RayC

My experience and opinion are the complete opposite to yours. You also seem to be implying that some individual's comments should carry more weight than others? In 2016 I was living and working in Brussels. The effect on me and my family was felt almost immediately, not least because of the uncertainty. Does my opinion count for more than yours? Nb. Before anyone asks. No, neither me nor any one in my family, ever worked directly or indirectly for any of the EU institutions. Nbb. The financial cost of providing for illegal immigrants is almost entirely borne by the Home Office. Although it may put an additional strain on local services, imo it's not much of a justification for council tax rises.

Yes, I am aware of that. I have some sympathy for your view that at a macro level, the Euro(zone) - as it currently exists - is inherently flawed. However, that does not answer my questions: Specifically, what are these €7 billion of assets? What are Eurosystemes? I still don't understand what this particular graph is showing, or what I am meant to deduce from it other than it is on an upwards trajectory.

Sorry but I am none the wiser. The figure for 2020 is €7 billion. What are these assets? What are these 'Eurosystemes'? The only thing that can be deduced from the graph is that the total (current) value of assets with these 'Eurosystemes' is on an upward trajectory. Whether that is an indication of inflationary pressure depends on the definitions and context.

Google translates 'Bilanzsumme des Eurosystems' as 'Total assets of the Eurosystems'. What does this actually mean? Can you clarify what this graph is showing please?

That will be 3 new trade deals. Even the House of Commons library site doesn't count the roll-out deals. https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9314/ When it comes to the possibility of future deals, the site doesn't seem confident about the prospect of those either.

On the one hand, you tacitly admit (in another post) that the Brexit camp's predictions (of benefits) have not happened but, here you restate that Brexit wasn't a mistake and that you are still quite happy with the outcome. It's not impossible to reconcile those two positions but imo they undermine each other.

So, for whatever reason, these predictions have not turned out to be correct. Therefore, wouldn't it be prudent to reappraise the situation and act accordingly, rather than plough aimlessly on as we appear to be doing?

Joseph's parenting skills are obviously off-topic and his own affair but, to continue the analogy, if his kids still refuse to admit that they made a mistake - and continue to make that mistake - imo it would be perfectly good parenting to continue pointing this out to them irrespective of how long has passed.

Oh yes, it did! You are correct, but then so too is Chomper. The UK had access to non-EU markets via the EU. Imo, due to the respective market sizes, third country nations will prioritize trade negotiations and prize trade deals with the EU over the UK. Any resulting deals will also, most likely, be more favourable for the EU.

Right. So we should expect nothing positive to come out of Brexit? In that case, why not admit that Brexit was a mistake and start the process to reverse its' negative effects?

I'm pleased that you said only "some" British people???????? I think that the Netflix executives are also pretty keen on this nonsense for obvious reasons!

No, Nauseus. I'm merely pointing out the fact that all these marvelous free trade deals, and other assorted benefits, that we were promised would be forthcoming once we free from the shackles and tyranny of the dastardly EU have failed to materialise.

Your hero, Johnson, signed the deal. He could have walked away if it was unacceptable. However, no point expecting a Johnson apologist to take any accountability or responsibility for the mess that Johnson and the Flat Earthers created.

Were you looking in the mirror and mouthing those words as you wrote them? I couldn't have put it better myself. Any chance of you supplying examples of the EU's vindictiveness and these unacceptable political conditions which you claim were attached to May's deals? Rhetorical question. I know that the answer's 'No'.

Would you know if ex-pat Thais in the UK were discussing Thailand's role in ASEAN if they were speaking in Thai?

Given that it appeared that it was common knowledge that the EU would act in such a vindictive manner, why have successive UK governments failed to make the necessary arrangements to mitigate against these negative effects?

There is no evidence that the UK was oppressed while it was a member of the EU. We are now able to overturn the 3% of European law which we were forced to implement against our will. Hallelujah! More likely it will be a Cayman Islands type approach where money launderers, criminals and despots can happily hide their assets, very few questions asked. Now that's something to be proud of.

Perhaps the Thai based Brexiters should return to the UK to help build this 'New Jerusalem'.

And the current one's an improvement? How exactly?

Any examples of this oppression that Brussels heaped upon the UK when we were a member?

How's that going? Maybe it passed me by but the US, India, China, etc. don't seem to be in any great rush to sign any deals. In the meantime, the UK economy continues to contract by 4% pa as a result of Brexit. Looks like the wrong choice was made.

It would be good if you didn't take my comments out of context and misrepresent their meaning. That comment of mine wasn't meant to be an argument against Brexit. It was simply pointing out that the OP's European friends, who want to leave the EU, are not representative of the wider EU public who are heavily in favour of remaining in the bloc.

There is always the option to admit a mistake was made and reverse it. However in any event, the UK government could make things better currently by encouraging better relations with the EU. It's the height of irony for Brexiters to accuse Remainers of longing for the "good old days"????

If straw-clutching and/or pedancy ever become Olympic event(s), then you must be in with a real chance of becoming gold medalist! Yes, what you say is correct in purely numeric terms. However, I'll repeat: The opposition parties were opposed to the UK leaving the EU. Therefore, unsurprisingly, they voted against doing so. As a group within the governing Tory party, the ERG were in favour of leaving the EU. Therefore, I would expect them to vote in favour of a deal which does just that. They didn't and the May administration fell. If the ERG had voted in favour of the deal, it would have passed irrespective of how the opposition MPs had voted. It remains a mystery why the ERG didn't vote for May's deals. After all, throughout the Brexit campaign, Brexiters continually reiterated that they knew what they were voting for! (To be clear, this is a sarcastic comment).

All well and good and I agree with some elements of what you say. However, this has nothing to do with my original point that May's deal was scuppered by the ERG. The resulting Withdrawal Agreement and subsequent mess is of the Tories own making. They, and they alone, are responsible and accountable.