YOU can’t have your cake and eat it.
Or as the Germans say: “Wasch mir den Pelz, aber mach mich nicht nass” (Wash my fur but don't get me wet).
The French version goes: “Vouloir le beurre et l'argent du beurre” (To want the butter and the money used to buy the butter.
The Danish say: “Man kan ikke både blæse og have mel i munden” (You cannot both blow and have flour in your mouth).
The phrase sprung to mind after a Brexit Party MEP complained that the UK would not have representation in the EU after it leaves the bloc.
We suspect Brexit Party MEPs aren’t much interested in the European versions of the phrase, but they’re useful when imagining how other European politicians would respond.
June Mummery, one of the Brexit Party's 29 representatives elected in the European Parliament, suggested the loss of MEPs would make it hard to hold Brussels to account – who’d have thought it.
She tweeted: “Attending the penultimate session of the #EuropeanParliament’s #FisheriesCommittee #PECHcommittee) with #BritishMEPs. The big question now is, who will be here to hold these people to account while they still control Britain’s waters, but the UK has no representation?”
They really haven’t thought this through have they?
SNP MP Peter Grant replied: "If only somebody hadn’t lied and said there was no accountability, maybe people would have voted differently.”
If only somebody hadn’t lied and said there was no accountability, maybe people would have voted differently.
— Peter Grant MP (@PeterGrantMP) January 20, 2020
He wasn’t the only one rolling his eye.
LibDem MEP Jane Brophy posted: "It took a long time but finally a Brexit MEP realised what Brexit means. I fear for our country and all the people that are in for a big shock."
Labour MEP Rory Palmer added: "[I'm] thinking the Brexit Party briefing for Brexit Party MEPs on what Brexit means might need some work."
Dutch MEP Bas Eickhout, a member of the European Green Party, also replied.
Brexit MEP finds out what Brexit means... https://t.co/j8lLMKSJHP
— Bas Eickhout (@BasEickhout) January 20, 2020
Responding to the story, European Parliament Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt tweeted: “European countries are stronger together using our combined influence to act in the world of Trump, Xi & Putin.
“This co-operation enhances our sovereignty. The isolation of nationalism takes this away, as some in the Brexit Party are now realising.”
It seems that despite their attempts to divide the continent, Brexiteers often end up uniting Europeans – no matter what languages they speak.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel