Youtube comments of Edmund Bell-King (@edmundbell-king4538).

  1. Its their own thinking that needs to change. Stop blaming others for their own shortcomings would be a good start.
    35
  2. Considering that the French like to sit on the fence, and have a laughable counter-intelligence service capability in regards to protecting their military-industrial secrets, I think the Aussies made the right call.
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  3. Dear Rory, if the average young Afghan male has zero tolerance for the concept of nationhood, there should be little surprise they'll run from the fight. If they won't fight for their country, why should anyone else?
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  4. Only the 'educated elites' have this problem of self-loathing. The ordinary folks still know what and who they are -and that is not anything new.
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  5. Yesterdays man talking to a MSM airhead.
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  6. Did she actually formally ask for a recount? I don't remember, but I understand if its very close you can ask for a recount.
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  7.  @panchovilla5940  Calling the majority of Welsh people 'turkeys' just because they hold a different view to your own. Not so smart.
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  8. Not at all, we live on one - its called GB!
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  9. Its pretty simple really. If you think you're a sovereign nation, your supreme court must take primacy. Indeed, I bet if you asked any head of state of a European EU member state if they were a sovereign nation state they'll say that they are. That is obviously incompatible and at odds with the view of the EU and the European Court. This is going to come up again and again. Only the Brits have solved the problem once and for all.
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  10. Britain has been doing exactly that for seven decades - very quietly.
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  11. No, Mr Murray. There are still ongoing court cases, in GA, AZ and MI in regards to the Presidential election - and now, the recent run-off in GA. That was the reason why President Trump wanted Vice President Pence to provide a ten day grace period to get these ongoing election fraud cases heard. He didn't and now it'll get very ugly. Certifying the election results too early is Vice President Pence's mistake, not the Presidents. He will come to regret it, as will the Republican Party. By allowing certification, the Republication Party just signed their own suicide note. You can push good people so far and then they'll push back - as we have already seen. American men and women died over many generations for those freedoms, starting with the original thirteen Colonies request to be treated as equals to other Englishmen and women with the same franchise. They were denied that right and the result was the American War of Independence, against us (I'm a Brit). I think I know Americans pretty well. They are a fair-minded people - up to a point. I don't think they will let their freedoms be taken away without a physical struggle. The political establishment need to reconcile that truth or, unfortunately, there is likely to be blood-shed. It can only end in one way. A freedom loving people will always win.
    10
  12. You think the Democrats work on behalf of blue collar workers in the US? Since when did that happen?
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  13.  @tumblefatboy  Is it too much to ask the Welsh Government to take responsibility for its own affairs and stop blaming Westminster? Hold on, I forgot, the Welsh Assembly is controlled by Labour - so forget I just said that.
    10
  14. Britain had and has a huge debt to all Commonwealth forces. My old Dad was a Para - 3rd Battalion. He always had a liking and huge respect for the Canadian lads.
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  15. The french cannot keep a secret, that why they were kept out of the loop. This was a lousy deal - and getting worse by the day. The Aussies were right and in their rights to cancel it.
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  16. Not as funny as Seattle Democrat politicians suggesting they should defund the police, then hurriedly calling 911 when they are accosted in the street.
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  17. They still do, you just don't see or hear what they're up to. We don't show off or talk about what we're doing in regards to any sector of defence technology, it's just not our way..The car parks at BAE at Wharton are always full every day - even in the worst of down-turns. So the money is still being spent on the boffins developing 'stuff'.
    6
  18. Its great they're always straight with us.
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  19. No, the fundamental error was agreeing to the terms of negotiation, as set by the EU. That was accepted by Teresa May/Ollie Robbins - both traitors and working to the EU agenda to 'lock' us in to EU control by proxy. We didn't need to do that, nor did we even need to agree to negotiate via EU channel. We should have said we'd only negotiate trade with individual states, who are sovereign.The EU is NOT a sovereign state.
    6
  20. Right wing extremists. Really? Good job there are no left-wing extremists that go out and riot on the streets and bring cities to their knees. No wait.....
    6
  21. Don't be unkind, Joe is a senior now, so show some respect.
    6
  22.  @panchovilla5940  Yes, and so was Tony Blair. He took us into two unwarranted/unnecessary wars - Iraq and Afghanistan - with the justification for both based on political lies. 1. Iraq - Weapons of Mass Destruction, and 2. Afghanistan - that Al-Qaeda both planned and then executed 9/11 - the most successful act of mass terrorism in history - all from within a cave complex in the Tora Bora Mountains. Really? Both wars were illegal in the international context and were prosecuted against the wishes of the vast majority of the British electorate. Were they idiots then as well?
    6
  23. 'Nations endure' Trouble is, most people in Afghanistan don't relate to the concept of 'nationhood', they only see their personal obligations to a tribe/region/family.
    6
  24.  @regophil  China started the Indo-Pacific arms race.
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  25. We don't need to ask for anything, just make a statement of fact - they can then like it or lump it.
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  26. Like Biden did when BLM/Antifa were rioting in Portland/Seattle?
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  27.  @stoufer2000  Bejing Biden is also a globalist.
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  28. The globalists already own the world. However, the point is that if Biden does win, which now seems likely (I hope I am wrong), a hard-core Marxist experiment will be imposed on the US population. That is a terrifying thought, as America is normally the bulwark against that kind of hard Leftist politics. However, the 'winner-takes-all' type of crony capitalism we have seen in the last two decades, where many ordinary people have been left behind, plus a dumbing down in University political education, and an under-regulated, agenda driven social media platforms has contributed to this outcome in no small measure. You reap what you sow, as my granny used to say.
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  29. Don't talk about Joe like that, he's a senior citizen, so show some respect!
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  30. Office of the President Elect? Is there even such an official office?
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  31. No, lets please honour the 2016 Ref. If Remainers had won it, they'd scream the walls down if Brexiteers asked that we just leave anyway!
    4
  32. I would never take the knee - accept perhaps out of respect for George Floyd's victims.
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  33. Yep, and now the same nation can't even defend itself against a few hundred refugee boats as they easily avoid the Royal Navy to land on our shores!
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  34. Who cares what Germany thinks. They don't even pay their way in NATO.
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  35.  @mijicmugendo  No, wrong again. Its about countering a near-term threat. Security through alliances. Smart move by the AUKUS nations to counter CCP moves in the Indo-Pacific.
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  36.  @PaulAmerican  Your comment is itself part of the problem that has America where it is today. You say the question is which 'side' will be victorious. If you mean either Left or Right, then the answer is neither - both will lose. That is because the issue is not about either left or right being victorious, but about the freedoms you currently enjoy being taken away from EVERY American, however they vote. The real question is, WHO is really behind this elimination of freedom of speech and expression? That will answer the why THEY are they doing it.
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  37. Wake up Europeans, the last thing you need is a German-led 'European' Army. You know where that will lead.
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  38. The UK will make its own decisions, based on what is good for the UK, not the EU.
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  39. @Saturnz The people of Wales, traditionally Labour in the majority, voted to Leave. Are they all stupid as well?
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  40. No, the EU didn't oblige at all. They fought tooth and nail to keep the English in the EU as they knew they had the money they needed. The EU is all about capturing national treasury wealth from its EU member states and then redistributing it on wasteful projects. The EU itself makes nothing and earns nothing. We don't need the EU to do that, we have our own incompetent national governments for that.
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  41. Actually, the British response was more direct. Bomb the crap out of the U-Boat pens - and it worked.
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  42. You can't legally define that. Hence it has no place in any international agreement.
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  43.  P.J Holms  Its Oikophobia. A self-hatred of both the Western world and the familiar.
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  44.  @minimax9452  Yes, the cold war is over, thanks to the US presence in Europe and its decades-long support for European security through NATO. You have a short memory.
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  45. Well, we're not that petty minded - unlike the French it seems.
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  46.  @mijicmugendo  No they won't. In the short -term, it's far more likely Aussie sailors will be on UK/US subs to learn how to work these boats.
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  47. Well, there has been an awful lot of talk about 'land of the free and home of the brave'. However, from what I can see from this side of the 'pond' it at least seems that all the real patriots must be asleep. Wake up America, before your freedoms are stolen in the night.
    3
  48. Multiple Aussie governments. The ones you probably voted for.
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  49.  @davehallett810  The French can't laugh at themselves because they are too arrogant.
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  50.  @Dan210871  No where nearly as amusing as you describing yourself as an economist - which you most certainly are not.
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  51.  @Dan210871  Except it wasn't detrimental. Not subsidising other EU nations and cancelling Freedom of Movement are two benefits. You can't argue that we put more money in than we got back out.Now we can decide where we want to put our money. BTW, so can the Welsh Government. Additionally, with the end of Freedom of Movement, a lot of those jobs taken by EU nationals willing to take much lower wages than Brits will again become available to UK workers - and average salaries will rise - as we are already seeing. That is pure economics. As an example, salaries for HGV drivers are on the rise, as they we artificially pushed down by lower cost EU workers who have exited the country. There are currently around 80,000 HGV qualified UK drivers that left the sector as salaries were pushed down by foreign workers in the past. There will be a period of re-balancing, and that is what we're entering now. However, market forces will push up salaries in sectors with shortages of workers. These businesses have little choice now, as they don't have the lever of importing cheaper labour any more. I call that another Brexit benefit. If you are in any way on the side of the average UK working class, you should not be expecting them to compete with low cost imported workers just to stay in the EU club which works against the interests of our working class. Labour didn't understand that point and sat on the fence at the last election in regards to Brexit. They just couldn't understand why the 'blue wall' in the North massively voted for the Tories. You seem to be similarly confused.
    3
  52.  @Bulletguy07  So who took us to war over that MI6 'Doggy Dossier' that said Iraq had the capability to use Weapons of Mass Destruction? All a lie by Tony Blair's Labour government, that's who. We never found those Weapons of Mass Destruction because they never existed. It was all a lie to get at those Iraqi oil reserves. Then who was it that took us into Afghanistan over another lie? You know, the one that said Al Qaeda planned and then executed the greatest act of mass terrorism in history on 9/11. All from a cave complex in the Tora Bora Mountains in Afghanistan. Every independent security expert suggests this was, and still is, a ridiculously false claim as it was not within their capability to pull such an operation off on their own. Again it was Tony Blair's Labour government insisting we needed to go into Afghanistan to destroy Al Quada after 9/11 - and that we'd then leave. Another lie, because Afghanistan had $1 Trillion worth of untapped mineral reserves, so once in, the West wanted to stay to mine these reserves. Beginning to see a pattern?
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  53. I think Poland is at the exit door.
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  54.  @sparky6855  Agreed.
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  55. Doggarland is British. EU get your mits off it!
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  56.  @simoncroft9792  Any actual evidence for that statement?
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  57. There will be an ultimate winner: The American people.
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  58.  @joshbentley2307  Its the EU that thinks its a Super Power. Nor is it a sovereign state and never will be - although they are trying hard.
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  59. Bash a Brit week yet again. Paddy, you're true to form. When don't you drone on about the Irish Famine while you're at it?
    2
  60.  @vennsim71  One sided? Like what China is doing has been agreed by everyone? When you say 'resolve our way', that real means capitulate to, not stand up to China.
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  61. This has been on the cards since the French kept jacking up the price of these Barracuda converted boats and kept reducing the Australian work-share.Australia was absolutely right to exercise its exit clause from this one-sided contract. AUKUS is a rational response and no real surprise coming out of the decision to switch to nuclear powered boats.
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  62.  @jeffers9843  You don't have to be an 'Anglo' as you put it to see where this contract was going. The price per boat had quadrupled since Australia inked the deal in 2016. Secondly, it was Australian money that was being spent, not French. The conversion of Barracuda nuclear boats to diesel-electric would have ending up costing twice the price of a US Virginia nuclear sub which has vastly superior technology and is much more in line with what Australia actually needed and can afford. France was just milking the Aussies and it had to stop. It was a bad deal from day one and Morrison was right to exercise their exit clause.
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  63. Australia inked that deal five years ago. Not a single steel plate has been cut and the cost has gone up 50% - why? The Aussies quite rightly cancelled the deal as the French will not/could not deliver to the terms of the agreement.
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  64. @Loading Opinions No they don't. Britain builds its own nuclear subs and always did. They also build their own nuclear warheads and share development costs with the US on the Trident missile.
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  65.  @tonycrayford3893  I think the Brits can top that - how else did they end up with the world's largest Empire - and then be big enough to give it all back.
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  66. Yes, it gives you a nice warm glow at night!
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  67. More like a football for the later marks of counter-measures, I've heard from somebody who would know.
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  68.  @sophieedel6324  The EU needs its own army? For what exactly? Really, who do you think is going to be doing the EU's fighting then, Germany? It doesn't even pay her NATO bills now.
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  69. The French don't trust the US/UK and have made that obvious on multiple occasions. Then they complain why we don't trust them and inform them of an alliance agreement before it is announced. Typical double standards from the french.
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  70. Wrong on just about every point.
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  71. Many nations have tried that and failed. I wonder why?
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  72. The EU can't have sovereignty as it's not a nation state, just a political association of nations. Each individual nation has its own sovereignty.
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  73.  @butchfils9464  Not all Europeans hate the US.
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  74.  @shamanbhattacharyya9285  Well, lets be honest, the Pakistani Army does not amount to much, does it? Its a bit like the Israeli's going on about how good they are when they're up against the Arabs.
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  75.  @MrAmhara  Idiotic comment.
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  76.  @Cheese_Boi1986  The objective of the Afghanistan invasion (the Western powers called it a 'campaign') was to defeat the Taliban and destroy Al Quada. Both objectives have failed. While I have the highest regards for US service personnel, their bravery and tenacity in a very difficult operational environment, they were let down by their own politicians. The operational objective was flawed from the outset. The flawed basis for the invasion was the now discredited argument that the Taliban had harboured Al Qaeda who were solely responsible for 9/11, the largest single act of terrorism in human history. Supposedly, 9/11 was all planned and executed by Al Qaeda from within a cave complex in the Tora Bora Mountains - really? The Western intelligence community knew that was a lie at the time. However, as Afghanistan has about a trillion dollars worth of untapped mineral deposits, the US business sector pulled in their friendly politicians who decided to invade on the sketchy pretext of eliminating terrorism.
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  77.  @ChristopherLandonPhotography  If you want to save America, you've got to stop thinking in terms of Left or Right/Dems vs GOP. They are now just two sides of the same coin. What you need to ask is WHY are both parties colluding against the American people.Who is behind this and what is the agenda?
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  78.  @kristianmelms8096  I have to say, I think Europeans are more critical of their political party's they tend to vote for, never mind the opposition. It the US its just a simple Dems vs GOP. There seems to be very little vibrant debate on the real motivations behind these party's at all. Everyone was asleep at the wheel.
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  79.  @aryehakujin4374  I think you should ask your mum to read your comments before you press send. Now get back to your homework.
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  80. How about, 'we should've planned for this really, shouldn't we? After all they had five years to get their act together. Guess, they've been caught out, so now they'll have to pay more to get British workers or shut down.
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  81. Absolutely, lets get Sir Kier Starmer on the case - he'll sort it out to our advantage. Er, then again, maybe not.
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  82.  @horanm5  OK, hypothetically lets say the UK actually does walk away. How then does the EU member sates go about capturing new world markets to fill the Euro 80 Billion a year trade surplus they have lost after being excluded from the lucrative UK market? The EU's global market share has been shrinking for over a decade. I'd love to know what is the secret sauce you have to explain how they could achieve that. You're not a Scottish Nationalist by any chance, are you? They often throw out such comments without considering the difficulties that would ensue from such a policy?
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  83.  @texjohnson9208  EU influence around the world compared to UK 'soft power', head of the Commonwealth, with a permanent seat at the UN and the USA's closest ally. Think again.
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  84.  @thepianist1841  No, its actually sad that they cannot face reality as it is. They have to get under the bed covers and hope that the world will more to their liking in the morning.
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  85. Yep, until you lot start fighting each other, then it's 'where's Tommy Atkins'?
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  86. It has - we're leaving.
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  87.  @mufflejoy  Dear Mufflejoy, since when has the EU ever shown any appetite for fixing its problems? Remember, it is always saying everything in the EU garden is rosy, nothing to to see here, so move along. So the UK did, and we'll get on with it.
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  88.  @wehavehugeproblems4857  Thanks for the tip - I'll give them a try next time I'm down at Cardiff Met for a meeting ;-)
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  89. Its hard to find Fish 'N' Chips for £4:50 these days.
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  90.  @philhaji-michael8471  The important fact for the EU is, there is an annual deficit for the UK in trading with the EU - averaging around Euro 80 billion a year. I think somebody should talk to those EU exporting companies and ask them if they would prefer to keep access to that lucrative market - I think we both know the answer to the question. It is the European companies that will lose out by the EU political class playing hard ball over a lost battle. There is no point in that, they've already lost this trade game to the UK, so they should concentrate on making the best deal they can for the benefit of their member states to cut off any potential risks of market assess being lost - instead they are just trying to make a political point. Remember, the UK can easily divert its trade purchases to buy EVERYTHING it needs outside of the EU. These are just facts and it is a more common sense approach. What is wrong with that?
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  91.  @philhaji-michael8471  You remembered wrong.
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  92.  @philhaji-michael8471  Its a EEA Mark - check it out. Any company with electrical components - mine include - uses CE for its goods - not just for the EU but the wider EEA.
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  93. So, a sovereign nation with the 5th largest economy in the world, the largest financial services centre on the planet, with a world renowned innovative business and arts culture, that cultivated and uses the language of business, English, that has four of the top eight universities in the world, is a key founding member and guarantor of peace through NATO (a member that pays its NATO membership dues) and is also a power-house in international commercial law - that is a nation that cannot get its act together to formulate and deliver a decent trade deal with WTO members? Really?
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  94. The EU is the con trick my friend. How democratic is it, really?
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  95.  @wernervanham8760  Werner - yes you can, the UK has shown there is a way to parachute out of the EU prison.
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  96. ​Ian, Because our fishing rights will revert to the UK come the end of the Transition Period. This extends out to 200 nautical (370km) off the coastline, giving the UK the authority to exploit and control the fish resources within their zone.This will have a major (negative) impact on incomes for French, Danish, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese fishermen.
    2
  97. The AUKUS Agreement includes two leading NATO members - the UK and US. Both are far more committed to it than most EU/NATO member states.
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  98.  @joeletaxi7956  The British have ALWAYS designed and built their own subs. Since the Trafalgar class we have built our own, entirely British nuclear propulsion system and also our own war-heads. We do co-share development of the Trident ballistic missile with our American friends. Many American submarine officers that have been on the Royal Navy's 'Perisher' course say, rightly, that it is the hardest attack submarine course in the world. The Royal Navy Submarine Service, while much smaller than their US counter-parts, are considered second to no one. We've had a long, excellent working relationship with the US Navy submarine service. I'm sure that will also be true of the Australian Navy once AUKUS gets going. It all comes done to trust. The US trusts the UK and also Australia as both close allies and military partners with a very similar world view.
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  99.  @johnbourne5068  No, he obviously doesn't.
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  100. Well, they obviously sank - or tried to get on the last plane out. Should we support that type of 'soldier'? I think not.
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  101. The Tory Parliamentary Party are, by a large majority, a Remainer Party. The ERG are much smaller on the Commons benches - hence the problem with getting a decent Brexit deal. All Farage has done by standing down in Conservative seats is give a free pass to those same Remainer Tory MP's to return to the Commons and continue their Guerrilla war against Leaving the EU. Nice work Nigel! The Conservative Brexiteer now have no real choice if they have a sitting Remainer MP. Farage should have only stood down BP Candidates in Conservative seats with a sitting Brexit supporting Conservative MP. This is not rocket science, so why didn't Farage do it?
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  102. Funny thing is, they like to speak OUR LANGUAGE!
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  103. Bitcoin is a dead coin walking Mining crypto is so last year, cannot scale and is irresponsible in terms of energy use. DAG is the future.
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  104.  @nicodesmidt4034  The Netherlands is even smaller but you'll still NEXIT - once you wake up from your EU nightmare.
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  105.  @saintbrush4398  Well you poor guy. I guess you mustn't have got a lot of sleep back in the summer worrying about DC, Portland and Seattle burning, thanks to antics of BLM and Antifa. Funny how they never imposed an immediate curfew in those situations. Hmm, I wonder why that was?
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  106.  @user-fu9dd5vc6x  If by losing, you mean he is no longer the President, then yes, you are right. However, I'm more concerned by the manner of the lose and how that was brought about. That alone should concern any American, either Democrat or Republican, for the future of their nation. Nothing but bad will come of it. This will unwind for the next few years stoking further division and hatred. Trumpism will live on way beyond the individual personality of the current President because it has widespread support across the nation. A house divided indeed.
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  107.  @user-fu9dd5vc6x  Is that a not so subtle hint its really about him as a person, and not what happened in the 2020 election? Do you even care what happened in the election as long as he is gone? Are you that partisan that you'd see your democracy dismantled before your eyes and let it go without even a murmur of concern?
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  108.  @mickeencrua  Benefit #1: Making our own decisions. This allows the UK to act faster and with greater focus on the national interest, rather than having to parlay with 27 other nations to come to an agreement on something. The EU vaccine mess is a good case in point.
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  109.  @mickeencrua  So, you expect the UK to make a decision that is not in its own interests? Only a 'remainer' or an oikophobe would do that. So, which are you? Perhaps you are both?
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  110. ​ @lesmarsden2058  They shouldn't have got the uplift in the first instance. It was not justified - they are NOT a special interest group and were not hit any harder than others in society. I would rather have seen that money going to the very elderly living alone who were very isolated during lock-down and had little access to medical care.
    2
  111.  @Threxis  So, you don't think the Welsh Government has any responsibility in this at all? Ever wonder why Wales voted 'Leave'? Why can't Wales raise its own funds and not be sponging off the English? Where are all the Welsh entrepreneurs?
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  112.  @shirleylangley6804  The laugh is on those communities that cannot flourish in the real world. All the ERDF funding crutch did was redistribute other peoples wealth to nonviable 'paper' projects. Thank GOD for Brexit.
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  113. ERDF has only ever kept unenviable projects going that should never have been funded. If they were viable, they wouldn't have needed ERDF funding, would they? The EU does not create wealth, it just taxes at the member nation level and then reallocates that wealth to those that can't create their own - the usual communist crap heads deciding what pet project they should fund without any real world business experience. What is needed is to put in place an environment that allows entrepreneurship to flourish.The EU never has, can't and never will create such environments. Thank GOD for Brexit.
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  114.  @keithd26  When was the last time Wales had a Conservative government? Labour have been in power in Wales for the entire 21st Century.
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  115.  @Dan210871  Obviously, you have a lot of time on your hands Danny boy. I take it back, you must be an economist ;-)
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  116.  @Dan210871  Yep, could've guessed you say that you're an economist - that supposed 'science'. The folks who can always predict the downturn that never happens and miss the real ones. Thanks for your 'service' Oikophobe.
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  117.  @harrymackintosh1874  You do know that Wales has its own (currently Labour led) Welsh Assembly? Where is their innovation/leadership to get Wales moving forward. Don't blame London for Wales not delivering. It's a Welsh cultural/economic problem that can only be solved by the Welsh themselves. The EU is just handing you our own money back. As a supra-national institution they produce nothing themselves.
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  118.  @nicklaskowalski  With the Welsh Labour Party still holding the line in the Welsh Assembly, things ain't going to get any better, either.
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  119. Lie the EU will be around then. The Paddy's will be out well before then as well.
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  120. Exactly why it is not such a bad deal for UK farmers. There will be very little noticeable impact on their livelihoods - in fact Climate Change is a far greater concern for UK farmers.
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  121. Yes, and wave good bye to our ancient freedoms. No thanks. That is EXACTLY what they want, can't you see that?
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  122. You can't throw a nation sate out of the EU if it does not want to leave. The Poles do not want to leave the EU.
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  123. Habib comments just show the Brexit Party is devided over the current Tory 'Deal'. They should never have stood down until Boris withdrew his support for that deal. Suicidal decision by the BP to stand down. This is a BRINO deal that will leave us worse off than staying in.
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  124. The question that she SHOULD have asked but didn't was 'So, if this ' BRINO' Treaty is so Bad, who's decision was it then to stand down the BP in Tory Remainer constituencies?' Farage needs to take the hit on that decision, not people like Habib who obviously wouldn't have done that.
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  125. Mugged off, yet again. The naivete of the British electorate is actually quite jaw dropping.
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  126.  @MrRRHHMM  He does. but from what he is saying, the decision to stand down seems to have been taken by Farage alone. It'll be the end of the BP and certainly near the end of any decent Brexit. What we have now is BRINO - May's deal version III. Just goes to show, the ERG six months ago would never have voted for such that type of deal, but then along comes an election and the Tories all jump back into line. Rees Mogg a conviction politician? I think not.
    1
  127.  @dlogan3099  Johnny, I'm an ROI national myself. I've yet to meet either an Irish/British politician that doesn't claim they've gone out of their way to get funding for their 'constituency'. However, I don't know of any Irish/British MEP's getting the sack from their local electorate solely on the issue of failing to get EU project funding. Irish politics is very local not EU focused, but certainly more so than over here in England. Admittedly, this is not a big issue where I live either - SE England as EU funding is unusually an option.
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  128. He hasn't got any constituents, he is an MEP which uses a PR system
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  129. Well, hopefully at least your incumbant MP is a Brexiteer? The BP stand down has left over 100 Remain leaning Tory MPs in place with little choice for leave voters. Just crazy and it'll come back to haunt both the BP and Boris and the ERG.
    1
  130. Well, one part will join Canada.... and the Commonwealth!
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  131. A recount is not enough. These votes need to be verified.
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  132.  @bigrigger3762  Farage is a Tory, don't you get that? Why would he stand down ALL Brexit Party candidates at the last election - even in constituencies with Remainer Tory MP's.
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  133.  @zvonomirzuboronovic8662  Accept that is not going to happen as then the Left would have a melt-down about 'politicizing' militarism.
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  134. They don't need to be included because their Defence Ministry has an answer-phone service in Mandarin. When the phone rings it answers with 'Please don't attack us, we surrender already'.
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  135. There is also an argument for Australia to get back into having carrier strike capability. A QEII class carrier would do nicely.
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  136. Well, the just re-elected Canadian PM is very problematic for the CANZUK concept.
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  137. Not trusting Milley is not the same as trusting the US. By rights this general should be on trial for treason.
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  138. Because they can't agree on ANYTHING
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  139. Armies don't have submarines, navies do.
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  140. Indeed.
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  141. No, they are not. Don't make silly comments that can be easily shot down.
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  142. You need to read up on the REAL geo-politics of the Indo-Pacific a little more.
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  143. Who is we? You plus your mum is the army Keep building that Empire on your computer in your bedroom?
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  144.  @gringologie9302  Nope, The US has shared its ballistic missile tech with the UK for the past six decades. Now they are sharing it with another trusted nation.
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  145.  @Chris-uo5fz  India is not a super power, but has the industrial potential to be one. Problem is that Indians are quite peaceful which doesn't help to become a global power..
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  146.  @shubhamsarkar9680  What Trial. These boats were years away from being built. Not a single plate of steel had been cut.
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  147. They won't and can't.
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  148. Except the scale is rather different!
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  149.  @lunachu8691  No, I wouldn't as they were GENUINE refugees escaping from Nazi Germany. Those crossing the channel today are not escaping from anything like that situation, unless you mean Macron's 'war-torn' France?
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  150.  @stephenpeat3885  Ain't going to happen. The Irish economy can't fund it. Over to you EU? Ahh, forgot, you can't defend Ireland either, can you?
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  151.  @penetrate9995  Obviously not a very knowledgeable one.
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  152.  @penetrate9995  Your stupidity is there for all to see.
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  153.  @penetrate9995  A Micky Mouse non-nonsensical comment. Do you really think the EU would even exist today without the military back-up that Europe received from the US during the Cold War? At least try to get a small grasp of post-war European history.
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  154. No, they didn't as there was no contract between France and the UK/US. That contract was between France and Australia . The contract was cleverly written to allow Australia to walk away by making a penalty payment. That is exactly what they are doing.
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  155. The subs are nuclear powered, but they won't carry nuclear ballistic missiles. So, Australia will not have not broken any part of the NPT. Simple.
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  156. Putting out a tender for nuclear capable subs? So your choices are limited to the US, UK, France, Russia, India (one boat) and China. Who would you pick if you're an Aussie Defence Minister?
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  157. To do what, cry like a small child and throw its toys out of the pram?
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  158. Yes, well of course if Putin said that it must be true.
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  159. @frosty snow Actually, they'll lease subs from US or UK - so they'll have Aussie crew on nuclear subs within five years.
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  160. Nobody is stopping Europe from having an army - except the very same Europeans.
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  161.  @mijicmugendo  Yes, its my opinion, I just don't see letting China dictate the economic terms to Australia and linking that to its defence policy as being acceptable to any sovereign government.
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  162.  @jp95js  Some will, some won't.
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  163. Ever thought of going into politics? You're a natural.
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  164. Hence Brexit. More EU member states will end up leaving this joke of an organisation.
    1
  165.  @aryehakujin4374  A wall around DC will not stop what is coming.
    1
  166. Have you guys not heard of DropBox?
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  167.  @jeffrp8388  Yes its true, Snowden is a criminal. He is a criminal for reporting the criminal activity of the surveillance state for spying on the Amercan people. That is where we have got to.
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  168. Well, if that is the case, why not just defund them all - sit back and watch the city burn. You'll soon be on the phone asking where are the cops, you idiot!
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  169. Unless you employ a Self Sovereign Identity system (DLT) that in itself is open to multiple voting.
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  170. The US is doomed as is the self-destructive polorised identity politics. I say that with a great sadness in my heart. What happened to the America I used to visit with my late Dad in the 1970's? Everyone just got along. Gone and unlikely to return. Terminal decline of a really great nation.
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  171. Even dummer Americans voted for them!
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  172.  @utubebroadcaster  We're not in the wilderness now, destiny is in our own hands. It is clear we NEVER had control of events in terms of the direction of policy within the EU - how could we with a voting structure built around 27 other members states, each with its own veto. We could vote (some) things down but we could not make major policy decisions - particularly, stop the push towards a socialist, supra-national federal system within the EU (AKA the EUSSR) at the cost to individual nation states. No thanks, the British people want to decide their own future, without being voted down.
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  173.  @robrobski9445  Rob, as a farmer myself, I can tell you farms just don't 'close'. They are sold on to other farmers or inherited. Farms are not shops.
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  174.  trident3b  It means trading on WTO terms. The WTO is a member-driven organisation: the main decision-making bodies comprise all members and decisions are made by consensus - no one-on-one deals required.
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  175.  trident3b  It means WTO, silly.
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  176.  @KamenKunchev  Facts, hey? Fact - the UK NEVER voted to join the EU - the UK population were never given a referendum on. Fact - the Royal Family has NOTHING to do with any referendum on the UK leaving the EU. Fact - We did not get Free Trade Agreement - we just a 'lock-in' legislation to the EU market. Fact - we HAVE made up our minds - we're leaving - so get over yourself.
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  177. Noah, If you can't stand the UK being outside of the EU, then just move to Europe - if they'll have you.
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  178.  @KamenKunchev  Yes, lets thank the EU for doing that ;-)
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  179.  @orangeslayer4983  what did you do to deserve Macron?
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  180. This is just the arrogant stance of an organisation that is really out of touch with the changed positions vis-a-vis EU-UK relations. In fact, the EU is a bit of a reality show and likes to believe its own sound-bites/PR media. Don't ever let the light of reality in to your EU super-state fantasy world, Mr Barnier.
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  181. When the hole opened up, they looked inside ,and found ..... NOTHING!
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  182.  @hgohlke  You think the average European consumer cares where the fish was caught or where it was landed. They'll eat UK fish just the same. It will be hard on the Euro fishermen, but hey, they'll get over job the losses - our fishermen had to.
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  183.  @texjohnson9208  Tex, and you have that information on who's authority? You nor I are involved in ANY negotiations, but it makes sense that these things are being put in place.
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  184.  @texjohnson9208  . Tex, It is irrelevant if the EU is or is not the 'most powerful' trading block in the World - it is the largest for sure - but that means nothing - size does not mean you are competitive - if that was the case Russia would be an economic powerhouse. Switzerland is located in the heart of Europe, has tiny in population and NOT a member of the EU. However, it has consistently out-performed the EU 27 in terms of global market share per head of population. The EU's share of global trade has gone down each year for the past decade - do the research. EU member states are certainly NOT united on how to deal with a post Brexit UK - try reading non left-wing media sometimes. Hence, there is no need for the UK to 'divide and rule' - although, the EU have been caught red-handed trying the divide and rule trick within the UK through their financial support of Remain campaigns. The UK HAS been negotiating with other nations and large companies (including ALL the major German car makers), both inside the EU and further afield. The UK does NOT need the EU's permission to do that - we have left remember? Tex, you really need to do at least some alternative research to get a broader and more balanced perspective on this subject.
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  185.  @texjohnson9208  Tex, you are showing a lack of understanding of the most basic driver of trade and commerce - PROFIT. Profit is Profit - whatever your trading block affiliations. If the EU cannot/will not allow its individual member states to trade with us on fair terms (through self-exclusion of its own member states), then certainly, other nations outside the EU block members certainly will. This is known as 'demand pull in a vacuum'. A likely scenario in that situation is that a significant percentage of this vacuum trade would originate from individual companies within EU member states - they only need to set up off-shore or UK operations and - bang - an own goal by the EU - and not for the first time. The EU should not try to nullify own member states' trade with the UK on fair terms - or THEY, and NOT the EU will pay the price. That basic truth was, is, and will remain, that the driver of its own member states and by extension, our prosperity is to continue to have access to each others markets.
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  186.  @texjohnson9208  Tex, So, a sovereign nation with the 5th largest economy in the world, the largest financial services centre on the planet - thats the envy of the EU and even, our friends in the US, with a world renowned arts and creative culture, that has cultivated the language of business, English, with four of the top eight universities in the world, is a key member and guarantor of peace through being a founder member of NATO, AND, to top it all, is also is a power-house in international commercial law. That nation cannot get its act together to formulate and deliver decent trade deal? Really? Yes, Tex, we'll find out all right.
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  187.  @texjohnson9208  Left leaning are we?
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  188. The bullying has been coming from the EU - have you been asleep?
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  189.  @mufflejoy  Well, we all know that the Chinese play by their OWN RULES when it suits them, don't they?
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  190.  @mufflejoy  Get over yourself. Population does not equate to trading power. It that was so, Russia would be a more powerful trading nation than the UK and France combined. Utter tosh.
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  191.  @mufflejoy  Ah yes, and it should NOT be the EU's sole decision to remove its member nations companies from access to the lucrative market UK market where they have around Euro 80 Billion a year trade surplus. That would be extremely stupid, wouldn't it? But hey, they have form in stupidity, don't they?
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  192.  @mufflejoy  You really think the EU are going to walk away from the most lucrative market in Europe, where they have an average of Euro 80 Billion a year in their favour. Even if they did, do you think those companies trading with the UK would just say OK, we'll leave too to please our EU 'Masters' ? Don't be daft, man!
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  193.  @kevinbuckley8458  Kevin, As I said we never actually were asked if we wanted to join the EU as a successor institution to the EEC - so no need to ask permission to leave - we just pack our bags and leave. I love Europeans and Europe, just can't stand the institution that is the EU.
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  194.  @kevinbuckley8458  Kevin, we never 'joined' the EU - it was a successor entity to the EEC - which, itself was a functioning trade block, not a supra-national elitist political, anti-democratic bureaucratic entity which best describes the present incarnation. In other words the EU, a failing social experiment.
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  195.  @KamenKunchev  Fishing is NOT a production line, if there is no demand for certain species, fishermen/women will do what they have always done - fish for other, in demand fish - it's not rocket science.
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  196. I think not!
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  197.  @tonycook7679  I DO make part of a diversified income from International traded goods - something I started on a kitchen table thirty years ago. So, guess what, I'll take not lectures from you nor be not bowing down in front of your 'superior' intellect. Stay quiet boy - your'e outmatched in experience.
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  198.  @AntonArmsberg  You can't reason with the Left - the have their reality distortion field - hence their current political difficulties and the rise of populism.
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  199.  @philhaji-michael8471  Phil, no you don't follow EU rules. Japan , Canada, Australia, Singapore, etc, none of these nations bowed down and just took EU rules. They NEGOTIATED their deal - the same as the UK will do. At least make an effort to check this out before you respond.
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  200.  ML8593wy  I think you'll find we decided NOT to be part of that Institution any longer. I suggest you check up on the last UK election results and see how the Remain party's got on.
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  201.  @AntonArmsberg  So, you are suggesting the EU should be prepared to impoverish companies right across the EU by denying them access to the UK, the most lucrative European market - with a trade deficit running at around Euro 80 billion a year in favour of the EU? You really think that those companies will just give up the UK market to support the political whims of their EU 'masters'? No,they'll offshore first - most likely open operations in the UK before they'd walk away - and the EU couldn't stop them. This is BIG business you're talking about. Don't be silly.
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  202.  @AntonArmsberg  So, a sovereign nation with the 5th largest economy in the world, the largest financial services centre on the planet, with a world renowned arts culture, the cultivated and uses the language of business, English, that has four of the top eight universities in the world, a key member and guarantor of peace through being a fonder member of NATO and also power-house in international commercial law cannot get its act together to formulate a decent trade deal? Really? Anton, What are you smoking?
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  203.  @stewardcrow7747  Scotland wants out? Evidence for that. The Scottish Nationalists may want out, true. However, in the last general election, the Scottish Nationalist got 25% of the vote. The FPTP system gave them a significant number of seats. That does NOT translate into a landslide event for leaving the Union. There needs to be another referendum for that. There is no economic argument for Scotland to leave the Union. If they did, companies would leave Scotland in droves. Those companies that remained would have to cross two borders to get their goods to the European markets - the border with England and the UK/Euro border at the ports. That is just not going to happen.
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  204.  @stewardcrow7747  Stop rambling , give me a cogent argument or don't bother. I care not.
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  205. ​ @stewardcrow7747  Steward, Then it seems you really are lost, my friend.
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  206. So, they ARE elected and they DO interfere. As an example, we're leaving the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) - both Pillar I (BPS -Basic Payment Scheme) and Pillar II (Greening payments) will go. The UK Government instead is introducing (via DEFRA) ELMS (Environmental Land Management System) - essentially payments for 'Public Goods' only - no more Area Payments (which favoured large land-owners) or Livestock Headage Payments.
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  207.  @KamenKunchev  Karmen, there is no 'deal' to negotiate when joining the WTO, you just accept their general trade terms - and your done.
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  208. Well, if the EU negotiators have your level of 'intellect', he'll have little trouble completing the job in an afternoon.
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  209.  @stewardcrow7747  Erm, that is just not the case. We were paying through the nose and being belittled. British voters can remove their sitting parliament at the ballot box, not so the EU Commission. This is because we have left the Customs Union, the Single Market and cannot be over-ruled by the ECJ. We can now set our own course on future trade with any sovereign nation that we choose. This is not the case for EU 'captured' nations.
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  210. I have yet to meet anyone who was old enough to vote in the 1975 referendum that voted to remain in the EEC. Not a single person, and I have been asking that question since 2016.
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  211. ​ @hauskalainen  True, that Conservative Government, was made up of Remainders, but the fact is, the ERG (European Research Group) led by Jacob Rees-Mogg could unseat any Conservative PM by withdrawing support and put the governments power in the House into a voting deficit. Labour/Lib Dems would have voted No Confidence in a flash. The EU in their wisdom refused to help Cameron out with the ERG. Hence, we got the Referendum result, leading to Teresa May, another election and now Boris Johnson. It was the EU's to lose, and true to form, they played a blinder - thank God. Roll on 31st December!
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  212. You show remarkable ignorance of what actually happened. Cameron came cap in hand to the EU and asked for better terms to allay the fears of the ERG in his own party. They said 'no way, we can't negotiate' (at least that is still true). The rest is history.
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  213.  @philhaji-michael8471  You are unfortunately showing ignorance of how business and commerce actually work. Whenever a trade vacuum is created (such as the EU withdrawing from reciprocal and trading with the UK ), the vacuum is ALWAYS quickly filled by others. The Euro 80 billion trade surplus the EU has with us is a VERY enticing market to trading nations outside of the EU. Name a single item that the EU currently sell us that cannot be bought elsewhere on at least parity pricing basis - but most likely it will be offered at a lower price.
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  214.  @philhaji-michael8471  We DON'T need to trade with the Chinese to be a successful country - we already are.
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  215.  @stewardcrow7747  Well, if your comments were based on actual data/facts that might have been helpful.
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  216.  @stewardcrow7747  Actually, there has been a significant, on-going effort within UK Government in planning for a WTO exit scenario. There is no such thing as a 'No Deal' scenario - that is just a Left media invention. If we exit, we move to WTO, and then we'll trade with the EU on those terms - like many other nations do already. That is also EXACTLY why the EU will agree a FTA-style deal - to avoid such a scenario. The German's don't call the UK 'Treasure Island' without reason. We are a fantastic market for them, and a WTO scenario would not work nearly as well for them as would the FTA-style deal. I guess you are not a businessman/commercially aware or you would surely understand this is smart business..?
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  217.  tehanomander  The key point is WE now have the Sovereign Nation VETO on Fishing Rights, NOT the EU. Not too hard to understand, surely?
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  218.  @stewardcrow7747  No, in the EU, we were Rule Takers. Now we can be Rule Makers - its not to difficult to understand, is it?
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  219.  @KamenKunchev  Its NOT a threat. The WTO scenario is a real possibility now.
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  220.  @gurnish9741  How are the going to do that in reality? France has no sovereign expeditionary force capability outside of getting assistance from key NATO partners!
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  221. Back that statement up with some actual facts. NATO is not split. Two of its leading members are partners in the AUKUS Alliance.
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  222. That would be a first. I'll get the popcorn.
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  223. When did you EVER see an Aussie holding a white flag?
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  224. Yes, they will. As usual they'll do NOTHING - which is what they are very good at.
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  225. Tell that to the CCP.
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  226. What reputation?
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  227.  @sausage5876  And better. No re-fueling for 35 + years for Astute/Virginia class boats. French nuclear Barracuda, needs refueling every seven years - and it can only be done by the french and only in France as the Aussies don't have any civil nuclear facilities.
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  228.  @oldcremehelian3708  Yes, I'm sure more diplomacy rather than standing up to China is what the CCP would like to see. In the old days that kind of 'diplomacy' was called appeasement. It didn't work too well back then.
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  229. The contract was not 'broken'. There was built in 'gate' clauses at several points when either party could step away. Australia reached suck a point and pulled out. Nothing to see here, move on.
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  230.  @AB-fi5jt  France has Barracuda nuclear subs, which while being quite good, they do need their nuclear core to be removed and replaced about every seven years, which could only be done in France as Australia does not have any civil nuclear engineering capability. The US/UK nuclear powered boats don't need this as their cores remain intact for the lifetime of the boat, around 35-40 years. So, these boats are more suitable for Australia's strategic needs - and at a price-point that is less than half the ticket price for the diesel-electric boats as offered by France. Cancellation was a 'no-brainer' for the Aussies.
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  231.  @louisemann3306  It was a contract that Australia could and did decide to cancel. There was no back stabbing but plenty of contract 'creep' by the French.
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  232. Laggard status on carbon emissions. What about Poland and their emissions? Are they not in the EU?
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  233. Er, you do know that the US contributes over half of the funding and 60% of the expeditionary force capability of NATO? Probably not. OK, so how exactly do you think the EU will fund all that when they can't even meet their current financial obligations to NATO?
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  234. I would imagine it won't be the last either.
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  235. The problem was french arrogance and the dismissive way they dealt with the Aussies. They got found out.
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  236.  @oldcremehelian3708  No, but there is nothing wrong with remembering those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we still enjoy today.
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  237.  @shodank9590  The ANZACs were all volunteers - know your history before making dumb comments.
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  238.  @chowwh308  You mean like how the french tried to screw the Aussies on their sub-par (see what I did there?) contract?
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  239. They are well on the way to dismantling it themselves. Just sit back, pour a cold one and watch the fun without guns!
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  240. Sea levels have always risen and fallen, mostly determined by external forces, mainly planetary alignment. Localised and/or longer-term temperatures also play a role as well.
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  241. Really? Where have you been hiding? There is a thing called 'soft power' my friend. The UK has it in spades. Think again.
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  242. @Ray Von I say, steady on ol' man!
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  243.  @stevenjones9639  Culturally, it was near decimation for the people British Isles.
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  244. Amen to that!
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  245. What is your point? You don't seem to want to trade with the 5th largest market in the world on favourable terms?
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  246. ​ Adrian Heath  Extinction Rebellion and Greta HAVE to be political - that is the way change happens in a democracy (If we still live in one - but lets not go there). People just willing it to happen without applying political pressure is not going to change anything. However, I don't agree with the 'Direct Action' taken by some of the hard core ER folks - particularly when it impacts on the lives of ordinary people. That is a very negative way of gaining awareness.
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  247. Yes, let us take advice from the oil/gas industry sponsored media instead. They surly are have our interests at heart?
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  248. If the US Subs are so hard to find, why do their crews all wear camouflage?
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  249.  @christophermichaelclarence6003  Didn't last too long, did it?
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  250.  @znail4675  Then its will definitely be 'No Deal'. That'll be their loss as the EU are currently our largest supplier of goods.The UK can look elsewhere. I doubt German auto manufacturers will find another market so easily.
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  251.  @znail4675  Brexit is not an absurd fantasy, no is it impossible for single EU members to conduct negotiations directly with the UK. That is what the Dutch, Finns and Danes ARE doing, they just don't admit to it.
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  252.  @znail4675  No, as we'd be dealing directly with sovereign nations that had a willingness to do a direct deal, without asking 27 + EU to agree to it. As an example, we could have done a deal with Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland as a group as they have no 'skin in the game' in regards to fishing in UK waters. Once these third-party deals started to be inked and get off the ground, other EU nations would want to do the same thing so as not to be excluded from the UK market, while other nations continued to trade with us. That is just common sense and good business.
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  253.  @neilmurray1771  Self deprecation? I think it is more a case of having a serious case of Oikophobia in regards to comments by UK Lefties.
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  254.  @FUDGEWILLI  Well, American democracy was violated on the 3rd November. That will need to be put right now. Either through Pence pushing it back to state legislators and hoping they'll do the right thing now they have the evidence. Otherwise, I'm afraid it'll have to be secured in the old fashioned way that the Left really won't like but do thoroughly deserve.
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  255.  @travisfubu9053  Its pointless talking to an imbecile.
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  256.  @FUDGEWILLI  AH, so you admit he didn't win the election?
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  257.  @saintbrush4398  Hey Saint, I'm not a Trumper ( I don't even get to have a vote in the US). Please explain how what you saw yesterday as extremism. What I saw was a bunch of very angry but pretty much ordinary group of people occupying a public building - which, BTW, they are entitled to enter. No mass assault, no mass arson, or theft. One unfortunate lady protester was shot dead at very short range by a security officer having posed no serious thread whatsoever to that individual or those he was 'protecting'. Compare that to the loss of life, serious assault and property in the summer riots - over a much longer time-frame. During the summer riots, there was little in the way of counter-measures undertaken by the police because of the 'restraint' and sympathy felt towards them by local Left wing authorities.
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  258.  @user-fu9dd5vc6x  You've allowed yourself to be bainwashed by the Left leaning Media. There is no point continuing a dialogue with irrational/partisan person who does not want to look with the wider scope at these issues...
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  259.  @saintbrush4398  Yeah, and cops killing unarmed women that posed a very low or zero threat. I guess is she was black that would matter more.
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  260.  @rubies200  True. As a Brit with many friends and former miltary colleagues in the US, this saddens me to the core.
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  261.  @user-fu9dd5vc6x  He didn't lose, but American democracy was violated on the 3rd November. No matter, it'll be put right old fashioned way the likes of you won't like ;-)
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  262. Ain't going to happen.
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  263.  @babelhuber3449  You've just made an idiotic statement. Shouldn't you be doing your homework?
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  264.  @cvb6089  Answer the comment or shut up.
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  265. Roland, do you really think that is possible the way the EU CAP is set up to transfer money to farmers? The larger the farm, the more money you get. However if you have less than five Ha of land you get nothing from the EU. Is that fair? I think not.
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  266.  @scotmaciver  Good point!
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  267.  @goyoelburro  Unlike Joe who has all his faculties!
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  268.  @soniasg8639  Then you are an Oikophobe and do not love your country.
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  269.  @shahinakhusrou790  That is the funniest thing I've heard in a while. Clinton with 'decent human being' in the same sentence is an oxymoron.
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  270.  Omar SJ  OK,thanks for the confirmation. I always knew she was a man.
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  271.  James sevensix  Anger management old boy.
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  272.  @commondirtbagz7130  It's only a coup if after the legal process (to initiate a re-cout/validation of the election) has been exhausted and he refuses to give up office. Not before.
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  273. He can't stage a coup if he is already in office. He can only be accused of that once ALL the votes are in, he is adjudged to have lost to Biden and then refuses to leave the Oval Office.
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  274. Why would he give the media anything? They are not involved in the decision making process, are they?
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  275. Someone so disconnected from reality that they think others should provide for their needs, rather than doing it for themselves. If you're not getting what you want get yourself a new MP. Remember who is in power in the Welsh Assembly? A clue, it's not the Tories.
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  276.  @panzerkami2381  Yep, and getting poorer. The EU produces nothing except legislation.
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  277.  @NovaWasp  That doesn't explain the paucity of new start-ups in Wales, does it? Where are the new jobs coming from and why can't Wales attract them? Ah, I forgot, you've got Labour in power - say no more.
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  278. We're do just fine, thanks.
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  279. Utter jibberish.
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  280.  @MaximilienRobespierre1  Well, certainly more than you, a well known oikiphobe.
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  281. They don't need any funding from the Tories. There is plenty of money in South Wales' communities. The real issue is how can that funding be attracted/leveraged for REALISTIC entrepreneurial-led projects. The Welsh Government needs to step back as they are, like every government, always 'big project' focused, pushing the 'Hail Mary' solution to local social/unemployment issues. A good start for local communities would to take an honest look at themselves and certainly stop blaming others for their own shortcomings, particularly the lack of local capability to develop viable business environments. You can't just fund that into existence. That has been tried countless times and has always failed.
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  282.  @DeFausti  With an intellect like yours, I'd think you'd be rarely right about any issue of importance.
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  283.  @jorj008  You need to think a bit. If you give free, open access of your own national employment market to workers from other EU economies with much lower wages, then you should not be surprised your own workers' incomes will be impacted negatively. The EU's 'Freedom of Movement' was, in reality, a one-way 'shuttle bus' transit from East to West. How many UK working class folks do you know that upped sticks and moved to Poland, Bulgaria or Romania to find work there? Migrant workers from eastern EU member states moved en masse to the UK over a short period of time. This disrupted the UK labour market and allowed employers to 'play off' newly arrived EU immigrants against our own workers - to the detriment of both groups. That is why I supported Brexit. If you are really a caring socialist, and interested in the well-being and livelihoods of ordinary workers, so would you. Otherwise, you're just an oikophobe with no real interest in the well being of the ordinary working class.
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  284.  @sandertu8366  There isn't a driver shortage. There is a problem with poor wages in the logistics industry. There are around 80K UK HGV drivers currently working in other areas of our economy. They should not have to suffer the low pay that low wage and poor conditions of employment (zero hour contracts) that EU workers were prepared to accept. This drove out UK HGV drivers from the industry. As many of these EU drivers have now left the industry, there is a period of re-adjustment required. Pay is already on the rise in transport/logistics in general and that will solve this short-term problem.
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  285.  @khanchy  The UK is looking outwards, to trade with the rest of the world. The EU is a closed market, that year by year is losing its global share of trade. Go check the stats.
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  286.  @Threxis  So, by your logic, who do you think worked in our fields and drove our commercial vehicles before low-cost European workers pitched up? Back before Freedom of Movement was a thing, those jobs provided a reasonable living wage and far more security. If you thought about it at all (which obviously you haven't) you'd make the connection between Freedom of Movement, Zero Hour Contracts and lower pay. If you thought about it at all, you'd consider that when a large work-force of low paid EU workers left in a short period of time, because of Brexit, it was inevitable that there would be a short-term hiatus in our supply-chains. However, by your argument, all UK workers should still have to compete with low-cost workers from across Europe, just to satisfy your EU socialist dream which ensures long-term low-wages for British workers. If you thought about it at all, you'd wonder was the EU socialist dream really meant to deliver lower wages, far worse job security and fewer 'in-kind' benefits to UK workers, because that is EXACTLY what did happen. If you really think that our continued membership of the EU was worth all that hardship, then you're just another left-wing Oikophobe who cares nothing for the ordinary people of this country.
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  287. ​ @Threxis  I think it is pretty telling that you can't see the connection between Brits not wanting to take up low paid work, because foreign workers pushed down local wages - would you? Just try to loose the socialist group think for a few minutes. Imagine you are that agricultural worker or HGV driver and where you wages have been impacted by employers introducing low paid workers, who work, on average, for 80% of what you were paid in the past. Then try to connect that (I know this bit may be hard for you) to the reality of why the UK working class firstly voted for Brexit (in their droves), and then, also voted for the Tories at the last election. Don't tell me they are not connected. Why else would working class workers vote for the Tories and not Labour? Or are you arrogant enough to think they are all just working class thicko's?
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  288.  @Threxis  You have it the wrong way around. From my personal experience, (we're developing autonomous electric vehicles for small-scale agriculture) I can tell you there IS a labour shortage in agriculture - but it's totally an artificial one, as it came about for the same reason there is an artificial shortage in HGV drivers in the UK - where about 80,000 plus UK qualified HGV drivers are no longer working in the industry. Both of these problems have arisen BECAUSE we were members of the EU. The EU's Freedom of Movement attracted low-cost workers into the UK. That obviously allowed employers to reduce wages which acted as a lever to drive (no pun intended) both UK agricultural workers and HGV drivers out of their respective industries. We're never going back to the bad old days of collective bargaining, strong unions, etc. Those days are long gone.
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  289.  @Threxis  So, you think that by 'dumping' a low-cost workforce from across the EU into the UK, through socialist magic, the Freedom of Movement policy would somehow lead to a positive impact on UK wages for both our own and EU workers? What school of economics did you get that theory from, or is it all your own original thinking?
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  290.  @Threxis  You mean policies like staying in the EU that leads to lower wages for British workers because Freedom of Movement allows unfettered movement of low cost workers across Europe to Britain. This policy empowers employers to lower wages while it also increases overall social costs. Employers always benefit as they can externalise the social costs of low wage workers while they play British workers off against newly arrived EU workers to reduce their wage bill. How does that make life better for UK workers - or don't you care about them?
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  291.  @debugstore  That will be its downfall. Looking inwards has historically never turned out to be a good idea for a large economic bloc/empire.
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  292.  @Threxis  A Social Democrat is a Socialist - you need to go and read you last manifesto! Yes, some businesses chose to exploit lower cost labour from the EU at the expense of UK workers - that is exploitation of both groups and that is not OK with me. However, I'll ALWAYS put my workers interests and livelihoods above those of EU or any foreign workers. I see nothing wrong in that - I certainly won't be apologising for it - call me a xenophobe if you want. If you think that is discrimination, then yes, I would then consider you to be an Oikiphobe. I really don't mind democratic unions, but those unions that use block voting to ALWAYS support just a single party, a party that does not even care for the ordinary working man or woman in this country is not something I have much time for.
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  293.  @debugstore  These are some of the similar issues we faced as well. We dealt with them. Ultimately, access to the UK market is too attractive for EU companies to ignore. Over time, the EU will quietly drop a lot of its artificial barriers as it hurts their member states more than it hurts us as we are the bigger buyer in terms of UK-EU trade.
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  294.  @Threxis  As an obvious Lefty, with a serious case of Oikophobia, I'm sure you'd want as many EU low-cost workers coming in to replace UK workers' jobs as possible - just to satisfy your EU socialist wet dream. Well, its obvious to everyone (but perhaps not you and other Oikophobic Lefties) that ordinary UK workers don't want to be competing with low-cost workers from the Eastern states of the EU. Hence, Labour were wiped out at the last election on this very point by the people who would traditionally be voting for them - the British working class! Call that discrimination if you want, I really don't care.
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  295.  @debugstore  John, the EU made it more expensive to trade, not us as they didn't want 'Treasure Island' to leave the EU. Over time, relationships will normalise. In the meantime, business have to think ahead and plan for every contingency. We did.
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  296.  @Threxis  Nope, its playing the EU at its own game. The work is still all done in the UK, under contract from the Dutch company. So, no lay-offs, short-time working or wage reductions for our UK only work-force. Get it now?
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  297.  @debugstore  All our work is done in the UK using only UK workers. If, as you suggest, you care about the UK and its people, you wouldn't be in the mess you're obviously in now. If you cared about UK workers, you'd want them not to have to compete with EU low-cost workers. I've NEVER employed non UK workers and take pride in up-skilling our small workforce, rather than take the easy option and getting in cheap EU labour. By sitting back, not planning and just hoping Brexit never happened you've put your business at risk.
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  298.  @debugstore  I also happen to be a livestock farmer - deer. I'd still vote for Brexit wearing my farming hat. Most UK farmers got so used to subsidies they forgot about the market. Sheep and Dairy farmers were totally in the pockets of the EU and the big retailers. The best thing that can happen to UK agriculture is for these ' subsidy sitting' farmers to exit the UK farming industry and get some fresh blood in. There was no luck involved in our case - we planned for it and set up a subsidiary in Holland.
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  299.  @Threxis  Well, you need to ask yourself why Wales does not go independent, if its so very bad with Westminster? You do have that choice. If you take money from another nation, you can't have total freedom, it comes with certain caveats. The monarchy and the House of Lords are a completely different argument. Personally, I would abolish both of these anachronistic institutions. I'd have a senate based on PR and a President as our head of state, elected directly by the people through a four nation vote.
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  300.  @debugstore  Yes, 3D automotive parts and software services for agriculture. If Brexit is damaging your business, then you didn't plan properly. We've had five years to work through the various scenarios. Otherwise, you could have considered also selling your business - if it was worth anything.
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  301.  @Threxis  Wales has a Labour, not a Tory government, remember? It also has its own Assembly.
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  302.  @Threxis  You don't seem to place much value on their capability to decide their own future. I think you are likely very Left, where as is usual for those that are, democracy is just an inconvenience.
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  303.  @Threxis  The Labour government in Wales was, and still is, pro-EU. You're not telling me that the working class masses of Wales didn't believe their own Labour government and would rather believe those terrible Tories on Brexit, are you? Surely not?
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  304.  @debugstore  I'm in business, so I need to work with FACTUAL numbers every day. I'm certainly not deluded because I can't allow myself that 'luxury'. I knew what Brexit meant and arranged my affairs accordingly well in advance. Financially, the UK was not a net, or indeed, even a social beneficiary through its membership of the EU. That is easy for you to find out by just doing a little research. By the sounds of it, you truly believe that is not the case, so won't do the research. That suggests you may well be self-deluding. Hopefully not.
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  305.  @debugstore  Not subsidising other EU nations and cancelling Freedom of Movement. That is two two benefits. You can't argue that we put more money in than we got back out.Now we can decide where we want to put our money. BTW, so can the Welsh Government. Additionally, with the end of Freedom of Movement, a lot of those jobs taken by EU nationals willing to take much lower wages than Brits will again become available to UK workers - and average salaries will rise - as we are already seeing. That is pure economics. As an example, salaries for HGV drivers are on the rise, as they we artificially pushed down by lower cost EU workers who have exited the country. There are currently around 80,000 HGV qualified UK drivers that left the sector as salaries were pushed down by foreign workers in the past. There will be a period of re-balancing, and that is what we're entering now. However, market forces will push up salaries in sectors with shortages of workers. These businesses have little choice now, as they don't have the lever of importing cheaper labour any more. I call that another Brexit benefit. If you are in any way on the side of the average UK working class, you should not be expecting them to compete with low cost imported workers just to stay in the EU club which works against the interests of our working class. Labour didn't understand that point and sat on the fence at the last election in regards to Brexit. They just couldn't understand why the 'blue wall' in the North massively voted for the Tories. You seem to be similarly confused.
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  306.  @williampatrickfagan7590  The EU isn't working. Do the research yourself.
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  307. As slim as that chance is, it is far more likely than the Welsh (Labour) government stopping the blame game with Westminster, then get off its backside and try to do something to help its own people. Its very easy to blame everyone else for your woes. Wales has its own future in its hands. Start behaving like that and you'll be free.
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  308. They don't need any funding from the Tories. There is plenty of money in South Wales communities. The issue is how can it be attracted into REALISTIC community entrepreneurial funded projects. They need to put in place local solutions to local problems. A good start would be to honestly look at themselves and stop blaming others for their own shortcomings.
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  309.  @russellwaterhouse3457  Maybe not true for Wales. Ultimately, the UK as a whole, funded more than it got back from the EU pot - but Wales, Scotland and N.I. obviously got a better return than than did regions within England. However, it was English taxpayers that funded most of our contribution to the EU. If we look at this from a Brexit standpoint, overall, there is more money to go around within the UK regions - or, at least there was, until COVID came along.
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  310. Nothing to do with Boris. The Welsh Assembly is controlled by Labour. Go ask them where those funds are.
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  311.  @shirleylangley6804  Who's money do you think the EU is actually spending?
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  312.  @kanedNunable  Troubles in funding things in Wales? Where is the Welsh government in all this? Oh, forgot, that would be Labour, so they just want 'rich' peoples money to carry on the waste where the EU left off. Not big surprise then that the Tories won't give them any more money. Of course, the Welsh Labour Party could try being original, stop blaming everyone else and try to fund these things themselves.
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  313.  @panzerkami2381  That is why their is more chance of others leaving now than ever before. You really think everything is rosy in the EU garden? Go educate yourself.
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  314.  @paulcarruthers2431  Obviously you need to be educated. The Tories are not in power in Wales, Labour is. The same Labour Govewrnment that wanted the people of Wales to vote to stay in the EU. Wow, they're really in touch with the Welsh people.
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  315. The EU funds nothing. That money comes from member states.
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  316. Nor will the Labour government of Wales, who, you would think, would be on the side of their constituents.
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  317. You thought an EU statue might, somehow encourage outsiders to make an investment in a welsh town? Yep, you're a civil servant all right.
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  318.  @operationgoldfish8331  Wow, its a good thing you think logically and are in no way politically biased.
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  319. Obviously, you're not a very smart Civil Servant. Who's money do you really think the EU was actually 'pumping in? Not theirs, but ours - and most of that was English taxpayers money. The difference when the UK was in the EU was that back then Wales had to compete with the whole of the EU for ERDF funding. Now, they have 'only' have to compete with the rest of the UK. However, the real question should be why can't Wales get themselves off of this 'hand-out' mentality and start to fund its own companies. You've have a Labour-led Welsh Assembly in power for a good while now, but yet this type of funding is all the Tories fault. You need to start thinking for yourselves and work together to create your own future. A good start would be to get rid of the Welsh Labour Party (AKA Welsh Politburo) who certainly want to continue to only provide crumbs from the funding table.
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  320.  @operationgoldfish8331  So, how do you explain the Israeli state, only created in the late 1940's, got to where it is today? They didn't have a pot to piss in back then - or do you think they magically brought their wealth with them from the death camps? Nope, their wealth was between their ears. All wealth creation starts with an idea - and more importantly, the understanding that government itself is NOT the creator of wealth, just a (poorly managed) regulator of it. YOU are responsible for YOU and your immediate family. Nobody else.
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  321.  @nikoladd  Wrong. The ECJ was sovereign and could overule UK lawmakers if a UK law contradicted EU law. That alone is a good enough reason to leave the EU.
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  322. The real question is why aren't these communities creating their own wealth. Any funding, either EU or UK is wasted on communities that have a socialist mindset that is just 'gimme the money now' without having any realistic plan to create locally owned companies that can create local jobs and long-term wealth. That socialist mindset has, is and will continue to stop them thinking for themselves.
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  323. Any town that needs 'hundred of millions' of other peoples money just to stand still is not a viable option.They need entrepreneurs, not hand-outs.
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  324. Crickets, the sound of Welsh entrepreneurship
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  325.  @boldford  Shouldn't yours be Old Fart?
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  326. So, enlighten us, when did we actually stop trading with the EU?
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  327. Erm, no, that EU trade block next door has not disappeared, just that the rules have changed - slightly. The UK has good reciprocal access to it, as the EU wants access to the UK market. That is BUSINESS.
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  328. A perfect description - of the EU.
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  329. There won't be any flood.
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  330. Enlighten us, what is the real reason for this trade agreement then?
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  331.  @andrewbarrett42  I think you're find you in a minority if you come outside of your mums house.
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  332. That is exactly why British farmers have nothing to fear.
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  333. The point about two-way trade deals is to reduce uncertainty. Get it?
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  334.  @valueinvestor77  100%
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  335. Enlighten us, what 'turf' would that be then?
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  336.  @MrArchie800  I'm working in UK manufacturing, bone-head!
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  337. Well, obviously you didn't do much forward planning did you? Any 'businessman' worthy of the name had ample opportunity and time to prepare. If your business goes under, don't blame it on Brexit.
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  338.  @Demotator  You're right, I don't find the situation they are in as being humorous at all.
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  339. How can their abject misery be seen as funny in any way or form?
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  340.  @wichanee932  The original HK Agreement between GB-China (China was an empire back then, not a communist state) was only a long-term leasing arrangement . It conferred no obligations nor responsibilities on GB Government to provide British Empire citizenship to Chinese subjects residing in HK. Nor could it - as the Chinese Emperor made it explicit they he considered HK to still be 'his' territory and the HK and the Chinese people residing inside the territory, as subjects of the Chinese Empire. Once the UK leasehold on HK lapsed, the territory and its people immediately became citizens of the Chinese Communist State, albeit with HK still having their own legislature.
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  341. Yes, it was all for nothing.
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  342. Possibly, but what they are saying in terms of national sovereignty trumps EU law makes the EU as we know it unworkable.
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  343.  @AaronOkeanos  The problem is that you need to vote that in using the current unanimous voting system - and so, the 'Visigrad Four' won't vote for it.
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