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...

Cannot see the EU countries busting a gut to help the folks they know voted for this

Brexiteers - who as we know are experts in not allowing emotion to cloud their judgements - will realise the asymmetry involved. No company is going to subsidise sales to the UK from their EU operations.

In 6 months time, I'm going to predict that we will start hearing horror stories of extremely large purchases made in a "grey market" going terribly wrong for people as warranties aren't honoured.

Meanwhile, who's going to fill up their bucket list of illegal imports while customs aren't checking ?

Jas let me be more specific then as I can only speak about our students.

They are getting their full education. Please note that I am not saying that they are getting the full HE experience of going to societies, playing sports, attending gigs and parties well those they were still attending at start of the term etc, which are all important parts of the university experience. And agree that those degrees that need practicals or fieldwork etc are taking a hit. No arguing there.

However, in our department, at our uni they are getting their full education. In many ways, they are getting more of an education than they were pre-pandemic via blended learning because I think we have gone to extreme lengths to compensate for the loss of f2f lectures.

Of course I cannot speak for all subjects or all univerisities. So if your DC is not getting their full education, then you have my full sympathies.

And I agree with others who have said that criticisms about what is happening at/to UK universities and the negative impacts on students ought to be directed at our esteemed and successive Tory gov'ts who have carefully and insidiously trained our students to think of their HE as a commodity to be consumed and of universities as nothing more than businesses.

Meanwhile, who's going to fill up their bucket list of illegal imports while customs aren't checking ?
If HMRC are genuinely not enforcing international customs law they are creating a whole new shower of shit

• breaking WTO rules by not treating the EU the same as the US and China
• making it impossible for UK manufacturers to comply with origin regulations anywhere else in the world

What are the EUs requirements for UK businesses that wish to export into the EU ?

When I order stuff from outside the EU to Sweden it gets held by the post office, I get a bill from Customs and once my payment is cleared my package is released from capitivity. All packages from outside the EU have a handling charge even if there is no customs to pay, unless you're very lucky and it slips through unnoticed.

Oh la la

www.lefigaro.fr/conso/des-rayons-vides-dans-les-marks-spencer-de-france-en-raison-du-brexit-20210105

(Empty shelves at M&S in Paris due to Brexit. The same thing is happening in Northern Ireland, which is distinctly less amusing).

If HMRC are genuinely not enforcing international customs law they are creating a whole new shower of shit

Our old chum on "ADifferentBias" picked over some of the upcoming issues, and noted that the fact there is increased provision for lorries due to come on stream in July means that not only will any delays post Brexit not ease off - they will get worse and are anticipated as such. In the same clip he comments that HMRC have said they won't be checking for customs for the first 6 months. Although what I suspect will happen is they will ignore the 40-tonners, and instead lick on the Vauxhall Astras. Mainly because they can confiscate them if they are used for smuggling.

(As a digression, I'd quite happily confiscate the car - or at least the phone - of any moron caught using a phone when driving. But I have repeatedly been told that it's "not possible". I give you HMRC - for whom is appears nothing is impossible ....)

@ListeningQuietly

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

a friend who runs a tack shop selling top end gear such as Kask and Pikeur was told stock up before Xmas as after Brexit she either wont be able to get it or its going to be many many £s dearer.

I'm still amused at all the riders having a fit over having to pay carnet fees of £385 for each horse to get to Europe to compete - apparently its the greedy French!

@FatCatThinCat

What are the EUs requirements for UK businesses that wish to export into the EU ?

When I order stuff from outside the EU to Sweden it gets held by the post office, I get a bill from Customs and once my payment is cleared my package is released from capitivity. All packages from outside the EU have a handling charge even if there is no customs to pay, unless you're very lucky and it slips through unnoticed.

I think the reason HMG - and thus HMRC - have done it the way they have is to not discriminate against non-EU firms that might want to export to the UK.

Remember from the fishing fiasco, that it's already Brexit fact to trash 99% over 1%.

If a Brexiteer went for an appendectomy, they'd keep the appendix and throw the rest of the useless flesh away.

Luckily they are the last two bastions of propriety in the world.

I’d hate to think how much a string of polo ponies will cost to overwinter in Spain (yes, that’s niche, but it’s big business locally).

My local Sainsbury’s had lots of empty shelves yesterday - olive oil and mozzarella particularly absent.

My local Sainsbury’s had lots of empty shelves yesterday - olive oil and mozzarella particularly absent.

Sainsburys stock control has been shit for at least 38 years. Generally I would want another example from another supermarket operator before assuming problems.

Yesterday (mentioned in another thread) they appeared to be struggling with long life milk, and sugar. Two things we didn't need.

If a Brexiteer went for an appendectomy, they'd keep the appendix and throw the rest of the useless flesh away.

Happy to have stocked up on olive oil... DH thought I was over the top....

Aldi had no brie, pate and camembert had short dates and no newer stock since before Christmas. Lots of Italian cheese. Low on satsumas and some of the fruit. Prosecco was 50p off, not sure if they bought too much for Christmas or are trying to clear it as end of line. Lots of Spanish broccoli and bagged lettuce section was very full. Shop was mostly full but looked like there was some stock they were struggling to get hold of.

Found a new way to needle Brexiteers - which is odd, considering Brexit has happened.

Seems a few have twigged that VAT isn't being abolished. Which has run into their cognitive dissonance, as they have been told that VAT was an EU evil.

Of course abolishing VAT was never mentioned in any vote Leave literature, nor indeed any subsequent party manifesto, so they can't be that surprised it's not happening. But if you point out to them they knew what they were voting for (i.e. not scrapping VAT) and they get very upset.

I would take more pleasure in unconfusing Brexiteers, but they are remarkably resilient to facts, and at my age, you need as much fun as you can get from your waking hours.

Jigsaws. You can't get lots of jigsaws that would normally be available in toy shops and on amazon atm.

Why? Cos they are many made in Europe....

Its going to be a drip drip of little things that you start to notice missing.

According to Twitter the British (and French) in Paris are bereft because Marks and Spencer has no sandwiches or curry.

Its going to be a drip drip of little things that you start to notice missing.

Until we are back in that 1970s theme holiday camp.

Well, I was planning to take Dobbin with me on holiday, but not now.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/export-horses-and-ponies-special-rules?utmsource=c9e49615-8251-4ff9-8b09-8e6712dcbcc1&utmmmedium=email&utmcampaign=govuk-notifications&utmmcontent=immediate

My local Sainsbury’s had lots of empty shelves yesterday - olive oil and mozzarella particularly absent.
I got my annual Nectar summary today and apparently I buy more Mozzarella than anybody else at that shop

Jigsaws. You can't get lots of jigsaws that would normally be available in toy shops and on amazon atm
That makes me sad as I LOVE my jigsaws - did 3 1000 piece ones over Christmas and have upwards of 50 in my jigsaw cupboard

VAT is an EU tax, so the UK could abolish and bring back a Purchase tax if they wanted.

@DGRossetti

My local Sainsbury’s had lots of empty shelves yesterday - olive oil and mozzarella particularly absent.

Sainsburys stock control has been shit for at least 38 years. Generally I would want another example from another supermarket operator before assuming problems.

Yesterday (mentioned in another thread) they appeared to be struggling with long life milk, and sugar. Two things we didn't need.

Given I was responding to the PP who quoted Sainsbury’s as specifically suffering shortages, you’re very welcome to conduct your own survey on shortages in other supermarkets

@Jason118

Well, I was planning to take Dobbin with me on holiday, but not now.

[[https://www.gov.uk/guidance/export-horses-and-ponies-special-rules?utm]]source=c9e49615-8251-4ff9-8b09-8e6712dcbcc1&utmmmedium=email&utmcampaign=govuk-notifications&utmmcontent=immediate

You need to complete a customs declaration form before the equine arrives at the EU border.

"the equine" ???????!?

Am I being over pedantic, or is that technically correct English ? Seems clunky to me. And English generally tends away from clunk (much as our polyglot friends might disagree ....)

Given I was responding to the PP who quoted Sainsbury’s as specifically suffering shortages, you’re very welcome to conduct your own survey on shortages in other supermarkets

Anyone who regularly shops at Sainsburys already does.

@Peregrina

VAT is an EU tax, so the UK could abolish and bring back a Purchase tax if they wanted.

I know one of the Brits who was on the committee that originally designed VAT lovely chap but I take the piss out him about its complexity regularly