Brexit Mega Thread 16 – Who's Next?

[LouiseCollins28]

We are approaching the 6th anniversary of Brexit, or I suppose the 5th, if you count the period of transition as "in."

Since then, the world has endured Covid-19, seen war in Ukraine and many other things. Brexit has had reduced salience in the minds of many people recently.

When digesting the latest setbacks to befall the elite who govern our islands, a phrase I keep returning to, is “OK, so now do you get it?”

Brexit is undoubtedly the biggest “OK, so now do you get it?” moment directed at our leaders in my life. It’s surely the largest since 1979, since the Labour victory of 1945? or even since the advent of universal suffrage?

The U.K. local elections in 2026, and subsequent national ones, could see a big increase in support for the Green Party and Reform U.K. Two parties with more different attitudes to European integration could scarcely be found, so Brexit’s salience in the U.K. may rise again soon
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There are many electoral contests in progress or coming across Europe too (the Netherlands and France, for example) which will be worth paying attention to. Maybe the next questions we will face are less about "what next?" and more about "who's next?"

Relations between mainland Europe and the UK remain a worthy topic for discussion, whoever leads the nations of Europe, or leads the E.U. itself.

Why are you treating the US (one country) differently from the EU (26 separate countries each with their own economy)?

Aside from that, there are a lot of wide ranging estimates about US economic growth going forward and they aren't all rosy.

@pointythings

26 separate countries each with their own economy

I thought EU had 27 members? I also thought the purpose of the EU was that ALL members would benefit from:

Higher growth than countries not in the EU

Lower immigration than countries not in the EU

Lower tariffs than countries not in the EU.

Higher standards of living than countries not in the EU

…….. and so on.

ie the best of everything on the remain basis that the EU is Worlds largest superpower and they can dictate to any country and all countries will immediately salute and say:

Ja, Sir, drei Säcke voll, Sir

It's Herr in German

I got the number wrong - so shoot me.

The rest of your post is just a gigantic whingefest full of deliberate misunderstanding of what the EU is about, true to form.

The point I made stands: you cannot compare 27 individual countries to one country - especially not since there are profound differences within the EU in terms of the economic models used. If you can't understand that, I don't know what more to say.

@pointythings

I got the number wrong - so shoot me

Thats what remainers do if they see a typo.

especially not since there are profound differences within the EU in terms of the economic models used

I thought EU was meant to be one harmonious union with equal benefits and rights for all?

Well you're showing your ignorance again in that case.

Remember that great American Abraham Lincoln?

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt."

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/jun/05/quarter-of-uk-musicians-have-lost-all-eu-work-since-2021-report-finds

^More than a quarter of UK musicians lost all EU work since 2021, report finds
Average tour earnings down 45%, with nearly three-fifths of musicians saying touring in Europe is no longer viable^

The EU, in case you still don't get it after all these years, is a union of 27 sovereign countries.

@MaybeNotBob

So, the US is correct when it suits remain supporters re Abraham Lincoln, but wrong when it doesn’t re Trump?

@DuncinToffee

There are about 50,000 professional musicians in the UK. Starmer’s decision to increase the cost of employment has cost an estimated 160,000 jobs.

@pointythings

Each of the 27 (not 26) EU members are bound by EU rules. EU tariffs are set by Brussels and not by individual members. Nor are individual member allowed to lower tariffs on imports to help with cost of living, unlike the UK has done recently.

That might just be the most pathetic response yet!

And yet each of the 27 member countries of the EU has its own government and sets its own economic policy - there are many different models in use. And of course there are many mechanisms for easing the cost of living - tariffs are only one. You know, sovereignty. The current US regime does not understand the EU (nor does it understand much else).

Excellent news. Our cultural sector received vast sums of taxpayer funded support during COVID (and continues to) to no discernable benefit to most people, whatsoever, so fuck 'em. Any reporting that such parasites are struggling is music to my ears, to coin a phrase.

Ah, the Faragist plebs are around...

I usually only lurk on these threads... but this might be the most appalling thing you've ever said. (IMO obvs)

What a depressing world you would want us to live in.

The Arts are always the first to be attacked by certain regimes. They don't want people to think or express themselves.

I've no issue whatever with people thinking for/expressing themselves or indeed making a living of the product of that expression. Why, however, should i have to pay to be insulted or to see things I care about being maligned? If it were just a show/event/festival then I'd very happily leave people be and just not buy a ticket, but it isn't, this is all taxpayer supported which means I'm paying for it.

And there's the "it's all about MEEEE!" attitude we so love about Brexiteers...

For people apprently defending the creative industries you folks show a shocking lack of ability in original thinking/posting. You also seem remarkably poor at asking questions.

I don't expect people on here to agree with virtually anything I post but at least make an argument.

When you call people parasites and continue with insults, there isn't much of an argument to make.

Who have I insulted?
What term(s) would you prefer I used for people who are taking money from me and giving me no value in return?

The UK arts sector contributes more to the UK economy than agriculture does. Brexit has hindered that. Even if you only understand the cost of everything whilst understanding the value of nothing, that at least should concern you.

Come on then, make it concern me. Tell me about something that I'm going to value that it's done in the last say 5 years.

Two things. 1) If it's so successful and makes such a contribution why does it need public subsidy?

2. If we don't have an arts sector (not that I'm suggesting that as the outcome) the only people who are actually worse off are the people who work in it, for whom generally I have no regard whatsoever. If we don't have an agricultural sectors, everyone dies. I think you've picked the wrong comparator.

NEW: Data just out for the complete 2024 set of Horizon projects shows that the UK still lags way behind the proportion it was getting before the Brexit vote.

It’s been a decade of damage to UK science.
🔬📉😢

The G-I-UK border 😀

I guess we can add philistinism to the list of our favourite Brexiteer traits...