Has the penny dropped (as fast as the Pound)- Brexit is a disaster

Differences in UK and OZ meat production

www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-11/british-australian-food-standard-differences-causing-angst/100205024

Foxygloves

^GSM, yes, we in the UK^

Not to put too fine a point on it, but I don’t think you can say “We in XYZ ..” unless you are “in XYZ”
It’s misleading and before you off on one about having UK citizenship, I think we got the message.

Totally irrelevant. We are talking about the effects of Brexit on us the British people who are hugely affected by it. We only have UK pensions in Sterling, and no other income- so we are very directly impacted. Was it not for Brexit, our move would have been temporary and we would be back in UK by now that we are no longer required to look after my very elderly parents, now both deceased.

Irrelevant.

Dickens

Saetana

GrannyGravy13

I honestly do not recognise the U.K. Fleurpepper consistently posts about.

I can only guess that FP frequents dodgy areas, shops and restaurants when they visit the U.K.

Me neither - the UK is not suffering as a result of Brexit, it is suffering from a completely inept government - and I have no faith that Labour will be any better. Both government and the opposition are largely populated by morons, unfortunately. We deserve better.

Me neither - the UK is not suffering as a result of Brexit, it is suffering from a completely inept government

That's an interesting observation.

About 3 years before the Referendum, Boris Johnson penned an article for The Telegraph in which he opined that "if Britain left the EU, we would have to recognise that most of our problems are not caused by Brussels but by chronic British short-termism, inadequate management, sloth, low skills, a culture of easy gratification and underinvestment in both human and physical capital and infrastructure"

Although accusing the populace of a culture of "easy gratification" (I am assuming that it was us all he was referring to), is a bit much coming from a man who appears to suffer from the same 'culture'!

Going by his logic, that could explain why so many people say that they have not noticed any particular problems since we left, and that life goes on as before. Maybe the problems we had, or most of them anyway, were not after all caused by our membership?

In his article published on 12 May 2013, Mr Johnson said that he would support the legislation, but warns that Britain’s problems will not be solved by simply leaving the EU as many of his Conservative colleagues apparently believe. Well, he seems to have got that bit right!

So why did we leave?

You said, and I have no faith that Labour will be any better. Both government and the opposition are largely populated by morons, unfortunately. We deserve better.

I tend to the same conclusion. Though I don't think our politicians are morons, rather they are self-serving incompetents.

Starmer, for me, is disappointing. He may have some good ideas, but he does appear to be something of an 'appeaser'. He also did what Johnson did (and which many of us criticised him for) - got rid of those who opposed him in his party. Which I don't think is very healthy for a democracy.

And I instinctively do not trust politicians who are fervently in favour of a particular cause, argue fiercely for for it, and then flip-flop- it's a bit Groucho Marx... Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them…well I have others!

Ironically, the only two politicians who I really disliked, were and are, at the same time, the only ones who did not, and have not deviated from their beliefs... Thatcher and Farage.

Johnson, Truss and Starmer - they are all flip-floppers in my book. We've seen the results brought about by Johnson and Truss equivocating, I'm not over enthusiastic to see what the Starmer-effect will be.

Agreed - the amount of flip flopping, or u-turns, going on in politics is getting a bit ridiculous! Whatever happened to conviction politicians? I know there are a few, on both sides of the house, but it seems blowing in the wind is the current status quo.

Your position is hardly representative of ‘the British people’ Fp. I wish you would stop pretending to be ‘one of us’ and complaining about the effects of Brexit on ‘us’ when you have chosen to retire to Switzerland. You are only technically ‘one of us’, not in reality.

Callistemon21

Oh, not Australian beef again! 😁

British chocolate is made in the EU - if it's not up to EU Standards are the factories making illegal products then?

There are problems with Flakes- made somewhere in Europe and too soft to stay upright in the ice cream. That's another thing to blame Thatcher for - she invented "whippy" ice cream.Import air and reduce the quantity of ice cream.Looks the same but costs less.

Dinahmo

Callistemon21

Oh, not Australian beef again! 😁

British chocolate is made in the EU - if it's not up to EU Standards are the factories making illegal products then?

There are problems with Flakes- made somewhere in Europe and too soft to stay upright in the ice cream. That's another thing to blame Thatcher for - she invented "whippy" ice cream.Import air and reduce the quantity of ice cream.Looks the same but costs less.

And talking of Australians - Greenwich Council is considering banning icecream vans from streets in the borough. The Chairman/leader/whoever for the Council sounded Australian!

Camden already has banned them
I don't like Mr Whippy.

Fleurpepper

Why not Australian beef again- as standards are very different from those imposed on UK farmers, be it on husbandry, antibiotics and feeds, etc.

Really?

Chatting to an Australian cattle farmer the other evening and I know that their cattle are far more free-range than any cattle in Europe.

Husbandry - proof, please.

They are brought into the more lush paddocks near the homestead to fatten up before going to market.

Most supermarkets will not sell hormone-fed beef and I very much doubt it will be allowed to be imported into the UK.

Feeds? Australian bush, thousands of acres.

Fleurpepper

Foxygloves

GSM, yes, we in the UK

Not to put too fine a point on it, but I don’t think you can say “We in XYZ ..” unless you are “in XYZ”
It’s misleading and before you off on one about having UK citizenship, I think we got the message.

Totally irrelevant. We are talking about the effects of Brexit on us the British people who are hugely affected by it. We only have UK pensions in Sterling, and no other income- so we are very directly impacted. Was it not for Brexit, our move would have been temporary and we would be back in UK by now that we are no longer required to look after my very elderly parents, now both deceased.

Irrelevant.

I'm being a bit slow here.

We are talking about the effects of Brexit on us the British people who are hugely affected by it. We only have UK pensions in Sterling, and no other income- so we are very directly impacted

Are you saying that British people's pensions have been affected adversely by Brexit?

Or that the exchange rate fluctuations are affecting pensions of those with British pensions who live outside of the UK?
I'll ask our relatives who live in France when they come over.

I feel sorry for those in Australia whose UK state pensions have remained the same since they departed these shores.

Why not ethically raised, organically/sustainably farmed UK beef?

Fleurpepper

Differences in UK and OZ meat production

www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-11/british-australian-food-standard-differences-causing-angst/100205024

Thank you

From that ABC report:

Professor Parker said there were plenty of producers in Australia who did things to a higher standard

"^If Britain wanted to require those standards to be met before products could go there, then there would be plenty of producers in Australia who could meet the highest standards that Britain has.^"

Callistemon
There you go, sorted. Next problem ?

Are you saying that British people's pensions have been affected adversely by Brexit?
Or that the exchange rate fluctuations are affecting pensions of those with British pensions who live outside of the UK?
Do all the people receiving a UK pension abroad get paid the same amount? I mean is it worth shopping around banks to get better exchange rates, or is the amount always set in stone?

Joseann

^Are you saying that British people's pensions have been affected adversely by Brexit?^
Or that the exchange rate fluctuations are affecting pensions of those with British pensions who live outside of the UK?
Do all the people receiving a UK pension abroad get paid the same amount? I mean is it worth shopping around banks to get better exchange rates, or is the amount always set in stone?

We've found Nationwide to be very good when staying for long periods overseas.

Callistamon21 Are you saying that British people's pensions have been affected adversely by Brexit?

Or that the exchange rate fluctuations are affecting pensions of those with British pensions who live outside of the UK?

Different but similar, no Brexit, employed out of UK. My brother receives $3600/ monthly USA pension - Social Security (as well as normal job based pensions savings plans). He suffers Sterling fluctuations

Joseann

^Are you saying that British people's pensions have been affected adversely by Brexit?^
Or that the exchange rate fluctuations are affecting pensions of those with British pensions who live outside of the UK?
Do all the people receiving a UK pension abroad get paid the same amount? I mean is it worth shopping around banks to get better exchange rates, or is the amount always set in stone?

Not set in stone- our pensions get paid via a specific company every 3 months, at a good rate, comparatively.

But when you used to get x 2.5 and now you get x 1.14 - that is a MASSIVE difference. No one can plan for this 60% loss.

Not all due to Brexit, of course. And it is a two way thing- one currency falling sharply, and the other one going up

Just for historical info- when my mother came to study in London in 1930- it was 20 Francs to one Pound. When I came to live in London in 1970- it was exactly 10. When we moved here to look after my very elderly parents it was 2.50. And as said, it is now 1.13/14.

Irrelevant to the above discussion though. British citizens are affected in different ways and for different reasons. Some negative effects apply more to some than to others, depending on circumstances.

Just for historical info- when my mother came to study in London in 1930- it was 20 Francs to one Pound. When I came to live in London in 1970- it was exactly 10. When we moved here to look after my very elderly parents it was 2.50. And as said, it is now 1.13/14
Talk about comparing apples and oranges! One or two tiny things happened between 1930 and 1970 - inflation and Depression in the 30’s, then WWII, the “£ in your pocket” and in 1971 Decimalisation.
Oh, were we somehow meant to commenting on Brexit and the soi-disant “demise” of the U.K. ?

Exchange rate fluctuations happen constantly due to all kinds of factors and world events.

“^If Britain wanted to require those standards to be met before products could go there, then there would be plenty of producers in Australia who could meet the highest standards that Britain has.^"

Not in export quantities, I’m sure there are some producers in Australia that do produce to high standards. The large scale producers are ranching and feedlots just like the US or South America. We get hang ups about livestock travelling for half a day, there it’s many days because of the distances involved.

Pensions, what ever currency your pension is paid is subject to exchange rate fluctuations, so if you live overseas you may win or loose accordingly.

Your contributions to your pension fund are invested internationally so your pension pot is not likely to be greatly affected by Brexit. When you decide to take the pension there is nothing to stop you converting it to another currency, if you live in the US or EU maybe that’s a good idea, maybe not. That’s all part of living overseas you take the risk of currency fluctuations

Thanks for the explanations. So as I understand it, everyone is paid the same amount of pension regardless of currency and where they are living in retirement. I guess the computers at Newcastle have it all stitched up fairly.

Joseann

Thanks for the explanations. So as I understand it, everyone is paid the same amount of pension regardless of currency and where they are living in retirement. I guess the computers at Newcastle have it all stitched up fairly.

Well no, obviously it depends on your contributions. We have OAP and work pensions. All goes into UK account then a fixed monthly transfer to France. We have spreadsheets going back years and you can see fluctuations like 2008 before Brexit and a consistent fall post Brexit; you can model the impact on income based on previous years and months.
My work pension is taxed in UK and everything else in France, but you need the monthly and annual exchange rate for the French tax form (some people just use annual).
The spreadsheets show the picture of decline in the pound against the euro since Brexit very clearly.

Yes, and a lot more so against other currencies, whih have gone up whilst the pound has gone steadily down.

Calli 'I know that their cattle are far more free-range than any cattle in Europe.'

oh this made me laugh out loud - come and have a look, I say. LOL!

The spreadsheets show the picture of decline in the pound against the euro since Brexit very clearly.

Yes if sterling is converted to Euros there was a 30% fall due to Brexit, from around €1.40 to 1.10, it’s now recovered nearly half that at around €1.25. Nothing you can do about the state pension, if you are living overseas you are probably not on the breadline anyway.