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....

hi fred ..... i agree though don't understand the relevance of your comment

at last the weather has changed for the better here (dubai)
there have been storms and strong winds since i arrived thursday night, but that should now be the end of them
shall try to take a (well earned!) rest from appts tomorrow

Manuel,

A large amount of public opinion was and is driven by the media.

At the moment the majority of political "news" when reported appears to be hyped, often false and partisan and slanted according to the will of those who "control" or have bought the media.

Politicians seem to sway and bend with the breeze and often lying or distorting the “truth” to support their present “cause” with little thought to long-term consequences of implementing said "policies".

At present, it seems to me there is a dearth of statesmen or politicians of any stature and those who aspire to being the present-day "leaders" of the political parties are more interested in their own “material and self-advancement” than "society's" as whole.

Depressing.

-=-=

Mother Theresa craved for "leadership" and basically picked up the poisoned chalice.

I hope she will be luckier than I think she will be.

i know you won't agree fred, but i think TM has the makings of a very good and strong PM ...... if that happens to be in a similar mold to MT, then i shall not be unhappy

Mother Theresa craved for leadership , rubbish who else was there to do it , and how can you make any judgement on a person you mock continually indeed country , party etc , you must think we are all as full of derision as you Freda .

The terms of exit have to be negotiated between Britain’s 27 EU member counterparts, and each will have a veto over the conditions.

It will also be subject to ratification in national parliaments, meaning, for example, that say, Belgian MPs (ie. not Belgian MEPs) could stymie the entire process.

IMHO, this is the most likely scenario for at least some of the leaving conditions and new arrangements. If it happens, which I think it will, then I do think we are most likely to be leaving the EU without any kind of a deal.

The Scottish Nicola Democrats are also intent on the devolution of Scotland from the UK. I am pretty sure we won't be able to get them to 'shut up' about it.

And then we have the Northern Ireland/Eire boundary problem to solve. The guys on both sides of the border can historically be very stubborn and very awkward too.

eg.

Auf weidersein Mrs Merkel , au revoir Hollande and good riddance Junker ... we're off to the land of the free and no more stupid laws and regulations from you lot.

Would say it was nice knowing you but it wasn't.

And I'm still available as a negotiator if anyone needs me.

Dil,

Why not try a desert island without music.

You could be happy on one.

Take Vicky with you.

Party pooper .

Landmark day today, hope we're out before the Italian banks implode.

Double talk and treachery..



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_European_Communities_membership_referendum,_1975

Vicky,

I think you probably would be.

I see the EU have scuttled the Borse taking over the LSE , funny old Merkel didn't intervene . The Germans slowly taking over in the UK even , not sure but would think best it didn't happen .

Perhaps, they realise the money is already migrating to the EU anyway.

everyone knows is the main issue to settle .............

British PM May says hopes to settle rights of EU nationals in Britain early

LONDON, March 29 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday she hoped to be able to agree a deal to clarify the position of European Union nationals in Britain and British nationals in the EU as early as possible in the Brexit negotiations.

May triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty earlier on Wednesday, kicking off the formal two-year Brexit negotiation process.

"I would hope that we could deal with this issue of EU nationals here and UK nationals in other member states at as early as possible a stage in the negotiations," she told parliament.

"I believe there is good will on both sides to do that."

What interests me is what the effect of promised increased trading deals and contracts outside the EU will be on the “economy”, “wages” for the majority of the UK public.

Simply put, if, as I “think,” the majority of “new” trading partners are hoped to be with “low” or lower middle” income countries and developing communities in order to make up of loss of “trading” with the EU, the production cost and sales will be driven down.

Efficiency “drives” may play a part, but for many “articles”, a major cost of production is “labour” and that will be a stumbling block for those employed in the economy and the economy as a whole.

It seems the future for many is bleaker.

many decades ago, uk "forgot" that the non-academic need vocational courses and aprrentceships

all gov'ts got hung upon this nonsense of non-competitive schooling and encouraging one and all to get worthless uni degrees

now we have uselessly qualified youngsters who haven't a hope in hell of doing anything productive - they wouldn't know where to start

Are you referring to me in your last sentence?

But the first part is due to the demise of "heavy" and "allied" industries under the administration of your old icon Maggie.