Andrea Leadsom has just come to my attention.
I have no truck with the idea that Theresa May, having joined the remain campaign at the last minute, should be involved. Nor do I have any time for Michael Gove.
A quick read on AL shows an initial stay and reform person running the Fresh Start campaign during which the information gathered has persuaded her that reform will not happen for the better and leave was the only remaining option.
Heres a novel idea - lets back a person who has knowledge on the subject, hopefully common sense and who is not tainted by any of the past problems met by the Tory party.
Add to that someone who is prepared to look outside the box - who may even say lets not negotiate. Lets look at all the new opportunities already knocking on the door, at the same time as encouraging us to buy British as far as possible again and who knows how much better that will make the future look.
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Not negotiate ? I think we have to negotiate, if only to detach the many strings with which we've entangled ourselves over the last 43 years.
Untangle the strings certainly. But we do not have to have a tariff-free agreement with rEU (I suggest WTO tariffs look attractive from an UK viewpoint), free movement of labour between UK & rEU, or any UK contribution to the rEU budget.
RM
Interested to know if anyone can think of an example of a country which has taken a conscious decision to reduce trade with its nearest neighbours and has enjoyed long-term economic benefits as a result.
Thanks Duggimon. I don't know much about South Korea's policy on trading with its neighbours other than the fact that it signed a free trade agreement with China in June 2015. Maybe you thinking about its relationship with its other neighbours ? - please could you point me in the right direction.
We need someone who will not be threatened and blackmailed by the EU bully boys, and who will stand up for the majority who voted leave.
The vote was for a end to free movement, an end to paying the EU, and an end to any EU interference whatsoever in UK affairs.
Leadsom has only been in parliament for 5 minutes, and is totally unsuitable.
Crabb is the same, zero experience,
Fox has failed previously and has never had an original thought in his life.
Gove has proven himself to be an untrustworthy back stabber who is being pushed by his wife. (Remind anyone of Cheri Blair?).
There is only one credible candidate. Experienced, tough, and straight talking.
Besides, how can Gove ever be PM? Whenever I see him his face reminds me of Donald Duck with a bad case of wind.
We should reinstate for all candidates the need for an employer to demonstrate that there is no suitable UK candidate before importing labour even when the job is just fruit picking etc.
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Great solution for both Labour and the Conservatives, I think both can clearly demonstrate they are in the position as described; where do you think we should advertise the party leadership vacancies?
but we also need a solution for people like my sister-in-law, who came to the UK as a schools language assistant, then married my brother 19 years ago and has lived here since, with their three children. as it stands now her only right to be here is under free movement
but we also need a solution for people like my sister-in-law, who came to the UK as a schools language assistant, then married my brother 19 years ago and has lived here since, with their three children. as it stands now her only right to be here is under free movement
Surely she (& many others) could now apply for permanent right to remain (for which there is an admin fee)?
RM
There is no need for parliamentary discussion or legislation to remove Britain from the EU. Indeed any MP voting or arguing against the necessary steps would be spitting in the face of democracy as the Nation has spoken. By that I refer to the entire nation.
There was no facility in the referendum for sections of Britain to opt out. Indeed it was totally wrong that results were announced area at a time. It should have been one count for the entire UK.
I stand by my opinion that Leadsom lacks the experience to be PM. AS a member of the Conservative Party she will certainly not be getting my vote.
I see no reason why we must have a leave campaigner as PM. What we need is the best PM regardless of how they voted.
Quite clearly a Prime Minister cannot negotiate Brexit single handed, and, a sensible approach would be to appoint a cabinet minister to take responsibility for negotiating. That is the position which should be filled by a leave campaigner.
There is no need for parliamentary discussion or legislation to remove Britain from the EU.
There are I believe differing views among eminent lawyers as to the legal (as opposed to political) effect of the referendum vote & whether the UK PM requires express parliamentary authority to trigger Article 50.
Personally I would take the common sense & safety first view of passing a new & very brief Act authorising the PM to notify the EU of the triggering of Article 50 & repealing (with effect from a date to be announced) the European Communities Act 1972 & other EU legislation. There is no way on earth (politically) that MPs could fail to pass such an Act or the Queen could fail to give it Royal Assent.
It could be passed into law this week. Then there could be no argument about whether the PM had the necessary authority to trigger Article 50 (whenever he or she chooses to do that).
RM
Marion
"Tariffs are a red herring too I think - we already have a 20% margin to play with as I assume once we have left Europe becomes outside the scope of VAT or whatever we call our sales tax in due course."
How is this the case business to business? Given what vat brings in not sure it can be waived away to compensate for any tariffs.
I also think tariffs will not be the issue, exchange rates will, over time , mainly cope and absorb, though transition will be painful and some business entities will suffer.
Compliance re standards, whole different kettle of fish, if we have a deal that allows goods complying to UK standards fine (UK standards legally accepted as EU equivalent) , if we have a deal with goods having to comply with EU set standard with access to all members also fine albeit verification costs, if neither then we need to manufacture for each particular member state. Now hopefully if all the same this is merely obtaining compliance paperwork and exhibiting same to each country, if not then different production line batch runs and retooling etc re exports to each country.
The way likely to work will be opening subsidiaries in EU re European distribution rights, but that surely only works if our goods have all EU access rights. It also impacts place of supply rules re vat/equivalent.
I strongly suspect we will get some form of EU access on a product by product accreditation, but if not, or if a cost/time delay for each application, life becomes very complicated.
And when it comes to services- really interesting.
This may all wash through, this may all work, but it is no slam dunk simple step, it is going to be a right royal pain.
I spoke to a client this am re his vat records re Q 30.6.16, need books, he has a £6,000 (was) consignment of goods coming in where payment is in dollars post delivery, price just went up 12% from when he ordered, not the end of the world, just circa £720 extra cost and he only imports about 15% of annual purchases.
I have another client who imports everything from China (priced in dollars), their GP just took a big hit, it did run at about 42% now nearer 30%. On the plus side one of the directors used to be a Forex dealer so I hope he has some contingency in place to soften year one hit.
The it will be alright on the night approach would be more reassuring if somebody could spell out:
1. What we are seeking re terms.
2. When will we seek these.
3. What is official EU reaction (not current guess work)
4. When will changes take place.
Now I have the interesting schedule next week as we visit our house in Sweden and we face the criticism of my Swedish neighbours (have already had two e mails from a retired Swedish political journalist)and a very interesting reaction in the local shops where we are known.
There is a café for sale with shop attached near our house there (6-7 miles), maybe I ought to persuade my other half that we buy it and do a flit whilst we still have the chance.