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....

There's more than one way of skinning a cat, Dilbert, and I've said exactly the same on this thread several times before.

So, by way of an example, you don't give housing or unemployment benefit to anyone who hasn't held a NI number for 5 years. That would allow native Brits to claim once they reach the age of 20/21, but not immigrants (from the EU or elsewhere) who turn up thinking the streets of London are paved with gold.

Cameron had 6 years before the Brexit vote to get immigration under control (that was an integral part of his 2010 election manifesto, remember?), and both he and Maggie Dismay (as the then Home Secretary) failed to fulfill their promises.

Hils , I don't think that would be allowed under EU law as it still discriminates against EU nationals.

Without controlling EU immigration then targets could never be met. Could have reduced non EU immigration but why let a load of free loaders in at the expense of say doctors and nurses just to get the figures right ?

Of course it would be allowed, Dil.

The rule is simply that all EU member states merely need to treat citizens of other member states in exactly the same way as they treat their own. Other countries manage to play the system successfully, so why are the Brits so straight-laced? For instance, you need to pay into the French social security system for 4 years before you get anything.

And discouraging the doctors and other professionals? They're not the ones who want the free benefits, so they'll still come and be net contributors regardless.

Come on Dil don't let Roger Federer's love child get the better of you!

lol :-)

And the fishermen of England?

From the Telewag

Jacob Rees-Mogg to fling fish from trawler on Thames in protest for fishermen 'betrayed' by May's Brexit deal

Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of a 60-strong group of Eurosceptic Conservative MPs, and others are due to board a boat and pass by Parliament throwing fish into the Thames in protest at the alleged “sellout”

Gordon Rayner, political editor Christopher Hope, chief political correspondent Simon Johnson
19 MARCH 2018 • 9:30PM

Theresa May is facing a Brexit backlash from Tory MPs over her "abject betrayal" of Britain's fishermen with rebels planning a fishing boat protest on the Thames.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of a 60-strong group of Eurosceptic Conservative MPs, and others are due to board a boat and pass by Parliament throwing fish into the Thames in protest at the alleged “sellout”.

A Brexit transition deal agreed with Brussels allows the EU to maintain control of Britain’s territorial waters until the end of 2020, which protestors described as “a potential death sentence” for the British fishing fleet.

Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Conservatives leader, joined the growing rebellion as she warned Mrs May that the 13 Tory MPs north of the border will oppose any Brexit deal that “fails to deliver full control over fish stocks and vessel access”.

Douglas Ross, the Moray MP, said: “It would be easier to get someone to drink a pint of cold sick than to sell this as a success.”

The controversy over fishing rights was one of a series of climb-downs announced by Brexit Secretary David Davis ahead of a meeting of EU leaders this week to ratify the transition deal.

The protest will draw comparisons to the Brexit referendum row between Bob Geldof and Nigel Farage
The protest will draw comparisons to the Brexit referendum row between Bob Geldof and Nigel Farage CREDIT: NICK EDWARDS
Mrs May also abandoned her personal pledge that free movement would end on Brexit day in March next year. EU migrants arriving during the transition period will now have the same rights as those arriving before Brexit.

On the Irish border question, the Government accepted that if no agreement can be reached on a bespoke customs arrangement for Northern Ireland, a “backstop” option of regulatory alignment with the EU will be written into the legal text of the transition deal.

The Government has also accepted the EU’s timetable of transition ending on New Year’s Eve 2020, three months earlier than the two years ministers wanted.

The controversy over fishing rights was one of a series of climb-downs announced by Brexit Secretary David Davis

Downing Street highlighted the fact that Britain has won the right to not only negotiate but also sign trade deals during the transition period, that British citizens will maintain full freedom of movement in the EU until the end of transition, and that the transition agreement will apply in full to Gibraltar, contrary to the wishes of Spain and much of the EU.

Mr Davis and the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier hailed the agreement as “a decisive step” towards Britain’s final withdrawal from the EU, and the agreement was broadly welcomed by businesses as providing greater certainty about the future, prompting a jump in the value of the pound.

But the issue of fishing rights is likely to overshadow Thursday’s European Council meeting. Fishermen had wanted the UK to regain full control over access to the country's fishing waters immediately after the country formally leaves the European Union in March next year.

Instead, the EU will maintain control via the Common Fisheries Policy, with Britain only allowed to be “consulted” on quotas until the start of 2021.

Campaigners fear that Britain’s fishing fleet, which comprises 500 boats which are over 12 metres (30 feet) in length, and 3,000 boats under 10 metres long, will be radically cut back because of the deal.

Mr Rees-Mogg, joined by Tory MPs including Craig MacKinlay and Sheryll Murray, intend to board a fishing boat on Wednesday and throw a box of haddock, skate and bass into the Thames to draw attention to Mrs May’s alleged betrayal.

Alan Hastings, a spokesman for Fishing For Leave which is organising the protest, said: “This is a death sentence for what is left of the EU fleet because the EU will enforce detrimental legislation, especially the discard ban, to cull the EU fleet and then claim the resources we can’t catch any more as their own.

“The EU has every incentive to wipe us out in 21 months and they will be ruthless enough to do it. And our lot have put us in this position.”

He said the protest was necessary because “being trapped in the transition is an existential threat and a potential death sentence for what is left of the UK fleet”.

Mr Rees-Mogg’s trawler stunt is likely to evoke memories of the “Battle of the Thames” days before the EU Referendum in 2016.

On that occasion, Remain campaigners led by Bob Geldof traded insults with Brexiteers including Nigel Farage as they chugged up and down the river outside Parliament.

Campaigners for the "Leave" and "Remain" campaigns demonstrate in boats on the River Thames outside the Houses of Parliament in June 2016

Mr Rees-Mogg’s European Research Group had until now largely supported Mrs May in the Brexit negotiations, but a spokesman for the ERG said: “If Brexit means Brexit, we have to take control of our fish."

A friend of Mr Rees-Mogg said there was an "absolute need to take control of UK waters. The transition is appalling for our fishermen". Ms Davidson said the transition deal was “an undoubted disappointment” for fishermen, while the Fishing for Leave campaign group accused David Davis of an “abject, disgusting betrayal” and demanded both he and Mrs May resign.

In a statement agreed by the group of 13 Scottish Tory MPs, Ms Davidson said she wanted to make clear that she would refuse to support a final deal that “fails to deliver that full control over fish stocks and vessel access.” It is understood David Mundell, the Scottish Secretary, supports the ultimatum.

Mrs May’s minority government could struggle to get a Brexit deal through parliament without their support. Fishing is a totemic issue not only for the Tories but for Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, who has spoken passionately about his upbringing in Aberdeen where he claimed his family’s fish processing firm was destroyed by EU fishing policies.

Last week Mr Gove joined forces with Ms Davidson to say Britain must leave the Common Fisheries Policy in March next year and rejected the EU’s demand for “existing” access to UK waters in a future trade deal.

The Conservatives are sensitive to criticism over fishing because it won key coastal seats in Scotland and on the west coast in the general election after making promises about using Brexit to protect the fishing industry.

Lol M

Hils , going on your theory we might as well just say anyone born in the UK can be treated differently ... sorry that don't wash.

And we shouldn't have to bend rules , if they are crap they shouldn't exist to start with.

All be irrelevant soon , can do what we want come Independence Day :-)

Regarding fishing rights my opinion is that we can't have a transition period in one area and not another.

I would have left by now with no transition period if it were up to me.

Jacob Rees-Mogg to fling fish from trawler on Thames in protest for fishermen 'betrayed' by May's Brexit deal


”
Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of a 60-strong group of Eurosceptic Conservative MPs, and others are due to board a boat and pass by Parliament throwing fish into the Thames in protest at the alleged “sellout” Credit: HANNAH MCKAY/REUTERS



Christopher Hope, Chief Political Correspondent and
Simon Johnson
19 March 2018 • 9:30pm




Theresa May is facing a Brexit backlash from Tory MPs over her "abject betrayal" of Britain's fishermen with rebels planning a fishing boat protest on the Thames.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of a 60-strong group of Eurosceptic Conservative MPs, and others are due to board a boat and pass by Parliament throwing fish into the Thames in protest at the alleged “sellout”.

A Brexit transition deal agreed with Brussels allows the EU to maintain control of Britain’s territorial waters until the end of 2020, which protestors described as “a potential death sentence” for the British fishing fleet.

Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Conservatives leader, joined the growing rebellion as she warned Mrs May that the...



More if you sign up: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/03/19/jacob-rees-mogg-fling-fish-trawler-thames-protest-fishermen/

What is Jeremy's position I wonder?

MaxK

See my earlier post on Jacob Rees-Mogg chucking fish in the Thames.

Your post on this repeats what I've already posted. :-)

Will Moggy's fish be dead or alive? Surely, there must either be a cruelty to animals issue, or a pollution issue with what he's doing?

Hopefully, they'll lock him up for it and throw away the key!

Yeah instead of fish he should round up a load of remainers and chuck them in instead.

I nominate Fred to be first :-)

More bad Brexit news...inflation is down and now at a 7 month low. If that wasn't enough, the pound is getting stronger.

I blame global warming .

Well it's certainly got nothing to do with Corby and his clowns.

National humiliation as post-Brexit passports set to be made by Franco-Dutch firm

Vicky and Jimbo will be frothing at the lips.

:o)

Not only Jimmy and Vic.

Yes. Not only Jimmy and Vic and Iturama.

It's bloody disgusting about the passport printing contract for the UK's new passports might be won by/given to a non-UK printer. And embarrassing too!

De La Rue said Thursday it missed out on the contract to print the UK's new post-Brexit blue passports but insisted that this would not have an impact on the performance of the current and next financial year.

The current 10-year contract with Her Majesty's Passport Office (HMPO) - due to expire in July 2019 - had a total value of roughly £400m.

'The company is disappointed with the outcome of the tender process and will now consider its options including an appeal,' De la Rue said.

Maybe time to chuck some passports in the Thames, I think. And let's get a properly/adequately licensed boat this time, too. All is not yet lost.