Current Affairs

[Mervyn and Trish]

And you're happy that our fishing fleets were wiped out by our friends the Spanish who are now endangering aircraft?

No Jack I'm not looking back to anything. I'm looking ahead to the future. We may make mistakes but at least there'll be our own.

[oldbluefox]

We are not leaving for two years yet. A week is a long time in politics.

Crikey! I find myself agreeing with Jack!!!!

[screwy]

If Jacks not going to be happy living in a UK outside of the EU I suggest he moves to one of the countries still in there,take citizanship and live happy ever after.

[Jack Staff]

If Jacks not going to be happy living in a UK outside of the EU I suggest he moves to one of the countries still in there,take citizanship and live happy ever after.

I've always liked Scotland and Northern Ireland has some beautiful scenery. On reflection, I might pick Wales.

[screwy]

Picked some losers there ,not really surprised tho. Bye bye.

[Jack Staff]

Picked some losers there ,not really surprised tho. Bye bye.

Because of Brexit, we will all be losers.

[oldbluefox]

Clearly Jack is one of those who must have benefited greatly from the EU or lives where there has been EU investment. Maybe if the wealth had been spread more equitably throughout the land more would have been voting to remain. Get away from the big cities and you will know what I mean.

[Jack Staff]

Clearly Jack is one of those who must have benefited greatly from the EU or lives where there has been EU investment. Maybe if the wealth had been spread more equitably throughout the land more would have been voting to remain. Get away from the big cities and you will know what I mean.

We have all benefited greatly from the E.U., but I live in an area that has had little investment. The wealth is spread in areas like Cornwall and Wales that really need it, but these areas voted mainly to leave . I am well away from the big cities, thank you.

[screwy]

Picked some losers there ,not really surprised tho. Bye bye.

Because of Brexit, we will all be losers.

Being so cheerfull keeps you going.

[Jack Staff]

So which one of you guys wrote this............?
http://anotherangryvoice.blogspot.co.uk ... e.html?m=1

[towny44]

Picked some losers there ,not really surprised tho. Bye bye.

Because of Brexit, we will all be losers.

Jack there are a lot of countries outside the EU that manage to survive quite well so I don't see why the UK should end up losing. Even if trade with the EU shrinks its hardly likely to disappear entirely, and I don't think you have fully understood the mechanics of ROW trade once we are outside the EU, most of them desparate not to lose any of their current export trade with us.
I would suggest you widen your circle of reading on the brexit issue and not be so blinkered by the remain supporting press.

[Jack Staff]

Jack there are a lot of countries outside the EU that manage to survive quite well so I don't see why the UK should end up losing. Even if trade with the EU shrinks its hardly likely to disappear entirely, and I don't think you have fully understood the mechanics of ROW trade once we are outside the EU, most of them desparate not to lose any of their current export trade with us.
I would suggest you widen your circle of reading on the brexit issue and not be so blinkered by the remain supporting press.

Of course there are many countries outside of the EU. But can you please name me a country outside of a trade bloc, that you would liken Brexit Britain too?

[Onelife]

It matters not Jack...towny aint saying he wants to jump into bed with any of them he's just saying we could trade with them.

[Jack Staff]

It matters not Jack...towny aint saying he wants to jump into bed with any of them he's just saying we could trade with them.

Why would they trade with us when they can trade cheaper with their friends?

So which country(s) would you suggest Brexit Britain will be comparable with?

[Stephen]

There are probably one or two here. But I'm sure not all EU countries will cut off their noses just to spite their face.

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/bu ... untries_en

[towny44]

It matters not Jack...towny aint saying he wants to jump into bed with any of them he's just saying we could trade with them.

Why would they trade with us when they can trade cheaper with their friends?

So which country(s) would you suggest Brexit Britain will be comparable with?

Jack your comments might make sense if we were a new country just emerged from the atlantic, but we already exist and have long established trading links all over the world, I agree some of the countries we trade with under the EU customs union, but they will still want that trade when we exit the EU. It will be up to the govt. to set up the new arrangements asap, and I am sure they will.
The transition will undoubtedly be a bit choppy, but nowhere near your forecasts of catastrophe.

[oldbluefox]

We have all benefited greatly from the E.U., but I live in an area that has had little investment. The wealth is spread in areas like Cornwall and Wales that really need it, but these areas voted mainly to leave . I am well away from the big cities, thank you.

But we have not greatly benefited from the EU otherwise the country would have voted to remain. There are vast swathes of the country which have suffered lack of investment - poor road infrastructure, lack of rail investment, public transport non existent, hospitals lacking up to date equipment, lost manufacturing opportunities, etc, etc. The list is endless. Compare the situation here with that of our European neighbours and, considering we are net contributors to the EU coffers we are light years behind. This is the legacy of 40 years of EU 'investment'.
I maintain that only those who have a vested interest in the EU, who gain personally from our involvement, or who live in a major city which has received investment will feel any commitment towards remaining in the EU. I see no reason to remain part of a club which is broken and provides a gravy train for failed MPs and bureaucrats.
You mention Wales. I expressed surprise that Wales had voted to leave to a Welsh friend of mine. As in England he said all the investment had been given to Cardiff whilst other parts of Wales received little or nothing. He was not at all surprised the vote had gone as it had.

[Mervyn and Trish]

We've seen the "benefits" of the EU when we travel to Madeira, part of net beneficiary Portugal. They have a fabulous major road infrastructure. Largely paid for by the EU, which means us, and better than we can afford at home. We're glad to enjoy it when we're there but then return home to endless potholes and roadworks.

But funnily enough the Madeirns are not entirely fans either. EU regulations have made some of their traditional industries uncompetitive and the Euro has created high levels of unemployment. One size fits all fits no one and that is the biggest problem with the EU and the drive for ever closer union.

[Jack Staff]

There are probably one or two here. But I'm sure not all EU countries will cut off their noses just to spite their face.

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/bu ... untries_en

So no one can come up with a 'normal/proper/ordinary' country outside of a trade block.

[Jack Staff]

It matters not Jack...towny aint saying he wants to jump into bed with any of them he's just saying we could trade with them.

Why would they trade with us when they can trade cheaper with their friends?

So which country(s) would you suggest Brexit Britain will be comparable with?

Jack your comments might make sense if we were a new country just emerged from the atlantic, but we already exist and have long established trading links all over the world, I agree some of the countries we trade with under the EU customs union, but they will still want that trade when we exit the EU. It will be up to the govt. to set up the new arrangements asap, and I am sure they will.
The transition will undoubtedly be a bit choppy, but nowhere near your forecasts of catastrophe.

We trade with EVERY country under the EU customs union.
Our trade links maybe long established, but when tariffs are suddenly applied, business is business.
You are correct in saying it's up to the government, who have proved to be particularly inept at any negotiations recently. We no longer have the option of parking a gunboat offshore to get what we want.
" .......a bit choppy......."

[Jack Staff]

We have all benefited greatly from the E.U., but I live in an area that has had little investment. The wealth is spread in areas like Cornwall and Wales that really need it, but these areas voted mainly to leave . I am well away from the big cities, thank you.

But we have not greatly benefited from the EU otherwise the country would have voted to remain. There are vast swathes of the country which have suffered lack of investment - poor road infrastructure, lack of rail investment, public transport non existent, hospitals lacking up to date equipment, lost manufacturing opportunities, etc, etc. The list is endless. Compare the situation here with that of our European neighbours and, considering we are net contributors to the EU coffers we are light years behind. This is the legacy of 40 years of EU 'investment'.
I maintain that only those who have a vested interest in the EU, who gain personally from our involvement, or who live in a major city which has received investment will feel any commitment towards remaining in the EU. I see no reason to remain part of a club which is broken and provides a gravy train for failed MPs and bureaucrats.
You mention Wales. I expressed surprise that Wales had voted to leave to a Welsh friend of mine. As in England he said all the investment had been given to Cardiff whilst other parts of Wales received little or nothing. He was not at all surprised the vote had gone as it had.

Just about all of your points are the responsibility of our government. It is them who have failed our country.
I have no vested interest in the EU, except I see it as the future for myself,my family and my country. We all gain from our involvement. I do not live in a major city, or even near one and you know I feel a commitment towards remaining in the EU.
Any large organisation has problems, but the EU is hardly broken. Have you already forgotten the 'gravy train' of MPs expenses?

[Stephen]

There are probably one or two here. But I'm sure not all EU countries will cut off their noses just to spite their face.

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/bu ... untries_en

So no one can come up with a 'normal/proper/ordinary' country outside of a trade block.

Define 'normal/proper/ordinary

I would have thought the link I provided shows plenty of 'normal' countries. Canada, China and Australia to name but a few.

[Onelife]

There are probably one or two here. But I'm sure not all EU countries will cut off their noses just to spite their face.

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/bu ... untries_en

So no one can come up with a 'normal/proper/ordinary' country outside of a trade block.

Hi Jack,

I couldn't give a shi*t about which, if any countries are comparable with Britain...what l do know is that if there is a trade to be done both EU and none EU countries make these trading decisions based on profit margins not on similarities.

[Jack Staff]

There are probably one or two here. But I'm sure not all EU countries will cut off their noses just to spite their face.

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/bu ... untries_en

So no one can come up with a 'normal/proper/ordinary' country outside of a trade block.

Define 'normal/proper/ordinary

I would have thought the link I provided shows plenty of 'normal' countries. Canada, China and Australia to name but a few.

Canada is a member of NAFTA and Australia is a member of APEC to name but a few.
China is the one! But they are a trade block in themselves. Hence I thought they were not normal/ordinary. We could talk about proper, but maybe we shouldn't.

[Jack Staff]

We've seen the "benefits" of the EU when we travel to Madeira, part of net beneficiary Portugal. They have a fabulous major road infrastructure. Largely paid for by the EU, which means us, and better than we can afford at home. We're glad to enjoy it when we're there but then return home to endless potholes and roadworks.

But funnily enough the Madeirns are not entirely fans either. EU regulations have made some of their traditional industries uncompetitive and the Euro has created high levels of unemployment. One size fits all fits no one and that is the biggest problem with the EU and the drive for ever closer union.

Martin Fowler has a fruit and veg stall in Walford market. It costs him £35 a week for his pitch. He sells his wares to all the local residents making himself a profit. He is upset that his £35 is being spent on some hanging baskets above Fred's fish stall. Lots of people come to the market because of the flowers.
Martin decides he will be better off if he gives up his stall so he will be £35 a week better off.
Martin is now broke.