| Boris's Musings 19:05 - Jul 5 with 2456 views | bluebudgie |
This was a story released by Boris not long after the Brexit vote. Discuss
On Friday I heard a new dawn chorus outside my house. There was a rustling and twittering, as though of starlings assembling on a branch. Then I heard a collective clearing of the throat, and they started yodelling my name — followed by various expletives. “Oi Boris — c---!” they shouted. Or “Boris — w-----!” I looked out to see some otherwise charming-looking young people, the sort who might fast to raise money for a Third World leprosy project.
They had the air of idealists — Corbynistas; Lefties; people who might go on a march to stop a war. And so when they started on their protest song, I found myself a bit taken aback. “EU — we love YOU! EU — we love YOU!” they began to croon. Curious, I thought. What exactly is it about the EU that attracts the fervent admiration of north London radicals? It was the first time I had ever heard of trendy socialists demonstrating in favour of an unelected supranational bureaucracy.
In the old days, the Lefties used to dismiss the EU as a bankers’ ramp. Tony Benn thought it was unacceptably anti-democratic. Jeremy Corbyn used to vote against it in every division. Why has it suddenly become so fashionable among our nose-ringed friends? I tried to think which of the EU’s signature policies they were so keen on. Surely not the agricultural subsidies that make up most of the budget, and that have done so much to retard development in the Third World. They can’t — for heaven’s sake — support the peak tariffs that discriminate against value added goods from Sub-Saharan Africa. Nor can they possibly enjoy the sheer opacity of the system — the fact that there are 10,000 officials who are paid more than the Prime Minister, and whose names and functions we don’t know.
They can’t really be defending the waste, the fraud — or the endless expensive caravan of crémant-swilling members of the European Parliament between Brussels and Luxembourg and Strasbourg. Are they really demonstrating in favour of the torrent of red tape that has done so much to hold back growth in the EU? It seems an odd sort of campaign theme: what do we want? More Brussels law-making! When do we want it? Now!
Naturally, Lefties might want laws to protect the workforce — but they would surely want those laws to be made by politicians that the people could remove at elections. No: the more I thought about it, the odder it seemed. It was incredible that these young and idealistic people should be making a rumpus about the euro — the key policy of the modern EU — when that project has so gravely intensified suffering in many southern EU countries, and deprived a generation of young people of employment.
Perhaps, I mused, it was a general feeling that the EU was about openness, tolerance and diversity. But they must surely know that the EU’s rules on free movement mean a highly discriminatory regime, one that makes it much more difficult for people from outside the EU to get into Britain — even though we need their skills.
So what was it about? People’s emotions matter, even when they do not seem to be wholly rational. The feelings being manifested outside my house are shared by the large numbers of people — 30,000, they say — who at the weekend came together in Trafalgar Square to hear pro-EU speeches by Sir Bob Geldof. There is, among a section of the population, a kind of hysteria, a contagious mourning of the kind that I remember in 1997 after the death of the Princess of Wales. It is not about the EU, of course; or not solely. A great many of these protesters — like dear old Geldof — are in a state of some confusion about the EU and what it does.
It is not, as he says, a “free trade area”; if only it were. It is a vast and convoluted exercise in trying to create a federal union — a new political construction based in Brussels. But, as I say, I don’t believe that it is psychologically credible to imagine young people chanting hysterically in favour of Brussels bureaucrats. The whole protest is not about the EU project, per se; it is about them — their own fears and anxieties that are now being projected on to Brexit.
These fears are wildly overdone. The reality is that the stock market has not plunged, as some said it would — far from it. The FTSE is higher than when the vote took place. There has been no emergency budget, and nor will there be. But the crowds of young people are experiencing the last psychological tremors of Project Fear — perhaps the most thoroughgoing government attempt to manipulate public opinion since the run-up to the Iraq War.
When Geldof tells them that the older generation has “stolen your future” by voting to Leave the EU, I am afraid there are too many who still believe it. It is time for this nonsense to end. It was wrong of the Government to offer the public a binary choice on the EU without being willing — in the event that people voted Leave — to explain how this can be made to work in the interests of the UK and Europe. We cannot wait until mid-September, and a new PM. We need a clear statement, now, of some basic truths:
1. There is no risk whatever to the status of the EU nationals now resident and welcome in the UK, and indeed immigration will continue — but in a way that is controlled, thereby neutralising the extremists.
2. It is overwhelmingly in the economic interests of the other EU countries to do a free-trade deal, with zero tariffs and quotas, while we extricate ourselves from the EU law-making system.
3. We can do free-trade deals with economies round the world, many of which are already applying.
4. We can supply leadership in Europe on security and other matters, but at an intergovernmental level.
5. The future is very bright indeed. That’s what Geldof should be chanting |  | | |  |
| Boris's Musings on 19:09 - Jul 5 with 2441 views | Herbivore |
Tldr.
I skipped to the end though and had a chuckle at your bullet points. Fantasy land stuff as opposed to the facts you're claiming. |  |
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| Boris's Musings on 19:34 - Jul 5 with 2408 views | GlasgowBlue |
The future is far from very bright. We don't have the political leaders with the skill or imagination to make Brexit work.
Had we politicians of the calibre of Thatcher or Healey it could have been a different story. The people we have leading us are pygmies in comparison. The likely winner of the leadership election is a clown and a buffoon.
I voted to leave in the foolhardy belief that those who lead us could make it work. I was wrong. |  |
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| Boris's Musings on 20:03 - Jul 5 with 2383 views | factual_blue |
| Boris's Musings on 19:09 - Jul 5 by Herbivore |
Tldr.
I skipped to the end though and had a chuckle at your bullet points. Fantasy land stuff as opposed to the facts you're claiming. |
The question about trade deals as an nation independent of the EU is this: why would any country offer a country of 65 million a better trade deal than it offers to a trading bloc of 445 million (the approximate population of the remaining 27 countries)? |  |
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| Boris's Musings on 20:15 - Jul 5 with 2362 views | Swansea_Blue |
I really can't be fecked, but point 1 is bollox. EU citizens in the UK have been made to feel like sh*t. They've had to apply to live in their own homes with their own families. They've been denied their right to vote. And moronic ignoramuses have been giving them abuse, just because through no fault of their own they happened to be born in France or The Netherlands or Germany.
These are our our friends, family and neighbours we're literally treating like 'citizens of nowhere'.
It's shameful, small minded and so f*cking depressing. [Post edited 5 Jul 2019 20:18]
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| Boris's Musings on 20:25 - Jul 5 with 2354 views | BlueBadger |
| Boris's Musings on 20:15 - Jul 5 by Swansea_Blue |
I really can't be fecked, but point 1 is bollox. EU citizens in the UK have been made to feel like sh*t. They've had to apply to live in their own homes with their own families. They've been denied their right to vote. And moronic ignoramuses have been giving them abuse, just because through no fault of their own they happened to be born in France or The Netherlands or Germany.
These are our our friends, family and neighbours we're literally treating like 'citizens of nowhere'.
It's shameful, small minded and so f*cking depressing. [Post edited 5 Jul 2019 20:18]
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It's painfully apparent at [redacted] hospital. The Polish and Portuguese contingents are leaving en masse - some are heading home some to New Zealand and Australia because of the absurd posturing by successive ministers, f*ckwits 'humorously' asking them when they're going home and the costly and convoluted practice of having to apply to stay in their own homes.
And STILL no-one can tell us why this whole sorry mess is going to be 'good' for the country.
In closing, I would like to second your final line. [Post edited 5 Jul 2019 20:26]
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| Boris's Musings on 20:26 - Jul 5 with 2334 views | BlueBadger |
| Boris's Musings on 20:03 - Jul 5 by factual_blue |
The question about trade deals as an nation independent of the EU is this: why would any country offer a country of 65 million a better trade deal than it offers to a trading bloc of 445 million (the approximate population of the remaining 27 countries)? |
Because the trading bloc is full of foreigners, silly. | |
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| Boris's Musings on 20:29 - Jul 5 with 2326 views | factual_blue |
| Boris's Musings on 20:26 - Jul 5 by BlueBadger |
Because the trading bloc is full of foreigners, silly. |
I knew there was a flaw in my argument.
balls | |
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| Boris's Musings on 20:30 - Jul 5 with 2325 views | factual_blue |
| Boris's Musings on 20:25 - Jul 5 by BlueBadger |
It's painfully apparent at [redacted] hospital. The Polish and Portuguese contingents are leaving en masse - some are heading home some to New Zealand and Australia because of the absurd posturing by successive ministers, f*ckwits 'humorously' asking them when they're going home and the costly and convoluted practice of having to apply to stay in their own homes.
And STILL no-one can tell us why this whole sorry mess is going to be 'good' for the country.
In closing, I would like to second your final line. [Post edited 5 Jul 2019 20:26]
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Continuing on the nurses and cake theme
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-48880676 | |
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| Boris's Musings on 21:16 - Jul 5 with 2291 views | factual_blue |
| Boris's Musings on 20:15 - Jul 5 by Swansea_Blue |
I really can't be fecked, but point 1 is bollox. EU citizens in the UK have been made to feel like sh*t. They've had to apply to live in their own homes with their own families. They've been denied their right to vote. And moronic ignoramuses have been giving them abuse, just because through no fault of their own they happened to be born in France or The Netherlands or Germany.
These are our our friends, family and neighbours we're literally treating like 'citizens of nowhere'.
It's shameful, small minded and so f*cking depressing. [Post edited 5 Jul 2019 20:18]
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...And such a contrast to the way English people who go and live in Europe, are treated. | |
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| Boris's Musings on 21:59 - Jul 5 with 2261 views | Herbivore |
| Boris's Musings on 20:03 - Jul 5 by factual_blue |
The question about trade deals as an nation independent of the EU is this: why would any country offer a country of 65 million a better trade deal than it offers to a trading bloc of 445 million (the approximate population of the remaining 27 countries)? |
Many nations and trading blocs have trade deals in place with the EU, deals that we will lose when Brexit happens. At least we get to eventually negotiate our own inferior deals though. | |
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| Boris's Musings on 22:01 - Jul 5 with 2257 views | HARRY10 |
| Boris's Musings on 19:34 - Jul 5 by GlasgowBlue |
The future is far from very bright. We don't have the political leaders with the skill or imagination to make Brexit work.
Had we politicians of the calibre of Thatcher or Healey it could have been a different story. The people we have leading us are pygmies in comparison. The likely winner of the leadership election is a clown and a buffoon.
I voted to leave in the foolhardy belief that those who lead us could make it work. I was wrong. |
It is not about having the 'right leaders', it's about having the wrong idea. Probably one of the stupidest ideas for many a long century.
Also the UK is not a dictatorship nor has a president. Decisions are made, through legislation, by Parliament, not a leader.
Brexit failed because it was a stupid and totally impractical bit of delusion got up to over excite bigots who still cling to the 19th century.
I saw was, because it is over.
Full stop. |  | | |
| Boris's Musings on 00:50 - Jul 6 with 2194 views | factual_blue |
| Boris's Musings on 21:59 - Jul 5 by Herbivore |
Many nations and trading blocs have trade deals in place with the EU, deals that we will lose when Brexit happens. At least we get to eventually negotiate our own inferior deals though. |
Enjoy your chlorinated chicken and imitation Nebraskan Stilton. | |
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| Boris's Musings on 04:29 - Jul 6 with 2156 views | BlueBadger |
| Boris's Musings on 21:16 - Jul 5 by factual_blue |
...And such a contrast to the way English people who go and live in Europe, are treated. |
Yes, but they're 'ex-pats' not 'economic migrants' though... | |
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| Boris's Musings on 06:33 - Jul 6 with 2120 views | gordon |
| Boris's Musings on 22:01 - Jul 5 by HARRY10 |
It is not about having the 'right leaders', it's about having the wrong idea. Probably one of the stupidest ideas for many a long century.
Also the UK is not a dictatorship nor has a president. Decisions are made, through legislation, by Parliament, not a leader.
Brexit failed because it was a stupid and totally impractical bit of delusion got up to over excite bigots who still cling to the 19th century.
I saw was, because it is over.
Full stop. |
This. Brexit was only possible because of the delusion, stupidity and vanity of the politicians involved, and the willingness of our media to fawn over them. Just a really dumb idea. |  | | |
| Boris's Musings on 08:04 - Jul 6 with 2086 views | StochesStotasBlewe |
| Boris's Musings on 20:25 - Jul 5 by BlueBadger |
It's painfully apparent at [redacted] hospital. The Polish and Portuguese contingents are leaving en masse - some are heading home some to New Zealand and Australia because of the absurd posturing by successive ministers, f*ckwits 'humorously' asking them when they're going home and the costly and convoluted practice of having to apply to stay in their own homes.
And STILL no-one can tell us why this whole sorry mess is going to be 'good' for the country.
In closing, I would like to second your final line. [Post edited 5 Jul 2019 20:26]
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I,m sorry to hear that the experience of your fellow European colleagues is making them leave en masse Badger.
I work as a gardener regularly at (redacted) care homes and, apart from one Romanian gentleman who was homesick & returned to Bucherest, the general view of the Polish, Romanian, Bulgarian, Lithuanian and other nationalities is positive about remaining here after/if we leave the EU and they, to a person consider here to be their home.
FWIW, i think Boris is a pillock. |  |
| We have no village green, or a shop.
It's very, very quiet.
I can walk to the pub. |
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| Boris's Musings on 08:18 - Jul 6 with 2060 views | Guthrum |
So what the fvck did he do about his own points 1 to 4, why did he oppose the solution which was negotiated and why is it so different to what he's saying now?? |  |
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| Boris's Musings on 21:47 - Jul 6 with 1937 views | HARRY10 |
| Boris's Musings on 08:18 - Jul 6 by Guthrum |
So what the fvck did he do about his own points 1 to 4, why did he oppose the solution which was negotiated and why is it so different to what he's saying now?? |
"There has been no emergency budget, "
apart from, on 4th August 2016, the Bank of England cut interest rates for the first time in more than seven years, in a bigger-than-expected package of measures designed to prevent a post-Brexit recession
a 25 basis point cut in Bank Rate to 0.25%;
a new Term Funding Scheme to reinforce the pass-through of the cut in Bank Rate, with as much as £100bn of new funding to banks to help them pass on the base rate cut
the purchase of up to £10 billion of UK corporate bonds
and an expansion of the asset purchase scheme for UK government bonds of £60 billion, taking the total stock of these asset purchases to £435 billion
one can only shudder at what would have happened if the BoE had not intervened to shore up the UK economy after one of the stupidest decisions in this country's history - even then it has been all down hill, though thankfully not as damaging as had that intervention not bailed out the economy | | | |
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