A minor change in trading and structure seems to have been converted into a world shaking event - it's the media of course; if it's not actually a story it gets inflated into a story. Dear old Hans Christian got it right, like Eric Blair (George Orwell). It's the Emperor's New Clothes again.

Minor change? Perhaps - nobody on earth knows how far reaching it will be, as it's unprecedented.

We knew a lot more of the consequences of joining the EU - that we know about leaving.

The terms of our departure have not been determined - even though our decision is made.

Uncertainty will be the first problem - how will investors, the markets and world trade react?

I suspect it will make very little difference to everyday life; Switzerland And Norway go on as usual; so will we - that was my complaint about having a referendum; it's not something anybody not in government or finance should be asked about and at the end of the day we'll all cope. But the vote illustrated what a nasty, insular race we have become.

I Think you have got it worked out JK.

Very little difference!


- half our business is with the EU, and trade costs will be much higher on that portion we retain

- GDP here will fall, as it will in all EU countries - but not by as much as here

- productivity will be lower


Much of this may be incidental to you, but not to the nation and economy.

I suspect it will be equally incidental to everyone else Spee; I think you've fallen for the media hype. It's all trivial and unimportant and won't be more than a footnote in history. It is as significant or not of us joining the Euro (which I always thought we should have) or not. In the long run, who cares?

Just like ITK used to do - change the subject; and ignore the points made.

You actually think that Brexit is simply a fad, and won't affect anyone?

Switzerland and Norway were never in the EU, therefore never had to extricate themselves, and they're both in EFTA, which the UK is not.

Vernon Bogdanor was interviewed this evening on CNN International. He said that the EU holds the cards in the negotiations and could sit on its hands and wait out the two years, the Article 50 arrangements having been designed in that way so as to discourage members from leaving. He said that if the UK ended up trading on WTO rules its trading/manufacturing base would be at a disadvantage when competing with countries like Germany which train those with mid-level skills more effectively, the country would be more exposed to international competition and the people who felt left behind by globalisation would feel its effects to an even greater extent.

But somehow I have the feeling that JK doesn't feel left behind and is sitting quite pretty.

Spee wrote:
Very little difference!


- half our business is with the EU, and trade costs will be much higher on that portion we retain

- GDP here will fall, as it will in all EU countries - but not by as much as here

- productivity will be lower


Much of this may be incidental to you, but not to the nation and economy.




Hows your job going at the London Stock Exchange...does ITK make a visit ?

No Spee; the points made by you ignore the subject - does it really matter? As a Remainer, I think it was unwise and very expensive to leave the EU. But life will go on; trade deals of some kind will be made; some things will go up, some down. Trading and economics will survive in some shape. Our legal system will continue to be broken (much though the The ECHR shouted it achieved little except, perhaps the equalisation of the ages of consent 17 years ago). All this media fuss is mere farting into the wind.

The stupid Brexit referendum simply shows that politicians are useless and that a small majority of the public are racist.

"A nasty, insular race" I called us British above; it is so clearly reflected in the coverage of Brexit; not one commentator seems to ask "is this good for Europe?". Answer - NO. It may or may not prove a good move for the UK but it is definitely bad for the EU. And that's my problem with Brexit; it illustrates so clearly NOT IN MY BACK YARD. Instead of "how can we help humanity? How can we improve the species - not just the inhabitants of this nasty little island?".

cost of living will go up but that will be offset be getting back your sovereignty whatever the hell that is

Jo wrote:


Vernon Bogdanor was interviewed this evening on CNN International. He said that the EU holds the cards in the negotiations and could sit on its hands and wait out the two years, the Article 50 arrangements having been designed in that way so as to discourage members from leaving. He said that if the UK ended up trading on WTO rules its trading/manufacturing base would be at a disadvantage when competing with countries like Germany which train those with mid-level skills more effectively, the country would be more exposed to international competition and the people who felt left behind by globalisation would feel its effects to an even greater extent.


The UK has at least one card, which is security. The fact it has used it so soon does not give great confidence in the rest of its hand.

I thought the May woman even mentioning security illustrated her lack of depth. I'm not so sure our brilliant British security is an asset to the EU. Put our security forces in a lorry on the way to Nice or to a concert in Paris or to anywhere else in Europe and they might be more use than they have been to the EU so far. And possibly the most serious lack of security in recent years happened in Norway. We shall never be secure from loonies no matter how many laptops are put in holds or liquids banned from trains.

I did not vote only because I could not see a clear in or out but what I did do was accept whichever way the vote went, it was out so I support that the same way as if the vote had been remain.
Nothing to get stressed about it is what it is.

MWTW wrote:
I did not vote only because I could not see a clear in or out but what I did do was accept whichever way the vote went, it was out so I support that the same way as if the vote had been remain.
Nothing to get stressed about it is what it is.

Agree, I got more things to worry about.