Brexit

[C8RKH 6,693]

1 hour ago, mdw said:

  😟   I'm sure we will all try not to take that too personally

Lol. Don't worry the Apologist will be along shortly to unwrinkle your brow and give you a cuddle. But just in case you are in any doubt,  yup, it was a joke @mdw.  Coming from Liverpool and therefore being the butt of literally millions of jokes and digs I grew both a sense of humour and a thick skin at an early age. 

merry xmas everyone in Kent. Love you really.

[Sparky 2,930]

Except @Chillidoggy.  There are limits.

[Bibs 11,639]

This sounds like it could save a lot of lives...

https://www.uclhospitals.brc.nihr.ac.uk/news/uclh-doses-first-patient-world-covid-19-antibody-trial

[Sparky 2,930]

Don't know if/how it's related, but I am part of a UCL study and will be having an antibody test imminently.

[ChrisJ 1,505]

Boris has succeeded where all others failed - UnHerd

 

[C8RKH 6,693]

3 hours ago, ChrisJ said:

Boris has succeeded where all others failed - UnHerd

 

An interesting read thanks for sharing.

I for one am interested to see where the debate now goes. For too long Remainers have sought to control the rhetoric based on facts that are increasingly untrue. Like all Boris ever wanted was a "no deal" - if you know anything about him, his politics, and his time as London Mayor, you will know he is not the extreme right wing dictator people like to pitch him as.

I mean look at him and the current Mayor Sadiq Khan. You would expect the old Etonian, blonde flop haired to be totally despised by the multi-cultural Londoners, however, I really do believe that history will show that BoJo did more to bring Londoners together, really together, than that left wing socialist Khan could ever do.

So, on January 1st I predict, that the predictions of the Remainers, will be found to be the total bollocks we always said they were. The world will not stop to let the UK get off. Trade will not cease and supermarket shelves will not be bare. Cars will continue to be made here and exported to Europe (I can see a potential popularist backlash to the likes of Nissan, Renault and Honda who all trumpeted with glee how Brexit would kill their UK operations and jobs). And we'll all be able to go on to our summer holidays in Spain and France without an issue.  We'll have a new global Healthcard (a GHIC instead of an NHIC) and it will be continued to be ignored, just like the last one was in large parts of Spain, Italy and France and you'll still be expected to flash your credit card upfront to get treatment and then told to claim it back from your insurance (whilst the NHS will continue to treat French, Spanish and Italians who will continue to holiday here for free, without the embarrassment of forcing them to insert their credit cards into a machine first).

A lot of people saying that the trade deal does not cover everything and therefore we lost or capitulated. But then they seem to forget that we are now free to negotiate trade deals anywhere else we want and that these will be "over and above" the deal with the EU.  We didn't lose on fisheries, we gained 25% MORE of our catch back (you can tell Scotland's educational system is broken as Sturgeon seems to think having more is worse and so watch her pontificate over how Scottish fisherpeople have been sold down the river as she convinces to then give up that 25% more to have 25% less by going back into the EU - I know, bonker is as bonkers does!)

I think as 2021 unfolds a lot of Reaminers words will find themselves into humble pies and I for one will enjoy watching them eat it!  The deal is not perfect. Not by a long way, but is actually better than just about Remainer I know would have predicted, even when they had been on the "happy cigs" for the weekend.

Maybe now we can put this Brexit thing behind us. Focus on getting over this Pandemic and then drive this country forwards to be the best it can be. Or, we just go back to arguing over a decision that was taken democratically 4 years ago and acted upon. I guess the choice is ours now.

[pete 1,957]

Whilst agreeing with most of the above,there is no way I will be holidaying in France or traveling through it ,if I can avoid it 

[Barrykearley 7,135]

52 minutes ago, C8RKH said:

We'll have a new global Healthcard (a GHIC instead of an NHIC) and it will be continued to be ignored, just like the last one was in large parts of Spain, Italy and France and you'll still be expected to flash your credit card upfront to get treatment and then told to claim it back from your insurance (whilst the NHS will continue to treat French, Spanish and Italians who will continue to holiday here for free, without the embarrassment of forcing them to insert their credit cards into a machine first).

And right there is a clear example of the contempt many member states, read real countries, held the Great British citizens in. Even after being rescued by our heros after the last unification of Europe a few decades ago.

[SFO 225]

2 hours ago, C8RKH said:

We didn't lose on fisheries, we gained 25% MORE of our catch back (you can tell Scotland's educational system is broken as Sturgeon seems to think having more is worse and so watch her pontificate over how Scottish fisherpeople have been sold down the river as she convinces to then give up that 25% more to have 25% less by going back into the EU - I know, bonker is as bonkers does!)

Sturgeon is clutching at straws. Her fox has been shot as there will be no material damage to Scotland now we have a FTA. SNP were very quiet on fish as staying in customs union and single market would mean no additional fish. Now they just sound ridiculous but not to SNP true believers. Hopefully, many other Scots with an open and reasonable mind can see through Sturgeon's duplicitous clap trap of diarrhoea masquerading as policy and strategy.

I can't wait to see Andrew Neil interview her on why independence is still so important to Scotland's economy. 

[PaulCP 727]

2 hours ago, C8RKH said:

I for one am interested to see where the debate now goes. For too long Remainers have sought to control the rhetoric based on facts that are increasingly untrue.

 

I think quite a few of those who voted “remain,” like myself, have become pretty sick and tired of the EU over the past 4 years and are now happy that we are out.

Getting agreements was never going to be easy, but during those 4 years the EU have demonstrated beyond doubt not just how their unelected bureaucrats try to run the show but also how the main member states just look after themselves.

If true, a prime example is reports that Merkel pulled strings right at the death for fear of how a no deal would adversely affect German manufacturers’ who trade with the U.K., particularly the motor sector. 

I think that the EU will be very interesting over the next 10 years as the “united 27” start to become more disunited.

[pete 1,957]

We are all now 'believers'

[Barrykearley 7,135]

shame we missed put on the unity 🤭

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55456795

[Andyww 1,302]

5 hours ago, C8RKH said:

You would expect the old Etonian, blonde flop haired to be totally despised by the multi-cultural Londoners, however, I really do believe that history will show that BoJo did more to bring Londoners together, really together, than that left wing socialist Khan could ever do.

 

Yes Boris did absolutely everything he promised to do when mayor. Every one of his manifesto promises were carried out including the "Boris Bikes" which many people, including myself thought would never be viable.

Whenever I put this to my lefty mates they start banging on about the "garden bridge" which was aborted after millions was spent, but that was cancelled by KHAN! Or they go on about the new Routemaster buses being too hot in summer. Because we all know the mayor is responsible for designing bus HVAC systems. 

I am seeing the same thing now. Labour have been on Sky News (which seems to give them double airtime) banging on about the deal being "too last-minute" and their previous disdain for the financial services industry seems to have suddenly disappeared as the deal has apparently destroyed the industry according to them.

I have a feeling I know what the next whinge will be about. Sunak hinted today that he might be looking at free ports in the UK, along the lines of Hong Kong or Singapore. Absolutely spot on! The UK could and should become a tax haven provided it raises the overall tax take which it almost certainly will. But this will result in howls of protest from the left. They should be completely ignored.

[C8RKH 6,693]

2 hours ago, pete said:

We are all now 'believers'

Can't stand that Justin bloke.

[pete 1,957]

So the SNP are going to vote against the deal. What does that mean,they wanted a no deal or is it like the question" have you stopped beating your wife"

[geartox 600]

Hope that is the beginning of the end for the EU empire. Show them what freedom is.

 

 

[Andyww 1,302]

8 minutes ago, geartox said:

Hope that is the beginning of the end for the EU empire. Show them what freedom is.

 

 

The French would likely vote to leave but they will never get a vote. Germany won't because they are in charge. Most other countries get a net benefit. Or maybe the largesse will reduce without the UK funds, and Germans being less happy about propping other countries up. Perhaps the game is up.

[C8RKH 6,693]

8 hours ago, geartox said:

Show them what freedom is

Did somebody mention Freedom?

[C8RKH 6,693]

It was not that many weeks ago that UK supermarket bosses were beating the "we are all doomed" drums. Massive increases to price of food. Shortages. Empty shelves etc.

Latest from the Tesco boss is that no issues and people would barely notice a price difference/ the difference would be pennies.

If only we still had the "stocks" to put these guys in so we could throw  our left over Brussels Sprouts from our Crimbo dinners at them.

Boris rhetoric now shifting from "get it done" to "level it up". He has three years to deliver on that, if I was for Labour right now I'd be shitting myself, I mean, at least the Germans kept Checkpoint Charlie when they took their red wall down, there might be nothing left of Labours at all by 2024!

If I was Boris the one thing I would do is a conscious shift to move trade from the French ports. Not in any sort of punishment action  As an independent Island country we cannot be held to ransom by the whims of French strikers and blockades at their ports.  We need to build up ports like Hull/Grimsby to ship even more over to the Netherlands /Belgium and maybe even Denmark and drastically reduce our trade through French ports. I'd refocus efforts on ports to Northern Spain/Portugal from English South coast through investing in a national fleet, of UK built, green hydrogen powered lorry ferries. Dramatically reducing the carbon footprint of our imports/exports, creating UK jobs and reducing the issues at Calais etc from migrants. Trade through French ports would still exist but at a significantly reduced volume and of course people would still use them for holidays.

If we are to make a success of our new place we need to invest in our our peoples skills, our inventiveness and our industries. We need to stop moaning about the "decision" and now get behind the country and invent, build, make and produce like never before. I fear though the rhetoric of doom will remain for some time as any success will be resented by those who only ever saw the negative, the doom, and can't stand to be proven wrong.  I do hope I'm wrong 

[Chillidoggy 4,454]

2 hours ago, C8RKH said:

 

If I was Boris the one thing I would do is a conscious shift to move trade from the French ports. Not in any sort of punishment action  As an independent Island country we cannot be held to ransom by the whims of French strikers and blockades at their ports.  We need to build up ports like Hull/Grimsby to ship even more over to the Netherlands /Belgium and maybe even Denmark and drastically reduce our trade through French ports. I'd refocus efforts on ports to Northern Spain/Portugal from English South coast through investing in a national fleet, of UK built, green hydrogen powered lorry ferries. Dramatically reducing the carbon footprint of our imports/exports, creating UK jobs and reducing the issues at Calais etc from migrants. Trade through French ports would still exist but at a significantly reduced volume and of course people would still use them for holidays.

 

The problem with this is one of distance and the high running costs of a ferry or ship. It's the reason why ferries run from Dover to Calais and not Dover to Zeebrugge or Ostend any more. It's also the reason the Dover - Boulogne route was dropped many years ago; the extra distance proved to be too expensive and not enough punters were willing to stump up the extra.

At one time, the road network from Calais up to Belgium and Holland and down the western coast of France was pretty crappy. Now it's very good, so there's no advantage to be gained by operating a ferry service to contend with the road network. Because lorries travel faster than ships, a lorry leaving northern Spain and travelling up through France and then onto a ferry to Dover will be much faster and cheaper than sticking it on a ferry from northern Spain, so that's unlikely to be cost-effective.

Any of the longer ferry routes tend to be used for freight that is less time-sensitive, or 'drops' (an HGV trailer without it's tractor unit).

Bottom line is that the cost of operating ferries on the longer sea routes would almost certainly have to be taxpayer-subsidised, and I can't see that happening. On the other hand, the introduction of 'Free Ports' is in my view, the way to go.

[pete 1,957]

Instead of tax payer subsidised why not charge the foreign lorries to use our roads

[Chillidoggy 4,454]

49 minutes ago, pete said:

Instead of tax payer subsidised why not charge the foreign lorries to use our roads

Because it would just push up the price of goods as the transport firms passed the levy on.

[SFO 225]

4 hours ago, C8RKH said:

As an independent Island country we cannot be held to ransom by the whims of French strikers and blockades at their ports.  We need to build up ports like Hull/Grimsby to ship even more over to the Netherlands /Belgium and maybe even Denmark and drastically reduce our trade through French ports. I'd refocus efforts on ports to Northern Spain/Portugal from English South coast through investing in a national fleet, of UK built, green hydrogen powered lorry ferries. Dramatically reducing the carbon footprint of our imports/exports, creating UK jobs and reducing the issues at Calais etc from migrants. Trade through French ports would still exist but at a significantly reduced volume and of course people would still use them for holidays.

diversification and network resilience is exactly what is needed

[Andyww 1,302]

4 hours ago, C8RKH said:

It was not that many weeks ago that UK supermarket bosses were beating the "we are all doomed" drums. Massive increases to price of food. Shortages. Empty shelves etc.

 

It was always bollocks even if no deal. Any delays and tariffs on imports would have been entirely down to the UK government and why on earth would the government cause delays and price rises?

Just saw on Sky News a reporter who seemed somewhat bemused saying that trucks will be "waved through". Of course they will, thats how it works. The so-called "paperwork" is automated and done in advance. It seems to be fially dawning on people what a massive lie they were fed.

If these reporters had bothered to do any research they could have gone to Felixtowe and watch containers arriving from China. They are processed through electronically without any human intervention, they really dont have anyone with a clipboard opening boxes. I think they really thought that would happen.

[Bibs 11,639]

I dread to think how much this has cost and what's going to happen to it now...