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

[ramAnag]

Or.... Deal with someone that can actually make a decision. There is life outside Europe and the world still revolves.. Britian still produces some good sellable quality stuff (not enough) but we still have some left.

Reading your posts I'm surprised that I am not more well off.. We've been in Europe a long time, I must be absolutely minted.
What have the Europeans ever done for us? I blame Monty Python.

But that was kind of my point. First to admit I've no 'business brain' but...'there is life outside Europe'...isn't that why it would be a good idea not to damage our relationship with China?
The facts that we damaged our relationship with our European partners so badly six weeks ago, now seem to be struggling to maintain one with the Chinese, whilst our manufacturing output continues to fall to a new low suggests there may be trouble ahead to me, or am I missing something?

Wish we'd found a gag for that 'previously silent majority' tbh.

[AngryRam]

But that was kind of my point. First to admit I've no 'business brain' but...'there is life outside Europe'...isn't that why it would be a good idea not to damage our relationship with China?
The facts that we damaged our relationship with our European partners so badly six weeks ago, now seem to be struggling to maintain one with the Chinese, whilst our manufacturing output continues to fall to a new low suggests there may be trouble ahead to me, or am I missing something?

Wish we'd found a gag for that 'previously silent majority' tbh.

In business people / countries fall out all the time, posture, bluff, the whole nine yards. We will never be a manufacturing giant again, even China is struggling in that area now. Manufacturing will follow cheap labour that's a fact.
So we fall out with China? That maybe opens a door with Japan.. The USA falls out with trading partners all the time, so did we even in Europe. Nothing new.. The secret for business is to grasp opportunity when it comes. One door closes, another opens.
There simply is no right or wrong here.. Some business will boom, others might struggle but that happens whether you are in the EC or not.
We regroup and go again. Get kicked, get back up. The remainers seems to have lost any fight they had. We are all doomed.

[ramAnag]

Have to take your word for it Angry. Your world much more than mine. Get the Chumbawamba bit and I haven't lost my 'Remain' fight. Did think the world of international business might possess a little more sophistication and integrity though.

[roger_ramjet]

Think again.....

[Andy_Faber]

I'll bow to your greater knowledge on that one. My knowledge of Chinese business is absolutely zero although I thought, after our recent alienation of Europe, that the Chinese and Indian markets were meant to be quite crucial. As someone with little claim to any business acumen I just wonder if we can afford to make any more 'enemies'. We are, after all, just a rather self important small island nation on the (geographical and political) edge of Northern Europe.

I totally beg to differ on that, UKplc massively punches above its weight and yes there's some 'self' importantness, but we ARE important to the world and lead the way in so many areas.

[Ram59]

I'll bow to your greater knowledge on that one. My knowledge of Chinese business is absolutely zero although I thought, after our recent alienation of Europe, that the Chinese and Indian markets were meant to be quite crucial. As someone with little claim to any business acumen I just wonder if we can afford to make any more 'enemies'. We are, after all, just a rather self important small island nation on the (geographical and political) edge of Northern Europe.

How will we cope? Little old us, out of over 200 countries in the world, little unimportant us must be in the bottom few as regards GDP, which is what counts when trading.

Where are we, the bottom 10, bottom 50, bottom 100, err no. Actually we're 5th and with that, will have significant bargaining powers.

I'd rather have 100% say in the 5th biggest economy than Less than 4% say in the 2nd biggest economy.

We are a leading force in NATO, part of the g8 which are the leading economic countries, one of the very few countries with their own nuclear deterrent.

Stop belittling our great country, If you love the eu so much, easy jet will take you one way for £29.

[ramAnag]

Lol...seems I must RR. Different world.

Not knocking the UK, AF...agree we can be proud of some of our achievements...but we do have to keep a sense of perspective too imo.

[ramAnag]

How will we cope? Little old us, out of over 200 countries in the world, little unimportant us must be in the bottom few as regards GDP, which is what counts when trading.

Where are we, the bottom 10, bottom 50, bottom 100, err no. Actually we're 5th and with that, will have significant bargaining powers.

I'd rather have 100% say in the 5th biggest economy than Less than 4% say in the 2nd biggest economy.

We are a leading force in NATO, part of the g8 which are the leading economic countries, one of the very few countries with their own nuclear deterrent.

Stop belittling our great country, If you love the eu so much, easy jet will take you one way for £29.

Oh here we go...another case of the 'if you dare speak against Brexit go and live in the EU' brigade.

Firstly I didn't describe us as 'unimportant', I described us as inclined towards 'self importance', which your response tends to reinforce.
Secondly, I wasn't 'belittling' the country...'great' or otherwise...I was trying to create some sense of perspective...we are - as a matter of fact - a small island nation situated on the edge of Northern Europe and unfortunately, imo, since Brexit our political position is now in danger of matching our geographical one. Our manufacturing capacity is also - as another matter of fact - in decline.
Thirdly, in the grown up and well mannered debate - that preceded your intervention - you're right, my question was 'how will we cope' if we continue to alienate potential trading partners? I think it's a reasonable question although others with more knowledge of business and economics were suggesting otherwise. I'll respect that and learn from many on here...afraid you aren't one of them.

[Andy_Faber]

We need to be on our collective guard, the sharks are circling.

[Andy_Faber]

This thing about manufacturing being in decline needs a response - no doubt, we don't produce as much by volume as we used to, but we just need to get over ourselves on that, we are never going to pay our workers the pittance that workers in the far East etc are paid, and we have instead focussed on high-tech. I was sitting on some Chinese-made bar stools this evening and I bought them new for maybe half the price the raw materials would cost me in UK, BUT I don't recall ever taking a flight on a Chinese powered aeroplane