Brexit 5

JessM: If any PM said ...

"Thank you for the referendum - and I'm sorry you went to all that trouble - but now we have looked at the practicalities and the cost and complication of the leaving process I've concluded that we really can't afford it at the moment."

...I suspect he or she would succeed where Guy Fawkes failed.

I would imagine at least half the population would lose what faith it still has for Parliament and that might open the door to extremism of all sorts. I don't think many here would want that outcome and I would fear it far more than Brexit.

Bags, there were four photos of Boris. I wonder when people will stop focusing on that photo in particular?

Will we ever know what was in the PMs' mind when she appointed that arse as Foreign Secretary. If her plan was to give him enough rope to hang himself in the role, then has she not noticed that he has now done so.

I would have thought impossible to do forecast for 5 years. It is very hard to do a 3 year forecast for a very modest company with a few dozen employees in a fairly stable economic environment. A whole country when we don't know whether in five years time we will be in the single market or outside in the wilderness with years of trade negotiations ahead of us.? Quite apart from not knowing what Trump will do and how that might affect interest rates.
Apparently if Trump starts borrowing lots of money to build infrastructure then interest rates will rise around the world and then of course our personal and national debts will take on a very different complexion.
The only sensible thing the PM should say at this point is "Thank you for the referendum - and I'm sorry you went to all that trouble - but now we have looked at the practicalities and the cost and complication of the leaving process I've concluded that we really can't afford it at the moment."

I wonder when people will stop publishing that picture of BJ stuck on a zip wire. I'm sure it was his fault he got stuck and he only did it for the attention. [Sarc emoji]

I'm sure no other politician has ever been on a zip wire [sarc emoji 2]

How about grans? I have, several times. Never been stuck though so obviously I'm not a clown.
Anyone else?

Well done, Boris. Looks like it's going to be a hard Brexit.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/25/boris-johnson-clown-eu-britain-foreign-secretary

fullfact.org/health/health-tourists-how-much-do-they-cost-and-who-pays/

The most up-to-date figures I could find because the government says it's too difficult and costly to collect figures under FOI requests.

Yes Ana the ' oh, that's alright old chap' attitude!

Maybe that's what somebody on here meant when they said that perhaps we should stop being so 'British' about things!

That's interesting Felice and chimes with what a consultant was saying on radio 4 the other day.

Hard to do a forcast for the next five years ( so it could well be wrong) I think it would have been more spot on to do one for two years and then do the next two years once we have actually left the EU.So much change both in Europe and in the US to come, makes forcasting hard.

Or, perhaps they are using Brexit as an excuse for their useless economic management. I wonder which it is?

So 2.4% shrinkage in the economy forecast by and accepted by the Chancellor as the result of Brexit.

Not miles away from what was forecast by the remainers pre referendum.

Brexit is swamping absolutely everything the Treasury is doing.

I have been staying well out of these debates but just thought I would post this.
7 years ago I had to go to Scotland for 4 weeks. I was having weekly blood tests at the time(anti-coagulent). I went to see my Mothers doctor with my Health Insurance card and an attestation from my insurers promising full payment of all medical expenses.
It was refused I was told they would register me with the practice, 'so I didn't have to pay anything'.
I got the feeling they just did not understand how to claim the costs back.
Not a huge amount I am sure, but it all mounts up.

Ooh sorry - they won't need to pay more tax as we will be saving £350m a week , oh but that's going to the NHS isn't it? ( there's another pig flying by...)

Health tourism is a distraction topic. The government have no idea how many "health tourists" there are, because hospitals are not checking. If everyone was checked there would have to be an army of trained administrators who were trained to assess identity documents. Anyone who works in recruitment will tell you that this is not easy, as you have to be able to understand all the different types of visa and what they entitle people to. As Mark Porter said, the systems are in place if Trusts feel there might be a significant problem in their area.
So utter distraction from the fact that we were in economic hot water before the delusional vote to leave the EU. Little gem from Twitter yesterday - the civil service are completely stumped about the legal transition between our current laws and post brevet law and and are desperately seeking legal advisors to help them. More cost then.

Maybe those who voted leave should offer to pay more tax to foot the Brexit bill.

^ And who in their right mind believes there's any money coming back?^

Nobody believed the bus then?

Well that's good because we appear to be headed for a £122bn hole in our public finances.

Washerwoman thanks for your good wishes. I'm sure if we met in person we could have a reasonable discussion about the subject. I am not angry at the result, disappointed yes, but not angry. However, I am angry at David Cameron and the Tory party for offering a referendum expecting a remain result and which, in reality was intended to quieten the constant party infighting over the EU. I would rather we renegotiated our position from within the EU (even if it was a difficult process), rather than be in the current situation. The problem as you've mentioned, is that every tiny piece of news (or speculation) is disected by both sides. The result is the level of conflict completely muddies the waters and our chances of knowing the truth.

I have two older friends who vote in elections (for the same party every time), but know very little about current events other than the headlines. They've always told me it's because apart from voting, everything else is out of their control, so there's no point in worrying or complaining. Maybe they're right.

You are very naughty and should be called Frenchwife

I agree, but Margaret has told us that she has lived in Germany for a long time, so I assume not a tax payer, but could be wrong.I also assumed that you lived in Wales, so was wrong about that too.

Roses I live in France and pay as much income tax in UK as when we still lived there - taken at source and we have no choice - plus we pay about the same in France as well. - so you cannot be at all sure what taxes people are paying and where unless they tell you!

Wilma we all spend more time than we should on here!
washerwoman I agree with your posts.

No, Margaret lives in Germany I believe.So will not be a tax payer paying a bill for anything.

Do you live in the UK, MargaretX?