EU Referendum: The result and aftermath...

[Groningen]

Theresa May is having a low profil; Rees-Mogg gets all the attention.

 

[LOL The Irony]

My point wasn't about the EU, it was about politicians who are just not good enough.
You complain about "clueless goon" MEP's voting through things. But we have the same with our MP's in Westminster.
So I am asking why our our "clueless goon" MP's any better than the elected "clueless goon" MEP's?

In terms of laws and directives that adversely affect things like the internet, we have a decent amount of them coming from the UK too! So leaving the EU isn't going to fix that!

I was trying to imply that.

 

[AlterEgo]

You complain about "clueless goon" MEP's voting through things. But we have the same with our MP's in Westminster.
So I am asking why our our "clueless goon" MP's any better than the elected "clueless goon" MEP's?

The clueless goons in Westminster all reside in the UK and make laws solely pertaining to a country they understand. This makes them instantly more accountable. An errant Westminster MP for the constituency of Someshire-on-Rivername attracts national interest *across the demos* when they misbehave or try something controversial (or do something very worthwhile!). The same cannot be said for MEPs.

Inherently less accountable and very unwelcome. With every day that passes I come closer to wishing I’d voted Leave.

 

[bramling]

The clueless goons in Westminster all reside in the UK and make laws solely pertaining to a country they understand. This makes them instantly more accountable. An errant Westminster MP for the constituency of Someshire-on-Rivername attracts national interest *across the demos* when they misbehave or try something controversial (or do something very worthwhile!). The same cannot be said for MEPs.

Inherently less accountable and very unwelcome. With every day that passes I come closer to wishing I’d voted Leave.

I must say I will be glad when we can get back to a domestic agenda.

Our relationship with the EU has been a thorn in the side of our politics for most of my lifetime. That in itself is one of a number of reasons why I voted leave.

 

[trash80]

The clueless goons in Westminster all reside in the UK and make laws solely pertaining to a country they understand. This makes them instantly more accountable. An errant Westminster MP for the constituency of Someshire-on-Rivername attracts national interest *across the demos* when they misbehave or try something controversial (or do something very worthwhile!). The same cannot be said for MEPs.

Inherently less accountable and very unwelcome. With every day that passes I come closer to wishing I’d voted Leave.

They are only less accountable and unwelcome because the public have chose to disregard the european parliament like that.

 

[NSEFAN]

The clueless goons in Westminster all reside in the UK and make laws solely pertaining to a country they understand. This makes them instantly more accountable. An errant Westminster MP for the constituency of Someshire-on-Rivername attracts national interest *across the demos* when they misbehave or try something controversial (or do something very worthwhile!). The same cannot be said for MEPs.

Inherently less accountable and very unwelcome. With every day that passes I come closer to wishing I’d voted Leave.

I don't think a lot of them do understand the UK (certainly not in central government at least), hence everything that has happened since the referendum (and before it). The only accountability is the risk of loss of a political career, but those close to power will usually have plenty of tricks up their sleeves so that they don't have to feel the consequences of their bad leadership.

 

[NSEFAN]

I must say I will be glad when we can get back to a domestic agenda.

Our relationship with the EU has been a thorn in the side of our politics for most of my lifetime. That in itself is one of a number of reasons why I voted leave.

In a way I agree with you. Without the scapegoat of the EU, perhaps our lot will have to actually do something?

On the other hand, the EU might become the next Gordon Brown, "our problems are all because The EU has been so harsh on us for leaving!"

 

[greyman42]

I love how a ever closer EU is totally unnacceptable but the UK is stronger in a union and better off together rather than the inevitable breakup of the UK.

How is it inevitable?

 

[nidave]

MEP's who voted it in and then when asked about their decision, didn't know why. Clueless goons.

Sort of like Karen Bradley the The Northern Ireland secretary who admits she knows nothing about Northern Ireland yet will be making decisions which impact the Provence.

 

[nidave]

How is it inevitable?

Talk to Scottish and N. Ireland people - get out of your little bubble.

 

[nidave]

I must say I will be glad when we can get back to a domestic agenda.

Our relationship with the EU has been a thorn in the side of our politics for most of my lifetime. That in itself is one of a number of reasons why I voted leave.

Give me a something which has directly impacted your life that is going to improve once we leave the EU - less foreigners does not count.

 

[greyman42]

Talk to Scottish and N. Ireland people - get out of your little bubble.

Scotland voted to remain in the UK and leaving the UK would not make them part of the EU.

 

[trash80]

In a way I agree with you. Without the scapegoat of the EU, perhaps our lot will have to actually do something?

On the other hand, the EU might become the next Gordon Brown, "our problems are all because The EU has been so harsh on us for leaving!"

Look how long the government still blames the last regime for things going wrong, they'll be still blaming the EU in the 2030s

 

[muddythefish]

I must say I will be glad when we can get back to a domestic agenda.

Our relationship with the EU has been a thorn in the side of our politics for most of my lifetime. That in itself is one of a number of reasons why I voted leave.

It's been a thorn in the side of the Tory party - no one else.

Cameron should be locked up in the Tower for his reckless decision to call a referendum

 

[muddythefish]

Matron administers a cold shower to the sixth form Leavers. Long overdue.

https://www.ft.com/content/984b15e0-b76b-11e8-bbc3-ccd7de085ffe

 

[AM9]

Matron administers a cold shower to the sixth form Leavers. Long overdue.

https://www.ft.com/content/984b15e0-b76b-11e8-bbc3-ccd7de085ffe

Readers need a subscription for the FT to know what point you are making here.

 

[muddythefish]

It's now on The Times site too

 

[Mojo]

It was in the news today about fears that British driving license holders may have to seek to obtain an International driving permit to drive to EU countries. Given that, according to the list on the AA website, there seem to be only be around six developed countries [1] that actually require an International driving permit for those with a British photocard driving license wishing to rent or drive a car there on holiday, I'm not sure whether the EU would really want to be lumped in with the likes of Iran, Pakistan and Russia who require British license holders to have such a permit.

[1] I may have missed one or two in the debate over whether a country is developed or not; I counted Bahrain, Brunei, South Korea, Japan, Singapore & Russia.

 

[AlterEgo]

It's now on The Times site too

What is? I can’t see the title of the piece.

 

[talltim]

It was in the news today about fears that British driving license holders may have to seek to obtain an International driving permit to drive to EU countries. Given that, according to the list on the AA website, there seem to be only be around six developed countries [1] that actually require an International driving permit for those with a British photocard driving license wishing to rent or drive a car there on holiday, I'm not sure whether the EU would really want to be lumped in with the likes of Iran, Pakistan and Russia who require British license holders to have such a permit.

[1] I may have missed one or two in the debate over whether a country is developed or not; I counted Bahrain, Brunei, South Korea, Japan, Singapore & Russia.

I suspect, like many similar things, it’s not so much that the EU would want enforce an international driving licence requirement, it’s just that no one has considered the problem at all and sorting an agreement will probably take longer than the Brexit deadline

 

[AM9]

What is? I can’t see the title of the piece.

Isn't it a forum rule that links, (especially those only visible to subscribers to the linked website) are accompanied with at least a brief synopsis of the article to which it refers?

 

[mmh]

So why has the UK government done bugger all about non EU migration which is an easy thing to tackle. Do you think, given successive governments lack of progress on non EU migration gives a hint to what's to come?

But non EU migration is completely within the the UK government's control.

I'm permanently surprised (well, no I'm not after two years of this) that so much of the pro-EU argument is about immigration. Apparently Britain never let any nasty foreigners in before the EU, seems to be the argument.

 

[mmh]

So more to do with the idiots that we (as an electorate) have voted in then than the EU itself.
Considering we have also voted a load of idiots into Westminster, I wonder how March will make it any better!

They're our idiots. For what little it would do, I know how to try to speak to my elected representative, her surgery office is just down the road. I have no idea how, or why I should have to, find out how to contact Guy Verhoftstadt, as an example.

 

[fowler9]

They're our idiots. For what little it would do, I know how to try to speak to my elected representative, her surgery office is just down the road. I have no idea how, or why I should have to, find out how to contact Guy Verhoftstadt, as an example.

Why not find out how to contact your MEP then? In the UK do you know how to contact Boris Johnson, Jacob Rees-Mogg or Theresa May? Why do you need to contact Guy Verhoftstadt?

 

[mmh]

I love how a ever closer EU is totally unnacceptable but the UK is stronger in a union and better off together rather than the inevitable breakup of the UK.

That's a very telling phrase. What is "the EU"? I'm perfectly happy with being "close" to our neighbours, what I'm not happy with is being told I should be close to some some absolutist organisation telling me I have to be. It's for our own good, the rules are the rules - no, we don't like that, and we're far from the only EU member who have people with similar cynicism as us.

 

[fowler9]

That's a very telling phrase. What is "the EU"? I'm perfectly happy with being "close" to our neighbours, what I'm not happy with is being told I should be close to some some absolutist organisation telling me I have to be. It's for our own good, the rules are the rules - no, we don't like that, and we're far from the only EU member who have people with similar cynicism as us.

Remind me who "we" is again.

 

[mmh]

I suspect, like many similar things, it’s not so much that the EU would want enforce an international driving licence requirement, it’s just that no one has considered the problem at all and sorting an agreement will probably take longer than the Brexit deadline

It's yet more Project Fear. Along the same lines as people on here suggesting that "the EU" might unilaterally decide to require British people to apply for visas to travel into the EU come March. It's all blatant nonsense.

 

[mmh]

Remind me who "we" is again.

The UK. We've got quite a history on that front, as well you know.

 

[fowler9]

It's yet more Project Fear. Along the same lines as people on here suggesting that "the EU" might unilaterally decide to require British people to apply for visas to travel into the EU come March. It's all blatant nonsense.

So Jaguar Landrover, is that Project Fear as well? Do you think the people who run one of our highest value exporters know less than you? Why would they say that they may have to quit the UK if it looks like a no deal Brexit? What do you know that they don't? Do you think they are just bricking it because of wishy washy scare stories?

 

[mmh]

Why not find out how to contact your MEP then? In the UK do you know how to contact Boris Johnson, Jacob Rees-Mogg or Theresa May? Why do you need to contact Guy Verhoftstadt?

Why would I want to contact an MP who wasn't mine? (And it's very easy to "contact" all three of those, in the same way as every MP. You won't hear back from them, you might get a form letter back at best). It's a better system than MEPs though - I don't have an MEP, who should I write a letter to for them to ignore?