RayC

Or alternatively, All crows are black Crows are birds Therefore all birds are black

It appears that some others' even more pathetic lives revolve involve placing Trump on a pedestal, kissing his bodily parts and then making excuses for him when he fails to deliver on his promises.

Immediate stronger economic sanctions on Russia. An ultimatum issued to Putin that unless he agrees to an immediate ceasefire and negotiations, NATO will increase its' support for Ukraine to whatever extent necessary. Obviously this will US support. Unfortunately, doubtful this will be forthcoming.

Perhaps you are right but obviously neither is Trump. Trump has failed to end the war and has, arguably, damaged Ukraine with his personal attacks on Zelensky and his lukewarm attitude towards NATO.

Where have you been for the last few months? Did you miss the volitality on the financial markets? (The indices may be back to where they were but Trump's policies caused unnecessary chaos). As a US national, maybe you haven't noticed - maybe you even welcome it? - but the trust that the US traditionally enjoyed with her European allies have been severely weakened by Trump's policies. Maybe you haven't noticed - and perhaps, don't care? - that Trump's appeasement of Russia and indifference about Ukraine's fate has emboldened Putin? Maybe, unlike me, you don't actually consider any of that to be negative?

Yes.

To most of the world as a result of the instability caused by his policies.

How could the EU have bullied the UK after Brexit? The EU needs the UK more than the UK needs the EU. It must be true. It's what Brexiters told us before and after the Referendum.

Chapter 4 of 'Das Kapital'?

Your first comment: "The only thing that affects the market is Trump" Your second comment (one hour later): "Everything has a "major effect"" If that's not contradictory I don't know what is! I have no hatred of Trump - deranged or otherwise - but I believe that his foreign policies, notably wrt international trade and the war in Ukraine, have had a negative effect. One major consequence is that the US's traditional allies in Europe and Australisia have been alienated. Maybe Trump's policies are having a beneficial effect domestically in the US? That's for US citizens and nationals to judge. Internationally, his policies have - so far - been harmful.

Not 'everything' has a major effect but you are now contradicting yourself.

"Their powerful Trade Barriers, VAT Taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties, Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations, unfair and unjustified lawsuits against American Companies, and more ... ” Who pulled the plug on TTIP? One Donald J. Trump. VAT is a tax levied on (almost) all goods and services sold in Europe: It is also paid by European producers/ consumers. It is NOT an import tax Financial Trade barriers: "The European Commission says it charges an average tariff of just 1% on US products entering the EU market, "considering the actual trade in goods". It adds that the US administration collected approximately €7 billion of tariffs on EU products in 2023 compared to the EU's €3 billion on US goods." (Source: Euronews) Non-monetary trade unions: Like safety regulations? These apply equally to European producers. They are NOT import taxes Monetary manipulations: I guess Trump thought that he might as well throw that ridiculous accusation in for good measure Unfair and unjustified lawsuits against American Companies: You break the law, you pay the price. If there is no case to answer it will be thrown out of court But hey, let's not let the facts get in the way of a good rant. If Trump's goal is to alienate the EU and bring Brussels and Beijing closer together then I have to commend him: That strategy seems to be working extremely well.

I wouldn't say that Trump's actions are the 'only' thing which affects the market but they certainly have a major effect: That's the problem. The 'Thanks' and 'Agree' buttons are available for you to reply to me.

Not only are you the self-appointed champion of the working class, you are now the self-appointed judge of who gets to define themselves as working class and what moral values they must have. Rayner is not representative of the working class because you declare that she is not. I'm a 'Middle Class Liberal' - used in a derogatory sense - because it fits your narrative to define me that way without knowing anything about my background. (For the record, in terms of wealth I am now, fortunately, solidly middle-class and very pleased to be so. However, my family background is anything but). Many of your posts are snarling and full of derision for those who disagree with you, so it's ironic that you should complain about others acting in a similar manner. Islington? Only went there on the very rare occasions my team played at Highbury. Haven't been there in years. Wrong side of the river for me. You're right about one thing though, Jonny. You are never too old to learn. Give it a go.

Now that's enough of that defeatist talk. Pull yourself together, man. It's people like you who are causing the problem. You may not be British but you need to act in the UK's national interest like the rest of us. So starting today make sure that you cross your fingers and pray that Brexit turns out ok. If you are one of those atheist chappies, then it is acceptable to close your eyes really, really tightly and wish really, really hard for the success of Brexit.

It has everything to do with it. The fact that Labour has 62% of parliamentary seats having obtained 34% of the vote shows how flawed the system is. However, I doubt that you and others will complain so loudly if the Tories or Reform find themselves in a similar situation after the next election. Whoever uttered that quote clearly didn't understand that governments are meant to represent the will of the majority. FPTP fails dismally on that score. It is claimed that FPTP - unlike PR - delivers 'strong' government. To the extent that FPTP usually delivers a majority in parliament for one party that is true. However, how many radical governments has the UK had in the past 100 years? Atlee's in 1945? Thatcher's in 1984? The others have largely been variations on a theme.

You are both clearly dissatisfied with the current FPTP system. I agree it's undemocratic. Out of curiosity, were you both among the 13% of the electorate who voted in favour of the Alternative vote system in the 2011 referendum or has your view changed recently i.e. since June 2024?

No UK government has won > 50% of the vote for more than 50 years so why single out this government?

The very same self-appointed champion of the white, working class being contemptuous of a white, working class woman. Square that circle.

Suprise, suprise. The Putin apologists kept telling us that we were sheep; we followed the MSM narrative. The truth was that Putin is a man of peace. He was reluctantly forced into invading Ukraine in order to protect himself against the West's aggression. The West wants to prolong the war. Putin wants nothing more than an end to the war. Good luck explaining this away.

Another example of Two-tier Britain ... oh, wait ....

It's the same old irrational nonsense: 'Starmer wants to damage the UK'. In the unlikely event that 500k young EU nationals wanted to live in the UK at any one time, how are they going to damage the country? They will not bring dependents and will presumably be in good health, so won't be drain on the nations' infrastructure and resources. The scheme is simply an opportunity for young people - Brits and EU nationals alike - to broaden their horizons. The reaction on this thread simply reinforces the view that for some people, any deal with the EU - no matter its' objective or scope - is a bad deal. The fact that these individuals cannot provide any constructive alternatives doesn't seem to concern them.

What absolute nonsense. If evidence exists to support your claims there will be more than one source to prove it. I'll be generous in my terminology: You are providing misinformation.

Assuming such an organisation exists, what makes you think that they are reading these posts? There is no evidence to support your claims.

Your comment about the use of 'Europe' and 'EU' is pedantic: Moreover, I have not mentioned either the ECHR or the ECJ until this post, and I know the difference. Food sold in the EU will need to meet EU food regulations. Where there is a dispute about EU law, the ECJ - the Supreme Court of the EU - will adjudicate. Are these shocking revelations? Why would the judiciaries from 3rd-country should be involved? You are sniping around the edges. There is nothing of substance in your objections.