The Brexit referendum thread: potential consequences for GB, EU and the Brits in CH

	Quote:	greenmount
	You mean British people. As far as I know there was no other similar referendum so far.

No, not just British people.


But 17 million British people are still Europeans, EU or no EU.

[greenmount]

	Quote:
	No, not just British people. But 17 million British people are still Europeans, EU or no EU.

That's debatable.

	Quote:
	Sure. All of these quotes are perfectly fitting for someone leading a government.

No more or less fitting for a Theresa May than for the President of the European Commission imo. The Euro means he is perfectly entitled to pronounce on any matters affecting economic or monetary policy for example. Everything else in there directly affects the EU so also perfectly appropriate.

[greenmount]

	Quote:
	No more or less fitting for a Theresa May than for the President of the European Commission imo. The Euro means he is perfectly entitled to pronounce on any matters affecting economic or monetary policy for example. Everything else in there directly affects the EU so also perfectly appropriate.

Yeah, but don't tell me you always agree with Juncker.

[marton]

	Quote:
	It isn't functioning now - just ask the Greeks and Spaniards! I went to Constance a couple of weeks ago. It wasn't really a shopping trip, but I picked up a couple of items because they were so cheap. It wasn't until I got in the car to go home that it dawned on me that those trousers were cheap at the expense of the livelihoods and prospects of millions of young southern Europeans. Being the total hypocrite that I am, though, I'm still going to wear the trousers. I mean, the calf is already slaughtered, right?

"those trousers were cheap at the expense of the livelihoods and prospects of millions of young southern Europeans." Sorry you have lost me there? Are the Italians failed trouser makers in your view?

	Quote:
	Among the Member States, Romania and Italy had by far the largest clothing manufacturing workforces, each employing about a quarter of a million workers (the equivalent of a combined 35.6 % of the EU-27 total), followed by Bulgaria with a 10.1 % share.

Source

[greenmount]

	Quote:	marton
	"those trousers were cheap at the expense of the livelihoods and prospects of millions of young southern Europeans." Sorry you have lost me there? Are the Italians failed trouser makers in your view?

I was also a bit surprised tbh,mostly because of the examples. It's sad to discuss Greece for all the known reasons, but Spain? They have an immense market for their (mostly agricultural) products, same as Italy. They have received numerous funds from EU, same as Italy. Italy has a nasty problem with employing cheap workforce they exploit and was numerous times warned by EU that they will have their funds cut, to no avail, apparently.
I would say EU is not such a bad thing for Southerners, actually. If we want to look for victims, we should defo look somewhere else.

	Quote:	Blueangel
	Don't know. All I do know is that when we got our B permits, my partner's is for 5yrs and mine is for 2yrs. Does make me wonder is Migrationsamt are being cautious until they see how the next 2yrs pan out.

I don't think it's cautiousness. It'll probably be because your permit is tied to your OH's work permit and you're not married. I had the same when we first arrived but they knew we were getting married and said once I proved it, I would get a new permit with 5 years on it, the same as my OH and daughter (who incidentally got a 5 year straightway ). I did.

	Quote:	greenmount
	Yeah, but don't tell me you always agree with Juncker.

Certainly not!

I do however get a bit annoyed when things are taken out of context like that.

[lewton]

Now that it has officially been triggered, I can't make up my mind on whether I want Brexit to be a success for the UK or not.

If you guys make it and build a new truly global Britain (etc, etc, all the things that Boris was saying) with a strong and successful economy, it will make me very happy to stick it to the EU-philes back in Greece, here in Germany and everywhere else.

On the other hand, if the UK fails miserably and you end up with high unemployment rates, low salaries, and in general a squeezed out middle class, it will also make me happy to see how Farage will take the news.

Anyway, Brexit it is. Let's see what happens.

	Quote:	fatmanfilms
	........ like your French friend you were going to give the money top pay the bet from on Thursday, but later changed the story to someone who owed you money

Oh my, oh my FMF - how long are you going to carry that bone alongf- it must be exhausting.

And, yes, LOL, the story did change- because circustances did and that for excellent reasons. There is no way I'll explain here why the friend who was going to make the cheque initially asked me not to because she found herself in a difficult situation- so I just phoned another friend in Rouen who owned be moeny since her last holiday with us- and she paid it immediately. I do apologies profusely for not sending a full report to you immediately (not) - but I felt the fact it was paid, and quite a bit more, was sufficient.

Ridiculous of course to bring this up here on this thread.

As said, if the people who relates what they have seen and heard themselves, are good friends you know you can trust- then for me, it ceases to be hearsay.

A great friend of mine went to see his father in Boston recently and took him to the pub. He just had to leave as his father and his mates were spouting racist stuff all evening- and he Skyped me afterwards as he was so shaken by it. Another excellent friend, Swiss with British OH, were also in East Anglia 2 weeks ago, and she said it was just shocking. and so on, and so on.

The cover page of the tabloids is not hearsay- have a look at the Sun, Express, Daily Mail - day in, day out- and see the open racism they portray.

[greenmount]

	Quote:	lewton
	Now that it has officially been triggered, I can't make up my mind on whether I want Brexit to be a success for the UK or not. If you guys make it and build a new truly global Britain (etc, etc, all the things that Boris was saying) with a strong and successful economy, it will make me very happy to stick it to the EU-philes back in Greece, here in Germany and everywhere else. On the other hand, if the UK fails miserably and you end up with high unemployment rates, low salaries, and in general a squeezed out middle class, it will also make me happy to see how Farage will take the news. Anyway, Brexit it is. Let's see what happens.

Lol, I don't care that much about the likes of Farage, tbh. I think every country has the right to decide their future - ultimately. And why should I wish bad things to other people?
In all fairness, it is a miracle that UK has ever agreed to be part of this project so far. I just don't think it fits them. (I might be wrong of course, it's just my impression)
As for EU...it really needs some reforms too imo.

	Quote:	lewton
	Now that it has officially been triggered, I can't make up my mind on whether I want Brexit to be a success for the UK or not. If you guys make it and build a new truly global Britain (etc, etc, all the things that Boris was saying) with a strong and successful economy, it will make me very happy to stick it to the EU-philes back in Greece, here in Germany and everywhere else. On the other hand, if the UK fails miserably and you end up with high unemployment rates, low salaries, and in general a squeezed out middle class, it will also make me happy to see how Farage will take the news. Anyway, Brexit it is. Let's see what happens.

I certainly hope it works out ok. I still have close family back in the UK, as well as friends, all of whom have kids, and therefore a future interest in it, so if the country goes to the dogs as a result, it would be awful.

I am less confident about the way it is being handled, primarily by the current government but also the set up of the EU who may or may not want to see it as a painful experience, and therefore a cursory warning to the other states who may or may not be contemplating a similar exit.

One thing is for sure, if it does succeed (fingers crossed), the Brexit element in government will be crowing for years off the back of it at their marvelous negotiating skills. If it all goes to shyte, there'll be less energy spent on trying to salvage it than spent on blaming any man and his dog for their failure.

[kriss kross]

	Quote:
	A great friend of mine went to see his father in Boston recently and took him to the pub. He just had to leave as his father and his mates were spouting racist stuff all evening- and he Skyped me afterwards as he was so shaken by it

Even if this story were true, do you really believe that this guys dad and his mates weren't spouting racist stuff before Brexit?!

[Urs Max]

	Quote:	baboon
	"I am determined, as is the Government, to do everything to preserve everything that we have worked for and that we believe in … by using all necessary means " Wouldn't you expect every honorable politician to believe this?

The misquote is even worse:

"I am determined, as is the Government, to do everything to preserve everything that we have worked for and that we believe in … by using all necessary means to fend off the hostile (bid)."

which makes it clear that it's about some takeover bid. The takover bid for Arcelor in 2006, to be precise.

[fatmanfilms]

	Quote:
	Oh my, oh my FMF - how long are you going to carry that bone alongf- it must be exhausting.

Until you pay, or provide evidence that you have already paid which to date you refuse to do.

You have to remember that you already claimed to pay & back tracked, many would say you deliberately lied.

	Quote:
	Well for once you are right- I haven't paid. Just in case you haven't noticed (and thanks for the good wishes btw)- I've been otherwise engaged fighting another, very painful battle. I have not paid because OH refuses to pay by IBAN in case of security issues, and the only other option is by cheque, which is not possible from CH, as you well know

[marton]

	Quote:	lewton
	Now that it has officially been triggered, I can't make up my mind on whether I want Brexit to be a success for the UK or not. If you guys make it and build a new truly global Britain (etc, etc, all the things that Boris was saying) with a strong and successful economy, it will make me very happy to stick it to the EU-philes back in Greece, here in Germany and everywhere else. On the other hand, if the UK fails miserably and you end up with high unemployment rates, low salaries, and in general a squeezed out middle class, it will also make me happy to see how Farage will take the news. Anyway, Brexit it is. Let's see what happens.

Yes a lot of people have their fantasies about a return to the glorious days of Britain.
In reality it was not so, there was an elite who had a great life while the vast majority lived poor and desperate lives

	Quote:	marton
	Yes a lot of people have their fantasies about a return to the glorious days of Britain. In reality it was not so, there was an elite who had a great life while the vast majority lived poor and desperate lives

I hope it's only tongue in cheek from The Independent but, nonetheless...

Half of Leave voters want to bring back the death penalty after Brexit

[Slaphead]

	Quote:
	I hope it's only tongue in cheek from The Independent but, nonetheless... Half of Leave voters want to bring back the death penalty after Brexit

I think Indie has shot their bolt a day too early.

[Blueangel]

	Quote:	fatmanfilms
	Why did he do that unless he wanted to get out of military service, plenty of people have both passports.

He did his military service in SA. He only moved to the UK in his early 40's because his British wife's elderly parents were ill. His kids were primary school age at the time, and whilst they weren't called upon for military service in SA, it took a hell of a lot of paperwork to get them excused from national service in Greece.

The family have SA and Greek nationality, but the property they own is in Greece, so the SA passport had to be surrendered for a British one. Got a similar issue with my best mate's wife who is Australian & Croatian. Her parents own property in both countries and for her to inherit, she has to keep those two passports. However, she's married to a Brit, has lived in the UK for 13yrs and has 4 kids there.

[lewton]

	Quote:	Blueangel
	He did his military service in SA. He only moved to the UK in his early 40's because his British wife's elderly parents were ill. His kids were primary school age at the time, and whilst they weren't called upon for military service in SA, it took a hell of a lot of paperwork to get them excused from national service in Greece. The family have SA and Greek nationality, but the property they own is in Greece, so the SA passport had to be surrendered for a British one. Got a similar issue with my best mate's wife who is Australian & Croatian. Her parents own property in both countries and for her to inherit, she has to keep those two passports. However, she's married to a Brit, has lived in the UK for 13yrs and has 4 kids there.

Why is inheritance related to passports?