Brexit - Page 262

OLD BOY · 08-07-2019, 19:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh

Singapore - population 5.6 million, size 280 square miles (approx. 20x14 miles in size).

U.K. - population 67 million, size 94,000 square miles.

Singapore is less than half the size of London, is a one party state with draconian laws - no thanks...

I don't see what size has to do with it, and I did not suggest at all that the UK should be a one party state with draconian laws. You do stretch things to make your arguments, don't you, Hugh?

ianch99 · 08-07-2019, 19:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by papa smurf

One last look before Armageddon eh.

Not really. Have always wanted to go there .. loads of history which I like. Plus, the beer *is* most excellent.

OLD BOY · 08-07-2019, 19:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianch99

Not really. Have always wanted to go there .. loads of history which I like. Plus, the beer *is* most excellent.

I thought it was only lager out there?

denphone · 08-07-2019, 19:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianch99

Not really. Have always wanted to go there .. loads of history which I like. Plus, the beer *is* most excellent.

They say the frites are nice over there according to some of my family.

Sephiroth · 08-07-2019, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianch99

Not really. Have always wanted to go there .. loads of history which I like. Plus, the beer *is* most excellent.

Apart from Hoegaarden I intensely dislike Belgian beers! I do like Belgian Eel in Green Sauce with Frites.

Whenever I go to Europe, which is frequent, I always end up discussing Brexit. I watch with amusement when the people talking to me concede that they hadn't thought about how Germany rigged the Euro and France ensure that the CAP suits them and only them. Of course, it doesn't change their minds about the EU but it does enlighten them as to how the Brits, who think differently from them, can arrive at a Brexit decision.

The rest of the Brexit discussion is an embarrassment! I've got another one in Vienna this coming weekend.

papa smurf · 08-07-2019, 19:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone

They say the frites are nice over there according to some of my family.

The chips are nice in Cleethorpes.

**Hugh** · 08-07-2019, 21:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I don't see what size has to do with it, and I did not suggest at all that the UK should be a one party state with draconian laws. You do stretch things to make your arguments, don't you, Hugh?

Economies of scale - if you have a small land mass and a small population, it’s easier and simpler to do things; you don’t have extended infrastructure and large population to support.

nomadking · 08-07-2019, 21:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I would point out that we already have a deal with the EU ready to go. We would also be able to get the backstop sorted out if Parliament did not keep interfering with our negotiating position.

What deal is that? All that is on offer is a delay until end of 2020. After that it is still "no deal".

1andrew1 · 08-07-2019, 22:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh

Economies of scale - if you have a small land mass and a small population, it’s easier and simpler to do things; you don’t have extended infrastructure and large population to support.

Exactly, GCSE economics.

ianch99 · 08-07-2019, 22:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I thought it was only lager out there?

Yes plus others esp. wheat beers which I like. Here's one I had:

IMG_0934.JPG

1andrew1 · 08-07-2019, 22:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I thought it was only lager out there?

Stella and Juliper are two bland lagers that dominate by volume, but Belgium is known for its wide range of beers made famous at one stage in the UK by Belgo.

Great selection here https://www.independent.co.uk/extras...-a7875611.html

Mr K · 08-07-2019, 22:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by papa smurf

The chips are nice in Cleethorpes.

Desperate last ditch slogan from the Cleethorpes tourist board, before it sinks ?

---------- Post added at 21:50 ---------- Previous post was at 21:47 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Well, Parliament has made a complete hash of it, and I think most people would agree with me.

You think wrong.

Parliament has been our saviour, its the Government that have cocked things up. It stopped TM's crap deal which, whatever side of this argument you are on, has to be a good thing.

**Hugh** · 08-07-2019, 22:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

Apart from Hoegaarden I intensely dislike Belgian beers! I do like Belgian Eel in Green Sauce with Frites.

Whenever I go to Europe, which is frequent, I always end up discussing Brexit. I watch with amusement when the people talking to me concede that they hadn't thought about how Germany rigged the Euro and France ensure that the CAP suits them and only them. Of course, it doesn't change their minds about the EU but it does enlighten them as to how the Brits, who think differently from them, can arrive at a Brexit decision.

The rest of the Brexit discussion is an embarrassment! I've got another one in Vienna this coming weekend.

Yes, because every one in all the different European countries thinks the same way...

OLD BOY · 08-07-2019, 23:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh

Economies of scale - if you have a small land mass and a small population, it’s easier and simpler to do things; you don’t have extended infrastructure and large population to support.

Hold on! Weren't you one of those agreeing that we could not make our way in the world because we were up against bigger countries, like China and the US? Now it's good to be small according to you.

Amazing how opinions can change to suit the protaganists!

---------- Post added at 22:26 ---------- Previous post was at 22:23 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Exactly, GCSE economics.

You've changed your tune, too, Andrew. Little Singapore is doing better than us with the sort of policies Boris is considering. And yet you said we couldn't survive against the big boys.

Well, if Singapore can do well, so can we.

---------- Post added at 22:27 ---------- Previous post was at 22:26 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomadking

What deal is that? All that is on offer is a delay until end of 2020. After that it is still "no deal".

The withdrawal agreement, of course. By the end of 2020, the expectation was that a trade deal would be in place.

1andrew1 · 08-07-2019, 23:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

You've changed your tune, too, Andrew. Little Singapore is doing better than us with the sort of policies Boris is considering. And yet you said we couldn't survive against the big boys.

Well, if Singapore can do well, so can we.

Not atall. I've never said we can't survive against the big boys. My ambition extends beyond your apparent ambition of survival to optimising our position in the world both economically and politically.
Singapore is a very small country which can focus on a few things in the same way that Luxembourg does. The UK is far larger with historical industrial legacies so can't follow Singapore's route. It can either be part of a larger bloc like the EU (which helped turn the country around from being the sick man of Europe) or it can be stuck between the EU, China, etc and do its best.

Other reasons why it won't work are detailed here:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...emier-lee-says
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/27/u...ntl/index.html

---------- Post added at 22:50 ---------- Previous post was at 22:49 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

The withdrawal agreement, of course. By the end of 2020, the expectation was that a trade deal would be in place.

Totally agree.