As with everything Theresa May does, her Article 50 notification has left her looking stupid
For information (as Yr Obdt Srvt is currently too tired to think straight).
The fact that the UK government was trying to use international security as a bargaining-chip for a trade deal gives a very poor account of Mrs May and her cronies.
Theresa May’s Brexit launch suffered a series of heavy blows after key planks of her opening strategy were point-blank rejected by Europe’s top politicians.
German chancellor Angela Merkel publically dismissed her plan to begin talks on a lucrative trade deal, saying negotiations on Britain’s EU divorce – including a bill potentially hitting €60bn – must come first.
European Parliament negotiator Guy Verhofstadt then brushed off what was described by others as Ms May’s “blatant threat” to withdraw British terror and crime-fighting co-operation, in order to extract a good trade deal.
Asked if he thought Ms May was engaged in “blackmail”, the European Parliament’s co-ordinator for Brexit said: “I try to be a gentleman, so towards a lady I don’t even use or think about the word ‘blackmail’.”
Back in London the Prime Minister was accused of souring the fledgling Brexit talks with her attempt to tie pan-European security collaboration to any deal.
Source: Brexit: Theresa May’s Article 50 launch trashed after top EU politicians reject key demands
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Perhaps that should read “Looking even more stupid and destructive.”
Pan european security should be something every one applauds, although as NATO provides this on military terms, it basically means information sharing, which even the most anti british rabid eu supporter should wish for. It seems that a minority of vocal eu nations are just going to object to anything they haven’t thought of, so no change there then.
That is not what is happening here.
Mrs May is threatening to withhold information that could improve international security, if she doesn’t get a favourable trade deal.
Of course the EU nations have called “foul!” on it. They are right to do so.
Mrs May’s tactic marks her out as among the lowest of the low.