General Chat

That'll be a vote winner with employers...not!

For businesses that must stay open 7 days each week especially those who operate 24/7 their wage bill be hiked by paying double time for cover on the new Bank Holidays too.

4 rainy days guaranteed.

Exactly Dermot!

Supermarkets do not pay extra for working bank holidays or Sundays.
A lot of people eg building trades. I.t., work self employed and ignore b.h. Or would lose money. Another example of the cluelessness of Corbyn.
If St Georges day etc to be Bh then they would have to add Eid, Jewish new year and so on. A better idea would be to stop the overcharging in February July and August for family holidays.

Despite the glee of the right wing press they may be a bit forward predicting a landslide esp if the Tories threaten increased tax and cut freebies for the old. Scotland will remain a nogo zone for English parties while the LibDems are resurgent in the SWest. Labour are already close to bedrock and unlikely to lose more than 50 seats. Imp her maj from 16 to around 40 may not change much for May.

Whatever the Jun 8 result the EU has said forcefully that it makes no difference to brexit. Indeed the EU is hardening its position.

Just for openers.

1. Irish border to be sorted. Dublin ready to veto if not.
2. GIB.
3. Permanent res rights for EU residents Inc immediate family. 58 page form to be scrapped.
4. €60bn leaving fee to be sorted before any trade talks.

If things should get that far any interim extension would be under full EU rules Inc Fom and Ecj.

Fwiw the UK is not a current WTO member. In any case it is not tariffs but jit cystoms clearance and product / service equivalence which matter. By abandoning the Single Market and Customs Union May is heading for disaster. Whatever the size of her Commons maj it will change nothing.

France starts its annual close down with two bank holidays in May and the Grand Départ 14 July. Work starts again early Sep. Shops and tourism would die without it.

Doubt if May has taken account of the impact of long continental hols and Elections on brexit!

I look forward to re-reading this thread after the election results are published.

Tony Blair has called on voters not to elect candidates who "back Brexit at any cost" on 8 June, regardless of which party they represent.

One of the few sensible things the man has ever said....!

Tony Blair should keep quiet.

Finger on the pulse as usual then.....Brexit is here like it or lump it.

It is said that it takes two to tango.
Brexit on May's current trajectory is not going to happen Merkel won't dance.
Even including the leavers & regretters 80% of the electorate don't want to try out over the cliff.

So we have the immovable object ( Merkel and the 27 500M people) v UK solo irresistable force 60M people. UK has 60% of foreign earnings dependent on EU trade treaties, the 27 UK trade is 10%.

Pretty obvious that Merkel will blink then. Faced with the massed ranks of nearly all the English press it's obvious innit. Especially as they don't just tell you how to vote they scream and shout and stamp their feet before labelling dissenters as traitors and enemies of the people.

William Brown and the Outlaws would have had none if it.
He would have admired Violet Bott in leapard look shoes though.

Of course you should include in your equation who will be running Germany after their next election, when is that due if it all runs to terms? Merkel may not win that if she runs again. There are so many unknowns as we've said before.

It's this year just googled it !

After a dip Merkel is well placed to be reelected.
Her opponents in any case are all far more hardline on brexit than Merkel herself.

But never say never, a lot can happen in a few months....

So it can, so it can.

Which straws in the offshore wind are blowing May's way?
Do the brexit crowd have a plan b in case le Pen doesn't make it to the Elysee?

I'm sure they can always ask an expert if need be.

ROFLH

Roll on 7 May.
As it happens 8 May is a holiday in France commemorating the end of ww2 and an end to a Europe built on hate and petty nationalism.
Macron will be a serious road block to the plans of UK brexiters. He will play nice though as he speaks excellent English.

Oh sorry my ref to an expert was tongue in cheek just in case.....