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.

Nice idea OP, but we'll never be allowed to rejoin the EU.

I think the older generations mainly voted for Brexit. They are products of their time & couldn’t see past their personal experiences growing up in postwar Britain and the cultural traumas of the war years. They couldn’t get on board unfortunately with how times have moved on and all the benefits of us being in the EU. They’ve screwed younger generations over through their prejudices and they won’t be around to pick up the pieces.

Oh yeah because we're all so racist and xenophobic in the UK, and none of the countries in the EU are. You need to open your eyes OP.

Brexit happened because of people like you. When politicians don't listen to the concerns of their electorate and try and shut down debate by calling people racists and bigots this is what happens and it's still happening. Remember Gordon Brown promising British jobs for British workers? It didn't happen and politicians and people like you wonder why the likes of Farage are becoming more popular.

They won’t allow us to rejoin whilst we’re taxing education- we can’t ’get round it’. Greece tried it and the EU came down on them like a tonne of bricks.

The VAT/Charitable status issue is repeatedly linked by both the main political parties. Its not about HMRC its about politics.

Private education across Europe is not cheaper due to massive tax breaks and vouchers - you are confusing cause and effect and the way in which education is run in some European countries where private equates more to our free school or even academy and VA schools.

The UK private school sector has actively pursued a model of ever greater facilities and elite offerings which have resulted in >50% increase in prices just within the last decade.

I heard a right wing pundit saying recently that when private schools have chosen to commercialise, internationalise and price themselves out of their main local market (traditionally bank managers, doctors, accountants etc) they have noone but themselves to blame when they are treated like international commercial businesses.

Not one private school charges VAT because education is VAT exempt in the UK. It has nothing to do with charitable status. Stop making things up. The Labour Party aren’t ending charitable status by the way, they dropped that policy months ago.

@2dogsandabudgie

Brexit happened because of people like you. When politicians don't listen to the concerns of their electorate

Well, that’s one reason. Older generations with prejudice is another. But also people were sold a lie - the golden sunlit uplands of a Britain disengaged from the EU. Some people will swallow anything if you sweeten the pill. They sincerely believed they’d be more for them, economically, culturally and socially if we cut ties. More resource, more money in the pot. More focus on local communities and people in disadvantaged areas. It was all a lie

Happy to be corrected but that came from a Tory in the recent election interview round who made the claim that some schools were charging VAT on services already.

It is absolutely the case that numbers of private schools have opted out of charitable status rather than make the minimal contributions required. I did not say Labour are removing charitable status.

Just because Labour supporters link VAT with charitable status doesn't mean it is true.
VAT has nothing to do with charitable status, under the EU it is illegal to tax education (cos they value education in whatever form, however it is delievered), leaving the EU allowed Labour to apply VAT. That is completely separate to charitable status.

OP, if we rejoin the EU Labour can say goodbye to their adding VAT onto education policy.
Not that the EU would let us join again.

Ridiculous idea. They don't want us the people of UK just don't fit into the Shared Socialism of the Eurocrats, the managers who have the real power. There is little real power in their Parliament.
The French and Spanish do want our Fish but they are not willing to let us manage that.

Indecent schools can't charge VAT or reclaim VAT. They pay VAT on all purchases but can't charge it.
This is part of the issue, many politicians don't understand the issue themselves! Labour being guilty of this the most hence why they have now delayed it until Sept 25 at the earliest.

Many Labour Party MP’s/candidates have confused the issue because the Labour Party had two policies, one to end VAT and one to end charitable status. They (the MPs/candidates) were mistaken that VAT was linked to charitable status and by talking about the policies as if they were linked have confused lots of other people. But they are not. Education is exempt because that is an EU VAT rule which we are currently following. If a Labour government implements the VAT policy it is a move further away from the EU.

Even if the major parties were advocating a return, do you think Europe I would let us in under the same terms as we left. I have lived in the Netherlands for over 20 years and still have my British passport and Dutch residency so I don’t have border issues. I think it would be unlikely for me to surrender my British passport to gain Dutch citizenship (only married Brits can have dual citizenship).

The UK left, I think it’s time people moved on and I would have voted remain had I had the right to vote at the time (this has since changed).

Lol that the current vote is 52/48 YABU 😂.........

I think this nails it. I don’t think people understand that we actually had a very good deal when we were in the EU. But if we rejoined we would t get that.

Yep. They confuse the 2 issues because they announced the policy without understanding it.

I thought that was an interesting point

is it not true?

I think if it's in the economic interest to do so the EU would let us in. I don't know exactly how the EU benefits from us, but I know probably there'd be a lot more trade again etc if the Brexit restrictions were lifted, which is probably profitable?

@ChirpyBee “Unfortunately the UK population/electorate are too xenophobic and racist for this to happen”

Speak for yourself. We don’t all hold such views!

No, it isn't a barrier to get over, it is EU legislation. No EU country can raise taxes on education.

It's irrelevant because we can't rejoin the EU regardless of whether we charge VAT on private school fees.

Sorry see things had moved on. I had no idea VAT on education was outlawed by the EU. Very interesting.

the EU probably would let us back in wouldnt they? I didn’t think they wanted other nations getting ideas so having Brexit fail would be great for them.

You do know that several countries in Schengen don’t apply it across the board? France, Germany and Italy in particular have closed some of their borders at vulnerable points, Schengen, EU passport or no. You still have to queue and validate yourself,; I suppose the non EU passport queue will be a bit slower.