To be terrified that this is the future for the UK? (Sorry, yes it's a Brexit one)

[Rainbunny]

The US Commerce Secretary just made a speech in which he demands that the UK scrap EU food standards on GM crops and animal farming standards after Brexit. Even more sinister were his words indicating that the USA expects to have influence in whatever Brexit deal the UK makes... "He said that it was critical that US interests must be taken into account when finalising an exit deal with the EU..!"

This is exactly what I've been afraid of and it looks to be coming true and the UK as a lone country will not be able to refuse whatever trade deal the USA demands. I get that people who voted leave are still happy they did but is this what they want to have happen?

www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/us-brexit-eu-uk-trade-deal-wilbur-ross-commerce-secretary-imports-exports-european-union-a8040571.html

Wage growth, finally after 10 years of stagnation, is on the up

Considering inflation? I am not so sure.....

I don't trust the UK to maintain things like food standards, workers' rights and safety regulations on its own, no, not at all - not under the Tories at least.

That sounds to me as if you are saying you cannot accept people voting in Tory governments, so you are relying on another source of laws. This seems fine as long as things are going your way, less so if not.

Our Maternity leave and pay is much more than the EU requires.

The EU hasn’t done much to stop the workers at sports direct being employed on insecure zero hours contracts, has it?

LOL Frumpety. Youre trying to 'exchange' two different things. Foregoing EU protectionism that we are bound by, is completely different to doing a trade deal with a protectionist nation. We'll still be trading with the EU too, who are even more protectionist. Its up to them.

If we end up finding goods better made and better value from elsewhere, so be it. Theres a price to protectionism, and the UK are absolutely committed to reducing barriers, not putting them up.

Everything remainers said would happen, hasnt.

Well we haven't left yet?

Mom: Judy, the forecast calls for rain, should you take a coat?
Judy: Like Mom, you are such a worrier. Look how dry I am!
Mom: Well you are in the kitchen.

Judy: Red white and blue Mom!

Makeourfuture of course that is a fair point- but a lot of stuff was supposed to happen immediately (what happened to the emergency punishment budget?)

Wasonthelist, of course I don't like Tory governments, as a leftie, but I accept they get voted in - but EU membership restrains some of their worst tendencies.

Of course the Tories themselves are split on Brexit and Cameron definitely did not want it (nor I believe did Boris really, and he got a hell of a shock).

Sports Direct's behaviour has been condemned as illegal by tribunals and parliamentary committees and they face lawsuits. You can't stop people breaking the law, but you can pursue them if they do.

James O'Brien is having a great rant about this on LBC right now.

Judy: I don't like the French, mom!
Mom: I don't know what that means, Judy.
Judy: Oh eff off Mom I am moving in with Donald!

Dr Krall's Twitter makes for interesting reading .

The emergency punishment budget got the chop because Cameron did a runner, and then May got rid of Osborne. If Cameron had done as he said he was going to do and stay on as PM, then I can't see any reason why he would have sacked Osborne as Chancellor who would I am sure have been true to his word.

Donald: It's gonna be wonderful...terrific!

- but EU membership restrains some of their worst tendencies

Even as an arch leftie (55 and never voted Tory) I find this worrying. You can’t rely on another institution to get policy you like better - that is profoundly anti democratic. As I said, it appears fine when it’s stuff you want - but what about stuff you don’t.

I notice no-one ever mentions that EU standards for Mat pay and leave (and plenty of other things) are actually way below what we manage to enact for ourselves - and yet we’re expected to believe the EU is the source of all “good” rights.

I know why the emergency budget didn’t happen - but it is one of many “facts” about how the land would lie as soon as we voted leave that turned out to be bobbins.

"Considering inflation? I am not so sure....."

Which is why I used the word 'stagnation'. If you build in inflation over the last 10 years, wages have been consistantly decreasing. The BoE is forecasting significant wage growth due to the reduction in migration and the previous flooding of the employment markets. This has been born out by recent recruitment figures on 'new' employments. Theyre having to offer higher, to get the staff.

I seem to remember leavers saying this would be the case.........

When I talk to 'youth', which I do regularly, theyre bemused that an element of their peers are so pro-EU. To them, the EU did nothing, but bring more competition for jobs. More competition for Uni places. More competition for housing. I digress, but we all are. Apols OP.

Even as an arch leftie (55 and never voted Tory) I find this worrying. You can’t rely on another institution to get policy you like better - that is profoundly anti democratic. As I said, it appears fine when it’s stuff you want - but what about stuff you don’t

Please look at the Treaties. The UK is a key player in creating EU legislation. No one is doing anything to us. We have MEPs, we have Ministers, we have a Commissioner.

When I talk to 'youth', which I do regularly, theyre bemused that an element of their peers are so pro-EU.

Are you suggesting most "youth" support Brexit?

Please look at the Treaties

You are (deliberately?) missing my point. I don’t accept the argument that only EU membership can safeguard workers rights - but if your argument is “we can get this stuff that the Tories won’t give us from the EU instead” then that’s a dangerous precedent - and I am sure you aren’t seriously saying people are casting their MEP votes with this in mind?

"Well we haven't left yet? "

We are. Its happening right under everyones noses, and is being ignored. Business make trade, not governments. You think the likes of EY, employ 4000 staff this year, whilst sitting there thinking, well we may lay them off next year? Absolutely not.

There are (contrary to remainer opinion) some quite clever people out there doing fantastic business in all sectors of all markets. They had contingency and buisness plans in place within days of the referendum vote. Not one, even the tiniest supplier, is sitting at home, waiting for David Davis.

The impact of brexit, is just the same as a currency fluctuation issue, or a new reg from Brussels issue. Willie Walsh (aircraft) chuckles at the hysteria surrounding the 'planes grounded' claims. If you followed the CBI this week, they are absolutely far more concerned about Corbyn, than they are Brexit.

Not only is the world still turning, the UK are cracking on, to the point that come 'Brexit' day, you wont even notice. Its happening now, not March 2019.

I would love to know exactly what provisions the airlines are making. I know that some are shifting some operations elsewhere. Ditto, what plans have we to replace Euratom?

"Are you suggesting most "youth" support Brexit?"

Who knows, makeour future. Theres been opinion by the shed load, of how many actually turned out to vote (disputed by shedloads of other opinion). Then opinions on how they then voted.

Taking a Guardian view. 65% turned out to vote, and 70% of that 65% voted remain. They came to that conclusion on a poll of 2000 'youths' in (oddly) University towns and cities.

A/ 2000 is a tad derisory, and b/ well really? Ill go and ask 2000 up in Middlesborough. What do you think the poll would show in Middlesborough where theres 24% youth unemployment?

'Businesses make trade, not governments.'
Ah, so that's why the local hospital department I attend is understaffed now that workers have returned to their home countries and there has been no sudden influx of new staff. In fact student nurses now have to pay higher fees.
But not to worry, all is well because businesses make trade, not governments.

You can’t rely on another institution to get policy you like better - that is profoundly anti democratic.

Yes I actually think it is less democratic. Democracy isn't always the answer, which is why we don't have referenda on every single policy decision. Democracy is what leads to governments changing every few years, and making a royal cock-up of things like education. While I agree with that quote (which I now paraphrase) that democracy is better than all the other crappy options, I think a longer-term union that sets policy on things like human rights by consensus, is a safety net.

The legal system isn't democratic either, in any general sense, but it is also a safety net and limit on wrongs perpetrated by government. So dump the legal system?

Not that everything about the EU is perfect or that its regulations are always the best - absolutely not. But that is an ongoing project and can be amended. Thinking that leaving the EU is dangerous and stupid does not equate to thinking that everything about the EU is perfect.

Democracy combined with utter cluelessness about what the EU does and how it works have resulted in Brexit. Voters were openly, outrageously lied to to compound the misinformation created by years of tabloid bollocks.

How is it different Caroline ? The UK is currently a member of the EU and as a result benefits from the protectionism of the EU , yes ? We leave the EU and no longer benefit from that protectionism . We then seek a trade deal with a country that is ardently protectionist , whilst also now trading with the EU who are also protectionist .

To get these trade deals we will also reduce barriers to trade , such as , a few examples would be useful ?