European Union - In Or Out?

[Crumpet85 2,512]

3 minutes ago, Wolfsbane said:

Our Hump has a problem with Kippers

He likes McGarbage, he's not into healthy food. Probably explains his dark moods. 

[Pieman72 481]

Many of the remainers have profitable viable and well run businesses. Obviously they knew Brexit would permanently damage the British Economy. As a good friend said many years ago ignore the 'Sun' at your peril.

[Wolfsbane 10,853]

3 hours ago, DC2 said:

 

Government now reducing quarantine/self-isolating from 14 days to 10.

Although none should be required at all unless one is symptomatic.

Unless you're a high value businessman/woman (Buggered if I'll say person).

In which case you're in no worries.

[Humphrey Appleby 9,539]

1 hour ago, PHILIPRISING said:

In 2019, UK exports to the EU were £294 billion (43% of all UK exports). UK imports from the EU were £374 billion (52% of all UK imports). The share of UK exports accounted for by the EU has generally fallen over time from 54% in 2002 to 43% in 2019.

You're still failing to understand that EU exports to the UK are a small percentage of their overall exports, whereas UK exports to the EU represent nearly half of its trade. To turn the oft-heard Brexiteer argument around - you need them more than they need you... 

Whether or not exports to the EU have fallen over time, the EU is still by far the UK's largest market. 

It's pointless trying to bring rationality into the discussion though. Brexiteers will continue to believe in magic beans, finding fabled cities of gold in the Americas, and letting the peasants eat fish until reality finally hits on 1 January 2021... 

Edited December 11, 2020 by Humphrey Appleby

[PHILIPRISING 7,298]

6 minutes ago, Humphrey Appleby said:

You're still failing to understand that EU exports to the UK are a small percentage of their overall exports, whereas UK exports to the EU represent nearly half of its trade. To turn the oft-heard Brexiteer argument around - you need them more than they need you... 

Whether or not exports to the EU have fallen over time, the EU is still by far the UK's largest market. 

It's pointless trying to bring rationality into the discussion though. Brexiteers will continue to believe in magic beans, finding fabled cities of gold in the Americas, and letting the peasants eat fish until reality finally hits on 1 January 2021... 

£374 billion may be a small percentage, as you put it, but it's hardly small change...

[Humphrey Appleby 9,539]

1 hour ago, Pieman72 said:

He went into this game of High Stakes Poker and lost. Tryng to negotiate separately is desperation. It's the old public schoolboy trick divide and rule. 

In fact with a very poor hand (with a fishy smell) thinking he could bluff his way through as he usually does. 

As Remainers have pointed out all along though, it's the EU that holds all the cards. 

[Humphrey Appleby 9,539]

11 minutes ago, PHILIPRISING said:

£374 billion may be a small percentage, as you put it, but it's hardly small change...

Yes, but as Vince is fond of pointing out, it's hardly that all trade will completely stop. However, whilst the UK will still need to import a lot of stuff from the EU, British products will become more expensive in the EU and it's much easier for consumers there to look for alternatives.  

There's very few UK products for which you can't find equivalents elsewhere, or are essential to consumer lives. British beef may be something nice to have, but if it becomes too expensive or unavailable then consumers will just switch to some other meat that's more readily available. 

Very tough times ahead for the UK, but entirely self-inflicted. 

Edited December 11, 2020 by Humphrey Appleby

[Blupanther 16,659]

A prediction of what the French will eat in 2021 by region ...

[iris123 12,045]

This is good. The UK lost 3 cod wars with Iceland 

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/dec/11/four-navy-ships-to-help-protect-uk-waters-in-case-of-no-deal-brexit?CMP=fb_gu&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3jgz00IZ4EKZTnfNiqoNh1kbV7dxnU-WqDUlxg1_-W8aawHIW-_dpf7YQ#Echobox=1607706452

[Robbie B 262]

1 hour ago, Humphrey Appleby said:

You're still failing to understand that EU exports to the UK are a small percentage of their overall exports, whereas UK exports to the EU represent nearly half of its trade. To turn the oft-heard Brexiteer argument around - you need them more than they need you... 

Whether or not exports to the EU have fallen over time, the EU is still by far the UK's largest market. 

It's pointless trying to bring rationality into the discussion though. Brexiteers will continue to believe in magic beans, finding fabled cities of gold in the Americas, and letting the peasants eat fish until reality finally hits on 1 January 2021... 

 

As the figures in your quoted post cogently state that the EU sells £80 billion more of goods to the UK then the UK sells to the EU. Therefore, if tariffs are imposed by the UK and EU on 1 January 2021 then the UK will profit from these imposed tariffs, therefore, the EU do not hold all the cards.

As the EU have a track record of not respect nations possessing sovereignty ask (Denmark, The Netherlands and Republic of Ireland) when the EU ignored these nations democratic vote and were made to vote again, I fully expect that no-deal will be made between the UK and EU by 23:00 31 December 2020.

The EU Common Fisheries Policy alongside the judgment in R (Factortame Ltd) v Secretary of State for Transport) [1991] help destroy UK fishing, so it will be nice too see this industry being able to build again in 2021.

 

1 hour ago, Humphrey Appleby said:

In fact with a very poor hand (with a fishy smell) thinking he could bluff his way through as he usually does. 

As Remainers have pointed out all along though, it's the EU that holds all the cards. 

 

[E I Addio 13,306]

26 minutes ago, iris123 said:

This is good. The UK lost 3 cod wars with Iceland 

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/dec/11/four-navy-ships-to-help-protect-uk-waters-in-case-of-no-deal-brexit?CMP=fb_gu&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3jgz00IZ4EKZTnfNiqoNh1kbV7dxnU-WqDUlxg1_-W8aawHIW-_dpf7YQ#Echobox=1607706452

My goodness Iris, how long are you going to believe everything you read in the Grauniad ? You only have to count the number of times they use the magic word “ could “ plus the classic “ an insider said “ .
The River class off shore patrol vessels have been introduced progressively since around 2001 for general offshore duties including protecting shipping lanes plus fishing grounds for both UK, and until now, EU fishing vessels.  Around 2010/11 Lakeside (and I think Peterborough as well) were sponsored by the Royal Navy and there was a lot in the programmes about the vital role of the Navy in protecting trade, which is much more than most people realise. 
In fact of additional money being put into the armed services, it was reported a week or two back that a big chunk was going to the Navy but in anticipation of more serious threats than a few French fisher men.  
 

[E I Addio 13,306]

4 hours ago, Pieman72 said:

Public Schoolboys do get the top jobs re: Prime Ministers 

Since 1964 twice as many Prime Ministers went through state schools as fee paying schools. Only Cameron and Johnson went to Eton. Have a another stab at it. On the law of averages you might get something right eventually . 

[E I Addio 13,306]

2 hours ago, Wolfsbane said:

Our Hump has a problem with Kippers

 

2 hours ago, Crumpet80 said:

He likes McGarbage, he's not into healthy food. Probably explains his dark moods. 

It’s that why he talks McGarbage 

[Humphrey Appleby 9,539]

1 hour ago, Robbie B said:

As the figures in your quoted post cogently state that the EU sells £80 billion more of goods to the UK then the UK sells to the EU. Therefore, if tariffs are imposed by the UK and EU on 1 January 2021 then the UK will profit from these imposed tariffs, therefore, the EU do not hold all the cards.

It'll also push up consumer prices, create inflationary pressure and probably suppress demand at a time when the UK economy is on its knees. Brilliant thinking, and who'd have thought a Tory government would be in favour of higher taxes...? 

Quote

As the EU have a track record of not respect nations possessing sovereignty ask (Denmark, The Netherlands and Republic of Ireland) when the EU ignored these nations democratic vote and were made to vote again, I fully expect that no-deal will be made between the UK and EU by 23:00 31 December 2020.

It's been pointed out time-and-time again that wasn't the case - in fact quite the opposite in the case of the Irish and Danish referenda, and the Irish referenda were in fact about amending the Irish constitution. Yet the Brexiteers continue to gurgitate the same misinformation they lazily pull from their Eurosceptic echo chambers without ever bothering to check the veracity of it.

Sums Brexit up... 

Edited December 11, 2020 by Humphrey Appleby

[Humphrey Appleby 9,539]

43 minutes ago, E I Addio said:

In fact of additional money being put into the armed services, it was reported a week or two back that a big chunk was going to the Navy but in anticipation of more serious threats than a few French fisher men.  

You shouldn't believe everything you read in your papers either. 

Many of the RN vessels are non-operational at any given moment in time, due to maintenance, lack of crews, support vessels, or quite simply lack of funds. There's not anywhere enough ships to police UK waters on a routine basis, nor enough operational RAF planes to provide aerial surveillance.