I believe I am right in saying that just prior to brexit, we had the fifth largest economy in the world, for a small country like ours that does not seem to be a bad effort. Four years ago we were ninth which tells me that despite the bureaucracy and inefficiency that undoubtably exists within the EU, we were doing rather well.
The worlds trading markets have changed beyond recognition from the days prior to us joining the EU and I never really saw any hard arguments clearly demonstrating that we will be able to operate on the world stage as a totally independent nation, as effectively as one that operates within the EU.
I still believe that the vote to leave was primarily an emotional one that was triggered by a focus on the bureaucracy of the EU and fears over immigration. I understand that treaties and commitments exist but at the end of the day, if the situation ever arose where immigration was a truly threatening concern, as we are an island we have a very effective border and can impose restrictions on those borders very quickly indeed and there really isn't much that the continental Europeans could do about it.
I think that we would have been better served trying to improve the EU from within rather that trying to strike out on our own.
Nothing new in the arguments above and maybe viewed as slightly hypocritical seeing how I have made my bed over here, but it represents my tuppence haepenny worth.
Also, Dee, I think your assessment of the issue of fishing is not fully reflecting the true picture. It's easy to say 'the EU has decimated our fishing industry'.
I'm not sure how that squares with the fact that the UK has the 2nd largest catch of any country in the EU and the highest profit margin in the EU (35%)
It is a fact that internationally, technological improvements have resulted in a reduction in the number of boats in nation's fishing fleets. Nothing to do with the EU or quotas. A proportion of the decline in UK fishing fleets (numbers of boats and numbers of people employed in that industry) is due to that - and would have happened anyway and is not going to be significantly reversed by leaving the EU.
Furthermore, fishing quotas aren't only a result of EU membership and aren't only there to share out who gets what. There are also agreements with non-EU countries that set quotas (these won't vanish when we leave the EU); the UK is also part of n UN Convention which will mean there will continue to be limits on the fish catch post-Brexit. Quotas are also necessary for environmental reasons to prevent destruction of stocks (and are successful in doing so - see cod).
Another point about quotas - the UK govt is responsible for allocating its quotas among the UK fishing fleet. While 'small' fishermen might blame the EU, the fact is that much of the blame should be put on the UK govt.
So things won't magically be like it was before the UK joined the EU. When we in any case did much of our fishing in Icelandic waters, who have since then widened the exclusion zone.
deehammer. Here are the facts about fishing. One, Britain makes more money than any other country in Europe from fishing. Two, Britain has the second largest quota for fish in Europe after Denmark. Three, Britain has the third largest landings. After leaving we will find it very hard to patrol our "own" waters, we don't have the naval vessels to do it and will be restricted on where our fisherman now catch most fish, which is not in our own waters.
But re 106 - I think (if I have read it properly, and understood sme of the explanatory notes) a key question would be if the nationalised bit/activity fell within the definition of an 'undertaking' (which has been interpreted by the ECJ as meaning 'business') then the fair competition rules apply. But, if it is outwith that definition (by being classed as a 'public service') then it is not subject to the competition rules.
The fact remains that there are state-owned things (railways, power supply etc) in other EU states, so the rules don't prohibit them. (And of course, our own NHS is a public service.) I imagine it would require perhaps the re-nationalised UK industries to be constituted or operating in a slightly different way the form they took pre-privatisation.
The other EU countries retained their state owned railways and they're busy making money out of the UK.
French state railway SNCF has a 35% stake in Govia, they operate the DLR as a joint venture with Amey and started operating the Manchester Trams this month
Dutch state railway NS operates in the UK as Abellio
German state railway DB operates various services as Arriva including London Overground and is also the largest freight operator in the UK
And in February Italian state railway Trenitalia bought the c2c franchise from National Express
As with French and Dutch State-run railways making money off British railways, and the relaxed immigration policies, it seems that a lot of what the Brexiteers are angry about is a direct result of British government policy. Ironically, it is precisely the power of making your own decisions and having your own control that got the UK to where it is today. :-(
its called Greed and selling out. The UK government hasn't cared about the people in a long time. Need to make money? farm out and sell our assets to other countries then label it under "Trade and Business" its the taxpayer and people of the country who foot the bill always.
This silk road of China that everyone is marvelling over watch in 25 years as China calls in on all its debts after the USA kicks off after China overtakes them. The UK has zero to limited resource and relying on a financial sector that in time will evaporate. The UK export market is a joke on the world stage if you take out the financial sector which is pretty much the reason why inequality is continually widening.
There is a huge inequality in wealth which gets bigger every day and its just about keeping that process ticking over. The only way it will end is a straight up reset / revolution.
Thatcher started the ball rolling but every government since then has kept it rolling, Blair and Brown were supporters of privatising the UK just as much as Major, Cameron or May. The state of the NHS, the housing crisis, the recession, austerity and Brexit are all the fault of the stupid, greedy British voters who believe the rubbish they are fed by the press.
Do you think the NHS being slowly privatised out of existence, that people are unable to find homes near to where they grew up and where their families live or the austerity that is a result of the 2008 recession are good things for the country?
Comments
The worlds trading markets have changed beyond recognition from the days prior to us joining the EU and I never really saw any hard arguments clearly demonstrating that we will be able to operate on the world stage as a totally independent nation, as effectively as one that operates within the EU.
I still believe that the vote to leave was primarily an emotional one that was triggered by a focus on the bureaucracy of the EU and fears over immigration. I understand that treaties and commitments exist but at the end of the day, if the situation ever arose where immigration was a truly threatening concern, as we are an island we have a very effective border and can impose restrictions on those borders very quickly indeed and there really isn't much that the continental Europeans could do about it.
I think that we would have been better served trying to improve the EU from within rather that trying to strike out on our own.
Nothing new in the arguments above and maybe viewed as slightly hypocritical seeing how I have made my bed over here, but it represents my tuppence haepenny worth.
;ok
I'm not sure how that squares with the fact that the UK has the 2nd largest catch of any country in the EU and the highest profit margin in the EU (35%)
It is a fact that internationally, technological improvements have resulted in a reduction in the number of boats in nation's fishing fleets. Nothing to do with the EU or quotas. A proportion of the decline in UK fishing fleets (numbers of boats and numbers of people employed in that industry) is due to that - and would have happened anyway and is not going to be significantly reversed by leaving the EU.
Furthermore, fishing quotas aren't only a result of EU membership and aren't only there to share out who gets what. There are also agreements with non-EU countries that set quotas (these won't vanish when we leave the EU); the UK is also part of n UN Convention which will mean there will continue to be limits on the fish catch post-Brexit. Quotas are also necessary for environmental reasons to prevent destruction of stocks (and are successful in doing so - see cod).
Another point about quotas - the UK govt is responsible for allocating its quotas among the UK fishing fleet. While 'small' fishermen might blame the EU, the fact is that much of the blame should be put on the UK govt.
So things won't magically be like it was before the UK joined the EU. When we in any case did much of our fishing in Icelandic waters, who have since then widened the exclusion zone.
Don't think that was what was being suggested at all; the reverse if anything.
But don't other EU countries have nationalised industries?
I thought state aid only applied to private sector companies in competition with other private sector companies.
Rushes off to find out more ;run
Some reading.
http://www.richardcorbett.org.uk/renationalisation-impossible/
http://www.anothereurope.org/lets-be-clear-nationalisation-is-not-against-eu-law/
http://theconversation.com/fact-check-do-new-eu-rules-make-it-impossible-to-renationalise-railways-61180
So problematic, certainly. But not impossible to achieve, in one form or another.
But re 106 - I think (if I have read it properly, and understood sme of the explanatory notes) a key question would be if the nationalised bit/activity fell within the definition of an 'undertaking' (which has been interpreted by the ECJ as meaning 'business') then the fair competition rules apply. But, if it is outwith that definition (by being classed as a 'public service') then it is not subject to the competition rules.
The fact remains that there are state-owned things (railways, power supply etc) in other EU states, so the rules don't prohibit them. (And of course, our own NHS is a public service.) I imagine it would require perhaps the re-nationalised UK industries to be constituted or operating in a slightly different way the form they took pre-privatisation.
And it might keep the ECJ busy.
But its all moot.
French state railway SNCF has a 35% stake in Govia, they operate the DLR as a joint venture with Amey and started operating the Manchester Trams this month
Dutch state railway NS operates in the UK as Abellio
German state railway DB operates various services as Arriva including London Overground and is also the largest freight operator in the UK
And in February Italian state railway Trenitalia bought the c2c franchise from National Express
This silk road of China that everyone is marvelling over watch in 25 years as China calls in on all its debts after the USA kicks off after China overtakes them. The UK has zero to limited resource and relying on a financial sector that in time will evaporate. The UK export market is a joke on the world stage if you take out the financial sector which is pretty much the reason why inequality is continually widening.
There is a huge inequality in wealth which gets bigger every day and its just about keeping that process ticking over. The only way it will end is a straight up reset / revolution.
Blame Thatcher that is.
http://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/james-obrien/if-you-needed-evidence-about-how-bonkers-brexit-br/
There are certain section in the EU and EU Gov't's that have regarded us that way ever since the 1980's (if not before).