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Really Mefty - can you explain? given the commons has voted against remaining in it and we will not meet the criteria any more?
Struggling to give two shits any more tbh. I'm at this point just trying to look after my own and looking to limit damage.
I think the point tj is that the commons voted not to add it as an amendment, but that didn't mean they might not try and keep it going otherwise.
I'm just here for the biscuits now though. What do any of us know about what's going to happen?
Given the timescale for negotiations, the list of stuff like Erasmus that they donn't give a toss about, and are no longer going to bother with, is going to be a long one
also curious to hear both mefty & exsee explain how this will work?
or are they just trolling?
How what will work, cougars post? UK still committed to child refugees but it doesn't need to be in the negotiations as a specific item is the UK position I think.
If the government is not prepared to signal that it wants the UK to be involved in Erasmus now, what it decides to do later in the year is mute, because we’d already have frozen ourselves out of it by then.
As regards the Dubs amendment etc, those sticking to the “we don’t have to commit to anything, but that doesn’t mean anything will change” are dancing on the head of a pin. We are dropping commitments so as not to have to honour them. If when you ask yourself why, your genuine answer is “because our government is honourable, so doesn’t need to bind itself with commitments”… ask yourself how people and agencies are supposed to get on with helping people without rules to aid them, just the vague notion that the government will do the right thing.
It feels like we’re back to… “who needs rules, we’re British, and always do the right thing”, ignoring the Kafkaesque holes people can fall between when the law is not set out clearly and they are left to the whims of officials being leant on to hit targets and be deliberately or accidentally obstructive.
They have signalled their intentions on the Erasmus scheme.
Why was my post removed mods?
It simply stated an open opinion. And a valid one too.
Happy to chat about it.
Whoa didn't see all of that first time. You've convinced yourself of a scary scenario.
You were calling people retards on a family forum. It isn't 1980 or the daily mail here mate. Take a break and chill
I've edited the post and reinstated it. If only because the subsequent replies don't make sense otherwise.
They have signalled their intentions on the Erasmus scheme.
Recently? Great! Link?
They have signalled their intentions on the Erasmus scheme.
Indeed they have - and they have indicated they want to drop it
Now please - you have been asked why you are so confident it will continue despite the tories voting against and despite the UK not meeting the requirements and despite no funding in place for it
so please what is your evidence it will continue in the UK
Top work cougar. It's an emotive matter but no excuses, I would like to see the political bigotry squashed a bit too, it is rife on here man
Is this becoming some weird trap, the UK position on Erasmus has not changed because of the vote about a requirement to negotiate, the options that were there last week are still there. TJ you keep making stuff up then asking me to justify it. The government did not vote against continuing with Erasmus yesterday, its position is still to discuss/negotiate Erasmus possibilities or alternatives.
You can’t take away peoples opinion. Political or otherwise.
The literal definition of the word I used is valid, it explains a lot of the underlying thoughts of general public.
If you have read it in a mental health capacity then that’s your problem, probably because you don’t know the literal definition.
You are right, it’s not the 70’s. But we are heading back there, and terminology of that era is returning. I’m not the only one to have recognised the return of words or phrases that seek to demonise or belittle segments of the public.
I’ll make my point simpler, for those who failed to understand it previously:
If they haven’t got what you’ve got, or gain any benefit from it, they see no reason why you should have it.
Thats simple.
Take it to the mods dude ain't my problem.
What is your problem?
Youve been asked to back up some of your statements ^ and we’re sitting waiting for the reply.
The Mods have re-instated my post, it is self explanatory and I’ve even simplified or summarised it for all to see. The word has been taken out, fair point if people choose to apply it to a derogatory word used in the 70’s to explain a mental health issue, but it’s literal definition doesn’t mean that.
But that’s fine. It’s the first time this has ever happened to me and I’m quite vocal on here.
And I’ll just apply the same shrug as the Brexiteers do when I’m challenged about my political stance.
Its not me thats making stuff up. The tories voted against continuing with Erasmus and against letting child refugees be reunited with their families. Thats a simple fact.
There is also the nvconvenient fact that there is no funding for it.
So given those facts why are you so confident it will continue? Remember we will no longer meet the criteria for it without a bill being passed.
Just one little link to someone in the government stating it will continue? One tiny weeny link?
Edit - its not a trap to ask why yu think something will happen when the evidence is against it. So you claim something that allthe evidence I have seen says is wrong - so all we do is ask you what evidence you have? If you have none its simply a baseless assertion
exsee - on the Erasmus site it makes it clear that in the event of " no deal" which is obviously where we are heading then Erasmus will no longer be available for the UK unless laws are passed that makes it possible
I hope exsee is right, and welcome a quote from anyone now in the cabinet saying that it is this* government’s intention for the UK to try and be part of Erasmus, in some capacity. Any capacity! I would like to feed my hope…
[*not May’s government]
The literal definition of the word I used is valid, it explains a lot of the underlying thoughts of general public.
If you have read it in a mental health capacity then that’s your problem, probably because you don’t know the literal definition.
I just looked it up in the Cambridge dictionary. It says, "noun [ C ] offensive". Collins says similar, even Wikipedia lists it as pejorative. So whatever intent you may have had and whatever 'literal' meaning you're prescribing to it, it's likely inappropriate here.
(FWIW, I got a warning for using it a couple of weeks after first joining STW, long before I was a moderator.)
They have signalled their intentions on the Erasmus scheme.
In 2018, EU and UK Government have indicated that for 2019-20, Erasmus will continue. UK Government asked any providers in the UK to register with them, and they would commit to the agreements in place. This was when, under PM May, they were committed to continuing Erasmus, even in the event of a no deal.
We were also told, by UK Govt and National Agency the British Council, that in the event of a no deal, that UK was commited to Erasmus in writing and will continue.
Today marks a big step away from that written, published, thought through and agreed standpoint.
Even if this is purely negotiating headroom, the underlying message is 'we are not commited to it'.
Our EU neighbours hear that message loud and clear. Even if the negotiations this year include Erasmus, it is with less commitment and vigor than before.
Our potential partners in Europe are going to be unwilling to enter into Erasmus project partnerships with UK organisations, in case it comes crashing down and because they don't think our government care about it.
I predict huge drop off in EU student numbers in the UK this September. At great cost to our universities.
I just don't have the trust that exsee does in our Tory overlords.
Bikebuoy, I don't have a problem, if you want special privileges for certain words then take it to the mods,
Tj you're still making stuff up, I'm guessing you've realised the vote wasn't what you claim so now looking to save face by loading the question. I never said it 'will' continue, Matt said it was gone because of the vote yesterday I said it's still on the table as nothing has change so still some hope.
Kelvin. My first Google hit was feweek.co.uk, the eve standard also had a piece but don't think there was a quote from anyone. The vote yesterday was not a yes or no to erasmus
The CETA which still still isn't fully applied AFAIK is between Canada with it's natural resources and Europe with cars, wine, luxury goods... to sell. It's a good fit. The UK on the other had is just an undercutting tax avoidance center with nothing worth having to offer. If I were negotiating there's no way I'd offer CETA.
I just don’t have the trust that exsee does in our Tory overlords.
What really ?
It's not like johnson promised the dup they'd never put a customs border down the irish sea?
Exsee & mefty seem quite happy with vague assertions from the government, despite the experience of Switzerland
The irony of that the Tories claim that they'll use Brexit to boost UK scientific research.!
Today marks a big step away from that written, published, thought through and agreed standpoint.
Even if this is purely negotiating headroom, the underlying message is ‘we are not commited to it’.
Quite. Excee can, quite rightly to their credit, argue that this doesn't absolutely mean we won't continue with the ERASMUS programme post-2020. However, the problem is that it no longer means that we will either.
And it does rather beg the question as to why, what's the end goal here? I mean, even with your favourite "project fear, it's all fine" hat on, at best this just brings more uncertainty and we've seen how well that's worked out for us for the last three or four years. I thought "getting brexit done" was supposed to be doing the opposite of that.
Even if you're sitting there in your Silver Jubilee commemorative boxer shorts going "yay brexit," you would surely be hopelessly naive not to be just the slightest bit sceptical, would you not?
I'd like to add more to my point above about how we should all react to the current underlying political situation and motives.
Its well known in the world of Leadership and Management that 3 key ingredients exist to perform the task of effective Leadership, and I'll quote it:
<b>Honesty</b> and <b>integrity</b> are key ingredients in developing <b>trust</b>. <b>Trust</b> is a key element in establishing credibility.
We have established since 2016, and the recent General Election, that these key ingredients no longer exist and should no longer be a cohesive mantra for Leadership or Management.
The UK has proven that there is a whole new mantra, a complete tear up and disregard for those values and the current political leadership is littered, and documented, with the complete opposite of those ideals.
We now follow the mantra of:
Lies, dishonesty and suspicion.
So, when anything is published by this government and its supporters, oh.. and those that supported Brexit you should apply the new mantra to what they say. Simply because they will apply those "rules" to each and every word they type or write.
We better get used to it, the landscape has changed and it's ok to act in the same manner as they do. It maybe hard, unnerving, alien or totally against your own ethical makeup.. but sure as eggs are indeed eggs (though, they would argue that eggs are not eggs but something else, and not egg shaped or taste of egg) you will be talked to with the new world mantra.
Best get on with adopting the new programme.
The reason the Erasmus thing is important should be really obvious. If you're committed to something, if you intend to do it, there's absolutely no reason to vote down a change that just turns that intention into a requirement to attempt to remain. That last bit's really important- this amendment didn't force the government to keep us in Erasmus+, it only required them to try.
So why vote down something that requires you to try, if you're going to try? What is a commitment to try worth, if on the same day you vote down an amendment that would commit you to try?
The only reason to do that is to free you from even attempting to maintain it. So yes the government have signalled their intentions- with words, which mean nothing, and with actions.
(likewise with child refugees; they claim there is a commitment but they won't allow that commitment to be enshrined in law. Shows exactly how committed that commitment is doesn't it)
All that aside; any brexit without a degree of freedom of movement would make full membership of Erasmus+ impossible. The swiss situation as mentioned already demonstrates that very clearly. (and this has already been explained by the few people in the thread who know anything about Erasmums, and denied by some people who don't)
What is an option instead, is using something very like the swiss interim solution on a permanent basis. That is, we can continue to be 2nd class partner members of Erasmus+ but we lose all of the reciprocity, we have to pay for every student instead, and we lose all of the simplicity and dependability which makes Erasmus+ exchanges such a great option.
And I can say one simple thing about that- my uni sent on average 4 kids a year to Switzerland and received on average the same back, when they were full members. Since the change in 2014, we've sent 1 student to all of the partner institutions combined including Switzerland, and received 2 back. Being a partner nation is sufficiently second class that most people just don't bother. Why deal with the extra hassle and uncertainty to go to Switzerland, when you can go to Germany or France more easily and with total equality?
But the other thing that is frequently overlooked, is that the swiss interim solution only applied to the most visible Erasmus+ benefits, that of student exchanges. But Erasmus is not all about that- it's involved in teaching, research (as, again, mentioned earlier and ignored) and sports. And Switzerland has lost all of those.
There is no cake and eat it option. There's a "No cake but you can have some biscuits, as long as you pay for the biscuits" option.
Lies, dishonesty and suspicion.
The first to understand this are EU27 citizens such as me. And we want our governments to be wary, untrusting and suspicious when negotiating with the UK.
There is no cake and eat it option. There’s a “No cake but you can have some biscuits, as long as you pay for the biscuits” option.
Beautifully put, and the nail on the head. Brace yourself for a "the EU is punishing us!!" narrative incoming in 3... 2...
We want to opt out of everything, but still have it. From beginning to end, brexit has been like ticking the box that says "do not send me marketing emails" and then complaining that all your mates have got discount vouchers and you haven't (and then blaming the company). It's absolutely brain-dead.
Agreed Matt, I would say, it isn't actually a big step from previous statements but the vote could be perceived as such (hence many here having knee jerk reactions to a headline) so an irrelevant vote still causes heavy damage
Cougar, I would say it's all about flexibility in the negotiations because everyone will want to claim they won no matter what. Whether you agree or not with the approach it seems a clear strategy.
Students don't vote Tory.
Next.
yourguitarhero
Member
Students don’t vote Tory.
Parents do.
everyone will want to claim they won no matter what.
That's all the brexiters ever really wanted.
Whether you agree or not with the approach it seems a clear strategy.
Oh, you're absolutely right in that it's a clear strategy. It's just highly unlikely to be the one you seem to think it is.
As for Erasmus, this is an old article but sums up the options well:
The biscuits are going to have to comply with EU standards, I can't see the UK agreeing to that.
https://twitter.com/HouseofCommons/status/1214994760726974464
Comments mostly seem to be saying that it'll be great that the EU isn't telling us what to do whilst simultaneously arguing that the UK has higher standards anyway.
Le sigh, as they say in France.
I'm quite sure it's exactly what I think it is.
I didn't understand the relevance about what brexiters wanted, so what? What's that got to do with the negotiating strategy for the UK?
Awaits the bigots shouting ' but their all Tory scum, we're all heading to a workhouse in 3 , 2 ..
I’m quite sure it’s exactly what I think it is.
Time, as they say, well tell. I sincerely wish I shared your optimism.
I didn’t understand the relevance about what brexiters wanted, so what?
It was a joke, jest, merriment, witticism or punne.
And the negotiating strategy is, excee? Because from where I'm sitting the negotiating strategy seems to be a reluctance to negotiate to the point of declining an extension that would allow sufficient time. Take a look at the years that went into negotiating the CETA, there's now less than a year left, Van de Leyen has proposed an extension and Boris refuses point blank to extend. Crash out with next to no agreement is most probable.
their all Tory scum
I want a T-shirt that says "They're all Tory scum - proud to be a bigot"
Is it actually possible to be bigoted against tories? It's not like they're a persecuted ethnic minority or anything like that.
I mean, I'm probably bigoted against ****s and there's a hefty intersection on the Venn diagram, but still...
exsee
It not me that is making stuff up. The vote not to continue with Erasmus is quite clear as NOrthwind explains very clearly
I note you still have not come up with a single bit of evidence to support your claims so its merely a baseless assertion.
And the negotiating strategy is, excee?
Presumably it's the same logic as refusing to rule out 'no deal' brexit. It's like negotiating a divorce by holding a gun to your head and screaming "if I can't keep the TV, I'll pull the trigger, I will, just watch me!"
Does anyone really believe that threatening to burn workers' rights etc is a valid negotiating tactic? What's to stop the EU27 going "eh, off you go then, c'est la vie"? Why would they care what we do to our own populace after we've left?
Sure, there's the small matter of EU27 migrants working in the UK, but at the rate we're going they'll all have buggered off by then anyway.
The vote not to continue with Erasmus is quite clear as NOrthwind explains very clearly
It's not a vote not to continue with it. It's quite easy to see how they might want to remove obligations to give themselves as much flexibility as possible. It's how I'd expect them to work.
You're not exactly correct, so you might as well drop the aggressive line of questioning, simply express your scpeticism and leave it there.
What’s to stop the EU27 going “eh, off you go then, c’est la vie”? Why would they care what we do to our own populace after we’ve left?
Because by slashing worker protection we can make our exports cheaper, which means we'll have a competitive edge - they are our competitors now. It's in their interests to prevent us gaining an advantage.
Yup. The EU totally knows that we're going to out-negotiate a conglomeration of 27 other countries over export trade deals post-brexit (on WTO if we're lucky). German jam factories must be shitting themselves.
molgrips
Subscriber
It’s not a vote not to continue with it. It’s quite easy to see how they might want to remove obligations
The only obligation that the amendment would have put on them was to try. There was no obligation to actually deliver. And yes it is very easy to see why they'd want to remove the obligation just to make the attempt.
It’s how I’d expect them to work.
Me too.
Because by slashing worker protection we can make our exports cheaper, which means we’ll have a competitive edge – they are our competitors now. It’s in their interests to prevent us gaining an advantage
But don't the UK have to have worker's rights in line with EU rules in order to play in the EU markets?
The vote is a very clear signal they have zero intention of continuing with Erasmus. they are not even going to try. We will not meet the conditions for it without legislation
Its also perfectly clear that Johnson wants no deal. He is putting false barriers in the way of getting a deal.
Tory parents eat their young
But don’t the UK have to have worker’s rights in line with EU rules in order to play in the EU markets?
Yes - hence we are heading for "no deal"
But don’t the UK have to have worker’s rights in line with EU rules in order to play in the EU markets?
Yes but we are competing with them to sell stuff to the rest of the world.
Such as things other EU countries do better than the UK and at lower costs due to the weaker pound.
What does the UK produce other than marmite that the rest of the world needs as opposed to wants. It seems to me that much of UK goods are high end things that nobody needs.
Seems to be a massive paradox/schroedingers trade deal! In order to close a free trade deal with the EU we will have to maintain all current levels of standards and stay closely aligned in future. To get a free trade deal with the US we will have to agree to lower standards and distance ourselves from EU rules and regs. Not sure how we are going to square that circle.
We haven't agreed any trade deal based on workers rights yet? The more we diverge the further apart we will be, the more we align the simpler things get but if we agree to legally align before we start then the negotiation doesn't become easier. CETA workers rights are a bit vague I believe so it's not all black and white.
Nobody has voted or suggested the burning of workers rights (unless you believe Bonners and tj which I struggle to imagine)
Nobody has voted or suggested the burning of workers rights
... they've just made it possible, is all. Nothing to worry about, I'm sure they all have our best interests at heart. Project fear.
Nobody has voted or suggested the burning of workers rights
Yes they have - all of them. Bonfire of red tape? Not going to remain in alignment with the EU?
I suggest you need to actually read up on it a bit and open your eyes. Its been the main aim right from the beggining. many many public statements from Johnson. Rees Mogg, etc over many years. Just one example here
Exsee
Its about as clear a signal that they intend to do away with Erasmus as is possible. No we haven't pulled out yet. Will we still be in it next year? No. completely impossible to remain in it given Johnsons positions and the fact no budget is allocated for it.
Have a read of the Erasmus site - it makes it very clear that given Johnsons positions then remaining in Erasmus is impossible
Workers rights
No the vote on Erasmus wasn't a clear signal of anything much at all, nothings changed so still hope just as before. Not great but that's the way it is.
Did you read your article from the London economic? The only quote in there is the actual government policy.
many many public statements from Johnson
Since when do Johnson's statements indicate what he wants to do? All they indicate is what he wants us to hear. He'll say whatever wins him support. Time will tell, but I don't think you can take ANYTHING he says at face value.
What does the UK produce other than marmite that the rest of the world needs as opposed to wants. It seems to me that much of UK goods are high end things that nobody needs.
All sorts of things. Take cars for example. Sure, selling to the EU is going to be more expensive because of tariffs, and buying our parts will be too. But if our labour costs come down, then that could offset the cost of tariffs on parts and we could then sell cars more cheaply to the rest of the world than a factory in the EU.
What Boris Johnson? he'd never lie
Cars are a bad example, Molgrips, the UK will always be high cost compared with eastern Europe; countries that weren't in the EU when the Japanesse chose the UK to gain a foothold in EU. The Japanese have already made their position on a hard Brexit clear and beyond the investments they've already made for current platforms they won't be throwing any more money at the UK.
But if our labour costs come down, then that could offset the cost of tariffs on parts and we could then sell cars more cheaply to the rest of the world than a factory in the EU.
Labour costs will come down through automation (loss of jobs) or lower wages as far as I can see. none of them great for the workers.
But if our labour costs come down, then that could offset the cost of tariffs on parts and we could then sell cars more cheaply to the rest of the world than a factory in the EU.
You are lyingblohard and I'd like my £5 paid in €5 because once the UK's workforce are asked to work longer for less, and whole tranches of workers have been laid off you will indeed have a cheap workforce and one back on strike for equal wages and working time practices like we currently enjoy being in the EU.
But carry on ruining UK manufacturing.
Jeeze, there are some proper weirdos in the forum.
Seems to be a massive paradox/schroedingers trade deal! In order to close a free trade deal with the EU we will have to maintain all current levels of standards and stay closely aligned in future. To get a free trade deal with the US we will have to agree to lower standards and distance ourselves from EU rules and regs. Not sure how we are going to square that circle.
Mmmm well they were banging on about high-tech solutions for borders perhaps they’ve cracked it with an alternative reality generator 🙂
Your right and the amazing speed that they intended to do this whilst deviating from everything with the fantasy of becoming Singapore on Thames.
Denying intelligent young people the opportunity to study abroad and experience foreign cultures in the flesh doesn't seem at odds with a lot of the motivations behind Brexit anyway.
Resentment and mistrust of intelligence? Check.
Resentment of youth? Check.
Fear of anything 'foreign'? Check.
Dovetails quite nicely and will go down well with the luddite thickos.
You are lyingblohard and I’d like my £5 paid in €5 because once the UK’s workforce are asked to work longer for less, and whole tranches of workers have been laid off you will indeed have a cheap workforce and one back on strike for equal wages and working time practices like we currently enjoy being in the EU.
But carry on ruining UK manufacturing.
Jeeze, there are some proper weirdos in the forum.
Mate, pay attention. I'm not saying I want any of that to happen or that it will be a good thing. Someone asked why the EU would care about what we do to our workforce, I gave an example why. Ok so the car example is bad, but point stands - if our labour costs go down then we could in theory take market share from them exporting to RoW but to be clear - I do not want this to happen. I would like the UK to be high value high skill manufacturing based not a bargain basement. I am also an arch remainer.
Point of note, the UK's biggest export industry is services, not manufacturing.
Seems to be a massive paradox/schroedingers trade deal! In order to close a free trade deal with the EU we will have to maintain all current levels of standards and stay closely aligned in future. To get a free trade deal with the US we will have to agree to lower standards and distance ourselves from EU rules and regs. Not sure how we are going to square that circle.
Which is why it is a stupid bloody idea.
But this was never about sense or fairness or addressing wrongs that ought to be righted.
It was about people's worst instincts being pandered to by a bunch of people who stand to make a fortune one way or another and to hell with the consequences.
The greatest heist in history.
Mate, pay attention
I did, thats why I quoted your post.
Nice to see you've clarified your own position though, should have done that much sooner in the thread... save all the angst and missives thrown your way.
I thought I'd made it abundantly clear!
As I said before my position now is tending towards European Federalism. **** nationalism.
To be fair, at almost two thousand pages on this thread now, Mol's position has been pretty clear to anyone who's read more than two of them.
molgrips
Subscriber
Take cars for example. Sure, selling to the EU is going to be more expensive because of tariffs, and buying our parts will be too. But if our labour costs come down, then that could offset the cost of tariffs on parts and we could then sell cars more cheaply to the rest of the world than a factory in the EU.
Nah. The impact of labour costs on final item costs is so low that you could do it all with slave labour and it still wouldn't compensate for even a fairly minor tariff.
I really don't know why we are still arguing about this. The arseholes have won this round. Lets wait for the UK to decline into a **** hole and then we can start rebuilding a sensible nation. TBH as gutted and disappointed as I am, I think this needed to happen. Lets hope that it only takes 2-5 years to **** it up and then next parliament we elect a party that supports federalism, PR and political responsibility punishable by long prison sentences.
Hence my policy is now: lets support the Tory ****s and help them usher in their shite asap so we can get on with the ruining of the country post haste The sooner we can start a sensible rebuild rapidly after.