I tend to do a little preparation for most things I do. Here are some questions I thought of for use in 2017.
- Have you seen a plan?
- Remind me, what does Brexit mean?
- What's your problem with parliament?
- Do you know what the odds of winning in a game of 27 to 1 are?
- What's great about being out on your own?
- Tell me precisely which EU regulations you want to get rid of?
- Have you seen that £350 million a week bonus yet?
- Precisely what control have you got back?
- Are you expecting two million UK nationals living in the EU to return home soon?
- How are you going to decide who you're sending home?
- Do you know what someone who is forced to leave the country where they live is called?
- How are you going to make sure the NHS has the nurses it needs when we impose migration controls in 2019?
- Which UK universities are you happy to see go bust because of a shortage of EU students?
- Do you know who picks most of the UK's fruit and veg? Who do you think will be doing so in the future?
- Why are you so keen to deny our young people the chance to live, learn and work abroad?
- The EU was intended to prevent war ever happening again in Europe. How does leaving help that? What's the plan?
- How is increased paperwork for every single import and export going to save British business money?
- How precisely will we be better off when we have to pay tariffs on most things we import?
- We import more than we export. How are we going to win from tariffs?
- How are the 30,000 new civil servants working on Brexit cutting red tape?
- Did you want to encourage Northern Ireland and Scotland to leave the UK?
- When the City is based in Frankfurt where will you find replacement tax revenues?
- Did you want the UK to be a tax haven with no chance if you benefitting?
- What is it that the Australians are going to buy more of from the UK?
- Where are you going on holiday next year? Expecting a warm welcome?
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Somebody should have asked Mervyn King those questions!
Good old Merv………dinosaurs like him should just go away and become extinct – and quietly whilst they’re at it.
“Are you expecting two million UK nationals living in the EU to return home soon?”
& do you think they will come back happy people having been forced out of EU countries where they are reasonably settled (not forgetting that a large number of them are reasonably well off & fairly intelligent). This is the stuff that revolutions are made of.
All good questions Richard.
I will now give you the comprehensive government reply to all those questions.
This reply was arrived at by pooling government resources and is the sum total of all government research:
OUT MEANS OUT!
All questions that I suspect will reveal that most BREXITEERs weren’t thinking much beyond their own prejudices.
Mind you………..the Australians could well be buying more of our beer as I think that their home grown stuff is bloomin’ awful!
I thought you maybe interested in this reply from a Brexiteer
Have you seen a plan? No did not expect to see one – It would be unwise to show our hand
Remind me, what does Brexit mean? – It means leaving the EU
What’s your problem with parliament? – Nothing I want it to take back responsibility for more of our laws
Do you know what the odds of winning in a game of 27 to 1 are? – That is one of the reasons I think we should be leaving
What’s great about being out on your own? – You can make your own decisions
Tell me precisely which EU regulations you want to get rid of? – Regulations on bananas?
Have you seen that £350 million a week bonus yet? – No but when we leave I think it will be better to keep the £10 back rather than give it to Brussels and let them give us a fiver back without ever being able to account for where the other £5er went
Precisely what control have you got back? – None yet but we will do.
Are you expecting two million UK nationals living in the EU to return home soon? – No and the ones staying here will not have to leave anyway
How are you going to decide who you’re sending home? – Won’t need to just don’t like the word unlimited
Do you know what someone who is forced to leave the country where they live is called? – This is not relevant
How are you going to make sure the NHS has the nurses it needs when we impose migration controls in 2019? – We will still have immigration
Which UK universities are you happy to see go bust because of a shortage of EU students? – They will have to perform better
Do you know who picks most of the UK’s fruit and veg? – Who do you think will be doing so in the future? We will still have immigration so probably the same people if not anybody else from around the world
Why are you so keen to deny our young people the chance to live, learn and work abroad? – I am not.
The EU was intended to prevent war ever happening again in Europe. How does leaving help that? What’s the plan? It is probably more likely now to happen because of the EU. – Just read the news
How is increased paperwork for every single import and export going to save British business money? – It is not
How precisely will we be better off when we have to pay tariffs on most things we import? – We will buy British instead.
We import more than we export. How are we going to win from tariffs? – By buying British
How are the 30,000 new civil servants working on Brexit cutting red tape? – This is a long term project and I accept short term upheaval
Did you want to encourage Northern Ireland and Scotland to leave the UK? – Not really I don’t think they will leave though
When the City is based in Frankfurt where will you find replacement tax revenues? – Efforts by the EU in the 90’s to make Frankfurt the financial city of Europe failed. I expect the City to maintain its status
Did you want the UK to be a tax haven with no chance if you benefitting? – Would be great to encourage more business here.
What is it that the Australians are going to buy more of from the UK? – Cheese
Where are you going on holiday next year? Expecting a warm welcome? Cornwall – always get a warm welcome there
Quick reply to this message Reply Reply With Quote Reply With Quote Multi-Quote This Message
Thanks for trying
Now try to do so convincingly
And with evidence
It is not my reply I contribute to a discussion thread on a football Website discussing the referendum but I thought I would let you see what average brexiteers are saying because it is quite frightening because of their lack of understanding of the issues that relate to the UK leaving the UK which they think do not affect them.
I will leave you with another couple after thanking you for writing so many interesting blogs and wishing you and your family well in 2017 and that your life in Academia is working out well
Most of the questions you ask are either totally spurious, based on conjecture, or have already been discussed in general terms, but some border on the hysterical, typical of “Project Fear”, which was instrumental in losing the referendum for the remain side.
Some of your questions are just plain daft, schoolboy debating society stuff. For example, you tell me what the odds are in a game of 27 against one. This isn’t to be trivialised as a game, but the answer in the case of us leaving the EU is certainly not 27/1. What are the odds against Usain Bolt winning a 100 metres sprint against any number of people?
Have you seen a plan?
No, and dont expect to.
Remind me, what does Brexit mean?
Means brexit – leaving the European Union
What’s your problem with parliament?
None
Do you know what the odds of winning in a game of 27 to 1 are?
Small
What’s great about being out on your own?
Most of the world is, life is out there beyond the great EU
Tell me precisely which EU regulations you want to get rid of?
Probably immigration rules as they are
Have you seen that £350 million a week bonus yet?
we have not left yet
Precisely what control have you got back?
we have not left yet
Are you expecting two million UK nationals living in the EU to return home soon?
nope, and I suspect that EU nationals living here wont have to leave either
How are you going to decide who you’re sending home?
see above
Do you know what someone who is forced to leave the country where they live is called?
see above
How are you going to make sure the NHS has the nurses it needs when we impose migration controls in 2019?
yes. daft question
Which UK universities are you happy to see go bust because of a shortage of EU students?
I doubt any universities will go bust
Do you know who picks most of the UK’s fruit and veg? Who do you think will be doing so in the future?
working immigrants I suspect
Why are you so keen to deny our young people the chance to live, learn and work abroad?
why would they be denied form working and living abroad?
The EU was intended to prevent war ever happening again in Europe. How does leaving help that? What’s the plan?
they desperately rely on our armed forces and security services, that will not change one bit.
How is increased paperwork for every single import and export going to save British business money?
is that a fact?
How precisely will we be better off when we have to pay tariffs on most things we import?
we have not left yet
We import more than we export. How are we going to win from tariffs?
this is something to be worked out. dont know
How are the 30,000 new civil servants working on Brexit cutting red tape?
I doubt they will be in those jobs forever. Celebrate new employment?
Did you want to encourage Northern Ireland and Scotland to leave the UK?
Good luck to them if they do
When the City is based in Frankfurt where will you find replacement tax revenues?
that wont happen will it
Did you want the UK to be a tax haven with no chance if you benefitting?
dunno really
What is it that the Australians are going to buy more of from the UK?
Why are you limiting this to the Australians?
Where are you going on holiday next year? Expecting a warm welcome?
been to Europe since. (france and italy) Many very much want out themselves who I spoke to. Tiny percentage I know but nationalism is on the rise right across Europe
The questions are real
And unanswered by most
In which case they are relevant
“How precisely will we be better off when we have to pay tariffs on most things we import?”
Nobody is talking about the UK imposing tariffs on imports, are they?
Under WTO rules you have to
Do you have a reference for that, Richard? As far as I am aware, WTO rules don’t forbid unilateral free trade in imports: rather, the rules govern what tariffs a country can impose on imports, if it so wishes.
My understanding is that tariffs must be applied: there is no free for all
But right now I am in no position to check
One of your more colourful trollers mentioned WTO tariffs being optional many months ago. Fortunately he no longer contributes, but he mentioned the Chinese garlic-smuggling story of several years ago, a crime which was only possible as the EU imposes the maximum WTO tariff of 9.6% on garlic from China but the minimum tariff of 0% on ginger from the same country. Hence it made sense to disguise a shipment of garlic as a shipment of ginger.
That troller was wrong on most things, so I’m sure you are right that WTO tariffs are compulsory and not maxima as he would have had you believe.
I have just done a quick bit of googling and it seems that under WTO rules the UK can’t impose tariffs on imports higher than the the EU imposed, but the UK could adopt the same, lower or no tariffs on imports.
So we give tax to others…….
Interesting game play
Now you know why we did VAT
Things will be fine ‘Clean Brexit’ could save UK £450m a week, claims pro-leave group
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/dec/27/clean-brexit-could-save-uk-450m-a-week-claims-pro-leave-group; more here https://www.changebritain.org/.
This looks like back of the envelope stuff….
Hi Richard
I voted against remaining in the EU mainly because of your first point.
I’ve done a quick answer on your questions
And would like to add a few for consideration
1 EU Army
2 Turkey Joining the EU
3 a rise in secret courts
4 genetically modified goods
5 EU being controlled by US multinationals
Have you seen a plan?
No plan has been released yet but my reasons for voting out are:
https://correctiv.org/en/investigations/ttip/blog/2016/11/04/heart-ceta/
http://www.waronwant.org/what-ceta
Remind me, what does Brexit mean?
Being a part of the point above
What’s your problem with parliament?
Apart from Wednesdays ‘Clown Show’
They get 5 years before they can be removed.
Unlike the EU who are there for life.
Do you know what the odds of winning in a game of 27 to 1 are?
27-1
What’s great about being out on your own?
Soverignty an the point just above
Tell me precisely which EU regulations you want to get rid of?
Trade In Services Agreement
Have you seen that £350 million a week bonus yet?
It will become share dividends for Government NHS sponsors
Precisely what control have you got back?
Its more a case of what controls haven’t we lost.
Are you expecting two million UK nationals living in the EU to return home soon?
Nope.
How are you going to decide who you’re sending home?
No one thats here already.
Do you know what someone who is forced to leave the country where they live is called?
Ethnic cleansing
Social Cleansing
Whos leaving?
How are you going to make sure the NHS has the nurses it needs when we impose migration controls in 2019?
For a very long time i’ve considered the Austrailian points method to be the way forward
Which UK universities are you happy to see go bust because of a shortage of EU students?
All the ones that can’t give value for money.
Do you know who picks most of the UK’s fruit and veg? Who do you think will be doing so in the future?
Answered above
Why are you so keen to deny our young people the chance to live, learn and work abroad?
There is nothing stopping them going abroad, where did you get that idea from.
The EU was intended to prevent war ever happening again in Europe. How does leaving help that? What’s the plan?
Nato is still very active in the pseudo middle east wars against Russia (And losing)
How is increased paperwork for every single import and export going to save British business money?
Extra employment maybe.
How precisely will we be better off when we have to pay tariffs on most things we import?
This will be off set against tarriffs charged, and will give home grown products a new chance.
We import more than we export. How are we going to win from tariffs?
See point above
How are the 30,000 new civil servants working on Brexit cutting red tape?
HKey word here ‘NEW’ as above
Did you want to encourage Northern Ireland and Scotland to leave the UK?
Personally I think Northan Ireland should become independent. It would put the lid on so much.
When the City is based in Frankfurt where will you find replacement tax revenues?
I don’t think they will be going anywhere, ref your next question below.
Did you want the UK to be a tax haven with no chance if you benefitting?
I doubt this will affect me.
What is it that the Australians are going to buy more of from the UK?
Only stuff they cant get at the moment, What are we going to buy from them. they have signed up to TPP (as point 1 above)
so nothing contaminated.
Where are you going on holiday next year? Expecting a warm welcome?
You arn’t aware of the protests in Europe about point 1 i’m guessing.
So anyware would be good.
Kind Regards
Phil
I got to your point on Turkey joining the EU and realised you weren’t serious
*Have* to pay import tariffs? We will only *have* to pay import tarriffs if *we* for some bizarre reason chose to impose them.
I clearly need to look at this, but I believe WTO rules require tariffs be imposed
But I accept I may be wrong
WTO rules are that tariffs must be no more than 5%. Zero is less than five.
Where did you get that one from?
You might add to your list why Conservative and Labour MP’s haven’t taken their duties seriously by producing a coherent Brexit Plan Alternative/s document to refute the previously published Conservative government report that the best economic option for the UK is to stay a member of the EU:-
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/504604/Alternatives_to_membership_-_possible_models_for_the_UK_outside_the_EU.pdf
Good point
I note that your ‘respondents’ mention a real mix of the issues that they have with the EU from the er….’sublime’ to certain concerns that we have shared here that are actually valid but now less likely to be addressed since we won’t be a part of the solution (perhaps).
The one thing they all have in common however is some sort of blind spot about why the Union (a treaty) was created at all and how quickly we might find ourselves at a point in history again where nationalism gets of control in the Euro area.
And what might make it worse this time is a USA that sees more profit in conflict than in peace and also how the USSR might want to get involved – competing with the USA and China via their influence and aid to failing or failed states involved who will just be their pawns in the bigger power struggle.
Its time that remoaners thought about making a positive contribution rather than trying to create an ‘I told you so’ situation.
What we do, what we demand, what we reject is what will make the difference.
So start working on it.
Firstly – demand a unity government. Brexit is a big enough deal to warrant this. this is not the time for punch and judy politics.
– to bring Brexit out of the darkness, cos as long as it is kept there, it will be a Brexit for the City of London, and into the light – for transparency and for a public interest Brexit.
– so the remoaner Labour Party will have to make a positive contribution in order to be in that govt – which Corbyn certainly isn’t doing at the moment.
I am a realist not a remoaner
And I will and am working on what needs to be done
But answering those questions honestly is a pore-condition of going forward
If you can’t or won’t you are the problem. And that you are complaining is itself I have hit the nail on the head
This appeared during the festivities: http://news.sky.com/story/donald-trump-aide-wilbur-ross-use-brexit-to-steal-uk-trade-10707632
If this advice is followed by the USA, and why not, who can the UK trust?
In the situation we have put ourselves in, no one
Turning your back on partners tends to result in such outcomes
Given the appalling deals that UK was “forced” to accept from the USA when seeking help during WW2, e.g. destroyer boats not fit for service at exorbitant cost – I have no doubt that USA will exploit the situation to their own advantage as much as they can. Why on earth any politician regards our relationship with USA as special in any sense other than abusive I have no idea.
Seems like it’s a Brexit reflection day – lol. My question is why did Cameron opt for a simple majority referendum for such a critical constitutional issue with so many variable factors, when a qualified or ‘supermajority’ was clearly the correct formula. Surely he must have consulted professional advisers such as academics and civil servants.
Currently 70% of the N.I. economy is public sector. How much more per week in adfitional taxes are you willing to pay to enforce a hard border in Ireland?
£5?
£10?
£An unlimited amount — whatever it takes?
£Some other amount? Please specify.
What are you seeking to say?
How much more will Australia buy from the UK?
A clue:
https://brianmlucey.wordpress.com/2016/06/18/brexit-delusion-of-the-day-australia-will-save-us/
Do we have an update on whether WTO tariffs are compulsory as Richard believes or are maxima?
I understand they are not compulsory
But my point was always can we win from tariffs and tariff wars and the answer remains a resounding no