Or we are really good at buying stuff. In fact we are the fourth best in the world at buying other people’s stuff, and the tenth best at selling our stuff to other people. Also I think that we don’t make the full range of stuff any more.
You answered your own question, Stan, and I'm sure you're right. We are not a manufacturing force any more and unlike the Germans, we don't value engineers - any more, because once we were a great manufacturing nation. But the fact is, German industry needs our custom, and this must not be forgotten given that it will be Germany that will pull the strings at Brussels during the forthcoming trade talks - they need our trade and our £40 billion.
What do the following have in common? USA Jamaica Canada Pakistan Iceland Japan Croatia Brasil Australia Nicaragua Ukraine Russia Trinidad and Tobago Costa Rica India and probably loads of others?
Incontestably true, but not the answer I’m looking for and 5 points deducted for interrupting. Clue. The U.K. isn’t on this list. At the moment.
Here's another question. When does a romantic advance become sexual harassment? Is it (a) when the man brushes his hand on the knee of the subject of his amorous intentions? Or (b) when the women (let's suppose it is a woman) rebuffs his advances, but he won't take "no" for an answer. I'd say it was (b), but apparently, if the case of Damien Green sets a precedent, it was (a). Unsettling. Sweden is proposing a new law, where both parties must give express consent before sex. It may not stop there. Since oral (in the legal sense) consent is hard to prove, it may well be necessary to have consent in writing. Before she pulls down her tights, and he slips the condom from his wallet, they need to sit down for these formalities. Furthermore, if she agrees to sex, but changes her mind halfway through, a revocation of agreement will need to be signed by both parties. Law courts should make allowances for some pretty illegible signatures...
That’s it.10 points. Heard some faceless immigration minister going on about the return of the blue British passport at the end of 2019 earlier. Didn’t realise that it was way back in 1989 when we adopted the burgundy version, so many people will never have had an old style one. Although of course I have no sentimental attachment to the old style, I can understand it’s appeal to some people, though I hope it wasn’t a prime reason for anyone voting. So it’s not unique and I hope the new version isn’t as big as it’s predecessor and omits the cringeworthy ‘Her Brittanic Majesty request....’ verbiage which only worked when you had a credible means of backing up your bombast.
The problem is, a subjective test would be incredibly difficult for any court, tribunal or in-house disciplinary procedure to apply. And the man would have no yardstick to apply, in distinguishing between a romantic/sexual invitation and harassment. I think there must be a demonstrable negative rebuff before harassment can be considered.
