Nothing is agreed until ...

“Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed” - the words of the Bulgarian PM ring out loud and clear. The one consistent fact in the great Brexit farce is that the EU have insisted that the four freedoms are as one, and that without (for example) freedom of movement there can be no negotiation on goods, capital and services. “All for one and one for all” springs to mind as the original analogy of Johnson, Davis and Fox as The Three Musketeers.

In expat land, there is considerable confusion and concern. Whether Project Fear (mark 2) is real or imaginary, many people are quite naturally concerned about their futures. Ann has always maintained that we should not panic and wait and see before taking any action. Sensible but when you watch otherwise “intelligent” Britons running round and chasing their tails, you do begin to wonder who is mad. Many, many years ago my mother came down to one of the rehearsals for the Sovereign’s Parade at Sandhurst (as she was due to be abroad when the actual ceremony took place). As she watched her eldest son marching she was aware that I was not in step with my brother officer cadets. On that occasion I could not hear the bass drum. In a classical moment my mother turned to the lady sitting next to her and proclaimed that the other officer cadets were out of step with me. That is just how I feel sometimes when advice and questions appear from all sides.

One of the most difficult aspects of all of this is that the British High Commissioner has just been replaced. The new commissioner, who is - in reality - just a mouthpiece for the government, is telling people that the MEU3 form (guaranteeing permanent residence) is not necessary. His predecessor was  insisting that all resident Britons (at least all of those who had been living in Cyprus for five or more years) should apply for permanent residence. Now I know that expats living in the EU are seen as a minor annoyance to the UK government but perhaps it should be remembered that they are UK citizens, with UK passports. Of course the manifesto promise of votes for all expats (currently you lose the right to vote after fifteen years) has been quietly forgotten. No doubt the relevant ministers were too busy filling in their expense forms.

If it wasn’t so serious, it would be hilarious.