Thought I'd start a new thread as this is going to be a major talking point this year...have not made up my mind yet...(unlike bucksfizz)....but thinking of voting for an exit as Europe is not doing Britain any good at all it seems....

It.

My brother is 93years old. I say I want to catch him up.

He has told me that I never will.

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Like with all large concerns the EU has made mistakes and will continue to do so.

It is necessary to accept mistakes and make appropriate changes when necessary.

I thought at certain times the "EU" expanded and/or integrated some states or countries to early and should have bedded down and sorted out its "rules and regulations" and "relationships" for those already "signed" up.

But one of the leading exponents of enlargement was the UK. (OK trade was supposed to be their moving force.)

For all its faults Europe, including the UK has moved on since 1945 and the 50s. In spite of some crooked dealers and their dealings.

I can remember sauntering around France and the UK during those periods and seeing the appalling "social" conditions for many. Many don't acknowledge what has been achieved.

As far as the movement of youth is concerned. Youth has always moved around Europe and the world.

I have four daughters, and other family members, who have worked in France, Spain, Italy, Australia, Poland, America and Canada, and other countries and speak numerous languages fluently and worked in various academic institutions or businesses.

They enjoyed the changes and adapted to their environments.

I think the interchanges were good.

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Looking at politicians and leaders of this and other countries, notice that they change, sometimes, unfortunately, not quickly enough.

"But it has failed a lot of others, hence the continuing high youth unemployment and poor pay"

Perhaps. the value of the work being done on "low pay" has to be revised and if "necessary" subsidised by the state, as it is in many ways already is being done.

Is the state already subsidising poor management or business models? I.E are the states taxes being poured into the "profits" of uneconomic businesses and the owners of those businesses?

Interesting, to see if Brexit occurs and Britain trades with the "rest of the world" how "British Business" compete where lower "wages" are paid and costs of production are less.

anyone any recent reports on the levels of youth (under 30?) unemployment in spain, italy, portugal and france?

Fred, I agree with much of what you have said. (only today mind). The problem is reform. Germany has been the great beneficiary of the Euro and while Merkel has been the one politician that could have initiated change, turkeys don't vote for Christmas.
These are the shocking youth unemployment statistics as of May 2018:-

https://www.statista.com/statistics/266228/youth-unemployment-rate-in-eu-countries/

many thanks for those statistics
even if warped or manipulated in some way, they still tell us plenty

Once an outsider always an outsider sums a few on here...and not for the first time.

When you read the figures you need to consider "Zero hour workers".

It seems to me this deliberately distorts the "employment figures".

I would like to see Actual Hours Worked.

the figures across the whole survey will be similarly distorted and of course take no account of the grey economy either

Zero hours? what next zero wages...Oh but we already have them don't we with so called "volunteering".

Pity we don't have all MP's setting and example by "volunteering" some of their time when in Government.

stan - what remote relevance has your post to do with the stats table in question?

Because It's to do with the economy in this Country that's what, this continuing decline in peoples earnings is no good for our economy I would have thought that was obvious to you.

Categorised as being "Unemployed" but actually "working" for the benefit of the community.

Have a look around your local "hospital" or "mental institution" an ask how many non-paid "helpers" are "working" there.

PS. Ask in other "institutions", schools, community work etc..

the table will be similarly distorted across the board, though i know you'ld hate to admit that

Tourists like Alf are sooo out of touch as they spend so much time abroad.

Granted.

Muddy waters!

I wish my bl. fish wouldn't bite.

I am sure that life was less complicated when I was my grandson age.

He seems to have simple solutions to everything.

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Generally, ask his parents!

you're probably right in that respect fred, though whether that elusive "quality of life" was any better in the early 50's for the lower echelons is extremely doubtful

Iturama,

So, we've established that EU membership hasn't affected you adversely on a personal level, and, as you've highlighted the issue of Club Med youth unemployment, I guess it's also fair to say that you don't know of any other Brits who are personally worse off by the UK being a member of the EU.

And when you say that the EU has failed the youth of Europe, how is that exactly? Surely, if it wasn't for EU freedom of movement, the european youths wouldn't be able to travel to the likes of the UK and Germany to seek work. Every european youngster I've spoken to happens to think the EU is a good thing.

And yes, I do have several gilets jaunes. It's a legal requirement in France to carry them in vehicles at all times, so we just leave them in the cars wherever we go. I also carry a set of replacement light bulbs (not that I'd know what to do with them!), warning triangle, and breathalyser kit.

While we are on the economics, what will be the effect on Sterling's purchasing power and cost of "resaleable" units.

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The total UK trade deficit widened by £3.4 billion to £8.7 billion in the three months to January 2018
The total trade (goods and services) deficit widened by £3.4 billion to £8.7 billion in the three months to January 2018 (Figure 1). This was due primarily to a £3.2 billion widening of the trade in goods deficit to £36.5 billion; which resulted from a 1.7% (£2.1 billion) increase in goods imports, combined with a 1.3% (£1.2 billion) decrease in goods exports to £86.5 billion.

The trade deficit in fuels, which widened by £3.1 billion to £5.4 billion, had the largest impact on the trade in goods deficit; followed by a £1.4 billion widening of the unspecified goods deficit. The 21.4% (£2.4 billion) increase in imports of fuels had the largest impact on the increase in goods imports. In addition, the 8.3% (£0.7 billion) decrease in exports of fuels also had a large impact on the decrease in goods exports.

Of fuels imports, oil was the largest contributor, increasing by 17.4% (£1.5 billion): refined oil increased 17.3% (£0.8 billion) and crude oil increased 17.4% (£0.7 billion). Exports of oil also had the largest fall amongst fuels, decreasing by 5.8% (£0.4 billion) – particularly crude oil (12.3%; £0.6 billion).

While we have no direct evidence, the trade deficit in fuels coincides with weakness in the oil and gas extraction sub-industry during December 2017; which was due to the shut-down of the Forties oil pipeline for a large part of this month.

Trade in services also contributed to the widening of the total trade deficit in the three months to January 2018. The trade surplus in services narrowed by £0.2 billion to £27.9 billion, due to larger increases in imports than exports; 2.5% (£1.1 billion) and 1.3% (£0.9 billion) respectively.

When erratic commodities are excluded, the UK trade deficit widened by £2.6 billion to £8.9 billion in the three months to January 2018. The widening was due mainly to trade in goods imports increasing by 1.8% (£2.1 billion) to £117.7 billion, combined with a 2.5% (£1.1 billion) increase in services imports. Total (goods and services) exports increased 0.4% (£0.6 billion) to £153.4 billion. Given the larger increase in total imports than total exports, the trade deficit excluding erratic commodities widened.

The main commodity contributor to the increase in imports excluding erratic commodities was fuels (particularly refined and crude oil), which increased 21.4% (£2.4 billion), alongside smaller decreases in imports of other goods commodities.

Over the last year, the UK’s total trade deficit widened by £0.4 billion between the three months to January 2017 and the three months to January 2018. This was due primarily to increases of 4.8% (£5.7 billion) and 7.5% (£3.1 billion) in goods and services imports respectively. Imports of fuels and unspecified goods increased the most, by £2.2 billion and £1.2 billion respectively. Although total (goods and services) exports increased by 5.6% (£8.4 billion), this increase was more than offset by the larger increase in total (goods and services) imports.