OT. The futures Bright, the Futures Brexit!!!

[Andy_Faber]

.... and now a German MEP joins in......


"German MEP Hans-Olaf Henkel continued his bid to attempt to achieve a new deal for Britain in order to stop Brexit.

He said: “Last week, the CEO of the port of Dover went to Brussels and presented his view of Brexit.

“He made it very clear, if the 10,000 trucks going in and out of Dover every day is only held up by two minutes because of Brexit, there would be a 17-mile queue outside Dover, and equivalent chaos outside Dunkirk and Calais.”

The German added that the remaining EU27 will endure a larger cost from Brexit than the British.

“In other words, it is very clear that Brexit remains a lose-lose situation,” he said.

“What surprises me, everybody except the Brexiteers hates Brexit, but there is nobody in this house trying to stop it.

“It’s time, Mr President, that you make Britain a new offer, and offer that Britain can’t refuse, an offer that gives Britain what they always wanted.”

Mr Henkel said the UK should have more control over immigration in a bid to keep them in the EU, a suggestion met by Brexiteers to his side.""

that's an interesting one MA, what's difficult is to understand is whether this chap is capable of exercising genuine influence or if he's the Ramanag of the EU message board. The immigration issue is the one, from my viewpoint, that really winds up Swale's 'thick' demographic, so old Klaus might have a point.

To my thick mind, which may be less than some want, there's one simple change needed, and sorry to use business parlance, but that is to make immigration subject to a 'pull' (we say what we want) signal not a 'push' (they send what they want) signal, I actually think that would sway opinion.

[roger_ramjet]

The idea of the brexit supporters vote being "bought off" by special UK immigration rules may appeal to some - indeed enough to give rA a big enough minority supporting his stance, but it clearly misses the point. It is just an attempt to buy off enough voters to swing support, without addressing the key issues - ie sovereignty and the USE etc.

There has always been this hardcore belief within the EU that freedom of movement of goods/services has to be mirrored by freedom of movement of labour (which has never made much sense to me) but to expect the EU to back off this aspect as a compromise settlement is pie in the sky. You could maybe see them reducing the drive for "one nation" as its not just UK that doesnt want that, but I cannot see them compromising free movement of labour without a damned sight more pressure than one kraut MEP (who himself may not be seeing the bigger picture).

But its interesting. Then again Nigel Farage has made many observations in the European Parliament which have been so much self serving rhetoric.

[ramAnag]

The idea of the brexit supporters vote being "bought off" by special UK immigration rules may appeal to some - indeed enough to give rA a big enough minority supporting his stance, but it clearly misses the point. It is just an attempt to buy off enough voters to swing support, without addressing the key issues - ie sovereignty and the USE etc.

There has always been this hardcore belief within the EU that freedom of movement of goods/services has to be mirrored by freedom of movement of labour (which has never made much sense to me) but to expect the EU to back off this aspect as a compromise settlement is pie in the sky. You could maybe see them reducing the drive for "one nation" as its not just UK that doesnt want that, but I cannot see them compromising free movement of labour without a damned sight more pressure than one kraut MEP (who himself may not be seeing the bigger picture).

But its interesting. Then again Nigel Farage has made many observations in the European Parliament which have been so much self serving rhetoric.

Well I certainly agree with that last sentence RR. As for the rest of it we’ll have to wait and see.
Not sure what the ‘RamAnag’ of the EU message board’ means, Andy...I never claimed to wield any influence...think I’ve just been consistent and, I have to admit, stubborn, but I’m hardly the only anti Brexiteer, reckon at least half the population feels the same way.

Now we seem to be - rather pathetically imo - sending ultimatums to Moscow, am I alone in thinking this is a perfect example of one of the ways our objections would be so much stronger and more meaningful as fully committed members of the EU?

[roger_ramjet]

Well I certainly agree with that last sentence RR. As for the rest of it we’ll have to wait and see.
Not sure what the ‘RamAnag’ of the EU message board’ means, Andy...I never claimed to wield any influence...think I’ve just been consistent and, I have to admit, stubborn, but I’m hardly the only anti Brexiteer, reckon at least half the population * feels the same way.

Now we seem to be - rather pathetically imo - sending ultimatums to Moscow, am I alone in thinking this is a perfect example of one of the ways our objections would be so much stronger and more meaningful as fully committed members of the EU?

* well maybe about 34% since you cannot have as many as 37% let alone 51%

As for the Russians taking any notice of anyone, regardless of whether its a nation or a pan-national conflation like the EU, then good luck with that!

[ramAnag]

* well maybe about 34% since you cannot have as many as 37% let alone 51%

As for the Russians taking any notice of anyone, regardless of whether its a nation or a pan-national conflation like the EU, then good luck with that!

Must do better Mr. R. You’re assuming nothing has changed since June 23rd 2016.
I’d suggest that it has...partly because the negotiations since have done nothing to inspire any confidence in Brexit, partly because the ‘Remain’ complacency has well and truly disappeared and those who thought ‘Remain’ was a ‘shoe in’ and for whatever reason didn’t manage/bother to vote, won’t make the same mistake again and partly because the electorate has changed a little in so much as a number of older and most likely ‘nostalgic Remain’ voters will have now been replaced by younger, generally more pro Europe, voters.

Surely you’re not seriously denying that, as far as the Russians are concerned, the disapproval of all the EU nations might give rather more food for thought than just little Britain stamping its feet.

[Trickytreesreds]

* well maybe about 34% since you cannot have as many as 37% let alone 51%

As for the Russians taking any notice of anyone, regardless of whether its a nation or a pan-national conflation like the EU, then good luck with that!

The EU would do nothing with Russia.

1. It's on dodgy ground anyway, rubbing them up with the Ukraine
2. Putin has them by the gonads with his gas pipelines.

Perhaps Junkers EU army could steam roller in?

[Romanis]

The EU would do nothing with Russia.

1. It's on dodgy ground anyway, rubbing them up with the Ukraine
2. Putin has them by the gonads with his gas pipelines.

Perhaps Junkers EU army could steam roller in?

Talking about gonads, would you like to take part in the prediction quiz?

[Andy_Faber]

Not sure what the ‘RamAnag’ of the EU message board’ means, Andy...

It was a sort-of compliment RA, you like Fritz being a lone voice in favour of a particular outcome. The EU 'messageboard' being a metaphor for the EU parliament. And I really think he has something - but if you think of those pathetic crumbs Cameron brought back with him its clear that the EU lady's not for turning

[AdiSalisbury]

Surely you’re not seriously denying that, as far as the Russians are concerned, the disapproval of all the EU nations might give rather more food for thought than just little Britain stamping its feet.

The war of words by our politicians is unnecessary and won't make a difference, however...

As we're still fully fledged members, perhaps they could step up to the plate then. Or are they going to hide behind the UK as usual in these matters?

+ It was the Italian restaurant where the infection is believed to have taken place in he 1st place, wouldn't have happened in the chippy!

[ramAnag]

The war of words by our politicians is unnecessary and won't make a difference, however...

As we're still fully fledged members, perhaps they could step up to the plate then. Or are they going to hide behind the UK as usual in these matters?

+ It was the Italian restaurant where the infection is believed to have taken place in he 1st place, wouldn't have happened in the chippy!

I think my point was, Adi...having just alienated most of our European allies it’s probably not the best time to start picking a fight with Russia. I feel we’re in grave danger of walking into a rather obvious trap.

[Andy_Faber]

OK enough of Romanis' attempts at getting us all together, lets have some good old fashioned bitterness and division. Are you jolly old Simon Jack, looking optimistically at the transition deal that's been publicised, or soothsaying Laura Kuensberg, Mrs 'Woe Is Me we're all going to die', whittling about the future.

Me? I'm on SJ's side, mainly because hi secret superpower is he plays a mean rock guitar.

[Ram59]

It shows you what's wrong with the world when a major development in the brexit talks which will affect all of us, wether we like it or not, is pushed into second place by some geordie TV presenter getting arrested for drunk driving on the ITV news at 6.30pm.

[Manofpride]

Lots of talk of PJ & Drunken. Ant was heard saying at the police cells shouting I’m a celebrity get me out of here! 😂

[ramAnag]

It shows you what's wrong with the world when a major development in the brexit talks which will affect all of us, wether we like it or not, is pushed into second place by some geordie TV presenter getting arrested for drunk driving on the ITV news at 6.30pm.

Better sit down Ram...I agree entirely...again! There you are, I’ve said it.

Andy, I don’t really know who Simon Jack is but this whole ‘left leaning BBC’ thing is odd.
Take Andrew Marr for instance, accused by the right of being left wing and by the left of being too far to the right - his interviews just seem to have degenerated into shouting matches and wannabe celebrity conflict.
For me...despite Sky being portrayed as the ‘devil’s channel’, I think, as an example, Niall Patterson has been far more objective and much more of a thorn in the side of the establishment over, both Brexit and the Russian crisis, than his beeb counterparts.

[Trickytreesreds]

The BBC biased? Never lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffRiUQPgDYo