To think that UK should rejoin EU AND Schengen Area?

[ChirpyBee]

I know UK was never in Schengen, I propose that we rejoin both the EU and join Schengen.

I have waited HOURS at passport control at both ends for the Rotterdam/Hull ferry and it is ridiculous. If someone is ok to be in France/Germany/Netherlands then they're OK to be in the UK - we're not special. The increase in efficiencies would be enormous!

Never mind all the other economic and social benefits being part of the EU would provide, as well as the commonality of regulations and standards - which benefits us allas consumers, never let big business fool you that "red tape" is bad - it's regulation for the greater social good!

Unfortunately the UK population/electorate are too xenophobic and racist for this to happen.

It's too late. They're not going to let us rejoin, and if they do we will have to join Schengen and the Euro and won't get the contributions rebate that we previously had and wouldn't have the influence we previously had.

I would vote for rejoining the Single Market which is more doable and would have practical and economic advantages, but it would also restore freedom of movement which is what the Leavers didn't like.

They'd have to let us in though.

I agree OP but it’s not going to happen for another generation. I don’t think the EU would let us back at the moment. Sadly I think we need to let the nasty strain of nationalism which is epitomised by the Farage phenomenon work its way out of our system first. Moreover there are worrying signs that nationalism across Europe is gathering pace and that there will be broader tension and pressure on the EU.

Its almost like we need an existential crisis to force us to recognise how nationalism could tear Europe apart…. Oh wait…

Why?

The only reason we had the referendum was to protect the Tory Party from Farage. And now they're back to square one in that particular struggle, so thanks for that guys! You wrecked the economy for nothing.

Labour can't re-join the EU whilst taxing education. The only reason they can currently propose to do so is because of Brexit. So re-joining would mean scrapping that policy.

Edit! Sorry, I’ve quoted the wrong post!!

Because it’s too late, it took so long to make Brexit happen because it’s incredibly complicated and it’s caused a huge amount of issues as we know.

To unpick all of that again is then another ridiculous situation to unpick, and Brexit has created a very bad feeling between the UK and the EU.

They’re under no obligation to allow anyone into the EU and we’d be back of any queue now with what Brexit has caused, it wouldn’t really benefit anyone else, and the EU aren’t going to care that the UK has now realised what a shit show decision it was. M

People should’ve thought about this before voting for such a ridiculous decision.

My god, will the private school parents give it a rest, it doesn't need to be brought up in regards to every issue!! We get it, you'll have to pay a bit more for your very expensive by choice education.

I'm sure if such a barrier existed we could get over it for the greater good.

They’re under no obligation to let us in whatsoever after the shit show Brexit has caused.

Totally agree on everything you’re said!

No you can't just "get over it for the greater good" because it is actually the law!

Come on now, VAT regulations are the most important issue facing us in our relationship with the EU, aren't they?!😏

Of course they aren't but just pointing out that the policy is a barrier to re-joining. So many people have opinions on this policy without knowing the first thing about it.

@fromthegecko

Spot on. Cameron was running scared of UKIP.

That's interesting, I didn't know.

Not having school age children I have stayed away from any discussions around private education and VAT.

But it's an interesting point.

This is exactly the kind of whinge that drove me nuts when campaigning for the remain side.

Time and again voters leaning toward Brexit ward would cite middle class whingers only interested in duty free booze, foreign holidays, erasmus placements for Tarquin and Fiona and flinging accusations of racism at anyone who disagreed from their naice suburban homes and jobs.

Meanwhile in the poorest areas of the country people did not feel the benefits of being part of the union, were on the sharp end of competing with cheap labour for jobs, school places and local services. People who feel they have nothing to lose vote for change. Brexit was a vote for change. Every remainer who insists they were just stupid, racist sheeple is a part of the problem.

As for the Brussels bureacracy problems- of course its real, every country in Europe complains about excessive centralisation of trivia which should be devolved to local regions. Some of it is ludicrous and the result of factional campaigning, not the greater good.

I campaigned for remain because overall I believed the benefits significantly outweighed the downsides but lets not pretend it was some kind of shangri-la we were dragged out of by evil xenophobes.

The basis of the Brexit vote was added to by every middle class remainer who complacently took the benefits whilst inequality rose substantially in the country.

This same issue is playing out in many EU countries at the moment facing the same issues of inequality as the poorer classes have been left behind.

Yep exactly. I have skin in the game so know the issues inside out but many vehement supporters of the VAT policy know next to nothing about it.
Labour also aren't mentioning that fact at all when they talk about wanting closer ties with the EU.

Its really not relevant to rejoining a single market. There are minor variations in tax policy with respect to schools across Europe which coexist quite happily.

However private schools across Europe are also generally cheaper than in the UK where they focus on providing education in different forms rather than the commercialised international business models favoured in the UK. Fees have escalated over the past 15 years due to that choice, not taxation. Plenty of schools already have VAT on their fees having opted out of even the minimal expectation to meet charitable status.

If school fees are too high the independent sector in the UK needs to look at itself and the way its actively chosen to price itself out of its traditional local market.

It's not an interesting point. It's an extremely trivial point - probably about number one thousand in the list of 'one thousand reasons why rejoining is going to be a massive ball-ache and likely impossible'. We could re-abolish VAT on school fees and pay for it from the economic boost of rejoining. There, that didn't hurt did it?

Why?

Would you let your ex back in your house after an acrimonious divorce?

The reason many are cheaper is because there are tax breaks for parents who choose private schools because there is a recognition that they ease the burden on the state. Or the state contributes towards the cost through a voucher system therefore schools are part state funded.
In the UK no schools have VAT on fees at present, VAT has nothing to do with charitable status.

I agree with this in its entirety.

This is spot on.

Except the benefits went mostly to the poorer areas

Huge amounts of Cornwall broadband for example was paid for by the EU. The Cornish people as a whole never knew that.

In Scotland you can see the bridges and tourist attractions that the eu paid for as they have signs up. They didn't do that in England.

And immigration hasn't stopped as a result of leaving the EU and never would - people were lied to . It's just changed where the immigrants come from - they now come from counties with even lower wages

So cut the crap about middle class holidays - working class holidays also suffer. It's not the working classes who don't do abroad , it's the very poor

I wonder whether the economic effects of Brexit have fallen more heavily on Leave voters or Remain voters, though?

Oh, right! What @greencartbluecart said!