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© Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Brexit finally arrives Friday: A momentous yet quiet moment
By RAF CASERT and JILL LAWLESS BRUSSELS©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
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kurisupisu
The EU is like an obese gluttonous giant, demanding and wanting more and more-the UK is better off out!
Mr Kipling
Demanding more and more...
Most people are surprised to find out that the UK’s EU payments, most of which come back as grants etc, are a massive 1% of GDP.
CrazyJoe
Under Brexit Britain will be smaller, whiter, older, less powerful internationally, less prosperous, less relevant, and provide fewer social services. On the other hand, they still have that silly, multi-billion dollar reality show known as "The House of Windsor."
Alfie Noakes
Bloomberg estimates Brexit has already cost the UK 130 billion pounds and that's just the start. Your comment is inaccurate.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-10/brexit-cost-after-boris-bounce-is-still-260-billion-chart
kurisupisu
The UK was a net contributor to the EU!
I imagine that reason is enough for the UK to have wanted to leave-there are numerous others.
Still, the time for debate is over....
Ah_so
Hardly surprising as it was one of the richer countries. However, the trade benefits more than compensate for the relatively modest net contribution it makes annually.
kurisupisu
Not for the average person it wasn’t.
If trade were the only result of the EU behemoth. as it was originally intended to be, then I can agree.
However, the strain on the infrastructure of the UK, generation rent,NHS waiting etc all meant that immigration became a decisive issue that tipped the balance.
Personally, I got to benefit from the situation financially but many others did not....
Toasted Heretic
Well done, Britain!
You know, you only had to wait 4 years for this complicated and life changing process to get to where you are today. Yes, there will be a transitional period - things aren't going to magically change immediately. But still, that's quite an achievement.
Ireland has been waiting a hundred years for the occupied 6 counties to leave the UK.
Time to get things moving.
Jimizo
How? Was it like when you backed the Tories to win the election at odds of 3/6?
Anyway, Brexit is done now. Let’s hope the Brexiteers were right...
Tangerine2000
@CrazyJoe
I noticed that you listed the following:
May I ask why "whiter" is a bad thing? Does it matter what percentage of the country is white?
Toasted Heretic
You mean An Taoiseach, Leo Varadakar?
Well, that was tactless of him. But that's Fine Gael for you. Remember how they started out.
Though, I think you mean he called the UK "small" because of its forthcoming role outside of the EU?
Perhaps he could have phrased it better (as I said - tact) but in essence, I guess he's right insofar as the UK will be a lesser power without the EU.
Which is fine - that's what the people voted for.
Leo has his own problems with the Irish elections next week. Sinn Fein are gaining - voters are tired with the same old FF/FG civil war parties - and could possibly form a coalition government.
Interesting times ahead for all.
funkseoul
Just roughly 100 years ago, the British Empire was still the largest of its kind before the 21st CE, actively involved in advancing science & technology (while at the same time plundering the resources of its colonies).
But now look at them. No longer a giant in technology or high tech producing country. Politically a divided nation, and seemingly at lost in global political stage.
But it is only natural. Nothing will stay at the top forever. It is cyclical.
Jimizo
The Irish PM is right to a point but it is still one of the largest economies in the world.
Let’s see if it slides down the list after Brexit.
Andrew Crisp
Don't see what the problem with being white has anything to with a positive Brexit, if being white is such an issue why do so many other countries want to migrate to those great white countries. As for social services that's what is sending the west bankrupt the welfare state needs to reined in big time right across all western nations.
I hope the British pull off a very successful future as an independent country free from the EU rules.
Toasted Heretic
Capitalism is the arch bankrupter. It bankrupts morals, humanity and compassion.
Of course there are those who abuse the welfare state but they are not representative of people, through no fault of their own, have to rely on assistance.
It's not a charmed life, seeking assistance. Unless you truly believe that people choose to be on benefits?
kurisupisu
@Jimizo
Surely, I wrote 6-3 odds, no?
Anyway, FYI, the real moneymaker wasn’t the gambling, I would never condone that.
The real money is to be made as a HNWI.
WilliB
Congratulations! Now, I am hoping for an Itaxit, Swexit, Fixit, and many more, until Merkel and Macaron are left alone in their megalomanic new empire.
The EC was a good concept, with the EU and its imperalist overreach, the corrupt EU politicians have gone way too far.
WilliB
zichi:
A prediction! I love it. I will make a note and remind you in 1 year when it turns out wrong.
As you know, predictions are the reality check of who correctly understand a situation and who does not. Thanks!
Toasted Heretic
And presumably you're also hoping for the 6 counties to leave the UK, and for Scotland as well?
Fair's fair. I'm sure you won't begrudge such exits.
Jimizo
Oh, take it easy. This isn’t the Daily Mail letters page. What next? Seeing off Napoleon and Hitler?
Toasted Heretic
Correct. Some people are clearly being swept up in hyperbole and jingoism.
That's exactly the kind of sloganeering that led to the whole situation which culminated in Farage and co. waving their little flags the other day.
cleo
Being white isn't in itself an issue.
The issue is when a significant proportion of society, including productive members with a vital role to play, find themselves the target of government 'hostile environment' policies that encourage the general population to be discriminatory (or maybe it's the other way round - whichever it is, I don't understand it.).
Either way the idea of grouping/judging/persecuting people on the basis of their skin colour is stupid and detrimental to the country as a whole.
As is Brexit.
Farage is an embarrassment.
Invalid CSRF
ClippetyClop
Is there a desire in NI for a reunited Ireland? Genuine question, I have no idea. Wouldn't it start a civil war?
Jimizo
Facts are terrible things to people who see globalists and CNN hiding under the bed.
Don’t you wish some people would acquaint themselves with some facts now and again?
skinnee
Now for England, Wales and Northern Ireland to have a referendum over whether to still allow Scotland to remain part of the UK. The Scots have been good for their comedy value but they are beginning to wear out their welcome.
WilliB
zichi:
Those rules can be changed by mutual agreement. Switzerland and Norway are not part of the EU, and my friends and relatives and friends there have no particular problems. Those are the best countries in Europe, by the way.
This whole end of the world hype about Brexit reminds me very much of the orangemanbad hysteria in America.
WilliB
Zichi:
The end of the world! To avoid those demonic carnets, you have to submit to the EU empire. Yes, yes.
WilliB
zichi:
Here is what the government website says: "After 31 January 2020 there will be a transition period until the end of 2020, while the UK and EU negotiate additional arrangements."
So your prediction is that no arrangements will be negotiated. Again, I will remind you of your prediction 1 year from now.
kurisupisu
@TH
Soon there’ll be more Catholics in the North than Protestants- you’ll get your wish...
albaleo
That seems a reasonable idea. There should probably some kind of consensus of who can be part of the UK. By the same token, perhaps Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should hold a referendum on whether to allow England to remain part of the UK.
Alfie Noakes
Nah, they're all right, especially this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVYatqhph9g
lincolnman
This is a joke, right? Six "white" in one 3-line post?
If not, I guess we now know some there are some "very fine people" here on JT...
Jimizo
Why exaggerate? ‘Megalomanic’ empires? End of the world?
Sensible people are talking about economic impact.
The belief that the UK will suffer economically from Brexit is one put forward by cleverer people than you or I. There are also clever people putting forward the idea that the country will be better off. There are some arguing in good faith on both sides and others who aren’t. You undoubtedly dismiss the first group as globalist elites who watch CNN, but that is the way you swing and why you are incapable of being objective.
As for me, I’m a British citizen and I hope the Brexiteers were right. The poor will suffer no matter what under the Tories and an economic downturn would be catastrophic for them.
As for the discussion about Scotland and NI, I honestly couldn’t really give a toss what they do in terms of deciding on independence, but it must be done democratically.
WilliB
So, Brexit is here, and guess what.... live goes on. None of these doomsday scenarios that the remainers bleated about are happening.
It is like year 2000 Computer disaster all over again, remember that one?
Happy Brexit Day!
albaleo
Yes. The problems were clear. The solutions were fairly clear. A lot of people worked hard to make sure a disaster didn't happen.
In other words, it's nothing like year 2000.
WilliB
albaleo:
This time the problems are imaginary.
Well, this time a lot of people worked to make sure to convince everybody a disaster would happen.
The hype is the same.
Jimizo
Are you arguing with a voice in your head?
Those globalists in league with CNN are creating demons.
starpunk
Y2K, Rosh Hashanah 1988, solar eclipse, 'War of the Worlds' radio broadcast, Comet Hale-Bopp - there are always those shrieking hyper-in-the-diaper ignoramuses who stir up crap in order to get your attention, loyalty, money. For them, Doomsday is always tomorrow.
englisc aspyrgend
I shall celebrate with a rather nice bottle of superior English Champagne (yes, yes that was deliberate). I voted against the EEC in 1975, studying law at the time I was well aware of serious problems in store, my opinion hasn’t changed in essence since though if it had stayed an economic, free trade area that we were sold I doubt if we would have ever left, but it didn’t. It morphed in to a centralised, anti-democratic, corrupt and sclerotic bureaucracy.
It is not just whether Britain can prosper without the EU, but whether the EU can survive without radical change.
lostrune2
People forget that Britain was the sick man of Europe in the 70s
Hope they avoid that this time
lostrune2
The doomsday scenario was on a no-deal Brexit - a type of Brexit that some advocate
But there was a deal, and under that deal, during the transition period, Britain would still be mostly under EU rules. So depends how people like to still be under EU rules during the transition
Now after the transition period, depending if Britain and EU are able to make a deal for post-transition, that's when the real Brexit begins
funkseoul
Brexit has been a farce & low quality comedy for the rest of world too.
Amen to that!