The broad sunlit uplands of next March. Yeah, really. .

[Peter Mallett]

Yes I thought so.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by MGDavid

Haven't the government already announced more than once that they intend to have zero import tariff on ex-EU goods?

Yes, that is certainly what Mrs May and those loyal to her have said, but that is not - or so I believe - set in stone, and would form part of the negotiations that will commence after Brexit actually happens.

I also believe that the thinking is that trade with the EU will be tariff free providing that the EU reciprocate, but who knows what will actually happen if the hard liners in the Tories take over the government, or worse still, we have a Labour administration!

[apriliadriver]

A point to contemplate here : how many times in the last 9 months have 'repeated government statements' been reneged without even a backward glance ?
So many 'firm undertakings' have been broken by our own government that I find it hard to believe anything I hear from Mrs May.


Given the choice between a clear objective/clear solution and spending a vast amount of effort engineering a complete c++k-up, May unerringly goes for the latter.
Despair !
Nick

[Peter Mallett]

You could be forgiven if you believed it was done on purpose.

[Robyn Slater]

Originally Posted by gary396

He got slated on social media - i.e. type of car = proof of the elite out of touch with the masses.

Perhaps he should of turned up in a secondhand car of German origin.

Seems to me that's what everyone on the road drives these days.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by midgetman

Amazing what some people will complain about on social media. Never mind his policies, let's criticise him for what he drives. Doubtless those are the same people who criticise a woman in the limelight for what she wears. As if it matters ......

As good a reason as any not to read the majority of SM......

My immediate neighbours (who wholesale Xmas ornaments) were cursing about hold ups at Calais due to the customs work to rule. One truck bringing goods to them took 10hrs to get onto a boat the other day, and nearly all have been delayed. Looking at P&O updates, though, seems all free flowing today, so maybe the delayed ‘departure’ date has had an affect.....

[grantp]

Originally Posted by midgetman

A friend of mine was on The March. He reckons Brexit will decimate his business as he sells a lot to Europe at present, and imports a lot from there too. Tarrifs and charges either way will make him uncompetitive.

He has a lot of items in from WTO countries for repair, and has trouble persuading customs that they are "repair" not "purchases". He's worried that this will happen with his European customers too.

I report this purely as a response to the question often asked here "what are the advantages of EU membership?"

Actually I've just thought of the knock on effect. If he doesn't make as much money maybe he won't want awning space from me

So are his competitors in Europe?

[grantp]

Originally Posted by gary396

He got slated on social media - i.e. type of car = proof of the elite out of touch with the masses.

Well at least it's British (assuming that ownership has not yet changed hands officially.)

Better still if it's an old one.

I suppose a 3 wheeler with a Union Jack on it would send too much of a mixed message?

[Tim Falce]

This just about sums up the whole sorry state of affairs for me. You may not be able to view it if you don't have a Facebook acc.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=648891538901427

[midgetman]

I've just got a film about customising a Hot Wheels van, Tim. Followed by one about a wrestling grandad and a fish that swallowed a woman's arm!

I blame Brexit. Clearly the MSM are fixing the FB feed.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[Peter Mallett]

This sums it up.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

This just about sums up the whole sorry state of affairs for me. You may not be able to view it if you don't have a Facebook acc.

Worked for me. Good job they didn't try and bleep out the bad language....

[Mike Harte]

Peter M, I believe that you may subscribe to the Daily Torygraph. If so, I think that Bojo wrote a column today about his current thoughts on the Brexit dilemma.

According to the radio this morning, he is supposed to have contradicted himself in the last two paragraphs of the column. I wonder whether you could reproduce those two paragraphs?

Thanks in anticipation, or not as the case may be.

[Peter Mallett]

Will try but I didn't read it.

Edit:

Originally Posted by Bojo DT

How will we be able to take back control of our laws? Will we really do free trade deals? And can we really go on with a negotiating team that has so resoundingly failed? If she cannot give that evidence of change – she should drop the deal, and go back to Brussels, and simply set out the terms that so many on both sides – remainers and leavers – now believe are sensible.

Extend the implementation period to the end of 2021 if necessary; use it to negotiate a free trade deal; pay the fee; but come out of the EU now – without the backstop. It is time for the PM to channel the spirit of Moses in Exodus, and say to Pharaoh in Brussels – LET MY PEOPLE GO.

[AndrewCherry]

After 3 years, does Boris still not realise that you don't get an implementation period without the backstop as the EU won't agree to it, or is he simply that dishonest that he doesn't care?

[Mike Harte]

Bojo does spout a load of spherical things!

And thanks, Peter, for going to the trouble.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by AndrewCherry

After 3 years, does Boris still not realise that you don't get an implementation period without the backstop as the EU won't agree to it, or is he simply that dishonest that he doesn't care?

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Bojo does spout a load of spherical things!

And thanks, Peter, for going to the trouble.

In fairness you both appear to have missed the bit about leaving the EU now, or "crashing out" in some folks terms. We can do that on Friday.

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by AndrewCherry

After 3 years, does Boris still not realise that you don't get an implementation period without the backstop as the EU won't agree to it, or is he simply that dishonest that he doesn't care?

Aren't all MPs that dishonest that they don't care. His sister is nice though

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by AndrewCherry

After 3 years, does Boris still not realise that you don't get an implementation period without the backstop as the EU won't agree to it, or is he simply that dishonest that he doesn't care?

He puts me in mind of a couple of fellow students when I was at school. They were academically brilliant, but completely lacking in common-sense.

If any one saw the documentary made about the FCO last year when he was F Sec., he has great difficulty in retaining important data when briefed and then reproducing it. And so he just waffles, and says the first thing that comes to mind. Reminds me very much of the current incumbent of the White House.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

In fairness you both appear to have missed the bit about leaving the EU now, or "crashing out" in some folks terms. We can do that on Friday.

Far from it, Peter.

However, he just wants to cherry pick and the EU have told us that is a no-no, and we know that the only choices at this moment are leaving with no deal, and therefore one would imagine that there would be no deals to negotiate during the implementation period that wouldn't even exist, or we have to accept the backstop.

I suppose that there is the outside chance that the EU will compromise on the backstop, but somehow I doubt it now.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

This just about sums up the whole sorry state of affairs for me. You may not be able to view it if you don't have a Facebook acc.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=648891538901427

Yup, no matter which side you sit that was pretty bloody accurate.

[Peter Mallett]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Far from it, Peter.

However, he just wants to cherry pick and the EU have told us that is a no-no, and we know that the only choices at this moment are leaving with no deal, and therefore one would imagine that there would be no deals to negotiate during the implementation period that wouldn't even exist, or we have to accept the backstop. .

What if we want them to say no and we go anyway.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

What if we want them to say no and we go anyway.

Which is not what he is proposing.

[Peter Mallett]

You may need to read the entire article.

[Mike Bell]

So, is it just me, or is everybody even more confused this morning...….

There was apparently a survey last month that came up with the fact that 81% of us are dissatisfied with the way our government have handled the procedure, and 7% were satisfied. Presumably 12% of answers were too abusive to be counted!

That survey was supposedly in February. I wonder what the result would be today....

And I see Brussels have 'warned' about the fact that even if we have visa free movement, in a no-deal scenario passport control will require stamping and dialogue as experienced in other parts of the world. I think that is the least of our worries!