I predict.....

GrannyLondon
.. and life is SO much better now?
Don't make me laugh.

With our cushy benefits system there are no poor people, only profligate, or lazy wasters.

Of course we will stay in Europe; it's the continent we are attached to by the continental shelf under the English Channel. The EU is a different matter altogether.

Hopefully, we will leave the EU on March 29th next year and trade on WTO rules just as most of the world do successfully. Most of the world has 'no deal' with the EU or any other country for that matter! We can then decide whom we would like to have a Free Trade Deal with. Let's not pretend we have one with the EU now; we pay over 50 billion pounds a year for the pleasure of it.

For those who do not know what WTO tariffs mean then please google an excellent article by Ruth Lea CBE called Liberation from the EU. Ruth Lea is economic adviser at the Arbuthnot Banking Group. The article explains it all very nicely and tells you how the majority of our politicians and the media have been lying to us about 'falling off a cliff edge' rather than 'walking through a door of opportunity'.

I'm sure the Arbuthnot banking group are enthusiastic about a hard Brexit because they stand to make a great deal of money speculating in the ensuing instability. Let nobody underestimate how much volatility there will be, some will win some will loose I guarantee the smart and rich will win.

There will certainly be a period of difficulty, a "cliff edge" until the new system gets established, as for a free trade agreement with other countries, the US for example, there will be so many exemptions due to competition, protectionism and environmental differences it will be anything but free.

Think of no deal as upsetting a very large Jigsaw Puzzle, it's going to take a very long time to put back together and find all the missing pieces.

quizqueen, thank you so much for recommending that article from Ruth Lea. I found it on utube and thoroughly inspiring and comforting it was. I do recognise the lady from newspaper review sessions, question time etc. A real bright spark and full of common sense applied to her vast knowledge and experience. Again, thank you. Really appreciated.

There is only ONE country in the world that operates solely under WTO terms. That is Mauritania. For those of you not familiar with Mauritania, it’s GDP is $4,714million (0.2% of the UK’s), 50% of its exports consist of Iron Ore, and between 1% and 17% of the population still live in slavery.
It appears that this is the country that Leave.UK wish to emulate. I am afraid that this is not a vision for Britain’s future that I can share.

GG said With our cushy benefits system there are no poor people, only profligate, or lazy wasters

I think that is the most offensive statement I have ever seen on GN.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

How about naming names oldbatty?
Better to be transparent in comments rather than hinting about unnamed 'transgressors'. You left us wondering and we might come to the wrong conclusions.

Granny23
It's only offensive to those to whom it applies...IMO, of course.

It’s not only offensive G23 it’s completely wrong, uninformed and devoid of all evidence. So nothing new there then.

It's offensive to anyone who has humane feelings towards their fellow human beings.

Be offended. It's you whose BP is rising, not mine.

Anyone else want to join the 'sheep pen'? It could get into the Guinness Book of Records.

Keep to the point of the thread Gabriella

Not naming the others who instigated the diversion?

I will no try to give an opinion on what is likely to happen over the next three months as there are several scenarios that may come about.

However, there are now many in the Road Haulage industry who are beginning to believe that should Britain "crash out" of the EU on the 29th March then free movement through the ports would continue in the weeks that follow.

Logistics managers in the industry are basing the above on the observations that at the present time no preparations for the large-scale stopping and checking of trucks are taking place. As one of the large distribution company executives advised only last week " it is almost as if everyone cannot bring themselves to believe that this situation may actually happen and therefore nothing is happening".

Of course, the above could change as the weeks roll on and the Brexit date gets ever nearer. However, to set up the infrastructure required on the European side of the Channel will take a considerable period of time and that may well rule out anything happening on the 30th of March.

However, what the Distribution companies do firmly believe it would seem, is that the largest threat to the supply chains if it appears that Britain will "crash out" on the 29th March is panic buying in the weeks leading up to that date.

It appears that the largest threat to our stocks of food in the run up to B day, is the GBP... those who count themselves as level-headed, not greedy, sharing and caring of their fellow (wo)men. I wonder how many UK residents will shop without overbuying? Will you? I certainly won't.
Decades ago, I remember a sugar shortage and a next door neighbour bought dozens and dozens of the largest packets from as many shops as possible.
The funny thing was that I knew them well enough to know that none of the family used sugar, in or on anything. It's a certain mentality that prompts people to act selfishly.

I'm with Granny23 in finding the comment regarding benefits claimants offensive (as well as extremely ill informed)

Form an orderly queue.

You're all right then Jack?

My blood pressure is fine, Gabriella (I have the pills to keep it level) , but if you should hit bad times (illness, disability, redundancy, bankruptcy of your employer or pension provider, mental illness alcoholism or criminality in your close family, hackers removing your savings) and are left with no money, I am sure you will reject any benefits that may be ofered to you. after all, you won't want to rely on the cushy system, will you?

quizqueen, I googled Ruth Lea and the article that seemed to be prominent was this one (or variations of it) It's rather old, but is it the one you're referring to? If it isn't, would you give us a link, please?

www.arbuthnotgroup.com/upload/marketmatter/documents/16th_january_2017.pdf

Here's a rather robust critique from Pete North (a committed Leaver)

peterjnorth.blogspot.com/2016/02/ruth-lea-couldnt-be-more-wrong-if-she.html

No raised blood pressure, GG, just sad that there are people around who think like you. Hopefully, a minority.

Sorry to derail your thread, Anja ; it's been a good and interesting one.

No problem MaizieD

However, there are now many in the Road Haulage industry who are beginning to believe that should Britain "crash out" of the EU on the 29th March then free movement through the ports would continue in the weeks that follow.

A smugglers' and counterfeiters' charter, then, Grandad?

Elegran
None of the instances you mentioned apply, nor would they. I'm retired, my pension is safe, my AC and GC are all working and very solvent, my health is excellent (not and never have been on any meds or needing any aids for walking, seeing, hearing) no criminality/habits in my or wider family and I have very healthy bank accounts, no debt and a reasonably wealthy ex with whom I get on well.
At 73, I can't see anything changing bar me getting older, as indeed we are from birth.
Thank you for reminding me that I may need benefits at some time but, apart from the winter fuel allowance and bus pass which are available to all oldies like me, I can say with some certainty, that I will never need any state help...thank goodness. I'm grateful for all I have.