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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to request a positive thread on Brexit?

703 replies

mobyduck · 28/01/2019 11:38

Everyone here (nearly) says it will be bad.
Let's hear some positives about our coming freedom from the EU!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Zebra31 · 28/01/2019 13:36

Well, I guess it’s positive thinking about the reduction in the employee salary overhead. My DH is currently working through the redundancies due in May and June as a direct result of Brexit if we leave with No Deal. It’s fantastic Op working through getting rid of people that have worked for the company for 10 years or more because of the cost of a No Deal Brexit. I am sure these people are going to be jumping up and down with delight at the thought of a reduction in house prices, rent and bendy bananas when their unemployed.

Before I get jumped on for making it up. As of 30th March any of the food items we import from countries like Philippines or Ecuador etc. (you know those global countries we should be getting “closer” to) in bonded warehousing, still on the water, not packed or shipped will increase by roughly 24%. Look it up if you doubt that. Imagine the cost to the business? DH company fully intend to pass the cost onto manufacturers, food service and supermarkets. Guess what that lot are intending to do with those increases? Take the hit! Hmm

It’s all positive here Op! Wine

needsahouseboy · 28/01/2019 13:36

I didn't say I agreed but that this is what was posted on a FRIENDS wall to show the OP what some believe the positives could be.

I'm on the fence on this one because I have no idea whats true, what the possible outcomes will be and that there will positives and negatives for both.

I personally believe the country is fucked either way at the end of the day. The only people that are going to stay afloat whether we leave or stay are the rich. I'm not one of them rich folks, I decided to be a nurse rather than a politician, and have to have lodgers to be able to maintain any kind of half decent lifestyle.

amyboo · 28/01/2019 13:38

Wow. I don't know where to begin with that list of "worst case scenarios" of staying in the EU. I'm sat here with my copy of the EU treaties in front of me (yes, I actually own one and have read it, as I work in EU politics). And I can categorically state that 99% of the things mentioned in "Richard Knocker's" post, is absolute b*llocks. For example, Article 4 of Protocol 15 (on the UK and Northern Ireland) explicitly states that the UK does not apply policy on the euro. All new member states must agree to adopt the euro as part of their membership criteria (the "acquis communautaire") but only when they meet the relevant criteria. There is no deadline for euro adoption, and no requirement for the "old" member states who currently have an opt-out (UK, Denmark, Sweden) to join.

There are many, many other inaccuracies in that post....

daftgeranium · 28/01/2019 13:38

No positives. Brexit is bloody irresponsible and will cause problems and hardship for millions. You should be ashamed.

StoorieHoose · 28/01/2019 13:40

Scottish Independence would be a happy by-product of Brexit (for some)

amyboo · 28/01/2019 13:40

Actually, I totally missed article 1 of the same protocol in the EU treaties that states "Unless the UK notifies the Council that it intends to adopt the euro, it shall be under no obligation to do so." Can't really get much clearer than that!

needsahouseboy · 28/01/2019 13:43

As I said it wasn't my beliefs and was just showing the OP what some people believe are the positives.

amyboo · 28/01/2019 13:44

Oh, and protocol 19 deals with the Schengen rules, and covers in the 4th paragraph the UK opt out. From article 4: "Ireland and the UK may at any time request to take part in some or all of the provisions of the Schengen acquis." There is no obligation and certainly no arbitrary 2022 deadline.

Rollercoaster1920 · 28/01/2019 13:46

Let's enter in the spirit of looking at the positive sides. I suspect some posters will now try to rip my head off and tell me I'm wrong and a rabid brexiteer!

However, I'm coming at this thinking that a hard Brexit is looking more and more likely so what are the potential upsides that my children could benefit from (and therefore we can plan / help them with). Note - I am in London so there is a bit of a London-bias to some of these.

Some positives:

Maybe we avoid going to a world where there are a few large blocs US, EU, Russia, China going head to head on trade, influence. A more global view / betterment of humanity would be nice!

I think we are going into a new global recession. By leaving the EU it reduces the risk of the UK needing to bail out Italy, Portugal, Spain, Ireland etc.

Outside of the EU trading rules the UK can re-value the pound and adjust trade deals as required (useful in a global recession).

Recession may mean lower house prices. However if banks leave London for EU cities then that also should lower house prices in London as demand lowers.

The UK could strengthen ties with the Commonwealth - economically and socially. Historic ties which have not been helped by EU membership (but not been massively impeded either!).

The UK will probably need to re-balance the economy a bit more, better food production, less importing, more local manufacture and recycling. I think there has to be environmental benefits there avoiding food miles.

Schools will lose students if families leave the UK. So more teacher contact time (but school funding hit by fewer students on-roll).

Increased opportunities in highly skilled jobs in the UK where people have left due to Brexit (Medical professions / scientists / engineers / teaching).

Maybe, just maybe, we might see a change in politics. From recognising the diversity of voters wishes to the frustrating state of both main parties.

Each of these positives can be viewed negatively too. But looking for opportunities and positives in a period of uncertainty is my approach.

slashlover · 28/01/2019 13:48

If even half of that was true then you'd never hear the end of it from Nigel Farage, Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees Mogg.

GirlsBlouse17 · 28/01/2019 13:49

OP I don't think you are likely to get many commenting on positive outcomes on your post because nobody wants to come on here and be savaged

icannotremember · 28/01/2019 13:50

Or maybe no-one wants to come on here and talk rubbish?

amyboo · 28/01/2019 13:52

Increased opportunities in medical professions? The reason the NHS employs 1/3 of its staff from outside the UK is that they can't get enough staff from within the UK. There's not a glut of UK qualified medical staff unable to find work because of all these EU doctors ffs!

And as for the better food production, manufacturing etc - who is going to harvest the food that's produced and work in the factories that do all this manufacturing when all the eastern European staff have been forced to leave? The reason they work in these industries is that consumers and supermarkets have driven down prices so low that food producers (for example) have had to lower wages to such a rate that largely only migrant workers are prepared work for. You want more locally produced food, then be prepared to pay reasonable rates for your strawberries, etc...

Passing4Human · 28/01/2019 13:53

GirlsBlouse17 Mon 28-Jan-19 13:49:06
OP I don't think you are likely to get many commenting on positive outcomes on your post because nobody wants to come on here and be savaged

That's not the reason. If I could think of even one genuine positive I would happily write it down here.

Zebra31 · 28/01/2019 13:54

Ahhh thought of another. As someone once said to me. If we leave the EU we will all be able to sing Rule Britannia with more passion and pride Grin

Rodenhide · 28/01/2019 13:54

There must be many positives or we wouldn't have voted for it, would we?

We? Who is we? I didn't vote for this shit storm.
But as "we" seemed to have jumped at the chance of blue passports and being able to have an awful attitude to immigrants, I guess we're all facing the concequences.

AndhowcouldIeverrefuse · 28/01/2019 13:58

Several posters on other threads are seeing Brexit as an opportunity to lose weight Hmm

Some people are sitting comfortably at home waiting for Brexit to deliver them a united Ireland.

On a personal level I am still looking for positives. Keep them coming Grin

Topseyt · 28/01/2019 13:59

There is nothing positive about Brexit.

That is all I can say.

Zebra31 · 28/01/2019 14:01

Several posters on other threads are seeing Brexit as an opportunity to lose weight

Excellent. That’s the spirit Grin

MorningsEleven · 28/01/2019 14:02

@findingmyfeet12

Jamie Oliver said he'd leave the UK if Brexit happened. Does that count?

You've made me so happy.

Vickster99 · 28/01/2019 14:06

I guess there is a realistic chance that house prices will fall, and that is a good thing for me as I am currently unable to buy even though I earn a good wage.

However, this will only help if I manage to stay in employment which is by no means certain - I doubt anybody on UC is going to be buying anything anytime soon

Paddington68 · 28/01/2019 14:09

Nothing positive, we are fucked.
but we got our sovereignty back, whatever that is.

GirlsBlouse17 · 28/01/2019 14:11

We are doomed!

Crunchymum · 28/01/2019 14:12

Positive.... all the preppers are in their element.

planespotting · 28/01/2019 14:14

Let's hear some positives about our coming freedom from the EU!

AIBU to request a positive thread on Brexit?
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