Almost Canadian

Maybe; maybe not. I don't actually know; nor do you.


All are entitled to their opinion.

BristolUK

Granted. But when someone states they are against something and then they are asked if they'd like to implement the something that they are against, it might be reasonable to assume they will do something that they are against because there is some potential advancement in it for them that makes up for doing something that they are against.

JamesM

It's all kind of a waste of time though isn't it?

No battle plan survives contact with the enemy or frenemy- depending on how one views the EU.

Ultimately all parties can outlay a vision but with out buy in from the other 20+ member states the vision is a pipe dream. Although it does seem that that is what people vote for these days with out credible news sources/ fact checking or dosage of reality.

May called the election because it is her best chance at retaining power for longer and ultimately that is the prime objective of politics in much the same way short term economic growth is the goal of economics.

Almost Canadian

I don't disagree with anything you have said.

Although, with all the comments as to whether the voters wanted a "hard" or "soft" brexit and whether they were misled, one assumes that each party can set out their position, and the voters can make their decision and the one with the most seats can argue that they have a mandate.

I do, of course, realise that the election will not just focus on brexit and that the "winner" will likely have less than 50% of the votes cast.

I also agree with you regarding first contact with the enemy.

While I accept that I am in the minority on this board, I believe that brexit offers far more opportunity for the UK than it does for the rest of the EU, now that it has been triggered.

LouisB

There is one reason to want to out brexit even the hardest of brexidiots...

Ever done such a bad job so you either don't have to finish it or do it again.... in brexit case, a botch brexit might be a stealth way to bin it 😉 Although conversely you might need to literally be a miracle worker to deliver brexit according to some people's belief of what it will be 😂🤦‍♂️

Oink

Whether Brexit is good or bad for the economy or whether we should or should not have an election, I just enjoy watching the hysterical indignation of the privileged middle classes. Apart from the ERM debacle in the early 90s and the Iran-Contra affair, this is probably the most entertaining period in my lifetime. While I love football, Brexit is way better than the World Cup.

JamesM

It's entertaining because you know the mighty Spurs are chasing a double!

World Cup's haven't been any good since the real Ronaldo was top scorer in Korea/Japan.

The Brexit thing is odd. Basically before you hold such an important referendum you need a clear plan for both outcomes is the only lesson learned. I just think it's all a waste of time and a welcome distraction from the real drivers of inequality and declining living standards.

LouisB

A risky waste of time with a potentially long-term harmful outcome.

It'll solve nothing, as is always the case when you address the wrong causes as attributed by blaming anything and anyone but the real root causes.

Oink

The middle classes are just upset that they'll have to do a bit more paperwork before they can exploit European teenagers.

LouisB

Haha well on that specific topic, maybe 🤦‍♂️

But don't forget the genius that will be barista visas 😂

Alan2005

You're a driver of inequality and declining living standards. Ner.

Shard

Do you mean exploiting them with work they were unable to find in their own countries? Forcing them to gain English language skills, that kind of thing?

Certainly there is an argument that some sections of British youth were disadvantaged by the influx of Europeans, but leaving the EU is not the only solution to that problem.

As an indication of how inept the political class can be, it's being proposed that a "barista visa" be introduced to protect the supply of highly trained coffee workers.

Shard

As one Labour MP put it, the UK may well become some 'super Cayman Islands' nation off the European coast.

International opportunity always exists. Whether it is sufficient to make up for reduced trade with Europe is what remains to be seen.

Vulcanoid

Furious that they've had their and their childrens' and their parents' rights to live, work, study and retire across a continent ripped away for no gain or reason, would be closer.

The irritation from things like rising food prices when we discover we don't have a farm labour force anymore hasn't even started yet (although considering that the age group biggest on ripping us away from our rights was the elderly, I do hope they enjoy the Tories' suggestion that retirees can pick asparagus and strawberries in the fields for agricultural minimum wage as a replacement. The quitlings deserve it).

Shard

Absolutely. Those without opportunity felt no compunction to pull the rug out from under those with opportunity. Let's just call it the British disease.