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!

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/southend-sea-beach-closed-after-6109689.amp

Perhaps Clavinova went on a day trip to Southend, saw all the dead rats and sewage on the beach, repented, and is now a committed remainer.

How does the emptying of raw sewage into coastal waters square with support for the lobster, crab, and shellfish industry? The industry that is the poster child for the need for Brexit?

Or maybe all the sewage is a cunning plot to keep migrants from attempting a crossing of the Channel?

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/thousands-sea-creatures-wash-up-25298945.amp

Possibly this is related to the sewage issue and might impact fishing a little,

@Brindle88

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/thousands-sea-creatures-wash-up-25298945.amp

Possibly this is related to the sewage issue and might impact fishing a little,

The sea is boiling ? They're trying to escape it ?

Shades of the imagery in "Les Revenants" ....

As ever, it's not quite as simple as that with the sewage discharge

Well, no, but why haven't the water firms developed the capacity to deal with storm overflows? Why haven't they been investing in a programme of sewer renewal?

So it may not in this case be wholly be because of Brexit, but does it matter if people think it is? If it forces water companies to clean up their act, or get taken back into public ownership, it could be a good thing.

Incidentally, having studied geology I went on a tour to see the new Thames sewer being built - that was back in 2012, I think.

David Allen Green's blog on the government's statement
The Government has today (26 October) announced that the Environment Bill will be further strengthened with an amendment that will see a duty enshrined in law to ensure water companies secure a progressive reduction in the adverse impacts of discharges from storm overflows.”

davidallengreen.com/2021/10/the-phrase-enshrined-in-law-has-met-its-perfect-subject-sewage/

Misdirection upon misdirection: government by panicky press release.

It’s not all to do with Brexit, but why is this happening more often.

We’ve had outdated sewage systems for a while now, and many stormy winters. Why is this problem increasing?

Totally agree that this getting resolved would be a good thing.

I’m in the South West, where we have the highest water bills in the country. Makes me livid that they don’t seem to be investing as much in the sewage infrastructure as they should. Also pisses me off that despite voting remain I still have to, quite literally, be exposed to the shitty fallout of Brexit. My main hobbies are taking my dog to the beach and swimming.

Brexit seems to be highlighting the already existing problems whilst making it harder to address them

TL;DR- No more money for UK science from the EU until NI is sorted.

www.theregister.com/2021/10/27/uk_brexit_horizons/

Another opportunity for the Brexiters to scream The EU's not being fair. Anyway Johnson wants a tilt to the Pacific, so he should be looking towards Pacific Science programmes.

[quote DGRossetti]TL;DR- No more money for UK science from the EU until NI is sorted.

www.theregister.com/2021/10/27/uk_brexit_horizons/[/quote]
Is there an explaination for why this is? Is there some mechanism connected to the NI protocol which is preventing it or is it a case of just not allowing it until the mess is sorted as leverage?

Anyone else under whelmed by Rishi’s rah rah isn’t everything wonderful budget? Seems the money tree is blooming wonderfully thanks to all those tax increases.

Just don't mention who's been in charge since 2010

Spending Review 2021, in one chart. For most departments, the budget increases announced today will be welcome, but not enough to reverse the cuts of the 2010s. Austerity is over, but not undone.

On the contrary. Was cheered by the budget for the most part even though it will make a minimal difference to me overall, I suspect.

If I were asked to pick out negatives....

The obvious ones for me would be the changes to Air Passenger Duty on domestic flights, virtually all of which are uneccesary IMO. People need to fly far less frequently, this makes flying more attractive and is wrong IMO. So support for airports is a wrong move as well IMO.

I honestly think removing the £20 UC uplift is dumb politics and I'm surprised they went ahead with it.

Yet more support for retail, hospitality through business rate relief etc I'm not keen on especially as it's basically throwing money away on a model of retail that is stuck in the past.

I'm also slightly suprised they didn't raise the living wage beyond the £9.50 recommended. Though I can remember when the min wage was £2.50 or something?!

Its a long distance from what I'd ideally like in a budget which I'd summarise in a sentence as "manage the economy in the interests of savers" but no government will deliver that.

Adam Payne on twitter

twitter.com/adampayne26/status/1453354230115356676?t=hfU-CcB6Eh1ktPxdR4cFoQ&s=19
A line from the OBR you didn’t hear in the Budget: the UK’s supply crisis has been made worse by post-Brexit immigration rules and trade barriers
Also from OBR (p58-59): UK's goods trade with the rest of the world has recovered to 7% below 2019 (pre-pandemic) levels, however goods trade with the EU is down 15%
"In summary, the evidence so far suggests that both import and export intensity have been reduced by Brexit"

Is there an explanation for why this is? Is there some mechanism connected to the NI protocol which is preventing it or is it a case of just not allowing it until the mess is sorted as leverage?

There is fuck all signing new agreements when the UK is refusing to honour those already enshrined into international law would be my guess.

That said there EU doesn't owe the UK any explanations at all. Their club. Their rules.

@DrBlackbird

Anyone else under whelmed by Rishi’s rah rah isn’t everything wonderful budget? Seems the money tree is blooming wonderfully thanks to all those tax increases.

Well I have to say that I for one was delighted to hear that the tonnage tax on UK registered merchant vessels is to be reduced as a result of the freedoms afforded to us now we are sovereign because of Brexit. What a wonderful example of the dramatic advantages of being an independent nation that can be used to benefit everyone.

@mathanxiety
How does the emptying of raw sewage into coastal waters square with support for the lobster, crab, and shellfish industry? The industry that is the poster child for the need for Brexit?

A really interesting thread from an oyster man. He does blame Brexit.

mobile.twitter.com/HawardTom/status/1453278407635124236

delighted to hear that the tonnage tax on UK registered merchant vessels is to be reduced

Do we still register merchant vessels? I thought they were all registered in the Bahamas or Liberia.

@Peregrina

Do we still register merchant vessels? I thought they were all registered in the Bahamas or Liberia.

There were 328 UK registered trading vessels over 100tonnes (gross) in 2020. So you are clearly very much mistaken. Down from 664 in 2010.

This enlightened decision from the Chancellor to use our new freedoms in this way will make a massive difference to us all and reverse the decline that was the fault of the EU and Jeremy Corbyn.

Been away for a bit.

Are we doing satire on this thread now?

@Peregrina

Do we still register merchant vessels? I thought they were all registered in the Bahamas or Liberia.

As I am sure you are aware there is a greater tonnage of Red Ensign ships registered on the Isle of Man than in the mainland UK. The answer to this is that the UK needs to become more like the Isle of Man, now we are free of the yolk of the EU.