Delusional. And no way to run a country. Far higher barriers to trade with the EU from Friday. And still subject to EU influence on our laws. To deny this is also to deny the ability to tackle the problems we will face.

Small business in particular struggling with new Brexit red tape. Entirely predictable, and a function of a world trade system distorted against smaller traders. Stay with me a short while as Brexit threadmeister and story author @pmdfoster may say... 1/

The nub of the issue is the extra costs for most exports, whether this is paperwork or meeting different regulatory requirements. A fixed cost per exported load inevitably adds a higher percentage cost to small than larger business... and they may lack expertise. 2/

You'll note that in the EU, with virtually no paperwork or differing regulations, the costs of exports are similar for smaller and large companies - though even there there is a big company bias, because who can afford to lobby for friendly regulations? 3/

The same unfortunately typically applies to trade deals. If you are Nissan and threaten to leave the country without the right deal you have more clout than a small cheesemaker. As we see. But is it just the EU that is over-bureaucratic? Sadly not... 4/

One of the best UK business groups on trade policy @BritAmBusiness (and yes you can quote me @EmanueAdam) has a new report out on a UK-US trade deal and SMEs. It shows opportunities. But unfortunately problems unlikely to be solved. 5/

As is traditional for this time of year, and more in hope than expectation, my top ten trade / Brexit hopes for 2021...

1 - The UK Government ditches the unnecessary secrecy and engages much more openly with business, NGOs etc about their priorities, and reflects them

2 - Parliament steps up its game on government scrutiny beyond select committee reports and starts expecting answers on why priorities have been chosen, why trade agreements with which countries, what the content should be etc

3 - UK business do their best to keep on exporting and importing, innovating and partnering, to overcome the new barriers in their way, and also to keep shouting for government to remove barriers as they arise

4 - Brexiteers show even the vaguest hint of interest in the views of those who continue to want strong ties with the EU, rather then repeating over and over again, to even the vaguest hint of criticism, "you lost suckers, get over it"

5 - Remainers, rejoiners and the like stop talking quite so much about how the 2016 referendum was stolen from them, which is becoming both history and suggests that 17 odd million people were conned

(NB not confident on the last two)

"Fail to prepare, prepare to fail" has gone from being an irritating statement trotted out on a training course to a description of the UK government's modus operandi. And as well as on covid restrictions we're seeing it in EU negotiations - deal or no-deal. And here's why... 1/

The UK's goal in EU negotiations is to declare victory / sovereignty. Sounds good. But the problem is that there will always be winners and losers in a big trade deal, because it covers everything and involves compromising with the other side. An immediate problem. 2/

Take fish, on which apparently talks are stuck. No deal means we regain full control of our waters. Victory! And sell the fish where? EU tariffs and checks. Not victory. So share waters? But then, defeat! Point being, if you don't explain, the result will disappoint. 3/

We don't want the EU setting our rules and regulations. So minimal sovereignty provisions. No-deal and victory! But then what about the car manufacturers no longer viable? Ok, compromise. But then no win on sovereignty, or perhaps call it "freedom clauses"... 4/

Northern Ireland, customs checks, rules of origin, security cooperation and so on... all inevitably to require compromise. But if your game was all about victory and sovereignty, then what? Not make a decision perhaps? 5/

1. Military Intelligence contact continued:

. There were 300 arrests that took place yesterday Fri 11 Dec--that was one of the last pieces that needed to be put in place for the final release of the RV shotgun start--and that leads to the Insurrection Act possibly being...

2. ...invoked by POTUS (for military suppression of Deep State riots fomented by Antifa thugs), that leads to martial law (if necessary when people realize the vote fraud NEGATES A BIDEN PRESIDENCY & the Deep State tries to start RIOTS IN 18+ URBAN HOT SPOTS AROUND THE COUNTRY...

3. ... that have already been prepared with initial arrests and round-ups by Spec Op (SOF) military missions (black hawks carrying them);
. ALL THESE THINGS are TIED to NESARA / GESARA, to the restored Republic being organizationally and legally in place by Mon 21 Dec...

4. ... (POTUS TEAM'S LEGAL DEADLINE to get it done), and to COMMON LAW or CONSTITUTIONAL LAW (your post-RV CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOM and your post-RV FINANCIAL FREEDOM to spend the money as YOU INTEND and NOT AS THE DEEP STATE GOVT wants to do to LOCK YOU DOWN, TAX 50%-70% of...

5. ... your post-RV funds, and to LIMIT YOU under DRACONIAN ECONOMIC LOCKDOWNS and SCAMDEMIC LOCKDOWNS while FORCING COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES on you AGAINST YOUR WILL and against YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL & GENEVA CONVENTION RIGHTS >>NOT<< to HAVE TO TAKE A VACCINE--Trump will NOT...

The mainstream is now admitting Hitler was at least partially Jewish.

https://t.co/FepOy8OI0E

So why do I trust them when they tell me this. I will tell you why. It isn't because I trust them on this question.

1/ Happy #SocialistSunday - and welcome to the weekly #SocialistSundayMegaList!

Please sign & widely share my petition for an emergency UBI and alleviate pandemic poverty. https://t.co/dilMlYxCCG

The following list is 100% randomised.

2/ If you're included but don't want to be, feel free to let me know - ideally by DM, because I'm much more likely to actually see that. This thread gets a lot of notifications!

(Stats as ever will follow the list of names)

Megalist commences:

3/ @HarmonyPartyUK
@EastBerksLabGND
@tallulahportsmo
@Tish1931
@jackie32859121
@NorthernLefty
@margellais
@Cumbria4Corbyn
@IceManTiti1
@MaxRobertFinch
@rickwookie
@iloireadas
@tinakalinen
@VeeBrien
@bbqshirt
@realhippohollow
@ageof_jess
@Jennyfurfuls
@BDT_Services

4/ @Greyfalcon6
@Soc_Sciences
@Hello_2022
@wepaidinupayout
@keithjames351
@Giacie
@Bliadhnaichean
@Walshicus1
@koffeelover41
@electikk
@JOHNSTA05030416
@Ed_Forest
@suzyseeitall
@LittleV33244419
@Rhubarb00
@EmbitteredThe
@hftaman
@mellors_karen
@sabuniray
@amk262
@GloryBS

5/ @AggieRyan
@steveniskra
@sev_kudu
@dominicwatts1
@teodora_hansen
@Ms_Nichola
@NeilJamesPeter1
@tiffanyjewel10
@allmodcons79
@ptomandpaul
@sturitchie2010
@kellsley
@nickystar911
@MMaureen01
@King4ADay_UK
@edwebb98843090
@DBFole13
@lorraine_teuten

CAPITOL RIOT QUESTIONS FOR SPEAKER PELOSI: There is no group in America more interested in the safety and security of the Capitol than members of Congress. To that end, members have asked @SpeakerPelosi to answer these basic questions:

1/ What was your role in authorizing or denying National Guard support before and after Jan. 6?

2/ Reps. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and James Comer R-Ky., on Feb. 15 asked you five pointed questions about your role in Jan. 6 and your preservation and compliance with document requests. Will you answer them?

3/ After the 2011 shooting of now-former Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz., what changed with regard to security?

4/ After the shooting of Republican House Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., were any changes made to security?

Why is Johnson's speech at the Munich conference hailed in some quarters, even by some journalists that should know better, as "a major policy speech" with "substance"? I went to read it expecting for once to be pleasantly surprised. Alas! Thread

It is full of the usual misplaced optimism not backed by any serious analysis, jingoism & digs at other EU leaders with transparent, nearly servile efforts to regain favour with the new US administration. A few examples:

The speech starts with the trademark rethorical device beloved of the UK right (whether to attack "woke' culture or pro-EU sentiments): A wildly exaggerated overblown simplistic statement that you then go on to "disprove"

So a dig aimed at Macron for saying NATO needs to adapt to changing circumstances and flattery towards America : "As you’ve seen and heard earlier, America is unreservedly back as leader of the free world and that is a fantastic thing."

Then the self- agrandissements : notice all the "I" & "Global Britain"