The Gaming Den

I'm more concerned with staying on the EU's good side than answering the demands of Brexiteers. Say that anyone with a job or university application can get a visa to Britain.

Fair enough. I'll change my vote to jobs and universities.

Does this mean our global strategy is going to be as conciliatorily as possible to the EU27 or just play it by ear and mix and match?

I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm by and large playing pragmatically.

I haven't seen an option that won't get us bombed by Fenians, so I don't think it really matters. I'll get on the 'more permissive' wagon.

You wait until the following day to get the other ministers’ verdict on your proposal. If you have the keyword KOALA...

We don't, so:

It’s not a bad compromise and they know it. You can go home and announce the introduction of a visa system, which will please the Kippers and the right of your own party. At the same time, the visa guidelines will pretty much replicate the best elements of free movement – the ability of the labour market to respond rapidly, the necessary fluidity of service sector jobs – while removing the ways that some voters perceive, rightly or wrongly, that it is being abused.



If both of the boxes above are already highlighted...

Otherwise, don’t highlight one yet, just read on.

You only have limited time to oversee areas of the Brexit talks in person. Other negotiations are left to your deputies. The issues that need to be dealt with now are listed below, and you will only be able to deal with two of them personally.

When you choose an issue to oversee, you’ll be asked to highlight one of the boxes above:


Incidentally, if you need a rest from running the country, this is a good place to take a break and come back later. Once you have dealt with two of these issues (indicated by having highlighted both boxes above)...

Negotiation Strats.

Seconded

Thirded.

The EU Commission’s chief negotiator, Armand Alprèves, is pleased by your suggestion that some rules and guidelines should be established at this early stage.

‘Ever since the days of Hammurabi, it has always been better to be governed by principles than by whims,’ he agrees.

Willy Franjeboom, the EU Parliament’s negotiator, is not so quick to acquiesce. ‘It depends, of course, on what those principles are.’

What will you suggest?

#1 is the most diplomatic and doesn't actually commit us to anything concrete, go with that.

Agreed.

Thirded

While trying not to appear too fulsome, they are obviously encouraged and even pleasantly surprised by your proposals.


If both of the boxes above are already highlighted...

While you have been attending to the areas of negotiation you consider most important, you’ve had to delegate other topics to your ministers. Now it’s time to see how they’ve done.

If you have not marked Negotiation Strategy as complete...
Otherwise, if you have not marked Immigration as complete...
Otherwise, if you have not completed the Exit Fee and do not have the keywords APRICITY or BLEAK...

Your civil servants report that the minister tasked with negotiating the exit fee flew into a temper when the EU team contradicted him. He stormed out saying that he wouldn’t stand for what he called punishment beatings. There’s even a rumour that he likened the German delegation to concentration camp guards.

‘It could have gone worse,’ is your chief of staff’s view. ‘I made sure to have his hip flask filled with tonic water.’

‘But what now? The EU27 will take it to the International Court. We may end up having to pay more.’

He nods. ‘But not until after the next election, at least.’

A couple of issues have been sitting in your in-tray for a while. Now that you have a little time, decide which you want to deal with:

48% Authority
60% Economy
53% Goodwill
57% Popularity

Immigration, Negotiation Strategy
Bleak, Maple

I'd guess Turkey. Being hardline to Turkey should play well to the EU27, our backbenchers and the British public. Win-win-win, (except for the Turks).

Any discussion over Gibraltar will just piss the Spanish off.

Talk Turkey.

Turkey.

Poultry for Thanksgiving dinners.

‘We’re going to have a shortage of labour after Brexit,’ the Chancellor reminds you.

‘Doctors, nurses… Yes, I suppose we’ll have to step up immigration from India and the Caribbean, even though the Brexit voters are going to hate that.’

‘Actually I was thinking of unskilled and semi-skilled workers. The sort of menial job that no coddled British school-leaver would dream of doing.’

‘Alan, I’ve told you before about this. Don’t bring me problems, bring me – ’

‘I have the solution right here, Prime Minister. A special visa deal with Turkey. President Yalayip Kulübe will go along with anything that makes it look as if his country is getting more acceptance by the West.’

‘If only to cock a snook at the EU.’

Will you agree to the deal making it easier for Turkish workers to get a visa to the UK?

Allowing Turkish workers easier access to visas is not going to be popular with the British public or the EU, both of which I'm more concerned with currying favor with than Turkey.

A vote for disagreeing but I'll change to break ties because siding with Turkey would be interesting even if it isn't politically expedient.

So we'll take an economic boost, but lose support for not sticking it to Johnny Foreigner, and tank our goodwill? No.

Labor shortages create upward pressure on wages, so I'm actually in favor of that. No.

You’ve survived the first six months of Brexit negotiations, but it’s still a long road ahead. ►666 and highlight one of the boxes there before you do anything else

This is different from any other section in the book. Do not highlight one of the boxes above unless you were specifically told to do so in the section you’ve just turned from.
If none of the boxes is highlighted...
If one box is highlighted...
If two boxes are highlighted...
If all three boxes are highlighted...

By the way, if you need a rest from running the country – well, it’s a stressful job and nobody could blame you. This is a good place to take a break. Just be sure to bookmark this section so you can find your place later.


If this box □ is not highlighted, do so now and...

If you have the keyword TIGHTROPE...
If you have the keyword KOALA...
If you have the keyword WELTER...
If you have none of those keywords...

If you have the keyword MAPLE...

As you’ve agreed to a modified form of free movement, the issue of EU and UK nationals living in each other’s countries is now superfluous. You announce a mutual agreement permitting those citizens to keep their residency status following Brexit.

If this box □ is not highlighted, do so now and...
Otherwise read on. If this box □ is not highlighted, do so now and...

Sterling is falling faster than Wile E Coyote carrying an anvil. People are angry that their shopping bill gets more eye-wateringly expensive every week.

‘Looking on the bright side,’ chips in the International Trade Minister, ‘the slide in the pound will make our exports more attractive.’

If this box □ is not highlighted, do so now and...
Otherwise read on. If this box □ is not highlighted, do so now and... Otherwise read on.

To be briefed on the issues you’re facing...
Who has time for briefings? It’s time to do something!

48% Authority
65% Economy
63% Goodwill
61% Popularity

Immigration, Negotiation Strategy, Residency Rights
Bleak, Maple

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