Brexit negotiations begin on Monday

[Mel O'Drama]

Formal Brexit negotiations will begin on Monday, the UK and EU say.

The announcement by Brexit Secretary David Davis and EU negotiator Michel Barnier follows preliminary talks in Brussels between officials.

The formal negotiations were already due to start on Monday but doubt was cast by the general election result and ongoing talks between the Conservatives and the Democratic Unionists.

The Queen's Speech was delayed and will now take place on Wednesday.

The UK is due to leave the EU by the end of March 2019.

Prime Minister Theresa May invoked Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which started the clock on Brexit, in March.

Mrs May had hoped the general election would increase her Commons majority before the start of talks - but it created a hung Parliament, and she is seeking the DUP's backing to win key votes.

Key subjects to be negotiated include the status of EU nationals and Britons living elsewhere in the EU, the size of any "divorce" bill and how the UK will trade with the EU once it leaves.

Since last week's general election, there have been calls for a new cross-party approach to talks, but Downing Street has said its strategy will not change.

EU leaders have been calling for talks to begin - on Tuesday Mr Barnier said: "I can't negotiate with myself."



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-40293260

 

[Angela Channing]

Formal Brexit negotiations will begin on Monday, the UK and EU say.

A sad day for or country. We are walking off a cliff into a disaster of our own making. Our economy has already started to go down the toilet just on the news that we want to leave the EU and things will just get worse when we actually do it.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Who is in charge?

"It's often compared to a divorce - the UK wanted to talk about who gets the house and the CD collection at the same time as settling who pays for the kids' weddings in 20 years' time.

The EU on the other hand have been firm all along that the future arrangements could only be discussed once the terms of the initial split have been agreed."

 

[Angela Channing]

The EU on the other hand have been firm all along that the future arrangements could only be discussed once the terms of the initial split have been agreed."

And our Prime Minister who claimed she could get a good deal because she is a "bl**dy difficult woman" and wouldn't allow the EU to get their own way was shown up at the very first stage as she had to cave in and agree the EU agenda. She is completely and utterly useless. Having to go through Brexit is a big enough disaster for our country as it is but having this government negotiate a deal for us means it's going to be worse than I could have imagined. This photo seems to be the only Brexit negotiation strategy that Theresa May is capable of:

 

[Canon]

Liz is staying out of it...

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Andrea Leadsom has said broadcasters need to be "a bit patriotic" when reporting on Brexit.

What an outrageous request. The horrors of this past year can't be airbrushed from history by waving a Union Jack and saying it isn't so.

This country is in a shambles and no amount of stiff upper lipped jingoism is going to change or improve that.

 

[Angela Channing]

Andrea Leadsom has said broadcasters need to be "a bit patriotic" when reporting on Brexit.

What an outrageous request. The horrors of this past year can't be airbrushed from history by waving a Union Jack and saying it isn't so.

This country is in a shambles and no amount of stiff upper lipped jingoism is going to change or improve that.

I totally agree. This is a disgraceful tactic of the Conservative Party to stop anyone questioning their appalling management of the looming Brexit disaster. Every day that passes, it becomes more clear that the Government is in total disarray over how they are going to take the Brexit issue forward. It's been over a year since the referendum result and does anyone know what are their aims and objectives other than apparently ruining our economy?