Brexit, for once some facts.

oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
10,422
14,609
West West Wales
Another day another Tweet

Iain Duncan-Smith says it's time for experts to handle Brexit as 'there are problems ahead'

My response
Replying to
@TheNewEuropean
The only one who could make Brexit work lived over 2,000 years ago and unlike Boris (who either passes water or falls in it when faced with an emergency) could walk on it!

And before anyone points out I don't believe in God, I know but like Boris, I can avoid the truth when I fancy
You can get people with no experience of government to handle the negatiations, they will be world-beating, fantastic. But those who do understand governement cannot possibly get to grips with negotiation.
 

oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
10,422
14,609
West West Wales
We do not have enough residential accommodation. From those that exist:

We have to remove all the flooded homes - some temporarily, some permanently. And we have difficulty with those that appear prone to flooding even if they have not yet flooded.
And the dangerously clad buildings.
And then ones which will be demolished or become unusable due to HS2.

Do we end up with more accommodation? Or less?

If that seems too much like a first year primary school question, consider those supposedly governing the country and whether they can get the right answer.
 

Danidl

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 29, 2016
8,608
12,253
72
Ireland
No deal now storming to the fore...

No 10: UK aim is to 'restore independence' from EU by end of year

Even if we had never joined the EU, we would still not have been independent of it in so many ways.
Our Vice President of the EU Parliament, Ms McGuiness, has suggested that the UK is heading for a crashout next December.
 

oldgroaner

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 15, 2015
23,457
32,608
79
I thought the Tories had had enough of experts. Perhaps it might have been wise to listen to experts a couple of years back not now that its too late, and we will all now have to make the best of a bad job.

I guess we will muddle through as we usually do. We will probably end up slightly worse off but there are usually so many other things to blame that on, that Brexit probably wont get the blame if thats the case.
You are being romantically optimistic in that assessment, the real damage is not merely economic, we have set the country back nearly 50 years in terms of it's prospects, and worse those of the public.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
52,763
30,349
consider those supposedly governing the country and whether they can get the right answer.
Once again the population prevent the government from doing the right things. We have huge numbers of single people living long term in 2, 3 or 4 bedroom homes, but when the government tried to discourage this with a cost for having empty rooms, there was a storm of protest, including in this thread.

But the government were right, we cannot just continue to cover this small country with concrete, building ever more homes and their associate infrastructure, especially while so many of the existing homes are grossly under utilised. To illustrate, when I was born the population had just reached 47 million, while now it's almost 67 millions. Furthermore back when I was born, homes often contained three generations of a family, but now that is increasingly rare.

If we continue to grow the population as is forecast, we are going to need to control what people are allowed to occupy. It's no longer practical to allow everyone free rein to do as they please with such limited resources, depriving others in the process.
.
 

oldgroaner

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 15, 2015
23,457
32,608
79
Good old Cummings boss, Putin has been at it again (according to the USA)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/22/coronavirus-russia-disinformation-campaign-us-officials
Coronavirus: US says Russia behind disinformation campaign
  • Thousands of fake social media accounts promote conspiracies
  • Campaign seizes on international health concerns, say officials
Thousands of Russian-linked social media accounts have launched a coordinated effort to spread misinformation and alarm about coronavirus, disrupting global efforts to fight the epidemic, US officials have said.

The disinformation campaign promotes unfounded conspiracy theories that the US is behind the new coronavirus outbreak, in an apparent bid to damage America’s image around the world

State department officials tasked with combatting Russian disinformation told the AFP false personas were being used on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to advance Russian talking points in multiple languages.

“Russia’s intent is to sow discord and undermine US institutions and alliances from within, including through covert and coercive malign influence campaigns,” said Philip Reeker, the acting assistant secretary of state for Europe and Eurasia.

“By spreading disinformation about coronavirus, Russian malign actors are once again choosing to threaten public safety by distracting from the global health response,” he said.

Some accounts have falsely claimed the US is waging “economic war on China” and that the virus is a biological weapon manufactured by the CIA.

There was a time when "Conspiracy theories" were the remit of crackpots
There's a case for thinking they still are
 
  • Informative
Reactions: oyster

oldgroaner

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 15, 2015
23,457
32,608
79
Once again the population prevent the government from doing the right things. We have huge numbers of single people living long term in 2, 3 or 4 bedroom homes, but when the government tried to discourage this with a cost for having empty rooms, there was a storm of protest, including in this thread.

But the government were right, we cannot just continue to cover this small country with concrete, building ever more homes and their associate infrastructure, especially while so many of the existing homes are grossly under utilised. To illustrate, when I was born the population had just reached 47 million, while now it's almost 67 millions. Furthermore back when I was born, homes often contained three generations of a family, but now that is increasingly rare.

If we continue to grow the population as is forecast, we are going to need to control what people are allowed to occupy. It's no longer practical to allow everyone free rein to do as they please with such limited resources, depriving others in the process.
.
Perhaps in pursuit of solving this conundrum, the Government policy of hiding in a fridge while Covid 19 stalks the land culling the elderly has a certain relevance?
And as they no doubt have already realised even they can't cock up this disaster further by getting or not getting involved.
End result lots of empty accommodation going for a song
And they can blame the Chinese while doing a trade deal with the EU
 
  • :D
Reactions: Woosh

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
52,763
30,349
Our Vice President of the EU Parliament, Ms McGuiness, has suggested that the UK is heading for a crashout next December.
I think there is a lot of bluffing on both sides. Both know that the best way to placate the Brexiters is to let them believe we are crashing out so are happy to work together to give that illusion.

But an illusion it is, the Withdrawal Agreement alone is a soft deal, as is the Great Repeal Bill locking us into all existing EU law and some control by the European Court.

I've no doubt we'll be making many more concessions during the trade agreements talks. Just watch us locking in once more to the common fisheries policy in order to retain our services business with the EU.

It's 60 billions net of Services verses 1.34 billions of Fish, no contest. We are not going to lose over 58 billions of City business just to please a really tiny number of fishermen.
.
 

Wicky

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 12, 2014
2,823
4,011
Colchester, Essex
www.jhepburn.co.uk
Perhaps in pursuit of solving this conundrum, the Government policy of hiding in a fridge while Covid 19 stalks the land culling the elderly has a certain relevance?
And as they no doubt have already realised even they can't cock up this disaster further by getting or not getting involved.
End result lots of empty accommodation going for a song
And they can blame the Chinese while doing a trade deal with the EU
Making lemonade from lemons....

RACY proposals have been unveiled to turn a former Chinese restaurant in Colchester town centre into a “sex entertainment venue”.
 
  • Like
Reactions: oldgroaner

tommie

Esteemed Pedelecer
Mar 13, 2013
1,760
600
Co. Down, N. Ireland, U.K.
Our Vice President of the EU Parliament, Ms McGuiness, has suggested that the UK is heading for a cashout next December.
Yayyyyyyy....sooner the better!!!

£13billion better off, whats not to like, let Ireland contribute to the shortfall Ms McGuiness - eh??

ps. told you years ago not to trust the EU, now they`re leaving you high and dry
and see your `World Statesman`aka the EU`s useful idiot crawled through on fifth transfers !!!
Shabby

But fear not, it`s Sinn Fein to the rescue!

Ireland the only country in Europe to be run by a terrorist Army Council
 
  • Dislike
Reactions: Danidl and flecc

oldgroaner

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 15, 2015
23,457
32,608
79
Yayyyyyyy....sooner the better!!!

£13billion better off, whats not to like, let Ireland contribute to the shortfall Ms McGuiness - eh??

ps. told you years ago not to trust the EU, now they`re leaving you high and dry
and see your `World Statesman`aka the EU`s useful idiot crawled through on fifth transfers !!!
Shabby

But fear not, it`s Sinn Fein to the rescue!

Ireland the only country in Europe to be run by a terrorist Army Council
But you will still be in the EU Tommie
 
Last edited:

Danidl

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 29, 2016
8,608
12,253
72
Ireland
Yayyyyyyy....sooner the better!!!

£13billion better off, whats not to like, let Ireland contribute to the shortfall Ms McGuiness - eh??

ps. told you years ago not to trust the EU, now they`re leaving you high and dry
and see your `World Statesman`aka the EU`s useful idiot crawled through on fifth transfers !!!
Shabby

But fear not, it`s Sinn Fein to the rescue!

Ireland the only country in Europe to be run by a terrorist Army Council
Ireland is not run by the IRA army council.. and 3/4 voters choose this.
 
  • Like
Reactions: oyster and flecc

oldgroaner

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 15, 2015
23,457
32,608
79
It's reassuring to know that the inmates at No 10 have a grasp of reality
@JohnJCrace
Follow
Parliamentary sketch writer for Guardian.

Number 10 confirms that UK has been wonderfully generous in sending China 2,500 face masks.
Presumably a diplomat took them as hand luggage

Just a couple of points
  1. Very useful in a country with a population of 1.4 Billion people!
  2. We Import them from China
"One to beam up, Mr Scott" :cool:
 

jonathan.agnew

Esteemed Pedelecer
Dec 27, 2018
2,374
3,366
Yayyyyyyy....sooner the better!!!

£13billion better off, whats not to like, let Ireland contribute to the shortfall Ms McGuiness - eh??

ps. told you years ago not to trust the EU, now they`re leaving you high and dry
and see your `World Statesman`aka the EU`s useful idiot crawled through on fifth transfers !!!
Shabby

But fear not, it`s Sinn Fein to the rescue!

Ireland the only country in Europe to be run by a terrorist Army Council
In 2019 ireland contributed £2.7 billion to the eu and received £2.8 billion from it. 50% of its exports were to the eu (google it). What is your anger really about?
 

oyster

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 7, 2017
10,422
14,609
West West Wales
It's reassuring to know that the inmates at No 10 have a grasp of reality
@JohnJCrace
Follow
Parliamentary sketch writer for Guardian.

Number 10 confirms that UK has been wonderfully generous in sending China 2,500 face masks.
Presumably a diplomat took them as hand luggage

Just a couple of points
  1. Very useful in a country with a population of 1.4 Billion people!
  2. We Import them from China
"One to beam up, Mr Scott" :cool:
They are probably ones that don't work for covid-19.
 

Danidl

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 29, 2016
8,608
12,253
72
Ireland
In 2019 ireland contributed £2.7 billion to the eu and received £2.8 billion from it. 50% of its exports were to the eu (google it). What is your anger really about?
His anger is a rant against the RoI. Even if you don't get the cultural reference ,it is about "Croppies lie down". Well it came as a shock to a certain community that the Croppies were no longer willing to lie down, had become educated ,were well able to formulate arguements ...and worse,far worse, had made friends in other countries of Europe.
 

Advertisers