Wednesday, June 14, 2017

How Dare You!

A tiff at the G7.
“There are two kinds of European nations,” [Danish finance minister Kristian] Jensen told the audience gathered for the Road to Brexit event in the Danish parliament. “There are small nations and there are countries that have not yet realised they are small nations.”

He added: “It is a paradox that the country that once had an empire on which the sun never sets, that ruled the waves, that in its heart is truly global, is now drawing back from the world’s most successful free trade area. It is a paradox that I cannot get..."

[...]

“There is still this notion in some countries that because they have been the rulers of the 20th century they will continue to be that in the 21st century,” he said. “They [the UK] are a member of all these groups [G7, G20, UN permanent security council] but what has happened to the value of the pound since Brexit? What will happen in the coming years when the finance sector is perhaps looking to Frankfurt or Paris? What will happen when inflation rises? How will they be in the future? I am very concerned about Britain’s economy right now … I think France will be the spokesperson for the EU [on the security council].”

[...]

Her Majesty’s ambassador to Denmark, Dominic Schroeder, drew himself up to his full 1.8 metres (5ft 10in), puffed out his chest and gave the Danish finance minister a jolly good telling-off. Britain was a permanent member of the UN security council, a proud member of the G7 and the G20, and a bloody good egg.

[...]

With all the menace of a man on the brink of doing something he would come to regret, Schroeder added: “I think I’ll leave it there.”

[...]

“The rest of the world’s view of the UK is actually changing quite fast,” [Sir Nigel Sheinwald, a former British ambassador to the US and the EU who was a top adviser to Tony Blair when he was prime minister] mused. “We used to be known for a pragmatic, steely state craft, keeping calm and carrying on. But it feels a bit different today.”

  Guardian
Yes, what should Great Britain change their slogan to read?
“We have seen two British prime minsters make rather impulsive and potentially disastrous decisions in their party political interest, which it turns out have huge repercussions for our political stability, our prosperity and our place in the world.” Who knew?
Seems to be the politics du jour for Americans as well.  How's that working out for us?

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

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