The cost of Brexit for us; the ordinary people

ww - "Apparently the answer to that question is yes rose she seems to do little else. May has trotted from country to country achieving nothing."

Wasn't that just what Cameron did earlier this year in trying to get us a better EU deal? It came to nothing. He was blanked, and had no authority or clout. The warning bells rang loudly then.

Says a lot about EU ministers. Glad we are getting out.

"All they can do is get miffed about the price of clothes and who said who to what, and banning people from meetings etc. It is the stuff of primary school."

Politicians can be idiots.
Don't forget the Labour Party implosion earlier this year.How many MPs back the leader of the party? How popular is Jezza really? That lot are the alternative to May and co. Puts things in perspective I think.

Leather trousergate seems so trivial by comparison, but if you must clutch at straws whitewave, do carry on.

Cunco

The government had not planned for Brexit, and so one of the few remaining sources of authority was the independent Bank of England. Its Canadian governor, the former Goldman Sachs banker Mark Carney, provided calm by announcing that Threadneedle Street had performed “extensive contingency planning” and would not “hesitate to take additional measures”. A month later, the Bank cut interest rates to a ­record low of 0.25 per cent and announced an additional £60bn of quantitative easing (QE). Both measures helped to avert the threat of an immediate recession by stimulating growth and employment.

www.newstatesman.com/culture/observations/2016/10/leader-mark-carney-rock-star-banker-feels-heat

Quite. The government's initial response to the referendum was for the PM and Chancellor to run for the hills and prompt a leadership election. Carney the only grown up in the room at the time.

Maisie: Thanks for the quote and information but the package was to help support the economy, not to prop up the Pound, as you suggested. Lowering interest rates would not prop up the Pound, just the reverse. The Guardian quoted Mark Carney himself as saying: By acting early and comprehensively, the MPC can reduce uncertainty, bolster confidence, blunt the slowdown, and support the necessary adjustments in the UK economy.

Carney, like his former employer, is an avid Remain supporter but acted with commendable professionalism over Brexit. It is a great shame that Parliament and former Prime Minister did not do likewise and prepare for either outcome to the Referendum.

Do you not realise, Cunco, that the pound and 'the economy' are intimately connected?

How patronising.

For those of you who scorn 'speculation' here is some 'speculation' which turned out to be uncannily accurate. Richard Murphy's pre referendum thoughts (which he has republished today)

www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2016/12/22/to-my-surprise-i-forecast-a-lot-of-the-last-six-months-pretty-accurately-so-what-of-the-next-period-in-uk-politics/

I think maybe people should re-read the blog I linked to in the OP and take it a bit more seriously

Not quite as patronising as Cunco's post, Ana. But of course perception of 'tone' is very subjective.

Apologies. Anya

But Murphy is an expert. Brexiteers don't believe experts. They probably don't even read his blog, even though they should.

But I thought that Brexiteers were open minded and objective people who read all sides before making up their minds..

His Christmas list sounds quite reasonable as well.

www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2016/12/22/what-i-want-for-christmas-2/

He might get the mugs from his sons, but I doubt he'll get anything he wants from the government.

Maisie: I do realise that the Pound and economy are connected. I think it is important, though, to understand that Carney was not trying to prop up the Pound as this would have made matters worse. He sensibly allowed the Pound to fall.

The lack of a floating currency is one of the predictable, and predicted, economic flaws within the Eurozone. It locks countries like Greece and Germany into a fixed exchange rate which is too high for one and too low for the other. It is now part of the problem rather than part of the solution.

I did not mean to sound patronising. It is an area a know a little bit about as I have a degree in economics and once had a career studying banking in the UK and Europe.

Maybe it is time to take a Christmas Break. I hope people have a good one and should you meet friends and family from the other side of the great Brexit divide, I hope you can use the knife on the turkey rather than on one another.

No turkeys in my family's celebrations, Cunco.

My family and friends are an independent bunch with diverse views and opinions. I am very lucky.

I am a member of one other Forum, mainly young expats. They are all saying they dread this Christmas at home with parents and other family, as they know they have voted leave, and they just cannot face it.

As am I, my family and friends would never fall out over Brexit/Remain, just as we would not do so over politics, thank goodness.
Perhaps use the knife on the nut roast anology for all vegetarians.

Why are they getting together then if they can't ignore politics for the festive season?

Doesn't sound as if there is much love or respect for one another, how very sad.

Exactly what I was thinking, Jalima! How strange that family members can feel such antagonism towards each other because of the way they've each voted in a referendum. Sad, and also silly IMO!

When you have elderly parents- and you live abroad- it's very hard to refuse to see them at Christmas. They are still your parents, and always will be. You seem to have no idea that for many this was not 'just a referendum' - but one that will change the face of Great Britain for a very long time- and make a massive difference to the lives and opportunities for the next generation + s.

Your 'just a Referendum' is either totally naïve- or totally disingenuous- possibly both. Many expats are abroad for better opportuntities but always intended to return home at some time- most I know now say they will never do so now.

Did anyone actually say 'just a referendum'? No, thought not...

Back to the mince pies!

One side of our family voted remain and the other leave. No one has fallen out over it and we're all getting together at Christmas.

That's what it means to respect the point of view of others.

The 'just' was very much implied.

Now imagine Christmas in the USA and how easy it would be for many to sit with their Tea Party, Fox News watching, Trump voters- pouring bile over Mexican rapists...

I couldn't.

We voted Leave and our Remain voting side of the family stayed with us last weekend. There was much to celebrate as it was DD's birthday and she has been very ill this year (now recovering TG)

Whenever politics was discussed it was in a light hearted way. I included a copy of 'Five on Brexit Island' in DSiL's Christmas presents and he enjoyed reading bits out to us as we were all enjoying the joke.

I wouldn't want to be a member of your family, granjura. Everyone is entitled to their views. Isn't intolerance and a sense of self-righteousness at the root of most problems?