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

[greenmount]

	Quote:
	You're trolling again, right? Invoking AfD as a role model for Brexiteers...

You're an optimist. I think most of them have sympathies of this sort.

	Quote:
	Erm, isn't the border currently open?

Yep but it's not an external EU border so VAT applies on both sides under EU rules.

After Brexit it becomes an external border so exports from Eire to NI become zero rated for VAT opening up a world of fraud opportunities if you manage it right. Used to happen all the time pre-single market; today's economy would potentially make it significantly more lucrative than then.

Not just VAT. I remember there was a nice cottage industry involving legally moving and smuggling back cows in those days as well.

[greenmount]

	Quote:	Loz1983
	She gets it. How does this work?

She's a vagina, pardon my French. UK shouldn't get anything better (or worse) than anyone else. Those who really don't or won't get the EU principles should get out of it sooner than later. Isolate themselves on an island and think of their great past. And how everything and everyone else around the world should serve them.

[curley]

	Quote:	Loz1983
	That's because I'm able to filter what is being said from a party name.......

This.

	Quote:	greenmount
	She's a vagina, pardon my French. UK shouldn't get anything better (or worse) than anyone else. Those who really don't or won't get the EU principles should get out of it sooner than later. Isolate themselves on an island and think of their great past. And how everything and everyone else around the world should serve them.

Lots of what she said is correct:

• The inflexibility of the EU over what David Cameron asked for was in part responsible for Brexit.
• The inflexibility of the EU in their handling of the Brexit negotiations will harm everyone.
• Germany's economy will be damaged as a result of a hard Brexit.
• Germany will have to cover the hole in the EU budget.
• That the UK's economy is the same size as the 19 smallest countries within the EU and therefore should be treated differently as Germany has economic ties with the UK deeper than with any other country.
• That reform is long overdue yet EU cannot be reformed.
• That the Northern Europe countries will run the risk of being out voted in future EU decisions due to Brexit.
• ...

[curley]

	Quote:	Loz1983
	......[*]That the Northern Europe countries will run the risk of being out voted in future EU decisions due to Brexit.[*]...[/LIST]

That could be a good thing re fair chances for all members in EU.

	Quote:	Loz1983
	Looks like Donald Tusk is willing to offer the UK as long as it takes to reverse the referendum result. Brexit: EU's Donald Tusk 'suggests 12-month flexible delay'

Perfect. A Brexflextension should sort everything out.

	Quote:	Loz1983
	Lots of what she said is correct: The inflexibility of the EU over what David Cameron asked for was in part responsible for Brexit. The inflexibility of the EU in their handling of the Brexit negotiations will harm everyone. Germany's economy will be damaged as a result of a hard Brexit. Germany will have to cover the hole in the EU budget. That the UK's economy is the same size as the 19 smallest countries within the EU and therefore should be treated differently as Germany has economic ties with the UK deeper than with any other country. That reform is long overdue yet EU cannot be reformed. That the Northern Europe countries will run the risk of being out voted in future EU decisions due to Brexit. ...

Lots of what Hitler said was true, too. Even Trump probably manages to get something right every now and again. But like AfD, they negate these accurate statements with their extreme policies.

	Quote:
	Perfect. A Brexflextension should sort everything out.

Exactly. After all, some politicians need extra time to fully understand how undeliverable Brexit is.. and then, even more time and flexibility are needed for the really with-it sound-thinking all-knowing politician.. like Boris

	Quote:	Swisstree
	Exactly. After all, some politicians need extra time to fully understand how undeliverable Brexit is.. and then, even more time and flexibility are needed for the really with-it sound-thinking all-knowing politician.. like Boris

Irish reunification isn't possible.
Scottish independence isn't possible.
Catalonian independence isn't possible
...

[Urs Max]

	Quote:	curley
	That could be a good thing re fair chances for all members in EU.

The Lisbon treaty rules that decisions by the Council of the EU need 55% of the countries and 65% of the people represented to pass. That gives a group comprising +35% of the population (and at least 4 countries) veto power.

The "Mediterranean Bloc" (France, Italy, etc) comprises more than 35%, so does the "Northern Bloc" (Germany with NL, UK, etc). Post-Brexit the Northern Bloc falls to 30% whereas the Mediterranean grows to 43%. That shifts the power balance in a way the North won't like.

Now, as usual Germany will probably be expected to plug the financial hole Brexit creates. Obviously that won't come without demands for change by the Northern Bloc.

Looks like the Brexit train will carry on rolling for a while longer. The UK will likely to have to participate in the EU elections too. Still, at least seeing Tommy Robinson in the EU Parliament will be good banter.

	Quote:	Loz1983
	Still, at least seeing Tommy Robinson in the EU Parliament will be good banter.

Because there's currently not enough material for political satire at the moment...

	Quote:	Loz1983
	Looks like the Brexit train will carry on rolling for a while longer. The UK will likely to have to participate in the EU elections too. Still, at least seeing Tommy Robinson in the EU Parliament will be good banter.

Agreed! Anything that gets him out of the UK for a while can only be of benefit!

[amogles]

	Quote:
	Because there's currently not enough material for political satire at the moment...

No, it's actually his secret strategy. When Tommy Robinson starts holding speeches in the EU they will long back for the days when it was only Farage they had to contend with and the EU will say everything is forgiven, Farage will become an MEP for life and the Germans will pay for everything, as long somebody shuts Robinson up.

And here you were thinking Teresa may didn't have a strategy?

[Jim2007]

	Quote:	Loz1983
	Irish reunification isn't possible. Scottish independence isn't possible. Catalonian independence isn't possible ...

Lotz1983 reading factual reports and dealing with reality isn’t possible - you missed one.

[Blueangel]

	Quote:	Loz1983
	Lots of what she said is correct:

I find it deeply disturbing that you would willfully hold up the AfD as a paragon of virtue and logic. A stopped clock is right twice a day.

	Quote:	Blueangel
	I find it deeply disturbing that you would willfully hold up the AfD as a paragon of virtue and logic. A stopped clock is right twice a day.

I don’t give a shit what you find disturbing or not.

[Blueangel]

Dummy. Pram. Spat.

[curley]

	Quote:	Blueangel
	I find it deeply disturbing that you would willfully hold up the AfD as a paragon of virtue and logic. A stopped clock is right twice a day.

But those two times a day it is.

It is never about the subject at hand anymore these days, is it. It's only about who expresses thoughts. What kind of democracy is this when only generally approved people can take part in it?

While I'm also guilty of ignoring certain groups and people and therefore would never have seen the video Loz posted, this video alerted me to the behaviour of the EU in this whole Brexit thing. It was a very objecitve speech in my opinion.

While shaking my head more and more about how GB is dealing with the subject to the point of risking a whiplash, my attention was finally drawn to the fact that there most likely never was a fair negotiation between GB and EU.
And if anyone knows what a selfish bully the EU is, it is probably Switzerland.

However, I'm definitely gonna take a step back now and look at this entire debacle from a wider angle before drawing conclusions again.