Report warns the UK could slip into negative growth over next six months <LI>PM says the Treasury is planning for all eventualities <LI>France and Spain could be next to face contagion as Italy borrows another £2bn in order to stave off bankruptcy <LI>UK growth expected to slow to 0.7% by end of this year and 0.6% in 2012 <LI>In the eurozone, growth is expected to be 0.5% next year

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2059756/Britain-prepares-economic-Armageddon-European-Union-warns-UK-double-dip.html#ixzz1dNiBXXcF

Glad to see that Boater is back on duty. I can't stand too much Chicken Little journalism without getting depressed.

At least Britain still seems to have economic growth, even if not enough; also it pays only 2.2% (rising) on its borrowings.

And the EU President says everyone should join the Eurozone! (he's a Spaniard, isn't he?)

At least Britain still seems to have economic growth, even if not enough; also it pays only 2.2% (rising) on its borrowings.

And the EU President says everyone should join the Eurozone! (he's a Spaniard, isn't he?)

I think Britain should join the eurozone. After all, she is a founding member of the EU, so why this reluctance?

At least Britain still seems to have economic growth, even if not enough; also it pays only 2.2% (rising) on its borrowings.

And the EU President says everyone should join the Eurozone! (he's a Spaniard, isn't he?)

I think Britain should join the eurozone. After all, she is a founding member of the EU, so why this reluctance?

The UK should join Asiania...and forge better links with the Russkies and any oil producing nations in my opinion....the rest of the world has gone to the dogs!

At least Britain still seems to have economic growth, even if not enough; also it pays only 2.2% (rising) on its borrowings.

And the EU President says everyone should join the Eurozone! (he's a Spaniard, isn't he?)

I think Britain should join the eurozone. After all, she is a founding member of the EU, so why this reluctance?

There are those of us who think Britain should never have joined the EU in the first place.

All the complaints on this forum about silly directives emanating from the EU are just one indication that the EU is too big for good government. Russia found out the hard way that size doesn't allow for good government anyway. The US is too big; China is too big; India is definitely too big. Small is beautiful!

At least Britain still seems to have economic growth, even if not enough; also it pays only 2.2% (rising) on its borrowings.

And the EU President says everyone should join the Eurozone! (he's a Spaniard, isn't he?)

I think Britain should join the eurozone. After all, she is a founding member of the EU, so why this reluctance?

There are those of us who think Britain should never have joined the EU in the first place.

All the complaints on this forum about silly directives emanating from the EU are just one indication that the EU is too big for good government. Russia found out the hard way that size doesn't allow for good government anyway. The US is too big; China is too big; India is definitely too big. Small is beautiful!

So - Independence for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

What about the Isle of Man? Channel Islands? Scilly Isles? Isle of Wight? Isle of Ely? Soke of Peterbotough?

Singapore does alright as an Island state, as does Australia.

I'm all for devolution, but some benefits are to be equated to size - I can't see Scotland splashing out on it's own nuclear submarines, but it does service those of the UK, thus having specialist skills that are rewarded.

At least Britain still seems to have economic growth, even if not enough; also it pays only 2.2% (rising) on its borrowings.

And the EU President says everyone should join the Eurozone! (he's a Spaniard, isn't he?)

I think Britain should join the eurozone. After all, she is a founding member of the EU, so why this reluctance?

There are those of us who think Britain should never have joined the EU in the first place.

All the complaints on this forum about silly directives emanating from the EU are just one indication that the EU is too big for good government. Russia found out the hard way that size doesn't allow for good government anyway. The US is too big; China is too big; India is definitely too big. Small is beautiful!

So - Independence for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

What about the Isle of Man? Channel Islands? Scilly Isles? Isle of Wight? Isle of Ely? Soke of Peterbotough?

Singapore does alright as an Island state, as does Australia.

I'm all for devolution, but some benefits are to be equated to size - I can't see Scotland splashing out on it's own nuclear submarines, but it does service those of the UK, thus having specialist skills that are rewarded.

Small is beautiful.... but not smaller and smallest! Singapore is a miracle, because it's even managed racial tolerance . Australia is big, but it's a natural unit, which, for example, India is not. The UK has been together for so long that it has developed a certain homogeneity... and again, it's a fairly natural unit; further subdivision would be silly (not Scilly!).

I think Britain should join the eurozone. After all, she is a founding member of the EU, so why this reluctance?

There are those of us who think Britain should never have joined the EU in the first place.

Britain didn't "join", it is a founding member.

All the complaints on this forum about silly directives emanating from the EU are just one indication that the EU is too big for good government. Russia found out the hard way that size doesn't allow for good government anyway. The US is too big; China is too big; India is definitely too big. Small is beautiful!

You are advocating the balkanisation of Europe? I disagree, but we can be of different opinion that's fine. Let me know to which political entity (country) Northern Ireland should belong.

I think you are asking for new problems, or rewarming old problems. Let's get together and overcome old rivalries, shall we? The world right now is not about regional territorialism any more, it is about survival with and against existing and emerging superpowers.

Things have changed since the 19th and the 20th centuries.

Britain is going on strike!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15570669

Back to the '70's we go...hi ho....!

I think Britain should join the eurozone. After all, she is a founding member of the EU, so why this reluctance?

There are those of us who think Britain should never have joined the EU in the first place.

Britain didn't "join", it is a founding member.

Excuse me??

I seem to remember poofter Heath dragging ue into the Common Market long after the founding of the European Iron and Steel Community, and after the change to the Common Market. Never had the choice, even then.

I think Britain should join the eurozone. After all, she is a founding member of the EU, so why this reluctance?

There are those of us who think Britain should never have joined the EU in the first place.

Britain didn't "join", it is a founding member.

All the complaints on this forum about silly directives emanating from the EU are just one indication that the EU is too big for good government. Russia found out the hard way that size doesn't allow for good government anyway. The US is too big; China is too big; India is definitely too big. Small is beautiful!

You are advocating the balkanisation of Europe? I disagree, but we can be of different opinion that's fine. Let me know to which political entity (country) Northern Ireland should belong.

I think you are asking for new problems, or rewarming old problems. Let's get together and overcome old rivalries, shall we? The world right now is not about regional territorialism any more, it is about survival with and against existing and emerging superpowers.

Things have changed since the 19th and the 20th centuries.

No, I am saying that bigger units become ungovernable. The smallest units are not viable (Kosovo, Montenegro, Scotland... if it decides to go it alone). There must be a middle size somewhere which works! How do you choose a government to represent the people of a large country? I simply don't think democracy works on that scale (but that's on another thread already).

I fully agree with the part I've blocked... but I fear it is starry-eyed idealism, not practical politics.

I think Britain should join the eurozone. After all, she is a founding member of the EU, so why this reluctance?

There are those of us who think Britain should never have joined the EU in the first place.

Britain didn't "join", it is a founding member.

Excuse me??

I seem to remember poofter Heath dragging ue into the Common Market long after the founding of the European Iron and Steel Community, and after the change to the Common Market. Never had the choice, even then.

I remembered from school that Germany, France and the UK were the fouding members. I now read up and found that I remembered wrong, the UK didn't join until later. So, you are right. I had mixed this up with the European Council, which was founded in 1949 after Churchill's influential speech of 1946, calling for a United States of Europe. The UK is a founding member of the European Council.

However, the reason for the UK's late joining of the EEC/EU seems to have been that France had vetoed the UK's application, which sounds a bit different from the UK being forced to become a member. The UK finally become a member in 1973.

No, I am saying that bigger units become ungovernable. The smallest units are not viable (Kosovo, Montenegro, Scotland... if it decides to go it alone). There must be a middle size somewhere which works!

Kosovo 10887 sqkm

Montenegro 13812 sqkm

Scotland 78772 sqkm

No, I am saying that bigger units become ungovernable. The smallest units are not viable (Kosovo, Montenegro, Scotland... if it decides to go it alone). There must be a middle size somewhere which works!

Kosovo 10887 sqkm

Montenegro 13812 sqkm

Scotland 78772 sqkm

I assume that's plan view.

If you measured every exposed square metre all three would be much larger, 'cos they're all full of mountains.

Population?

Laos is around 6 million - qwhich must be about the same as Scotland - should Laos unite with Thailand or Vietnam?

No, I am saying that bigger units become ungovernable. The smallest units are not viable (Kosovo, Montenegro, Scotland... if it decides to go it alone). There must be a middle size somewhere which works!

Kosovo 10887 sqkm

Montenegro 13812 sqkm

Scotland 78772 sqkm

I assume that's plan view.

If you measured every exposed square metre all three would be much larger, 'cos they're all full of mountains.

Population?

Laos is around 6 million - qwhich must be about the same as Scotland - should Laos unite with Thailand or Vietnam?

Yes plan view. Here's the population data...

Kosovo 1825635

Montenegro 631490

Scotland 5222100

No, I am saying that bigger units become ungovernable. The smallest units are not viable (Kosovo, Montenegro, Scotland... if it decides to go it alone). There must be a middle size somewhere which works!

Kosovo 10887 sqkm

Montenegro 13812 sqkm

Scotland 78772 sqkm

I assume that's plan view.

If you measured every exposed square metre all three would be much larger, 'cos they're all full of mountains.

Population?

Laos is around 6 million - qwhich must be about the same as Scotland - should Laos unite with Thailand or Vietnam?

Yes plan view. Here's the population data...

Kosovo 1825635

Montenegro 631490

Scotland 5222100

Smokie, you must be a Scot under cover! I put Scotland in for the devil of it, expecting a protest from north of the birder. The point is that there must be a minimum size which is viable, and a maximum size beyond which government is not viable. I dinna think the wee clachan north of the border is aye big enough (nae, I dinna ken what a clachan is forbye, but it sounds good!).

I'm on an island with less than 100000 population which governs itself well enough. Scotland wouldn't have too much trouble...border controls will be easy and plenty of job opportunities rebuilding the wall!

I'm on an island with less than 100000 population which governs itself well enough. Scotland wouldn't have too much trouble...border controls will be easy and plenty of job opportunities rebuilding the wall!

And put all the border rievers out of work ??

I would have more confidence in a devolved Scotland if they compared themselves to successful countries of the same size - Norway, Singapore, New Zealand and showed how they had learnt how to improve the lot of their population. Though to be honest, I'd rather have fewer politicians and parliaments and bureaucrats, so I'll not support the SNP until they can show that they can reduce overburden.

Mind you, For all that you and I might grizzle about socialist tyranny and the ridiculous obligations placed on those of us who choose to invest in providing a roof over the heads of transient workers, students and those who cannot afford a mortgage, the council did come up with a good grant to help prevent the ruination of their city; presumably our neighbours felt that was money well-spent, since no-one wants to live next to a ruined tenement.... and I imagine some of our co-owners may have been genuinely unable to make the full payments.

Life can't be that hard, because the Contractor to whom I want to offer a refurbishment project is scarcely falling over himself to win the work...

SC

I would have more confidence in a devolved Scotland if they compared themselves to successful countries of the same size - Norway, Singapore, New Zealand and showed how they had learnt how to improve the lot of their population. Though to be honest, I'd rather have fewer politicians and parliaments and bureaucrats, so I'll not support the SNP until they can show that they can reduce overburden.

Mind you, For all that you and I might grizzle about socialist tyranny and the ridiculous obligations placed on those of us who choose to invest in providing a roof over the heads of transient workers, students and those who cannot afford a mortgage, the council did come up with a good grant to help prevent the ruination of their city; presumably our neighbours felt that was money well-spent, since no-one wants to live next to a ruined tenement.... and I imagine some of our co-owners may have been genuinely unable to make the full payments.

Life can't be that hard, because the Contractor to whom I want to offer a refurbishment project is scarcely falling over himself to win the work...

SC

Scotland...and indeed those who want the work are doing fine SC....the sooner the country adopts some more "Scottish" values the better in my view.

Aye and I'm serious aboot the wall likes....!

Since I have a tremendous admiration for the way Singapore, which has a smaller population than Scotland and no natural resources, has developed, I can't really complain about Scotland being too small. But it all comes back to how the Government is run.... into the ground, like Britain, like a business (Singapore), or with the full democratic and bureaucratic paraphernalia that Western countries (and the EC) seem to think necessary. If Scotland can somehow extricate itself from the giveaway state that Britain has become, good luck to her.

And, before someone else picks me up on this, I fear that Singapore is tending towards becoming too bureaucratic.

there's an old wise saying: "tell me what books you read and i tell you what person you are."

adjusted to modern times it is: "tell me what media you read/watch and i tell you what person you are...

...but if you read the Daily Mail... please don't tell me!"