Brexit, the economy and house prices part 5

buglawton

Ballard wrote: »

Where are we going to grow the flowers, food and rear livestock to make up for the imports and who’s going to pick/farm them?

Apparently this island is already chockablock full of immigrants.

Somewhere on the 93% of unbuilt-up land in the UK maybe?

But seriously, landowners/farmers do like immigrant labour when it's compared to the the zero applications they get from local non-immigrant incumbents. It helps them turn a profit.

The real issue is that under current rules once the picking season is over, same EU immigrants may well search for other low skill jobs and push those wages down.

buglawton

silverwhistle wrote: »

Here we are on page 551 of a thread I've merely glanced at, but it proves how polarised the arguments have become....

Funny you should say that, I also post elsewhere on a board that allows downvotes as well as up. Many of my comments there attract a couple of ups or a couple of downs. But whenever I make one of my Brexit points in a post I tend to get strong upvotes and downvotes. I think the proportion tends to be 52% up and 48% down

buglawton

ilovehouses wrote: »

Did they predict Germany would win or Germany was the most likely winner? ...

Dunno, but I understand Germany didn't like the result and want a replay.

buglawton

Rinoa wrote: »

Apparently tariffs on flowers under WTO rules will be around 8%.

If I were a flower grower, maybe I should look forward to a 'no deal' scenario.

We need to pinch ourselves and remember: WTO stipulates no mandatory tariffs. It's up to every country in the WTO to decide if they want to impose them up to that maximum (e.g. 8% for flowers), in-between or not at all.

I believe there are some countries that take well below WTO maximum recommended tariffs:
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/least-expensive-countries-to-receive-imports-into.html
'$440 to import a standard 20-foot container of goods into Singapore'
Drat, that economic wunderkind Singapore that the UK ought to be lifting ideas from is at the top again!

Very low tariffs means high confidence in open trade and the ability to raise enough taxes in other ways. Key thing is, a proper Brexit would mean our Parliament once again becomes accountable for our tariffs.

Herzlos

Why are so few UK bought flowers UK grown? Climate or costs?

If it's climate, we're likely to just see reduced consumer choice and increased costs.

Thrugelmir

buglawton wrote: »

Dunno, but I understand Germany didn't like the result and want a replay.

Just want some time to fiddle with the VAR transmission software coding to give a different outcome.

Moby

Arklight wrote: »

As long as they don't have to waddle more than 50 yards in stained track suit bottoms to some form of vendor that will sell them a multipack of sour cream Pringles, I doubt they will really notice.

Surely they'll need as many carbs as they can get to give them the energy needed to plan and organise for our wonderful entrepreneurial future as an independent trading colossus.

Moby

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/lord-ashcroft-brexit-uk-malta-business-move-tory-conservative-theresa-may-a8421276.html

A leading Conservative is urging ambitious British firms to move to Malta after Brexit, triggering criticism that he is selling our country down the river.

Lord Ashcroft, a major party donor and former treasurer, hailed the Mediterranean island as a superb location for UK companies needing an EU base, once withdrawal is completed.

This is how much the governing class care about the average British worker and our EU free future. BS de Piffle Johnson says "F*** business. Party donor and arch brexiteer Ashcroft tells business to F*** Britain.

System

What's wrong with moving to Malta? Why shouldn't Lord ashcroft make money from brexit. This is peak remoaning. We won you lost.

Herzlos

Malta is lovely though.