Could you imagine Mrs Thatcher breaking the law?

Margaret Thatcher in 2001 on the topic of Europe:

“Kenneth Clarke seems to view with blithe unconcern, the erosion of Britain's sovereignty in Europe," she said, adding that his leadership would put Europe "at the forefront of politics".

And although illness forced Lady Thatcher to step out of the limelight, it did not stop her making her increasingly outspoken views on the EU known.

In her 2002 book, Statecraft, she suggested the European single currency was an attempt to create a "European super state" and would fail "economically, politically and socially".

She called for a "fundamental re-negotiation" of Britain's links with the EU, stopping short of calling for withdrawal but nevertheless suggesting that the UK should pull out of common agricultural, fisheries, foreign and defence policies.
"Most of the problems the world has faced have come from mainland Europe," she wrote. "And the solutions from outside it."

(from the BBC archives)

Jabberwok a brave post re Churchill and I agree with you. My Grandfather, a miner, loathed him

EllanVannin

After Churchill, Thatcher was the finest PM we'll ever see in this country ! Does anyone at all match up to her ? NO !

I agree with you Ellen

arrangement!

So why are they demanding that fishing quotas stay the same? Did they demand the same arrange.ent with Norway? or Canada? or Japan when negotiating trade deals? Did they insist that these countrys.have to be aligned to the EU over state aid? Did they insist that these country's law courts could be over ruled by the ECJ? I think the answer to all these queries is No! We are now an independent sovereign state, why are we treated differently to at other independent state seeking a trade deal?!

So what if others brake international law? That doesn’t make it right.

I agree with OP concerning Thatcher and yes, it’s opening the door further to a lawless government and society. What an appalling example to set to today’s young people, especially if we want them to abide by Covid instructions.

It makes a mockery of decency and democratic government.

Brussels isn’t making things difficult - they have been clear from the beginning where their lines were. It’s our government who seem to think that they can have everything (except they don’t - they want no deal and that’s what they’ll get).

I would very much like to see the climate prioritised - and sea birds. One reason why I have at times voted Green and why I chose the subject I studied at university.

I am not saying that I think it’s a bad thing. I am saying you haven’t got a hope in hell of this govt giving a monkeys about the environment. They don’t care about Greenpeace being on their back (& I was a member of Greenpeace for a while).

For starters If they cared about the environment they would be encouraging working from home now (Especially now we can see how many people can work effectively from home) rather than sending everyone into offices to save the profits of commercial landlords.

From everything I have read, I am optimistic we will stand firm in the trade deals.

It was obvious right from the moment we voted to leave the EU that Brussels would do everything in its power to make things as difficult as it could for us.

It was never going to make it easy, was it? It was (and probably still is) worried that where we went others might follow.

Theresa May maintained that no deal was better than a bad deal and that opinion still holds today.

To give up our fishing waters is the very definition of a bad deal.

EU environment legislation!! Don't make laugh! Very worthy of course but hardly if ever activated, otherwise what are those trawlers doing being allowed to destroy the sea bed when what they are doing is illegal in a conservation area?!!

Of course,silly.me just a few seabirds NOT! Why would anyone care about conservation or the environment at all, after all global warming is only about a few dead Polar bears! What a silly fuss about nothing when there is trade and profit at risk! All that fuss about the rain forests? What a load of rubbish about a few trees and distressed wild life! You're right, profit and destruction every time! Tbh I despair! I think you will find this government will take action when it can if not it will have Greenpeace on its back! You know those pesky environment people who hinder whaling and that sort of nonsense!

Sigh!

You reckon that sea life etc are going to be protected by this bunch?

They’re wanting to scrap the EU environmental legislation that exists along with the Human Rights Act of course.

This lot would sell their grannies for cash - they’re not going to care about a few sea birds

Only the most flag waving of Brexiteers would view it that way lemongrove.

What would Johnson and his cabinet have to do to overstep the mark with the Billy Britains I wonder.

Our fishermen were paid by the EU to burn off their boats! They sold licences to foreign outfits because the pathetic quota which that snake Edward Heath agreed with Europe in his desperation to get us into the Common Market, which I to my now shame agreed to with enthusiasm, didn't cover the cost of running a trawler, paying the crew and and making a living. The idea was to decimate our then thriving fishing industry for the privilege of pursuing profit and making a lot of city folk fabulously wealthy, while others were actually sent to the wall. If I'd known then what I know now I'd have listened to Tony Benn and voted NO! Frankly if push comes to shove, I would without a doubt break the law if it meant that we can banish those revolting monster trawlers and properly protect the sea life and environment round out shores and not have to witness dead or dying sea birds, seals, porpoises, and aything else that gets snared up in these hideous nets, quaintly referred to as waste products, never mind fishing the sea dry! Boris has to stand up to the EU over this, and if we have to use undesirable methods then so be it. On the other hand if the EU can discuss this issue properly, without the usual demands and threats, then I'm sure we can come to an agreeable solution.and no laws need to be broken! I.see Michael Gove has been 'ordered' by the German lady to attend a meeting!!!!! Ordered?! what is she like? Perhaps asked might be a bit more user friendly!

Nezumi65

Lol at it being the EU that leaves it to the last minute. Have you understood anything about the trade negotiations?

Yes, the EU always take it to the wire when doing deals with non EU countries.

Really Whitewave.....? How so?
I doubt that I have ever been inconsistent on this matter recently ( or any other come to that.)

Twitter

The Vienna Convention on International Treaties

Article 27. INTERNAL LAW AND OBSERVANCE OF TREATIES

A party may not invoke the provisions of its internal law as justification for its failure to perform a treaty.

So that would put the Tories against the UN wouldn’t it?

Kamiso. Hope your cancer check went ok.???

lemongrove

Jaberwok

Perhaps if the EU could treat the UK like any other sovereign country that it has conducted trade talks with instead of constantly demanding, insisting, threatening if we don't obey them in all things, we might just feel that we don't need to make provision if and when these talks fail. Whoever heard of trade talks that include fishing!! Don't think Canada or Japan would agree to that still less America or Australia! We're not in the EU now and we don't have to be pushed about by these bullies anymore more than any other country. What is there not to understand?!

Hear hear ?
The EU still treat us as if we are a member country.....time they stopped.I think now that we should simply leave without a deal if this continues.Probably though, as is usually the case with them, it will all happen at the last moment ( a deal) when they realise we won’t be agreeing to their terms.

Oh lemon one can always rely on you for total inconsistency ???

Lol at it being the EU that leaves it to the last minute. Have you understood anything about the trade negotiations?

‘Simply leave without a deal’ - except there is nothing simple about leaving without a deal. It’s great for disaster capitalists - not so good for the rest of us.

Jaberwok

Perhaps if the EU could treat the UK like any other sovereign country that it has conducted trade talks with instead of constantly demanding, insisting, threatening if we don't obey them in all things, we might just feel that we don't need to make provision if and when these talks fail. Whoever heard of trade talks that include fishing!! Don't think Canada or Japan would agree to that still less America or Australia! We're not in the EU now and we don't have to be pushed about by these bullies anymore more than any other country. What is there not to understand?!

Hear hear ?
The EU still treat us as if we are a member country.....time they stopped.I think now that we should simply leave without a deal if this continues.Probably though, as is usually the case with them, it will all happen at the last moment ( a deal) when they realise we won’t be agreeing to their terms.

There have been men and women of unquestioned integrity on both sides of the political spectrum, but Boris Johnson is not one of them.

He and Jeremy Corbyn sit in a group almost entirely there own of total incompetents who cannot be believed or trusted on anything.

Johnson doesn’t WANT a trade deal. His millionaire backers want no deal and they don’t give a damn if we break international law and rip up the constitution to get no deal.

This government is corrupt to the core.