amideislas

Well, no, it's about half that, but it's still a lot of money.

Yet there is a few trillion in global trade to/from the EU that passes through the UK daily, getting taxed along the way, contributing about 20% of UK tax revenues. I know, I know, "cake and eat it" and all that. Don't need the EU in order to continue to exploit it, right? Well, the EU sees it a bit differently, but who cares? We've "taken back control" now, right?

And economics aside, too many foreigners taking all jobs and living on Britain's generous benefits has been perhaps the most widely flung rationale for it. And despite that basic premise being false, it's pretty subjective, so it's more of an "opinion". So if Britain doesn't want "foreigners", well, it's what [some] Britons English want. So be it. I hear they're already upping sticks and leaving. Seems to be working.

In any case, whatever the reason for Brexit, I wish you all a lovely time with it. Just remember though, the minute you float it and set sail, it loses half its value. Then there's the mooring fees... And maintenance...

Well, good luck with that.

Golden Years

Oh, my mistake, I thought you were in Germany, the country which screws all of the weaker members of the Eurozone for its own benefit, which forces massive austerity on Greece after encouraging them to enter the euro under false pretences, that has a cartel in its car industry that cheats everybody else, that wants protection from the Russians but wants somebody else to pay for it.
So which country are you in that is so sensitive and thoughtful?

rspltd

For years it was only Germany and the UK that paid in - now it is 10 out of 28. Not what I call lots.

amideislas

Uh huh.

Do you presume this because that's what you would do? Or is it just the apparent: jealousy.

Psychologists have concluded that Brexit exhibits all the hallmarks of a collective inferiority complex, and there's plenty of substantive reasons for it; loss of the empire, loss of moral authority, etc. Jealousy would be a common result of that.

Anyway, thanks for pointing that out.

tebo53

Claptrap and Brit bashing.

bobd22

To be honest one thing re Brexit I am really sick of apart from Brexit itself is the constant analysis by so called experts as to why it happened and why certain areas voted the way they did. Not difficult really poorly prepared for and presented vote. Decimate over thirty years industry in large parts of central/Northern England replacing that industry with next to nothing, as a government ignore those issues simply feeding the unemployed benefits making many benefit dependant. At same time focus all wealth creation in London and surrounding areas. Add to that fill the deprived areas with the asylum seekers because it's cheaper to house them where property is worth nothing thus changing the whole make up of these areas and again when people complain even taking to the streets the government pay lip service and generally ignore the problems they created but slyly let people believe it is not their doing but because we are in the EU and following their rules. Real reason for Brexit from start to current mess is simply down to incompetence over years and arrogance by our own politicians, so we now cut our nose of to spite our face on little more than a pack of lies.

FranE

I should be glad to know the source of this info. No "agenda" here: I'm just interested in psychology and would like to learn more. Thanks

Annetje

rspltd

A lot of what you say strikes a chord. However the elephant in the room is the mind boggling amounts of money that the UK economy has paid into the EU and with what benefits. When I posed the question earlier the best someone came up with 'it gave us access to the single market' - something a number of other countries have without paying anything. And the gravy train still rolls on - just this week there has been a report stating that Juncker paid over £24000 for a private plane to take himself and his team on a one night visit to Rome. Apparently this was within the EU rules as the EU describes this as use of air taxis!! The EU has become corrupt, self serving and not what it was intended to be by some and now is reaping the harvest from many years of the same.

olivefarmer

That will no doubt be reflected in the so called divorce bill when the liabilities and assets are added up. I don't know where the Eu will get the money rumoured to be anything from 36 billion to 100billion to pay the UK. I suspect it will have to force EU countries to sell their assets- like roads (built with EU money). Precedent has been set in Greece so should run smoothly.

Annetje

For a good analyse of 'accessto'' or ''member of'' the single market, prepare yourself a cup of coffee, sit down, and have a good long read of the following (very informative and easy to read) :

https://www.ifs.org.uk/uploads/publi...0-%20Final.pdf

And then you can decide for yourself if it is worth it.

bobd22

If you think the proposed trade deals with USA India etc will come at no cost think again. Nothing is free it just depends how that cost whatever it is, is hidden.

Assanah

Which indicates a clear trend upwards. Most countries in the EU are growing much faster than the UK or the USA. There is a good chance that the numbers of contributing members will rise in the next few years.

Btw, I am curious what do you think about Scotland? Does Scotland receive more money from the UK government than others What's the punishment?

Assanah

Why do you want access to the single market? It is totally useless and gives the UK nothing. Begs the question why do you want access to any market , why do you want FTAs? Gives the UK absolutely nothing. Just trade with Scotland

bobd22

The divorce bill is not what EU owes UK it's what the UK owes them for future commitments already entered into by the UK etc?