Brexit mega thread part 15a - looking forwards

[Talkinpeace]

Just rebooting the most recent thread

At the moment the UKs issues are rather over shadowed by events elsewhere
but maybe that is a good thing.

The German election on Sunday is worth watching
Right wing European politicians pulling out of CPAC speeches because they realise its not a good look
Farage floundering to stay relevant

and the possibility of the return of free movement for our kids if not us

Relations between mainland Europe and the UK remain a worthy topic for discussion

@Peregrina
The vast bulk of squid rings served (from frozen) in the UK are stamped out of the wall flesh of tropical flying squid

I stopped eating cephalopods after swimming with them

Who U.K.arms makers sell arms too, so long as it isn't Israel, I couldn't give a flying Wallender about. Who other countries sell arms to I do care about, if they subsequently wind up being used to hurt UK people. You want to call that hypocrisy? I will very happily wear that label on this issue.

So you admit you're a hypocrite?

Well, I guess that counts as progress...

If you believe polls, Farage is at 28% and Starmer is at 23%.

Is Starmer banking on things he’s done between 4 July 2024 and 19 May 2025 being forgotten at the next general election?

I think a lot of people in the UK will look at yesterday's agreement and remember it at the next election - as a big positive step in undoing the folly that is Brexit.

@pointythings

I think a lot of people in the UK will look at yesterday's agreement and remember it at the next election

Another “I think…..”

For information, EU unemployment for 18-30 year olds is approximately 15% average.

France is almost 19%
Germany is 7%
Spain is 29%
Italy is 22%

UK is 12%

@Talkinpeace

Where will your children find work in the EU if there is high youth unemployment in the EU?

Will the pensioners forget the WFA cuts. Of the 48 million registered voters in the UK, over a quarter are people taking pensions.

Will the businesses forget the NI hikes?

There are 23 more countries to choose, including Bulgaria with a lower rate than the UK

The cherrypicking is hilarious, isn't it?

And all the evidence is that the business community are delighted with yesterday's news. They will remember the government that started removing the barriers to trade that the previous government put in.

They will remember the government that started removing the barriers to trade that the previous government put in.

And send those profits to the Tories,

Will the pensioners forget the WFA cuts.

This pensioner will, if they spend the money wisely.
Now that might be difficult for them!

Apparently Global thinks polls are all valid now...

It's amazing what people will forget in a fair prosperous society

Globe

If you were human you would know that voting intention polls are tabloid fodder and utterly meaningless

And my kids - hah. They will be just fine because certain skill sets remain in short supply

@MaybeNotBob

Read the posts more carefully. It began with;

”If you believe polls…….”

I am not convinced they are reliable based on previous polls.

@Peregrina

What about the other 12 million + pensioners?

@Talkinpeace

If your children have skills that are in short supply, they would not need to rely on a youth mobility scheme as they could apply for a highly skilled migrant visa.

That you did not specify what skills your children have that are in short supply is duly noted.

@DuncinToffee

I have had ties with Bulgaria since 2003. It has the lowest tax in the EU at 10%.

Poland is a cheap place to live too. However, Poland is possibly Russia’s next target if they succeed in taking more parts of the Ukraine.

Bulgaria would be a good option then for British young people.

What about the other 12 million + pensioners?

If it really bothered you Globetrotter you would seek to have decent pensions paid for all older people. Plenty will be in the same position as me and find it's a nice to have but I would rather see the help go to children and grandchildren.

@DuncinToffee

In 2025, the average monthly salary in Bulgaria is estimated to be €1,163. Well below UK average of €2400 for 18-21 age and €3240 for 22-29 year old.

Cost of living is much lower, but for a young UK person trying to save for a house, I would recommend they look elsewhere.

Still, Erasmus and a Youth Mobility Scheme will give them the chance to experience 27 EU countries incl Bulgaria.

Or would you prefer to keep denying them the opportunity like you did when you voted leave?

@DuncinToffee

The acceptance rate for Erasmus placements is between 10 and 15%. So, it’s not guaranteed for all.

The most popular Erasmus destinations are;

Germany (not sure why)
Spain (Sunshine and Sangria)
Italy (Sunshine and expensive clothes)
France (Sunshine and Sangria)

The other 23 EU members don’t seem to get a mention? Can you explain that?

EU grant is about €600 per month. That will not cover the cost of staying in the above location. So, unless students, or their parents, can afford to pay the extra amounts, then it’s an old and familiar story which has existed since schooling began. Expensive and flash school trips away are often the privilege of the better off.

All countries around the world accept international students. Indeed, international students are highly encouraged as the higher fees they are charged helps to subsidise fees for local students. So, the suggestion a vote to leave made it impossible for UK students to visit other countries is not correct.

I spent a full term in the US as part of my MBA degree at Manchester in 1993. My son will spend one month in Ho Chi Min, Vietnam, this summer.

The vote leave stopped FoM hence making it harder for the majority of British people to experience working/studying in the EU.

It has never been a problem for people with money.

They wanted to keep the privileges for themselves, hence they encouraged the plebs to vote leave...

@DuncinToffee

In 2015, there were approximately 2.3 million students in the UK. Of this number, 36,000 studied in the EU, approximately 1.5%. After Brexit the figure was less than half that.

Point is, not all students needed or even wanted to study abroad. Same applies to people working in the UK. Not all of them need or even wanted to work outside the EU.

So, whilst reduced FoM may have been a disappointment to some who wanted to study in the EU, it’s nowhere near a majority. In fact, it was maybe 18,000 students at most.

There was more to FoM than Erasmus, you voted to put up barriers for the majority of British people.

@DuncinToffee

you voted to put up barriers for the majority of British people

What evidence can you provide that proves the majority of people in the UK wanted to leave the UK and live in the EU?

For information

1964

UK population 54 million
Emigration 271,000 which was 0.5% of the population

2024

UK population 69 million
Emigration 479,000 which is 0.7% of the population.

Top destinations for UK expats in order:

Australia - Good weather and economy
USA - higher standard of living
Canada - One of the safest countries to live
Spain - Weather and lower cost of living
Ireland - Friendly people and close to UK
New Zealand - Better balance of work and lifestyle
France - Weather
South Africa - Climate and lower cost of living
Germany - More job opportunities. Engineering is rated highly
Italy - Lower cost of living and climate.