Brexit is fast becoming a disaster

Digby Jones, former head of the CBI was a Brexit supporter. Now, because an estimated 1.3 million non UK workers have left the UK since late 2019 the CBI are calling for a relaxation in immigration rules because of the shortage of workers.

Apparently there are several areas where employers are having difficulty in recruiting staff, including brick layers, welders and butchers.

The CBI, in its report does suggest that employers should take greater responsibility in recruiting workers, including a review of pay rates.

As regards Nissan, the govt reportedly agreed back in 2016 to state aid of up to £80 million to keep the factory going in the UK. They are currently wanting tens of millions for the battery giga factory.

Nissan have also managed to reduce significantly the amount of C Tax paid in the UK by an inter company transfer with their Swiss Division. Back in 2015 the company turned over £5.2 billion and made a gross profit of £441,449. The net profit was £104,469 and they paid £22,890 C Tax.

No business in its right mind would continue with such a low return. I can't work out the profit percentage because my calculator won't accept the number of 0s needed.

The reason for the transfer of ownership of all their cars made to the Swiss division is preferential rates of taxes in Switzerland and that country is in the single market for the sale of goods.

It seems to me that the country has spent an absolute fortune in grants and lost taxes in keeping Nissan in the UK. Money that could be better invested elsewhere.

Very late to the party, MerylStreep. That was flagged up ages ago.

You keep saying that to posters MaizieD
Do you not realise that some posters don't spend all day on GN avidly reading every lost on every political thread?

I heard that on the news, a brief item, MerylStreep but hadn't read about it on GN.
Not taking a daily newspaper just in case it might be one on the Disapproved List, thanks for the link.

Every post

Lost or otherwise

"Boris Johnson’s government has had six months to make Brexit work. But so far the evidence is conclusive: his hard Brexit isn’t just bad for the UK it is devastating. Our economy, our standards and our values are being eroded daily, as this government lurches from Brexit crisis to Brexit crisis.

Just look at the evidence:

•We are potentially only "weeks away" from seeing empty shelves in supermarkets due to Brexit trade disruption, according to the haulage industry, and Cabinet Secretary Michael Gove has no plan to fix it

•Liz Truss agreed a desperate Australia trade deal that risks our cherished food, farming, and environmental standards, and drives farmers to the wall

•David Frost’s confrontational approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol has inflamed tensions and risks destabilising the ongoing peace process

And as the Settled Status application deadline passes today, my thoughts are especially with EU citizens in the UK. Priti Patel’s Home Office have shown a callous disregard for their welfare, pushing them through a pointless, bureaucratic nightmare."

Caroline Lucas MP

Callistemon

^Very late to the party, MerylStreep. That was flagged up ages ago.^

You keep saying that to posters MaizieD
Do you not realise that some posters don't spend all day on GN avidly reading every lost on every political thread?

I heard that on the news, a brief item, MerylStreep but hadn't read about it on GN.
Not taking a daily newspaper just in case it might be one on the Disapproved List, thanks for the link.

I've said it twice in the last few days. AS I have a big posting record stretching back over 5 years I don't think that twice in all that time qualifies for 'keep saying that'

We discussed the Nissan battery plant weeks ago. It is old news.

From The Hunting of the Snark
“Just the place for a Snark! I have said it twice:
That alone should encourage the crew.
Just the place for a Snark! I have said it thrice:
What I tell you three times is true."

I've said it twice in the last few days. AS I have a big posting record stretching back over 5 years I don't think that twice in all that time qualifies for 'keep saying that'

I suppose we have to wait for the third time of saying

varian

"Boris Johnson’s government has had six months to make Brexit work. But so far the evidence is conclusive: his hard Brexit isn’t just bad for the UK it is devastating. Our economy, our standards and our values are being eroded daily, as this government lurches from Brexit crisis to Brexit crisis.

Just look at the evidence:

•We are potentially only "weeks away" from seeing empty shelves in supermarkets due to Brexit trade disruption, according to the haulage industry, and Cabinet Secretary Michael Gove has no plan to fix it

•Liz Truss agreed a desperate Australia trade deal that risks our cherished food, farming, and environmental standards, and drives farmers to the wall

•David Frost’s confrontational approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol has inflamed tensions and risks destabilising the ongoing peace process

And as the Settled Status application deadline passes today, my thoughts are especially with EU citizens in the UK. Priti Patel’s Home Office have shown a callous disregard for their welfare, pushing them through a pointless, bureaucratic nightmare."

Caroline Lucas MP

My thoughts are with the British citizens in Europe who are facing exactly the same.

EU are treating NI as if it is not part of the United Kingdom. It is.

You say that the residency process is similarly difficult for UK citizens in Europe, but that is not entirely true Lin52.
Here in France the process for residency has been simple (especially by French standards where paperwork is notoriously complex). The online application took 15 minutes, the visit to the Préfecture was efficient and pleasant and the cards arrived promptly. Comments on forums report a similar picture across France. My son in Spain had no problems getting his card and I have not heard of major difficulties in other European countries.

Lin52

EU are treating NI as if it is not part of the United Kingdom. It is.

? No, Johnson insisted on and signed the protocol in his oven ready deal. It was the U.K. that decided NI would be treated differently, but now seem to have changed their minds.

Piss up in brewery springs to mind.

“Oven ready deal” - they did not have a clue how wide reaching the regulations would be, at least it avoided a border within Ireland.
It’s not just the EU regulations either there is a lot of new UK regulations added on too.

He just didn't have a big enough oven. Not his fault obviously, he had the deal oven ready, someone should have sorted the oven for him.

Last night I watched a DCMS select committee session on EU visas for creative workers with Lord Frost. I know this is 'old news' but it is worth reminding ourselves just how difficult life has become for the performing arts. One conductor, who travelled freely without visas only two years ago, now needs all sorts of documents, certifications, translations, health insurance etc, i.e. the industry is swamped by red tape. He needed four 90 day visas and each visa cost £490.

Lord Frost's reply was that he was sorry that artists are finding it difficult but the country took the decision to leave the EU and to stop free movement and that's what the government has tried to deliver on.

To me Lord Frost came across as uncomfortable and almost sheepish. He may be adept at using tactics at the negotiating table but carisma he has not.

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000xw1x/select-committees-eu-visas-for-creative-workers-committee

Is that the same Lord Frost who said he didn't realise that if we left the EU, then the EU would treat us as a non-EU country?

Yes, varian he looked and sounded very much like him. It's becoming increasingly clear just how much our ministers/negotiators did not realise.

I must learn to spell charisma:
charisma, charisma, charisma, charisma, charisma.
That should do it.

Unfortunately Frost is not as good as he was cracked up to be, including by some GNerswho sang his praises.

I read somewhere that the U.K. govt was asked to keep the flow of performers rights across the EU and they refused - possibly why Frost looked uncomfortable!

I believe this clarifies matters:

^”Amid growing uproar in the U.K. over post-Brexit travel for touring musicians, Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, said the British government had rejected a clear offer from Brussels to carve out a special deal for performers.
…
EU officials have said British negotiators refused to consider a chapter on "mobility," citing the U.K. government's intention to end freedom of movement after Brexit. The draft chapter on "Mobility" proposed by the EU was absent from the final trade deal reached on Christmas Eve.”^

If our government insisted on ending free movement I guess they were unwilling to compromise.

www.politico.eu/article/michel-barnier-brexit-touring-artists-work-permit-visa-free-travel/

It’s not just performers that have problems, all sorts of companies have problems now finding workers, so expect big price rises on all many things we all buy.

My hairdresser was saying that the hotel in which her husband works are desperate for decent chefs as they have all gone back to the EU.

I’ve read that is true right up to the Michelin star restaurants.

So fresh fruit and veg are running out and Truss is trying to invoke the war spirit by saying tinned food is as good as fresh and let’s all enjoy it.

She can stuff it up her a…s

According to local news on BBC last night the fishermen in Brixham can't sell their fish. Apparently we don't like the fish they catch, well not all of it as 75% was sold to the EU. Mind you Brixham voted for brexit as far as I can remember, the fishermen were very in favour back then.

Whitewavemark2

So fresh fruit and veg are running out and Truss is trying to invoke the war spirit by saying tinned food is as good as fresh and let’s all enjoy it.

She can stuff it up her a…s

In the last three days I have been to our large Sainsbury’s and the local Farm Shop no empty fruit and veg shelves?

Spider crabs being renamed Cornish king crabs to make them more appealing.

theworriedwell

Spider crabs being renamed Cornish king crabs to make them more appealing.

I love Spider Crabs, really tasty.