Brexit Story for the Day - Update - Post Brexit

Daily Mail: Reports " May’s big gamble: PM lays down the gauntlet to Tory Brexiteers and Remainers by urging EU customs extension until 2023 as she paves way for major Commons showdown   "

Lets Get Real:

At last the PM has made decision, she wants to keep the EU Customs extension in till 2023, the hard Brexit supporters will not be happy, they want the UK out of the EU some time after 2020, while the hard remainers want to keep the Customs Union in till forever.  It will be interesting to see who folds first, will the remainers really throw away the UK staying in the EU in till 2023 or will the hard brexit supporters demand that the UK leaves after 2020.  It will be an interesting fight, the numbers are close, this blog still supports a customs union and single market, lets see how the chips fall. 

The US on North Korea - Update 3 - Trump Era

Sky News - Live Reporting: Reports in its 5.03pm post the following, " The US secretary of state has also been speaking to a Senate committee.

Mike Pompeo says he hopes the talks between the two sides can be resumed at some point: "I hope we quickly are able to get back to that place, but ultimately Chairman Kim will have that decision to make for himself."  "

Lets Get Real:

The US has thrown the ball back in to North Korea's lap, it will be up to Chairman Kim or Rocket Man to make the decision if he wants a REAL peace with the US and its allies.  One does wonder what part China has played in this diplomatic game, have they tried to get North Korea to the table or do they want to keep North Korea as a dangerous satellite in the area. 

Trump on North Korea - Update 2 - Trump Era

BBC News - Live Reporting: Reports the following in its 4.37pm post, " The North Koreans announced Thursday morning that they had collapsed the tunnels at their nuclear test site, but they accompanied it with threats of nuclear war and a demeaning swipe at Vice-President Mike Pence. Mr Trump has shown time and time again that he won’t abide verbal swipes from the North Koreans.

He responds to their nuclear sabre-rattling with another round of “fire and fury” style language, boasting about the massive and powerful US nuclear arsenal that Donald Trump prays to God will never be used. It’s a return to the rhetoric of last summer, when it appeared the US and North Korea were headed toward a military confrontation. The start of the letter may be diplomat-speak, but this is Mr Trump’s voice coming through.  "

Lets Get Real:

It will be interesting to see what North Korea says about the cancelled Summit, will they back track and allow Trump to put the Summit back on or are they under pressure from China not to give to many concessions to the Trump Oval. Of course since North Korea is such a mystery, it is a closed society, the leadership could be under pressure from other forces within North Korea.   One suspects that the North Korean Army does not want to give up its nuclear arsenal, also the treasure of North Korea is spent on the armed forces, one can not discount that view.   One suspects there will be Summit, of course that depends on Trump and Kim Jong-Un, there still might be WAR. 

Trump Cancels North Korean Summit - Trump Era

The White House: Reports that President Trump has cancelled the Summit with North Korea due to North Korea's " anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement.  "

Lets Get Real:

This cancellation of the North Korean Summit is not that surprising, the harsh rhetoric out of North Korea has increased over the last few days, the North Korea has been critical of White House Staff and of the Vice - President.   It was a odd news day, the North Koreans blew up their nuclear facility while doing harsh rhetoric with the US.  One could almost say that the talks themselves become a problem, the North Korean Regime does not want to be another Libya, that is Gaddafi thrown from power by his people and killed by the people, so any such reference to Libya does not go down well.  In the view from the US, the Libya model works for them, Gaddafi agreed to remove his nuclear project, his fall from power, came years later.  It will be interesting to see what happens over the next few days.