Brexit, for once some facts.

[oldgroaner]

In the Guardian
"
EU leaders ready to help May sell Brexit deal to parliament
PM will receive backing to build ‘coalition of the reasonable’ in desperate bid to avoid no deal

Oh, don't spoil the fun!

 

[oldtom]

From the USA:




Only 16.4 million? The UK has 17.4 million like that!

Tom

 

[flecc]

I don't think the EU is bluffing. As trade partner, the EU can lose the UK but the UK can't lose the EU. As for money, the EU works with their own credit card anyway. They don't need UK's money immediately, the ECB can always print a little more to compensate.

Indeed, the only country affected to any large degree by the loss of all UK trade is Germany, and they've already made it clear long ago that they can afford that. Since they lost the identical 7% of business in the 2008 financial crisis but sailed through that without any problem, they've already proved that beyond doubt.

The UK though would be crippled by the total loss of EU trade and services.

Together these facts made our attempt to negotiate leaving the EU on favourable terms bound to fail, since our hands were tied at the outset. The EU holds all the cards and just has to wait for our choice of suicide attempt.
.

 

[oldtom]

So, whose fault is it that 'Brexit' has turned into a complete and utter shambles?

The following list is 100% accurate!:



Which begs the question, should Quitters be renamed Blamers?

Tom

 

[Woosh]

Michel Barnier explains brexit:

"I don’t want to impose a hard Brexit. A hard Brexit is the absence of a deal and I am working for a deal. But Brexit can’t be soft. It has innumerable consequences. It was chosen by the British. Were they well informed at the time they voted? They were not told all the consequences - even Mr Farage recognised that everything was not spelt out in the campaign."

"I don’t want to impose a hard Brexit, but Brexit can’t be soft." he could not be clearer than that.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2018/oct/19/brexit-may-summit-tory-brexiters-would-vote-down-extra-payments-to-eu-for-longer-transition-says-rees-mogg-politics-live

 

[anotherkiwi]

... and it took Spain a full generation to rid itself of the blight.

You are in an optimistic mood today! The blight is still there, trust me. It was in government until a very recent time. The Basque and Catalan situations are both caused by people not being dragged before a court of justice to answer for the crimes they committed. And the Guardia continued to persecute the Basques even under the first socialist governments...

 

[oyster]

No surprises...

No-deal Brexit must be avoided at all costs, says Toyota president
Akio Toyoda says apprehension is growing as Brexit negotiations continue

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/oct/19/no-deal-brexit-must-be-avoided-at-all-costs-says-toyota-president

 

[Kudoscycles]

At a recent cabinet meeting, Sajid Javid listed the options: if talks fail, he said, there can be an immediate stimulus. A chance to push through long-overdue changes and advertise Britain as a self-confident country, presenting itself anew to the world – with tax cuts to show it means business. Other cabinet members are talking to each other about similar ideas. A plan to ameliorate a no-deal Brexit is starting to emerge.

It would need to be bold, striking – and, ideally, focus minds in Brussels. In his budget this month, for example, the chancellor could say that, in the event of no deal, Britain would immediately begin unilateral free trade by abolishing all import tariffs on everything except food.

This could last for two years, a new transition period. Corporation tax could drop to 10%. VAT might also be cut, to soften the blow of inflation. Britain would be open for world trade.

Remedies could then be announced for the undeniable problems that a no-deal Brexit would bring, especially border controls. We could use spot checks, waving 99% of goods through. The idea might give civil servants a heart attack, but it’s all allowed under World Trade Organisation rules.

The Chinese to UK electric bike industry would like this....
Northern Ireland to Eire and Dover to Calais would be the smuggling centres of Europe.
It would be hell at Dover because the French would want to open every truck.
Interesting......
KudosDave

 

[oldgroaner]

At a recent cabinet meeting, Sajid Javid listed the options: if talks fail, he said, there can be an immediate stimulus. A chance to push through long-overdue changes and advertise Britain as a self-confident country, presenting itself anew to the world – with tax cuts to show it means business. Other cabinet members are talking to each other about similar ideas. A plan to ameliorate a no-deal Brexit is starting to emerge.

It would need to be bold, striking – and, ideally, focus minds in Brussels. In his budget this month, for example, the chancellor could say that, in the event of no deal, Britain would immediately begin unilateral free trade by abolishing all import tariffs on everything except food.

This could last for two years, a new transition period. Corporation tax could drop to 10%. VAT might also be cut, to soften the blow of inflation. Britain would be open for world trade.

Remedies could then be announced for the undeniable problems that a no-deal Brexit would bring, especially border controls. We could use spot checks, waving 99% of goods through. The idea might give civil servants a heart attack, but it’s all allowed under World Trade Organisation rules.

The Chinese to UK electric bike industry would like this....
Northern Ireland to Eire and Dover to Calais would be the smuggling centres of Europe.
It would be hell at Dover because the French would want to open every truck.
Interesting......
KudosDave

We are going to need a bigger Asylum for the Criminally insane

 

[tillson]

Nick Clegg, newly appointment head of global affairs and communications for..........drum role.........Facebook! Facebook, the evil Internet Giant complicit in rigging Donald Trump’s presidency, avoiding taxation which would enable the poor to be fed, and bringing about Brexit.

It only takes a bit of cheese, and these lefty liberal types will dance to any tune. I wonder what he and others of his ilk stand to gain from opposing Brexit?

I hope the money brings illness and misfortune to Clegg and his family. What a piece of faeces that man is.

 

[anotherkiwi]

Nick Clegg, newly appointment head of global affairs and communications for..........drum role.........Facebook! Facebook, the evil Internet Giant complicit in rigging Donald Trump’s presidency, avoiding taxation which would enable the poor to be fed, and bringing about Brexit.

It only takes a bit of cheese, and these lefty liberal types will dance to any tune. I wonder what he and others of his ilk stand to gain from opposing Brexit?

I hope the money brings illness and misfortune to Clegg and his family. What a piece of faeces that man is.

And here I was thinking that I was pretty hard on facecr@p...

 

[oldgroaner]

And here I was thinking that I was pretty hard on facecr@p...

I'm wondering how clegg qualifies as a lefty liberal [emoji50]

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

 

[oyster]

And here I was thinking that I was pretty hard on facecr@p...

There's no-one here who could be hard enough on them.

Quite likely fb have more power over us than the EU - and we are not able to exert influence over fb as much as we can (could) over the EU.

 

[oldtom]

Nick Clegg, newly appointment head of global affairs and communications for..........drum role.........Facebook! Facebook, the evil Internet Giant complicit in rigging Donald Trump’s presidency, avoiding taxation which would enable the poor to be fed, and bringing about Brexit.

It only takes a bit of cheese, and these lefty liberal types will dance to any tune. I wonder what he and others of his ilk stand to gain from opposing Brexit?

I hope the money brings illness and misfortune to Clegg and his family. What a piece of faeces that man is.

I agree with most of your sentiments except for the descriptor, 'lefty'. Clegg would fit perfectly in the tory party and like the man for all seasons, Vince Cable', gave huge assistance to the tories during the coalition years. He is no socialist and both he and Cable are political cowards and traitors to the lower classes in the UK.

Tom

 

[oldgroaner]

In the Independent
"
Liberal Democrats to begin process of selecting MEP candidates for European elections
Exclusive: Sir Vince tells The Independent 'It seems Article 50 may well have to be extended, so it is a sensible precaution to have a process that allows us to select candidates quickly and democratically'

There seem to be a lot of theoretical job vacancies these days!
I wonder if the pay is real?

 

[oldtom]

If you're thinking of joining the thousands of sensible people demonstrating In the capital tomorrow, you might want to display a placard but can't think of what to put on it. Well, check out this link for a few ideas:

https://inktank.fi/15-fantastically-fun-protest-signs-from-the-unite-for-europe-march/?fbclid=IwAR0WBwhJ1a1xntd7i6JEke_OGx56slYiLdnsyNfDAXnWMNxBhgBFUcUDZtY

Tom

 

[oldgroaner]

Bearing in mind the March for a "Peoples vote" tommorow it's worth considering what the timescale will be in the unlikely event that success is achieved in moving Parliament to agree

http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/brexit/2018/09/05/how-long-would-it-take-to-hold-a-second-referendum-on-brexit/

"This implies that, were legislation introduced the day parliament returned from the party conference recess, on 9 October, the earliest Thursday on which a referendum could be held would be 28 March – the very day before exit day. Of course, the introduction of legislation so soon is very unlikely, and there is plenty of scope for delays along the way. Hence, to hold a referendum, Article 50 would almost certainly need to be extended and exit day postponed."

No matter how well or not it the protest goes tomorrow, it looks like too little, too late.

Nevertheless best wishes to all who attend, May the Force (pardon will of the people) be with you!

In the immortal words of Les Dawson

"Optimistic?.... optimistic???

I'm as optimistic as a Turkey sitting on a pile of boxes of Paxo
Listening to Christmas Carols!"

However now is the time to dwell on the fact that the Flying Fickle finger of fate could despite the odds save the day.
Before you go to bed tonight spare a thought for the possibility of a Foinavon moment, just when we need one most.

For those unaware of the history, here it is

"Foinavon was an Irish racehorse. He won the Grand National in 1967 at odds of 100/1 after the rest of the field fell, refused or were hampered or brought down in a mêlée at the 23rd fence. The fence was officially named after Foinavon in 1984.

My rather warped perception of the absurdity of our times is the thought that there are astonishing parallels between the circumstances of Foinavon's incredible win, and Brexit and all contenders therein.
And never has there been a greater need for that example of reality falling off it's hinges to happen again.

 

[oldtom]

While the British government continues with its slow, drawn-out act of self-mutilation and the White House is occupied by an idiot ruining the USA at the moment, one man just can't stop laughing because he can't believe his luck.

That man is Vladimir Putin and some Americans understand why Putin is so happy:

https://shareblue.com/russia-president-vladimir-putin-annual-address-americas-downfall/?fbclid=IwAR04U6fs5fDraU0WQqSSK8wbvQalUfh3d168Bi3MA8YgifesQINlqjuqnRM

Tom

 

[oldtom]

Nelson Mandela's grandson isn't terribly impressed by the temporary British Prime Minister but he's a big fan of Jeremy Corbyn and here he explains why:



Tom

 

[Danidl]

Bearing in mind the March for a "Peoples vote" tommorow it's worth considering what the timescale will be in the unlikely event that success is achieved in moving Parliament to agree

http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/brexit/2018/09/05/how-long-would-it-take-to-hold-a-second-referendum-on-brexit/

"This implies that, were legislation introduced the day parliament returned from the party conference recess, on 9 October, the earliest Thursday on which a referendum could be held would be 28 March – the very day before exit day. Of course, the introduction of legislation so soon is very unlikely, and there is plenty of scope for delays along the way. Hence, to hold a referendum, Article 50 would almost certainly need to be extended and exit day postponed."

No matter how well or not it the protest goes tomorrow, it looks like too little, too late.

Nevertheless best wishes to all who attend, May the Force (pardon will of the people) be with you!

In the immortal words of Les Dawson

"Optimistic?.... optimistic???

I'm as optimistic as a Turkey sitting on a pile of boxes of Paxo
Listening to Christmas Carols!"

However now is the time to dwell on the fact that the Flying Fickle finger of fate could despite the odds save the day.
Before you go to bed tonight spare a thought for the possibility of a Foinavon moment, just when we need one most.

For those unaware of the history, here it is

"Foinavon was an Irish racehorse. He won the Grand National in 1967 at odds of 100/1 after the rest of the field fell, refused or were hampered or brought down in a mêlée at the 23rd fence. The fence was officially named after Foinavon in 1984.

My rather warped perception of the absurdity of our times is the thought that there are astonishing parallels between the circumstances of Foinavon's incredible win, and Brexit and all contenders therein.
And never has there been a greater need for that example of reality falling off it's hinges to happen again.

If the British parliament moved and passed legislation setting a date for a referendum, it is inconscievable that the European Union Council would not extend the exit date.