To think the UK is losing a lot of soft power?

[alloutoffucks]

The UK has always had a certain reputation in many countries abroad of being competent and organised. That reputation translates into soft power. It beings increased respect for British businesses and business people, and helps foster trust.
Of course it does not mean that every British business person or business is respected or trusted. But the assumption that Britain in general is competent and organised does affect people's assumptions and views of British business.
I think that is eroding fast. Every friend and family member abroad I have spoken to has see that video of the nurse crying and I have been asked a few times why our supermarkets are empty of food (I know they are not, but that is the impression some of they now have). They ask me why British people are not co-operating when in their own country there is no evidence of stockpiling and the only shortage is hand sanitiser. They ask me why we don't have enough PPE for medics.
Some of these questions are by people who pay attention to the news, but everyone has seen the video of the nurse crying.
So AIBU to think Britain is losing a lot of soft power and that this will have an impact on British businesses abroad.

Ergo there is no need for them to be here permanently if the work is seasonal.

They contribute more, whether they have children or not. EU migrants of working age have a positive impact on the economy.

Maybe, not as much as causing a global pandemic though, China has truly put itself in to chief international pariah position. rather puts Brexit in to perspective.

@AnnUumellemahaye That makes sense economically. It does leave us vulnerable in terms of food security. But if you out money first that is the cheapest solution.

That makes sense economically.

Yes it does. And that's why Brexit happened.

How does it leave us vulnerable in terms of food security?

Because we are relying on seasonal workers who may find better seasonal work to do elsewhere.

Brexit does not make sense economically at all.

You kid yourself. my friends in Italy describe all the same things as here, including hoarding . The problem is, as in this country, people will get their perception from social media, and we all know how much crp and distortion of facts goes on there

Hahaha - Brexit 'makes sense economically!' Yeah, right.

They contribute more, whether they have children or not. EU migrants of working age have a positive impact on the economy.

Contribute more that what? More than who? Not all EU migrants of working age have a positive impact on the economy. Some do, some most certainly do not, especially not if they are bringing many dependents with them. If you are talking about EU migrants as a homogenous group being beneficial overall, then surely the most sensible thing is not just ignore the ones who contrribute little and take a lot but to separate out the groups into the ones we want to keep and the ones we don't.

Not that anyone will be forcibly sent home, merely not allowed to arrive in the first place, unless they fulfil certain criteria and there is a proven need.

Brexit does not make sense economically at all.

You an expert on that as well as Coronavirus?

Let's see.

Ann

I'm not an expert on Brexit and most certainly not on the Coronavirus but there is plenty of information out there:

www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2018/09/26/migrants-contribute-more-to-britain-than-they-take-and-will-carry-on-doing-so

blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/migration-funding-distribution/

www.oxfordeconomics.com/recent-releases/8747673d-3b26-439b-9693-0e250df6dbba

Wow, thanks. I've never seen an article arguing against Brexit and in favour of unlimited EU immigration before. If only I'd known they existed before the referendum eh?

"Germany alone needs 300,000 seasonal workers to harvest its crops. Over the past 10 years most of these workers have come from Romanian villages..."

How shortsighted of them.

www.theguardian.com/world/commentisfree/2020/apr/16/western-europe-food-east-european-workers-coronavirus

Fine, you may be happy to "let's see" when it comes to making decisions about the economic wellbeing of us all (well,all except the very rich) but I prefer to look at evidence. As you'll know the government's own forecasts are for the economy to shrink and now we've the impact of the lockdown to contend with as well. But let's just press blithely on. We're an example to the world, we really are

And...Clav? No one said Britain was the only country needing migrant workers but we are perhaps the only one to need them but deliberately create a "hostile environment" for them How stupid, as well as cruel and immoral. Germany certainly didn't do that .

I am not English. So probably about 40 people in all. Various countries, Thailand, Brazil, Switzerland, Australia, US, Vietnam, Germany. Most are not living where they were born. It is complicated.

It's okay, I can understand complicated things. Why don't you just say where you and your family are from?

For someone who isn't British you do seem really quite over-invested in discrediting our government for pretty much everything, including their response to the Coronavirus. Not just on this thread - it's a bit of a theme for you, I've noticed. I can't help wondering where it is that all your friends and family are from that is so fucking together that they can look aghast at the UK from a distance and shake their heads sadly at how shit we are.

Every friend and family member abroad I have spoken to has see that video of the nurse crying and I have been asked a few times why our supermarkets are empty of food (I know they are not, but that is the impression some of they now have). They ask me why British people are not co-operating when in their own country there is no evidence of stockpiling and the only shortage is hand sanitiser. They ask me why we don't have enough PPE for medics.
Some of these questions are by people who pay attention to the news, but everyone has seen the video of the nurse crying.

So all forty of them have asked about this, have they? How about even 20 of them? Okay...ten?

Could be worse, we could be that great Country that panicked brought all the guns. 🙄
But yes this is the impact of Brexit.

@AnnUumellemahaye Have you spoken to the average voter? Most people don't understand how it works. Which is why I said I did understand why this is happening, but most won't. So yes it does make us look stupid.

Or, at the very best, wilfully ignorant.

Germany pays better wages than we do.
My point is if you rely on seasonal workers, and someone offers more, then you can lose them. That is obvious. So at the moment it makes economic sense to import seasonal workers, but it does make our food security lower.
I don't think that is a controversial statement to make. Just makes sense to me.

@AnnUumellemahaye I really am not interested in replying to your questions when you are going to just ridicule me. Why would I? I have more self respect than that.

Theduchessstill
Do you regard New Zealand's seasonal worker scheme as stupid, cruel and immoral as well?

I see that Germany has caused a stir in the Philippines;

"Germany's alleged attempt to fly in Filipino nurses to provide assistance to COVID-19 patients has irked many in the Philippines. The country is facing a shortage of health workers as it tries to combat the disease."

www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-demand-for-filipino-nurses-increases-in-europe/a-52927591

Personally i think Britains problem is the press i genuinely think they are doing real damage to our reputation and are causing mass hysteria at a time when we need them to be unbiased and reporting facts. I watch the press conference every day and it amazes me how the second it finishes the reporters start putting their own spin on it.