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

Joseann

I was just thinking, it would be good when discussing Europe if posters could display flags of the country in which they are in!! There have been many interesting contributions from 🇩🇪 🇮🇪 🇨🇭 🇫🇷, but it is all getting a bit confusing when posters aren't clear where they are.

Hello! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Switzerland has been negotiating trade deals continually and the EU has got nowhere the Swiss only want the parts that suit them. They do grudgingly accept freedom of movement but only on a limited basis, so although you can travel through without checks, commercial goods do go through a customs barrier
It is not the same as Norway and the other EFTA members, there is no way the EU will allow a “Swiss deal”, we could probably agree a Norway deal but that means accepting a lot of their rules.

I was just thinking, it would be good when discussing Europe if posters could display flags of the country in which they are in!! There have been many interesting contributions from 🇩🇪 🇮🇪 🇨🇭 🇫🇷, but it is all getting a bit confusing when posters aren't clear where they are.

Shortages of staff is a universal problem all over Europe, not due to Brexit. If I hear the words employment crisis, lack of man power, recruitment difficulties once more here in France ....... it's everywhere.

Switzerland is mentioned because it’s where you live isn’t it FP?

Fleurpepper

GSM, yes, we in the UK.

What has Switzerland got to do with Brexit and the UK and the EU? The Law in Switzerland requires that all meat is sold stating provenance, so the customer has the choice, this in restaurants too, not just butchers' and supermarkets. And Switzerland is not in the EU, so why mention it? How weird, it seems to be a bit of an obsession with some of you, somehow.

Switzerland is mentioned because of their unique position (along with Norway and Iceland) of decisively rejecting membership of the EU in a referendum but agreeing certain treaties which benefit them.

I can't see much wrong with that myself so questions are asked about the benefits of such arrangements to both sides and could it be something for the UK to work towards?

I think that should have been an option in the first place. It was Mrs May's government which pledged to leave the Customs Union, a big mistake imo.

vegansrock

In the past people ate less meat, it is factory farming and greed that has led to the cruelty of industrialised production. People who eat meat should reduce the quantity. We were told that leaving the EU would lead to higher welfare standards. The opposite has happened. Standards have been relaxed. Few inspections mean farmers and abbatoirs can break the law knowing there will be no sanctions. Not sure how we got onto that one, but it’s another Brexit promise undelivered

Really?

I've only bought free-range British bacon for a long time because the way it is mass-produced in Denmark is disgusting.
Not to mention mink farms there too.

Songbird trapping in Spain and Malta? Still goes on.
Hens are still kept in battery cages in EU countries because the time given for farmers to change ( 12 years) means that the legislation is just meaningless and they hope it will be forgotten.

Laws are only any good if they are enforced.

The EU did make laws but perhaps only the British adhered to them.

We should not let our standards drop now, though, I agree.

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.

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.

In the past people ate less meat, it is factory farming and greed that has led to the cruelty of industrialised production. People who eat meat should reduce the quantity. We were told that leaving the EU would lead to higher welfare standards. The opposite has happened. Standards have been relaxed. Few inspections mean farmers and abbatoirs can break the law knowing there will be no sanctions. Not sure how we got onto that one, but it’s another Brexit promise undelivered

Indeed.

Fleurpepper

Ah yes, thanks, I have just checked and was going to post to the effect.

This however does not apply to prepared foodstuffs or restaurants, does it?

If you eat prepared foods - read the labels or don't purchase.

Similarly, if you must eat away from home, ask meat provenance at the restaurant. Decent establishments surely know.

Easy Peasy.

I’ve just done it Norah.

If your restaurant of choice doesn’t indicate provenance - the places I eat at do - then you can always ask.

I do wish you would stop criticising the UK, particularly as you have opted to no longer live here.

I see GSM posted the rules/law.

Good job as brother is out buying excess to fill our kitchen!

Yes, GSM has posted above, thanks.

Fleurpepper Not by Law, and we all know that labelling of provenance has regularly been by-passed in the most of inventive/deceptive of ways.

YES, there are laws, I'll ask my brother to find for me and post.

Ah yes, thanks, I have just checked and was going to post to the effect.

This however does not apply to prepared foodstuffs or restaurants, does it?

Here you are * www.gov.uk/guidance/food-labelling-country-of-origin#:~:text=Print%20this%20page-,You%20must%20label%20your%20meat%2C%20fish%20or%20seafood%20product%20with,canteens

Not by Law, and we all know that labelling of provenance has regularly been by-passed in the most of inventive/deceptive of ways.

Maggiemaybe- quite simple. Watching the demise of the UK and how isolated Brexit has made it, in 100s of ways, from supply chains, to provision of essential materials and chemicals, fresh produce, medicines, etc- the closure of so many large businesses and industries, the shortages of staff in so many fields, the loss of cooperation for education and research, and innovation projects, the financial sector, and on, and on.

They have realised that United they succeed and can provide each other with all essential goods and services, as the countries are so varied and produce stuff that others can't, and vice-versa. But also it has strengthened the concept of EU cooperation and strength. Even for the vaccine- working together took a little longer, but they were then able to procure huge numbers of vaccines at a much much lower price than UK going it alone, for instance.

We too have an excellent local butcher. In any event, if you buy meat in a supermarket it will be labelled as to whether it is British or not.

The EU has been enormously strengthened by Brexit in fact.

How?

GSM, yes, we in the UK.

What has Switzerland got to do with Brexit and the UK and the EU? The Law in Switzerland requires that all meat is sold stating provenance, so the customer has the choice, this in restaurants too, not just butchers' and supermarkets. And Switzerland is not in the EU, so why mention it? How weird, it seems to be a bit of an obsession with some of you, somehow.

I'm not quite sure why OP was quoted, Fleurpepper. Sorry.

Fleurpepper

Is there anyone here on GN still prepared to stand and say that it is not- and give evidence to the effect?

The EU accepts beef from cows reared and transported in terribly cruel conditions from the destroyed rainforests of South America, so don’t pretend that only the UK ‘accepts just anything’.

My brother, a meat lover, lives with us currently. He reports no problems finding decent beef from a trusted local butcher - from looking to copious quantity of meat in our kitchen, he's correct.

The EU accepts beef from cows reared and transported in terribly cruel conditions from the destroyed rainforests of South America, so don’t pretend that only the UK ‘accepts just anything’.

Anyway, what’s with this ‘we have no idea what’s coming in’? I thought you live in Switzerland?