The Brexit negotiations suffered a pretty embarrassing setback yesterday over timetabling.
Brexit Secretary David Davis had wanted trade talks to take place in parallel with negotiations on the divorce bill from Brussels and had previously warned that the dispute would be “the row of the summer”.
But on day one, the UK ended up agreeing to a different Brexit timetable set out by the European Commission’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, meaning those important trade talks will have to wait.
People are not impressed with the way things are looking so far.
I see david davis' predicted 'row of the summer' passed without incident.
He conceded on day 1.— Louise "Elbows" Jack (@xloubellxx) June 20, 2017
Climbdown on Davis and his timetable. Myths busted. All the openness and transparency coming from one side. What an opening day…, #Brexit.
— Jack Sutherland (@JackSuth17) June 19, 2017
The 'Row of the Summer' turns out to be a barely audible mew by frazzled David Davis https://t.co/U1KC3Oq2Zx
— Paul Cooke (@nzimwale) June 20, 2017
Brexit Secretary David Davis predicted “the row of the summer” would be over the timetable for talks,
Day 1. He rolls over & Summer is over.— Denis Skinner (@BolsoverBeast) June 20, 2017
Although perhaps he was talking about a British summer in particular?
I think he meant the row of the British summer, you know, 3 days followed by a week of drizzle
— Jean le Saboteur (@banndit78) June 20, 2017
Maybe he should have said 'Row of the British summer'
— Jean le Saboteur (@banndit78) June 19, 2017
Davis is now meeting members of Spain’s government on day two as part of his effort to build bridges across the continent, where talks are expected to include the tricky issue of Gibraltar after the EU’s guidelines for talks suggested the territory’s future economic status might be subject to a veto from Madrid.
