Westministenders: The Beginning of Negotiations

[RedToothBrush]

Transition has a few hours left.

Then negotiations start and trade stops.

Far from being over, there are huge numbers of issues that lay unresolved.

And businesses both now in the UK and EU will cease to trade with each other just because the red tape is such a pain.

So whilst people will celebrate and think things are 'done' that just shows how much people are paying attention.

It will be interesting to see people gradually realising what has been lost...

@HannibalHayes

Teachers Covid rates up to 333% above average.

Wheres Boris to tell us how World Beating we are still.

And this:

@DGRossetti

But tbf young people are getting turned over more than any other section of society, no wonder they rebel.

"Rebel" ?

Part of me wishes they would. Maybe a mob with burning torches and pitchforks could work wonders.

I think my single most defining memory of 2020 was that statue coming down in Bristol. I defy anyone to say they thought they'd see that in the UK ever.

“Rebelling” in our society seems to mean wearing something unusual, doing something weird with your hair, trying unusual food combinations or having firmly held but poorly defined or expressed opinions on some current “controversy”. Such is the decline of political knowledge and the general lack of critical thinking.

If you want to understand the Tory vision for academia just look at the superlabs. They sidelined all those established well run safe effective labs in universities etc and instead took their most advanced machines and put them into testing factories with an inexperienced croney with a track record of failure to deliver service in charge. Scientists and managers with experience of delivering effective safe production in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries volunteered because they felt they could make a difference but they evaporated when they realised they were being treated as commodities, their expertise ignored resulting in failures in both process and data, and safety not given the priority that is the norm in Science. Breaches have now been picked up officially as a result of whistleblowers who also highlighted that the labs are now recruiting inexperienced young people and not giving them adequate training. The government finally turned to existing labs some of whom have been running effective processes from the start and are ready to scale up with no shortage of experienced volunteers, but they can’t get their hands on the equipment they need because it is all going to the Superfactories.

What does this tell you about how the Tories view the potential and value of human beings? Of course they don’t care if universities either in the vine because all they want is commodities to be turned out with practical but not creative or thinking skills, unless of course they are arrived at via Eton and Classics or PPE at Oxford delivering politicians in a safe Tory establishment bubble.

It's something when you catch yourself wishing Jeremy Hunt were Prime Minister.

It could be worse, I catch myself thinking that Margaret Thatcher could do a better job. At least she was more competent than Boris but not necessarily in a good way.

Basically we have a reactionary, anti intellectual government that seems happy to let a LOT of its people die and is encouraging the bright and the young to leave
hmm, I can think of some who went that way before
it did not end well

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-55533757

another Brexit benefit

A guide dog charity has expressed "disappointment" that assistance dogs have not been made exempt from new rules for bringing pets to NI from GB.

Marina Hyde as usual hits the nail on the head.

but they can’t get their hands on the equipment they need because it is all going to the Superfactories

I know that this is easy for me to say, but I think we need direct action here - can they go to the superfactories and take the equipment?Treat it as though we are dealing with an occupying army. Johnson's Government does not deserve any support whatever, or basic respect.

BTW I think the Guide Dog charity needs to express more than 'Disappointment'. They need to express anger and remind various politicians what they promised with Brexit. I don't know if there is an Irish Guide dogs charity, but you could see what would happen - they start to cover NI.

I don't know if there is an Irish Guide dogs charity, but you could see what would happen - they start to cover NI.

Yes, there is - the Irish Guide Dogs Association.

However, unless there is a surplus of dogs (highly unlikely given wait lists currently), I can't see them expanding to NI.

@Emilyontmoor

If you want to understand the Tory vision for academia just look at the superlabs. They sidelined all those established well run safe effective labs in universities etc and instead took their most advanced machines and put them into testing factories with an inexperienced croney with a track record of failure to deliver service in charge. Scientists and managers with experience of delivering effective safe production in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries volunteered because they felt they could make a difference but they evaporated when they realised they were being treated as commodities, their expertise ignored resulting in failures in both process and data, and safety not given the priority that is the norm in Science. Breaches have now been picked up officially as a result of whistleblowers who also highlighted that the labs are now recruiting inexperienced young people and not giving them adequate training. The government finally turned to existing labs some of whom have been running effective processes from the start and are ready to scale up with no shortage of experienced volunteers, but they can’t get their hands on the equipment they need because it is all going to the Superfactories.

What does this tell you about how the Tories view the potential and value of human beings? Of course they don’t care if universities either in the vine because all they want is commodities to be turned out with practical but not creative or thinking skills, unless of course they are arrived at via Eton and Classics or PPE at Oxford delivering politicians in a safe Tory establishment bubble.

THIS ☝️

Anyone else come across a few articles about food shortages and how some eu companies just can’t be bothered to shop to the uk due to the red tape involved??

Apparently Sainsbury is now 700 articles down because of that...

I agree @Emilyontmoor.
I would also say that it’s a way of thinking you find across the spectrum, just just in academia/Tories.

Eg when children are learning to write, they are learning to write letters straight away. At no point do they learn first to make curves, straight lines etc... Nope the Important bit is whether it’s sort of legible, not the way the letters are formed (which will make things more legible esp when said students will start to write very quickly).
There are many situations like this where it’s clear that the only interest is the end point (and how useful it will be in the ‘future’) Rather than thé process or the growth of the individual.

@HannibalHayes - that's a good article indeed. I enjoy Marina Hyde.

Apparently Sainsbury is now 700 articles down because of that...

I hope they tell the truth as to why. E.g. as a result of the UK leaving the EU, Great Britain is now a 'third country' and as such [x,y z ] find it not cost effective to ship to the UK'. Of course for the Brexiters that will be the EU punishing us, so it would have to be sensitively worded.

Will HP sauce be made again in the UK, or has Liz Truss done a deal with Japan to bring in a similar product?

Caffe Amalfi thin breadsticks look like they're a thing of the past 🙁 One of the few things DS with additional needs will eat.

@TonMoulin

Anyone else come across a few articles about food shortages and how some eu companies just can’t be bothered to shop to the uk due to the red tape involved??

Apparently Sainsbury is now 700 articles down because of that...

I imagine once the smoke clears, some will reestablish sales.

However we need to bear in mind that making ourselves a tenth the size of the EU market comes with consequences, one of which will be to simply stop smaller companies bothering (like the Dutch Bike Company).

And because that market is so small (and niche) the chances of someone in the UK waking up one day and saying "You know what ? I'm going to sink hundreds of thousands of pounds into creating a business to make and sell bike bits just in the UK " are marginally less than of me winning this years Strictly. Even with my killer moves.

I have to admit to being mildly surprised at quite how quickly we have been allowed to see the wheels start to wobble.

www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/brexit-news-live-eu-firms-refuse-uk-deliveries-as-british-supermarkets-hit-by-disruption/ar-BB1ctWYH

A growing number of online retailers in the EU have decided they won’t deliver to Britain because of the new costs involved in sending packages after Brexit. European firms have said they are unwilling to register for VAT in the UK.

The VAT thing does appear to be a disaster on top of the catastrophe that is Brexit, having a disproportionate impact in SMEs

At last! We're World beating!

@wherearemychickens

The VAT thing does appear to be a disaster on top of the catastrophe that is Brexit, having a disproportionate impact in SMEs

Unless I am wrong (and as always I am happy to be corrected) the current situation is that anyone who wishes to export into the UK for orders under £135 (or, being more accurate the €150 it was defined as ) has to create an online account with HMRC, and enter details of orders there in order to be able to pay the VAT that is due ?

What are the EUs requirements for UK businesses that wish to export into the EU ? Bearing in mind there is fuck all symmetry here. You can't compare a market of 60 million with a market of 450 million. Unless you are spectacularly innumerate, thick, or both. Which brings us back to Brexit and Brexiteers.

@HannibalHayes

At last! We're World beating!

Chapeau !

@TonMoulin

I agree *@Emilyontmoor*. I would also say that it’s a way of thinking you find across the spectrum, just just in academia/Tories.

Eg when children are learning to write, they are learning to write letters straight away. At no point do they learn first to make curves, straight lines etc... Nope the Important bit is whether it’s sort of legible, not the way the letters are formed (which will make things more legible esp when said students will start to write very quickly).
There are many situations like this where it’s clear that the only interest is the end point (and how useful it will be in the ‘future’) Rather than thé process or the growth of the individual.

I agree with all of that, it's typical neoliberal short termism, all they see is the end point not the process, which is one of the reasons our country is in the shit it is. Profit before people, it's their way. Which is why they never prioritise public health, state education or public services unless they can be privatised so their friends and donors can make a killing.

I agree with all of that, it's typical neoliberal short termism, all they see is the end point not the process, which is one of the reasons our country is in the shit it is. Profit before people, it's their way. Which is why they never prioritise public health, state education or public services unless they can be privatised so their friends and donors can make a killing.

So you end up having to perpetually import the skills you can't be arsed to grow domestically.

Much like the Premier league in real life.

And then you wonder why your national team is so shit. Bearing in mind the Tory answer to that would not be to upskill your own talent, but to bribe FIFA or UEFA to change the rules over who can play in a national team. Luckily they are the last two bastions of propriety in the world.

Tories love foreign skills. They really can't get enough of them. They are compliant. Easy to get rid if if needs be. Get fuck all say in the political processes of the country. And you can charge them extra on top of all the tax you get for health and social care.

What's not to like ?

The way HMRC are reintroducing VAT deferment seems to be targeted at crippling small businesses.

I noticed at Mole Valley yesterday that they were out of stock of all the French made boots and riding kit ....
Cannot see the EU countries busting a gut to help the folks they know voted for this

Well of course, the rest of the world is going to come rushing in to supply us.

But only if there is something in it for them.