badgerx16

It would help if it wasn't behind a paywall.

You are aware that some comments are posted to introduce an element of humour, even at a 'playground' level, into the dank morass that this thread tends to descend into ? My little play on the meme "How do you know when a teenager is lying ? His lips are moving." was obviously too subtle for you. Why are you still obsessed with Osborne's economic projections, which at the time of the referendum campaign could not be proven or disproven, yet seem unconcerned by the other campaign propaganda claims I mentioned, which at the time were easily shown to be complete fabrications ?

Not at all, I disagreed with much of what Cameron & Osborne stood for, and instigated. My vote in the referendum was decided before the vote was called - I am, and have always been pro-Europe, and thought a lot of the Vote Leave campaign was fuelled by 'Little Englander' memories of an historical version of Britain that never really existed. That, and an appeal to a xenophobic tendency that was exploited by Farage and some of the more right-leaning press.

Q)How do you know when a Politician is lying ? A) He's a Politician, what else would you expect ?

George Osborne talking b0ll0x - what an unusual and unexpected occurrence. Does this balance out the £350 million per week, and the 80 million Turkish migrants ?

I'd swap armstrong for Cedric, we look more solid with 3 CBs, and we will be under the cosh for the 2nd half. Use Long and Redmond on the break.

Lucky Mrs Long.

So, after a lot of huffing and puffing, posturing, and name calling, we can conclude that post the referendum vote in 2016, an Indian company accepted some incentives to move part of it's production out of a country that had just decided to leave the EU, to one that was staying in. Who could have predicted that ?

( Let's go fishing.......) David Lammy speaking in The Commons; “Why do some many in this house continue to support Brexit, when they know it will wreck jobs, the NHS and our standing in the world.” “This is the fundamental dishonesty of the heart of the Brexit debate, most MPs must now recognise in private but do not say it in public.” “Brexit is a con, a trick, a swindle, a fraud. A deception that will hurt most of those people it promised to help.” “A dangerous fantasy which will make every problem it claims to solve worse. A campaign won on false promises and lies.” “Vote Leave and Leave EU both broke the law. Russian interference is beyond reasonable doubt, and by now, every single campaign promise made in 2016 has become unstuck.” “I say we must not patronise them with cowardice, let’s tell them the truth – you were sold a lie.” Blame us, blame Westminster, do not blame Brussels for our own country’s mistakes and do not be angry at us for telling you the truth, be angry at the chancers who sold you a lie.” “There is no left-wing justification for Brexit. Ditching workers’ rights, social protections and ending environmental cooperation is not progressive. This is a project about neo-liberal deregulation, it’s Thatcherism on steroids pushed by her modern-day disciples. “Leaving the EU will not free us from the injustices of global capitalism, it will make us subordinate to Trump’s US. “Socialism confined to one country will not work, whether you like it or not, the world we live in is global, we can only fix the rigged system if we cooperate across border lines. “The party of Keir Hardie has always been international. We must not let down our young supporters by failing to stand with them at the biggest issue of our lives.” Read more at: https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/david-lammy-brexit-con-trick-fraud-house-of-commons-video/

The World has moved on from 2016, politically, and as a consequence things today are being viewed from a different perspective than when the referendum was held. Donald Trump was elected US President 5 months after the referendum, and part of his political agenda has been to publicly state that he would like to reduce the USA's commitment to NATO in Europe. His recent meetings with Macron and Merkel seem to have persuaded them, and consequently the EU, that perhaps more consideration might be given to closer military integration between the armed forces of the main European nations, most of whom, after all, are in the EU, so that they are less reliant on the US. This is important where European and US 'interests' differ, on such things as trading and working with Russia. The article Batman referenced is one of several that have been published recently where such closer military integration has been discussed. But that is all there is at the moment, discussion and opinion pieces. It is still, therefore, a fact that there is no EU army, and there is no likelihood of one being formed in the immediate future. So, as you can see, in 2016, denials of an EU army were accurate.

The whole world is against a no-deal Brexit, apparently; https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46826345 ""The "whole world" wants the UK to avoid a no-deal Brexit, Japan's PM has claimed, after talks with Theresa May. Shinzo Abe pledged "total support" for the withdrawal agreement she has negotiated with the EU, which faces a crunch vote in the Commons on Tuesday. " But I suppose that the USofA doesn't count as part of the 'whole world', given that The Donald thinks that Tessie's deal is only 'good for the EU'.

broken

I moved to the best bit of England in 1980, and I've never known this to be said - cheddar is cheddar, mind you I can't speak for the heathen Yorkies. Here on God's favourite side of the Pennines we have the wonderful crumbly Lancashire, and locally we have Garstang Blue. On the dark side they have Wensleydale, which is fine if you can overccome geographical prejudice.

I was watching a program on TV about an American 'artisan' cheese maker. He said he started his business after a trip to Europe, where he went into a supermarket and saw 45 different types of cheese. When he got back to the States he went into his local store, where they had 3 different colours of cheese. I would suggest 'American' cheese is the worst product to lay claim to the name.

"NEW" had better be a goal machine.

Saints to QPR "So you want Charlie Austin ? " QPR "Yes please" Saints "OK, we'll throw in Shane Long for free" QPR "Deal's off"

Hang on, earlier in the thread you said that you were "a moron due to 7 years at King Edwards".

Given the choice between The Donald and Hilary C I'm surprised that so many people bothered to vote at all. Imagine a direct vote for a nominal Head of State for the UK, where the candidates are Teresa May and Jeremy Corbyn.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46799136 The mayor of Ostend has told the BBC the Belgian port will not be ready for a new ferry line in time for Brexit. Bart Tommelein was asked about the UK government's award of a £13.8m contract to Seaborne Freight for a service between Ramsgate and Ostend. He said it was "impossible" that Ostend would be ready and that he was going to Ramsgate next week to discuss the situation with "all the stakeholders".

So we have now established that there are no tradings blocs with a standing army, none has a single currency ( the EU currently has 11 ), most have flags, and at least 2 ( EU and Mercosur ) are planning closer integration. At least the EU might be unique in having it's own anthem.

ASEAN has a flag

No 'other' trading bloc has an army, but then again nor does the EU. True it has a flag and an anthem, and it has a currency that 19 of it's 28 members share, ( NOT a 'single currency' ), but an EU army is still just a proposal.

Crystal balls.

I didn't dismiss it - you added it to a list of things that actually exist.

We are approx 3000 miles from NAFTA, probably 13,000 miles from APEC, and 22 miles from the EU. Which bloc is likely to serve our trade interests best ?