when did Japan trigger article 50 for them to leave the EU? I must have missed that episode of Monkey.
Beth took out the Irish bit because it might upset someone but apparently she either doesn't care if you're from Moldova or she doesn't know where it is!
Can't say I'm happy with the result and I think many were hoodwinked by the leave campaign who are already rapidly backtracking on money and immigration, but at the end of the day what's done is done and we all have to live with it good or bad. Looking into my murky crystal ball IMO we are heading for a Norway type model, we will have to pay in some money but far less then now, will have to accept free movement or something very close to it, be hard to see anything else being pushed through parliament never mind the eu. The key now is to appease as many people as possible, the leavers will see returns in law making and soverenty, much less money paid in and possibly some small additional control on boarders, remainers will keep some form of free movement as well as full access to the free market, no one will be completely happy but at the same time it'll put less noses out of joint. There are of course many downsides to this model though most noticeably a lack of say on eu regs that we would still have to follow.
Interesting fall-out this morning as Labour descends into complete chaos with Corbyn sacking Benn, soon he'll be sitting alone in the Shadow Cabinet...
It is early days Stan but the omens are not looking at all good. What you state about business deciding based on today's expediency makes a lot of sense and I guess we will see more of that over the next year or two. The converse is that some businesses and countries will see the opportunity for a good deal in a UK desperate for their business. Fair enough but if we're having to negotiate bargain basement prices to attract investment, how is that going to help our economy and sustain a workforce at a decent wage? Could we see the minimum wage scrapped in the light of such considerations? Most unsettling.
At last there's good news coming out of this whole thing: Justine Greening is in a same-sex relationship. Thank God, all is not lost.
I see David Lammy is calling for Parliament to block Brexit. I met him just before the 2010 General Election at a Trade Union event and my initial impression of him was he was a ruthlessly ambitious self-serving prick, nothing has changed...
You might ask the same question of Osborne's penal budget, Strolls. Or Cameron's references to another world war. All the Lammy-like, pathetic challenges to the referendum result will fall away, as Remainians realise they just have to suck it up and prepare for life outside the EU. There's a desperate need for a leader for the UK now to get through the EU exit minefield, and be faithful to the fundamentals of what Brexiteers voted for, particularly controls over border and immigration. Any leader like Theresa May that comes in and is mealy mouthed about this will fail imo
Even if you have no time for Labour Sooper, this is extremely bad news for British democracy. If Corbyn refuses to step down the way the Labour Party does its leadership elections virtually guarantees he will get in again if it comes to a competition, unless hundreds of thousands of more moderate people join the party in their £10 membership scheme in order to get rid of him, which is unlikely. The Tories will inevitably have a more right wing leader, Labour will be wiped out at the next election, as Goldie has pointed out UKIP will position itself as the party of the disenfranchised British and force the Tories even further to the right. This is no way to go into the greatest reorganisation of this country since 1945. None of the old fashioned traditional parties seem fit for purpose nowadays, they are locked into a mind set that just isn't relevant any more. Anti-politics and mindless populism on the rise everywhere. Perhaps they will begin to split up and we will have a much more fragmented system.....and coalitions, but now of relatively narrow interest groups. Just guessing. Once again I hope I am completely wrong and things settle down.
I suppose May is the only Tory that hasn't been lying through their teeth - but only because she's been in hiding.
I actually think it is a tragedy that Labour has descended to this level. I spent most of my life as a Labour supporter particularly in the Thatcher years, but the Party seems to have a penchant for electing leaders who don't measure up. Having in my latter years as a Labour supporter being able to get an inside view of Labour as a Union Officer I ended up being totally disgusted by the way the party operates. It now is totally under hard-left control and these people aren't pleasant. I also think things would have been greatly different but for the early demise of John Smith and later, Robin Cook. We'd certainly never have joined in the Iraq farce...
S'trewth, careful Strolls. You could leave yourself open to accusations of stereotyping an entire group of people based on your own personal prejudices. That sort of remark could get you into trouble with the more left-leaning contributors to this board, y'know!
Great interview last night with ex-leader of Finland and EU saying expect a lot of saber rattling but Europe needs Britain and will sort out a good deal. He also said the only person to listen to is Angela Meckel as she is the big boss of it all. He also mentioned security and military basically saying they need the British army as you cannot rely on France () or other states. As i said in another post, you will hear all this rubbish coming out of Europe, like the Calais Mayor (which has already been dismissed by French Ministers) but only list to what Merkel says as the rest are puppets or should i say muppets.
