Pound versus Euro

We left the EU completely some months ago. The EU is far from perfect, but I voted in 2016 to remain "in".  Overall we voted by a small margin to leave.

Despite the difficulties of trading with the EU, the UK Pound seems to have appreciated against the Euro. 

Personally, I would have preferred a softer BREXIT especially as the vote was close. I suspect the EU misses the contributions to its budget from the UK. 

We will have to find our own way in the future. Only time will tell if we were right or wrong.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cx250jmk4e7t/pound-sterling-gbp 

Astra- Zeneca Covid-19 Vaccine - NOT amateur radio

I am deeply puzzled by some EU nations. I voted to stay in the EU in 2016, but am now convinced we did the correct thing leaving! They seem protectionist and slow beyond words!

Both the European Medicines Agency and the WHO have declared the AZ vaccine safe, yet still some nations insist on a pause. In the meantime many people will die and even more will be more vaccine-averse in months to come. 

Surely investigate if you must, but do not in the meantime pause vaccinating people who so desperately need it. This stinks of crass stupidity on a massive scale. Sour grapes?

UK-EU trade deal? - NOT amateur radio

At the moment, everyone's mind and the media is focused on Covid-19. It will soon be on the presidential election in the USA. 

Also going on are the post BREXIT trade deal talks between the EU and the UK. It is in both parties interest to arrive at a good deal for both sides. I am pretty sure both sides have been waiting for the other side to blink. 

What is now needed is a bit of compromise and a good outcome for all. I am puzzled why this should be so hard. The UK wants to stand as an independent nation and the EU has its own ways. As a big trading nation and trading partner for the EU, surely something can be worked out.

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

With Covid-19, people have rather lost track of the trade deal negotiations between the EU and UK. Any trade deal has to be agreed before the year end. At the moment we seem some way from agreement with both sides hanging out for the best deal for them.

In the end, I am sure both sides want a trade deal. It is a case of who blinks first! 

I hope in the end both sides accept compromise and both are able to feel it is fair. The EU does a lot of trade with the UK and vice versa.

Should we have left the EU? - NOT amateur radio

There is debate about our sense in leaving the EU when we are all suffering with the Coronavirus.

It is hard to know, but there are fears that northern countries like the Netherlands and Germany might end up bailing out countries like Italy and Spain.

In some ways we may be better making our own decisions. The truth is, it may take years before we know. Certainly Coronavirus is putting a great strain on all countries.

A year ago no-one would have imagined this.

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

This Friday, the UK will no longer be in the EU. It has been a member for 47 years, after being famously blocked by General de Gaulle in 1963.  We eventually joined in the 1970s.  It will be a difficult year ahead with trade negotiations with the EU and other countries.

I have mixed feelings. There is a lot wrong with the EU and I feel the EU will be much weaker without the UK. On the whole, I favoured staying in the EU and trying to get change from within.

Having left, it is up to the UK to forge its place in the world. I hope we maintain close trading ties with the EU. That was why we joined in the first place. Federal Europe was never, as far as I know, ever in our thinking.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-51287430

BREXIT deal? - NOT amateur radio

We have a Prime Minister who is on record as saying that we will be leaving the EU at the end of October deal or no deal. He has also said the chances of a no deal are 1 million to 1 against.

At the moment both the UK and EU seem to be playing chicken to see who blinks first. It seems to me that the divisions are only over the border between Eire and Ulster. Surely to goodness a compromise can be found that suits both the EU and UK?

If a compromise is not worked out, both lose. No-one wants that.

BREXIT uncertainty - NOT amateur radio

We seem to be sleep walking into one of the biggest political crises in the UK in hundreds of years. Personally, I think we are being "led" by a bunch of career politicians with little to commend them. And this is in all political parties! There is a real lack of politicians with backbone and integrity.

As for the EU and BREXIT I am convinced there is no plan, but lots of crossed legs and lots of hope. I think the country and UK parliament are deeply divided over BREXIT and it could be several years before wounds are healed.

My own views on BREXIT reflect many in the UK. We see the benefits of EU membership and want free trade and no tariffs, but want no political union and to have control over our borders and who lives and works here. Basically we want the EU with looser control and free of gravy trains.

EU elections - NOT amateur radio

Because of our delayed departure, the UK has had to take part in EU elections, The results will be known on Sunday when all EU member countries have voted.

In the UK these elections are quite odd. Unless by some late change of circumstances we vote to stay EU members, those elected will only sit for a few months.

It seem likely that the 2 major UK parties will do badly to either right wing or parties favouring staying members of the EU community. In the UK, this will be more of a protest vote. My wife and I have already voted Lib-Dem which is the party wishing to stay members. If I am honest none of the main UK political parties have policies which totally reflect my views, although the Lib-Dems are closest.

As a result of these elections, it would not surprise me if the EU made changes. With right wing parties on the rise, I suspect we will hear more about nations and less about a federal Europe in future. Assuming we do leave, I suspect the EU we leave will be much different within 5 years and we will wish we'd stayed.

Move to the right? - NOT amateur radio

In recent years we have seen a move to more right-wing political parties. This has occurred in several European countries, in the USA and Israel to name just a few.

Generally people are frustrated with their politicians and are voting for parties that might, just might, do something about this. Now, my political position is centralist. I am a floating voter and am all for moderate leaders and policies. I am definitely not right wing.

Personally, I see the move to the right as an existential threat to the EU. It may not happen overnight, but I can see countries in the EU electing right wing governments and a "let's make our country great again" attitude. We can never go back to the 1950s. We live in a connected world, more interconnected than ever.

In my view, nations need to be more aware of this drift.

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

However you voted in the 2016 referendum on leaving the EU we can all agree on something. The last few years have been very badly handled by the UK and EU politicians.

In the UK, surely we should have agreed our position (across all shades of opinion) before triggering Article 50 to signal our intention to leave the EU. In my view, the UK Prime Minister has lost a great deal of credibility over BREXIT. Yes, she has a hard job, but she should learn to listen!

Surely the EU would realise the Irish border would be a sticking point and they should have done far more to assuage fears over being trapped in the EU for years and years. Clearly there is an element of sour grapes and punishment involved. Mind you, I can well understand that the EU is frustrated with the UK.

No, overall I am not at all impressed.

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

The deadline for the UK to leave the EU is very, very, near. The EU is clearly (for now) tabling "take it or leave it" options, but the current deal has little chance of getting through parliament.

What many (most?) in the UK want is control over who lives and works here and the UK elected parliament having the final say over our laws. It is in the EU's interest to strike a good deal that works for the EU and the UK. If they don't strike a deal both sides will be hurt.

In my view the EU wants to punish the UK. No, both sides need to grow up and compromise. Mrs May, UK Prime Minister, seems to be impotent and lacking the will to come to a deal that will meet the goals of both sides.

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

It is true that I have mixed feelings about BREXIT, the UK's departure from the EU at the end of the month (maybe).

There is no doubt being in the EU is good for trade. Also, the EU exports more to the UK than we export to the EU. There is little doubt in my mind that the EU is bureaucratic. The EU will miss our money in the pot. There is a danger the EU will fall apart.

Nonetheless, I voted "remain" in the referendum. It was a close thing though. What appalled me was the information on both sides leading up to the referendum and the time it has taken to not reach an agreement that suits the EU and the UK.  Personally, I think the UK and the EU have made a right "dog's dinner"  of the negotiations.  The EU is scared of the UK being better off outside the club and the UK Prime Minister is afraid of fragmenting her party.

Personally I have little time for President Trump and I had little time for Mrs Thatcher, but I bet both would have given Mr Junker a run for his money.

The UK wants to leave the EU honourably.  It seems, to me at least, that the EU is running scared and wants to punish the UK for having the audacity to leave. What would have been far far better would have been for the UK to have had a loose link with the EU, but still be master of its own fate.

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

Whatever your views on BREXIT are, we can all agree on one thing. We are entering uncharted waters and the water is rough. The rest of the world must look on us as plain stupid. Only time will tell how things pan out. In the short-term at least, signs are not good.

BREXIT mess - NOT amateur radio

Indeed this is a fine mess! Personally, I blame an arrogant, UK Prime Minister who will not listen.

Most want an orderly withdrawal from the EU. Some don't want to leave the EU at all.  I am pretty sure all the people of the UK really wanted was free trade and control over who lives and works in the UK, whereas the EU hierarchy seems to want more. I am less convinced this is what most EU citizens want. Sure, they want peace in Europe too.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46955437

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

At the moment, BREXIT, i.e the UK leaving the EU looks like a pigs dinner. By this I mean a right mess. I think all we ever wanted is the right to decide who can live and work here and free trade. Why has this to be so complicated?

The EU does a lot of trade with the UK and they are likely to want further concessions if we want to delay leaving. They want to prevent others leaving the EU. As I feel at the moment I feel like saying leave without a deal - and I actually voted to remain!

Personally, I think Theresa May, the UK Prime Minister, has made a right "pigs ear" of negotiating our exit. She has wasted 2 years and "fallen on her sword" The EU must think the UK is a soft touch. There is a big vote on the deal next Tuesday, which is likely to be rejected. What happens next is anyone's guess.

BREXIT. What a fine mess! - NOT amateur radio

Whether you voted "remain" or "leave" in the EU referendum, we can all agree we are in a right mess!

At the moment the UK parliament is likely to reject the latest proposal and we are due to leave the EU in March this year. If I was a betting man, I would expect our departure to be delayed and some compromise deal agreed afterwards.

Most in the UK are bored with BREXIT and can't believe the mess. All we ever wanted was some control over those who live and work in the UK and tariff free trade with the EU. We never wanted a common currency and taxes, I think. Deep down, I expect most EU nations want this, along with peace in Europe. If this means an EU defence force instead of NATO, so be it.

Back to the drawing board...

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

One thing everyone in the UK can agree on about BREXIT is, "this is a fine mess". The world must be looking at the UK and thinking how stupid we must be!  I am sure there is brinkmanship going on on the part of the EU and UK government, but at the moment we are heading (by mistake) for a no-deal BREXIT that no-one wants.

The EU does a lot of trade with the UK and we need EU low skilled workers in our fields, care homes and hospitals. The EU will miss our money going into the pot. The EU is desperate for other nations not to leave. Time will tell how this will pan out.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-46617152 .

Sterling - NOT amateur radio

On the face of it, we are in for a rough time. The UK government was found in contempt of parliament last night and the UK parliament is quite likely to reject the Prime Minister's EU BREXIT deal next Tuesday when this is voted on in the House of Commons.

So what happens? Stirling goes up in value against the Euro!  As I write, it is up 0.48%. Maybe, the UK economy will be OK when we leave the EU or people assume we will walk away unless the deal is a fair one.

BREXIT - NOT amateur radio

Many in the UK have become bored with BREXIT, whether they voted to leave the EU or remain.

Unless things change dramatically, the Theresa May (UK Prime Minister) deal to leave the EU is likely to fail to gain MPs approval in Parliament in a few week's time. If this is the case (quite probable) we are in uncharted waters. The UK and the EU do not want a "no deal". At the same time, many MPs don't like the deal as it is now.

One thing is certain - we are going to be in a fine mess.

If the deal is rejected expect the value of the UK pound to tumble against the euro and US dollar. Import costs (including fuel) will dramatically rise although UK exporters will be better off. Somehow, I think a other referendum and a General Election are unlikely.

I suspect either some last minute changes in the deal (basically a fudge), we don't (yet) leave the EU, or more time is given to strike a deal.

Why doesn't the UK PM listen?