President Elect's 'top team'

[Fergie 307]

Have you actually taken a long hard look at the state of the EU's flagship's economy lately? Anyone who would nail their colours to the mast of that lot would need their brains examined.
As for trading. How is it that UK traders who represent over 50% of the trade with the rest of the world and have all these so-called hoops to jump through in order to trade seem to do it seamlessly while those who trade with the EU find it so difficult?
Perhaps we need to get rid of those who find it difficult to deal with paperwork, rules etc and replace them with companies which don't have the same aversions.

Some weeks ago I pointed out that the UK was in a strong position to re-negotiate trading terms etc with the EU but as usual was poo poo'd by the Europhiles.

Well wouldn't you know it transpires that the German car market is in freefall and bearing in mind that as of 2022 the UK was the EU's LARGEST market for vehicle exports, we could have re-negotiated better trading deals with Germany and the EU in order for them to stave off a further collapse of an already failing motor industry, so perhaps some of you intellectual economic pygmies might just care to rethink your pomposity.

I can't see Starmer and the rest of the Europhiles doing that of course as the EU is by and large left wing but that's the route that should be taken instead of listening to the usual doom and gloom coming from the naysayers and gloom ridden remain voters who are dragging the country down at any and every opportunity.

Where do you get your figures from?
BMW for example exports to the UK account for about 6% of their production. By comparison China and the US account for nearly 50%.
We aren't even in the top five for many of the European manufacturers.
So what are the figures you have, and where from?
Or did you just guess?

 

[RobinBHM]

How is it that UK traders who represent over 50% of the trade with the rest of the world and have all these so-called hoops to jump through in order to trade seem to do it seamlessly while those who trade with the EU find it so difficult

Tony, let me help you with some technical detail on international trade

in simple terms there are 3 levels of trade cooperation:

1. trading under WTO terms -this is the most basic, all non tariff barriers are needed to trade, tariffs apply under MFN

2. a trade deal, often falsely known as a "free Trade Deal" this is a bilateral trade deal where 2 countries agree to remove some barriers to trade, but non tariff barriers still remain in place

3. EU single market: this is an huge internal market where regulatory harmonisation has allowed all non tariff barriers to be removed, as a member it was possible to trade anywhere in EU with no paperwork at all. For example I used to import timber from Germany directly from the company and it was as easy as buying from Lathams or Timbmet in UK.

as an EU member our trade barriers went below WTO and below a free trade deal, it was literally frictionless trade



When we left the EU we became a 3rd country and that means our trade barriers increased for EU trade and became the same as any other international trade

Tony facts are important, and it is sad that we are now 8 years after the referendum and virtually no brexit supporter understand the above

Have you actually taken a long hard look at the state of the EU's flagship's economy lately? Anyone who would nail their colours to the mast of that lot would need their brains examined

As an EU member we didnt need to have our "colours nailed to the mast" we were economically separate and fully able to make our own trade decisions.........if you remember the UK market was full of goods from all around the world whilst an EU member

Oh and by the way the EU is still an economic superpower with a GDP of $17 trillion

if you think the EU is failing ask yourself why Tesla have just agreed to expand their already massive factor in Germany, ask yourself why Intel is investing $100b in chip manufacture in EU, ask yourself why there are some 45 gigafactories being built in the EU, oh and ask yourself why the EU is still the one of the top trading partners for every major global economy.




I would also repeat that with an isolationist USA, the UK will be looking to rebuild its relationship with the EU and develop ways to remove the barriers put in by brexit

If Trump cuts all funding to Ukraine and makes more threats about NATO support the UK will need to build a new military alliance with the EU.

thankfully we have a grown up party in power here in the UK who will begin undoing the damage of brexit and re aligning ourselves with our biggest and nearest market.

 

[RobinBHM]

EU is by and large left wing

factually incorrect

the EU itself is not political in any real sense, but if you had to assign an ideology, it would be closer to neo liberal than left wing

EU rules have strict limits on state aid and member governments have to offer contracts out to the market -which is the opposite of left wing

also many UK trade unions, such as RMT were supportive of brexit because they felt EU membership stifled opportunities for state ownership, nationalisation etc

I realise this is a thread on Trumps team, but we really should not allow fundamental falsehoods to be allowed to stay unchecked

 

[Fergie 307]

Tony. You keep accusing people of having it in for you on ideological grounds, or because they just don't like your opinion.
So let us look at your last post, and set you a challenge.
Go and do some research and see how many EU vehicle manufacturers main export market is the UK.
In the process you will come to realise how your assertion that we are the EU's biggest export market for vehicles is complete nonsense.
For example VAG led UK sales most recently, with 162,000. Their sales in the US for the same period 993,000.
That is why you are getting some stick, because so many of your posts contain stuff that is factually inaccurate, or opinions that demonstrably have no factual basis whatsoever, or indeed are completely at odds with the facts available.

 

[Jake]

Only history will judge, the republicans look like sore losers and are not happy losing everything but are trying to leave a mess behind for the Democrats,

Very true but that was 4 years ago.

 

[Jake]

Err Tony you were up making a post at 4.17, moaning about Starmer on a thread about a different topic.

Just sayin

7.17am Moscow time.

 

[ey_tony]

Tony. You keep accusing people of having it in for you on ideological grounds, or because they just don't like your opinion.
So let us look at your last post, and set you a challenge.
Go and do some research and see if you can find any EU vehicle manufacturers whose main export market is the UK.
In the process you will come to realise how your assertion that we are the EU's biggest export market for vehicles is complete nonsense.
That is why you are getting some stick, because so many of your posts contain stuff that is factually inaccurate, or opinions that demonstrably have no factual basis whatsoever, or indeed are completely at odds with the facts available.

OK I'll leave it to you Europhile economic experts but it doesn't change the fact that the UK is the largest single market for German vehicle exports and that the leaders of this country should be taking advantage of the situation as and when the opportunities arise.
That's how business works but Starmer and his cabinet don't have the business acumen or experience between them therefore I shan't waste any more time arguing as I have better things to do like cleaning out the cat's litter which is about the same as dealing with some of the views on here.

Do you really think it bothers me that the same obsessive left wingers have a go every time anyone including myself expresses a difference of opinion to theirs?
I can't speak for the others but personally I couldn't give a monkeys as to the opinions expressed by those who denigrate me as it's mostly left wing nonsense and bluster but it would be interesting to find out just how many these have actually spent most or their entire lives running businesses because I would argue that from most of what I read, the majority wouldn't last 6 months if SE and were very likely PAYE most probably in local government jobs or worked in industries with strong unions.

They're the only people who could afford to have those leftie views but I'm sure you and others will be along very soon to correct me.

As Friedrich Hayek said.. "if socialists understood economics then they wouldn't be socialists"! It was written around 80 years ago and still holds true today.

 

[Jacob]

factually incorrect

the EU itself is not political in any real sense, but if you had to assign an ideology, it would be closer to neo liberal than left wing

It started out as trade agreements for businesses. This is why the left didn't trust it. Quite right too; if they can make deals then so should the workers.
But with the "Four freedoms" it was made more democratic and workers too were also able to move freely. Very civilised and also worked really well. Losing freedom of movement for working people is the biggest loss caused by brexit and a tragically stupid thing to have chosen - for the workers that is.

EU rules have strict limits on state aid and member governments have to offer contracts out to the market -which is the opposite of left wing

also many UK trade unions, such as RMT were supportive of brexit because they felt EU membership stifled opportunities for state ownership, nationalisation etc

I realise this is a thread on Trumps team, but we really should not allow fundamental falsehoods to be allowed to stay unchecked

 

[sploo]

Where do you get your figures from?
BMW for example exports to the UK account for about 6% of their production. By comparison China and the US account for nearly 50%.
We aren't even in the top five for many of the European manufacturers.
So what are the figures you have, and where from?
Or did you just guess?

I almost replied to Tony's post, asking him what brand of (possibly Russian-supplied) crack he was smoking today, but I just couldn't be bothered as it's pointless. I think he lives in his own little world where facts and figures are the things he's made up in his head.

I foresee* some further ranting about lefties and Europhiles in response to your and Robin's attempts to actually supply factual information about trade.

* It appears that already happened, while I was writing this post

 

[Jacob]

I almost replied to Tony's post, asking him what brand of (possibly Russian-supplied) crack he was smoking today, but I just couldn't be bothered as it's pointless. I think he lives in his own little world where facts and figures are the things he's made up in his head.

I foresee* some further ranting about lefties and Europhiles in response to your and Robin's attempts to actually supply factual information about trade.

* It appears that already happened, while I was writing this post

I don't know why anybody takes notice of our Tony. I have an occasional glance to see if he's OK, and see what the mad ****er is ranting on about, but that's it.
Though I suppose it's useful to have the thoughts and feelings of a Telegraph/Daily-Mail fundamentalist laid out before us, like an autopsy.

PS I notice he keeps dropping in the same ancient quotation from Hayek. Doesn't seem to realise that Hayek is thoroughly discredited, and neo-liberalism, free-market ideology, has failed miserably.

 

[Fergie 307]

OK I'll leave it to you Europhile economic experts but it doesn't change the fact that the UK is the largest single market for German vehicle exports and that the leaders of this country should be taking advantage of the situation as and when the opportunities arise.
That's how business works but Starmer and his cabinet don't have the business acumen or experience between them therefore I shan't waste any more time arguing as I have better things to do like cleaning out the cat's litter which is about the same as dealing with some of the views on here.

Do you really think it bothers me that the same obsessive left wingers have a go every time anyone including myself expresses a difference of opinion to theirs?
I can't speak for the others but personally I couldn't give a monkeys as to the opinions expressed by those who denigrate me as it's mostly left wing nonsense and bluster but it would be interesting to find out just how many these have actually spent most or their entire lives running businesses because I would argue that from most of what I read, the majority wouldn't last 6 months if SE and were very likely PAYE most probably in local government jobs or worked in industries with strong unions.

They're the only people who could afford to have those leftie views but I'm sure you and others will be along very soon to correct me.

As Friedrich Hayek said.. "if socialists understood economics then they wouldn't be socialists"! It was written around 80 years ago and still holds true today.

Tony, have you actually checked the numbers?
All the German major manufacturers main export markets are the US and China. Fact.
Or don't you believe their own figures?
So once again you are just doubling down on nonsense.
If you want people to stop telling you that you are talking boll***s, then you could try the simplest answer which is to, well, just stop talking boll***s.

 

[martin45]

Israeli genocide has not yet been proven, and may never be proven. The International Court of justice concluded it is plausible that:

Israel's actions in Gaza Strip could amount to genocide and issued provisional measures, in which it ordered Israel to take all measures to prevent any acts contrary to the 1948 Genocide Convention, but did not order Israel to suspend its military campaign.


The proposition that Biden would be held accountable is utterly implausible - the arms would have been supplied before the final ruling. Any attempt by the UN to implicate the US would threaten withdrawal of US and 25% of their total funding.

Far better than squawking inflammatory insults at either side would be the promotion of what needs to happen to reach a desirable outcome for both.

Except it is the International Criminal Court who issues the arrest warrants not the UN!

And in some good news they have just issued arrest warrants for some of persons involved:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...-arrest-warrant-for-benjamin-netanyahu-israel

 

[Jacob]

Israeli genocide has not yet been proven, and may never be proven.

That's OK then, one does get the impression from the media that all is not well in Gaza. Pleased to hear that it's just business as usual.
Nothing to see here!
Or is it more a case of "davon haben wir nichts gewusst" ?

....

Israel have made it clear they have little trust in the actions of the UN which they claim is institutionally antisemitic (with some justification) and may ignore any judgements anyway.

No justification at all. Objecting to Israeli brutality is not antisemitic, and millions of Jews in Palestine and around the world line up and object too.
Start here: https://www.jewishvoiceforlabour.org.uk/
Or here:https://tribunemag.co.uk/2024/11/if-this-is-not-genocide-what-is-francesca-albanese-palestine

 

[Fergie 307]

I almost replied to Tony's post, asking him what brand of (possibly Russian-supplied) crack he was smoking today, but I just couldn't be bothered as it's pointless. I think he lives in his own little world where facts and figures are the things he's made up in his head.

I foresee* some further ranting about lefties and Europhiles in response to your and Robin's attempts to actually supply factual information about trade.

* It appears that already happened, while I was writing this post

Indeed.
I actually told one of my work mates that there is this guy on a forum who's got me down as a leftie lover of the EU.
He laughed so much I thought we might have to visit A&E

 

[Cabinetman]

Don’t know how any of you find the time to get any woodwork done, I look in occasionally but soon leave again.
A most unpleasant experience watching you all argue for the sake of it.

 

[Terry - Somerset]

It's supposed to be a well informed, researched, thoroughly discussed view.

It is thoughtful and very well crafted. It is 300 years old, has largely stood the test of time. That does not make it right today. I think EB may be disappointed if we didn't at least challenge his views.

No, this is a complete misunderstanding of our democratic process.
It should reflect the best judgement of the representative.
That is what he is elected for

We will agree to differ. Hitler came to power on the back of a vote of 37% of the electorate and asserted his right to the Chancellorship through the dominant Nazi party which commanded the largest number of seats in the Reichstag.

An example of democracy in action where the leader effectively morphed a democratic republic into a constitutional dictatorship - we all know what happened next.

As the "peoples elected representative" did he deploy his power thoughtfully, corruptly or destructively. Would the outcome have been better had he acted as the electorate wanted, not as he thought right.

, not just to convey opinions. That's what market researchers and opinion polls do. Would you replace MPs with opinion pollsters?

MPs promise what people want to hear - invariably garnered through market research and polls - later find that they are unable to deliver, then make excuses intended avoid any culpability.

It is why we are blessed with the current shower at Westminster - although I would describe their predecessors as no better.

and surely morality should take precedence?

I was referring mainly to those issues where strong opposing views may often exist, but for which there is be no "right" answer - eg: assisted dying, death penalty, abortion, etc.

The views of candidates may be an issue in selection, but it would be unreasonable if elected to expect them to act other than in accord with their conscience.

 

[Spectric]

It is why we are blessed with the current shower at Westminster - although I would describe their predecessors as no better.

That is because they are politicians, can we ever trust anything a politician says as apparently it is ok to tell minor mistruths and to make a CV look better.

 

[RobinBHM]

Don’t know how any of you find the time to get any woodwork done, I look in occasionally but soon leave again.
A most unpleasant experience watching you all argue for the sake of it.

The way you do your sharpening is all wrong..........

 

[Jacob]

It is thoughtful and very well crafted. It is 300 years old, has largely stood the test of time. That does not make it right today. I think EB may be disappointed if we didn't at least challenge his views.

It still is the view, nothing has changed, we elect representatives to act for us.

We will agree to differ. Hitler came to power on the back of a vote of 37% of the electorate and asserted his right to the Chancellorship through the dominant Nazi party which commanded the largest number of seats in the Reichstag.

Much the same as we have here. Starmer got about 20% of the electorate and the majority of the seats by far.

An example of democracy in action where the leader effectively morphed a democratic republic into a constitutional dictatorship - we all know what happened next.

It doesn't always work out for the best.
What alternatives would you suggest?

As the "peoples elected representative" did he deploy his power thoughtfully, corruptly or destructively. Would the outcome have been better had he acted as the electorate wanted, not as he thought right.

Hitler gathered mass support for the Nazis. Democracy doesn't always work for the best. Any better ideas?

MPs promise what people want to hear - invariably garnered through market research and polls - later find that they are unable to deliver, then make excuses intended avoid any culpability.

So, no point in voting for any of them?

........

The views of candidates may be an issue in selection, but it would be unreasonable if elected to expect them to act other than in accord with their conscience.

How else? Just go by opinion polls?

 

[RobinBHM]

MPs promise what people want to hear - invariably garnered through market research and polls - later find that they are unable to deliver, then make excuses intended avoid any culpability.

if you look at the previous election is was built on slogans not truths

look at the Conservative messaging, Jeremy Hunt cut NI before the election (without actually funding it) and told the electorate that the Conservative are the party of low taxes, despite the fact that since 2019 they had put in place tax rises of £80b (mostly through stealth tax of freezing tax allowance bands).

that was a cynical trap for Labour because they knew NI wasn't funded and wasn't affordable, so Labour either had to put back the NI to where it was and be accused of tax rises or keep it as it was and then have to tax something elsewhere instead to pay for it and then be accused of lying


Labour didnt really promise what they couldnt deliver, they mostly played the game of avoiding Tory traps and R/W media attacks........Labours path to victory was always very narrow, weve had 5 years of right wing populism, theres been no real political bandwidth to have any reasoned discourse



As you alluded to previously, to win power you have to treat politics as just sales slogans, truth and facts arent really relevant

If you take Labour, they won power but the reality is they are now the government in charge of an almighty mess, with collapsing public services and a right wing press screaming about how bad they are without any explanation of how they would pay for it.


And despite what people may claim on here there is zero equivalence between Keir Starmer and Donald Trump, none at all.