Current Politics in the United Kingdom - Page 198

**judy84** · May 5th, 2017, 09:45 AM

There are a lot of assumptions about how people feel and what is going to happen, cliches and rhetoric.
I am just glad we are getting out now, should have done it at the same time as monetary union. Even if it costs 200 billion, add it to our national debt.
the bottom line is we don't want to be part of a federal Europe run by Germany.

**G-Type** · May 5th, 2017, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by judy84

...
the bottom line is we don't want to be part of a federal Europe run by Germany.

Perhaps that´s been indeed the one and only driver for the Brexit.

Would you consider an exit from Brexit if we Germans would go for a "G"-Exit?

Just a thought

.

**Devius** · May 5th, 2017, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brecht

Mr. Cameron is probably hiding under his bed right now.

Last I heard DC was hiding in his shed:

David Cameron buys £25,000 garden shed 'to write in'

Details:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39761410

**Devius** · May 5th, 2017, 06:09 PM

Brexit: English language 'losing importance' - EU's Juncker

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has told a conference in Italy on the EU that "English is losing importance in Europe".

Amid tensions with the UK over looming Brexit negotiations, he said he was delivering his speech in French.

"Slowly but surely English is losing importance in Europe and also because France has an election," he said, explaining his choice of language.

He called the UK decision to leave the EU "a tragedy".

Laughter and applause greeted his comment about the English language, and he could be seen smiling wryly.

"We will negotiate fairly with our British friends, but let's not forget that it is not the EU that is abandoning the UK - it is the UK that's abandoning the EU, and that makes a difference," he said.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May has accused some EU officials of trying to influence the UK's 8 June parliamentary election.

Details:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39816044

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am increasingly getting irritated by the sniping from the EU.

**vinceprince** · May 5th, 2017, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devius

Brexit: English language 'losing importance' - EU's Juncker

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has told a conference in Italy on the EU that "English is losing importance in Europe".

Amid tensions with the UK over looming Brexit negotiations, he said he was delivering his speech in French.

"Slowly but surely English is losing importance in Europe and also because France has an election," he said, explaining his choice of language.

He called the UK decision to leave the EU "a tragedy".

Laughter and applause greeted his comment about the English language, and he could be seen smiling wryly.

"We will negotiate fairly with our British friends, but let's not forget that it is not the EU that is abandoning the UK - it is the UK that's abandoning the EU, and that makes a difference," he said.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May has accused some EU officials of trying to influence the UK's 8 June parliamentary election.

Details:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39816044

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am increasingly getting irritated by the sniping from the EU.

Why didn't he just start the speech in French if what he says is true?

The only part of his speech that is being reported is the part in English.

Like anyone in Eastern Europe speaks French? Even half of Belgium (where it is one of the official languages) refuse to speak French.

Spanish or even German have much more credibility as a lingua franca.

**bloke57** · May 5th, 2017, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devius

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am increasingly getting irritated by the sniping from the EU.

Behaving like spoiled children.

I suggest we do as a parent would. Don't rise to it - but just keep saying firmly but fairly what we are going to do and what we expect from them. Take no notice of histrionics and get on with our plan until they settle down and decide to be adults.

Do bear in mind this is not the people of Europe speaking. It is the useless, faceless, talent-free euro-bureaucrats who lurk in the dark depths of their own gravy train. Without the EU they are nothing - in spades and with knobs on.

That's why they are so worried about the future of the EU project.

**scoundrel** · May 5th, 2017, 07:05 PM

Actually, when I read the BBC article about Mr Juncker considering that English is lessening in importance, the first thing which struck me is that this is all spin. The BBC has a pro-EU bias and quite likes to present the story in terms of what a calamity all of this is. But in plain logic, there is only one Anglophone country in the EU and pretty soon there will be no Anglophone country in the EU. Mr Juncker is not saying or doing anything which is not reasonable on this particular topic and the only thing wrong is that anyone should think any of this matters. Mr Juncker's choice of business language is singularly unimportant. Pretty soon. Mr Juncker himself will cease to be important, which no doubt helps to explain some of the infantile behaviour he has exhibited lately.

Chill, bros.

**haroldeye** · May 5th, 2017, 08:37 PM

I once helped do the Admin at an European type conference. This had been instigated by the French many years ago and revolved around participating countries. As the French had thought the thing up in the first place the language used was French.

Each morning the twelve delegates and their interpreters sat around a table and the days business was conducted in French. At each break and in the evening everyone including the French head, spoke to each other in English.

Of course Mr Junker speaks both English and French, oh and he did learn German from his Father and Father in Law, who doubtless polished their language skills whilst working for the Nazis.

**Brecht** · May 5th, 2017, 08:46 PM

Juncker is rumored to be an alcoholic. I guess he had a few glasses more than usual on those meetings when he decided to say hello to former Austrian chancellor, Werner Faymann.

**gordian_knot** · May 5th, 2017, 11:45 PM

The only people who care about speaking French anywhere are the French, but it does seem to be a bone of contention with some of them that their language is not number one. As well as having a dig at the UK - which he did in English so it would be reported here - Junker may have also been trying to influence the French presidential election by suggesting that French would become a more prominent language in the EU - but only if the French people keep France in the EU by voting for Macron.

May 5th, 2017, 06:09 PM	#1974
Devius Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: It's a London Thing.... Posts: 23,518 Thanks: 142,141 Thanked 228,387 Times in 23,553 Posts	And in other news... Brexit: English language 'losing importance' - EU's Juncker European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has told a conference in Italy on the EU that "English is losing importance in Europe". Amid tensions with the UK over looming Brexit negotiations, he said he was delivering his speech in French. "Slowly but surely English is losing importance in Europe and also because France has an election," he said, explaining his choice of language. He called the UK decision to leave the EU "a tragedy". Laughter and applause greeted his comment about the English language, and he could be seen smiling wryly. "We will negotiate fairly with our British friends, but let's not forget that it is not the EU that is abandoning the UK - it is the UK that's abandoning the EU, and that makes a difference," he said. UK Prime Minister Theresa May has accused some EU officials of trying to influence the UK's 8 June parliamentary election. Details: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39816044 I don't know about the rest of you, but I am increasingly getting irritated by the sniping from the EU. __________________ "I've had it with them, I've had it with you, I've had it with ALL THIS - I WANT ROOM SERVICE!* I want the club sandwich, I want the cold Mexican beer, I want a $10,000-a-night hooker!"* Johnny Mnemonic (1995)

May 5th, 2017, 07:05 PM	#1977
scoundrel Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: England Posts: 26,242 Thanks: 162,409 Thanked 278,561 Times in 26,187 Posts	Actually, when I read the BBC article about Mr Juncker considering that English is lessening in importance, the first thing which struck me is that this is all spin. The BBC has a pro-EU bias and quite likes to present the story in terms of what a calamity all of this is. But in plain logic, there is only one Anglophone country in the EU and pretty soon there will be no Anglophone country in the EU. Mr Juncker is not saying or doing anything which is not reasonable on this particular topic and the only thing wrong is that anyone should think any of this matters. Mr Juncker's choice of business language is singularly unimportant. Pretty soon. Mr Juncker himself will cease to be important, which no doubt helps to explain some of the infantile behaviour he has exhibited lately. Chill, bros. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

May 5th, 2017, 11:45 PM	#1980
gordian_knot Vintage Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gordium Posts: 1,225 Thanks: 6,524 Thanked 13,823 Times in 1,209 Posts	The only people who care about speaking French anywhere are the French, but it does seem to be a bone of contention with some of them that their language is not number one. As well as having a dig at the UK - which he did in English so it would be reported here - Junker may have also been trying to influence the French presidential election by suggesting that French would become a more prominent language in the EU - but only if the French people keep France in the EU by voting for Macron. __________________ - "The whole of anything is never told." - Henry James "Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable." - George Orwell

May 5th, 2017, 09:45 AM	#1971
judy84 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Wilts Posts: 2,008 Thanks: 34,481 Thanked 21,442 Times in 2,021 Posts	There are a lot of assumptions about how people feel and what is going to happen, cliches and rhetoric. I am just glad we are getting out now, should have done it at the same time as monetary union. Even if it costs 200 billion, add it to our national debt. the bottom line is we don't want to be part of a federal Europe run by Germany.

May 5th, 2017, 08:37 PM	#1978
haroldeye Moderator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Halfwitistan Posts: 5,716 Thanks: 113,534 Thanked 59,972 Times in 5,708 Posts	I once helped do the Admin at an European type conference. This had been instigated by the French many years ago and revolved around participating countries. As the French had thought the thing up in the first place the language used was French. Each morning the twelve delegates and their interpreters sat around a table and the days business was conducted in French. At each break and in the evening everyone including the French head, spoke to each other in English. Of course Mr Junker speaks both English and French, oh and he did learn German from his Father and Father in Law, who doubtless polished their language skills whilst working for the Nazis.

May 5th, 2017, 08:46 PM	#1979
Brecht Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 10,657 Thanks: 180,485 Thanked 188,138 Times in 10,453 Posts	Juncker is rumored to be an alcoholic. I guess he had a few glasses more than usual on those meetings when he decided to say hello to former Austrian chancellor, Werner Faymann.