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's a view, but no more valid than wanting to escape

Why P up against the wall on the outside when you can smash your head against it on the inside?

Lol

Comment by Jacob Rees-Mogg

We have sent man to the Moon, the bottom of the ocean, survived war, plague and the creation of the internet, yet there are those who tell us leaving the European Union’s customs union is a problem that makes solving Fermat’s Last Theorem look like a doddle.

This is manifestly not the case. The problem, in so far as it exists, is purely political and based on a number of false premises.

The main false premise is that it is not possible to leave the customs union and keep the Northern Irish border free of new infrastructure.

This has been denied clearly on multiple occasions by the head of HMRC Jon Thompson and his Irish opposite number Niall Cody.

The second is that to keep the border free flowing in Northern Ireland, we will have to have a border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK – unless the entire UK remains in the EU’s customs union.

Its proponents – the Irish Government – know an Irish Sea border is impossible as it would split up the UK, but, smelling caution in Westminster, see no reason to let up the pressure.

The third is that we do not have enough time to develop IT software to leave the customs union – again disproved by HMRC.

We already have processes for dealing with our non-EU trade.

We are not reinventing the wheel – simply creating faster channels for our trade.

The last false premise is that there is some happy compromise waiting to be discovered.

However, customs union membership is binary and Leave won.

There will always be more fair-weather friends willing to compromise and wait than do the homework and take a decision – but decision time is arriving, analogue will give way to digital.

The truth is that leaving the EU’s customs union is necessary to keep faith with the referendum result and reap the benefits of Brexit.

If we remain in it we will accept EU laws, collect EU taxes and have a trade policy where we are without any say – a vassal state.

Outside we can get to work on increasing trade, creating jobs and opportunities and reducing the cost of food and clothing.

That the customs union is still being debated two years after the referendum does not go unnoticed in the EU.

The Prime Minister will shortly join the EU for negotiations at the June summit.

It is to be hoped that by then, Parliament will have armed her with a clear mandate to negotiate the best deal for the UK.

Westminster is suddenly alive with politicians flushed with new-found interest in customs unions and the Northern Irish border.

This interest is puzzling. Why would MPs and peers who once campaigned to stay in the EU now campaign to stay in the EU’s customs union?

I have the answer and it is quite simple – Lords and MPs who wish to vote to remain in the customs union wish to keep us in the EU.

• Jacob Rees-Mogg is Conservative MP for North East Somerset and chairman of the pro-Brexit European Research Group

Jacob Rees-Mogg last night demanded the EU cease its efforts to frustrate Brexit and resolve the Northern Ireland border issue. The leading Brexiteer is one of many who thinks Britain could model the province’s post-Brexit boundary on Switzerland’s frictionless frontier.

Brexit border MADNESS: Ress-Mogg urges UK to follow Swiss model that simplifies customs

The €U seem to have another problem, as if they didn't have enough.



EU Rages At "Unacceptable" US Tariffs, Vows Retaliation "In Coming Hours"


by Tyler Durden

Thu, 05/31/2018 - 10:19


Confirming expectations, Wilbur Ross announced the steel, aluminum tariffs exemptions were lifted on EU, Mexico, and Canada. This prompted angry responses from the head of the EU bloc's executive Jean-Claude Juncker who said that the European Union will impose counter measures immediately.

"This is a bad day for world trade," Juncker said in a speech in Brussels. "So we will immediately introduce a settlement dispute with the WTO and will announce counter balancing measures in the coming hours."

"It is totally unacceptable that a country is imposing unilateral measures when it comes to world trade."

Juncker also said that he is "concerned by this decision" which he defined as "protectionism, pure and simple." The European head with a penchant for alcohol said that steel overcapacity remains at the heart of the problem, and "the EU is not the source of but on the contrary equally hurt by it", clearly referencing China.







Don Draper @DonDraperClone




Protectionism?

EU avg tariffs twice that of US.

EU auto tariffs FOUR times that of US.



More: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-31/stocks-bopnd-yields-tumble-eu-threatens-immediate-retaliation-trump-tariffs

Max,

I don't think it is only the EU who will have problems.

The ripples of stupidity will affect all of us.

Look at your own holdings today!

I don't fancy another world recession.

Trump and colleagues are unreliable and I don't think they care a damn about the "chaos" they are stimulating.

Mind, if you are shorting there maybe a bob or two in it for you.

But at the moment I think the political leadership of the majority of countries is driven by blatant self-interest.

Capitalism at its best.

Agreed Fred.

And the €U is well up that particular order.


btw, looks like Italy have found a way around the attempted brussels coup.

I think the political leadership of the majority of countries is driven by blatant self-interest.
Capitalism at its best.


hmm .... applies equally to russia and china and north korea methinks and

Here is the tory and neo-con icon for some.

No permanent friends, only permanent interests etc. No particular system just human nature.

The car tariffs have been mentioned; the EU complaining when the USA talked about raising to the same level - laughable. The interviews I saw yesterday involving EU supporters/personnel all boiled down to them being happy when the steel is dumped into the USA, not so chipper at the thought of it happening to their countries.

Rees Mogg next PM

.

Most Politicians are Voted-in by telling us saps they are interested in
promoting Female freedoms, Jobs, Industry, house-prices ( "Affordable Homes - Huh! ), the NHS and sometimes Immigration.
Yet the Public sees little evidence this ever happens . . . as others have suggested it's Me Me Me - and doing enough to get a "Safe-Seat" for the next Election ( so much grovelling to the Party-Leader needed )...
I don't really see many who are genuinely seeking to improve the State and the plight of the Public...... we are years away from the Banking Crisis... and some Banks are still money-grabbing (eg some Interest charges)..... while the off-piste "Lenders" have moved from being "pay-day" to pay for a holiday / whatever lenders at huge rates . . . . why didn't the legislators put a limit on the Total charges . . . with maybe link to the interest that Banks provide for Savers..... A ratio of 5:1 should be more than enough - IMHO..... Banking isn't Rocket Science and if they have a lien on Property / cars the "risk" is very small - ideally zippo..... since you don't lend big-money to someone that can't afford it.

As to the Referendum . . . we have second-rate Negotiators in place, sine they were not Voted-In for their Negotiating-Skills - and exactly "how" are these to be judged? You know it when you see it. I'd want N.Farage on my Team, if only to keep the Tech. Papers in Order . . . at least we wouldn't be bleating and back-sliding... would we?

Scottish Government report admits Brexit could generate £540 million and 5,000 jobs for fishing industry




Birds circle above fishing boats and trawlers as they sit moored at Lerwick Harbour in Lerwick, Shetland Islands Credit: AFP



By Simon Johnson, Scottish Political Editor
6 June 2018 • 6:00am




Brexit could generate £540 million and 5,000 jobs for the Scottish fishing industry, according to a detailed analysis published by the SNP government that concluded the UK’s extra catch would dwarf the impact of trade barriers.

A report commissioned by agency Marine Scotland found that the UK leaving the EU’s hated Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and gaining the entire quota from its waters would increase the seafood sector’s economic output by up to 21 per cent.

Although tariffs and other trade barriers from leaving the single market would have a negative impact, these would be far outweighed by the impact of reallocating catch in British waters from foreign to Scottish vessels.



More if you sign up: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/06/06/scottish-government-report-admits-brexit-could-generate-540/

Negotiations going well.

I think it is time to remember Cameron.

It is good to have strong selfless leadership which we all know as part of tory culture.

good to see corbyn barely poking his head out his rat-hole and thus failing to show any leadership whatsoever


good to see that corbyn has truly inspired today's yoof and taken them with him, as his much vaunted Corbyn Glastonbury can't even give tickets away ........ just 15% were actually sold for money