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Brexit
Original poster

Brexit mega thread part 15a - looking forwards

1000 replies

Talkinpeace · 22/02/2025 18:58

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
86
DuncinToffee · 09/04/2025 20:14

EU now has a 10% tariff, there goes the brexit benefit that wasn't

hoopyvest · 10/04/2025 11:20

GlobeTrotter2000 · 09/04/2025 09:51

@hoopyvest

So, what was in the Liberal Democrat’s manifesto that was worse than Brexit?

A question that has been asked many times, but never answered.

Remember that according to remain, Brexit was supposed to make everyone worse off in every way imaginable. No food, no medicine, jobs losses, reduced exports, etc. So, whilst Brexit is a single word, it’s not a single subject.

Your question makes little or no sense.

Brexit has made us worse off, but it will not be reversed by one party pledging to do so in its manifesto.

It will take a lot of goodwill and time to overcome the bad feelings caused by Brexiters' insincerity and childish insults about the EU.

hoopyvest · 10/04/2025 11:21

DuncinToffee · 09/04/2025 20:14

EU now has a 10% tariff, there goes the brexit benefit that wasn't

There goes another excuse for our globetrotting Brexit apologist.

SerendipityJane · 10/04/2025 12:23

It will take a lot of goodwill and time to overcome the bad feelings caused by Brexiters' insincerity and childish insults about the EU.

Weirdly, nowhere near as much goodwill as the US now needs to be taken seriously again.

In a world of few true absolutes, that is well worth building on. I really hope someone in government has also twigged that. It can't be left to dweebs like me, surely ?

Original poster
Talkinpeace · 10/04/2025 16:02

The Tariff situation changes quicker than the import software can be updated.

Sitting the ships at anchor while the Orange one enjoys a high pressure shower is the right thing.
For once, Starmer's fence sitting is ideal

and now we are on the same rate as the EU, time to talk to them urgently about protecting Europe as a whole

OP posts:
SerendipityJane · 10/04/2025 17:43

Talkinpeace · 10/04/2025 16:02

The Tariff situation changes quicker than the import software can be updated.

Sitting the ships at anchor while the Orange one enjoys a high pressure shower is the right thing.
For once, Starmer's fence sitting is ideal

and now we are on the same rate as the EU, time to talk to them urgently about protecting Europe as a whole

Quality software (Gold tier) would be OK. Just take the tariffs from the US Treasury feed in real time and Bobs your Uncle. Automatic.

Your Silver tier offering would have a control panel where you need to manually enter the tariffs and dates effective against your configured trading entities.

Your Bronze Tier would have a control panel that just sets tariff rates without any dates.

Anything else will probably need the supplier to update the software.

(Remember I've worked on software that had the VAT rate hardcoded).

Original poster
Talkinpeace · 10/04/2025 17:55

I'm old.
The Tariff used to be a well thumbed book several inches thick !

Different duty rates for every permutation of alcohol

OP posts:
SerendipityJane · 11/04/2025 21:15

https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/11/xi_says_no_one_wins/

Xi further warned - again, without mentioning the US - that going against the world would only isolate a nation that does so, and talked up his love for the European Union and desire to strengthen Chinese ties with the trading bloc.

China ups tariffs on US goods to 125%, won't go higher

: Middle Kingdom retaliates against Donald 'joke' Trump's 'instrument and weapon to bully and coerce'

https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/11/xi_says_no_one_wins

OP posts:
Peregrina · 12/04/2025 19:32

What next?

Thames Water please.

Original poster
Talkinpeace · 12/04/2025 19:34

Peregrina · 12/04/2025 19:32

What next?

Thames Water please.

Oh indeed.

Any UK Utilities that are owned by the nationalised companies of other countries
should instead belong to the UK

OP posts:
Peregrina · 12/04/2025 22:22

Yes indeed. I always think that in a couple of hundred years from now, historians will look back and mark the years 1956 - 2016 as the years when the British Empire truly breathed its last.

GlobeTrotter2000 · 14/04/2025 13:51

Brexit has made us worse off, but it will not be reversed by one party pledging to do so in its manifesto.

Poverty in the UK is estimated at 17.1 %

whereas

Poverty in the EU is estimated at 24.1%

Poverty in Germany is estimated at 20.9%

GlobeTrotter2000 · 14/04/2025 13:56

Poverty in Iceland is estimated at 9%

Poverty in Norway is estimated at 12%

Poverty in Switzerland is estimated at 7%

The common factor of the three listed countries is they have said they will never become a full EU member.

GlobeTrotter2000 · 14/04/2025 14:05

@MaybeNotBob

So, when are you moving to Poland?

I will retire to Bulgaria. Cheapest place live in the EU. Flat tax rate of 10% regardless of earnings.

Also, Bulgaria is a net taker. For each Euro they give to the EU, they get three back. Maybe that’s why they can afford low taxes.

I worked in Bulgaria before they joined the EU and the tax rate was 30%.

So, being in the EU as a net taker works well.

DuncinToffee · 14/04/2025 15:13

Ofcourse you will retire to a EU country😂

hoopyvest · 14/04/2025 18:32

GlobeTrotter2000 · 14/04/2025 13:56

Poverty in Iceland is estimated at 9%

Poverty in Norway is estimated at 12%

Poverty in Switzerland is estimated at 7%

The common factor of the three listed countries is they have said they will never become a full EU member.

Cause or coincidence?

Peregrina · 14/04/2025 18:55

The common factor of the three listed countries is they have said they will never become a full EU member.

The real common factor is that they are currently all members of the Single Market.

What any country might or might not do in the future is anyone's guess.

GlobeTrotter2000 · 15/04/2025 06:01

@Peregrina

Flawed logic as always. If being in the single market is the key to lower poverty, how do you explain the high poverty rates in the other countries that are full EU members?

EU poverty average is 21.4% with Romania being the largest at 32%

Average for Iceland, Norway and Switzerland is 9%, less than half the EU average.

@hoopyvest

Cause.

Norway has vast oil reserves and protected fishing rights. They do not want to share them with the EU.

Due to their wealth, they would be faced with substantial membership fees, but without comparable benefits.

Switzerland is very rich and does not want their high wages to be watered down by wage dumping and immigration into their welfare system if it were subject to free movement.

Iceland will not join as they too want to protect their fishing rights.

@DuncinToffee

The decision to retire in Bulgaria was made in 2003, four years before Bulgaria became an EU member and seventeen years before the UK left the EU.

Low tax rates and low cost of living compared to the UK is a major factor. Poverty is Bulgaria is second highest in the EU at over 30%. So, whilst I will live well, many locals will struggle.

GlobeTrotter2000 · 15/04/2025 08:05

To All,

For information, Reform is top of the polls. Refer to:

electoralcalculus.co.uk

DuncinToffee · 15/04/2025 08:43

So, whilst I will live well, many locals will struggle.

And so Globe with the biggest smile on his face voted Leave

Peregrina · 15/04/2025 09:41

Flawed logic as always.

No more flawed than your attempt to predict the future.
BTW why do you want to retire to an EU country?

SerendipityJane · 15/04/2025 09:51

DuncinToffee · 15/04/2025 08:43

So, whilst I will live well, many locals will struggle.

And so Globe with the biggest smile on his face voted Leave

"His" ?

Does AI have a gender ?
(
"He ?!, Sir ? He ?! He ?! He ?!"
"See Blackadder, you're laughing already."
)

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