear, before the Chequers away-day, that May was proposing a plan the Cabinet could 'unite behind', but that would be unacceptable to the EU. Even before the weekend ended, Cabinet members were preparing to blame the EU if the talks failed. May suggested that it was time for the EU to 'get serious' - something the EU has been asking her to do for months! Meanwhile, Michael Gove had the gall to suggest on the 'Andrew Marr Show' that the EU is 'ungenerous and inflexible'."

As per recent news, the pundits proved correct and May's attempts at unity are already failing. And it is not just grumbles from the usual Tory backbench Brextremists. Brexit Secretary, David Davis, and Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, resigned on Monday, followed closely by party vice-chairs, Maria Caulfield and Ben Bradley, on Tuesday.

Wilson adds: "It is difficult to see how Davis stepping down will affect the negotiations in any way. He failed spectacularly to engage with the EU or with Brits living in Europe, despite repeated requests to do so. His failure to answer questions, most especially from the EU Select Committee, will not be missed. The most surprising thing about Johnson is that he managed to stay in his post for so long. Despite many attempts to get sacked, finally he had to do the deed himself."

The official Brexit White Paper is due on Thursday and the EU has said it will withhold comment until the full details have been read.

Wilson concludes: "The EU will be polite and professional, and congratulate May on gaining consensus in the Cabinet. It will then say 'no' and will point out, for the umpteenth time, that the four freedoms are indivisible, there can be no cherry-picking, and May must soften her red lines if she wants any form of market access and to avoid a hard border in Ireland."

Donald Tusk tweeted, on hearing the news of the resignations: "Politicians come and go but the problems they have created for people remain. I can only regret that the idea of Brexit has not left with Davis and Johnson. But...who knows?"

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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