Off Topic The Politics Thread

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Should the UK remain a part of the EU or leave?

  • Stay in

    Votes: 56 47.9%
  • Get out

    Votes: 61 52.1%

  • Total voters
    117
  • Poll closed .
There were 4 million UKIP votes after the referendum was in the Tory manifesto in 2015. You can't say that was the reason for the referendum being in their manifesto before any votes were cast.

And the £39 billion is the amount we would have paid up to the leave date - under the legally binding agreement we have with the EU as a member state. There's really nothing to prove that hasn't already been accepted by ministers.

The truth is, we get far better treatment in the EU than most of the other member states. We have a rebate on fees, a legal agreement that we don't need to adopt the Euro, an agreed opt-out of Schengen, restrictions on benefits being paid until migrants have worked for an agreed period, no requirement to pay benefits to non-resident children, and the ability to remove people that come in and then cannot support themselves. We're throwing away a lot of positive, financially and economically beneficial treatment and arrangements, and for what? So that people can have some fancy notion of 'sovereignty', or so that people can point at foreigners with disdain? So that people can be happy that when their house gets repossessed because they lost their job with a company fully dependent on EU trade, at least they can sit in their box and know it was a BRITISH bank that foreclosed?

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The notion that the EU can't go on quite happily without is is crazy. The notion that we can leave with no deal and go on quite happily is as crazy, if not more so.

Could the UK having more say have anything to do with the fact that we're the second largest financial contributor, after Germany that runs the EU?

£39 bn far more complex than you make out. But if a trade deal goes through, all contestable points are waived
 
All gets a tad frustrating for everyone, remainers and leavers alike. I've got one brother who voted to remain, 2 who voted to leave. Nobody knows, including the government what leaving exactly entails yet. Both who voted leave whole heartedly regret their vote. Tough **** hey

All true, and would make asking the public what they now think very sensible.

BUT 17m PEOPLE VOTED LEAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RIOTS IN THE STREETS BLLLLAGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Well, if cabinet members are true to whatever principles they claim to have, we should see a few resignations today.

Though most likely we will see another fudge from May, and even if we don’t it’s unlikely that many, if any, of those who should quit will quit, they will prefer buggering things up from the inside. I suppose serial flouncer David Davis is the most likely to actually walk.

The detailed 120 page proposal they are looking at spells an end to free movement, us collecting customs duties for the EU, and a promise to remain aligned with EU regulations for goods and agriculture, but a concession that services (80% of the economy) will not be included in a deal. As May already knows, the EU will not accept it.
 
Well, if cabinet members are true to whatever principles they claim to have, we should see a few resignations today.

Though most likely we will see another fudge from May, and even if we don’t it’s unlikely that many, if any, of those who should quit will quit, they will prefer buggering things up from the inside. I suppose serial flouncer David Davis is the most likely to actually walk.

The detailed 120 page proposal they are looking at spells an end to free movement, us collecting customs duties for the EU, and a promise to remain aligned with EU regulations for goods and agriculture, but a concession that services (80% of the economy) will not be included in a deal. As May already knows, the EU will not accept it.

What's not clear is whether the alignment on goods would restrict the UK from entering into other trade deals on goods, eg with the US. May says it won't, the Cabinet Brexiteers seem to think it will. That's key for me.

As far as the EU is concerned, at present we are seeing a brick wall in the form on the Commission in Brussels. But as the March date comes closer, and EU members states see a no-deal prospect, due in part to Brussels's intransigence and the consequent disruption to valuable exports to the UK, I think there'll be huge pressure on Brussels. That battle is to come
 
Well, if cabinet members are true to whatever principles they claim to have, we should see a few resignations today.

Though most likely we will see another fudge from May, and even if we don’t it’s unlikely that many, if any, of those who should quit will quit, they will prefer buggering things up from the inside. I suppose serial flouncer David Davis is the most likely to actually walk.

The detailed 120 page proposal they are looking at spells an end to free movement, us collecting customs duties for the EU, and a promise to remain aligned with EU regulations for goods and agriculture, but a concession that services (80% of the economy) will not be included in a deal. As May already knows, the EU will not accept it.

They won't resign because she's going to make them walk home if they do.
 
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Never been a particular Trump fan - some of the stuff he does is ridiculous and we may get into a worldwide trade war.

But my sympathies are suddenly with him, as US President, because that little Maggot called the Major of London is sending up a balloon that will offend many in America just because the Maggot feels his Muslim religion has been slighted and he has a personal spat with the President.

So - Go Trump! And I hope the balloon collapses on the little Maggot and smothers him
 
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Never been a particular Trump fan - some of the stuff he does is ridiculous and we may get into a worldwide trade war.

But my sympathies are suddenly with him, as US President, because that little Maggot called the Major of London is sending up a balloon that will offend many in America just because the Maggot feels his Muslim religion has been slighted and he has a personal spat with the President.

So - Go Trump! And I hope the balloon collapses on the little Maggot and smothers him

Private individuals have requested permission to fly this thing and there is no legal reason to refuse it. Therefore, in your eyes, Khan is responsible? For not overstepping his powers and forcing officials to refuse? Maybe you feel he should have used his position to suppress this rather childish protest? I think you're confusing our country for somewhere else.

Why not blame the Home Office for not overriding this?

It's a totally stupid protest that will cause some damage in some way, but it's not the first populist action to do that and won't be the last.
 
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Private individuals have requested permission to fly this thing and there is no legal reason to refuse it. Therefore, in your eyes, Khan is responsible? For not overstepping his powers and forcing officials to refuse? Maybe you feel he should have used his position to suppress this rather childish protest? I think you're confusing our country for somewhere else.

Why not blame the Home Office for not overriding this?

It's a totally stupid protest that will cause some damage in some way, but it's not the first populist action to do that and won't be the last.

Of course I blame him. He runs City Hall that has given permission for this six metre inflatable, with nappy and man boobs, to be flown above London. I hope the Home Office does step in but I don't know on what the legal grounds. City Hall is autonomous and the Mayor has huge powers over London.

You seem to be suggesting that this country would be some sort of repressive regime if protests were restricted to the usual marches, demonstrations etc Sorry, BD, that's nonsense. May be you should remember a lot of Americans gave their life for our freedoms last century. In the UK we have these marches and we have leaders lampooned in cartoons in the press and social media. This infantile (literally) balloon takes things to another level and will lead to bad feeling, and ironically, a lot of support for Trump that wasn't there before.

And everyone knows, it's personal for the unstatesmanlike maggot we have as major in London. The perceived slur against Muslims is far more important to him than good international relations with the US. He's a useless and ineffectual politician anyway
 
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Trump has invented a number of lies about London to garner support for his domestic missions (although seen on a global scale) so I can't that a balloon would generate a wash of sympathy for him. I also can't say that he deserves better or anyone needs to step in.

Relations with the US have always been on their terms, understandably given their size and status but more so now with Trump in charge. People insulting him is mostly distinct from insulting the country and half the US population would be sympathetic to us.

Balloons and protests will be whitewashed from the US coverage of his trip as we all get hailed as his biggest supporters. Either that or he'll blame Muslims, Mexicans or our lack of right to bear arms as the cause of any trouble.
 
I'd like to see a fleet of these balloons across the nation when the orange one turns up. I have a feeling that ridicule would hurt him more than opposition. He's a hateful narcissist and deserves to be ridiculed. Well done Mr. Mayor.
 
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I wonder if it would have been permitted to fly something similar, maybe a man holding a machine gun or a severed head when the Saudi prince came here in March.

Kahn's incitement to mass protest and this ballon **** would never happen for any other visit. The hypocrisy is appalling, they hate an outsider. Trump, whilst no angel, is far from the world's worst.

This smacks of the state encouraging the people to do their dirty work.
 
I wonder if it would have been permitted to fly something similar, maybe a man holding a machine gun or a severed head when the Saudi prince came here in March.

Kahn's incitement to mass protest and this ballon **** would never happen for any other visit. The hypocrisy is appalling, they hate an outsider. Trump, whilst no angel, is far from the world's worst.

This smacks of the state encouraging the people to do their dirty work.

Not quite the same though, is it. This is a piss-take. It's what we do best.
 
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I wonder if it would have been permitted to fly something similar, maybe a man holding a machine gun or a severed head when the Saudi prince came here in March.

Kahn's incitement to mass protest and this ballon **** would never happen for any other visit. The hypocrisy is appalling, they hate an outsider. Trump, whilst no angel, is far from the world's worst.

This smacks of the state encouraging the people to do their dirty work.

Great post, Woody
 
So the outline of what our government wants in terms of a relationship with the EU in the future is slowly becoming clearer. Of course it is the start point for negotiations, so I would expect May to have to give ground in a variety of areas.

Essentially staying in the single market for goods and food. What this ignores is that EU nations contribute € for this and accept free movement. So continued UK contributions and easy flow of people may be back on the table.