Some effects of Brexit on unimportant people

Actually there was a huge amount of information given about what would happen to trade, businesses and travel and the Irish Border question right up until the vote but probably a lot of people chose not to read it or chose not to believe it.

Hello Kapitan
This is a thread about some effects of Brexit on unimportant people.

It would be odd if it wasn't about Brexit!

Some of us are telling it "as it is" but I haven't noticed anyone moaning.
Where are you looking?

Kapitan

Every time I go on Gransnet there is someone moaning about Brexit. Don't like it? Tough. This country is so much better than the entire EU, as our 30 million jabs and COVID freedom compared with draconian lockdowns in France for example shows.

The UK has a world beating death rate, too. Are you proud of that as well, Kapitan?

NotSpaghetti - Main thread para 5 onwards - all moans. Personally, I stopped buying any non-UK produced food where possible and eat the UK equivalent - we should all do that to support UK business. I even started eating Fish even though I don't like it. MaizieD - are you saying the death rate in he UK is greater than in any other country? Great that the Government has moved so swiftly to counter that and now make the UK the safest place to be in COVID times.

And coming in at number 5.....

Sorry to be flippant, but really. Pretending that the UK's COVID response is quick and effective makes me

Deaths per million we're at number 10, out of 220 odd countries

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Main thread para 5 onwards - all moans.

Jeez, Kapitan, you've a really weird concept of what constitutes a 'moan'.

I read that fishermen are considering suing Defra for lying about trade post Brexit.

olddudders - For the avoidance of doubt, is your comment a statement or are you calling me a troll?

Alegrias1 - You would rather we have curfews like in France?

Kapitan Actually, the last confinement in France (not the current one in 19 departments) was probably about the same as in the UK. We are going into a countrywide confinement Saturday evening.

As in the previous lockdown bars, theatres, restaurants, cinemas, sports centres are closed. We can go to DIY, nurseries, car showrooms, estate agents, chocolatiers, hair dressers, shoe repairers and book and record shops. A strange selection perhaps.

We are allowed to travel 10 km without a time limit so, no attestation required but we should carry something which proves where we live. If we need to travel further afield we do need an attestation. There are rules relating to travel over departmental borders. Fines for breaking the rules. Between 135 euros and 3750 euros for repeat offenders.

No alcohol in public places and I think it's a maximum of 6 people that can meet.

In France, depending upon one's circumstances, we know exactly what we can and can't do, unlike the UK where Johnson says people shouldn't do this or that and leaves it up to the people to decide.

The curfew hasn't made a great deal of difference to the middle aged and elderly I think. As I said above, bars and restaurants and places of entertainment are closed so there's not a lot to do in the evenings. As we get older, I think many of us prefer to meet up with friends at lunchtime, certainly in the winter. If we have friends round a meal, we know they're going to go home around 5.00pm which means we get a chance to clear up, chill and watch film or tv and not go to bed on a full stomach.

I think that the problems mentioned here that have been caused by Brexit would have been a lot easier to solve if we hadn't had a pandemic - and an over-reaction to it on both sides of the channel.

I went on a foreign exchange trip to France long before we joined the common market. And students will once again have that chance now we are out of the EU. It will just take time, and good will on both sides to come up with a way of relating to each other that is beneficial to us all.

When a friend of mine lived in Trinidad he was only allowed to stay for 6 months at a time. So every 6 months he would take a day trip to Venezuela and re-enter the country.

There are ways round most regulations.

That won’t be possible for people wishing to spend longer in a Schengen area country as passports are now logged on entry and exit and anyone found to be flouting the rules will face a fine or be banned from entering the zone for a few years at least. A 90 day visit in any period of 180 days is the maximum allowed - which is why countries are issuing residency cards to those legally living in their country.

GrannyRose I know two people who have emigrated to an EU country in the last year - one to Germany and one to Spain. Both have gone through all legal channels, obtained residency, bought health insurance, etc. It has been possible, but only because in both cases they are wealthy and don't need to seek work.

Covid-19 has not affected them in any way, except to make flexibility of travel more difficult.

The point I'm making is that they have only been able to to do what they have because they have money. Many people would not be able to afford to do what they have done, although they could have done before Brexit. Even short stays and holidays will be more expensive and some people will not be able to afford the increased health insurance, etc.

As for foreign students, I'm afraid you're talking nonsense. My daughter was an Erasmus student and my son, who is currently at university, had hoped to do the same. It is quite simply not possible. The opportunities aren't there and only the richest students will be able to afford the kind of exchanges which Erasmus previously offered. The Turing scheme is a pathetic substitute, which is why Eire is paying for Northern Irish students to continue with something like Erasmus, as (I believe) are Wales and Scotland. In any case, Erasmus was also about joint projects in schools and had many benefits for more people than actually took part in exchanges.

You are very fond of telling me I am talking nonsense, growstuff. It's not something I tend to do if I can help it. Just wait and see. Another scheme will come along soon.

Have all Brexit supporters had some kind of directive to use the phrase "Wait and see" as often as they can?

GrannyRose15

You are very fond of telling me I am talking nonsense, growstuff. It's not something I tend to do if I can help it. Just wait and see. Another scheme will come along soon.

There is 'another scheme' GrannyRose. A world beating scheme. It's called the Turing Scheme. As mentioned by growstuff. There won't be another one. Not under this government.

As for 'waiting', we've waited for 5 years and all we've seen is Leave 'leaders' lying through their teeth about the EU and our possible relationship and determinedly blocking any attempt to reach an agreement which would benefit the UK.

5 years, culminating in electing the most corrupt and incompetent government in my lifetime (if not ever in the history of the UK) whose 'deal' has practically destroyed several industries and hundreds (if not thousands) of businesses in the first 3 months.

Some of us are rather tired of waiting.

Dinahmo I didn’t feel attacked at all no need to worry. I voted for it because I believed the hype I’m sorry to say. I thought the money we spent on the EU could be better spent at home, I thought the NHS couldn’t cope with more immigration, I wanted the country to be independent. My sons both railed against my and DH’s votes, but unfortunately stubbornness is one of my less attractive traits and I didn’t listen to what they were saying.

I never really was that interested in politics and trusted the conservative government would always do the right thing by it’s citizens. I’ve been frankly horrified by both my children’s career fields drying up in the U.K. without any assistance to the fields by the gov.

Another poster asked about NZ funding, I think a lot has changed in NZ since the dancer you knew moved to the U.K. Jacinda Arden launched a fund for the arts that has benefited them both and academia apparently pays better there too. Dil works a short 3 day week and has a pretty decent income combined with her commissions. She is the primary breadwinner and son a stay at home dad, which they couldn’t have afforded to do here.

They are very happy, so with therapy I’ve made my peace with them doing the best for their family but it is very hard, and when I’m awake in the middle of the night I wonder if the vote had gone the other way if they would have all left.

Dilly Thank you for your response. I suspect that if the vote had gone the other way they would not have left - no reason to because the arts used to thrive in the UK and plenty of funding and exhibition spaces etc.

I have been watching Grayson Perry's Arts Club and have been amazed at the quality of the work submitted, mainly from amateurs.

Sadly there seems to be a number of GNers in a similar situation where there children have moved abroad because of their work situation. I hope that you will get to see them again soon.

Dilly, for some one who professes to be stubborn, you are really gracious in your posting and replies. I suspect you were not alone in voting in the way you did because you wanted the money to go to the NHS.

Sorry for repeating myself but thanks again for your honest posts Dilly.

Very kind of you all to say. Things came to a head with my relationships with both sons during the referendum and subsequent decision to leave. I saw a therapist and am slowly working on listening and thinking before I speak and act and also to relinquish control. I came from a generation when decisions were made, even in adulthood by the generation before. So I’m a work in progress you might say. Therapy was for me has been very useful.

DillytheGardener

Very kind of you all to say. Things came to a head with my relationships with both sons during the referendum and subsequent decision to leave. I saw a therapist and am slowly working on listening and thinking before I speak and act and also to relinquish control. I came from a generation when decisions were made, even in adulthood by the generation before. So I’m a work in progress you might say. Therapy was for me has been very useful.

That is really nice to hear I found therapy very useful too x

DillytheGardener

Very kind of you all to say. Things came to a head with my relationships with both sons during the referendum and subsequent decision to leave. I saw a therapist and am slowly working on listening and thinking before I speak and act and also to relinquish control. I came from a generation when decisions were made, even in adulthood by the generation before. So I’m a work in progress you might say. Therapy was for me has been very useful.

Good for you learning to change. I bet it’s made all your relationships better now that you’re able to more effectively listen and be flexible.