British workers are among the worst idlers in the world

Of course you should question the validity of statistics, it’s what scientists must demonstrate in their findings,. Of course you can never “prove a truth” since that isn’t a scientific concept - but you can support or refute an hypothesis with statistics.

Universities may have debating societies Lyndie but they are not debating societies they are places of education.

The Normans were the last invaders to take England by conquest, Fennel. Ireland and Malta are islands, too, and they don't seem to have any problems with the EU. But then they both have experience of being occupied/ruled by other nations. So perhaps that's what makes them look for strength as small sovereign nations in a community which is founded on co-operation rather than competition.

When I voted to Remain in 1975 it was partly because I felt that we were too isolated from Europe and that we should recognise that we are part of the continent. I really don't feel any differently now.

I'm finding it odd that a throw away remark in a speech made over 200 years ago (the context of which we have no idea about) should still be used as an 'anti-statistics' argument. As has been pointed out, statistics have been hugely beneficial in improving many areas of life. Our national hero, Florence Nightingale, spent the larger part of her very long life working with statistics to improve the medical care and living conditions of the British Army.

Additionally, whoever said 'there are lies, damned lies and statistics' should have been stifled at birth (unfortunately it was another of our national heroes ).

I'm also both amused and scared by this media campaign against universities. For a start, I doubt if most courses of study go anywhere near the topic of the EU. It would very properly be covered in subjects such as Law, History and Politics but even so, unless things have changed greatly since I studied History at uni; it was a case of 'Here are the books about it, read them and argue a case for or against'. Lecturers most definitely didn't tell you what you should think.

Maisie d

'They most of them seem to be extreme rightwingers'

You are one of a handful of posters who keep using the term far right/extreme right wingers in their posts.

Often a question is asked of posters what does 'far left'/'extreme left' left wingers mean to them so can I ask what do you think 'extreme right' /'far right' right wingers means to you. ?

Gracesgran

"This women is part of the far-right scum who have risen to the surface of the Tory party over recent years and she shares their neoliberal view of economics"

You too are one of a handful of posters who keep using the term far right/extreme right wingers in their posts.

Often a question is asked of posters what does 'far left'/'extreme left' left wingers mean to them so can I ask what do you think 'extreme right' /'far right' right wingers means to you. ?

POGS

Far Right - Want to completely eliminate the role of the state in providing any public services at all and to completely deregulate all workers' statutory rights/welfare provisions (e.g. wages, health & safety, working time, holidays etc)

Far Left - Total state control of everything (I could elaborate but I think that says it all)

Sadly, there is a small minority (as in most countries, mine included) - who are not keen on working- and happy to sponge on others. With fruit and veg rotting in the fields- perhaps all of them who voted leave should be drafted tp pick them.

Far-right politics is a term used to describe politics further on the right of the left-right spectrum than the standard political right, particularly in terms of more extreme nationalist, and nativist ideologies, as well as authoritarian tendencies.

Interested to see that you have made up a version to suit yourself POFS.

I don't think any veg that hasn't been harvested is a result of Brexit. There has been no shortage of seasonal European workers around here.

There have been crop failures due to adverse weather conditions and problems with supermarkets over projecting on quantities needed before the crops have been planted.

Equally far-left or extreme-left politics are terms used to describe political positions farther to the left on the political spectrum than the standard political left. As we haven't reached the level of the Nordic countries social democracy with what our left-wing is suggesting, and as the right are grabbing their policies very rapidly it says to me that there is no "far left" in government.

On the hand while we certainly have very few who have openly espouse the politics of 'whiteness' - often the social/cultural side of the far right - there are many who proselytise their religion of far right neoliberal economics.

Merlot, this is not what they are experiencing in Cornwall. They are really concerned about the daffodils crops this Spring, and Council leaders are:

Council leader Adam Paynter said: “Many of our major industries such as horticulture could be severely impacted and are already feeling the pinch with some of our crops rotting in the fields following a sharp fall in the number of EU workers.

“We are working with local partners to improve skills and employment for local people, but there will always be an important place in the Cornish economy for seasonal and migrant workers, particularly in the horticultural industry.

"We are calling on the government to take a place-based approach to future migration, to make sure that the Cornish economy has access to skills which may not be highly valued in London but which are vital to a major rural economy like ours.”

I thought Cornwall voted to leave. .....

I don't think any veg that hasn't been harvested is a result of Brexit.

Fruit and vegetables are being left to rot on British farms because of a shortage of labour, according to the National Farmers’ Union, which is calling on the government to implement a seasonal agricultural workers scheme to fix the problem.

www.ft.com/content/13e183ee-c099-11e7-b8a3-38a6e068f464

More Leave voters calling to be made a special case, Morgana?