Preparedness for when

NewShadow

Stepping away from personal politics for a second.

What plans (if any) are people making in preparation for the vote?

Everyone knows the status quo has the advantage, but I think there's going to be lots of uncertainty up until the day, and it's the weeks afterwards that could be interesting.

I've just bought 6 boxes of teabags, and 36 cartons of UHT

Probably enough for 6 months, give or take

I've also got mint started in the garden - I do like a nice mint tea if British rail's not available.

My priorities sorted.

VJsmum

A friend has bought £8000 worth of Euros cos he thinks the pound will plummet if we come out (he is voting in). He is lucky enough to have an overseas bank account to store them in though.

We are going on hols in July so I thought i might get my currency sooner rather than later just in case.

It's a bit of a rock and a hard place but, as many of the people's whose opinion i respect politically (aside from Call me Dave and Georgey boy et al) are convinced we are better off in, then i am in.

maryb

I'm going on hols after the vote and if the margin gets closer (as it seems to be doing) sterling will lose its recent strength so I have bought enough currency to cover my needs. Got quite a good rate yesterday 1.30.

Martin's Travel Money Max app is very good for finding the best rate

maryb

VJs Mum, snap!

Perplexed_Pineapple

I found this interesting account of difficult times 200 years ago that I thought you all might like:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-36276197
I think we can speculate as much as we like about what might happen if we were to leave the EU. The reality is that we have had trade with the continent for millennia, it isn't suddenly going to grind to a halt. I do see immigration as important, and I don't see how we can control it without leaving. Politicians of all stripes seem to see immigration as an unqualified good, because young migrants of working age contribute to the economy and politicians all seem to have a "my GDP's bigger than your GDP" competition going on. My problems with that are that it ignores quality of life issues, and that ultimately it is a demographic Ponzi scheme where young, productive migrants become older, less productive migrants and you need even more young people to maintain the delusion of stability.

Karmacat

I've just sent over £2000 to pay the mortgage on my French apartment for a while - I need a stockup shop anyway, so I'll do that soon. I'm sure the shops won't actually have any problems caused by the vote!

NewShadow, your post also reminds me I must harvest my rhubarb!

I was taken aback by some of the propaganda that came out today - that Brexit would be as bad for the world economy as a hard landing in China? I think it was the OECD ... !!!!!!? I thought we weren't that important economically any more? That seems as weird as saying it'll be WWIII if we leave. I think a lot of the statements like that are backfiring - I'd much rather trust experiences of individuals, like in the Laura Kuenssberg programme - I've downloaded that to watch.

GreyQueen

My take on the result is that it will be a very close-run thing. Which will mean that nearly half of people whose team didn't win will be very aggrieved and there will be much muttering in the ranks.

I'll be voting Out just as soon as my postal ballot hits the doormat, which will be in the next week or so.

The truth is that no one knows exactly what the fallout will be because there is nothing which is an exact precedent. I exercise common sense.

If you look in the supermarket veg aisles, you will see produce from Spain and from the Nederlands and many other places. Will the owners of these exporting businesses throw their toys out of the pram and say no to trade with Blighty and all the hungry tums over here? Of course they won't, and if their governments try to impose iniquitous tariffs on exporting to an EU-less Britain, it will hit their bottom line and they'll give their politicos hell. Can't see that happening.

I do think if Britain successfully escapes the EU whirlpool, several other countries will have populations and political classes going Hmmmm - should we? A successful post-brexit British economy (which may or may not happen, of course) could well be the beginning of the end of the EU superstate.

We were taken into a trading partnership called the Common Market without a vote two generations ago. We did not get asked if we wanted to join or to remain in a pan-European superstate. What we will end up with, if this present course follows its logical conclusion, is a Europe on the US federal model, with former nation states functioning as if we're Idaho or California. Which are places easily big enough to be independant countries, and none the worse for that, but it isn't our way and we shouldn't be tricked into it.

Hell, we used to have several ancient kingdoms in what are now individual English counties. And they were able to trade internationally even 1000 + years ago.

I get very uneasy when I see the European model attempting to extend its remit far beyond the borders of what could be classified as Europe, countries with a degree of commonality in history and culture. As in even contemplating extending the EU into Turkey and also butting up to the former USSR, which is nothing other than dangerous provocation of Russia which will end very badly, imo.

The overweening ambition, as well as the gravy train of graft, waste and corruption, needs to be smacked down, and smacked down hard.

I would be very pleased to see some unemployed eurocrats sent out to get a proper job.

nuatha

Pollyanna About half the country is with you (and the other half disagree with you) and a few have yet to decide whether they're with or agin you.
Either way there are going to be some people who are deeply dissatisfied with the result, some who'll shrug their shoulders and go "Meh" and a few who won't care.

If leave wins there will be a two year transition period while new arrangements are worked out before we actually leave the EU, so EU foods will still be on the shop shelves. Speculators will ensure the pound either rises or falls on the result - which will depend on which way they've been hedging their bets, not on the referendum result.

My postal vote has just arrived, thankfully free of any graphic suggesting which way my vote should be cast and will be back in the postal system tomorrow.

As for preparations for the result, there's plenty of tea in, I'm low on flour - but will rectify that next week - otherwise stock levels are reasonable.

What I don't expect, despite predictions on either side, is to see news reports of "a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns" or similar and I do expect to see a fair amount of political discord, particularly within the government.

[Deleted User]

I want the REAL facts about leaving or staying in the EU. I don't want what we currently have which is both factions telling the exact same outcome for either option. I don't see that as at all helpful nor do I see the contempt for the intelligence of the British public by both sides thinking that if you shout your message LOUDER each time people will accept or understand it!!! It's making my head ache!

What I really want is the reality of what would happen if we opt to stay in, would our EU fellow members punish us for thinking of leaving? would we be the poor relation if we stayed and have to take what was decided without being able to argue against it or would we be welcomed with open arms, equality and a feeling of relief if we stay? IF we leave will we be ostracised by all the other EU members? would we find ourselves isolated in the world when it came to trade or would we find that things changed very little and that we still have the same access to most markets that we have now? SECURITY is another concern area are we better off with access (presumably) to European information sharing or will they leave us out of the loop if we leave? will we be less secure on our borders or will the fact that we don't have to accept EU citizens and not be bounded by European rulings about migrant resettlement make us safer? NO ONE IS TELLING US THINGS LIKE THAT ARE THEY?

How are we supposed to make such an important choice when there is no real information out there?

nuatha

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

How are we supposed to make such an important choice when there is no real information out there?

The truth is neither side (or anybody else) actually knows.
If we leave there will have to be negotiations with the various possible trading blocks to agree treaties and tariffs, inward investment may or may not change depending on what those investors want and on those negotiations.
If we stay there will be continued development and possible expansion of the EU, the liquidity crisis might topple the Euro, which might devastate all EU economies.
Either way there is a large element on uncertainty, a lot of guesswork and some big egos trying to secure their own future. None of it is actually helpful, and both options are, to a large extent, a leap of faith. All I can suggest is that you vote the way you can be most comfortable with having voted and then make the best of whatever situation we're in after the vote is counted.