Is Britain about to leave the EU?

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Why? That was enough of a criterion to elect him.
 
But the key word is elect. He was appointed to the job by the people he was supposed to represent. A bad decision, but made by the people entitled to make it. The equivalent to Trump picking out the British ambassador would be Putin appointing Trump to the presidency because he liked the cut of his jib.

Which, well, okay, bad example, but you take my point.
 
I'd point out that the British Ambassador to the USA is one of the most important postings in the US diplomatic service, wouldn't you?
 
The consequences of the Brexit vote are making themselves felt.
Philip Hammond admits Brexit vote means £122bn extra borrowing
Labour describes long-term economic plan as an abject failure after chancellor uses autumn statement to defer the balancing of the books

Philip Hammond has admitted that the Brexit vote’s blow to the economy would force the government to borrow £122bn more than hoped as he pushed back government plans to balance the books in his autumn statement.​

Ah, the solution to a debt-ridden economy is to pile on more debt. And cut benefits and reduce taxes on the rich somewhere along the line.
(click on link for full article as per the current interpretation of rules by CFC)
 
Print more pounds? On top of the dive the pound already took over the last 5 months? I don't think the people would be happy if suddenly things got even more expensive.
 
That's the sweet, sweet smell of independence, lads!
 
Don't they already try to reduce the impact of currently increased consumer prices by increasing the minimum wages?
 
The Tory national living wage was introduced, in April, for over 25s who had their rate increased from £6.70 to £7.20. They assumed they were going to win the Brexit vote then.
21 to 25 year olds went from £6.70 to £6.95 in October.
In October 2015 the rate for over 21s went from £6.50 to £6.70.

£122bn extra borrowing even if at about 1% will cost an additional £23 million in interest a week, another reduction in the supposed £350 million a week saving from Brexit.
 
Despite the usual suspects immediately taking the Chancellor's word that our economy is excellent, the Mail did at least point out that the twelve-figure hole in our finances. They did not however dedicate any of their front page to the sentencing of Jo Cox's murderer.
 
I'm sure that someone will be along shortly to insist that he's still not a terrorist, guys.
 
According to yesterday’s figures from the OBR, Brexit will cost us £58bn, mostly in the form of reduced growth rates for 2017 & 2018.
To put that in some perspective, it will bring our growth down to the level of Germany but we will still be above that of France and Italy. (Although to be fair to F&I, they have the DM-Euro to contend with, something we managed to avoid, thanks to Gordon Brown).

If these figures are true, it will be a dirt cheap Brexit IMO. Where is the cliff we will be falling off that many (including myself) is expecting.
Might still happen of course - these are just projections from people who have no idea what the Brexit deal will be (who does?).


As for Jo Cox, I think the Indy gets it right by calling it “An act of political terrorism murder committed by a white fascist”.
This guy had Nazi books and memorabilia in his house; he idolised Breivik etc. and, according to relatives, ‘flipped’ when he was told he had to leave his council house.
As he never spoke to the police or in court we might never know if it was the referendum that actually made him flip instead.

The Tory national living wage was introduced, in April, for over 25s who had their rate increased from £6.70 to £7.20.
And will be going up to £7.50 next April.
 
According to yesterday’s figures from the OBR, Brexit will cost us £58bn, mostly in the form of reduced growth rates for 2017 & 2018.

Given how many people are slating the OBR right now for not singing the Chancellor's line, maybe they should be put in the bin with the other experts, since apparently it's still popular to sneer at experts.
 
The £58 billion is the loss to the treasury, the loss to the economy of wages, profits would be much greater.

The currency has already fallen off a cliff and the UK hasn't left or even given notice yet.

British debt to GDP levels are already above European averages, increasing debt and forecasting lower growth isn't a good place to be when proposing so much change.
 
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According to the Indy, £40 billion would cover our entire annual defence budget and is (I believe) nearly as much as what the entire country spends on alcohol and nicotine each year. That's a very big hole.

In similar news, the Chancellor has dedicated £200 million to grammar school expansion, with nothing for the NHS or social care and (presumably) nothing for non-grammar education. Good old Tories, eh?
 
UK has weird school terms. What are grammar schools again?
They're selective schools, based on exams taken in the final year of primary school (and often referred to as the 11+). Not many people get into grammar schools (obviously) and although some "lower class" children manage to get in, it's rather biased towards the upper social stratas.
 
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