Reply to: It's my way or the highway says Theresa May

[Old Greg]

The WTO highway. The one with lots of bumps and potholes.

And a lorry park.

[BR14]

That's BS. Freedom of movement is only inside the EU not from outside into the EU as you Brits will soon find out.

hope you've got your campervan ready jongen

[DimPrawn]

[meridian]

Yeah.................Spain (chortle)..............Greece (no laughing at the back!!)

??

Spain and Ireland are two of the early beneficiaries from being part of the EU. They were basket cases 25 years ago and are completely different countries now, despite the GFC.

Greece though was’t eligible to join in the first place and had to cook the books to do so. The point still remains for them though, the Greeks I work with in London are supportive of FoM as it means they can work anywhere in Europe and still pay their mortgage in Greece. They’re less happy about boats turning up on their Med islands, but that’s a different problem.

[shaunbhoy]

while living standards and infrastructure in southern and eastern countries has improved massively.

Yeah.................Spain (chortle)..............Greece (no laughing at the back!!)

[Eirikur]

But we know why the countries in mainland Europe are for freedom of movement - and it is because they have no choice because they cannot police the full length of all the borders.

That's BS. Freedom of movement is only inside the EU not from outside into the EU as you Brits will soon find out.

[original PM]

It seems the UK can't either....

I agree - and as someone else said it is down to UK politicians doing whatever the fook they want and blaming the EU - we have removed that option for them.

You have to understand that it is the UK politicians that swayed people to vote for Brexit as much as the European ones.

[meridian]

But we know why the countries in mainland Europe are for freedom of movement - and it is because they have no choice because they cannot police the full length of all the borders.

I don’t think it’s as simple as a one-sentence answer.

Personally, I think that the driving motive on the continent is that freedom of movement of labour (which is what those countries have implemented) benefits everybody - manufacturing companies in Germany and France get a plentiful supply of cheaper labour to keep their industries going, while poorer countries get some cash sent back home to look after their families.

The evidence shows that all parties appear to be (largely) benefitting - wages are still rising in northern countries, while living standards and infrastructure in southern and eastern countries has improved massively.

[darmstadt]

But we know why the countries in mainland Europe are for freedom of movement - and it is because they have no choice because they cannot police the full length of all the borders.

It seems the UK can't either....

[AtW]

Better than the current one which seems to be restricted to a single continent and appears to be very expensive.

Also many of the EU roads also have potholes unless we pay money to fix them.

Restricted to single continent???

600 mln economic block, not enough???

[original PM]

It might not be a benefit to you, but it is a benefit to other people (including many of the posters here who are British but living and working on the mainland).

Like it or not, in “people policies” the EU is quite socialist.

But we know why the countries in mainland Europe are for freedom of movement - and it is because they have no choice because they cannot police the full length of all the borders.

[meridian]

If freedom of movement is such a benefit why does Junker insist we cannot have a trade agreement without it - it is not like he is going to try to give us more benefits than he can get away with.

It might not be a benefit to you, but it is a benefit to other people (including many of the posters here who are British but living and working on the mainland).

Like it or not, in “people policies” the EU is quite socialist.

[original PM]

Go ahead, knock yourself out although beware, there's some big words:

Treaty of Rome

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-cont...ISSUM%3Axy0027

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-cont...3A12007L%2FTXT

I am not sure why you are quoting some EU legislation - we are leaving.

[darmstadt]

If freedom of movement is such a benefit why does Junker insist we cannot have a trade agreement without it - it is not like he is going to try to give us more benefits than he can get away with.

Go ahead, knock yourself out although beware, there's some big words:

Treaty of Rome

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-cont...ISSUM%3Axy0027

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-cont...3A12007L%2FTXT

[BlasterBates]

If freedom of movement is such a benefit why does Junker insist we cannot have a trade agreement without it - it is not like he is going to try to give us more benefits than he can get away with.

......because it would mean a kick up the backside for the UK. If Brexiteers were to say they wanted freedom of movement then the EU would refuse.

Anyway May has caved in on that point she's offered "freedom of mobility"