Brexit Megathread - Part 2 because it's not over by a long shot

[vera99]

Well getting to a 1000 posts didn't take too long so here we are.... everybody welcome!

@DuncinToffee

news.sky.com/story/pig-cull-government-set-to-allow-more-foreign-butchers-in-to-prevent-mass-slaughter-12433407

The National Pig Association (NPA), which represents the majority of farmers affected, said it was "quietly optimistic" and that the requirement for butchers to speak English was "the final blocker".

Foreigners slaughtering our fine British pigs to make gammon, this is outrageous.

Speak up, reach out show solidarity where we can in small ways with our European allies and friends. The enemy is racism. lies and disinformation, not people working hard to better themselves and their families. That tweet from Cumming's was very illuminating Johnson lies even to himself he will ultimately be disposable sooner rather than later but for the moment ascendant in the polls he is the useful idiot savant.

Every EU citizen I have reached out to in my day to day interactions have described the increasing toxic shitshow which is a feature of their daily lives without exception.

There is an editorial in Le Monde today on the UK making unacceptable demands.
www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2021/10/14/brexit-des-exigences-britanniques-inacceptables_6098350_3232.html

Some excerpts:
Only 2 years after it was signed, the difficult divorce agreement between the UK and EU is being challenged by its main champion, BJ.
[...]
It's exactly as if BJ needed to remain in permanent conflict with the EU in order to pander to his electorate and make people forget the damaging consequences Brexit is having on the economy. The statements made by his former adviser Dominic Cummings, according to whom he intended from the outset to flout the Brexit agreement which he had accepted only in order to win the 2019 elections, probably contain some truth: the UK PM's good faith is questionable.
The EU must take this unfortunate fact into account and remain firm, both to safeguard Irish peace and to defend the single market.

The statements made by his former adviser Dominic Cummings, according to whom he intended from the outset to flout the Brexit agreement which he had accepted only in order to win the 2019 elections, probably contain some truth: the UK PM's good faith is questionable.

“Douteuse” is a very polite way of putting it.

It was known in U.K. that the Tory extremists had no intention of honouring the agreement, but the U.K. population either wouldn’t believe it or didn’t care. Even some posters here wouldn’t believe it as it was thought the Tories would always stand by the Union in particular.

But the writing was on the wall - they don’t give a fuck about NI and never have, and the Brexit deal was always intended to be broken.

Douteuse is very restrained, given the extent of BJ's BS, but still pretty blunt for Le Monde to use when referring to the UK PM.

How do we get ourselves better Politicians?
How do we get to spend more money on the NHS and Care Services when we all feel that we cannot pay any more Tax?
Many can't in fact pay more.
The new Aircraft Carriers seem extravagant, but with China and N Korea acting tough we might need to have a usable force in the Far East. I see that Japan is expanding it's military spending and they are usually quite sensible.

On the micro level:
Our little town is re-starting it's twinning group, we shall be visiting Normandy next year. The host town is finalising dates.
A small cheer. We made some good friends there, looking forward to making more.

The new Aircraft Carriers seem extravagant

Of course they are, a couple of smart missiles/torpedoes and we lose a carrier - they can't be risked in any serious stand off - just willy waving.

My dad had lunch with a retired senior army guy last week (mutual friends). He said that the reason that the Royal Naby got not one but two new aircraft carriers is that the Army and Air Force are too busy actually out on deployment doing things while the Navy has time to write business cases So when the Government says it's got some money to throw at the Armed Forces (either elections or at Year End), it's only the Navy who has the "here's one I prepared earlier" business cases ready to present at short notice

The new Aircraft Carriers seem extravagant, but with China and N Korea acting tough we might need to have a usable force in the Far East.

Sorry, why? I can see that Pacific Nations have a strong case for strengthening their defences, but why the UK? Despite the apparent belief of a number of Tories, we are not a Pacific nation and won't ever be.

Cyber and drones are the future. Trump made the mistake of offing General Salemi - when the Iranians finally retaliated they sent scud type 1970s tech within metres of the US hardened bunkers in Iraq. Not only that but they defeated the patriot iron shields that Israel uses.

Secondly, the Huti rebels in Yemen backed by Iran used $20k drones to knock out 20% of Saudi oil fields again supposedly protected by US tech. The point is tech is cheap, easy to produce and deploy if necessary whereas we are spending 10s of billions on what will ultimately be useless if a shooting war ever starts.

The military-industrial complex is the power behind the throne and wtf are Trident nuclear subs for. Don't ask ...

What are the "trident subs" for vera?... Defending the whole of western Europe from nuclear attack as they've done 24/7/365 round the clock every day since 1993.

What are the "trident subs" for Vera,
Willy waving

@prettybird

My dad had lunch with a retired senior army guy last week (mutual friends). He said that the reason that the Royal Naby got not one but two new aircraft carriers is that the Army and Air Force are too busy actually out on deployment doing things while the Navy has time to write business cases So when the Government says it's got some money to throw at the Armed Forces (either elections or at Year End), it's only the Navy who has the "here's one I prepared earlier" business cases ready to present at short notice

Plus aircraft carriers are big tangible willy waving symbols of wealth, power and influence so appeal to politicians (even if they can’t afford the planes for them). Didn’t Gavin Williamson want to dispatch them all round the world in his brief but ignominious stint as Defence Sec, to no particular effect?

Oooh cross post re willy waving

Hmm Trident if we ever have to use them then the world is in flames. A family member has a bf serving on one and he has said to me that they fear American adventurism far more than another hostile nation.Oh and yes willy waving and the price of post war follow US right and wrong diplomacy. Harold Wilson kept us out of the Vietnam War that makes him a hero in my book.

@FrankieStein403

>What are the "trident subs" for Vera, Willy waving

Without them it is hard for the UK to justify being a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and who would want to be the Prime Minister who accepted the UKs real place in the world order?

Just a different version of willy waving.

The government wants to relax the rules on EU hauliers delivering multiple consignments on trips to the UK. Temporarily, it says, but what will happen in six months' time?

I doubt whether the EU will be reciprocating.

What does that tell us about the economic balance of power between the two entities?

Temporarily, it says, but what will happen in six months' time?

Six months is already beyond their capacity for forward thinking.

Six months is their can kicking distance . Only it's not used to actually do anything.

I hope Clav with her new found support for workers rights will be backing the Unite Unions HGV strike for established workers who want parity with the big signing on fees and salaries that new entrants are getting. Now being framed in the Tory press as unions want to cancel Christmas.

Bezos Branson and Musk get to rub our noses in it with their new toys whilst our welfare state goes to pot. Hats off to William for calling them out. More examples of willy waving.

I can recommend listening to "Today" around the 08:10 mark today. They had our favourite EU lorry representative telling Nick Robinson why the EU is well fucked.

This will just encourage the clown companies to come to the UK ...

Also a suggestion that the UK may not be able to unilaterally change cabotage rules under the Withdrawal Agreement. Which could be fun.

It's all about 'saving Christmas'

Shapps is doing the rounds this morning, admitting merely dozens of foreign HGV drivers have come to work here but he has learned a new word, cabotage

'Taking back control of our borders' soundbite galore but clueless