Brexit watch

Oh dear, the straight cucumber myth pops up again. Shouldn't it be a banana anyway, if you're going to do it properly?

I met an accountant the other day who was from New Zealand. He was telling me how his country felt betrayed by the UK when it joined the Common Market, and how the New Zealand economy collapsed because the UK was their biggest market. Perhaps now world trade will resume, and no more straight cucumber legislation.

'A petition calling for a second EU referendum that gained over four million signatures is to be debate by parliament, the Petitions Committee announced on Tuesday.

The petition, which was set up by Leave voter William Oliver Healey and became the biggest in history, is scheduled for a House of Commons debate on September 5 at 4.30pm.

The committee, in announcing its decision, made clear that in confirming the discussion would take place, it was “not supporting the call for a second referendum'
..I need to formulate what to put in the letter to my MP about this [not expecting much as she was supporting Leadsom]. Any ideas?

You gotta hand it to recent British governments! It took English kings hundreds of years to lose their lands in France. They've managed it in just a few years AND they've sold all the family silver to go with it!

Errrmmm! So those with the biggest homes, who pay more for their heating, will save most? Yup! That sounds fair! Meanwhile, what about this price rise?

Quote from Gisela Stuart on energy;'Finally on energy, the poorest households spend three times more of their income on household energy bills than the richest households spend. As long as we are in the EU, we are not allowed to cut VAT on domestic fuel. When we Vote Leave, we will be able to scrap this unfair and damaging tax'.
so, don't worry folks...!

www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-3500575/French-government-expected-agree-terms-EDF-bailout-energy-firm-ahead-start-building-Hinkley-Point-power-station.html

The French government will take over much of EDF to build new power station in UK and supply electricity, UK is promising them a guaranteed price for electricity (3x current price)- bills will rise
One wonders why the UK unable to build own power stations, maybe because successive governments have sold off our assets to try to balance trade deficit.

More in Parliament:

A report has suggested that a UK departure from the EU would leave Britain's environment "in a more vulnerable and uncertain position."

The study has been prepared by the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP).

According to the analysis, membership has had "a significant positive impact" on the environment.

But pro-Brexit campaigners dismissed the report as "complete tosh".

MPs divide to vote on the Labour motion criticising the government for a lack of planning on Brexit and calling for the government to "identify and fill any legislative gaps in environmental protection that may arise from the removal of EU law".

MPs vote to reject the Labour motion by 278 votes to 229.

Of course they shouldn't have been sold. We're at the mercy of foreign owners for prices and quality.

French water comes out of my taps - and it's not even Evian!!

doh - not surprised. When I did warn that as most of our energy providers are now foreign, we would be over a barrel re prices- I was told that I was scare mongering- of course!
Energy and water should have never been sold to foreign companies in the first place of course. That is just common sense!

Today in Parliament:

Conservative Lord Cormack wants to know what steps the government is taking to ensure the continued participation by British universities in the Erasmus Programme.

He says "there is enormous concern" that this is "at risk - and will put back education by light years".

Government spokesperson Baroness Evans of Bowes Park replies that it is "one of many issues which needs to be addressed as part of negotiations" in Brexit and the referendum will not affect those who applied in the 2016 round.

In 2013-14, more than 15,000 students from the UK took part in the EU-sponsored Erasmus exchange programme.

This allows EU students to study at a university in another EU member state for a period of between three and 12 months.
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Twelve energy providers have pulled fixed-rate tariffs and replaced them with more expensive deals since 23 June, according to comparison website uSwitch.

The website found a dozen dual-fuel deals had been replaced since the referendum with new offers costing up to £105 a year more for the average customer.

It said wholesale energy costs had been rising for the past three months, and that the UK’s position as a net importer of energy meant a falling pound was pushing up prices.

British Gas, EDF and Scottish Power are among the firms to have repriced a fixed-rate gas and energy deal.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-politics-36570120 15.39

Could somebody please refresh my memory? I though Leave campaigners promised us cheaper fuel.

@suzied

The argument is is that countries like Germany with a strong manufacturing base and economy need weaker countries for their own export base. After WW2, America needed a strong Europe, so that it could trade with us. It's the same story now with the the stronger countries in Europe.

The UK's problem is that, unlike Germany, we have a balance of trade deficit. We don't export enough and we struggle because our wages are relatively high and we are inefficient, so our goods are expensive. That's why Thatcher had a vision that we should turn to financial services and people who worked in traditional manufacturing have been 'left behind'.

Germany doesn't support weaker economies, because it's altruistic, but because it's in Germany's best interest to have countries which can afford its goods. Incidentally, that's partly why we spend on overseas aid.

The more time goes on, the more the experts who warned what a Leave vote would mean are being shown to be right.
Scientific research is already being damaged, because grants are not being renewed. The economy is in flux, some bits up some down, but businesses that work both here and in the EU are having real problems worrying about the tariffs that will be imposed on both imports and exports, and that means parts made in different countries.The rise in racial attacks is apparent, it seems a lot of Brexiteers thought all 'foreigners' would be shipped off the next day.
And now there is to be a debate on a second referendum. I wish I thought something would come of it but I am doubtful. The Chinese have a curse, "May you live in interesting times". I certainly feel cursed now.

Google him, Tegan. His wiki page says he's ex-Conservative now standing as an Independent. He co-founded Homeserve. You're probably right to be suspicious that he might be funded by Ukip, but I couldn't find any evidence that he is, although Facebook 'invasion' sounds like their new style.

Suzied I know two very poor countries in Europe very well. Romania and Bulgaria.
I lived in Bulgaria for some years. I lived an hour from the Romanian border, so visited often. I have travelled in Serbia and Albania.
Now short of wiping out the government and their children and grandchildren ( because that's how it works) you will never never bring these countries standard of living up to ours. It's called corruption. It will never end, not in our lifetime, anyway.

blimey..I hadn't thought of that...

Is he one of the Royal Middletons, Tegan ?

I don't really understand why rich countries like UK , Germany , France etc should not help out poorer neighbours. It's like saying rich people shouldn't pay so much tax as some of it is used for poorer folk.

I wanted to preview that post but it posted instead, excuse rambling thoughts

Margaretx
Ok!

I accept the theory, Anya - but how were Murdoch and the other newspaper owner involved - were they part of the conspiracy or were they outwitted? And was Mrs Gove in on it or duped?
Perhaps in on it because she didn't want to be wife of PM?
apparently they are best friends with the Osbornes and presumably their noisy? children get on well with Osborne's quiet? children?

Or perhaps - Call me Dave has gone, I wanted to be PM, if I help you into power Theresa, can I be next?

Saints preserve us.

Who is this Jeremy Middleton who's on my facebook page under Jeremy for Mayor and Take Back Control in the NE? I really don't know who's on which side any more. Is he a good guy or UKIP?

`jalima I never said YOU were anti german just that some people in the UK are

petra the state of the Eurozone's finances was one which barely featured in the referendum debate. But, even though we weren't in the Euro, we were tied in financially in other ways, and this was one reason why remaining might not be the best option.

As countries like Greece, Spain, Portugal and Italy totter on the edge of recession, and other poor EU countries like Romania and Croatia are finding their economies shrinking, the U.K., France and Germany would have been called on to prop up these countries. I was never sure that we were 'stronger together' and I just hope that the EU can survive this crisis.

I like your thinking Anya