The Brits don't pretend to say what they mean and expect everyone else does the same

Some interesting insights.

"Now girls," the teacher explained, "when someone offers you something to eat, and you want it, you say yes, not no." These well-brought-up young ladies would usually say: "No, I couldn't possibly" to that plate of biscuits the first time round, and wait to be persuaded before giving in with a gentle: "Oh, go on then."

This is all quite straightforward to Brits, and the subtext is clear. In Germany it's baffling.

Last year David Cameron tried to persuade German Chancellor Angela Merkel to let the UK have a special deal to opt out of free movement of people, while staying in the single market. She said no. And she meant, well, no. Not "no-but-ok-if-you-push-hard-enough-maybe-yes". Just no. But in the UK politicians and journalists are still asking the question: what does Merkel really think?

And amid all the talk of red lines and not revealing your hand, there is ongoing speculation about how to interpret the signals coming out of Berlin. In fact, it's all quite simple. Merkel means what she says. And German politicians are getting increasingly frustrated by London not seeming to understand this.

In the rough-and-tumble world of confrontational British politics, we're all used to hearing things which sound like one thing, but mean another. Politics needs to be exciting in the UK to keep voters and journalists interested. So rhetorical bluster and the odd showy, overblown promise, with a bit of backtracking later, is often forgiven, especially if you've managed a witty gag or two along the way.

Yes - although we're not used to say, promises being stuck on the side of a bus and driven up and down the country and then ignored. Or a blunt statement that tuition fees will be scrapped which is then ignored. We expect the government to at least be seen to be trying, unless it's very obvious that there's no way in hell the promise can be kept as advertised. It's a bit like the standard negotiating tactic of asking for more than you know you'll get so that a reasonable compromise can be reached. You wouldn't start off by stating the absolute worst you're prepared to accept, because that guarantees you'll get a lousy deal.

In Germany - where the tradition of consensual, coalition-building means co-operation and compromise are more highly valued than macho posturing - not saying what you mean is not forgiven. It's seen as dishonest, confused and ineffective.

Which is probably why coalition governments in Britain are lousy. Politics is already confused. Throw in yet another level of compromise and no-one has a clue what they're voting for and everyone hates it (well, most people, anyway).

In fact, that's the word that explains the whole point: you hear the German word "konsequent", which roughly translates as consistent, a lot here. And it's a highly prized virtue. It means you'll do what you say, and live by the consequences if you don't. Some might say we haven't seen much evidence of that in British politics recently.

Indeed. We expect a certain number of u-turns and inconsistencies. But not on this scale.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-37799805