Brexit: "Not Worth the Hassle"

Many British businesses may “give up importing” as a result of new strict rules that have come into force yesterday, on 1 January, a former senior civil servant in charge of Brexit planning has warned. Philip Rycroft, who was permanent secretary at the Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU) between 2017 and 2019, said the changes that came into play on January 1 will cause “teething problems”, with some sectors hit harder than others.

With the introduction of new barriers to trade with the bloc, Rycroft said businesses may decide it “is simply not worth the hassle”.

https://www.cityam.com/brexit-red-tape-may-make-uk-businesse…

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I loved the Brexiteers. It was awesome to see a level of ignorance and innumeracy that exceeded what we “enjoy” in the US.

intercst

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I loved the Brexiteers. It was awesome to see a level of ignorance and innumeracy that exceeded what we “enjoy” in the US.

The Corona crisis has managed to bring out way too many similar- (simple-?) minded people on the continent. Who would have thought. Scary.

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The Corona crisis has managed to bring out way too many similar- (simple-?) minded people on the continent. Who would have thought. Scary.

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The people on the continent “can not hold a candle” to the large number of simple minded Americans.

Jaak

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One of my favorite bands since college is from England, the Neo-progressive band Marillion. Their ex-lead singer, Fish, has a live feed on Fridays on Facebook. I’ve listened a few times over this last year. A common rant is how Brexit has made everything so much more difficult. Shipping records and CD’s to Europe. Getting supplies, like shirts, programs, etc. And touring. Well, touring is a whole new can of worms infested by bees being attacked by killer hornets. Now on a UK passport, it would seem, you just can’t go to the continent for a concert in one country and seemlessly go to the other countries you need to tour in. More visas, more fees, more inspections of concert gear. Its unreal.

I always thought Brexit was a lousy idea. IMO England did the EU proper – get in on the trade, ease of travel, etc. while keeping control of your own currency. What they have now is a total cluster frack for no real apparent gain.

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The people on the continent “can not hold a candle” to the large number of simple minded Americans.

Jaak

Pride goeth before a fall.

Last I knew you were our cousins. Disowning us is classy.

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If Marillion got rid of Steve Hogarth the band would have a shot at making some very good music.

I thought it was a brilliant movie.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8425058/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Benedict Cumberbatch plays Dominic Cummings, political strategist of the Leave campaign.

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I’m speaking as someone who lives in England and who is glad that we left this undemocatic monolith.

Ursula von der Leyen is head of the EU Commission. She was voted into power in a secret ballot, even though she was the only candidate! How would that go down in the USA? Not too well I suspect.

The EU is now making it difficult to trade with them. Not a big problem as we were a net importer of goods from the EU. The EU’s collective economies have been growing very poorly over the past years, far behind the rest of the world. The UK is now looking to India, the Far East and the Pacific area to trade. These areas are where we have historic ties and are the fastest growing areas in the world:

UK ministers eager to ease immigration rules for Indian citizens

Offer could be on table in upcoming trade talks in Delhi in bid to access to country’s growing economy

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/01/uk-minister…

The people who will come from India will be highly educated people not like people from Eastern Europe who end up undercutting wages in low paid jobs such as car washes.

If the EU is so great then why doesn’t the USA apply for membership?

I’m not too worried

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It was not clear in the story is this leading to shortages for manufacturing and in retail? How is this impacting the consumer because it was in the end the consumers who voted for Brexit?

I’m speaking as someone who lives in England and who is glad that we left this undemocatic monolith.
Ursula von der Leyen is head of the EU Commission. She was voted into power in a secret ballot, even though she was the only candidate! How would that go down in the USA? Not too well I suspect.

There are times when a secret ballot will produce a better result than an open one. Everywhere politics is a team sport. Sometimes you are forced - by threat or by peer pressure - to vote with the team, even if you know it’s not the best way to vote. I am convinced that the most recent impeachment vote here in the US would have been different had it been a secret ballot. In the EU’s case, I can see many reasons why a secret ballot would be preferable. For just one, the big dogs will always get their way unless the constituents are allowed to vote their conscience instead of their team. That would not produce a desirous result for a “union”, although it might do well for, say, Germany and France.

UK ministers eager to ease immigration rules for Indian citizens
Offer could be on table in upcoming trade talks in Delhi in bid to access to country’s growing economy

Oh whoopee! The economy of India, not to mention that you’re looking at perhaps a tiny slice of it, doesn’t amount to giving the crooked elbow to the rest of the EU. Here’s a nice graph for you. It explains in simple terms how big “India” is and compares it to, well, the rest of the world. Notice that the GDP of India is only a tiny fraction of Europe’s economic output and Britain will be lucky to get an even tinier sliver of that, given the distance and logistics involved in trade half way across the globe.

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/…

There. See the green? That’s the EU, mostly. See the red? That’s not India, India is just that small blob up in the corner. This is not a serious argument, but you knew that didn’t you? Or are you in thrall to the know-nothings there?

If the EU is so great then why doesn’t the USA apply for membership?

OK, now I take it from this that you are not serious, because it’s an idiotic rejoinder. Good luck with your little country, I fear you have much to learn.

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There are times when a secret ballot will produce a better result than an open one.

One candidate and a secret vote:

Stalin, Hitler and Kim Jong-un would all agree with you on this one

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Ursula von der Leyen is head of the EU Commission. She was voted into power in a secret ballot, even though she was the only candidate! How would that go down in the USA? Not too well I suspect.

Ten years ago I would have agreed with you. Now? I’m no longer surprised at the sort of skullduggery that is apparently perfectly OK with certain groups, as long as they’re the ones perpetrating the skullduggery.

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The people who will come from India will be highly educated people not like people from Eastern Europe who end up undercutting wages in low paid jobs such as car washes.

But will they pick your fruit, drive your trucks, fix your plumbing, slaughter your farm animals, run your hospitality industry? Or will the Brits do all of that themselves again?

A year since Brexit: How bad are the UK’s labour shortages now?
https://www.euronews.com/2021/12/30/a-year-since-brexit-how-…

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Last I knew you were our cousins. Disowning us is classy.

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What makes you think I am your cousin? My roots are in Europe and I still have the immigrant mentality.

Jaak

What makes you think I am your cousin? My roots are in Europe and I still have the immigrant mentality.

Jaak

Yep I was the first of my extended family born here. Inherited the immigrant ear.

My cousins on Whatsapp told me I was a paddy earlier today.

My cousins on Whatsapp told me I was a paddy earlier today.

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So maybe your roots are from Leap in County Cork. I have been to Leap and ate at the Leap Inn Bar and Restaurant.

Jaak

https://www.google.com/search?q=Leap+Inn+Bar+%26+Restaurant+…

The UK is now looking to India, the Far East and the Pacific area to trade. These areas are where we have historic ties

I’ve been wondering if the UK would try to bring the Commonwealth back as a trade association…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations

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A year since Brexit: How bad are the UK’s labour shortages now?

How are the USA’s labour shortages:

13 reasons that help explain the labor shortage in the US

https://www.businessinsider.com/potential-reasons-explain-la…

I’ve never seen this happen in the UK:

4 ways grocery stores are covering up supply chain-related product shortages — including using cardboard cutouts of food

https://www.businessinsider.com/grocery-stores-hide-supply-c…

I’ve never had a problem getting anything done, nor been unable to buy anything that i want.

I find this thread fascinating - it’s so amusing when foreigners try and tell me what is good for me. It’s makes me realize why i voted to get out of the EU.

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