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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Really very sad with France!

999 replies

Friendsoftheearth · 08/12/2020 06:52

I am quietly furious with France. We have been going to France between three and four times a year, every year for pretty much all of my adult life. We have spent most summer holidays, skiing and all the rest, choosing France as our destination over all over countries.

Every week I buy French cheeses, wine and truffle oils, and we are very big fans of France and French cuisine.

Even taking into account that Macron should hope and push for the best deal for their fishing industry, I still find it incredulous and insulting that they should be demanding ten years of fish, and are offering us a paltry percentage. Ten years.
They are in a total stand off regarding an even playing field, I understand the reasons for this, but honestly they are pushing all of us to a no deal outcome, that will see French fisherman with no catch whatsoever, and high tariffs slapped on all imports from France. Tourism will be destroyed as people will no longer wish to go there. It could poison relations for decades.

I am aware of the history between the UK and France, but rather naively thought we had moved on from that a very long time ago, I am in despair at the eleventh hour demands, and feel this is in very bad faith. It has really highlighted to me how little respect France have for us as a country.

I feel like I never want to go again, despite having a tentative booking for a holiday in the spring of next year.

OP posts:
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8
Peregrina · 08/12/2020 18:12

Pensioners do pay tax if their pension payments take them over the personal allowance.

wellthatsunusual · 08/12/2020 18:16

[quote TheSunIsStillShining]@wellthatsunusual
who doesn't pay tax:

  • kids - obviously
  • ppl on benefits
  • pensioners
  • genuine medical benefits (who can't work even if they would like to)

The 1. and 3. will and have paid through their nose through NI. The last is not an issue. The middle is the freeloader part.[/quote]
All those people do pay tax if they ever buy anything with VAT on it. Unless you live off grid and are totally self sufficient I don't think it's possibly to not pay tax.

Pepperwort · 08/12/2020 18:19

If you think the UK is not corrupt you might want to revisit your definitions of corrupt op.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54226107

Personally I think the gross inequality thought to be essential in the UK is a form of corruption. I’m glad walkaround mentioned the opportunities afforded, because those are very much determined by your birth status and sex here compared to many other countries. I am also concerned by the probability of more through the Freeports that have been proposed. Do you really think you get told everything, or that like many you just block out the bits that are outside your direct experience so can’t be happening?

SabrinaThwaite · 08/12/2020 18:24

BTW, loving the way OP never responds to anyone pointing out their glaring untruths, but just sets out on another track instead.

nibdedibble · 08/12/2020 18:25

I love living in Britain. That says nothing about the poor government, the corruption, the paucity of opportunity that’s been building over the past 12 years or so, the massive shit we’ve done all over ourselves with Brexit. Britain’s lovely in itself.

Walkaround · 08/12/2020 18:29

The super wealthy with offshore funds and complicated investments almost undoubtedly pay the least tax as a proportion of their wealth of us all. I guess you could argue they pay huge amounts of money to tax avoidance advisers, though, thus enriching those in the world most expert at avoiding tax. This country specialises in such advice, so a fair bit of the country’s supposed wealth is earned from helping people and businesses avoid tax, meaning that as a country, we work hard to minimise the tax take to the wealthy and place all the burden on those too poor to afford tax advisers.

teateateateateamoretea · 08/12/2020 18:32

The Queen - the most revered Queen in the world...by who exactly? Also the most hated Queen in the World. Plus I don't reckon you could name another 3

World class universities and boarding schools...There are better universities elsewhere, and the Brexit brain drain means that UK universities are getting worse by the day. Boarding schools aren't really something to be proud of

Amazing finance sector and hedge funds...you did, pre-Brexit. Not so much now

Fin tech industry is exploding with potential and industry....Again, not any more. Dublin, Berlin etc are taking what you've lost

London is the most incredible city in the world...Says who? NY, Sydney, Tokyo and many more cities would disagree

The Justice system which is used all over the world was born here....yeah, centuries ago. Can't dine out on that one now!

Democracy, fairness and decency...Eh what? I don't see much of that in the UK

We are one of the least corrupt societies in the world Hmm

6th largest economy in the world.....soon to be lower

An incredible free health service available to every single person....not in reality, it's falling apart and people can't get basic treatments they need

Science field is one of the best in the world...Again, brain drain. Scientists are leaving in droves, you've lost access to the EU science community

World class galleries and museums....full of art and artifacts stolen from other cultures.

Prozacyogurt · 08/12/2020 18:36

BTW, loving the way OP never responds to anyone pointing out their glaring untruths, but just sets out on another track instead

I've seen a few of the OPs other threads/contributions and it's quite clear their grounding in reality is tenuous to say the least.

I'm not sure what the word for OPs mental state is but I strongly suspect if they were to wake up in a Saw film they'd be telling us all lovely it is to have the opportunity to hack their own foot off.

jasjas1973 · 08/12/2020 18:38

The french bashing in this thread by the OP is quite incredible, i believe we have to rely on french boats to help protect our latest Aircraft Carrier.

The EU isn't france, if there is a failure to reach agreement then thats down to all parties, not least the 3 years wasted by the UK before any meaningful talks even began.
May wanted a GE, threw away her majority and her party imploded.

I'm not now entirely sure either side want a deal, the UK want to prove they can go it alone (but still have their biggest export market nearby) and the EU don't want to have a Singapore-on-Sea next to them that also has very good access to the SM.

OneTC · 08/12/2020 18:39

Yes given the overall majority was leave, that is democracy for you.

You speak as if Scotland voted to remain in its entirety, that is grossly untrue. The most ardent leavers I know are often from Scotland!

Impressive mental gymnastics required for this ^

teateateateateamoretea · 08/12/2020 18:41

Yes I live in SW England

Petal, you live Cloud Fucking Cuckoo LAnd.

CherryPavlova · 08/12/2020 18:54

France and England (not UK) have a very long history of antagonism going back more than 1000 years. This has been exacerbated by France's continuing shame over its collaboration in WW2 and particularly by De Gaulle's humiliation and embarrassment at his indebtedness to Britain for succour and support at that time. De Gaulle consequently did a lot to further sour relations between France and GB
This is absolutely xenophobic ill-informed claptrap. Truly insulting to the incredibly brave people who formed and operated the resistance movement. I can see why the French might dislike the OP - but we've never had a problem.

nicky7654 · 08/12/2020 18:54

My husband is a fisherman of a 10 metre vessel. He has a few choice words regarding this, and is totally disgusted in the treatment of UK fisherman by Foreign Vessels/Corrupt EU and our Government . If the public knew the actual truth they would be horrified. What's said on the BBC isn't the truth. Go and chat to a fisherman they will happily fill you in on the truth.

DGRossetti · 08/12/2020 18:56

@SabrinaThwaite

BTW, loving the way OP never responds to anyone pointing out their glaring untruths, but just sets out on another track instead.
Isn't that Brexit in a nutshell. An Escher collage of impossible contradictions all backed up with Brexitspeak bollocks and an endless circle of squirrels eating their own tails ?
IntermittentParps · 08/12/2020 18:57

nicky7654, even better, could your DH's opinions be conveyed to us here? It'd mean a lot of people would get to hear his argument at once. I'd be interested.

teateateateateamoretea · 08/12/2020 18:59

Go and chat to a fisherman they will happily fill you in on the truth

Not sure how your average fisherman is au fait with the inner workings of Brussels...

Walkaround · 08/12/2020 19:01

@nicky7654 - talk to a French fisherman or an English one, because I strongly suspect they would have completely different views on what the “truth” is - and both sincerely believe their own truths.

DGRossetti · 08/12/2020 19:02

The french bashing in this thread by the OP is quite incredible, i believe we have to rely on french boats to help protect our latest Aircraft Carrier.

You mean submarine.

www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/britains-newest-aircraft-carrier-suffers-embarrassing-flood-be-docked-6-months

Although the OP can add to their bragging list the worlds first convertible aircraft carrier.

ListeningQuietly · 08/12/2020 19:07

@nicky7654

My husband is a fisherman of a 10 metre vessel. He has a few choice words regarding this, and is totally disgusted in the treatment of UK fisherman by Foreign Vessels/Corrupt EU and our Government . If the public knew the actual truth they would be horrified. What's said on the BBC isn't the truth. Go and chat to a fisherman they will happily fill you in on the truth.
There are two SIGNIFICANTLY different UK fishing markets

small boat - like your husband
big boat - industrial trawlers

Once the UK allowed its fishermen to sell their quotas
it ceased to give a shit about either big boat or small boat

small boat NEED protection
(the world over, especially from the Chinese)

big boat should cease worldwide as its destroying the oceans

GirlsBlouse17 · 08/12/2020 19:08

Back on the subject of fisherman, I was listening to a fisherman talk on the radio yesterday, he said that France can fish within 6 miles of UK coast whereas the UK can only fish within 12 miles of French coast. He also said that the UK can only fish in 8% of its waters.

I also read that the day the UK's application to join the EEC arrived in Brussels, the existing members decided on carving up fishing waters.

ListeningQuietly · 08/12/2020 19:10

Back on the subject of fisherman, I was listening to a fisherman talk on the radio yesterday, he said that France can fish within 6 miles of UK coast whereas the UK can only fish within 12 miles of French coast. He also said that the UK can only fish in 8% of its waters.
him talking hogwash
12 mile is an international standard
and where does his 8% come from ?

Zilla1 · 08/12/2020 19:14

OP - 'I love the British, I really do - it is a fantastic country in every way.' I'm disappointed, OP. Don't you know proper Daily Mail patriotism requires more than thinking your country is fantastic? It needs you to despise every other country.

Have you started the other threads yet with why you are sad with every other Member State before you tell them what is in their own interests?

GirlsBlouse17 · 08/12/2020 19:14

I don't know where his 8% comes from. He was just talking on the radio and this is what he said. I trust he understands his business better than any of us.

Viviennemary · 08/12/2020 19:19

Can't wait leave the EU. Hotbed of corruption. I don't care if I never set foot in Europe again.

Europilgrim · 08/12/2020 19:20

I don't care if I never set foot in Europe again.

Bad news for you then that you're still in Europe!*

*if you're in the UK of course - where obviously all the corruption doesn't bother you