@TheSecondStain Thank you for posting this. I have just listened to the first one and it is excellent. This should be played on prime time Television and in schools... everyone should listen to it. (Even though I didn’t agree with everything). FYI, the black alternative to carbon black is one of the products my company make and sell. One thing they didn’t quite push to was that the supermarkets don’t want to pay for it. The other thing that sticks in my tthroat is this technology has been around for years but the supermarkets wouldn’t pay more for it... and when I say “more for it” I mean less than 1p pet food tray. Who wouldn’t pay £4.99 instead of £4.98 to help save the planet? Some of the key points for me that the public need to understand: ALL plastic is technically recyclable. Some plastic is not practically recyclable due to economics (consumers won’t pay more.. yet) We need to recycle more. Humans need to stop throwing rubbish away. We need to use less unnecessary single use packaging, but to get to that point we need to help educate the public on what is unnecessary and what to do with it. The governments of the world need to invest in recycling. Towards the end, they tell a story I have mentioned to lots of my peers and friends and maybe even on here. They talk to the boss of Riverford the organic, home delivery vegetable company. He says that they know the cardboard and paper boxes they use for deliveries to their customers are more environmentally damaging than if they used plastic boxes. Why don’t they change? Simply because their customers perceive plastics had a bad image and they believe cardboard is better for he environment!! So here we have a big company with an Organic product and image that won’t change its delivery packaging even though they know it is environmentally better because they’re scared of the customers reaction..... which equals: they’re scared they’ll lose customers and make less money. Drives me insane. Thanks anyway TSS, I have a new bee in my bonnet and I’m off to speak to my bosses about some ideas tomorrow.
Really glad you found it valuable, FLT. What I'll do here is leave you my general archive address and let you have a wade through the stuff. Most of it is fictional at present, but I do have an absolute tonne of documentary stuff that I haven't got around to archiving: https://archive.org/details/@englishsettlement_ii Just scroll down the page and click on anything you wish to listen to, including the other documentaries called Plastic Fantastic. If you have a problem give me a shout, but I'm sure you'll quickly get the hang of it.
You’ve been sold a political Ponzi scheme by a first class shyster. I bet Nige can’t believe the gullibility of the electorate - “they’ll literally buy anything, even a great big empty box of nothing, so long as it’s got the Brexit logo”. Boosts his pension though, eh?
400 REASONS TO STOP BREXIT 400 REASONS TO STAY IN THE EU 400 REASONS TO REVOKE ARTICLE 50 400 REASONS TO HOLD A FINAL SAY REFERENDUM 400 REASONS TO VOTE FOR PRO-EU PARTIES ON 23 MAY 400 REASONS TO OPPOSE THE FARAGE FANTASY EGO TRIP PARTY How many more bloody reasons do leave voters need before they realize that Brexit will bring them absolutely no benefits, only downsides? EU AND BRITAIN’S GLOBAL ROLE 1. The EU has helped maintain peace in Europe for over 60 years 2. The UK has greater global influence as a member of the EU 3. Brexit would diminish, not enhance, the UK’s global influence 4. The EU provides a counterweight to the global power of the US, Russia and China 5. Trump’s “America First” isolationist, protectionist policies have weakened the UK’s “special relationship” with the US 6. The UK’s closest natural allies are now France, Germany and our other West European neighbours 7. The UK’s global role is defined by its membership of the EU together with other international organisations including NATO, the UN Security Council, OECD, G7 and G20 8. No prominent UK political leaders or parties are advocating leaving any of these other global institutions 9. The UK worked together with other EU members in the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) 10. The EU has worked closely with NATO in enhancing European security 11. EU members have collaborated to support the Iran nuclear deal 12. EU members have imposed common sanctions on Russia since the annexation of the Crimea in 2014 13. EU security cooperation to combat piracy off Somalia EU TRADE AND INVESTMENT 14. The EU is the world’s largest trading bloc 15. The EU has over 500 million consumers 16. The EU represents 23% of global GDP 17. The EU accounts for 44% of all UK exports of goods and services 18. The EU accounts for 53% of all UK imports of goods and services 19. The UK enjoys tariff-free trade within the EU 20. The abolition of non-tariff barriers (quotas, subsidies, administrative rules etc.) among members 21. The EU never has been a “protectionist racket” 22. The EU is a springboard for trade with the rest of the world through its global clout 23. Participation in EU free trade agreement with Japan 24. Participation in EU free trade agreement with and Canada 25. Participation in EU free trade agreement with South Korea 26. Participation in EU free trade agreement with Mexico 27. Participation in EU free trade agreement with Chile 28. Free trade with Norway, Switzerland and Iceland as a member of the EU 29. Participation in multilateral trade negotiations through EU membership of the WTO 30. Outside the EU the UK would have to renegotiate all its trade agreements 31. On average a free trade agreement takes at least 7 years to negotiate 32. As a member of the EU the UK maintains a say in the shaping of the rules governing its trade with its European partners 33. Brexit would leave the UK still subject to EU trading rules but no longer with any say in shaping them 34. UK trade with some countries in Europe has increased by as much as 50% as a result of EU membership. 35. Cheaper food imports from continental Europe 36. Cheaper alcohol imports from continental Europe 37. All major non-European trading powers are giving priority to trade with the EU as a whole, not the UK on its own 38. Potential future trade partners such as India and Turkey are likely to demand concessions on free movement in exchange for a trade deal 39. The net benefit of EU membership is at least £60 billion per year (CBI estimate) 40. The EU accounts for 47% of the UK’s stock of inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), worth over $1.2 trillion 41. The UK’s net contribution to the EU budget is around €7.3bn, or 0.4% of GDP (less than an eighth of the UK’s defence spending) 42. The City of London, as a global financial hub, has acted as a bridge between foreign business and the EU BENEFITS OF THE SINGLE MARKET 43. Investment flows across borders inside the EU have doubled since the introduction of the Single Market in 1993 44. The Single Market underpins access to European supply chains 45. Free movement of labour from the EU has overwhelmingly benefitted the UK economy 46. FDI into the UK has effectively doubled since the creation of the EU Single Market 47. Access to the EU Single Market has helped attract investment into the UK from outside the EU 48. No paper work or customs for goods throughout the Single Market 49. Tory Brexiters have conveniently forgotten that Margaret Thatcher was a leading architect and supporter of the Single Market 50. British banks have been able to operate freely across the EU 51. British insurance companies have been able to operate freely across the EU 52. Long delays at ports and airports will occur if the UK leaves both the single market and customs union 53. The Single Market has brought the best continental footballers to the Premier League BENEFITS OF THE CUSTOMS UNION 54. No customs duties are paid on goods moving between EU Member States 55. All member states apply a common customs tariff for goods imported from outside the EU 56. Goods that have been legally imported can circulate throughout the EU with no further customs checks 57. According to the government’s own estimates leaving the Customs Union would reduce growth by 8% over 15 years 58. Membership of the Customs Union is essential to maintaining a frictionless border in Northern Ireland HOW DOES THE UK BENEFIT FROM EU FUNDING? 59. 13% of EU budget earmarked for scientific research and innovation 60. The UK receives £730 million a year in EU funding for research 61. EU funding for UK universities 62 Potential damaging loss of Horizon 2020 research funding if the UK leaves the EU 63 Cornwall receives up to £750 million per year from the EU Social Fund (ESF) 64 £26m capital funding from the EU for the Eden project 65 £25m funding from the EU for Blackpool’s tourist infrastructure and improved sea defences 66 £50 million EU funding towards the International Convention Centre and Symphony Hall in Birmingham 67 £450 million of EU funding destined to be spent on improving infrastructure on Merseyside in the period 2014 to 2020, including John Lennon airport and the cruise liner terminal 68 The Scottish Highlands, East Wales and Tees Valley are due to receive EU funding of over €300 per person in the period 2014-2020 69 20,000 projects in the north of England received EU funding between 2007-2013 creating over 70,000 jobs 70 EU funding for the regeneration of Redcar seafront 71 EU funding for the Digital City in Middlesbrough 72 Structural funding for areas of the UK hit by industrial decline (South Wales, Yorkshire) 73 Support for rural areas under the European Agricultural Fund for Regional Development (EAFRD) 74 £122 million EU funding for the “Midlands engine” project 75 Financial support from the EU for over 3000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UK 76 EU funding for British sport, including football apprenticeships, tennis and rugby league 77 Access to the European Solidarity Fund in case of natural disasters 78 Since 1985 the UK has received a budget rebate equivalent to 66% of its net contribution to the EU budget 79 Leaving the EU would mean no more access to EU funding in many important areas EU AND CONSUMER RIGHTS 80 Europe-wide patent and copyright protection 81 EU consumer protection laws concerning transparency and product guarantees of quality and safety 82 Under EU law consumers can send back a product bought anywhere in the EU if it breaks down within two years of purchase. 83 EU law prohibits misleading advertising 84 Improved food labeling 85 A ban on growth hormones and other harmful food additives 86 Cheaper air travel due to EU competition laws 87 Common EU maritime passenger rights 88 Common EU bus passenger rights 89 Deregulation of the European energy market has increased consumer choice and lowered prices 90 EU competition laws protect consumers by combatting monopolistic business practices 91 Strict controls on the operations of Multinational Corporations (MNCs) in the EU 92 Outside the EU there is no guarantee that a future UK government would maintain the current levels of consumer protection EU AND LABOUR RIGHTS 93 Minimum paid annual leave and time off work (Working Time Directive) 94 Equal pay between men and women enshrined in European law since 1957 95 The right to work no more than 48 hours a week without paid overtime 96 Minimum guaranteed maternity leave of 14 weeks for pregnant women 97 Rights to a minimum 18 weeks of parental leave after child birth 98 EU anti-discrimination laws governing age, religion and sexual orientation 99 EU rules governing health and safety at work 100 The rights to collective bargaining and trade union membership are enshrined in EU employment law 101 Outside the EU a future UK government would be allowed to lower labour protection standards EU AND EDUCATION 102 EU funding for UK universities 103 46,000 EU nationals work in UK universities 104 The mutual recognition of professional qualifications has facilitated the free movement of engineers, teachers and doctors across the EU 105 The mutual recognition of educational diplomas 106 The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) has standardized assessment of language proficiency across the EU 107 The freedom to study in 28 countries (many EU universities teach courses in English and charge lower fees than in the UK) 108 The Erasmus programme of university exchanges (benefitting 16000 UK students a year) 109 Brexit would seriously compromise the rights and opportunities for the younger generation 110 Brexit is overwhelmingly opposed by people under 30 111 The Brexit referendum has divided many families between pro-EU younger generations and pro-Brexit parents and grandparents EU AND THE ENVIRONMENT 112 The EU has played a leading role in combatting global warming (Paris 2015 climate change conference) 113 Common EU greenhouse gas emissions targets (19% reduction from 1990 to 2015) 114 Improvements in air quality (significant reductions in sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides) as a result of EU legislation 115 Reductions in sewage emissions 116 Improvements in the quality of beach water 117 Improvements in the quality of bathing water 118 EU standards on the quality of drinking water 119 EU targets to reduce water pollution in Britain’s rivers 120 Restrictions on landfill dumping 121 EU targets for recycling 122 EU directive enforcing the use of unleaded petrol 123 Common EU regulations on the transportation and disposal of toxic waste 124 The implementation of EU policies to reduce noise pollution in urban areas 125 EU policies have stimulated offshore wind farms 126 EU support for solar energy 127 EU award of €9.3 million to Queens University Belfast for research into tidal and wave energy 128 EU promotion of the circular economy to enhance environmental sustainability 129 Outside the EU a future UK government would be free to lower environmental standards 130 Strict safety standards for cars, buses and trucks 131 Protection of endangered species and habitats (EU Natura 2000 network) 132 Strict ban on animal testing in the cosmetics industry EU CITIZENS IN THE UK 133 3.7 million citizens of the EU 27 are legally resident in the UK 134 The overwhelming majority of EU residents study, work and pay taxes, contributing greatly to the UK economy 135 The UK has never implemented the EU directive 2004/38/EC which allows EU member states to repatriate EU nationals after three months if they have not found the means to support themselves 136 The UK government has used EU nationals as bargaining chips in the Brexit negotiatiions 137 Uncertainty about Brexit has caused a significant fall in net migration since the referendum 138 Free movement of labour has helped UK firms plug skills gaps (translators, doctors, plumbers) 139 10% of doctors in the NHS are EU nationals 140 7% of nurses in the NHS are EU nationals 141 46,000 EU nationals work in UK universities 142 Free movement of labour has helped address shortages of unskilled workers (fruit picking, catering) 143 28% of construction workers in London are from the EU 144 EU migrants make up 45 percent of the tourism and hospitality workforce 145 The retail industry has 170,000 people from the EU directly working for it, which accounts for 6% of the industry’s UK workforce 146 The European Medical Agency (EMA) which employs 900 people is relocating to Amsterdam 147 The European Banking Authority (EBA) which employs 170 people is relocating to Paris 148 Uncertainty about Brexit has caused great anxiety and insecurity among the 3 million EU residents in the UK 149 Long term EU residents in the UK, many with British spouses and children, have no automatic right to stay in the UK after Brexit 150 Brexit threatens to provoke a brain drain of EU workers from the UK 151 There has been a rise in racial abuse and violent attacks since the referendum UK CITIZENS IN THE EU 152 At least 1 million UK citizens live in the rest of the EU 153 80% of these are below retirement age 154 British businesses, workers, pensioners and students have enjoyed huge benefits from freedom of movement inside the EU’s Single Market over the last 30 years 155 The freedom to set up a business in 28 countries 156 The ability to retire in any member state 157 Pension transferability 158 The right to vote in local elections if resident in any member state 159 The right to vote in European Parliamentary elections if resident in any member state 160 Outside the EU many British citizens in the EU27 would have no voting rights in both the UK and their country of residence 161 There is currently no guarantee that UK residents in the EU will continue to enjoy any of their existing rights as EU citizens 162 Uncertainty about Brexit has caused great anxiety and insecurity among o UK residents in rest of the EU 163 Outside the EU there is no guarantee that British citizens would continue to enjoy access to healthcare on the same basis 164 Consular protection from any EU embassy outside the EU 165 The right to reside in any EU member state 166 The freedom to work in 28 countries without visa and immigration restrictions 167 The mutual recognition of professional qualifications has facilitated the free movement of engineers, teachers and doctors across the EU 168 The mutual recognition of educational diplomas BENEFITS FOR BRITISH TOURISTS IN THE EU 169 80% of holidays abroad by British tourists are to other EU countries 170 No time consuming border checks for travellers (apart from in the UK) 171 EU competition laws have facilitated the use of EasyJet, Ryanair and other low cost airlines 172 The right to receive emergency healthcare in any member state (EHIC card) 173 EU laws making it easier for British people to buy second homes on the continent 174 The enhancement of price transparency 175 The removal of commissions on currency transactions across the Eurozone 176 Mutual recognition of the common European driving license 177 The introduction of the European pet passport 178 The abolition of mobile telephone roaming charges 179 Thanks to EU membership, Spain, Portugal and Greece have become major destinations for British tourists EU DICTATORSHIP MYTH 180 The notion of an “EU dictatorship” is a commonly repeated Brexiter myth 181 As a member of the EU the UK has never ceased to be “an independent sovereign nation” 182 The vast majority of the UK’s laws are still decided by the Westminster parliament 183 The UK voluntarily agreed to share and pool sovereignty within the EU in many areas where collective action is more effective than decisions made at a national level (e.g. combatting climate change) 184 As a member of NATO the UK has surrendered partial sovereignty in the interests of collective defence. This has never been opposed by the leading Brexiters 185 The idea that the EU has a “democratic deficit” is only partially true 186 The most powerful EU institution is the European Council which includes the elected heads of national governments 187 The UK enjoys veto power in many important policy areas 188 The European Commission is fully accountable to the elected European Parliament 189 The European Parliament is elected every 5 years 190 The system of proportional representation for EP elections ensures a much broader and fairer representation than at Westminster (including UKIP and Green MEPs) 191 The EU has no more of a democratic deficit than the UK (unelected House of Lords) and the US (electoral college system) 192 The UK enjoys an opt out from the single currency 193 The UK maintains full control of its borders as an island nation and non-member of the Schengen area 194 Since 1985 the UK has received a budget rebate equivalent to 66% of its net contribution to the EU budget 195 Staying in the EU would not prevent a future Labour government from nationalising the railways or other public services 196 The EU helped support and maintain democracy in Spain, Portugal and Greece from the 1970s 197 The EU has helped support and maintain democracy in the ex-communist states of Eastern Europe since 1989 THERESA MAY AND THE CABINET IN THEIR OWN WORDS 198 Prime Minister Theresa May has never really believed in the wisdom of Brexit 199 “I think being part of a 500m trading bloc is significant for us. I think one of the issues is a lot of people invest here in the UK because it’s the UK in Europe”. (Theresa May April 2016) 200 "It is not clear why other EU member states would give Britain a better deal than they themselves enjoy." (Theresa May April 2016) 201 “No country or empire in world history has ever been totally sovereign” (Theresa May April 2016) 202 “I do not want the people of Scotland to think that English Eurosceptics put their dislike of Brussels ahead of our bond with Edinburgh and Glasgow.” (Theresa May, April 2016) 203 Outside the EU “London’s position as the world’s leading financial centre would be in danger.” (Theresa May, April 2016) 204 “The only thing leaving the EU guarantees is a lost decade for British business)” (Sajid Javid, May 2016) 205 “None of our allies wants us to leave the EU – not Australia, not New Zealand, not Canada, not the US. In fact, the only country, if the truth is told, that would like us to leave the EU is Russia. That should probably tell us all we need to know.” (Philip Hammond, March 2016) 206 “A strong NHS needs a strong economy – we should not put that at risk with Brexit” (Jeremy Hunt March 2016) 207 “the single market is essential to this government’s agenda for trade and competitiveness.” (David Lidington, 2010) BREXITERS IN THEIR OWN WORDS 208 Leading Brexiters have conveniently forgotten what they once said about the EU, the Single Market and the use of referendums 209 “A democracy that cannot change its mind ceases to be a democracy” (David Davis, 2012) 210 “We should not ask people to vote on a blank sheet of paper and tell them to trust us to fill in the details afterwards” (David Davis, 2002) 211 “You could have two referendums. As it happens, it may make more sense to have the second referendum after the negotiation is completed” (J.R. Mogg, 2011) 212 “There will be no downside to Brexit, only a considerable upside” (David Davis, October 2016) 213 “Getting out of the EU will be quick and easy - the UK holds most of the cards” (John Redwood, July 2016) 214 "I'm in favour of the single market. I want us to be able to trade freely with our European friends and partners." (Boris Johnson, 2013) 215 Leaving the single market would mean “…. diverting energy from the real problems of this country – low skills, social mobility, low investment…that have nothing to do with Europe.” (Boris Johnson, Daily Telegraph, February 2016) 216 “The day after we vote to leave, we hold all the cards and we can choose the path we want” (Michael Gove, April 2016) 217 “Conservative Members believe in the Single Market because we believe profoundly in the importance of free trade and we want Europe to be at the centre of a free-trading world.” (Liam Fox 2013) 218 “The free trade agreement that we will have to do with the European Union should be one of the easiest in human history” (Liam Fox, 2017) 219 “Brexit was never going to solve any our domestic problems” (Nigel Farage, 2017) LEAVE CAMPAIGN AND REFERENDUM 220 The 2016 referendum was advisory and not legally binding 221 The 2016 referendum took place without any preparation of how to proceed in the case of a Leave victory 222 The 2016 unfairly excluded two categories of people directly impacted by the result: EU citizens resident in the UK and long term British residents abroad 223 The referendum made no provision for a “super majority” which is normal international practice when constitutional change is involved 224 The Leave EU campaign has been found to have violated electoral law 225 The Leave campaign violated an agreement to suspend campaigning after the murder of Jo Cox 226 The Leave campaign lied about £350 million a day becoming available for the NHS 227 The Leave campaign grossly exaggerated the threat of mass immigration (45% of Leave facebook ads were on immigration) 228 The Leave campaign blatantly exploited xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment 229 The Leave campaign lied about Turkey joining the EU 230 The Leave campaign lied about a free trade deal with the EU being “the easiest thing in human history” 231 The Leave campaign deliberately misled the public by repeatedly stating that Brexit would not threaten Britain’s place in the Single Market 232 The Leave campaign misled the public about the ease of signing trade agreements with the Commonwealth countries and other non European partners 233 The referendum result was heavily influenced by a 20-year orchestrated anti-EU campaign led by pro-Brexit tabloid newspapers involving lies, xenophobic propaganda and smear tactics 234 Leading Brexiters Arron Banks and Andy Wigmore had a series of undisclosed meetings with Russian officials during the referendum campaign 235 At the time of the referendum the majority of the public had little or no understanding of the workings of EU institutions (Council, Commission, Parliament etc) 236 At the time of the referendum the majority of the public had little or no understanding of the functioning of the EU Single Market 237 At the time of the referendum the majority of the public had little or no understanding of the functioning of the EU Customs Union 238 At the time of the referendum the majority of the public had little or no understanding of the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice 239 At the time of the referendum the public were given little or no explanation of how the Article 50 procedure would work 240 The referendum was never about ordinary citizens “taking back control”. It was a cynical and failed attempt to make peace within the Conservative Party 241 The Leave campaign slogan “take back control” was invented by a hypnotist 242 There is now a clear majority in favour of a referendum on the final Brexit deal with an option to remain in the EU WHO WOULD REALLY BENEFIT FROM BREXIT? 243 Brexit is being driven by a radical right wing agenda to create a deregulated economy with reduced labour, consumer and environmental protection 244 Brexit would stop the UK from implementing the EU’s tax avoidance directive from 2019 245 Brexit would favour the economic interests of super rich Brexit backers who keep the majority of their assets offshore 246 15 British billionaires have $28 billion to their net fortunes since the 2016 referendum 247 The growth of their fortunes contrasts with the overall stagnation of the British economy since the 2016 referendum 248 More than half the Britsh billionaires listed in the Bloomberg Billionaires index are no longer resident in the UK 249 The Leave campaign was supported and financed by a group of offshore super rich Brexiters who looked to profit from the outcome (“the Bad Boys of Brexit”) 250 Brexiter John Redwood has advised investors to take their money out of the UK 251 Brexiter Lord Ashcroft has advised UK businesses to set up in Malta 252 Brexiter and Britain’s richest man Sir James Radcliffe has just moved to Monaco to avoid up to £5 billion in tax 253 Radcliffe has added $14 billion to his fortune since 2016 254 Brexiter Sir James Dyson is moving his company’s HQ to Singapore 255 Dyson added over $6 billion to his fortune since 2016 256 Major Leave campaign donor and hedge fund manager, Crispin Odey, has advised clients to prepare for a recession and higher inflation since the referendum 257 US food corporations would stand to benefit from a post-Brexit trade deal by the abolition of EU food quality standards including the use of GMOs, nutritional labeling and chlorine treatment of poultry BREXIT WONT FIX IT! 258 Leaving the EU is not the solution to any of Britain’s social and economic problems 259 Leaving the EU will not reduce poverty in the UK 260 Leaving the EU is not the solution to growing inequality 261 Leaving the EU will not help reduce violent crime 262 Leaving the EU will not enhance environmental protection 263 Leaving the EU will not protect us from the impact of climate change 264 Leaving the EU will not improve the provision of healthcare in the NHS 265 Leaving the EU will not help solve the housing crisis 266 Leaving the EU will not help raise educational standards 267 By pursuing Brexit the government has been paralyzed and has not unable to address any of these other issues 268 Leading Brexiters have stopped arguing that Brexit will bring economic benefits and grudgingly accept the inevitably of short term collateral damage 269 Jacob Rees Mogg has accepted that Brexit may not bring any tangible benefits for 50 years THE FINANCIAL COSTS OF LEAVING 270 Leaving the EU involves paying a hefty divorce bill of £39 billion 271 The pound has lost 15% of its value since the referendum and is predicted to slide further if Brexit goes ahead 272 A devalued pound has already increased the price of continental holidays for British tourists 273 A further devaluation of the pound will cause rising food prices and higher inflation 274 The devaluation of the pound has increased the purchase price of second homes in the Eurozone 275 The devaluation of the pound has reduced the real value of pensions for UK residents in the EU 27 276 Economic growth in the UK is now the lowest in the G7 having slowed dramatically since the referendum 277 The UK economy has lost up to £35 billion in output over the last two years 278 Real wages have been falling since the referendum 279 The government’s own Brexit impact reports have predicted a negative economic effect in the event of any Brexit scenario 280 The government has attempted to conceal the findings of its negative impact studies 281 The government’s divisions and negotiating incompetence has increased the risk of a catastrophic No Deal Brexit 282 A No Deal Brexit would create a hole of £80 billion in the public finances according to Chancellor Philip Hammond 283 According to the government’s own studies a No Deal Brexit is expected to have a catastrophic effect on 84 vital areas of British life 284 The fact that the government is even feeling the need to prepare for a No Deal scenario reveals the bankruptcy of its approach BREXIT AND JOB LOSSES 285 3.1 million jobs in the UK are directly linked to exports to the EU 286 Over 70,000 retail jobs have disappeared since the referendum, and the pace of losses has accelerated in the past year. 287 Construction has also suffered, with 17,000 jobs disappearing in the year until March 2018 288 Potential for manufacturing job losses if UK based firms feel the need to relocate to the EU27 289 Uncertainty about Brexit is already threatening jobs in the UK car industry 290 Airbus, which employs 14,000 workers in the UK, has threatened to move production out of the country 291 BMW which employs 7,000 workers in the UK, has threatened to move production out of the country 292 Panasonic are moving their European headquarters from London to Amsterdam 293 The City of London is predicted to lose at least 5,000 jobs in the financial sector THE NEW WILL OF THE PEOPLE 294 The electorate has changed since June 2016 with new young voters overwhelmingly opposed to Brexit 295 The 2016 “will of (some of) the people” has passed its sell by date 296 Future demographic trends will continue to augment support for EU membership 297 Opinion polls since the beginning of 2018 have consistently indicated that a majority of the public are now opposed to Brexit 298 A comprehensive YouGov study has found that 112 constituencies would now shift from Leave to Remain 299 61% would vote to remain in a referendum putting the government’s deal to a final say 300 The majority of voters in Wales would now support remaining in the EU 301 Two thirds of Scottish voters (66%) now support EU membership, compared to 62% in June 2016 302 The majority of small companies (56%) would now vote to remain in the EU 303 Refusing to recognise that the new “will of the people” is to stop Brexit is a negation of democracy TAKING OUR COUNTRY BACK? 304 Support for Brexit has been based on a false nostalgia to “take our country back” to a better world that never existed 305 In the early 1970s before Britain joined the EC average life expectancy was 10 years lower than today 306 Before the UK joined the EC 20% of children left school with no qualifications 307 In 1973 only 15% of young people attended university 308 In 1973 inflation was nearly 10% 309 In 1973 the UK economy was considered the “sick man of Europe” with living standards 7% below the EC average 310 Britain was definitely not a better place in the early 1970s before we joined the EU 311 If life was so much better before EU membership why were British governments in the 1960s and early 1970s so desperate to join? 312 The supposed benefits of Brexit are based on wishful thinking, delusions of grandeur and a misrepresentation of history and economic reality BREXIT CAN BE REVERSED 313 Brexit is not, and has never been, a “done deal” 314 Article 50 is reversible. Brexit is not inevitable 315 Article 50 can be revoked at any time by the UK government without the approval of the other members 316 Brexit has already been delayed by six months and a further delay can be granted to give time for a final say referendum 317 Article 50 was activated prematurely without any coherent agreed government plan for leaving the EU 318 The decision to trigger Article 50 without a clear plan was like "putting a gun in your mouth and pulling the trigger." (Leave campaign director, Dominic Cummings, May 2018) 319 None of the EU27 is opposed to the UK reversing Brexit 320 There is no majority in parliament for Theresa May’s Brexit deal 321 There is no majority in parliament for a soft Brexit 322 There is no majority in parliament for a hard Brexit 323 There is no majority in parliament a no deal Brexit 324 There is no majority in parliament for any form of Brexit 325 The government is hopelessly divided about how to proceed with Brexit 326 The government’s Brexit deal have been overwhelmingly rejected three times by parliament 327 The government’s Brexit deal is overwhelmingly opposed by the public 328 There is no alternative Brexit deal on the table capable of winning a parliamentary majority 329 Attempts to negotiate a compromise Brexit deal with the Labour opposition have been doomed from the start 330 The government’s parliamentary majority is wafer thin and is just a few votes away from a catastrophic parliamentary defeat and political crisis this Autumn 331 The government’s pro-Brexit parliamentary majority continues to rely on a shady deal with the extreme ultra-conservative DUP 332 69% of the population of Northern Ireland now favour remain, compared to 56% in the 2016 referendum 333 The EU negotiators continue hold all the cards and are stalling for time, waiting to see how much longer the UK government survives 334 Other countries (New Zealand, Ireland, Switzerland) have voted to reverse a previous decision in a second referendum THE EU AND NORTHERN IRELAND 335 The EU acts as a guarantor of the Irish Good Friday Agreement 336 Since 1998 the EU has provided more than 1.5 billion euros in funding for Northern Ireland peace projects 337 A frictionless Irish border 338 Leaving the EU Customs Union would lead to a hard Irish border 339 It is a Brexiter myth that Switzerland and Norway have an open frictionless border with the EU 340 Leaving the EU could compromise peace in Northern Ireland 341 Leaving the EU could hasten the break up of the UK by stimulating support for a united Ireland 342 The government’s pro-Brexit parliamentary majority continues to rely on a shady deal with the extreme ultra-conservative DUP 343 69% of the population of Northern Ireland now favour remain, compared to 56% in the 2016 referendum GIBRALTAR AND THE FALKLAND ISLANDS 344 The EU acts as a guarantor of the special status of Gibraltar 345 96% of Gibraltar’s residents voted to remain in the EU 346 Brexit would encourage Spain to press for a modification of Gibraltar’s sovereign status 347 Leaving the Single Market would seriously damage the economy of the British Falkland Islands (94% of fish exports go to the EU) 348 Leaving the EU is likely to encourage Argentina to renew its claims over the Falkland Islands WHO THINKS BREXIT IS A GOOD IDEA? 349 Brexit has been consistently opposed by the overwhelming majority of leading economists 350 Brexit has been consistently opposed by the overwhelming majority of leading environmentalists 351 Brexit has been consistently opposed by the overwhelming majority of leading scientists 352 Brexit is opposed by the BMA and the overwhelming majority of NHS doctors 353 Brexit is opposed by the Royal College of Nursing and the overwhelming majority of NHS nurses 354 Brexit is opposed by the overwhelming majority of Britain’s trade unions 355 None of the other EU member state are considering leaving the EU 356 Even the Eurosceptic governments in Italy, Hungary and Poland support continued EU membership 357 No other EU member state is likely to leave the EU in the foreseeable future 358 Since the UK referendum support for EU membership has increased in all the other 27 member states 359 Not a single democratically-elected head of government, apart from Trump, has publicly expressed support for Brexit 360 Brexit is favoured by all of the EU’s extreme right wing xenophobic parties including the French National Front, Italian Lega Nord and Dutch PVV 361 Brexit is “the stupidest thing any country has ever done” (Michael Bloomberg, October 2017) SCIENCE, HEALTH AND RESEARCH INSIDE THE EU 362 13% of EU budget earmarked for scientific research and innovation 363 The UK receives £730 million a year in EU funding for research 364 EU funding for UK universities 365 Potential damaging loss of Horizon 2020 research funding if the UK leaves the EU 366 UK participation in the EU Galileo satellite system 367 UK participation in the EU’s Copernicus, the world's largest single earth observation programme 368 Membership of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) which monitors the quality and safety of medicines 369 Cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy as a member of Euratom 370 Leaving the EU without a deal would lead to severe shortages of foods and medicines POLICING AND SECURITY 371 EU cross-country coordination in Europol offers greater protection from terrorists, ****philes, people traffickers and cyber-crime 372 The European common arrest warrant 373 Improved training of law enforcement officers though CEPOL 374 Cooperation in the management of the EU’s external borders through FRONTEX 375 Britain would lose influence on cross-border policing and security by leaving Europol after Brexit CULTURAL BENEFITS OF EU MEMBERSHIP 376 EU membership has helped facilitate intercultural dialogue 377 Membership of the EU has helped revolutionise eating habits for many people in the UK 378 Minority languages such as Welsh and Irish are recognized and protected under EU law 379 EU funding for the British film industry 380 EU funding for British theatre, music and dance 381 Glasgow (1990) and Liverpool (2008) benefitted from being European capitals of culture, stimulating their local economies 382 UK membership of the EU has promoted the use of the English language which has replaced French as the EU’s lingua franca HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE EU 383 Human Rights are protected under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights 384 The death penalty can never be reintroduced as it is incompatible with EU membership 385 The prohibition of torture and all forms of degrading treatment and punishment 386 EU laws on the protection of personal data 387 EU laws on the prohibition of human trafficking 388 EU membership is conditional on the existence of democratic institutions 389 The EU includes human rights clauses in all agreements on trade and cooperation with non-member countries WE JUST DON’T NEED TO LEAVE! 390 The EU will still allow us to drive on the left 391 We can still have our road signs in miles and yards 392 We can still give baby weights in pounds and ounces 393 We can still measure our heights in feet and inches 394 We can still weigh ourselves in stones and pounds 395 We can still quote temperatures in Fahrenheit 396 We can still drink beer in pint measures 397 The Lisbon treaty is not going to force us to adopt the euro 398 We can still have blue passports and stay in the EU (like Croatia) 399 Nobody is going to force us to fly EU flags on public buildings 400 The EU has always allowed our bananas to remain curved!
I met him when he came to Southampton on the campaign run including help my old man get re-elected as a labour councilor. Very genuine man, with an immense intellect. Could not agree more.
Farage and his horrid bunch of cronies, their stance on climate change and the environment. https://www.desmog.co.uk/2019/05/01/brexit-party-climate-science-denier https://www.independent.co.uk/voice...ons-climate-change-far-right-eu-a8912821.html Jab
Just to say important detail which is the essence of the clash between Environmentalism and Capitalism Reduce is first, then Reuse, Recycle = BUY LESS STUFF
Ah. Leave the EU regardless how it's done, regardless of the consequences; there is no price not worth paying to leave the EU. A moment's thought says that's not rational. If you vote Brexit party with no manifesto you are literally giving absolute power to one person to decide what happens next in the pursuance of your goal (whatever version of that he decides is best). If history tells us anything, it's that that never ends well. Vin
And we still don’t know why @ImpSaint wants to leave! Is he gullible enough to fall for the blatant lies issuing from the arch-spunktrumpet Farage, or is he a secret disaster capitalist of the ilk of Mr Rees-Mogg, the only people who will actually benefit from Brexit? Perhaps one day he will enlighten us!
I'm sure there's 400 good reasons there, but its going to be hard to get people to vote for the party you want to push the stop through. This mess, is set to get bigger.
Well there’s no way out now that isn’t going to come at a cost; in fact the damage in many ways has already been done. In my 58 years I have never known the country more divided, and I absolutely blame David Cameron for that. We have to find a way to bring the warring factions back together. The Tories can’t get us out of this; the only voice I hear calling for compromise is coming from the Labour leadership. Predictably, Corbyn is being lambasted from all directions for appearing to equivocate, but this is not a situation that calls for taking sides; this is a situation that calls for bringing opposing sides together. Equivocation may actually be the voice of reason.
