Authored by Mike Shedlock via MIshTalk,

With Brexit emotions running high, let's step back and calmly discuss the pertinent facts...

Ten Brexit Facts

In the referendum, a majority of UK citizens voted to leave the EU. The default legal position, subject to change, is that the UK will leave the EU on October 31, 2019. It is not within the power of the UK parliament to change point number 1. It is not within the power of the Queen to change point number 1. The not the legal right of the EU to grant an extension request from UK parliament, by the Queen, or on its own behalf. The October 31 date is subject to change, but only at the request of the UK prime minister, and then only if all 27 nations in the EU agree. The window of opportunity for the UK parliament to force elections is September 3 through September 11 at maximum. It is an option of the next prime minister to prorogue (suspend) parliament long enough to rule out new elections The prediction that the UK would collapse immediately following the referendum was spectacularly wrong. Predictions of UK demise should there be no a No Deal Brexit are predictions, often purposely biased, not facts. Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, admitted on film that the Irish backstop was used as a "tactical and strategic means to apply permanent pressure on the UK."

Facts vs Politics

Like it or not, those are the pertinent facts.

With those facts out of the way, lets turn our attention to the politics of the day as reported by the Guardian Live Blog.

Hunt: Addressing the possibility of a no-deal Brexit, Hunt says that, while it’s not his preferred option, he would take it if he didn’t think a deal was possible by 31 October – even though he acknowledges it’d destroy people’s livelihoods. "I think there is a deal that can unite all wings of the Conservative party and our friends in the DUP. But it’s got to be different to Theresa May’s deal."

Johnson: Boris Johnson has pledged that the UK will leave the European Union on 31 October “do or die”, as he promised to push for a no-deal Brexit if this was needed to meet the departure deadline. "But I’m not going to do that if there’s a prospect of a better deal."

Nearly Identical Positions

The amusing thing here is they are saying the same thing.

Hunt is not remotely believable.

Johnson is certainly more believable. Today he issued a challenge to Hunt.

If I become PM, we will leave the EU on 31st October, deal or no deal. Today I have asked @Jeremy_Hunt whether he will also commit to this date, no matter what. We must keep our promises to the British people and deliver Brexit - no ifs, no buts, and no second referendum. pic.twitter.com/YgRSfESSFY — Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) June 25, 2019

WTO Article 24 Legal Authority

Article 24 pertains to the right of countries to abolish WTO tariffs on condition that both counties agree and both countries set a timeline for reaching a deal. They have 10 years to finalize the deal.

This letter in the Telegraph has undisputed legal authority. It demolishes the mischief-making which has been generated over Article 24 of the GATT agreement. pic.twitter.com/WCrz0JHuHM — Bill Cash (@BillCashMP) June 25, 2019

Johnson stated today: "Gatt article 24 paragraph males it perfectly clear that two countries that are in the process of beginning a free trade agreement may protract their existing arrangements until such time as they have completed any free trade agreement. And that’s a very hopeful prospect. That is the way forward."

Please add that to the fact list.

Germany Running Scared

This is my opinion, but Germany is running scared, very scared.

Please consider the Guardian report Germany ‘will talk to the last hour’ to avoid no-deal Brexit.

Germany will fight to the last hour to prevent the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal and is willing to hear any fresh ideas for the Irish border backstop, the country’s ambassador to the UK has said. Speaking at a car manufacturers’ summit in London, Peter Wittig said Germany cherished its relationship with the UK and was ready to talk about solutions the new prime minister might have for the Irish border problem. “My country is ready to talk and the chancellor [Angela Merkel] once said she would be willing to talk to the last hour not to have a no-deal scenario,” he said. “It’s a mindset. We are not giving up in achieving an orderly Brexit. Germany has been a very pragmatic voice in this whole tortuous Brexit process and we will continue to be that. “Even if we have a short window while the new prime minister is in place, we will welcome any idea how to solve that famous backstop issue and we will be willing to work towards a negotiated deal which is long term the only viable and sensible option for Europe,” he added. “Our mindset is to explore all pathways to come to a negotiated deal.”

Mindset

Is that believable?

Of course it is. Germany is scared to death its vaunted export machine is about to collapse.

I wrote about that earlier today in Rise of the Greens = Deindustrialization of Germany.

Five Events

Merkel foolishly did in nuclear to appease the Greens The German Car industry lied about diesel. The Greens stepped in and killed it. The Greens will kill coal. Brexit will hurt German exports no matter what happens now. Trump tariffs on German cars are likely to be the topper.

Point number four is in serious play. The German trade surplus with the UK and the rest of the world is huge.

Permanent Pressure

Let's return to point 10 at the top: Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, admitted on film that the Irish backstop was used as a "tactical and strategic means to apply permanent pressure on the UK."

Please see Let's Discuss Brexit (and How the EU Bragged, on Film, About Screwing the UK) for proof, not allegations.

Credibility in Play

Theresa May repeated many times "No deal is better than a bad deal". It was a lie the UK never believed.

Johnson, unlike Hunt, appears to be serious.

The EU will play as a patsy anyone who is not serious about leaving.

Power is Johnson's

The power is in Johnson's hands.

If he really is willing to leave the EU, there is enormous pressure on the EU to bend.

Lies Revisited

Think about all the lies the EU made and Remainers made about instant collapse of the UK if the vote was leave.

It didn't happen.

What If?

What if, as I suspect, there is far greater damage to the EU than the UK because of an EU collapse in exports on a hard Brexit.

This has to be on their minds.

Worst EU Fear

The EU's worst fear has to be that if the UK walks, that it is the EU, not the UK that takes the bigger hit.

Pressure? You bet.

All Johnson needs to do is stand his ground.