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....

Fred agree's with Donald Trump , open up the closed coal mines. There is no such thing as global warming.

6600 - quite possibly fred, and certainly an eton-schooled chap i used to know well worked his way through the NCB system to management level of some kind

however, leaving politics aside, the coal industry was in terminal decline, so its ultimate demise was inevitable

more generally and as an example, the country lacks all sorts of building skills from brickies through sparks
even when courses are taken and completed, few companies will take them on, and the one-man bands certainly won't, fearing the ultimate competition
as a result, no field work = no completed qualification = inability to trade properly

for sure graduates with applicable courses can often find graduate placement (my younger son did), but it's the yawning hole for the non-academic that is not being recognised let alone filled in any way

i don't know the system in NL exactly, but i get the impression that it is not the case over there

The problem with the underground coal mines in this country was simple economics. The open cast coal producers of South Africa and Australia could mine and transport the stuff much more cheaply. While the coal faces in the UK were mechanised, the driving of intake and return airways and roof support was manual, as was the maintenance of antiquated conveyor and shaft hoisting equipment. As a student, I worked at an underground coal mine near Kippax that still had pit ponies to pull mine carts. And no, it wasn't in the times of Dickens. Add to that the decline in domestic consumption as central or gas fired heating became the norm and the bleak future for underground coal in this country was there to see. Subsidies was a losers game. Only dedicated mine to power station setups survived.

Well, IMHO, it looks as though we are not going to get a deal because the EU top dogs are NOT going to play ball.

Angela Merkel has rejected one of Theresa May’s key Brexit demands, insisting negotiations on Britain’s exit from the European Union cannot run in parallel with talks on the future UK-EU relationship.

“The negotiations must first clarify how we will disentangle our interlinked relationship,” the German chancellor said in Berlin. “Only when this question is dealt with can we – hopefully soon after – begin talking about our future relationship.”

Next thing was Theresa May threatening to withdraw cooperation with the EU on security as France and Germany refused to begin trade talks before Britain agrees to pay a Brexit “divorce bill”.

The Prime Minister had started the day by talking of a “deep and special partnership” with post-Brexit Europe, but within hours, senior EU, German and French figures refused to meet one of the Government’s key demands.

Manuel,

It was recognised post WW2, 40s/50s/60s that the coal industry in the UK was in financial trouble and decline for many reasons, mainly due to geological profile compared with other parts of the world.

(There were profitable or economically viable pits during that period.)

Part of the reasoning for the "Nationalisation" of the industry and its "subsidising" was for the social consequences of not doing so with the closure of pits and massive unemployment and possible "social" unrest.

It was not the policy of closing the "pits", but the speed of "implementation" and the same lack of preparation for the "social" consequences of doing so, which I disagreed with.

If it had been more gradual with "retraining" and "development" of "replacement" industry or employment, as had started in some areas of the UK in the 30s, it would have been more acceptable.

(I recognise the problems of unions and often "hamfisted" management.)

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The same sort of ineptitude the present government policies and Brexit.

Exec,

Perhaps a little more humility by the "up and at em" brigade of "Brexiters" prior to the start of negotiation would have have been more appropriate.

So we've had not 24hrs yet and we may as well give up then .

Something new to you Freda , the word VOTE eh .

T. May wanted to secure the rights of British Nationals in Europe and Europeans in Britain many weeks ago but Merkel flatly refused, creating unnecessary uncertainty for those affected.

Fred as posted a cartoon backing BREXIT., .... lol

You get the feeling that there's no need for EU negotiators , we may as well just go straight to Merkel and sort it out , could be done in a week probably . We will see what's what if she wins here election how good or bad it will be .

aldwickkk

Fred as posted a cartoon backing BREXIT., .... lol

No he hasn't. He's posted up a cartoon where a gentleman who previously voted 'Leave' (ie. Brexit) is now asking if he can change his mind, because he is reading how chaotic ('Brexit CHAOS') the process is undoubtedly going to be.

6607 - fred - you are too obsessed and micro-focussed ..... it was the wider picture of the lack of apprenticeships and vocational courses for the less academic that might make for more interesting discussion

BREXIT
the public posturing that we see and read about is for domestic consumption
the real work and negotiation goes on behind closed doors

... or doesn't.

ExecLine

BREXIT, they lied. The remainders lied [ Project Fear ] , And that paper he is reading would show the stockmarket going up not down.

And the concentration of UKIP on immigration was wishing for a policy of "love" rather than "fear" and/or "hate"?
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Everyone pretty happy by the letter of Brexit, apart from "freda" she must represent the other nasty one " Merkel ".
Is she another "bitch"? ( she likes that word by now as her blood goes blue)
note - If Blood Is Red, Why Do Veins Look Blue?


UK PM May's spokesman says EU leaders appreciated tone of Brexit letter

LONDON, March 30 (Reuters) - European Union leaders appreciated the tone of a letter sent by Prime Minister Theresa May setting out Britain's intention to withdraw from the bloc, May's spokesman told reporters on Thursday.

The spokesman said May had spoken to the President of the European Parliament and the leaders of Ireland, Poland, Italy, France and Spain since Britain formally triggered the process of leaving the EU on Wednesday.

"They were warm, constructive," he told reporters when asked about the calls. "The feedback that we have had is that the tone of the letter was appreciated and considered to be constructive."