Brexit mega thread part 10 : what's the (s)tory? Incompetence, tax evasion, dodgy loans and economic free fall...nothing to see here...check out those sunlit uploands!

[Chevyimpala67]

Part 10 of our long running thread.
I'm still putting my money on a spring GE.
The tory slash and burn of the UK is right on track.
Bon chance my friends!

"Both sides are making an effort: A UK humbled by the chaotic premiership of Liz Truss and the economic costs of Brexit is engaging seriously with an EU shaken by war at its eastern frontier and an energy crunch.

Even more remarkably, some high-profile voices are wondering openly if the UK might return to the EU fold one day. Barnier recently talked of an “open” door, as have some members of the European Parliament"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/energy/first-brexit-thenbregret-is-it-too-soon-forbreconciliation/2023/02/16/ae511eb8-adb9-11ed-b0ba-9f4244c6e5dastory.html?utmm_source=twitter&utmmedium=social&utmmcampaign=wpbusiness

Thank goodness for the ‘open door’- a little chink of hope. I really hope no arrogant Tories will stamp on these diplomatic green shoots.

‘Meanwhile, the UK political debate over Brexit has become no healthier. Public opinion is certainly turning against its economic effect. Boris Johnson in 2018 imagined that escaping the “stockade” of EU regulation would free up at least 4% of gross domestic product; five years on, John Springford of the Centre for European Reform estimates the UK economy is 5.5% smaller than without Brexit, and collects 40 billion pounds ($48 billion) less in yearly tax revenue.’

Brexit is an unaffordable mess hurting all of us. I’m all for Breconcilation.

When I was studying history in 1982, two things were taken as read:

The persistence of communism, personified by the Berlin Wall, and apartheid in South Africa.

By 1991, Communism - the Berlin wall - and apartheid were already being taught as history.

Even in 1985, when Reagan made his "tear down this wall" speech what would happen in 1989 seemed liked the plot for an alternative future drama (who remembers "1999" ?)

Personally I see no reason why the reentry of the UK to the EU is any less likely than the fall of the Berlin Wall. In fact given the Berlin Wall fell due to incompetence on the East German side, and looking at the paradigm of incompetence running the UK, I would say it's more likely. Certainly 2030 could be a very different future from how it may seem now.

When did appointing politicians as diplomats in the UK become a thing ? Or is it a plot to get id of Liam Fox for other reasons ?

Yes!
This is what I tell my children

www.thelondoneconomic.com/food-drink/restaurant-in-venice-sells-brexit-pizza-with-nothing-on-it-343629

Just read some of the comments on the article about the Home Office not appealing the High Court ruling they had been illegally trying to force EU citizens in the UK to reapply for settled status.

Fuck me, these people are stupid beyond belief.

What's best for the UK versus what the extremists in the Conservative Party want dilemma for Sunak

And they have the nerve to say remainers whinge

www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2023/02/19/letters-brexit-meant-reinstate-authority-british-people-feel/

A brexit backer - from the House of Lords - not just Bregreting, but wanting to Rejoin.

@SerendipityJane she's very eloquent. I'm still gobsmacked every day that it's actually the HoL that is pushing back and trying its meagre best to protect the rights we have left.

Our local supermarkets are very low on pasta, tomatoes, peppers and salad, anyone else experiencing this?

Have been for months

Guess I have been lucky then, I am used to semi empty shelves but this last week there were so many empty shelves, especially in the fresh aisles.

Nothing to do with brexit ofcourse...

Our supermarkets are periodically and cyclically low on things, but overall it is definitely the case that shelves are half empty, made to look fuller by moving things forwards, and that standard staples are sometimes unavailable.

But of course it's nothing to do with the elephant in the room whose name starts with B. My aunt in the Netherlands reports supermarkets stocked as usual.

Boris Johnson has come out this morning to do exactly that.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/feb/18/boris-johnson-threatens-rishi-sunaks-bid-to-end-deadlock-over-brexit

I hope Sunak tells him to fuck off.

Our local supermarkets also short of basics like tomatoes. Not even last thing before closing, but in the middle of the day.

I think we got used to shortages when we had the Covid lockdowns, so now we don't notice that this isn't how it should be. It might have been how it was during the 1940s and early 1950s. I remember the slogan, "let's take back control". I don't remember "Let's turn the clock back 80 years".

No tomatoes, full fat milk or eggs in Lidl on Friday afternoon

The large co op near me has had eggs for months

hasn't had

It's somewhere between heartbreaking and infuriating:

Sunak gets a deal on the protocol and a poll bounce - essentially for fixing a stalemate that his party created.
dePfeffel gets a bounce because he'll argue Brexit has been compromised
Brexiteers will have a get out of jail card because they can claim Brexit benefits can't be realised because of the 'Sunak' deal...
So we end up with another two years arguing about Brexit whilst the world burns.

In the meantime inflation is gifting ministers a get out of jail card because they spout about the necessity of getting inflation down and close down all discussion of investment, taxation to pay nhs etc.
Worse they'll continue with their 'modus operandi' - ie doing sweet FA - and inflation will drop drastically anyway as the increases from last spring fall off the index.

So they go into the election on a bounce from 'fixing inflation'

Every sodding time ministers spout about controlling inflation - they need to be reminded that doing nothing fixes inflation - so what are they going to do about

Every sodding time they claim highest growth in G7/whatever they need to be reminded that basic maths means that if you drop growth to naff all then any increase is a huge %

Still no tomatoes of any sort in Lidl (fortunately have a few mixed cherry tomatoes from a week ago which will work on the recipe)

Did manage to get milk and eggs - but I've now got into the habit of buying a box of 12 when I can as ds has got into the habit of making himself 2 poached eggs on sourdough toast for breakfast or lunch.

I haven't had a decent tomato in years. The last ones were "Sungold". Everything else (no matter what the name) is tasteless mush. Which is almost exactly what I would expect when farmers realise they get paid by weight, not taste.

Maybe I will grow my own when I retire.

Touching on the concurrent thread about local shops, despite trying over 30 "local butchers" I have yet to find one that actually does mutton, or rabbit, or venison. And even liver and kidneys can be an ask. As a compromise Morrisons have an interesting stock, when I can be bothered.

The only decent tomatoes I've had in recent years have been the ones I've grown myself. Am going to do it again this year, I love tomatoes.

Same here no tomatoes in sight this week, haven’t seen cucumbers for weeks.
lidl very sparse on cleaning materials especially soap powder for the last few months, milk can be hit n miss in sainsburys especially, strangely eggs no shortages.