BristolUK

scrubbedexpat098

Re registered this morning as I got my reminder through, I get a feeling it's going to be a massive turnout.

scot47

What percentage of the electorate understand the issues ?

scrubbedexpat098

hopefully a higher percentage than that of the politicians that do.

Shard

Approximately 48.1%.

BristolUK

dave_j

What percentage of politicians understand maths?

Diane Abbott says she 'misspoke' on Labour's police policy - BBC News

Shard

Brexit: Theresa May says she'll be 'bloody difficult' to Juncker - BBC News

What a joke of a leader.

Almost Canadian

But, to be fair, most of the choices for Commission President were

Watching from afar, it does appear to be that the EU is being deliberately obtuse and are attempting to use their "dominant" position to ensure that the deal reached with the UK discourages any other EU states from leaving too.

I have to admit that I haven't looked into this in any great detail at all but why will the EU insist that the UK pays 65 billion to it after it leaves? How has such a sum been calculated?

Vulcanoid

Watching from close, there's one party that's being deliberately obtuse, and it's the one on the island, which still seems to think everyone else is chomping at the bit to agree "So we get all the unmitigated good bits, some of the other good bits, cut out the good bits we don't really want, and none of the bad bits".

Any divorce settlement will include the UK's bill for already agreed upon liabilities. These have been agreed up to 2025 (the c. 65bn). It's in no way unreasonable to ask people who agreed to fund various projects and programmes to then actually do so. Take a look at some of the options at https://www.cchdaily.co.uk/uks-bill-...uld-top-eu65bn

Shard

The 65B is clearly subject to negotiation, but the principle makes reasonable sense; as the larger entity they are playing hardball. England would do the same thing with Scotland in such a situation. I don't think the EU are being deliberately obtuse, though there is an element of setting an example. It's a protectionist trade block, just as the US, Japan and China are, that's why it's foolish for Britain to leave. You can't choose your neighbours.

Almost Canadian

That sounds like "soft brexit" to me. I don't believe the UK government is suggesting that at all.

That article doesn't appear to support what you have stated above. I believe it would be somewhat silly for the EU to ask the UK to contribute to a budget post brexit when that particular budget was set on the basis that the EU would fund things in the UK, just as it would be ridiculous for the UK to insist that, post brexit, the EU funds anything in the UK

Almost Canadian

Other than them throwing their dolly out of their pram, is there any real reason why the divorce and the post brexit trade deal cannot be worked out contemporaneously?

I agree with you that the EU is playing hardball.

Vulcanoid

It's literally the source of it.

I don't see how it's 'silly' to ask someone to pay a bill they've already agreed to. Reneging on a already-made commitments might be possible, but will in no way endear little england to its largest trading partners.

The furthest out commitments appear to be 2025; past that point, any further contributions would have to be negotiated. Before that, withdrawing is likely to involve consequences, or at the very least, bad blood.

scrubbedexpat098

The EU is shaping up to look like a bullying husband to a wife who wants out. 'I'll bankrupt you, ya slag'

The way I see it if we're going say that Brexit voters didn't understand what they were voting for but thought 'sod it' and went for it, then I think it's fair to say that remain voters only understood enough to realise they weren't up to the task, and voted for no change. Much as I think Brexit is a bad idea, I actually admire the mindset of a Brexiteer more.