Starmer is about to reverse Brexit

I think Nigel is on holiday, isn’t he? He didn’t make it to the Commons yesterday for Starmer’s statement.

Hi Nige

There's not many. Which is why you should read a number of them in order to form a well researched and informed viewpoint. Especially read from people you don't agree with, it really will help your understanding.

It felt quite derogatory to suggest that British people lack the skills and knowledge to work in Europe to be honest, Especially when the truth is that we have successfully been doing so for decades, until 2020 when Brexit effectively strangled the pipeline of opportunities for many of us.

Sorry if facts don't fit your narrative but plenty of people who aren't fluent work in other countries and several people have given examples.

The OBR is unbiased. Just because you disagree with it doesn’t make it biased. All modelling will have a varied level of accuracy; the current struggles to forecast accurately are being experienced across central banking, but serious economists are working to identify improved methods of forecasting.

https://cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/publications/brexit-analyses/

There is a selection of independent economic analyses of Brexit here. Do take a look.

Meanwhile still very keen to understand what you based your claim that ‘getting involved with the EU’ will cost the UK money. I’m sure you wouldn’t have put it forward without good evidence.

Sorry if being derogatory about people is your "thing."

Well, I did golive several examples that counter yours. Sorry if facts aren't convenient.

If the OBR is so wonderful how come it didn't alert Reeves to the "black hole" in the economy ??

So you point me to an unbiased source.

"Maybe your friend just wasn't good at the job."

And maybe you just like putting people down ?

Oh please, please, make us all perfect like you ! 🙄

And you trust the OBR - really?

The OBR has no responsibility for “meeting its forecasts” - that is the “responsibility” of the economy (which is subject to shocks, like Covid and the Ukraine war which knock it off course). Having said that, the BBC report shows, out of 15 predictions, six were too pessimistic, eight were too optimistic, and ten were within 2% (above or below) the forecast.

@brexitbarbie I reckon your fluent in German friend just wasn't very clever. Learning technical terminology is a matter of doing a bit of work. I'm not a clinician, but I know and can use all the medical terminology relating to mental health and learning difficulties. English is strictly speaking my second language. It really isn't rocket science.

I know someone who worked for Siemens as a design engineer in 3 different countries in the EU and only had O level French and German.
BIL worked as an architect for Swedish and German companies and has no language qualifications.
A friend worked in manufacturing in the Netherlands. No languages post 16.
Maybe your friend just wasn't good at the job.

@brexitbarbie I work for a European HQd company with offices around the world. I speak English only.

Where? What qualifications will they need for that? Several languages for a start.

No. Incorrect. And I know this because of one of my DCs.
Erasmus scheme, followed by working in Europe and fantastic opportunities came about. You really don't need 'several languages' to work in Europe!

Is BrexitBarbie related to Bullshit Barbie who does Trump's pressers?
That BriefingsforBritain website is hilarious hahaha founded and run by a group of Brexiteers

No, sorry, there is no economic analysis there. It’s a collection of statements with some conjecture. I’m asking for whatever robust economic analysis (modelling ideally) exists that is of equal substance to the work done by the OBR that supports your statement?

Plenty of info here - https://www.briefingsforbritain.co.uk/ten-questions-for-rejoiners/

Are you serious? British people did all this for years before Brexit moved us all to a visa scheme and cut down opportunities across the board. We know how it works because it worked for years and many people benefited from it. None of the things you mentioned were a barrier and in fact you sound very much like you’re talking down Brits, which I thought a staunch Brexiteer would hate to do.

One person’s experience at Siemens in a specific role doesn’t make for universal application.

They can work in the European offices of global businesses to build their careers

Where? What qualifications will they need for that? Several languages for a start.

They can do summer jobs or spend a year or two working abroad to gain a broader understanding of life or indulge a passion
And who will be bankrolling them? And how will that give them a job?

They can work in technology or science or the arts in institutions and businesses that don’t exist in the UK
Such as?

It’s a visa scheme on both sides that won’t allow unlimited numbers in either direction.
A cap has not been finalised, so that statement doesn't hold water.

It isn't the big deal that you think.

A friend of mine was fluent in German and French (her mother was German) She got a job at Siemans in the offices. However, her career never took off because she couldn't speak Technical German. This is almost another language.
eg: non return valve = Ruckschlagventil ( sorry my keyboard has no facility for an umlaut on the "U")

The Fishing thing... I want to understand this better.
I try to follow what June Mummery says (pro Brexit pro fishing community campaigner). But she waffles a lot.

From what I can work out, Mummery & similar want this:

...NO or extremely limited access by EU fishing boats to UK territorial fishing waters
...Direct subsidies to UK fishing boat businesses, at least for a limited time /or/
...Far fewer regulations in place nominally to protect fish stocks, so fishing where fishing people like when they like. Instead of govt direct subsidies there would be ample private investment (they believe).
...They would probably endorse fewer health & safety regulations, too.

They don't recognise a threat of stock depletion unless the EU might be doing it. They think it;s ok to bin 90% of their catch if it can't be sold in UK, they aren't asking for access to EU ports, they would just bin all those catches that British people don't eat. They don't value increased access to land UK catches in EU ports which I understand the revised agreement has obtained.

Sahara123 · 19/05/2025 12:43

I remember seeing one woman quite upset as she didn’t realise that the referendum vote was actually binding.

Tragically, it wasn't binding, it's just that the Government pretended that it was. Had it been so, a number of campaigners would have been in prison and wouldn't have got their fines back. And we wouldn't have left - ar least not without a properly constituted referendum.