Dave,
I particularly like your comment (and the original line you're commenting on):

When it comes to bullies appeasement is a very poor idea, because once they see you caving in to their bullying behaviour to give them what they want, they're just going to use the same bully-boy tactics to demand more and more and more.

Opinion but based on sound psychology.

Have you considered that this is also how the EU is treating the UK?