Brexit and the waning days of the United Kingdom

[Tamas]

Well the Tories are so unbelievably fucking useless that I'm contemplating voting Labour in the next General Election. I think the best result would probably be Labour winning but with a few seats short, so that the LibDems or SNP could vote down any obvious leftwing lunacy.

If I could I would vote LibDem. As you said, there's a bit of chance they'll become the tip of the balance and Hod knows we could use some sanity.

[Richard Hakluyt]

Liberals a lost cause in your constituency, RH?

Labour got nearly 70% of the vote here in the last General Election, it is a very safe seat, Labour has held it every time since 1945. It doesn't really matter how I vote 

[Josquius]

Well the Tories are so unbelievably fucking useless that I'm contemplating voting Labour in the next General Election. I think the best result would probably be Labour winning but with a few seats short, so that the LibDems or SNP could vote down any obvious leftwing lunacy.

That would be best yes. The EU is the important issue and this provides a solid positive pull there.

I might be tempted to vote lib dem at the next election actually; I'm a bit more confident in labour winning my seat than I was before so I can safely protest. Though who knows when it reaches the time.

[Josquius]

It looks like the EU is growing wary of the Tories running around screaming about wanting a super special deal without actually giving any information on what they want this to look like.
The EU has gone ahead and started drafting up a working option themself:
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-issues-brexit-ultimatum-on-ireland/

[Zanza]

The trade deals that Britain participates in thanks to its EU membership need to be continued or renegotiated for the Post-Brexit time.


https://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2018/02/daily-chart-6

[celedhring]

Wasn't aware that Switzerland was such a big market for the UK. Is it because of banking?

[Zanza]

Switzerland is also the EU's third biggest trading partner - only behind the United States and China.

USA 613,975 bn Euro, 17.8%
China 514,597 bn Euro, 14.9%
Switzerland 263,855 7.6
Russia 191,185 5.5
Turkey 144,653 4.2
Japan 124,636 3.6
Norway 111,626 3.2
South Korea 85,743 2.5
India 77,054 2.2
Canada 64,343 1.9

http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2006/september/tradoc_122530.pdf

[Josquius]

I looked up the numbers a little while ago in response to the silly talk about the UK joining the Trans Pacific Partnership-  the EFTA and TPP account for the same amount (5%) of Britain's exports.

Probably banking related given its an area where both the UK and Switzerland do a lot yes. There's something like 3 flights a day between Geneva and EACH of London's airports.

[Valmy]

Wait we have no trade agreements with the EU? Huh.

[The Brain]

Wait we have no trade agreements with the EU? Huh.

You're working on a bilateral trade agreement with Germany.

[celedhring]

Wait we have no trade agreements with the EU? Huh.

Well, TTIP is stuck in ratification hell.

Tariffs between USA and the EU are very low across most sectors, though.

[grumbler]

Wait we have no trade agreements with the EU? Huh.

No free trade agreements.  There are quite a lot of other deals regarding packaging, labeling, and the like.  I don't think those subsidiary deals count towards what the graphic is depicting, though.

[mongers]

Boris made yet another odd/whimsical intervention on Brexit yesterday; seemed less a coherent position statement, more jockeying for position in the forthcoming Tory leadership stakes.

[garbon]

I'm glad the government has found something new to focus on - the fact that Cornyn hasn't given a full account of his connection to a Czech spy back in the 80s!

In other news, Davis has said Brexit won't be an Anglo Saxon race to the bottom. The UK will not be come a Mad Max style dystopia.

[Tamas]

In other news, Davis has said Brexit won't be an Anglo Saxon race to the bottom. The UK will not be come a Mad Max style dystopia.

I wasn't worried about the UK disintegrating into a Mad Max style dystopia. Until now.