The Cyclist

Single term ? He will be gone within 12 months. Starmers televised interviews with the Waspi's are now making it back into the media.

Which in itself is actually meaningless, when Governments have to borrow increasing amounts every year. Which might give you idea of how much credence I give to GDP figures, they are not worth the paper they are written on.

Because you brought up Brexit and GDP here So I gave you the figures from 1960 - 2023 Estimates are just that, estmates, and can be argued over depending on how they are presented. The bottom line is that GDP growth continues, despite Brexit. If you want the figures for 2024 Q1 & Q2 ( Jan - June ) was 1.2% growth Q3 ( Jul - Sept ) 0% Growth Q4 ( Oct - Dec ) TBC but probably negative.

Here is the GDP figures from 1960 - 2023 https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/countries/GBR/united-kingdom/gdp-gross-domestic-product It would appear that 2023 was the largest that UK GDP has ever been Which will come as a shock to some. Especially those that think Brexit has had a negative impact on UK GDP. CPTTP became active on the 15 December, which will also wipe out the paltry £3 Billion in the article in the OP.

A whole £3 Billion ? Peanuts in terms of a £2.7 Trillion economy. This is costing the UK more than £3 Billion a year, but we dont want to talk about that Now higher than when Truss apparently crashed the economy, and had Labour howling like demented monkeys. All hail Labour https://order-order.com/2024/12/17/reeves-budget-backlash-in-full-business-closures-job-losses-and-investment-exodus/

Prior to Brexit, a Thai National needed a Schengen Visa to travel to the EU. And here is the cluster that was Freedom of Movement. That Thai National would also need a UK visa to travel to the UK from the EU. Because of Freedom of movement, people travelling within the EU were never( or rarely ) challenged entering the UK from the EU. The UK was never part of Schengen, so Schengen Visas did not apply to people entering the UK. And the point you are missing. Prior to Brexit a Brit taking a Thai National to the UK had to jump through a few financial hoops to obtain a Visa for their Thai partner. The same applies post Brexit, only the financial hoops have increased in monetary size. Jeezo, the UK closed a loophole that was being abused and people ( Are you a Brit ? ) are up in arms.

Not laughing at you or your post CM. A post I made over a year ago sprang to mind when I read your post, and brought a smile to my face.

I can agree with that. Thatchers Brugge speech of 1988 ensured her Political demise, and the introduction of an EU Centrist Government in the UK.

It is all as clear as mud. Sherrings says this https://sherrings.com/personal-tax-deductions-allowances-thailand.html The Revenue Dept website says Obviously the Sherrings figures will be more beneficial for those that need to file. Perhaps the Revenue Dept website will get updated when the stick on the tax forms for 2024.

Trying to preach to the converted. I detest what the UK has become. Starting at the top with a sad, sorry excuse of a House of Lords. House of Commons which is bereft of honesty, decency and missing about 1400 spines. Creatures, the lot of them.

That nails it. Visa overstayers, who should have already been rounded up and removed. Not the hordes flocking over the Channel. Voluntary repatriations with a £3000 bribe to sweeten the deal.

Again, I see your issue I have no problem with people applying for a Visa and coming to work in the UK. I do have a problem with free movement of people. You confuse controlled migration through Visa's and unfettered migration through freedom of movement. It is something that people who are described as Lefties often get confused about.

Ahhhh, I see your obvious problem. Trade arrangement ? Perhaps if the Common Market ( Trade arrangement ) had not morphed into a Political and Monetary Union called the EU, we would not be having this discussion. The UK's membership of CPTTP became active yesterday. By some strange logic, freedom of movement is not part of the package.

That might be because it was 1. Opposed then 2. Opposed now 3 Opposed forever. So it should surprise no-one that the UK has not grasped the benefits of Brexit with both hands, and is struggling to make forward strides. Mealy mouthed Politicians, a shambles of a House of Lords and a Civil Service not fit for purpose. ensured that Brexit would not be a success.

Of course it was lower, 6.5 million + Europeans did not have to apply for a visa. That is the official number that applied for settled status / leave to remain, apparently millions more scuttled back to the EU because they did not qualify for settled status / leave to remain. Or perhaps news outlets like the Guardian were making stuff up.

I hate to point this out, but the decline in Countries like the UK, France, Germany and others started long before Covid, they also started long before Brexit. The UK's started over 30 years ago. Germany's started with the fall of the Berlin wall and the cost of reunification. France is just a basket case. But they all have 1 thing in common, the formation of the EU which came into force on 1 November 1993 Wealth redistribution ( by whichever method ) does not tend to work out too well, look to the former Yugoslavia if you want a recent example. The EU will follow the same road, at some stage.

Dunno about a race baiter, certainly a master baiter. He lost whatever argument he thought he might have had, when he started chucking the xenophobe bombs. Oblivious to the fact that the policy of EU freedom of movement is in itself xenophobic

If you say so So what then, would be the cause of the French economic difficulties ? 1 cause couldn't be the pumping in Trillions of €'s out of the Nations and into the cofferes of the EU, could it ?

Here comes the Cavalry Sorry, I can only recall scenes of joy and much happiness when Germany initially reunified. To the best of my recollection I cannot recall mass demonstrations in Hamburg calling for a Caliphate or similar. I will take the views of Brits who married Germans and have been living in Germany since ( Some 35 years ) before I listen to you. Now I will heed the very good advice given to me a long time ago " Never argue with an idiot, they will only drag you down to their level, and beat you with years of experience " Goodbye

Sure, to the best of my recollection German workers were always treated well.

I'm sure, that just like the UK, parts will be normal, other parts not so normal. But don't try and tell me that itbthe same Germany of 35 years ago. My friends and colleagues who married Germans and stayed on in Germany tell me otherwise.

Report the xenophobic posts, instead of throwing a word around that you have no idea of its actual meaning. Xenophobic ? Take a look at the makeup of the EU Parliament and Commission, some might say that would be xenophobic. Trumpet.

It would be better to wait for the details of what the UK has actually broken. My recollection is that there 1 An estimated 3 million in the UK. 2. An actual 6.5 million applied for residence 3. Some were refused when they applied after the closing date.

You keep believing that 35 years ago, Germany was a great place, both to visit and live and work. Put your hand on your heart and tell me the same is true today. Every single of those Countries that are / were Net Contributors to the EU ate sliding down the S bend of the toilet.

Is that him that has just been booted from Office ? Don't need words of advice from an EU Sychophant, thank you very much.