[0762]

I also notice Merkel has regularly laid out various 'caveats' re the UK's perceived smooth transition away from the EU. I believe that officials in UK gov believed Merkel would play some kinda pivotal role in eventually brokering a reasonable deal. She has effectively 'slammed the door' and let the business begin with the EU's full interests at heart and the UK's interest will definitely be a poor second or 'third party' in that respect and wrt it's financial/economic detriment! There is also a huge cultural difference politically - I call it 'in your face'politics particularly in England and it is so diverse from politics in Europe which build on alliances and coalitions - that's exactly why I see Scotland's position as strongly aligned to European ideologies due to our vastly different culture and pluralist society compared with vast swathes of England! One can see why the relationship is gonna sour as we are already observing with the confrontational dialogue that is, election or no gen election, the wrong way to go about the negotiation of the UK's formal exit from the EU single market before it has even seriously started!