The benefits of Brexit - the future of the United Kingdom

[Deleted User]

Okay... I've got to ask : is British media really running the UK instead of the government?

In the last month, my YouTube sources(1) report almost on a daily basis on how traditional media is skewing, misinterpreting or not covering aspects of brexit that might paint it in a negative light.
Figures showing the drop in exports as seriously dropping, the legal action against the UK, the Norwegian fishing agreement failing,... The traditional media seems like a punching bag...or local school paper articles that shouldn't be taken seriously.

In itself, I wouldn't say it's new (I remember James O'Brian reading some article headings of the past about the EU... The EU was depicted as a real of pure evil and bureaucracy (2)). But it has to be asked because now Johnsons the target of an investigation...

...on the finances for his office's wallpaper.

*sigh *
Don't get me wrong : if he used more public money than allowed, I'm not saying he should be left off the hook. But at the same time... Fucking seriously?

When Johnson waved 'his' deal in the end of December as a victory, it wasn't allowed to be scrutinized. Brexit's the biggest economical shift since the second world War, and it's not allowed to be criticized? May's the deals get rejected, but this is a go because Boris was smart enough to squander enough time to basically say 'it's this or nothing'?

I've already talked about how the DUP felt duped () because they basically agreed to what they wouldn't agree to. No call for investigation on whether or not the Irish sea border is legit to begin with? (3) no check on whether leaving the single market was needed to begin with?

Next up : riots in Northern Ireland. I personally blame the dup: threatening to scrap the document that holds the peace in the region tends to do that. But it seems media didn't even bother covering it properly. So... What does it really take to take a good, close look at what Boris really bargained?

... But nooooo. He used 200'000 pounds instead of an annual 30'000 to renovate his fucking office. And THAT is a scandal that has people talking of removing him from office?

Fucking dolts...


(1): that'll be 'afifferent bias' and a guy going by 'Robespierre', mostly
(2): I kind of wonder... How many of those really came from journalist Boris Johnson or EU's UK representative Nigel Farage?
(3): my sources calmly explain that the good Friday agreement isn't jeopardized all by this sea border. But I don't get any coherent argument from the DUP corner

I have similar questions about the US. Seems to be one big rotten tree, its rancid roots spread far.

 

[AmandaRose]

...on the finances for his office's wallpaper.

*sigh *
Don't get me wrong : if he used more public money than allowed, I'm not saying he should be left off the hook. But at the same time... Fucking seriously?

The issue is not that he used public money the issue is he illegally used £200000 of Tory party donation money. He broke the government code of conduct and could also potentially be charged by the police for committing fraud. The rich people who donated to the Tory party did so in the understanding their money would be used to decorate parts of Downing Street that are accessible by the public (all perfectly legal) Instead BoJo used the money to decorate his private quarters which he is not allowed to do.

Let's also not forget he illegally tried to use Tory party donations to fund child care for his 1 year old child.

BoJo forcing his MPs to vote against free school meals and making huge stealth cuts to school funding at the same time as trying to use donations illegally to pay for his own childcare is yet more evidence that it's one rule for him and his mates, and another for everyone else. Fucking seriously?

 

[Taleweaver]

I have similar questions about the US. Seems to be one big rotten tree, its rancid roots spread far.

LOL...questions?

Fox is just rightwing propaganda catered to push the republicans further right than they're comfortable with. The fact that they're calling themselves "news" in the process is ridiculous.

The democrats aren't much better, either. The so-called "progressive left" is only left when compared to the alternative, but if you take that political side out of the picture I'm fairly sure most'll fail any sort of objectivity test as well. Which isn't a wonder, since most news outlets are really large firms lead by millionaires or billionaires. So you'll probably see much sooner reports on hell freezing over than about the benefits of wealth redistributions.

...but ey...that's a different topic. This is still about brexit. The US gets enough attention in...almost literally all other topics.

 

[Alexander1970]

Some Thing,that annoys me really after "Brexit"....

Sending something from my Country
to a Friend in Great Britain is near impossible and/or very expensive and complicated.....

 

[Taleweaver]

Well... How's this for a benefit : Scotland is going to hold a (new) referendum for independence.

The last one really wasn't that long ago. In 2014, 55.3% voted against independence. An important argument to remain in the UK was, kind of ironic, because Scotland itself wouldn't be a EU member.

So obviously, being out of the EU regardless now, that argument falls away. So a new referendum is kind of obvious. Well... More specifically : it's far more likely the majority will vote to leave the UK.

I admit I can't really follow which political parties want what, exactly. But the Scottish national party (SNP... what would be in the name?) gained a major electoral victory, in itself almost a full majority. So that referendum will most certainly happen, and unless some major benefits of brexit start to emerge, the outcome will be easy to predict as well.

... But it's that 'rejoining the EU' afterward that worries me. As long as the (remaining) UK remains stubborn enough to stay out of the single market, there's going to be a hard border between the UK and Scotland to sort out before any joining 's to take place (assuming most Scottish want the EU in the first place, which isn't automatically the case either).

 

[FAST6191]

Well... How's this for a benefit : Scotland is going to hold a (new) referendum for independence.

The last one really wasn't that long ago. In 2014, 55.3% voted against independence. An important argument to remain in the UK was, kind of ironic, because Scotland itself wouldn't be a EU member.

So obviously, being out of the EU regardless now, that argument falls away. So a new referendum is kind of obvious. Well... More specifically : it's far more likely the majority will vote to leave the UK.

I admit I can't really follow which political parties want what, exactly. But the Scottish national party (SNP... what would be in the name?) gained a major electoral victory, in itself almost a full majority. So that referendum will most certainly happen, and unless some major benefits of brexit start to emerge, the outcome will be easy to predict as well.

... But it's that 'rejoining the EU' afterward that worries me. As long as the (remaining) UK remains stubborn enough to stay out of the single market, there's going to be a hard border between the UK and Scotland to sort out before any joining 's to take place (assuming most Scottish want the EU in the first place, which isn't automatically the case either).

While I am sure the SNP would have one every other week until they got the answer they wanted the UK government as a whole has to allow it (their gains in this last go around being in the devolved Scottish parliament which is just some aspects of Scotland, best they can do there is pass a bill saying we would like one which is basically meaningless), and as the Conservatives can more or less do what they like (with the nice "it was a once in a generation event"... excuse too) and Labour are unlikely to mount a comeback too terribly soon (not to mention they are unlikely to allow it either even if they did as Scotland going bye bye would definitely end their chances of retaining any political power* for a while) the SNP are likely to be to told to sit and spin, and then the SNP have to hope they won't go all infighting (as it stands there is the more recent split following the little bit of infighting, and a more right wing independence party as SNP are basically Labour or possibly even more left wing but they think Scotland going independent would be a good thing, though if they do have such gains as they do then that might calm things for a moment, assuming they don't continue down the path of idiocy with the likes of that speech law the other month) before the Conservatives get weak enough to want to throw them a bone.

*see also the last general election and why they did not openly go for a coalition with the SNP, and that would be do or die demand for such a setup.

As far as Scotland joining the EU then yeah some kind of hard border would likely have to happen which could get fun. The bigger trouble is Scotland would likely have a hard time meeting the economic requirements (they tend not to run a budget surplus -- that would then see tuition fees probably coming in, and the slightly jazzed up NHS there probably falling back in line with the baseline rest of the UK or maybe something worse. https://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/14982 , and that is before figuring out what goes for the North Sea oil and gas and who that would go with in the event of independence which would be super fun as part of that one) and after Greece and probably Italy at some point then they would probably have to do proper checks. Scotland going WTO... better hope global warming kicks in or we get a nice fleet of civilian nuclear icebreakers to go over Russia.
Might be able to do a lesser version with the EEA or European Free Trade Association but I am less familiar with requirements there.

 

[Taleweaver]

I'm really thinking of starting to cop out of following UK brexit news (just like the whole Trump train went over the cliff after january 6th). And this stuff happens roughly in my backyard.

Like...I don't get the recent controversy over sausages. As in: I don't get how brexiteers didn't see this coming from miles (read: months) away.


I mean...not happy with "just" leaving the largest trading block in the world, the UK doesn't want to be in the single market (roughly speaking: a set of standards, mostly for food) either. That's all well and good, provided you do it within your own country. If your standards differ from my standards, a border with custom checks between us should and must make sure that our goods remain separated (meaning: I don't give a crap that your food is borderline poisonous, provided you keep it in your country).

But wait...the Irish and North Irish are hellbent on absolutely NOT having a border between their regions. So last Christmas a deal was signed putting that border in the Irish sea. Basically saying to Northern Ireland: "you follow single market standards while we do our own thing". At that time, Boris Johnson acted as if he came up with that deal himself.

But it was, is and even more so will be an actual border. With customs taking place in ships sailing toward Northern Ireland. It's a direct consequence of the choice to abandon a standard, but the fact that only the UK complains about it says something of the quality of current UK standards. I mean...if your food standards were higher than ours, we'd be the ones complaining that we can't sell our low quality garbage into the UK because it's stopped at the Irish Sea.

The UK had plenty of time to prepare implementing this deal as well. But instead it's been twiddling thumbs for months, give a local political group (the DUP) room to complain and do nothing.

...until the grace period runs out. Now all of the sudden UK government officials have the bloody nerve to say they'd rather break international law than abide by the treaty they sought themselves.

"I don't see the problem with sausages", they say. Which I call bullshit, because YOU GODDAMN SIGNED A DEAL OVER IT!!!


I don't fucking care how you spin it. That the "united Ireland" idea is gaining traction by the week (I'd even say "day", but that could just be me imaginging things) is something I predicted months ago. Just like I predict that Scotland will be leaving the UK if this trend keeps up.

Why? Because this sausage deal is just a prelude to the end of the upcoming grace periods. Politicians can shout and blame others all the fucking time, but now that the impact is starting to get visible in supermarkets, it's only bloody logical that steps are being taken to the logical outcome. Meaning: rather than importing "UK standard" sausages, they'll import Irish ones instead. Or make them themselves (I don't know much about production, but NI just has to uphold the standard from before, so it's not exactly a gargantuan task).
Of course those wishing a united Ireland see this as a win. Of course local groups like the DUP are screaming their lungs out. But in the end they'll lose. Brexit has been bad for all sorts of UK trade. Sausages is just the latest. And the UK (or England? I sometimes think they treat every other part of the UK as close colonies) won't blink and keep pursuing their personal food standards, remaining blind to any sorts of fucking tensions in the Northern Ireland region. They don't care. They probably wouldn't care for losing Northern Ireland either if it wasn't such a visible blow against the brexit idea.

 

[Taleweaver]

Notice: another BoJo rant coming up. Feel free to skip.

So...Boris Johnson is seriously start to piss me off. Now at a German conference, he basically repeated his argument he made earlier at G7 at Macron:

"Now imagine how you'd feel if <part A of France/Germany> couldn't move cheese/bratwurst to <part B of France/Germany>. You'd want that scrapped as well, right?"


I mean, really...what kind of nonsense is this?

Joker (to Batman): now imagine YOU want to release nerve gas in Gotham City's water supply. You wouldn't want to be thwarted either, now would you?


What are Merkel and Macron supposed to answer to this that isn't a straight up insult? They're pro EU, dumbass. Their first reaction would obviously be "well...we don't want to leave the EU in the first place, so it's really a non-issue for us."
Oh, wait...British propaganda media would have a field day with that, spinning the response as if they're downplaying the opinion of an overwhelming 52% of Britons(1).

Their second reaction isn't much better. "We wouldn't be signing a deal that restricts transports of goods within our country in the first place."
Oh, wait...British propaganda would probably whine that they're doubting Johnson's superior intellect when he created this oven-ready deal.

Of course the answer "well...we don't have a fucking dispute with our neighbors that in practice prohibits us from placing an actual border ON the border to resolve such a situation" would also work...but that CERTAINLY means the media will spin it as if the EU is against the Good Friday agreement.


But while I regret a proper response from these EU top diplomats (I mean: British media is going to hate the EU no matter what, so you might as well NOT let him get away with this kind of nonsense), the lack of Boris Johnson's response is much worse.

Okay, Boris...you stated a problem. I get it. And if we forego the fact that you were bloody stupid enough to come up with it, sign it AND bypassed any local scrutiny that would bring these very criticisms to light(2), I might even sit down and talk with you about possible solutions.
...but you don't seem to WANT solutions. What are your proposals, really? Discuss ease of checks? Talk assurance that goods traveling into Northern Ireland STAY in NI (which was always the EU's concern to begin with)? Rejoin the single market? I hear none of that. You're discontempt with the current situation, but don't offer a way out of it.

So...what happened to the brexit ideology here? "Take back control"? That's a fucking far stride from the "I want the EU to solve our domestic problems " you're bitching about now. Fucking grow a pair and start leading. You've got a signed agreement that you were proud to not only have signed ("take that, May! I succeeded where you failed!!!") but maintained the peace in Northern Ireland as well. You were happy. The EU was happy. Even the USA was happy. You solved a seemingly impossible political situation on an almost Gordian knot kind of fashion, and with hardly any extra paperwork(3). Of course the DUP isn't happy, but they were never going to be.
So why the fuck are you complaining? Okay, you're incompetent. We get that. We forgive you for that. But let's be realistic: you wouldn't let anyone weasel out of a deal because they were too stupid to read the contents either. Don't expect the EU to treat you as special either.


(1): that's assuming the majority of the UK residents still want this mess to go through, of course
(2): not a bloody chance in hell. At the very least I'd make you admit you were so wrong that no UK resident's ever going to vote for you. But ey...I'm no diplomat
(3): that's compared to a direct export into the EU, of course. Being outside the EU comes with a price.

 

[Deleted User]

I'm really thinking of starting to cop out of following UK brexit news (just like the whole Trump train went over the cliff after january 6th). And this stuff happens roughly in my backyard.

Like...I don't get the recent controversy over sausages. As in: I don't get how brexiteers didn't see this coming from miles (read: months) away.


I mean...not happy with "just" leaving the largest trading block in the world, the UK doesn't want to be in the single market (roughly speaking: a set of standards, mostly for food) either. That's all well and good, provided you do it within your own country. If your standards differ from my standards, a border with custom checks between us should and must make sure that our goods remain separated (meaning: I don't give a crap that your food is borderline poisonous, provided you keep it in your country).

But wait...the Irish and North Irish are hellbent on absolutely NOT having a border between their regions. So last Christmas a deal was signed putting that border in the Irish sea. Basically saying to Northern Ireland: "you follow single market standards while we do our own thing". At that time, Boris Johnson acted as if he came up with that deal himself.

But it was, is and even more so will be an actual border. With customs taking place in ships sailing toward Northern Ireland. It's a direct consequence of the choice to abandon a standard, but the fact that only the UK complains about it says something of the quality of current UK standards. I mean...if your food standards were higher than ours, we'd be the ones complaining that we can't sell our low quality garbage into the UK because it's stopped at the Irish Sea.

The UK had plenty of time to prepare implementing this deal as well. But instead it's been twiddling thumbs for months, give a local political group (the DUP) room to complain and do nothing.

...until the grace period runs out. Now all of the sudden UK government officials have the bloody nerve to say they'd rather break international law than abide by the treaty they sought themselves.

"I don't see the problem with sausages", they say. Which I call bullshit, because YOU GODDAMN SIGNED A DEAL OVER IT!!!


I don't fucking care how you spin it. That the "united Ireland" idea is gaining traction by the week (I'd even say "day", but that could just be me imaginging things) is something I predicted months ago. Just like I predict that Scotland will be leaving the UK if this trend keeps up.

Why? Because this sausage deal is just a prelude to the end of the upcoming grace periods. Politicians can shout and blame others all the fucking time, but now that the impact is starting to get visible in supermarkets, it's only bloody logical that steps are being taken to the logical outcome. Meaning: rather than importing "UK standard" sausages, they'll import Irish ones instead. Or make them themselves (I don't know much about production, but NI just has to uphold the standard from before, so it's not exactly a gargantuan task).
Of course those wishing a united Ireland see this as a win. Of course local groups like the DUP are screaming their lungs out. But in the end they'll lose. Brexit has been bad for all sorts of UK trade. Sausages is just the latest. And the UK (or England? I sometimes think they treat every other part of the UK as close colonies) won't blink and keep pursuing their personal food standards, remaining blind to any sorts of fucking tensions in the Northern Ireland region. They don't care. They probably wouldn't care for losing Northern Ireland either if it wasn't such a visible blow against the brexit idea.

About to go to bed brother over the pond, but just wanted to comment on the Jan 6 incident. It was stupidity for sure. But it's being overblown more than any incident in my 40 years of life. "Worst incident since the civil war" i.e. If they meant to capture the building, I'd think they would have been fully armed. The leader of some of the groups who rallied people to come there are turning out to be FBI agents. Police let them in, in some cases, even told them they could stay. They say an officer died, but said nothing of the hundreds of officers injured in fiery riots that destroyed parts of big cities, while chanting "all cops are bastards". Now they suddenly care about cops? I believe the officer who died, did so later of a stroke - which I am pretty sure was brought on by the days events. I just can name dozens of more destructive, anti-government actions taken where many people were injured, and those who commited the crimes were bailed out by hollywood money and even Kamala Harris raised money for them. Not aware of more than a handful of people who were charged. Now they're putting people on no fly lists for even being in the area. Anyways - victors always write history and this generally reprehensible incident is being compared to the Civil War, which armchain historians like me just think is WAY over the top.. my 2c of course.

I'm Irish, and my early ancestors actually came here in Indentured Servitude - I admit, while I do think Ireland would be a united country by now had the UK not controlled and converted/imported the North w/ Church of England'ers (i.e. Gibraltar) , I don't read about it like you do - like I said above, our media has their our own obsessions and we don't even hear of this stuff in world news sections.

I found this to be amazing when I read it years back - https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2017-food-security/ - how far they've come. I think some Brexiters were reacting to the idea it seems like nobody cares about having their own country, own rules, and I can certainly see that aspect winning my vote. But like you said, devils in the details. Not saying North Ireland should be forced out, and I do know many Irish dream of unification - some of my relatives i.e. I just pray a non-violent compromise can be found. You said

"But wait...the Irish and North Irish are hellbent on absolutely NOT having a border between their regions. So last Christmas a deal was signed putting that border in the Irish sea. Basically saying to Northern Ireland: "you follow single market standards while we do our own thing". At that time, Boris Johnson acted as if he came up with that deal himself." and then stated the border will always be there and even be more so of a border. Like I said, I certainly have not been following this closely, I don't know if they want no border out of hostility - though that doesn't make much sense to one reading just that statement, I'm sure theres more to it - but perhaps even though North Ireland has been part of the UK, Irelands interests are not best served w/ their intervention and this should be an issue w/ they negotiate directly, w/o Britians involvement. Even if that means leaving the UK.

Crazy times all around. I appreciate you being civil in your explainations and though I will always have love for Ireland, I hope I'm not coming across as a 'spinster'. I know the past is the past, but perhaps in the present 1 on 1 makes more sense? Would love to hear your reply, take care and be well!

 

[Taleweaver]

@eastwald : let's see...

First I've got to mention I don't care about your two cents about 6th of January. That's a done deal for me.

About Northern Ireland... I honestly think BoJo is trying to do whatever he wants, regardless of what others want.
When the UK was in the single market, an Australasian deal couldn't go through. Hence : abandon the single market, then sign the deal.
But wait, says the EU; if you have a different set of standards than us (and food preparation always comes up here, as it costs more to maintain certain hygiene standards), what kind of guarantee do you give us your companies won't undercut the idea of the single market? Why won't they dump cheap but unhealthy food into our territories?
UK's answer (in words) : we'll come up with a solution.
UK's answer (in actions) : we'll not only ignore it but actively work against any possible outcome

Unless I'm mistaken, BoJo and his government isn't incompetent... They're just pretending to be that because it's their best tactical choice.

While I watched a few documentaries, I've never gotten to understand how northern Ireland came to be. How it was... Well... Allowed. Suppose I round up some rich people in Belgium and have us all settle in a corner of England... Do you think I can somehow turn the place in Belgium territory? It's plain nuts. But apparently that's how NI came to be in a nutshell. I've even read that some politicians predicted NI wouldn't last a decade... But it's just over a hundred years now, right?
Perhaps the most tangible change might occur in the next local election. Currently the DUP is in power, and they're very much part of the UK (more so than actual England ers, but that might be a source being very subjective). But the pro Ireland party (sinn fein? 'm not sure on the spelling) is gaining traction. If they achieve a majority, they'll either hold or push for a referendum.
And the difference will set the tone and tension. Of course Johnson is dead against it, so any attempt to legally hold one will die due to some wacky old law or custom.
But if they just hold one regardless, things might get hairy fast. It'll be the UK against... Well, northern Ireland at the least, but where will allies stand? Will Ireland remain neutral? Or the EU? Or even Scotland?

 

[Deleted User]

I say "thanks for civility" and you start with you don't give a shit about the facts behind it. No wonder you have no rights.

Didn't bother reading your post.

Everything you hear on TV is true, the government speaks nothing but the truth! -Todays Youth

 

[jimbo13]

I say "thanks for civility" and you start with you don't give a shit about the facts behind it. No wonder you have no rights.

Didn't bother reading your post.

Everything you hear on TV is true, the government speaks nothing but the truth! -Todays Youth

Anytime someone is touting the civility of freedoms of the U.K. I just assume it's fear of their monarch and think of this.

 

[notimp]

Not sure if benefit, but funny.

Fancy a beer in Britain? In some pubs, supplies are running low.
The shortage comes after McDonald’s ran out of milkshakes and Nando’s ran out of chicken

https://archive.is/4aESk#selection-321.0-325.88

 

[x65943]

Not sure if benefit, but funny.


https://archive.is/4aESk#selection-321.0-325.88

Hey maybe if they have nationwide McDonald's and alcohol shortages - people will be more healthy and it will offset the massive NHS cuts

 

[notimp]

Hey maybe if they have nationwide McDonald's and alcohol shortages - people will be more healthy and it will offset the massive NHS cuts

Thing is, the cause is truckdrivers quitting their jobs ( https://theloadstar.com/truck-drivers-are-leaving-the-industry-as-better-pay-beckons-closer-to-home/ ), and they cant get new ones without beer...

Its a catch 22.

edit: Oh and the logistic branch is demanding "uncomplicated visas" for people from eastern europe and india. Maybe they'll drink less beer, than the typical UK lorry driver...

 

[subcon959]

Anytime someone is touting the civility of freedoms of the U.K. I just assume it's fear of their monarch and think of this.

The funny thing is the monarchy in UK is entirely benign unlike the overlords in 'murica.

 

[Taleweaver]

Thing is, the cause is truckdrivers quitting their jobs ( https://theloadstar.com/truck-drivers-are-leaving-the-industry-as-better-pay-beckons-closer-to-home/ ), and they cant get new ones without beer...

Its a catch 22.

edit: Oh and the logistic branch is demanding "uncomplicated visas" for people from eastern europe and india. Maybe they'll drink less beer, than the typical UK lorry driver...

Erm... Did you even read your own source? Beer (or other beverages) has nothing to do with it, not even hyperbolically.

I considered mentioning the phenomenon, but it's not an intentional result of brecxit, so it'd be unfair.

It's just that the UK government is being incredibly incompetent. It's as simple as that. If our government notices a shortage of truck drivers and ignores that for months, we'd have the same situation on our hands.
So... Is up to you to decide if this is because of brexit. The situation is that any foreign workers have a much harder time getting the administration done to get into the UK. As a result, foreign drivers mostly avoid the UK. I forgot the names, but this has been brought under Johnsons attention, urging him to make drivers an essential job. He refused (and /or his government). I've heard this easily two months ago. My sources (leftwing biased YouTube channels) mentioned this then, and stressed that the lack of immediate visibility is because most companies stocked up on goods prior to the Ik actually leaving the EU (meaning : at least 1-0 for brexit sceptics). Now these stocks are starting to run out because... Well, I've mentioned it : incompetence.

Edit: heh... I've read my own posts from before again. I kind of tried to assert the uk's actions as if they had a plan to succeed. Use the fact that the others want a deal to your advantage. Act stupid in order to get handicapped privileges... That sort of thing.

This situation certainly proves me wrong. Kind of funny I wrote it in terms like 'I don't think they're being stupid because...<reason that was really a guess at how it could make sense >'. And now this comes along. A situation that the EU has no hand in whatsoever and no potential advantage to be had by anyone, but that'll send a STRONG sense of negativity to the current government(1) if this doesn't get unfucked asap (those same sources I mentioned earlier point out that by the time christmas comes around, empty shelves will be tile rather than exception... Unless government abandons its xenophobic fear of external truck drivers (2).

Also... My own perspective is beginning to shift on this. Dig to my earlier posts and I'm trying to find common ground, try to settle disputes, eye-escalate and sometimes even relate to troubles brexiteers have with the EU (though I admit that mostly if not always failed). I didn't want the EU breaking up.

But now I'm starting to side with the brexiteers. They wanted out? They got it. It was something they never done and there was a power shift at the top so some growing pains were to be expected.
But this constantly whining about how the EU is doing all sorts of things to them after they left is childish (how long until we're literally called the boogeyman? ) . Their handling of the northern Ireland situation is horrible. And now they can't even properly keep a supply line to feed their own population intact? Jesus... Hate to say it, but the EU is better of without your circus of a country.


(1): you think our government will remain in power when our grocery stores aren't having their goods because of government incompetence?
(2): first reaction? 'hire local drivers'. Yeah... Except you can't just give a trick to anyone with just a normal driver's license and think it won't cause problems.
Second reaction? 'make them work longer hours'. Yeah... Except that's not safe either. Nor is there demand for it.

 

[notimp]

Erm... Did you even read your own source? Beer (or other beverages) has nothing to do with it, not even hyperbolically.

.......
..............
.....................
you dont say.

"They cant get new truck drivers, because they have no more beer." - might have been a joke, dont you think?

 

[notimp]

50-90% of petrol stations in the UK are currently out of gas:
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk...cities-retailers-association-says-2021-09-27/

But just think how much money you saved from direct EU payments.

Dutch truckdriver unions reacted that the 5000 temporary ad hoc work visas for truck drivers, that would fizzle out at the end of the year would not incentivize them to send more drivers. Germany f.e. also has a truck drivers shortage. Much better to send drivers there...

London taxi driver Paul Kirby said he had visited nine filling stations before finding one that had fuel.

"I'm okay for the next day or so but then it's going to be completely out of my hands. If I can't get anything, then the cab is going to be parked up," he told Reuters.

Ah Reuters, always giving you the opinion of the man on the street..

 

[FAST6191]

Depending upon your perspective then some might argue it is just the market realising worth after being suppressed for so long.

I know several lorry/truck drivers (day guys* and weeks out types) and the pay and conditions** for the entry requirements (getting and maintaining what is here a hgv licence, hgv = heavy goods vehicle, in the US it would be a CDL/commercial drivers licence, is a serious effort, justifiably as you are piloting many tonnes of vehicle that will hurt things if it goes awry) and what is asked... not my idea of a good time. I look at something like the US (while transcontinental is a somewhat different game there is still the same rough day/in state vs long haul thing) and truck driver is actually a fairly well compensated effort.

Also between all those furloughed during the "stay in your home, citizen" sketches then several went on to better offerings, or retired (I know very few under 50, and most of those are late 30s at best, late 40s more common there. The 20 somethings tend to have it as an ancillary thing (they want to drive horses around, they want to drive a concrete lorry, driving skips around...) .

*I say day but still out at 3-5 in the morning depending upon destination and back 5-6 at night, if it is any earlier it is because either it is however many weeks after Chinese new year (no ships out during that period so X weeks on there is nothing to offload really) or it is windy on the docks.

**any kind of overnight rest stop these days is... maybe a given town has a gravel section you can park on, by and large you will be in the layby thought waiting for your next batch of hours to kick in. Toilets are a luxury and showers... hahahaha join a chain of gyms.