Does it matter, particularly, whether or not Nicola Sturgeon approves the terms of any deal?
Unless Theresa May wishes to go down in history as the Prime Minister who lost the union, then yes, Scotland matters and in the current climate, that means Nicola matters.
"The Union" has already gone?
Afternoon GIN, still wriggling yet but in its death throes for sure.
Makes sense to leave A50 till after the French presidential elections at least. Hollande is sitting duck. Merkel might survive the German federal elections, but even she might be unexpectedly weak after.
So no point starting negotiations in earnest till then.
Then after that X has presidential elections and Y is having a referendum then there are the European Parliament elections coming up then you'd better see what happens with TTIP etc etc etc etc. The government obviously don't want to Brexit, maybe they'll just keep putting it off.
Why give up a position of maximum power? For the first time ever the UK really matters to the politics of the EU.
Boris is fine, he's a secret remainer anyway he won't care what deal we get. Fox and Davis are both leadership losers brought in from the cold by TM, if they aren't willing to go along with what TM wants they are easily replaceable.
It is VERY hard to read what May really wants. Her remarks on not invoking A50 until Scotland agrees (indicating EEA type brexit) flies in the face of her cabinet brexit appointments (indicating Full English Brexit).
As a resident of Paris - what's the local mood re Nice?
I've not spoken with that many people today as working from home, but of those I have, the general mood (besides shock at the nature of the attack) is a lack of surprise that it's happened. Most people were expecting something to happen at the euros and were surprised that it didn't.
Feels very pessimistic here - which may be reflected in those earlier comments about 'living with terrorism'. Wonder if it's approaching a similar state to the US's mass shootings, where sad words are exchanged and nothing ever changes, and people become 'used' to it.
How appalling to have a BoE governor who looks after the money in the BoE!
It feels like people are blaming Mark Carney for the government not having a suitable fiscal and economic policy re Brexit. It isn't up to Carney to make Brexit work, his job is to ensure the safety of the UK banking sector and to keep the taps open until the government come up with policies to take over. He has done both very well without having to resort to interest rate cuts or extra QE just yet. That's a job well done.
Pre-vote, Carney probably overstepped his remit and strayed into politics
Additionally in the speech post Brexit he scared the market unnecessarily - around the likelihood of interest rate cuts.
Overall still a goodish Guv'nor, but not a great one.
Boris is fine, he's a secret remainer anyway he won't care what deal we get. Fox and Davis are both leadership losers brought in from the cold by TM, if they aren't willing to go along with what TM wants they are easily replaceable.
It is VERY hard to read what May really wants. Her remarks on not invoking A50 until Scotland agrees (indicating EEA type brexit) flies in the face of her cabinet brexit appointments (indicating Full English Brexit).
I wonder if May is absolutely sure herself? There seems to be a lot of 'wait and see' floating in the zeitgeist.
I like OpenEurope's suggestion that rather than just repeating Cameron's failed renegotiation and closing in on SM/FoM trade offs, we open it up completely and talk about the whole subject of European trade, intelligence, security and cooperation across the board. Wide, not narrow.
It would probably suit both sides if the UK took more responsibility for European security - increased UK defence capability would suit our more global role, and make us more interesting to the US. We could even support the upcoming EU army.
''It will only happen if it is seen as a compromise that is in the best interest of the whole nation, but it must guarantee sovereignty and some action on free movement.''
I don;t see why Brexiteers should compromise to keep remainers happy.
If it had been a narrow remainer victory, the feelings of leavers would have been totally ignored thereafter.
Lol. since Leavers have never clarified the kind of Brexit they want you can't realistically talk about compromise nor assume that all 17m voted for your 'version'.
What specific benefits from Scotland being part of the EU does the SNP want to keep?
Membership of the Common Fisheries policy? Freedom of Movement? Tariff free trade?
Presumably the deal is that the Scottish government can't prevent Brexit but does have a veto over the replacement deal.
Scotland is not going to be given a veto. As part of the UK, in voting terms they are insignificant.
Hopefully it will drive them to have another referendum, but I doubt Nicola, will ever reach a high enough level of certainty to raise the courage to try and trigger one.
The reason the SNP are so worried about this is because Brexit makes their 'independence' quest harder. 'Independence' within the same multinational economic and political framework that the rest of the UK is in is an independence-lite option that can win over middling Scots.
'Independence' meaning a harder border with rUK and accepting the euro, Schengen and all the political integration to come is not going to fly.
Getting out the CFP will conceivably be a problem for the SNP too, ultimately, in the NE/
Brexit strengthens the union if we plough ahead with it.
...Wonder if it's approaching a similar state to the US's mass shootings, where sad words are exchanged and nothing ever changes, and people become 'used' to it.
The difference is that in the US the legislature, with overwhelming public support, has deliberately and repeatedly refused to take the obvious and (in any other democracy on earth) uncontroversial measures which would mitigate the risk. So it's not that nothing ever changes, it's that they don't want anything to change.
''It will only happen if it is seen as a compromise that is in the best interest of the whole nation, but it must guarantee sovereignty and some action on free movement.''
I don;t see why Brexiteers should compromise to keep remainers happy.
If it had been a narrow remainer victory, the feelings of leavers would have been totally ignored thereafter.
It was 52 - 48 and that is very narrow. It isn't a case of Brexiteers keeping remainer's happy, it is the need to be able to seek sensible compromise otherwise it will fail as the 52 - 48 turns into 40 - 60 against.
I want Brexit but some on here really worry me so much, that each side will become polarised and the whole deal will be lost in never ending turmoil
How appalling to have a BoE governor who looks after the money in the BoE!
It feels like people are blaming Mark Carney for the government not having a suitable fiscal and economic policy re Brexit. It isn't up to Carney to make Brexit work, his job is to ensure the safety of the UK banking sector and to keep the taps open until the government come up with policies to take over. He has done both very well without having to resort to interest rate cuts or extra QE just yet. That's a job well done.
Pre-vote, Carney probably overstepped his remit and strayed into politics
Additionally in the speech post Brexit he scared the market unnecessarily - around the likelihood of interest rate cuts.
Overall still a goodish Guv'nor, but not a great one.
Yes, I'd agree with that. I think the risks of Brexit wrt to monetary policy are lesser than the risk to fiscal policy. The banks have been tested for up to a 30% fall in house prices and the failure of a Lehman sized institution simultaneously. All UK banks passed iirc. People are getting on Carney's back because they disagree with him about the economic implications of Brexit, at least in the short term. You and I both know that the uncertainty caused in the short term is likely to see a slowing of the economy and a reduction in house prices, we both voted to leave anyway. The governor saw the same risks and probably voted to remain. Our priorities for Brexit were different to the governor's, but he wasn't and isn't wrong about the short term economic implications of leaving the EU.
How appalling to have a BoE governor who looks after the money in the BoE!
It feels like people are blaming Mark Carney for the government not having a suitable fiscal and economic policy re Brexit. It isn't up to Carney to make Brexit work, his job is to ensure the safety of the UK banking sector and to keep the taps open until the government come up with policies to take over. He has done both very well without having to resort to interest rate cuts or extra QE just yet. That's a job well done.
Pre-vote, Carney probably overstepped his remit and strayed into politics
Additionally in the speech post Brexit he scared the market unnecessarily - around the likelihood of interest rate cuts.
Overall still a goodish Guv'nor, but not a great one.
As Carney said, he had a duty, pre-Brexit vote, to assess the BoE view on the risks to having the vote and actually leaving. These were statements of opinion and not politically motivated. His statement on future interest rate cuts were a signal for the future which were emphasised in the MPC minutes. The headbangers have it in for Carey because he did not deny the truth that uncertainty has a downside even if only temporary.
...Wonder if it's approaching a similar state to the US's mass shootings, where sad words are exchanged and nothing ever changes, and people become 'used' to it.
The difference is that in the US the legislature, with overwhelming public support, has deliberately and repeatedly refused to take the obvious and (in any other democracy on earth) uncontroversial measures which would mitigate the risk. So it's not that nothing ever changes, it's that they don't want anything to change.
That's not as different to Europe as it appears on first glance. In America the right to bear arms is a fundamental freedom guaranteed by the constitution. In Europe too free movement is a constitutional fundamental freedom. Maintaining border security is (in any other democracy on earth) an uncontroversial measure that would mitigate the risk but Europe is no more willing to consider it than America is willing to consider gun control.
The attack last night in Nice was devastating and upsetting but both the BBC and Sky have gone into overdrive with constant repetitive reports and witness interviews at the total absence of anything else. What is it with our broadcaster's that make them obsess so much with a story. I am as upset by this act as anyone but we do need some balance in news coverage.
What ticks me off more about this kind of thing is that we get a surfeit of "reaction" (western leaders, organisations and pop stars condemn the attack and offer their sympathies - big surprise there!!) and eyewitness reports (that can only be partial and fragmentary, and by this stage we now know much more about what actually happened), and not enough big-picture overview and analysis. Plus all the other stuff that's happening across the world - plenty of things going on that would have deservedly hogged headlines in their own right and shouldn't be completely neglected.
...Wonder if it's approaching a similar state to the US's mass shootings, where sad words are exchanged and nothing ever changes, and people become 'used' to it.
The difference is that in the US the legislature, with overwhelming public support, has deliberately and repeatedly refused to take the obvious and (in any other democracy on earth) uncontroversial measures which would mitigate the risk. So it's not that nothing ever changes, it's that they don't want anything to change.
That's not as different to Europe as it appears on first glance. In America the right to bear arms is a fundamental freedom guaranteed by the constitution. In Europe too free movement is a constitutional fundamental freedom. Maintaining border security is (in any other democracy on earth) an uncontroversial measure that would mitigate the risk but Europe is no more willing to consider it than America is willing to consider gun control.
''The difference is that in the US the legislature, with overwhelming public support, has deliberately and repeatedly refused to take the obvious and (in any other democracy on earth) uncontroversial measures which would mitigate the risk. So it's not that nothing ever changes, it's that they don't want anything to change. ''
Perhaps Americans take the view that banning guns would mean disarming law abiding people whilst the criminals in the country keep all of theirs.
And in many parts of that huge country, law abiding people with guns are effectively the law.
Does it matter, particularly, whether or not Nicola Sturgeon approves the terms of any deal?
Unless Theresa May wishes to go down in history as the Prime Minister who lost the union, then yes, Scotland matters and in the current climate, that means Nicola matters.
"The Union" has already gone?
Afternoon GIN, still wriggling yet but in its death throes for sure.
No more in its death throes than Canada's union is. A second failed Indyref will kill off independence as surely as Quebec's second failure has done.
Makes sense to leave A50 till after the French presidential elections at least. Hollande is sitting duck. Merkel might survive the German federal elections, but even she might be unexpectedly weak after.
So no point starting negotiations in earnest till then.
And as to the Sturgeon question, who cares? Nobody will ask her to "accept" the negotiated settlement. That's not her job nor will it ever be.
5 million people in Scotland care plenty and we will see the outcome if she is not asked for sure.
She will be asked I'm sure, but ultimately she can't just stubbornly veto every proposal. So hopefully if she is serious and co-operates then she can negotiate the best deal that is in Scotland's interests, if she refuses to countenance any form of Brexit then we should just negotiate the best deal in England's interests.
For sure it will depend on the deal, but anyone who thinks Westminster can just do what they want is pretty stupid , which as you will have seen by some of the infantile comments is many of the frothers on here.
That's not as different to Europe as it appears on first glance. In America the right to bear arms is a fundamental freedom guaranteed by the constitution. In Europe too free movement is a constitutional fundamental freedom. Maintaining border security is (in any other democracy on earth) an uncontroversial measure that would mitigate the risk but Europe is no more willing to consider it than America is willing to consider gun control.
Err, no. The EU free movement rules have zilch to do with this.
Does it matter, particularly, whether or not Nicola Sturgeon approves the terms of any deal?
Unless Theresa May wishes to go down in history as the Prime Minister who lost the union, then yes, Scotland matters and in the current climate, that means Nicola matters.
"The Union" has already gone?
Afternoon GIN, still wriggling yet but in its death throes for sure.
No more in its death throes than Canada's union is. A second failed Indyref will kill off independence as surely as Quebec's second failure has done.
''For sure it will depend on the deal, but anyone who thinks Westminster can just do what they want is pretty stupid , which as you will have seen by some of the infantile comments is many of the frothers on here. ''
All the same, I'm struggling to see what the ultimate goal of the SNP is. An independent Scotland would surely rejoin the EU, which would certainly stretch the meaning of the word 'independent'. Arguably Scotland would be less independent than it is now.
Does it matter, particularly, whether or not Nicola Sturgeon approves the terms of any deal?
Unless Theresa May wishes to go down in history as the Prime Minister who lost the union, then yes, Scotland matters and in the current climate, that means Nicola matters.
"The Union" has already gone?
Afternoon GIN, still wriggling yet but in its death throes for sure.
No more in its death throes than Canada's union is. A second failed Indyref will kill off independence as surely as Quebec's second failure has done.
Can I take that as support for a 2nd Indy referendum asap?
''It will only happen if it is seen as a compromise that is in the best interest of the whole nation, but it must guarantee sovereignty and some action on free movement.''
I don;t see why Brexiteers should compromise to keep remainers happy.
If it had been a narrow remainer victory, the feelings of leavers would have been totally ignored thereafter.
Lol. since Leavers have never clarified the kind of Brexit they want you can't realistically talk about compromise nor assume that all 17m voted for your 'version'.
Exactly so. I'm a leaver and don't agree with the version of leave some others have. The vote was leave with no details, the fight for what type is still up for grabs.msadly, may looks like she'll go for a harder Brexit.
That's not as different to Europe as it appears on first glance. In America the right to bear arms is a fundamental freedom guaranteed by the constitution. In Europe too free movement is a constitutional fundamental freedom. Maintaining border security is (in any other democracy on earth) an uncontroversial measure that would mitigate the risk but Europe is no more willing to consider it than America is willing to consider gun control.
Err, no. The EU free movement rules have zilch to do with this.
Makes sense to leave A50 till after the French presidential elections at least. Hollande is sitting duck. Merkel might survive the German federal elections, but even she might be unexpectedly weak after.
So no point starting negotiations in earnest till then.
And as to the Sturgeon question, who cares? Nobody will ask her to "accept" the negotiated settlement. That's not her job nor will it ever be.
5 million people in Scotland care plenty and we will see the outcome if she is not asked for sure.
She will be asked I'm sure, but ultimately she can't just stubbornly veto every proposal. So hopefully if she is serious and co-operates then she can negotiate the best deal that is in Scotland's interests, if she refuses to countenance any form of Brexit then we should just negotiate the best deal in England's interests.
For sure it will depend on the deal, but anyone who thinks Westminster can just do what they want is pretty stupid , which as you will have seen by some of the infantile comments is many of the frothers on here.
The photo of Sturgeon and May together at Bute House should give cause for optimism that these two are serious leaders who want the best for their Countries and will work constructively together in the interests of both Scotland and RUK.
I am genuinely hopeful that they will both give us grown up politics
I think its perfectly logical. Ban guns and its open season on middle class Americans in isolated communities or small towns where local law enforcement is hours away.
You can see the 'awaydays' for the big city gangs right now.
Mr. Taffys, indeed, that perspective seems bloody odd to me.
On that note, Mr. G, if Scotland left the UK on a joining the EU ticket, would you join/support a Scottish version of UKIP to get Scotland out of the EU?
''For sure it will depend on the deal, but anyone who thinks Westminster can just do what they want is pretty stupid , which as you will have seen by some of the infantile comments is many of the frothers on here. ''
All the same, I'm struggling to see what the ultimate goal of the SNP is. An independent Scotland would surely rejoin the EU, which would certainly stretch the meaning of the word 'independent'. Arguably Scotland would be less independent than it is now.
Please elucidate on your 'less independent than it is now' argument.
1. I'm a Mark Carney fan. He should stay. He's not perfect (I love the 'unreliable boyfriend' moniker) but he's very competent and calming.
2. Getting obsessed about Obama's choice of words is getting very close to tinfoil territory. Sad to see on PB. The US has always had its Anglophile/phobe split. We may or may not be at the front/back of the queue/line.
3. We project anything we like on to our opposition re EUref. In the interests of fairness, I'm sure there are a body of Leavers who can't wait to deport all the muslims, based on some fairly loopy half-logic. How many? No idea. PB is awash with free trade sovereignistas. Can't believe we're representative of the populace at large.
On topic. May originally said end of year. Davis has said end of the year, beginning of next. Don't think we'll get away with anything longer.
Calming? You're kidding? He's done zip to help our economy and oodles of talking it down.
Hence the pissed off *unreliable boyfriend* moniker.
I'm AMAZED you think this is either big or clever behaviour.
His forward guidance is one of the reasons we've had such a solid economy. At the time it gave us a very solid foundation to grow from. Carney is doing a decent job. Removing the governor at a time like this would be suicidal. Hopefully he can be convinced to continue after 2018, but idiots like Jenkin make it tougher. ....Like it or not, Brexit creates economic uncertainty. The governor is right to point that out, to not do so would be farcical. You call it "talking down the economy" I call it realism. I voted to leave, but was under no impression that it would be easy or with no cost..
Carney's guidance 2013 = When jobless rate reaches 7% then rates are going up. He broke that one. Now at 5%. 2015 = Expect rates to rise early in 2016. They did not. 2016 = If we Brexit we will have to increase rates. He did not. 2016 = In next few rates we will have to lower the rate. He did not.
What part of f**king forward guidance is any one supposed to believe?
''For sure it will depend on the deal, but anyone who thinks Westminster can just do what they want is pretty stupid , which as you will have seen by some of the infantile comments is many of the frothers on here. ''
All the same, I'm struggling to see what the ultimate goal of the SNP is. An independent Scotland would surely rejoin the EU, which would certainly stretch the meaning of the word 'independent'. Arguably Scotland would be less independent than it is now.
Please elucidate on your 'less independent than it is now' argument.
I think its perfectly logical. Ban guns and its open season on middle class Americans in isolated communities or small towns where local law enforcement is hours away.
You can see the 'awaydays' for the big city gangs right now.
Sure sure, that's the argument, albeit a feeble one (most Americans live in large cities and suburbs, but still are allowed to have guns). More to the point as regards mass shootings, they even refuse to take the most obvious measures to prevent nutjobs buying (perfectly legally) automatic weapons. It's entirely up to them, but clearly they don't regard preventing these mass shootings as a priority.
BF now have a market up for next Con leader. Only £140 so far. I think this is interesting book, as at moment it can be see as 'who takes over (permanently) if something terrible happens and May resigns'. Or, you can view it as who do you punt on at say 50/1 who will be leader in about a decade.
...Wonder if it's approaching a similar state to the US's mass shootings, where sad words are exchanged and nothing ever changes, and people become 'used' to it.
The difference is that in the US the legislature, with overwhelming public support, has deliberately and repeatedly refused to take the obvious and (in any other democracy on earth) uncontroversial measures which would mitigate the risk. So it's not that nothing ever changes, it's that they don't want anything to change.
That's not as different to Europe as it appears on first glance. In America the right to bear arms is a fundamental freedom guaranteed by the constitution. In Europe too free movement is a constitutional fundamental freedom. Maintaining border security is (in any other democracy on earth) an uncontroversial measure that would mitigate the risk but Europe is no more willing to consider it than America is willing to consider gun control.
Great analogy
No, it's a completely shite analogy, given that closing EU borders would not have made the slightest difference to the likelihood or outcome of this particular attack.
Mr. Taffys, indeed, that perspective seems bloody odd to me.
On that note, Mr. G, if Scotland left the UK on a joining the EU ticket, would you join/support a Scottish version of UKIP to get Scotland out of the EU?
MD I would not be aghast at being in the UK, I ma interested in best interests of Scotland and I believe that would be better served by an independent Scotland in the EU than being a bit part in UK being forced to take England's position 100% of the time whether good or bad. At least in the EU you get to make some local decisions and spend your own money how you wish.
Makes sense to leave A50 till after the French presidential elections at least. Hollande is sitting duck. Merkel might survive the German federal elections, but even she might be unexpectedly weak after.
So no point starting negotiations in earnest till then.
And as to the Sturgeon question, who cares? Nobody will ask her to "accept" the negotiated settlement. That's not her job nor will it ever be.
5 million people in Scotland care plenty and we will see the outcome if she is not asked for sure.
She will be asked I'm sure, but ultimately she can't just stubbornly veto every proposal. So hopefully if she is serious and co-operates then she can negotiate the best deal that is in Scotland's interests, if she refuses to countenance any form of Brexit then we should just negotiate the best deal in England's interests.
For sure it will depend on the deal, but anyone who thinks Westminster can just do what they want is pretty stupid , which as you will have seen by some of the infantile comments is many of the frothers on here.
The photo of Sturgeon and May together at Bute House should give cause for optimism that these two are serious leaders who want the best for their Countries and will work constructively together in the interests of both Scotland and RUK.
I am genuinely hopeful that they will both give us grown up politics
We can but hope, it would be a welcome change from normal Westminster practice.
BTW, can I just say how much Yokal's description of Corbyinite ultras as "brownshirts" yesterday resonated with me. That seems to be exactly what is going on.
Mr. G, must say I think that's a slightly odd position given there's increasing devolution within the UK [except the England...], and increasing centralisation within the EU, but there we are.
Edited extra bit: except for*. Not 'the'.
Feeling oddly hungry [gluttony is the sin with which I've tended to struggle the least]. May be related to finally doing some exercise yesterday.
''For sure it will depend on the deal, but anyone who thinks Westminster can just do what they want is pretty stupid , which as you will have seen by some of the infantile comments is many of the frothers on here. ''
All the same, I'm struggling to see what the ultimate goal of the SNP is. An independent Scotland would surely rejoin the EU, which would certainly stretch the meaning of the word 'independent'. Arguably Scotland would be less independent than it is now.
I disagree , we have no say in anything at present , the 85% majority in England decide everything and anything that is to happen. We would have much more local say as a small part of a very big union than as a bit part in UK.
Does it matter, particularly, whether or not Nicola Sturgeon approves the terms of any deal?
Unless Theresa May wishes to go down in history as the Prime Minister who lost the union, then yes, Scotland matters and in the current climate, that means Nicola matters.
"The Union" has already gone?
Afternoon GIN, still wriggling yet but in its death throes for sure.
No more in its death throes than Canada's union is. A second failed Indyref will kill off independence as surely as Quebec's second failure has done.
there has not been one though has there
And there won't be one anytime soon, for exactly that reason. Another NO would finish the SNP, bye bye ministerial cars, salaries and pensions.
And like others here - you're a City centred chap.
The vast majority of the country aren't so interested in your personal pay packets. We want a good balanced economy - not one that suits ones who already earn a huge living.
It's nothing to do with my personal pay packet. As it happens I might be moving to Switzerland anyway.
What matters is having the right person for the job, I'm certain that Carney is the right person. Everyone else I know also thinks that. You don't like him becauae he backed remain. He's a central banker, they will always back economic security over uncertainty. The leave vote makes his job of holding the UK banking system together much more difficult. Yet he's managing it with great confidence and very few problems. The £150bn stimulus was a great innovation that the likes of Merve wouldn't have come up with, the forward guidance on reactivating the fund for lending is another one that will help banks continue to have confidence to keep lending to UK businesses.
Carney has produced tangible monetary policies since the vote that will keep the banking sector healthy and keep our show on the road until we have a firm policy position. He has done a good job, what you call negativity is realism, nothing more. You don't like that he is calling Brexit as economically sub-optimal. Well it is and I say that having voted and campaigned for leave.
David Davis is definitely going to resign at some point. It's how he rolls. Only a matter of time. Wonder what it will be over.
Surprised he has lasted so long.
David Davis is going to surprise a lot of people I think. He'll stick with this to the bitter end.
Brexit is his one and only chance to shape the countries destiny for decades, maybe centuries to come... And he'll be able to do it while Cameron looks on from the sidelines.
This is an entirely different scenario to when he was the "runt of litter" in Cameron and Osborne's shadow cabinet.
Boris and Fox may leave but Davis will still be "there" in 2020, IMO.
Just listened to his "economic case for brexit" speech.
One point that struck me, was that he thinks the 2017 elections in France and Germany actually help us. As the Brexit deal, and the consequences for French/German exporters, will be a feature in their elections.
Mr. G, must say I think that's a slightly odd position given there's increasing devolution within the UK [except the England...], and increasing centralisation within the EU, but there we are.
Edited extra bit: except for*. Not 'the'.
Feeling oddly hungry [gluttony is the sin with which I've tended to struggle the least]. May be related to finally doing some exercise yesterday.
MD, the devolution is just the small petty things that matter little. On all big ticket items we have no say , the arithmetic means what England wants is what UK gets. Even in a centralised EU we would make local decisions.
Please elucidate on your 'less independent than it is now' argument.
Well the EU is bent on ever closer union, something Scotland would be asked to sign up to as a condition of rejoining?
That would be less independent ( or you could certainly argue that it would).
I wonder whether if, given the choice, Scotland might go for a Norway or Switzerland solution? Or even Iceland? Independent from the EU and England?
Less independent than currently wherein we cede control over 2/3 of our taxation, 3/4 of welfare policy, foreign policy, defence, broadcasting, trade and industry, nuclear energy, oil, coal, gas and electricity, the constitution and immigration?
1. I'm a Mark Carney fan. He should stay. He's not perfect (I love the 'unreliable boyfriend' moniker) but he's very competent and calming.
2. Getting obsessed about Obama's choice of words is getting very close to tinfoil territory. Sad to see on PB. The US has always had its Anglophile/phobe split. We may or may not be at the front/back of the queue/line.
3. We project anything we like on to our opposition re EUref. In the interests of fairness, I'm sure there are a body of Leavers who can't wait to deport all the muslims, based on some fairly loopy half-logic. How many? No idea. PB is awash with free trade sovereignistas. Can't believe we're representative of the populace at large.
On topic. May originally said end of year. Davis has said end of the year, beginning of next. Don't think we'll get away with anything longer.
Calming? You're kidding? He's done zip to help our economy and oodles of talking it down.
Hence the pissed off *unreliable boyfriend* moniker.
I'm AMAZED you think this is either big or clever behaviour.
His forward guidance is one of the reasons we've had such a solid economy. At the time it gave us a very solid foundation to grow from. Carney is doing a decent job. Removing the governor at a time like this would be suicidal. Hopefully he can be convinced to continue after 2018, but idiots like Jenkin make it tougher. ....Like it or not, Brexit creates economic uncertainty. The governor is right to point that out, to not do so would be farcical. You call it "talking down the economy" I call it realism. I voted to leave, but was under no impression that it would be easy or with no cost..
Carney's guidance 2013 = When jobless rate reaches 7% then rates are going up. He broke that one. Now at 5%. 2015 = Expect rates to rise early in 2016. They did not. 2016 = If we Brexit we will have to increase rates. He did not. 2016 = In next few rates we will have to lower the rate. He did not.
What part of f**king forward guidance is any one supposed to believe?
Please elucidate on your 'less independent than it is now' argument.
Well the EU is bent on ever closer union, something Scotland would be asked to sign up to as a condition of rejoining?
That would be less independent ( or you could certainly argue that it would).
I wonder whether if, given the choice, Scotland might go for a Norway or Switzerland solution? Or even Iceland? Independent from the EU and England?
Less independent than currently wherein we cede control over 2/3 of our taxation, 3/4 of welfare policy, foreign policy, defence, broadcasting, trade and industry, nuclear energy, oil, coal, gas and electricity, the constitution and immigration? I have to disagree.
''I disagree , we have no say in anything at present , the 85% majority in England decide everything and anything that is to happen. We would have much more local say as a small part of a very big union than as a bit part in UK.''
That may be true of the EU as it stands at the moment, Mr G, but as we know the EU is a moveable feast that is heading towards ever closer union.
Mr. G, must say I think that's a slightly odd position given there's increasing devolution within the UK [except the England...], and increasing centralisation within the EU, but there we are.
Edited extra bit: except for*. Not 'the'.
Feeling oddly hungry [gluttony is the sin with which I've tended to struggle the least]. May be related to finally doing some exercise yesterday.
MD, the devolution is just the small petty things that matter little. On all big ticket items we have no say , the arithmetic means what England wants is what UK gets. Even in a centralised EU we would make local decisions.
The dogsh*t collectors will wear kilts. Good stuff.
It's ghastly. I used to spend a bit of time in Nice in the 90s. I went back recently and the whole charecter of the place had changed. Walking around you felt like you had to look over your shoulder. And the beurs had a swagger you didn't see in the 90s. Before anyone accuses me of racism, most of my friends there are of Lebanese heritage. We still await news of someone who hasn't been heard of since last night.
Mr. G, Scotland's getting almost all income tax setting, though [I agree it's bonkers that one aspect, forget which, might be the personal allowance, isn't included given the rest is]. Also, the trend is your friend, within UK devolution. In Euroland, power only flows one way.
I do respect your opinion, though I don't share it.
Mensch is on the warpath about Bataclan. I sincerely hope she's wrong, otherwise this is not going to end well.
What has she said now ?
I'll leave it at claims of atrocities committed on the victims of Bataclan before they died, based on testimony at the French government enquiry that's still underway.
Mensch is on the warpath about Bataclan. I sincerely hope she's wrong, otherwise this is not going to end well.
What has she said now ?
Awful, terrible details that might be emerging from the French enquiry into the Bataclan massacre about torture on the 2nd floor. Dunno if it's true. But it is believable.
Mensch is on the warpath about Bataclan. I sincerely hope she's wrong, otherwise this is not going to end well.
What has she said now ?
Awful, terrible details that might be emerging from the French enquiry into the Bataclan massacre about torture on the 2nd floor. Dunno if it's true. But it is believable.
That sounds horrible but no doubt nothing should shock us now
It's ghastly. I used to spend a bit of time in Nice in the 90s. I went back recently and the whole charecter of the place had changed. Walking around you felt like you had to look over your shoulder. And the beurs had a swagger you didn't see in the 90s. Before anyone accuses me of racism, most of my friends there are of Lebanese heritage. We still await news of someone who hasn't been heard of since last night.
Mr. G, must say I think that's a slightly odd position given there's increasing devolution within the UK [except the England...], and increasing centralisation within the EU, but there we are.
Edited extra bit: except for*. Not 'the'.
Feeling oddly hungry [gluttony is the sin with which I've tended to struggle the least]. May be related to finally doing some exercise yesterday.
MD, the devolution is just the small petty things that matter little. On all big ticket items we have no say , the arithmetic means what England wants is what UK gets. Even in a centralised EU we would make local decisions.
The dogsh*t collectors will wear kilts. Good stuff.
The boss of the Fench MI6 equivalent said only a few days ago that France is only a couple of outrages away from civil war. If the reported - and this does seem to be from the official French inquiry - gruesomeness about torture at the Bataclan is true and if people start to think the details have been suppressed it ain't gonna do much for social cohesion there.
Just been listening to May's comments on Scotland. She doesn't seem like someone very comfortable on camera, she has that habit of speaking too quickly and therefore getting certain words wrong and correcting herself, common when people who are nervous public speakers have to give presentations. I'm not saying it as a criticism, just a little surprised given how many times she has been on camera and given speeches!
Mr. G, Scotland's getting almost all income tax setting, though [I agree it's bonkers that one aspect, forget which, might be the personal allowance, isn't included given the rest is]. Also, the trend is your friend, within UK devolution. In Euroland, power only flows one way.
I do respect your opinion, though I don't share it.
MD , it is all just bits and pieces and does not allow you to actually do anything or change anything , just the minimum they can give without actually transferring any real power.
It's ghastly. I used to spend a bit of time in Nice in the 90s. I went back recently and the whole charecter of the place had changed. Walking around you felt like you had to look over your shoulder. And the beurs had a swagger you didn't see in the 90s. Before anyone accuses me of racism, most of my friends there are of Lebanese heritage. We still await news of someone who hasn't been heard of since last night.
Haven't been to Nice for some years but really liked it and the region. It seems that the Russian mafia has a strong foothold there.
Just been listening to May's comments on Scotland. She doesn't seem like someone very comfortable on camera, she has that habit of speaking too quickly and therefore getting certain words wrong and correcting herself, common when people who are nervous public speakers have to give presentations. I'm not saying it as a criticism, just a little surprised given how many times she has been on camera and given speeches!
I'm sure Ms Mensch, sitting in New York firing off tweets every thirty seconds, is the ideally-placed investigative journalist to give us the truth.
Nevertheless, she appears to be reporting the proceedings of the official French inquiry.
I find it a bit suspicious it is only being reported on that one website.
Dunno. Just tried to find the original text of the French parliamentary report. Couldn't. Some media coverage (Guardian - "intelligence failures" natch).
Mr. G, Scotland's getting almost all income tax setting, though [I agree it's bonkers that one aspect, forget which, might be the personal allowance, isn't included given the rest is]. Also, the trend is your friend, within UK devolution. In Euroland, power only flows one way.
I do respect your opinion, though I don't share it.
MD , it is all just bits and pieces and does not allow you to actually do anything or change anything , just the minimum they can give without actually transferring any real power.
Isn't health run entirely from Holyrood, for instance?
Boris is fine, he's a secret remainer anyway he won't care what deal we get. Fox and Davis are both leadership losers brought in from the cold by TM, if they aren't willing to go along with what TM wants they are easily replaceable.
It is VERY hard to read what May really wants. Her remarks on not invoking A50 until Scotland agrees (indicating EEA type brexit) flies in the face of her cabinet brexit appointments (indicating Full English Brexit).
As a resident of Paris - what's the local mood re Nice?
I've not spoken with that many people today as working from home, but of those I have, the general mood (besides shock at the nature of the attack) is a lack of surprise that it's happened. Most people were expecting something to happen at the euros and were surprised that it didn't.
Feels very pessimistic here - which may be reflected in those earlier comments about 'living with terrorism'. Wonder if it's approaching a similar state to the US's mass shootings, where sad words are exchanged and nothing ever changes, and people become 'used' to it.
Comments
Feels very pessimistic here - which may be reflected in those earlier comments about 'living with terrorism'. Wonder if it's approaching a similar state to the US's mass shootings, where sad words are exchanged and nothing ever changes, and people become 'used' to it.
Additionally in the speech post Brexit he scared the market unnecessarily - around the likelihood of interest rate cuts.
Overall still a goodish Guv'nor, but not a great one.
France, sadly, hasn't got such an easy option.
I want Brexit but some on here really worry me so much, that each side will become polarised and the whole deal will be lost in never ending turmoil
The 44-year-old was arrested in Paisley, Renfrewshire after allegedly making threats to kill the Wallasey MP in an email, Merseyside Police said.
e-mail ?
Free money alert
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/753965070003109888
Perhaps Americans take the view that banning guns would mean disarming law abiding people whilst the criminals in the country keep all of theirs.
And in many parts of that huge country, law abiding people with guns are effectively the law.
All the same, I'm struggling to see what the ultimate goal of the SNP is. An independent Scotland would surely rejoin the EU, which would certainly stretch the meaning of the word 'independent'. Arguably Scotland would be less independent than it is now.
I am genuinely hopeful that they will both give us grown up politics
I think its perfectly logical. Ban guns and its open season on middle class Americans in isolated communities or small towns where local law enforcement is hours away.
You can see the 'awaydays' for the big city gangs right now.
On that note, Mr. G, if Scotland left the UK on a joining the EU ticket, would you join/support a Scottish version of UKIP to get Scotland out of the EU?
2013 = When jobless rate reaches 7% then rates are going up. He broke that one. Now at 5%.
2015 = Expect rates to rise early in 2016. They did not.
2016 = If we Brexit we will have to increase rates. He did not.
2016 = In next few rates we will have to lower the rate. He did not.
What part of f**king forward guidance is any one supposed to believe?
At least in the EU you get to make some local decisions and spend your own money how you wish.
Well the EU is bent on ever closer union, something Scotland would be asked to sign up to as a condition of rejoining?
That would be less independent ( or you could certainly argue that it would).
I wonder whether if, given the choice, Scotland might go for a Norway or Switzerland solution? Or even Iceland? Independent from the EU and England?
Edited extra bit: except for*. Not 'the'.
Feeling oddly hungry [gluttony is the sin with which I've tended to struggle the least]. May be related to finally doing some exercise yesterday.
http://www.daviddavismp.com/david-davis-mp-delivers-speech-on-the-economic-case-for-brexit/
One point that struck me, was that he thinks the 2017 elections in France and Germany actually help us. As the Brexit deal, and the consequences for French/German exporters, will be a feature in their elections.
The idyllic Mediterranean beach town has a severe problem of Islamist radicalisation"
http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21702282-idyllic-mediterranean-beach-town-has-severe-problem-islamist-radicalisation-why
Trump goes from 1.01 shot to 1.0001 I reckon.
I have to disagree.
Being Canadian isn't Get Out Clause.
That may be true of the EU as it stands at the moment, Mr G, but as we know the EU is a moveable feast that is heading towards ever closer union.
No other word for it. Absolutely chicken fucking oriental.
I do respect your opinion, though I don't share it.
I just find it bizarre that she's selected it as he latest hot topic and will now spend the rest of the evening arguing with everyone about it.
Some things are best just left alone.
So I guess Pence GOP VP should probably be the same odds as trump GOP Nom.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-theresa-may-article-50-activated-uk-approach-eu-referendum-scotland-sturgeon-a7138971.html
I have just announced a complete stop to any new spending. I hope to avoid any redundancies. I managed to do that in 2009/2010.
Since we do not have any UK competitors, all of us are in the same boat. So, let's see, who puts up prices first.