Lion in Winter

So this sort of thing?



I have a lot of random Irish (so probably Celt) plus some Norman (so Viking) plus a lot of other stuff that nobody's admitting to, like most Brits.

SultanOfSwing

I'm more of a Rangers man, myself. Plus I'd rather cut my own arm off than get one of those bloody sleeve tattoos

I keep meaning to have one of those DNA tests done, just for shits and grins, to see what really is in there. Doubt there's a simple 'Scottish' marker, so it'd be interesting to see what it is made up of.

mrken30

What if you find out you have Grizzly Bear DNA?

mrken30

This is what I have learnt about EEA and EFTA

1. If we leave the EU and join the EEA (the Norway model) then we will have to accept free movement of people (and most EU regulation but with no say in it)

2. We could try to join EFTA ( the Swiss model) but, you guessed it, we have to accept free movement of people and the European Council has already said no more EFTA. Oh and there's no financial services passport, one reason why Swiss Banks operate from London

3. The fallback is WTO trading rules but that means tariffs on 80% of our exports to the EU (40% of our trade). That will naturally make UK companies less competitive

And for added interest any current EEA or EFTA member can veto us joining one of those organisations. So Norway blocked Slovakia for example. If we beat Iceland in the football they might retaliate by blocking our EEA membership

BritInParis

If free movement of people is a problem we should follow the Liechtenstein model who, as members of both EFTA and EEA, do have the ability to restrict immigration from inside the EEA/EU.

See above for free movement of people. The European Council does not have any control over EFTA. Remaining in the single market by virtue of EEA membership would remove the necessity to negotiate a financial services passport.

WTO rules are the worse case scenario and are unlikely. Even if that were the case 4% is the standard tariff. The drop in value of the pound against the Euro is likely to more than cover this.

Not sure where you're getting that from. Slovakia has been a member of the EU since 2004.

sir_eccles

Oh God, the pound is in free fall.

mrken30

Just fell 6% in about 5 minutes

BritInParis

mrken30

Leave is in the lead at the moment, but it's been close from the start. Might want to buy some sterling tomorrow

mrken30

Pound is down to $1.36 time for a cheap holiday to the UK. Still falling

themadpooper

Leave already have it the bag - 80% chance

Never prouder of the old country

BritInParis

Leave half a million ahead with more than half the results counted.

mrken30

Now I need to go find the thread on the best option to buy pounds. It's down 10% or more now

Pulaski

themadpooper

Flights to the UK won't be any cheaper, sadly. Was hoping for a first trip back in 10 years