Current Politics in the United Kingdom

[haroldeye]

Well there's Junkers three chauffer driven limos and his private aircraft. Hisa drinks bill doesn't come cheap either.

[scoundrel]

As regards Britain leaving the EU and the fractious discussions which we are inevitably going to enjoy, I take inspiration from Miss Taylor Swift.

And the player's gonna play play play play
And the haters gonna hate hate hate hate
And I'm just gonna shake shake shake shake
Shake it off! Shake it off!

We need to distinguish between reality and spin. Reality is about actions and demands. If the EU adopts a pragmatic and fair approach then Britain will be idiotic not to do the same. If there is any systematic attempt to victimise us, I would walk away from the table and prepare to close our fishing grounds to all EU fishing boats using fluvial minefields if need be and to impose tarriffs on WTO maximum levels on all EU goods and services from Day One. The EU will decide how this game will be played but I would be willing to play it exactly the same way they play it. We shall soon see what the EU wants to do.

Severance payments need to be itemised and for each item a full costing and proper explanation given in writing because that is fair. And I agree with Haroldeye that Britain has no duty to support unjustified or profligate spending. Why does Mr Juncker get an aeroplane or more than one official car? There should be a car pool and perhaps two or three executive jets for the entire Commission to share. Britain has no duty to pay for wasteful spending. But it is not reasonable to think we get to walk away and pay nothing when Edward Heath invited us in: we weren't shanghaid by the EU, it was Heath. The EU has a very good case in principle on severance payment. I would not try to deny it if I were doing Britain's talking; I would simply scrutinise every single line on the bill with a magnifying glass.

One thing I would make clear in my first sentence at the table, if it were me to do the talking. As soon as the Kingdom of Spain says one word about objecting to a trade deal which applies equally to Gibraltar, we walk. End of.

[scoundrel]

Originally Posted by haroldeye

There must be a threat - Sounds like this is a threat to me .

I read it the same way too, Harold.

[scoundrel]

Originally Posted by ********

Same reason that May and every other head of state does. Although actually Junker doesn't have a personal aircraft, he uses commercial flights and some pooled EU aircraft for when they need to move a lot of peolpe at once.

I am glad to hear that Mr Juncker does not have a personal aeroplane. He is not a head of state.

[Devius]

Originally Posted by Devius

[EDIT] As for Nicola Sturgeon seeking a second referendum....



Seriously though, I think Ms Sturgeon is playing a very dangerous game, seeking to overturn 300 years of integration. Does she has plans to address the issues raised in the last referendum (such as a separate currency, separate central bank, accepting part of the national debt, etc)?

Oh well, roll the dice Nicola..

Ooops!!!
Someone should have warned Ms Sturgeon: the house always wins....



“In the casino, the cardinal rule is to keep them playing and to keep them coming back. The longer they play, the more they lose, and in the end, we get them all.”
Ace Rothstein, played by Robert de Niro (Casino)

[Eightball69]

absolutely bang on - a total fantasy and one which we'll pay for for generations to come - a total disgrace

http://www.nybooks.com/daily/2017/06...-of-a-fantasy/

[Devius]

Tory MP Andrea Leadsom says broadcasters need to be more patriotic while reporting the UK's negotiations with the EU.

Sources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-4038...o-be-patriotic
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entr...b0da2c731b6bd7


Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel
Samuel Johnson

[scoundrel]

Originally Posted by Devius

Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel
Samuel Johnson

[vinceprince]

Re:Patriotism

We keep hearing how that the rights of Brits living in Europe should be the main consideration when negotiating the rights of EU citizens here.

Why?
EU citizens living here are contributing to the UK economy and paying tax.

Brits living in the EU generally are not, and many are pensioners who are just taking money out of the country.

Why should we care about these 'Brits' abroad? The politicians care about them because they can still vote. Not sure why the rest of us should care.
If it is based on kinship or 'patriotism' then why do these people prefer to live abroad rather than contribute to the UK economy?
I have a cousin living in Europe and he's working abroad so he doesn't have to repay his student loan.

[Puhbear69]

Originally Posted by vinceprince

Re:Patriotism

We keep hearing how that the rights of Brits living in Europe should be the main consideration when negotiating the rights of EU citizens here.

Why?
EU citizens living here are contributing to the UK economy and paying tax.

[...]

So it is mostly in Europe that GB- citizens are contributing here .

I know a lot of British-owned - for example - Tea stores and book stores. Tea stores with selling of drinks (tea) too.

OK, British-owned restaurants are very, very, very rare here.