Though nobody would have guessed it, formal
Brexit negotiations started yesterday. With
an immediate climb-down by David Davis.

All from the Telegraph, this NG's newspaper of choice

quote

Britain and Europe lock horns over
'Brexit bill' on day one of talks

[...]

Mr Davis denied that the UK government had caved in to EU demands
to settle money and citizens' rights before talking trade terms, even though
these will now not be discussed until October at the very earliest.

[...]

It did not take long for the mask to slip, however, with Mr Barnier striking
an exasperated tone at the end of a long day's talks, when asked if the EU has
made any significant concessions to the British - given that the UK had agree
to all the EU's demands over the schedule for the talks.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017...day-one-talks/

/quote

Basically the position is this. Prior to these "negotiations" Davis and
others were insisting that talks on trade and citizenship would not be
conditional on the UK first having to agree on the amount the UK would
be required to pay in order to leave the UK. Never mind questioning its
legality. The UK would be setting the agenda.

Then, when on day one of the negotiations when it became clear that there
would otherwise be no talks, Davis immediately caved in.

To repeat (from the Telegraph)

" given that the UK had agree [d] to all the EU's demands over the schedule
for the talks"

"Agreed to demands". If this is Davis's "tough" negotiating stance
one wonders what he's like on an off day.


michael adams

....