Westminstenders: Operation Shock and Awe

[RedToothBrush]

The government is launching its get ready for the end of transition campaign which has been dubbed a 'shock and awe' campaign.

In this campaign we will learn all about what Brexit means and what amazing opportunities lie for having increased customs and borders, beaucracy and increased costs. Bet you are all really excited and looking forward to this.

We will also get a 'Farage Garage' in Kent to cope with these wonderful opportunities in traffic jams. This will be something that businesses throughout the country will be super excited to plan for in their socially distanced Zoom meetings or across warehouses with their face masks on. And banks will be delighted to see an uptick in applications in CCJs and debt reconstruction plans.

It will be a super fun time for the under 30s who have zero hours contracts, worked in retail or hospitality. Or should I say 'worked'.

Meanwhile the right to a jury trial has been binned due to 'long covid delays' which are shorter than they were several years ago. The NHS isn't getting the funding it expected, and waiting lists are longer than ever with no way to clear them. The plan to build more hospitals seems to have disappeared with the Nightingales. Many councils are about to go into insolvency and be taken over by accountancy firms. The civil service is being dismantled and conservative loyalists with no experience being put in charge of important functions of state. Communications with the press are being 'streamlined' to make them incredible of holding power to account and only able to repeat government public announcements.

Anyone looking forward to Christmas? When you write a letter to Santa remember to add 'visa application form', 'a sleeping bag for use at Dover', 'tinned tomatoes' and 'packets of seeds to grow your own' to the list.

I'm very late to it but watched Chernobyl last night.
So heartbreaking.
I just need to work up to watching years and years...
I have nothing remotely comforting/useful/incitful to say so I'll just say....
Pppffftttt

www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2020/07/18/three-quarters-hauliers-face-loss-permits-no-deal-brexit/

Three quarters of hauliers could be left without permits and unable to bring in goods from the continent if there is no Brexit trade deal, the freight industry has warned.

When Britain leaves the single market and customs union at the end of the year, lorry companies will lose the right to provide road transport services in the EU. Instead, they will automatically enter the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) scheme, which distributes a fixed number of permits per country. There were 8,348 UK-registered international road hauliers last year, according to Department for Transport data.

However, under the ECMT scheme, the UK would be allocated permits for only 2,088 companies.

That taxresearch article is terrifying. :( Once the DC are back in school I am stepping up my preps otherwise they see it and eat it all

"I am genuinely astounded that the Spanish have not been MUCH harsher on the British pensioners who are a drain on the healthcare systems."
Why would they be a drain on the Spanish healthcare system LQ. They have and will continue to have their costs paid through the S1 form.
Unless you have data to prove how many are not registered for an S1 form?
And before anyone says it, the S1 form also entitles pensioners to treatment from the NHS.

Why would they be a drain on the Spanish healthcare system LQ. They have and will continue to have their costs paid through the S1 form.

Isn't reciprocal healthcare ending ? UK citizens resident in Spain will need to pay from 2021 ?

Missclimpson
Did you not see the Brexiter stories about health tourism and having to pay money to other countries ....
its British pensioners in spain mainly

No the S1 form will continue for those of us in residence on 31st December. Part of the Withdrawal Agreement thanks to our British In Europe pressure group. No deal would not affect it. The EHIC will probably go unless something similar is agreed, but that is for tourists.

missClimpson
THe UK made great news about health tourists but that is EXACLTLY what s1 folks are
I remain amazed at the patience of the Med countries

No I haven't seen those stories LQ. How can you access an insurance based system without working or having an S1 form? As pensioners we have the S1 form and the UK as our competent state pays for us. I can believe in some people going back to the UK for treatment, but we are entitled to do that. Personally I wouldn't dream of it as the French system is very good.

Well hopefully the Eu countries will treat non tax paying immigrants with the same respect that the UK does

I'm just tired of limbo

I have an S1 form LQ. I paid 30 years of NI contributions and the UK is my competent state. It pays France for the cost of my health cover. How is that health tourism?

And I pay taxes in both countries.

missClimpson
Ask Priti - she is the one denying folks cancer care because they did not realise they were not British
she is the one deporting kids to countries they have never visited because the UK care authorities never registered them despite being their "loco parentis " for 12 years

THe French may look after you
the UK Government will not

I am not defending the Conservative government for one minute, in my fifty years as a voter I have never voted Conservative and never seen a more dreadful and vicious government.
Since Brexit I have also seen a lot of lazy journalism about pensioners in Europe and a lot of uninformed ageist shite in the press and elsewhere.
I do know how the S1 form works, the provisions of the Withdrawal Agreement and the way that insurance based health care systems work.. Facts are useful.

Ah yes, the WA .... see links above ...
forgive my cynicism
but I have family in Portland Oregon - Government is a fragile thing

Yes they could renege on the WA, but it is an international treaty which is enshrined in law. I think even this government might hesitate to do that. If they do, then as long-term residents living here "in a regular fashion" we are entitled to health cover under French law. Anyone who has lived under the radar without registering with tax authorities will be in trouble, but until we have reliable data about how many people that involves, then I think stories about hordes of pensioners taking the piss are just stories.

Yes they could renege on the WA, but it is an international treaty which is enshrined in law

So ?

If no one is willing to enforce it, then it's as good as a chocolate fireguard. And even then, enforcement may take years.

And as soon as Boris and chum realise that there's not comeback on them personally for reneging on a treaty, I can easily see it being a bonfire of treaties.

Little tip: you should never sign - or accept - a treaty if you aren't prepared to go to war over it. I learned that from the Nazis.

I think the government is capable of anything, but might just hesitate to demonstrate that it is happy to renege on international treaties if it ever wanted to sign any others.
Is the relatively short-term health cover of a few thousand pensioners worth it? It only applies for our lifetime and does not apply to anyone arriving after the end of the year. It is much cheaper to pay for us here than have us back.

It is much cheaper to pay for us here than have us back.
You've been abroad too long.
That is NOT how they think

I am really interested to know where they have said that they will not continue to pay the S1 form for existing pensioners? I confess to not having any idea how they think. Do they even think? I thought they just mouthed what the puppet masters were saying?

I am personally far more worried about the future of my UK based grandchildren. I will continue to pay my subscription to the Labour Party and hope for better things for the UK.

Do they even think?
You got it in one :-(

"the S1 form will continue for those of us in residence on 31st December"

Beware:
You can't get healthcare paid via S1 if you have worked and acquired a state pension in your EU country,
even if you have the full UK state pension as well.

You would need to have either paid into the state health scheme or have private health insurance

MissClimpson I found out the above out of curiosity, but I would never have given up my private insurance anyway

• because I don't sufficiently trust that the Uk govt will act morally and / or rationally for my remaining years

I think Ireland might have something to say about the UK govt's position on international treaties too...

I don't know wtf is happening in the USA

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-85-babies-test-positive-for-covid-19-in-texas-12031874

'85 babies under the age of one have tested positive for coronavirus in Texas'