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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » If Brexit is ever to be reversed it’ll be down to the 13% who

SystemSystem Posts: 11,683
edited May 2018 in General

imagepoliticalbetting.com » Blog Archive » If Brexit is ever to be reversed it’ll be down to the 13% who think Brexit will negatively impact the economy but not their personal finances

New ICM poll has Tories +3 on Labour (Con 43% Lab 40%) but don't worry about that look at this. Although 45% think Brexit will be bad for GB economy only 1 in 3 think it will negatively impact them personally. This is really important for Remain / soft Brexiters to grasp. pic.twitter.com/LfcdIQAtIn

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Comments

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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,967
    First. Thanks, TSE!
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    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,676
    Second! Like Remain, second time round too...
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    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,125
    "George Osborne’s hyperbolic and near apocalyptic economic warnings about Brexit"

    Arma-Gideon Times......
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    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,306
    TSE criticises George Osborne. I am not sure that the end of days promised on the last thread quite covers it.
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    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,616
    My answers:

    No difference

    No difference

    Positive

    Would be interesting to run the poll amongst PBers.
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    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,616
    DavidL said:

    TSE criticises George Osborne. I am not sure that the end of days promised on the last thread quite covers it.

    Ah, but TSE does not explicitly say that "hyperbolic and near apocalyptic" are bad things!
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    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,306
    Can anyone remind me what the movements on the ICM poll are? My recollection would indicate they are pretty much zero.
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    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 35,850

    My answers:

    No difference

    No difference

    Positive

    Would be interesting to run the poll amongst PBers.

    I'd agree with those three answers.
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    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,306

    DavidL said:

    TSE criticises George Osborne. I am not sure that the end of days promised on the last thread quite covers it.

    Ah, but TSE does not explicitly say that "hyperbolic and near apocalyptic" are bad things!
    This is true. And he kinda gives the game away by immediately indulging in a bit of hyperbola himself. But still.
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    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 35,850
    DavidL said:

    Can anyone remind me what the movements on the ICM poll are? My recollection would indicate they are pretty much zero.

    That's correct.

    If repeated in a general election it would give Con 321, Lab 253, Lib Dem 16, according to Baxter (in reality, I think the Conservatives could finish anywhere between 310-330, with so many tiny majorities).
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,983
    Good morning, everyone.

    Rejoining would mean no rebate and signing up to the eurozone. In short, our departure is like jumping over a wall, but the ground is significantly lower on the side we're jumping onto as we leave.
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    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,306
    Sean_F said:

    My answers:

    No difference

    No difference

    Positive

    Would be interesting to run the poll amongst PBers.

    I'd agree with those three answers.
    I think that the impact on the UK economy will be small but whether it is positive or negative is very hard to predict. Most likely, in my view, it will be negative in the short term but better in the medium term. But let's face it. Very few people answering this will have the first clue other than what their favourite media sources have told them.

    I'd agree with Qs 2 and 3.
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    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,242

    "George Osborne’s hyperbolic and near apocalyptic economic warnings about Brexit"

    Arma-Gideon Times......

    Ba-boom tish!

    I think you've set the Standard for Osborne-related puns. :smile:
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    MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 50,125

    My answers:

    No difference

    No difference

    Positive

    Would be interesting to run the poll amongst PBers.

    I'm prepared to concede there may be a short-term hit to the economy. But long-term, the UK economy will have its attractions over an EU shown to be inherently unstable on forced allignment with what is best for Germany.
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    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,306
    Sean_F said:

    DavidL said:

    Can anyone remind me what the movements on the ICM poll are? My recollection would indicate they are pretty much zero.

    That's correct.

    If repeated in a general election it would give Con 321, Lab 253, Lib Dem 16, according to Baxter (in reality, I think the Conservatives could finish anywhere between 310-330, with so many tiny majorities).
    I agree with you. Everything would depend on where the major parties won their votes and whose vote is the more efficient in winning seats.
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    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,929
    edited May 2018
    So far Brexit has HAD a positive impact in that I can measure it, and it can be measured quite easily ceteris paribus for my employer due to a weakening sterling (We export).
    Personally of course it has been negative since like most other people I am an importer (I buy fuel which is fundamentally a USD purchase). Going forward there are probably some frictional costs for the business, particularly if it is toward the harder end of the spectrum and there may be some big missed opportunity costs if it causes us to lose out on contracts due to being ex EU. Reclaiming of VAT for work done in Europe if that is not possible would be a direct cost.
    Of course we're more competitive whilst sterling is weak which is the case compared to the counterfactual of a remain vote particularly to USD.
    So the impact would have to be 3 don't know from me
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    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,616
    DavidL said:

    Sean_F said:

    DavidL said:

    Can anyone remind me what the movements on the ICM poll are? My recollection would indicate they are pretty much zero.

    That's correct.

    If repeated in a general election it would give Con 321, Lab 253, Lib Dem 16, according to Baxter (in reality, I think the Conservatives could finish anywhere between 310-330, with so many tiny majorities).
    I agree with you. Everything would depend on where the major parties won their votes and whose vote is the more efficient in winning seats.
    On the current polling, no party is salivating for an early election. Con & Lab hoping that things turn in their favour between now and 2022. Of course, they could both do themselves a favour with a change at the top. And I still think both will.
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    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 31,990
    Surely what that polll says is that most people think things are going to get a bit ‘worse’ after (if) Brexit is implemented.
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    DecrepitJohnLDecrepitJohnL Posts: 13,300

    My answers:

    No difference

    No difference

    Positive

    Would be interesting to run the poll amongst PBers.

    I'm prepared to concede there may be a short-term hit to the economy. But long-term, the UK economy will have its attractions over an EU shown to be inherently unstable on forced allignment with what is best for Germany.
    Don't we already have that as a result of Gordon Brown having kept us out of the Eurozone?
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    NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,336
    The reality is surely that most people don't think the EU is either very interesting or much to do with them. Asked to make a choice, they made it, and they're not sure it was the right one, but on the whole they STILL don't care very much. Those of us who think it was historical and dramatic and vital for our future, either way, are all seen as a bit weird and obsessive.

    If leaving does result in anything really good or really bad at individual level, opinion could change quite quickly. But if we just bumble on with some sort of fudged deal and nothing much changes, people will continue to give meh answers to polls.
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    PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,929

    Surely what that polll says is that most people think things are going to get a bit ‘worse’ after (if) Brexit is implemented.

    Well we're a net importer as a nation so technically that is correct
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    NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,336
    BTW, Ladbrokes have been caught out by the GDPR, I think - they've suddenly sent me a "click here to stay in touch or we won't be able to contact you again", a few days after such reminders should have been sent. (But I'm no expert on the regulations so perhaps it's all OK?)
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    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,616

    BTW, Ladbrokes have been caught out by the GDPR, I think - they've suddenly sent me a "click here to stay in touch or we won't be able to contact you again", a few days after such reminders should have been sent. (But I'm no expert on the regulations so perhaps it's all OK?)

    Bloody EU regulations, eh Nick?
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    TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 41,304
    Interesting that our PB Leavers are following much of the country in pronouncing that Brexit has been good or bad so far whereas w* h*v*n’t l*ft y*t.

    Some also forget or overlook the actions of the much-reviled BoE chief which did much to stave off any immediate negative effects of the vote (save that currency thingy).
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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,335
    FPT - I can’t stand city living myself: the noise, the crowds, the urbanness

    I live in the country where I can hear sheep bleating from my bathroom window, and wake up to parks and sparrows foraging in my garden. All around me is green verdant countryside.

    Peaceful bliss, but never boring.
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    rkrkrkrkrkrk Posts: 7,908

    The reality is surely that most people don't think the EU is either very interesting or much to do with them. Asked to make a choice, they made it, and they're not sure it was the right one, but on the whole they STILL don't care very much. Those of us who think it was historical and dramatic and vital for our future, either way, are all seen as a bit weird and obsessive.

    If leaving does result in anything really good or really bad at individual level, opinion could change quite quickly. But if we just bumble on with some sort of fudged deal and nothing much changes, people will continue to give meh answers to polls.

    Agree - but I'd go further.
    I think there's a reasonable amount of economic damage/upside that could be tolerated without either side being able to convince the public that it was down to leaving the EU.
    So even if we end up in a recession in 2019, I think it's plausible that it could be blamed in the media/public consciousness on other causes.
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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,335
    On topic, I wouldn’t be so sure. The latest data shows real wages increasing for the first time in a number of years, and are projected to continue to do so, whilst we have rock bottom unemployment.
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    FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,641

    My answers:

    No difference

    No difference

    Positive

    Would be interesting to run the poll amongst PBers.

    Negative, no difference, negative as far as I can see.

    But negative with a whimper rather than a bang. I dont see any economic or social benefits at all from Brexit. Losing one customer does not help gain another.

    On the other hand, increasing staff shortages due to loss of EU workers should increase my ability to improve my pay rate, at least when doing locums.
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    SquareRootSquareRoot Posts: 7,095

    Surely what that polll says is that most people think things are going to get a bit ‘worse’ after (if) Brexit is implemented.

    Its not the short term that matters so much. It will screw the futures of the younger generations
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    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 31,990
    Pulpstar said:

    Surely what that polll says is that most people think things are going to get a bit ‘worse’ after (if) Brexit is implemented.

    Well we're a net importer as a nation so technically that is correct
    Oh GOODY! I really, really want things to be (even) worse than they are now.

    But I see what Mr P means, and I think he’s right that if, for example, there were massive queues on the M20........ although that might well not impinge North of Watford........ or a lack of/ significant increase in price of vegetables and soft fruit people would start taking a different view.
    Interestingly there was on BBC last night a story about shortages of labour to pick, inter alia, strawberries, largely because Romanian workers felt it wasn’t worth coming here.
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    RogerRoger Posts: 18,891
    They're hanging their hat on the wrong peg. It's not threats to personal finances that'll scupper this but the reaiisation that they've signed up to chaos.

    They're like the person who was sold a manual on how to turn their terraced house into a mansion only to discover after some months with the wrecking ball that they're not getting a mansion but creating a wreck.

    It's only at that point that their naivety and avarice will become obvious and they'll want to switch back the clock.
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    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 31,990
    rkrkrk said:

    The reality is surely that most people don't think the EU is either very interesting or much to do with them. Asked to make a choice, they made it, and they're not sure it was the right one, but on the whole they STILL don't care very much. Those of us who think it was historical and dramatic and vital for our future, either way, are all seen as a bit weird and obsessive.

    If leaving does result in anything really good or really bad at individual level, opinion could change quite quickly. But if we just bumble on with some sort of fudged deal and nothing much changes, people will continue to give meh answers to polls.

    Agree - but I'd go further.
    I think there's a reasonable amount of economic damage/upside that could be tolerated without either side being able to convince the public that it was down to leaving the EU.
    So even if we end up in a recession in 2019, I think it's plausible that it could be blamed in the media/public consciousness on other causes.
    I suspect that among the more hysterical Leavers there’d be a blaming of the EU..... for making life difficult for us as a penalty.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,983
    F1: just reading a BBC thingummyjig about Williams.

    Car weakness is because of a significant aerodynamic flaw, disrupting air flow to the rear. Particularly affects long corners. So, they were ok at Monaco, and will be at Singapore, but they're going to have fun when it comes to Japan and 130R.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/44309487
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    FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,641

    FPT - I can’t stand city living myself: the noise, the crowds, the urbanness

    I live in the country where I can hear sheep bleating from my bathroom window, and wake up to parks and sparrows foraging in my garden. All around me is green verdant countryside.

    Peaceful bliss, but never boring.

    It took me a while to take to country life, after having lived in inner cities for 20 years, but have settled to it now. I love walking my dog across the fields on a sunny morning. I think my old garden in the city had more birds though. Biodiversity is not a feature of modern agriculture, but of suburban gardens.
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    Pro_RataPro_Rata Posts: 4,812
    Foxy said:

    My answers:

    No difference

    No difference

    Positive

    Would be interesting to run the poll amongst PBers.

    Negative, no difference, negative as far as I can see.

    But negative with a whimper rather than a bang. I dont see any economic or social benefits at all from Brexit. Losing one customer does not help gain another.

    On the other hand, increasing staff shortages due to loss of EU workers should increase my ability to improve my pay rate, at least when doing locums.
    Negative, don't know*, negative for me.

    * if it is a job lossy Brexit my wife is somewhat more likely to be in the firing line than me, so that is the risk factor, but even in 79-82 it is easy to forget that only a few % lost their jobs to create the impact it did. When southerners are genuinely bewildered by the hatred for "Fatcha" (as many on here put it) it is because it never really happened in their eyes (and the left forget at their peril that the southern experience of the 80s is perfectly valid).

    Any day to day inflation and tax changes will be dwarfed by the household budget changes of a child turning 3.
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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,335

    The reality is surely that most people don't think the EU is either very interesting or much to do with them. Asked to make a choice, they made it, and they're not sure it was the right one, but on the whole they STILL don't care very much. Those of us who think it was historical and dramatic and vital for our future, either way, are all seen as a bit weird and obsessive.

    If leaving does result in anything really good or really bad at individual level, opinion could change quite quickly. But if we just bumble on with some sort of fudged deal and nothing much changes, people will continue to give meh answers to polls.

    That’s a fair summary.
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    CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 59,676
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    FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,641

    Pulpstar said:

    Surely what that polll says is that most people think things are going to get a bit ‘worse’ after (if) Brexit is implemented.

    Well we're a net importer as a nation so technically that is correct
    Oh GOODY! I really, really want things to be (even) worse than they are now.

    But I see what Mr P means, and I think he’s right that if, for example, there were massive queues on the M20........ although that might well not impinge North of Watford........ or a lack of/ significant increase in price of vegetables and soft fruit people would start taking a different view.
    Interestingly there was on BBC last night a story about shortages of labour to pick, inter alia, strawberries, largely because Romanian workers felt it wasn’t worth coming here.
    I suspect that we will just in the future import soft fruit, rather than fruit pickers. It was largely the decline in Sterling and the increasing growth of employment in Continental Europe that was the disincentive, rather than Brexit per se. Obviously a permanent job in Romania beats a seasonal one here.
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    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,616
    Pro_Rata said:

    Foxy said:

    My answers:

    No difference

    No difference

    Positive

    Would be interesting to run the poll amongst PBers.

    Negative, no difference, negative as far as I can see.

    But negative with a whimper rather than a bang. I dont see any economic or social benefits at all from Brexit. Losing one customer does not help gain another.

    On the other hand, increasing staff shortages due to loss of EU workers should increase my ability to improve my pay rate, at least when doing locums.
    Negative, don't know*, negative for me.

    * if it is a job lossy Brexit my wife is somewhat more likely to be in the firing line than me, so that is the risk factor, but even in 79-82 it is easy to forget that only a few % lost their jobs to create the impact it did. When southerners are genuinely bewildered by the hatred for "Fatcha" (as many on here put it) it is because it never really happened in their eyes (and the left forget at their peril that the southern experience of the 80s is perfectly valid).

    Any day to day inflation and tax changes will be dwarfed by the household budget changes of a child turning 3.
    Equally today people looking in an estate agent's window in Colne will be puzzled by all this wibble about a housing crisis.
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    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 35,850

    Pulpstar said:

    Surely what that polll says is that most people think things are going to get a bit ‘worse’ after (if) Brexit is implemented.

    Well we're a net importer as a nation so technically that is correct
    Oh GOODY! I really, really want things to be (even) worse than they are now.

    But I see what Mr P means, and I think he’s right that if, for example, there were massive queues on the M20........ although that might well not impinge North of Watford........ or a lack of/ significant increase in price of vegetables and soft fruit people would start taking a different view.
    Interestingly there was on BBC last night a story about shortages of labour to pick, inter alia, strawberries, largely because Romanian workers felt it wasn’t worth coming here.
    Lots of Romanians have come here over the past 12 months. Maybe *no one* wants to pick strawberries.
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    SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,616
    Foxy said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Surely what that polll says is that most people think things are going to get a bit ‘worse’ after (if) Brexit is implemented.

    Well we're a net importer as a nation so technically that is correct
    Oh GOODY! I really, really want things to be (even) worse than they are now.

    But I see what Mr P means, and I think he’s right that if, for example, there were massive queues on the M20........ although that might well not impinge North of Watford........ or a lack of/ significant increase in price of vegetables and soft fruit people would start taking a different view.
    Interestingly there was on BBC last night a story about shortages of labour to pick, inter alia, strawberries, largely because Romanian workers felt it wasn’t worth coming here.
    I suspect that we will just in the future import soft fruit, rather than fruit pickers. It was largely the decline in Sterling and the increasing growth of employment in Continental Europe that was the disincentive, rather than Brexit per se. Obviously a permanent job in Romania beats a seasonal one here.
    Whereas a life of daytime TV and benefits beats a seasonal job picking fruit & veg.
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    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,335

    My answers:

    No difference

    No difference

    Positive

    Would be interesting to run the poll amongst PBers.

    I'm prepared to concede there may be a short-term hit to the economy. But long-term, the UK economy will have its attractions over an EU shown to be inherently unstable on forced allignment with what is best for Germany.
    I don’t think there’s much doubt that voting to Leave has slightly depressed macroeconomic in the short term: many larger businesses (though by no means all) are deferring some major long-term investment decisions until the shape of the deal becomes clear, because they currently can’t easily model costs and risks. I expect that to settle down by the early 2020s.

    Had we voted to Remain whilst I would have expected macroeconomic nominal GDP growth to be well north of 2% (maybe even 2.5%) and paying down the deficit even
    Faster. However, also think GDP/USD would have been trading north of 1.5, and us to be having record levels of net immigration as the economy sucked in more and more people from across Europe.

    George Osborne would have been very happy with that, but I suspect immigration would now be our number one political issue and very contentious, with UKIP surging in the polls.
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    RogerRoger Posts: 18,891
    edited May 2018

    Pulpstar said:

    Surely what that polll says is that most people think things are going to get a bit ‘worse’ after (if) Brexit is implemented.

    Well we're a net importer as a nation so technically that is correct
    Oh GOODY! I really, really want things to be (even) worse than they are now.

    But I see what Mr P means, and I think he’s right that if, for example, there were massive queues on the M20........ although that might well not impinge North of Watford........ or a lack of/ significant increase in price of vegetables and soft fruit people would start taking a different view.
    Interestingly there was on BBC last night a story about shortages of labour to pick, inter alia, strawberries, largely because Romanian workers felt it wasn’t worth coming here.
    I enjoyed hearing the much maligned Romanians say "pick your own strawberries" now that their economy is growing at three times ours.
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    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,226

    The reality is surely that most people don't think the EU is either very interesting or much to do with them. Asked to make a choice, they made it, and they're not sure it was the right one, but on the whole they STILL don't care very much. Those of us who think it was historical and dramatic and vital for our future, either way, are all seen as a bit weird and obsessive.

    If leaving does result in anything really good or really bad at individual level, opinion could change quite quickly. But if we just bumble on with some sort of fudged deal and nothing much changes, people will continue to give meh answers to polls.

    That’s a fair summary.
    Morning all,

    Except I think it misses the point. The underlying reasons why people voted to Leave matter far more for the future direction of politics than the EU in itself or their interest in it.

    I really doubt those riled by mass migration are going to be happy to find nothing has changed in five years time.
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    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 31,990
    Sean_F said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Surely what that polll says is that most people think things are going to get a bit ‘worse’ after (if) Brexit is implemented.

    Well we're a net importer as a nation so technically that is correct
    Oh GOODY! I really, really want things to be (even) worse than they are now.

    But I see what Mr P means, and I think he’s right that if, for example, there were massive queues on the M20........ although that might well not impinge North of Watford........ or a lack of/ significant increase in price of vegetables and soft fruit people would start taking a different view.
    Interestingly there was on BBC last night a story about shortages of labour to pick, inter alia, strawberries, largely because Romanian workers felt it wasn’t worth coming here.
    Lots of Romanians have come here over the past 12 months. Maybe *no one* wants to pick strawberries.
    ‘Lots’ means what? Locally at least there aren’t more car-washes, for example.
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    RobDRobD Posts: 58,967

    Sean_F said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Surely what that polll says is that most people think things are going to get a bit ‘worse’ after (if) Brexit is implemented.

    Well we're a net importer as a nation so technically that is correct
    Oh GOODY! I really, really want things to be (even) worse than they are now.

    But I see what Mr P means, and I think he’s right that if, for example, there were massive queues on the M20........ although that might well not impinge North of Watford........ or a lack of/ significant increase in price of vegetables and soft fruit people would start taking a different view.
    Interestingly there was on BBC last night a story about shortages of labour to pick, inter alia, strawberries, largely because Romanian workers felt it wasn’t worth coming here.
    Lots of Romanians have come here over the past 12 months. Maybe *no one* wants to pick strawberries.
    ‘Lots’ means what? Locally at least there aren’t more car-washes, for example.
    Back in my day we used to have automatic car washes.
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    AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 23,754
    Roger said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Surely what that polll says is that most people think things are going to get a bit ‘worse’ after (if) Brexit is implemented.

    Well we're a net importer as a nation so technically that is correct
    Oh GOODY! I really, really want things to be (even) worse than they are now.

    But I see what Mr P means, and I think he’s right that if, for example, there were massive queues on the M20........ although that might well not impinge North of Watford........ or a lack of/ significant increase in price of vegetables and soft fruit people would start taking a different view.
    Interestingly there was on BBC last night a story about shortages of labour to pick, inter alia, strawberries, largely because Romanian workers felt it wasn’t worth coming here.
    I enjoyed hearing the much maligned Romanians say "pick your own strawberries" now that their economy is growing at three times ours.
    wouldn't worry about it Roger

    in 5 years a machine will do the picking

    http://www.producebusinessuk.com/purchasing/stories/2017/02/07/robot-trials-aim-to-cut-strawberry-harvesting-time-and-control-costs
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    FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,641

    The reality is surely that most people don't think the EU is either very interesting or much to do with them. Asked to make a choice, they made it, and they're not sure it was the right one, but on the whole they STILL don't care very much. Those of us who think it was historical and dramatic and vital for our future, either way, are all seen as a bit weird and obsessive.

    If leaving does result in anything really good or really bad at individual level, opinion could change quite quickly. But if we just bumble on with some sort of fudged deal and nothing much changes, people will continue to give meh answers to polls.

    That’s a fair summary.
    Morning all,

    Except I think it misses the point. The underlying reasons why people voted to Leave matter far more for the future direction of politics than the EU in itself or their interest in it.

    I really doubt those riled by mass migration are going to be happy to find nothing has changed in five years time.
    Yes, I cannot see that Brexit presents any solutions at all for the problems of Leaverstan, or for the majority of our immigration that comes from the non-EU.

    I suspect that the angry right wing populists will continue to blame everyone but themselves, including the EU for being unfriendly.
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    FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,641
    RobD said:

    Sean_F said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Surely what that polll says is that most people think things are going to get a bit ‘worse’ after (if) Brexit is implemented.

    Well we're a net importer as a nation so technically that is correct
    Oh GOODY! I really, really want things to be (even) worse than they are now.

    But I see what Mr P means, and I think he’s right that if, for example, there were massive queues on the M20........ although that might well not impinge North of Watford........ or a lack of/ significant increase in price of vegetables and soft fruit people would start taking a different view.
    Interestingly there was on BBC last night a story about shortages of labour to pick, inter alia, strawberries, largely because Romanian workers felt it wasn’t worth coming here.
    Lots of Romanians have come here over the past 12 months. Maybe *no one* wants to pick strawberries.
    ‘Lots’ means what? Locally at least there aren’t more car-washes, for example.
    Back in my day we used to have automatic car washes.
    And they were crap. They scratched cars, broke ariels and missed patches!

    A2 workers are in all sectors but particularly building and hospitality as I recall.
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    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,242
    edited May 2018

    The Standard has sold its soul for a mess of pottage.
    The Standard is waned owned by a Russian oligarch and edited by a Cameroon Tory even TSE has criticised (well, once).

    May I ask what your evidence is for the surprising suggestion that it has a soul?

    Edited for spelling but original amusing and highly Freudian slip left in.
  • Options
    NemtynakhtNemtynakht Posts: 2,311
    Pulpstar said:

    So far Brexit has HAD a positive impact in that I can measure it, and it can be measured quite easily ceteris paribus for my employer due to a weakening sterling (We export).
    Personally of course it has been negative since like most other people I am an importer (I buy fuel which is fundamentally a USD purchase). Going forward there are probably some frictional costs for the business, particularly if it is toward the harder end of the spectrum and there may be some big missed opportunity costs if it causes us to lose out on contracts due to being ex EU. Reclaiming of VAT for work done in Europe if that is not possible would be a direct cost.
    Of course we're more competitive whilst sterling is weak which is the case compared to the counterfactual of a remain vote particularly to USD.
    So the impact would have to be 3 don't know from me

    I think that is a well made argument. It will be down to perception rather than fact, and this is the one opinstance where Osborne and the like cannot do their economic voodoo by saying if we had stayed in we would have been 15% better off but as we have left it will be 12% so you have lost out.
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    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,007
    The key thing first is that Leave won not because of economics but because of sovereignty and to regain control of immigration.

    Even if the economy does go south because of a hard Brexit I would also expect that to lead to us returning to the single market and/or the customs union rather than the full EU
  • Options
    DavidLDavidL Posts: 51,306
    Roger said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Surely what that polll says is that most people think things are going to get a bit ‘worse’ after (if) Brexit is implemented.

    Well we're a net importer as a nation so technically that is correct
    Oh GOODY! I really, really want things to be (even) worse than they are now.

    But I see what Mr P means, and I think he’s right that if, for example, there were massive queues on the M20........ although that might well not impinge North of Watford........ or a lack of/ significant increase in price of vegetables and soft fruit people would start taking a different view.
    Interestingly there was on BBC last night a story about shortages of labour to pick, inter alia, strawberries, largely because Romanian workers felt it wasn’t worth coming here.
    I enjoyed hearing the much maligned Romanians say "pick your own strawberries" now that their economy is growing at three times ours.
    Largest single group in the U.K. now. Even more than the Irish.
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,007

    The reality is surely that most people don't think the EU is either very interesting or much to do with them. Asked to make a choice, they made it, and they're not sure it was the right one, but on the whole they STILL don't care very much. Those of us who think it was historical and dramatic and vital for our future, either way, are all seen as a bit weird and obsessive.

    If leaving does result in anything really good or really bad at individual level, opinion could change quite quickly. But if we just bumble on with some sort of fudged deal and nothing much changes, people will continue to give meh answers to polls.

    That’s a fair summary.
    Morning all,

    Except I think it misses the point. The underlying reasons why people voted to Leave matter far more for the future direction of politics than the EU in itself or their interest in it.

    I really doubt those riled by mass migration are going to be happy to find nothing has changed in five years time.
    It will have changed, we will have work permits for EU migrants not free movement
  • Options
    DecrepitJohnLDecrepitJohnL Posts: 13,300
    HYUFD said:

    The reality is surely that most people don't think the EU is either very interesting or much to do with them. Asked to make a choice, they made it, and they're not sure it was the right one, but on the whole they STILL don't care very much. Those of us who think it was historical and dramatic and vital for our future, either way, are all seen as a bit weird and obsessive.

    If leaving does result in anything really good or really bad at individual level, opinion could change quite quickly. But if we just bumble on with some sort of fudged deal and nothing much changes, people will continue to give meh answers to polls.

    That’s a fair summary.
    Morning all,

    Except I think it misses the point. The underlying reasons why people voted to Leave matter far more for the future direction of politics than the EU in itself or their interest in it.

    I really doubt those riled by mass migration are going to be happy to find nothing has changed in five years time.
    It will have changed, we will have work permits for EU migrants not free movement
    Those who care probably care about the numbers rather than the paperwork so from their point of view, nothing will have changed.
  • Options
    FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,641
    DavidL said:

    Roger said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Surely what that polll says is that most people think things are going to get a bit ‘worse’ after (if) Brexit is implemented.

    Well we're a net importer as a nation so technically that is correct
    Oh GOODY! I really, really want things to be (even) worse than they are now.

    But I see what Mr P means, and I think he’s right that if, for example, there were massive queues on the M20........ although that might well not impinge North of Watford........ or a lack of/ significant increase in price of vegetables and soft fruit people would start taking a different view.
    Interestingly there was on BBC last night a story about shortages of labour to pick, inter alia, strawberries, largely because Romanian workers felt it wasn’t worth coming here.
    I enjoyed hearing the much maligned Romanians say "pick your own strawberries" now that their economy is growing at three times ours.
    Largest single group in the U.K. now. Even more than the Irish.
    Second, after Poles, in terms of having been born overseas.

    In part it is just a recency phenomenon. Mass immigration of Irish here is a historical phenomenon, and their children are born here, and increasingly that is the case forCommonwealth migrants. In time the Romanians will assimilate as well as Michael Howards or John Bercows Romanian ancestors.
  • Options
    SandpitSandpit Posts: 49,897
    ydoethur said:
    Yet still we wonder why trust in the media to inform us is falling so rapidly. This just plays into the hands of the Max Moseleys who want to shutter the free press completely.
  • Options
    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,007
    edited May 2018

    HYUFD said:

    The reality is surely that most people don't think the EU is either very interesting or much to do with them. Asked to make a choice, they made it, and they're not sure it was the right one, but on the whole they STILL don't care very much. Those of us who think it was historical and dramatic and vital for our future, either way, are all seen as a bit weird and obsessive.

    If leaving does result in anything really good or really bad at individual level, opinion could change quite quickly. But if we just bumble on with some sort of fudged deal and nothing much changes, people will continue to give meh answers to polls.

    That’s a fair summary.
    Morning all,

    Except I think it misses the point. The underlying reasons why people voted to Leave matter far more for the future direction of politics than the EU in itself or their interest in it.

    I really doubt those riled by mass migration are going to be happy to find nothing has changed in five years time.
    It will have changed, we will have work permits for EU migrants not free movement
    Those who care probably care about the numbers rather than the paperwork so from their point of view, nothing will have changed.
    Most Leavers want to control immigration not end it and focus it on skilled workers and those willing to contribute and reduce unskilled immigration. Work permits for EU migrants are a move in that direction.

    There has always been a group of voters who want to kick out all the immigrants and will not be happy unless the Brexit vote leads to BNP/Lega Nord style mass deportations and a complete end to immigration but they are only a small minority of voters, even of Leavers, the type who think the problem with the Windrush affair was the government did not go far enough
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,444
    Sandpit said:

    ydoethur said:
    Yet still we wonder why trust in the media to inform us is falling so rapidly. This just plays into the hands of the Max Moseleys who want to shutter the free press completely.
    It is fake news. It is just the paid advertorials but more organised.

    Iain Martin is just pissed that Osborne is doing a great job at The Standard despite the predictions of no marks like Iain Martin.
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    SunnyJimSunnyJim Posts: 1,106
    I believe hardcore Remainers over-estimate the importance of Brexit to the vast majority who have moved on beyond being irritated by the incessant whining.

    The ratchet will only turn one way once we're left and I find it difficult to imagine it will be in the direction of the aggravation and conflict that has defined the last couple of years.

    There may be some Remainer extremists still manning the ramparts as we gradually extricate ourselves further over the next decade or so (and that may be no bad thing) but I cannot see any political party of consequence being willing to go in to a GE on a manifesto of a rejoining referendum.

    Voters would run a mile.
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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,444
    DavidL said:

    Can anyone remind me what the movements on the ICM poll are? My recollection would indicate they are pretty much zero.

    https://twitter.com/britainelects/status/1001797744514781184?s=21
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    DecrepitJohnLDecrepitJohnL Posts: 13,300
    edited May 2018
    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    The reality is surely that most people don't think the EU is either very interesting or much to do with them. Asked to make a choice, they made it, and they're not sure it was the right one, but on the whole they STILL don't care very much. Those of us who think it was historical and dramatic and vital for our future, either way, are all seen as a bit weird and obsessive.

    If leaving does result in anything really good or really bad at individual level, opinion could change quite quickly. But if we just bumble on with some sort of fudged deal and nothing much changes, people will continue to give meh answers to polls.

    That’s a fair summary.
    Morning all,

    Except I think it misses the point. The underlying reasons why people voted to Leave matter far more for the future direction of politics than the EU in itself or their interest in it.

    I really doubt those riled by mass migration are going to be happy to find nothing has changed in five years time.
    It will have changed, we will have work permits for EU migrants not free movement
    Those who care probably care about the numbers rather than the paperwork so from their point of view, nothing will have changed.
    Most Leavers want to control immigration not end it and focus it on skilled workers and those willing to contribute and reduce unskilled immigration. Work permits for EU migrants are a move in that direction.

    There has always been a group of voters who want to kick out all the immigrants and will not be happy unless the Brexit vote leads to BNP/Lega Nord style mass deportations and a complete end to immigration but they are only a small minority of voters, even of Leavers, the type who think the problem with the Windrush affair was the government did not go far enough
    I'm not convinced that is the right split. There will be those who care about visible immigration and culture, who will probably see no change. Then there are those who care about economic effects like depression of wages and competition for jobs -- and in most of those cases it is skilled immigrants who are the problem. It is not unskilled immigrants or natives being hired as plumbers, brickies, doctors or curry chefs.
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    TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 40,109
    edited May 2018

    rkrkrk said:

    The reality is surely that most people don't think the EU is either very interesting or much to do with them. Asked to make a choice, they made it, and they're not sure it was the right one, but on the whole they STILL don't care very much. Those of us who think it was historical and dramatic and vital for our future, either way, are all seen as a bit weird and obsessive.

    If leaving does result in anything really good or really bad at individual level, opinion could change quite quickly. But if we just bumble on with some sort of fudged deal and nothing much changes, people will continue to give meh answers to polls.

    Agree - but I'd go further.
    I think there's a reasonable amount of economic damage/upside that could be tolerated without either side being able to convince the public that it was down to leaving the EU.
    So even if we end up in a recession in 2019, I think it's plausible that it could be blamed in the media/public consciousness on other causes.
    I suspect that among the more hysterical Leavers there’d be a blaming of the EU..... for making life difficult for us as a penalty.
    Generous of you to say that it's only a suspicion (& only among the more hysterical Leavers).
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    HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 117,007
    edited May 2018

    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    The reality is surely that most people don't think the EU is either very interesting or much to do with them. Asked to make a choice, they made it, and they're not sure it was the right one, but on the whole they STILL don't care very much. Those of us who think it was historical and dramatic and vital for our future, either way, are all seen as a bit weird and obsessive.

    If leaving does result in anything really good or really bad at individual level, opinion could change quite quickly. But if we just bumble on with some sort of fudged deal and nothing much changes, people will continue to give meh answers to polls.

    That’s a fair summary.
    Morning all,

    Except I think it misses the point. The underlying reasons why people voted to Leave matter far more for the future direction of politics than the EU in itself or their interest in it.

    I really doubt those riled by mass migration are going to be happy to find nothing has changed in five years time.
    It will have changed, we will have work permits for EU migrants not free movement
    Those who care probably care about the numbers rather than the paperwork so from their point of view, nothing will have changed.
    Most Leavers want to control immigration not end it and focus it on skilled workers and those willing to contribute ven of Leavers, the type who think the problem with the Windrush affair was the government did not go far enough
    I'm not convinced that is the right split. There will be those who care about visible immigration and culture, who will probably see no change. Then there are those who care about economic effects like depression of wages and competition for jobs -- and in most of those cases it is skilled immigrants who are the problem.
    It was those concerned about the latter who won it for Leave, particularly after Blair let in Eastern European migrants without transition controls on free movement. It was unskilled workers and lower skilled workers who were hit the most and who drove the Brexit vote, it was not highly skilled doctors, lawyers and bankers voting Leave primarily but kitchen porters, workers on building sites and plumbers.

    The former are more concerned about immigration from outside the EU and particularly those who do not share our culture or values or who have a radical anti western agenda
  • Options
    DecrepitJohnLDecrepitJohnL Posts: 13,300

    Sandpit said:

    ydoethur said:
    Yet still we wonder why trust in the media to inform us is falling so rapidly. This just plays into the hands of the Max Moseleys who want to shutter the free press completely.
    It is fake news. It is just the paid advertorials but more organised.

    Iain Martin is just pissed that Osborne is doing a great job at The Standard despite the predictions of no marks like Iain Martin.
    It is advertisers paying for fake news. The Standard has not traditionally run advertorials.
  • Options
    AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 23,754
    Article on US EU trade war

    Average tariff on cars US - 2.5% EU - 10%
    Average tarrif on all goods US - 3.5% EU - 5.2%
    Free trade imports as % of total US - 48% EU -26%

    https://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/article176832903/US-Strafzoelle-Europas-Zerrissenheit-ist-Trumps-grosser-Vorteil.html

    All a bit one sided

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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,983
    Mr. Jim, if we actually leave, the EU may try to accelerate integration of the remainder to reduce the chances of it recurring (I think that's largely unnecessary, actually, as almost all the rest are in the eurozone). That would have the side-effect of making a UK return less likely.
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    another_richardanother_richard Posts: 25,082

    Roger said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Surely what that polll says is that most people think things are going to get a bit ‘worse’ after (if) Brexit is implemented.

    Well we're a net importer as a nation so technically that is correct
    Oh GOODY! I really, really want things to be (even) worse than they are now.

    But I see what Mr P means, and I think he’s right that if, for example, there were massive queues on the M20........ although that might well not impinge North of Watford........ or a lack of/ significant increase in price of vegetables and soft fruit people would start taking a different view.
    Interestingly there was on BBC last night a story about shortages of labour to pick, inter alia, strawberries, largely because Romanian workers felt it wasn’t worth coming here.
    I enjoyed hearing the much maligned Romanians say "pick your own strawberries" now that their economy is growing at three times ours.
    wouldn't worry about it Roger

    in 5 years a machine will do the picking

    http://www.producebusinessuk.com/purchasing/stories/2017/02/07/robot-trials-aim-to-cut-strawberry-harvesting-time-and-control-costs
    We don't want any of that fancy hi-tech machinery, don't people know that indentured labour from the third world is the future.

    Anyway there doesn't seem to be any shortage of local strawberries in the supermarkets this year:

    https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/feb/22/earliest-ever-british-strawberries-arrive-supermarket-shelves-wales
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    AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 23,754

    Mr. Jim, if we actually leave, the EU may try to accelerate integration of the remainder to reduce the chances of it recurring (I think that's largely unnecessary, actually, as almost all the rest are in the eurozone). That would have the side-effect of making a UK return less likely.

    that might be the commissions wish but reading the german press the events in Italy are making the germans rethink who they want to get in to bed with. There's a spanner just been lobbed into the works and it will take time to sort it out.
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    AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 23,754

    Roger said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Surely what that polll says is that most people think things are going to get a bit ‘worse’ after (if) Brexit is implemented.

    Well we're a net importer as a nation so technically that is correct
    Oh GOODY! I really, really want things to be (even) worse than they are now.

    But I see what Mr P means, and I think he’s right that if, for example, there were massive queues on the M20........ although that might well not impinge North of Watford........ or a lack of/ significant increase in price of vegetables and soft fruit people would start taking a different view.
    Interestingly there was on BBC last night a story about shortages of labour to pick, inter alia, strawberries, largely because Romanian workers felt it wasn’t worth coming here.
    I enjoyed hearing the much maligned Romanians say "pick your own strawberries" now that their economy is growing at three times ours.
    wouldn't worry about it Roger

    in 5 years a machine will do the picking

    http://www.producebusinessuk.com/purchasing/stories/2017/02/07/robot-trials-aim-to-cut-strawberry-harvesting-time-and-control-costs
    We don't want any of that fancy hi-tech machinery, don't people know that indentured labour from the third world is the future.

    Anyway there doesn't seem to be any shortage of local strawberries in the supermarkets this year:

    https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/feb/22/earliest-ever-british-strawberries-arrive-supermarket-shelves-wales
    its ridiculous isn't it ? Why would we want a jump in productivity when we can drive wages in to the ground ?
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    another_richardanother_richard Posts: 25,082

    My answers:

    No difference

    No difference

    Positive

    Would be interesting to run the poll amongst PBers.

    Positive - but not through extra growth but because of economic rebalancing

    Positive - but I do work in an export related business and my investments have gone up

    Positive - the country will have to take responsibility for its own actions

    There will be sectors and people where the experience will be negative though.
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    another_richardanother_richard Posts: 25,082

    Roger said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Surely what that polll says is that most people think things are going to get a bit ‘worse’ after (if) Brexit is implemented.

    Well we're a net importer as a nation so technically that is correct
    Oh GOODY! I really, really want things to be (even) worse than they are now.

    But I see what Mr P means, and I think he’s right that if, for example, there were massive queues on the M20........ although that might well not impinge North of Watford........ or a lack of/ significant increase in price of vegetables and soft fruit people would start taking a different view.
    Interestingly there was on BBC last night a story about shortages of labour to pick, inter alia, strawberries, largely because Romanian workers felt it wasn’t worth coming here.
    I enjoyed hearing the much maligned Romanians say "pick your own strawberries" now that their economy is growing at three times ours.
    wouldn't worry about it Roger

    in 5 years a machine will do the picking

    http://www.producebusinessuk.com/purchasing/stories/2017/02/07/robot-trials-aim-to-cut-strawberry-harvesting-time-and-control-costs
    We don't want any of that fancy hi-tech machinery, don't people know that indentured labour from the third world is the future.

    Anyway there doesn't seem to be any shortage of local strawberries in the supermarkets this year:

    https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/feb/22/earliest-ever-british-strawberries-arrive-supermarket-shelves-wales
    its ridiculous isn't it ? Why would we want a jump in productivity when we can drive wages in to the ground ?
    And then subsidise them with borrowed money ie future tax payments.

    We had two centuries of increasing agricultural productivity and now some people want to reverse it.
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    NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,336

    BTW, Ladbrokes have been caught out by the GDPR, I think - they've suddenly sent me a "click here to stay in touch or we won't be able to contact you again", a few days after such reminders should have been sent. (But I'm no expert on the regulations so perhaps it's all OK?)

    Bloody EU regulations, eh Nick?
    Yeah, who's that British government who agreed them?
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    MortimerMortimer Posts: 13,942

    Roger said:

    Pulpstar said:

    Surely what that polll says is that most people think things are going to get a bit ‘worse’ after (if) Brexit is implemented.

    Well we're a net importer as a nation so technically that is correct
    Oh GOODY! I really, really want things to be (even) worse than they are now.

    But I see what Mr P means, and I think he’s right that if, for example, there were massive queues on the M20........ although that might well not impinge North of Watford........ or a lack of/ significant increase in price of vegetables and soft fruit people would start taking a different view.
    Interestingly there was on BBC last night a story about shortages of labour to pick, inter alia, strawberries, largely because Romanian workers felt it wasn’t worth coming here.
    I enjoyed hearing the much maligned Romanians say "pick your own strawberries" now that their economy is growing at three times ours.
    wouldn't worry about it Roger

    in 5 years a machine will do the picking

    http://www.producebusinessuk.com/purchasing/stories/2017/02/07/robot-trials-aim-to-cut-strawberry-harvesting-time-and-control-costs
    We don't want any of that fancy hi-tech machinery, don't people know that indentured labour from the third world is the future.

    Anyway there doesn't seem to be any shortage of local strawberries in the supermarkets this year:

    https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/feb/22/earliest-ever-british-strawberries-arrive-supermarket-shelves-wales
    its ridiculous isn't it ? Why would we want a jump in productivity when we can drive wages in to the ground ?
    Would be rather hilarious if the only part of project fear to become reality is the warning that wages might rise!
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    AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    My answers:

    Negative (in a dreary November way, but lasting forever)

    Strongly positive

    Strongly negative
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    TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 41,304
    OT

    Good to see The Mail has taken up Andrew O'Hagan's piece for the LRB. No one comes out of it particularly well, but I have to say Javid and May seem to have been particularly spineless, solipsistic and opportunist.
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    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,668

    The reality is surely that most people don't think the EU is either very interesting or much to do with them. Asked to make a choice, they made it, and they're not sure it was the right one, but on the whole they STILL don't care very much. Those of us who think it was historical and dramatic and vital for our future, either way, are all seen as a bit weird and obsessive.

    If leaving does result in anything really good or really bad at individual level, opinion could change quite quickly. But if we just bumble on with some sort of fudged deal and nothing much changes, people will continue to give meh answers to polls.

    I think you've nailed it Nick, provided we don't hit the brick wall of a WTO crash out.

    But let's not let that stop us having interminable arguments over Brexit on PB, eh? On he whole it's harmless fun and keeps us out of mischief!
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    ElliotElliot Posts: 1,516

    Sandpit said:

    ydoethur said:
    Yet still we wonder why trust in the media to inform us is falling so rapidly. This just plays into the hands of the Max Moseleys who want to shutter the free press completely.
    It is fake news. It is just the paid advertorials but more organised.

    Iain Martin is just pissed that Osborne is doing a great job at The Standard despite the predictions of no marks like Iain Martin.
    The article explicitly refers them being provided positive comment pieces. Screaming "fake news" to any criticism of your man doesn't work any better for you and Osborne than it does for Donald Trump.
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    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,444
    Elliot said:

    Sandpit said:

    ydoethur said:
    Yet still we wonder why trust in the media to inform us is falling so rapidly. This just plays into the hands of the Max Moseleys who want to shutter the free press completely.
    It is fake news. It is just the paid advertorials but more organised.

    Iain Martin is just pissed that Osborne is doing a great job at The Standard despite the predictions of no marks like Iain Martin.
    The article explicitly refers them being provided positive comment pieces. Screaming "fake news" to any criticism of your man doesn't work any better for you and Osborne than it does for Donald Trump.
    Except the rebuttal says otherwise.

    Still not as embarrassing as your intervention on the European Arrest Warrant yesterday which was pure Donald Trump.
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    AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    I'm enjoying the seamless transition of the Brexit extremists from "fruit picking problems are fake news" to "hurrah that we have no strawberries".
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    Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 49,311
    DavidL said:

    TSE criticises George Osborne. I am not sure that the end of days promised on the last thread quite covers it.


    TSE:[distressed] What have I done?

    Darth Gideon (aka Chancellor Osborne): You are fulfilling your destiny, TSE. Become my apprentice. Learn to use the Daft Side of the Force. There's no turning back now.

    TSE: I will do whatever you ask. Just help me save Theresa's political career. I can't live without her. If she resigns, I don't know what I will do regarding "May is crap" threads!

    Darth Gideon: To cheat political osbcurity is a power only one has achieved through centuries of the study of the Force. But if we work together, I know we can discover the secret to eternal AV Threads!

    TSE: I pledge myself to your teachings. To the ways of the REMAIN Campaign.

    Darth Gideon: Good. Good! The Force is strong with you, TSE. A powerful REMAINER you will become. Henceforth, you shall be known as Darth... Eagles.

    TSE: Thank you... my Master.

    Darth Gideon: Lord Eagles... rise.
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    The_ApocalypseThe_Apocalypse Posts: 7,830
    edited May 2018
    https://twitter.com/georgeeaton/status/1001798630372724738?s=21
    Interesting piece here by George Eaton on Thatcherite/popular capitalism.
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    AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 23,754

    I'm enjoying the seamless transition of the Brexit extremists from "fruit picking problems are fake news" to "hurrah that we have no strawberries".

    maybe there's shortage of strawberries in London but out here in the sticks there are loads of them. Shops and market stalls are packed.

    move to Essex faster and you wont have a problem
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    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453

    I'm enjoying the seamless transition of the Brexit extremists from "fruit picking problems are fake news" to "hurrah that we have no strawberries".

    It's almost as good as the transition from "glorious sunlit uplands" to "not as bad as the Black Death"

    https://twitter.com/StevePeers/status/1001835452603731973
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    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,668
    TOPPING said:

    OT

    Good to see The Mail has taken up Andrew O'Hagan's piece for the LRB. No one comes out of it particularly well, but I have to say Javid and May seem to have been particularly spineless, solipsistic and opportunist.

    You've got to admire the way the Mail has Tony Blair appearing as the prime culprit... and for that longstanding DM bête-noire 'de-regulation', ffs!
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    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,242

    Mr. Jim, if we actually leave, the EU may try to accelerate integration of the remainder to reduce the chances of it recurring (I think that's largely unnecessary, actually, as almost all the rest are in the eurozone). That would have the side-effect of making a UK return less likely.

    A rare drop of the ball from you Mr Dancer. Of the remaining 27, only 19, just over two-thirds, are EZ members. The missing ones are:

    Poland
    Czecha
    Denmark
    Sweden
    Hungary
    Slovenia
    Romania
    Bulgaria
    (The UK)

    Although of course Montenegro, Kosovo, and four of the five European microstates (all except Lichtenstein) have adopted it as well despite being outside the EU.

    That is why full-blooded federation of the EU is impossible right now. A full-blooded federation of the EZ including the elections for head of government/head of state may however be necessary to stop it imploding altogether.

    The grim irony is that if the EZ had gone for federation ten years ago as it should have done and the rest including Switzerland, Norway, Turkey and Ukraine had gone for free trade cum single market we would as a nation have been thrilled I think to join the latter.
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    TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 41,304

    TOPPING said:

    OT

    Good to see The Mail has taken up Andrew O'Hagan's piece for the LRB. No one comes out of it particularly well, but I have to say Javid and May seem to have been particularly spineless, solipsistic and opportunist.

    You've got to admire the way the Mail has Tony Blair appearing as the prime culprit... and for that longstanding DM bête-noire 'de-regulation', ffs!
    Well reading O'Hagan's article (all of it!!) he puts it thus:

    "What competition actually does is make service providers deliver more of what the customer wants. When building control was with the local authority, when they were the only people doing it, their customers were the public.’

    ‘And with social housing, the residents,’ I said.

    ‘Yes. But once you introduce competition, the customer is the person building the hotel, that’s who they’re really wanting to satisfy, because they want their business. Will I win that business by being really strict and worrying about the patrons’ ability to escape through the door? No. I win that business by saying to the person who’s building the hotel: “I’ll charge you next to nothing for approving the plans and I will use my discretion very generously when I’m looking at your plans and deciding whether or not they actually comply.”’"
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    another_richardanother_richard Posts: 25,082

    I'm enjoying the seamless transition of the Brexit extremists from "fruit picking problems are fake news" to "hurrah that we have no strawberries".

    Plenty of British strawberries at the supermarkets I go too and have been for weeks:

    https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/feb/22/earliest-ever-british-strawberries-arrive-supermarket-shelves-wales

    Still if you've been taken in by the annual 'why are Wimbledon strawberries so expensive' story.
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    TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 41,304
    Scott_P said:
    Not wishing to bang the drum incessantly, but this is the core of Andre O'Hagan's article - that it is the usually immediate narrative that drives events rather than letting such facts as can emerge, emerge.
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,983
    Mr. Doethur, sorry. Although, it's worth noting most of those are in the queue.

    Mr. P, a wise and handsome fellow pointed out the wrongness:
    https://twitter.com/HeroOfHornska/status/1001726927584071680
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    Scott_PScott_P Posts: 51,453

    Mr. P, a wise and handsome fellow pointed out the wrongness:

    "We have had enough of experts"
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    AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 23,754

    FTSE reasons for not appointing women board members

    The top 10 excuses for not appointing women were:
    "I don't think women fit comfortably into the board environment"
    "There aren't that many women with the right credentials and depth of experience to sit on the board - the issues covered are extremely complex"
    "Most women don't want the hassle or pressure of sitting on a board"
    "Shareholders just aren't interested in the make-up of the board, so why should we be?"
    "My other board colleagues wouldn't want to appoint a woman on our board"
    "All the 'good' women have already been snapped up"
    "We have one woman already on the board, so we are done - it is someone else's turn"
    "There aren't any vacancies at the moment - if there were I would think about appointing a woman"
    "We need to build the pipeline from the bottom - there just aren't enough senior women in this sector"
    "I can't just appoint a woman because I want to"
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    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,613
    Scott_P said:

    I'm enjoying the seamless transition of the Brexit extremists from "fruit picking problems are fake news" to "hurrah that we have no strawberries".

    It's almost as good as the transition from "glorious sunlit uplands" to "not as bad as the Black Death"

    https://twitter.com/StevePeers/status/1001835452603731973
    'Only' around 30,000 deaths from plague in 1603 (though it did truncate the coronation ceremonies of James I).

    1603 also saw the founding of the company making soy sauce that became Kikkoman....
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    Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 60,983
    Mr. P, from Wikiquotes, under misquotes:
    I think people in this country have had enough of experts.

    6 June 2016, in interview with Faisal Islam. Gove's actual quote was: "I think that the people of this country have had enough of experts with organisations from acronyms saying - from organisations with acronyms - saying that they know what is best and getting it consistently wrong, because these people - these people - are the same ones who got consistently wrong." The shortened quote was reported due to Islam interrupting Gove while he was speaking Gove: Britons "Have Had Enough of Experts" but Gove had no intention of ending the sentence there.

    https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Michael_Gove
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    TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    TSE - can you clarify whether you or PB.com receive any payment from the EU in a George Osborne style London 2020 deal ?

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    NigelbNigelb Posts: 62,613
    ydoethur said:

    Mr. Jim, if we actually leave, the EU may try to accelerate integration of the remainder to reduce the chances of it recurring (I think that's largely unnecessary, actually, as almost all the rest are in the eurozone). That would have the side-effect of making a UK return less likely.

    A rare drop of the ball from you Mr Dancer. Of the remaining 27, only 19, just over two-thirds, are EZ members. The missing ones are:

    Poland
    Czecha
    Denmark
    Sweden
    Hungary
    Slovenia
    Romania
    Bulgaria
    (The UK)

    Although of course Montenegro, Kosovo, and four of the five European microstates (all except Lichtenstein) have adopted it as well despite being outside the EU.

    That is why full-blooded federation of the EU is impossible right now. A full-blooded federation of the EZ including the elections for head of government/head of state may however be necessary to stop it imploding altogether....
    While Italy and Greece are members, the chances of that happening are approximately nil.
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