It’s a CV-19-free zone this morning, thanks to the breakup of those EU negotiations. Looking at today’s broadsheet home pages is very strange. As the talks broke down yesterday and David Frost returned to London, there’s only the one obligatory article about this event in RemainCentral and the DT. No editorials, no comments at the time of writing. The Express is again full of loud headlines which only link back to articles published earlier where the reader is treated to the opinion of this or that MEP or EU journalist, excepting the actual report by their Brussels correspondent Joe Barnes.
It’s also rather odd albeit not precisely unexpected that the broadsheets give more space to what M Barnier had to say, hiding the remarks by Mr Frost at the bottom of their reports. Let’s first look at David Frost’s statement, reported by Joe Barnes (not a Remainer) in the Express:
“Mr Frost said: “We have completed our discussion of the full range of issues in the negotiation in just over three days. Our talks were face to face for the first time since March and this has given extra depth and flexibility to our discussions. The negotiations have been comprehensive and useful. But they have also underlined the significant differences that still remain between us on a number of important issues. We remain committed to working hard to find an early understanding on the principles underlying an agreement out of the intensified talks process during July.” (link)
That’s a nice example of diplomatic language: saying nothing much at all while sounding kind. Mr Frost leaves all doors open for the next round. Now compare and contrast with the Barnier speech. It’s long. You can find the full text here, but the summary in RemainCentral is sufficient:
“The EU’s chief negotiator expressed his disappointment that intensified talks […] had failed to make progress. “Our goal was to get negotiations successfully and quickly on a trajectory to reach an agreement. However, after four days of discussions, serious divergences remain,” he said. […] Mr Barnier complained that, while the EU had listened to demands made by the prime minister two weeks ago, the government had failed to honour its side of the bargain. The EU has asked Mr Frost to return to London with the message that the prime minister must show where he is ready to compromise. “The EU expects its positions to be better understood and respected in order to reach an agreement. We need an equivalent engagement by the UK,” Mr Barnier said.” (link, paywalled)
This last Barnier sentence has also made it into the reports in the Express (link) and the DT where their Brussels correspondent James Crisp, Remain to the core, has gone native. The headline of his article says it all:
“Michel Barnier blames UK’s lack of respect as Brexit talks break up early – EU’s chief negotiator says lack of progress the fault of British intransigence and refusal to engage in talks” (link)
Let me just observe in passing that his report was the first to be published – a nice indicator that this Remain correspondent was trying to ‘frame the narrative’, to make us believe that the breakdown of the talks was Frost’s fault. It’s our negotiators who are intransigent and lacking respect – Michel Barnier is as flexible as a circus acrobat and of course ever so accommodating to us poor benighted Brexiteers if only we would accept, ahem: respect Brussels demands. Our demands have not changed. Still, we must compromise but not the EU:
“Mr Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, blamed British intransigence and a refusal to engage in negotiations for the lack of progress in this week’s round of talks, which had been meant to close on Friday. The EU and UK are divided over fishing rights, the future role of the European Court of Justice, Brussels’ demands for “level playing field” guarantees and the governance of the future relationship treaty.” (link)
When one looks at what the Brussels correspondents took home from Brussels and stuck into their reports, it becomes clear that Mr Waterfield (RemainCentral) and Mr Crisp (DT) are lapping up Barnier’s critique as if it were gospel. See for example this quote from RemainCentral which introduces the Barnier remark about us having to ‘respect’ the EU:
“Mr Barnier complained that, while the EU had listened to demands made by the prime minister two weeks ago, the government had failed to honour its side of the bargain. The EU has asked Mr Frost to return to London with the message that the prime minister must show where he is ready to compromise.” (link, paywalled)
It made my blood boil when I read the last sentence above! ‘Mr EU’ Barnier, utterly not intransigent, ‘listened’ to what Johnson had said, rejected it as not being sufficient, declared that our negotiator Mr Frost, by not taking the knee, was ‘not honouring’ the EU’s demands and then had the gall to send Mr Frost back like a schoolboy to convey ‘Mr EU’ Barnier’s displeasure and his command that the PM accede to the EU’s demands.
It doesn’t seem to have occurred to M Barnier or indeed the Remain correspondents that ‘we’, represented by Mr Frost, have also listened to the EU which on their part has also failed to honour their side of the bargain. That none of the correspondents is even getting hot under the collar about this clear disrespect shown to us is astonishing. They and of course Barnier know full well what our red lines are:
“The EU negotiator said that Boris Johnson had, over the past few weeks, set out a number of UK demands which he referred to as “red lines”. These included that the European Court of Justice would have no role in the UK; that the UK would not be bound to EU law; and a new agreement on fisheries that “shows Brexit makes a real difference”. (link)
Even now, as it’s getting close to midnight in the EU’s Last Chance Saloon, Barnier and by extension our Remain Brussels correspondents still are blind to the fact that our red lines are non-negotiable, that these encapsulate the Brexit we voted for.
They still haven’t grasped the fact that they’re no longer negotiating with a weak Remain PM whose negotiators were only too happy to accede to Barnier’s dictates. Why none of them – not those Remain correspondents nor M Barnier – understand that we no longer cower when we’re told “the EU expects” is beyond me. This attitude of the EU is insufferable, this ‘de haut en bas’, from their, from Barnier’s assumed olympic heights to us poor blighted Leavers in the UK! Sending back our negotiators like naughty schoolboys, in the old Barnier fashion we’ve come to expect and despise, isn’t going to work any longer.
I highly recommend the excellent report – just out – by our friends at facts4eu. Not only do they provide the Frost and Barnier statements in full, their tongue-in cheek interpretation of David Frost’s statement is priceless:
“Our read of David Frost’s statement is as follows: “This is an utter waste of time. I’m going through the motions for appearance’s sake, but we’ll can this charade as soon as we’ve got the optics right and can show the world what impossible people we’re dealing with.” (link)
As for me – I hope Johnson and Frost remember the famous words Admiral Nelson signalled to his fleet at Trafalgar:
“England expects that every man will do his duty”.
We who’ve voted for Brexit and for Johnson expect that he and Frost will do their duty, now!
KBO!
Thanks Viv. I think Boris and Frost are going to do their duty.
Something to wind you up even more:
“Government will cave on Brexit says Peter Mandelson! (4k)”
https://youtu.be/-9O7xDGkJsw
George Season asked yesterday who provided the spodulos of Independence Daily.
For info: Off-line I asked if I could chip in to any costs for the site. ‘No’ was the stern reply (!).
How about a small present say a hand made crochet table runner? Got as many as I can use (mmm).
What about flowers? No thanks. (running out of ideas . . .)
These offers still hold good but George, you can see ID is not currently looking for funds for their good work! How they get out of bed to get out the newspaper’s poison by 8.00 a.m. ish I have no idea. Thanks, and all power to your elbows Ladies.
Many thanks for your kind words Biscotte. As Viv has said, these pages thrive on fresh air, tea (and the odd glass of wine!), our love of our country, the good wishes of our readers and contributors and the knowledge that we are appreciated.
And as for getting up in the morning, Viv is up before me whereas I have a lie-in, getting up sometimes as late as 6am!
(still trying) Do you prefer red or white???
You are lovely Biscotte! However, as I am shielding I get my shopping delivered – and I ALWAYS make sure I have enough wine, so perhaps you would raise a glass to Independence Daily the next time you open a bottle. I certainly will!
I’ve started making mine from a kit. Strongly recommended and fun.
Yes Biscotte I made a tentative offer a few months ago, although not in terms as gallant as yours and all I can say is I can confirm all the laudatory comments I have read about these two brilliant ladies.
Every editorial is a beautifully constructed piece of literature as well as packed with inside (and certainly true) information and are worthy of a collected edition.
When some future historian comes to write the true history of Brexit, he/she couldn`t consult a better source.
But, please, I hope the two ladies are not responsible for the complete thankless task of monitoring “moderation”
Best wishes girls!
Well, these two ladies, depending on day of the week and time of day, are also responsible for the task of moderating. After all, how else would I be able to rap knuckles for overlong comment posts …
😉
Many thanks Roger. Some of our associate editors help with moderation but it’s mainly done by Viv and myself – gives us something to do while we’re under house arrest – otherwise known as lockdown!
However, it’s surprising how rarely we have to bin comments. We don’t allow swearing (at least I don’t) or ad hominem attacks and most of our commenters are aware of this. We occasionally bin comments if they are more than the 400 words allowed but even the writers of such long screeds know this by now so it doesn’t happen often. We have a lovely set of readers and commenters and enjoy reading all your thoughts.
I believe Nelson also said
“It is never wrong to lay your ships alongside those of the enemy”
“Admiral” Frost is certainly doing this in spades and assuredly blowing Barnier and his fleet of no hopers out of the water
(n.b. Modern version of ethic street battle is what’s known as ‘dissing’ to me that’s short for disrespecting, from the EU’s collective moan at our lack of respect you know if you keep your nerve, you’ve got ’em – especially if they will be aware there is no possibility of an extension now)
Re – M Barnier’s statement:
Worse than ever – c’est le bouquet !
I was horrified by the Statement
” A new agreement on fisheries that ” shows Brexit makes a real difference ” ”
This is as I have been expecting, is the direct responsibility of UKIP NEC and hierarchy, and the absence of Mike Hookem etc.., in the furtherence of their political magnificences.
I remember in the 60’s and 70’s Ted Heath and suck ups. Gave a reason for handing it over, that we had overfished. This was certainly true. Banks were offering fishing boats and trawlers for pennies..
Useful lies. Useful truths. No one will ever know. Particularly once Processors, here and abroad, start paying lobbies useful sums. Businesses desperate to GROW will disburse cash to politics. No-one ever knows what goes on below any surface.
Fun outing for you tomorrow!
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/12017760/pubs-take-names-one-customer-group-coronavirus-outbreak/
I for one will not tolerate that circus, i will continue to use my drinks cupboard, i also have more comfort at home NO Yobs( well , only me ) 🧐
The EUSSR “negotiation” deadline came and went without comment or any great fanfare , it seems too quiet , they’re up to something
I smell a rat .
my impression exactly
The new England expects that every ‘Person’ will do their duty. Looking at the DM this morning all the photographs of ‘ beings ‘ that may or may not self identify as ‘ beings’ , are described as persons friends or family members. KBO indeed.