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

[Ram59]

With the UK in and with its Veto then the federalism would not really be an issue for us, but as I've said all along, the likely scenario is that we will be in alignment on regulations etc., allowing the trade to continue and the Eu without us blocking anything to continue down a path which is most likely doomed to failure.

This veto we have is diminishing greatly over the years. Every time there is a new treaty, more and more decisions are made by an 80% majority vote. How many years will it be before the veto will be completely taken away? Out of interest, does anyone know how many times we have used our veto in recent years despite losing 1 in 8 votes on various EU policies?

[roger_ramjet]

Sure you’re right Rog, but you might need some haemorrhoid cream from all this fence sitting.

Sooner have a bit of cream there than someone else's.....

just in jest!

[ramAnag]

Sooner have a bit of cream there than someone else's.....

just in jest!

Lol...Roger Ramjet...voted Remain...immediately saw the wisdom in ‘Leave’...taunts the ‘Remoaners’...until he does the figures...then returns to Remain...RR, aka, ‘The Reluctant (W)Recksiteer’

Just in jest!
Happy New Year.

[swaledale]

This veto we have is diminishing greatly over the years. Every time there is a new treaty, more and more decisions are made by an 80% majority vote. How many years will it be before the veto will be completely taken away? Out of interest, does anyone know how many times we have used our veto in recent years despite losing 1 in 8 votes on various EU policies?

We have a Veto on the following.

Common Foreign and Security Policy (with the exception of certain clearly defined cases which require qualified majority, e.g. Appointment of a special representative)
Citizenship – the granting of new rights to EU citizens
New EU membership
Harmonisation of national legislation on indirect taxation
EU finances (own resources, the multiannual financial framework)
Certain provisions in the field of justice and home affairs (the European prosecutor, family law, operational police cooperation, etc.)
Harmonisation of national legislation in the field of social security and social protection.

The UK also has opt-outs in some areas so EU decisions in those areas do not apply to the UK, this includes decisions about the euro, the Schengen area and some areas of justice and home affairs policy.

Of course votes are not the only manner in which the UK had influence over the EU, the items that get to a vote are generally only ones that the EU is confident there is agreement on, so counting votes is really not a true picture.

[swaledale]

Great post, Agreed with everything you said there except for the (to those who cling on (as many a Brexit supporter does) you forgot to put in IMO.

Fair point MOP.

[BaaLocks]

And now Nigel Mirage, traumatised that he hasn't made the front page of the Mirror for at least ten days, decides to go for the headline grabber by suggesting we might just need a second referendum to kill off the argument for a generation.

Four things can happen as a result of this:

The result is conclusive to Brexit: everyone admits we got it right first time and the Remainers have their squib dampened

The result is a repeat of last time, minimal win to Brexit: we carry on as before, though with Remainers unable to lodge the 'we didn't know what we were voting for' argument

The result is a gentle swing to remain: Brexit is cancelled

The result is a significant swing to remain: Brexit is cancelled

Of all of those the option that would worry me most would be option three, where we move to a gentle majority for Brexit and I see some potential real social issues emerging if this is the case. We would need some sort of caveat in the wording of the vote to effectively suggest that the swing must be significant enough to warrant a change of direction.

Is this political spin from Mirage to do anything to get back in the limelight? Does he have a point? Do we care given we've probably already gone past the point of no return?

I'm inclined to agree with him actually, which is the strangest twist and turn of this ever more crazy political journey - six months ago I would have said there wasn't a statement that could come out of his lips that I could agree with. Ho hum, what did I know?

[ramAnag]

And now Nigel Mirage, traumatised that he hasn't made the front page of the Mirror for at least ten days, decides to go for the headline grabber by suggesting we might just need a second referendum to kill off the argument for a generation.

Four things can happen as a result of this:

The result is conclusive to Brexit: everyone admits we got it right first time and the Remainers have their squib dampened

The result is a repeat of last time, minimal win to Brexit: we carry on as before, though with Remainers unable to lodge the 'we didn't know what we were voting for' argument

The result is a gentle swing to remain: Brexit is cancelled

The result is a significant swing to remain: Brexit is cancelled

Of all of those the option that would worry me most would be option three, where we move to a gentle majority for Brexit and I see some potential real social issues emerging if this is the case. We would need some sort of caveat in the wording of the vote to effectively suggest that the swing must be significant enough to warrant a change of direction.

Is this political spin from Mirage to do anything to get back in the limelight? Does he have a point? Do we care given we've probably already gone past the point of no return?

I'm inclined to agree with him actually, which is the strangest twist and turn of this ever more crazy political journey - six months ago I would have said there wasn't a statement that could come out of his lips that I could agree with. Ho hum, what did I know?

Lol...you and me both Baalocks.
Maybe there’s a fifth way...those in power could recognise that the referendum was only ever ‘advisory’ and agree that, after wasting eigh**** months on seeking a positive way through the Brexit maze, it’s best for all concerned if we just accept that it’s a ‘kin stupid self harming idea and we wish to proceed no further.
Can’t believe that Mr. Mirage (like that) would ever suggest anything that isn’t firmly rooted in self interest.

[Manofpride]

No one really thought that Brexit would win the vote and no one really thought Trump would be President but the votes went in and both got the results they wanted, they won the race and got their golden tickets! No one likes to lose but the fact is there are always winners and losers in life, accept the outcome and your defeat and get on board. The futures bright the futures Brexit!

[MadAmster]

Any 2nd referendum should not resemble the first.

1. In
2. Out
3. Stay in and push for a return to the free trade area instead of this stupid headlong rush to a US of E

Look at the Eastern EU Members. All refusing to take refugees from Africa and everybody else persuading theirs to come to us..... Too many countries are looking out for themselves to make a US of E a feasible entity

[ramAnag]

No one really thought that Brexit would win the vote and no one really thought Trump would be President but the votes went in and both got the results they wanted, they won the race and got their golden tickets! No one likes to lose but the fact is there are always winners and losers in life, accept the outcome and your defeat and get on board. The futures bright the futures Brexit!

Nice attempt to come full circle...except that...it almost certainly isn’t! There has been absolutely no evidence over the last eigh**** months to support your claim. Stop running away...stay in, fight your corner and bring about the changes within the EU that I accept are needed.