Britain ordered to pay £1.7bn by Europe

[muz379]

Thanks, I see.

However, I don't think that the UK would have been alone in feeling the effects of the economic slow down for rather longer than Q3 2009 though.

arguably I think its the time before the technical recession like 2007 is when the economic situation was really getting bad , that was the time when Northern Rock ended up all messed up

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Are we anywhere near a general strike ? Is the red light on your socialist threat warning board in the third reception room flashing ?

I am totally and utterly amazed that my posting comment referring to the 1970's style rhetoric used by a newly appointed leader of a transport union (who obviously wanted to carry on the same rhetoric so beloved by his late predecessor) should be used by you as asking about a general strike.....hock:

 

[muz379]

I am totally and utterly amazed that my posting comment referring to the 1970's style rhetoric used by a newly appointed leader of a transport union (who obviously wanted to carry on the same rhetoric so beloved by his late predecessor) should be used by you as asking about a general strike.....hock:

Dont see whats amazing about that to be honest

Your talking as if the unions are taking the country back to a bygone era when massive strikes where more regular

 

[ExRes]

Dont see whats amazing about that to be honest

Your talking as if the unions are taking the country back to a bygone era when massive strikes where more regular

I would have thought that the OP mentioned one single union leader, even the comments of the RMT are hardly the basis for a general strike

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I would have thought that the OP mentioned one single union leader, even the comments of the RMT are hardly the basis for a general strike

Well, I am glad that someone was able to read my posting correctly as I only made mention of one newly-appointed union leader and of the rhetoric that he used in his statement.

There was absolutely no mention of the word "unions" (this signifies plurality and not singularity) in my posting in which I seem to be accused of by someone who seems not to be averse to blowing this matter out of all recognition to suit his own particular ends upon this thread, let alone not being able to comprehend the difference between singularity and plurality.

 

[ExRes]

Meanwhile, catching up on todays papers, not the Daily Mail for those of you with single track 'minds', the UK contribution to the EU have doubled in the past 5 years partly due to good old Blair and his decision to cut Britain's rebate from the EU. Net contribution last year was £8.6bn up from £4.3bn in 2009, the major cause was the decision by Blair to agree a 7% cut in the rebate

Oh yes, the rebate was secured by Maggie Thatcher in 1984, the Financial Times figures show that the rebate is down £2.1bn since 2009 and total payments by the UK to the EU are up to £17.2bn from £14.1bn

Try blaming that one on the current government, even the loony leftists on here can't argue which party was in charge, I use the word charge loosely, in 2009

 

[muz379]

Meanwhile, catching up on todays papers, not the Daily Mail for those of you with single track 'minds', the UK contribution to the EU have doubled in the past 5 years partly due to good old Blair and his decision to cut Britain's rebate from the EU. Net contribution last year was £8.6bn up from £4.3bn in 2009, the major cause was the decision by Blair to agree a 7% cut in the rebate

Oh yes, the rebate was secured by Maggie Thatcher in 1984, the Financial Times figures show that the rebate is down £2.1bn since 2009 and total payments by the UK to the EU are up to £17.2bn from £14.1bn

Try blaming that one on the current government, even the loony leftists on here can't argue which party was in charge, I use the word charge loosely, in 2009

The labour government wasn't even left by any stretch of anybodies imagination .
But that aside

If this was such a travesty brought about by the labour government how come this government haven't reversed the policy ?

Have you got a source for these facts anyway Id quite like to see how and why they have been arrived at

I would have thought that the OP mentioned one single union leader, even the comments of the RMT are hardly the basis for a general strike

Well, I am glad that someone was able to read my posting correctly as I only made mention of one newly-appointed union leader and of the rhetoric that he used in his statement.

There was absolutely no mention of the word "unions" (this signifies plurality and not singularity) in my posting in which I seem to be accused of by someone who seems not to be averse to blowing this matter out of all recognition to suit his own particular ends upon this thread, let alone not being able to comprehend the difference between singularity and plurality.

Paul to be quite honest I am not suprised at what you say , you make it quiet clear you dont like the RMT which you are of course perfectly entitled to do . However come on referencing the 1970's which is not even relevant anymore is a bit silly for someone who usually puts together sensible arguments .

In the socialist styling of unions in the 1970's what was said by one Union leader was echoed with support from all the others . There was stronger union support accross the board amongst all workers generally . Times change .

 

[ExRes]

The labour government wasn't even left by any stretch of anybodies imagination .
But that aside

If this was such a travesty brought about by the labour government how come this government haven't reversed the policy ?

Did I say the Labour government were left ?, I don't think I did, I said the loony leftists on here

After Blair signed away our rebate to the EU how would you suggest that the present, or any other, government would be able to reverse it, ask nicely for it back ?, I'm sure your explanation would be listened to with great interest by both the UK government and our dear EU friends

 

[muz379]

Did I say the Labour government were left ?, I don't think I did, I said the loony leftists on here

After Blair signed away our rebate to the EU how would you suggest that the present, or any other, government would be able to reverse it, ask nicely for it back ?, I'm sure your explanation would be listened to with great interest by both the UK government and our dear EU friends

Ahh my mistake , Are all leftists loon or just the ones on here ?

The same way thatcher managed to secure the rebate in the first place - Negotiation . The problem is we want our cake and to eat it . We dont want to take anything to the negotiating table so of course we wont be able to secure anything good .

Cameron Seems to be under some sort of impression that he is going to be able to negotiate on something as fundamental to the EU as free movement of workers so Im sure he could figure something equally as nonsensical out for our rebate

The thing Is whilst I understand it might not be possible to get it back you dont even hear cameron speaking about trying to get back our rebate which I would at least have some respect for .Mind you granted you do hear him talking about impossible plans to limit the free movement of workers whilst retaining all of the benefits we get out of EU membership . You have to give him a gold star for effort

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Paul to be quite honest I am not suprised at what you say , you make it quiet clear you dont like the RMT which you are of course perfectly entitled to do . However come on referencing the 1970's which is not even relevant anymore is a bit silly for someone who usually puts together sensible arguments .

In the socialist styling of unions in the 1970's what was said by one Union leader was echoed with support from all the others . There was stronger union support accross the board amongst all workers generally . Times change .

I think you may be confusing matters somewhat, so I will endeavour to put my views in print upon this matter. I have full comprehension of how much the workforce view the necessity for RMT and ASLEF to represent them. It is just the arcane socialist wording used by a union leader which harks back to a period of over 40 years ago and has no place in the year 2014. That was the point that I endeavoured to make, as it is surely better for union leaders to appear to be modern thinking in the way that they address matters in terms of statement making.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Meanwhile, catching up on todays papers, not the Daily Mail for those of you with single track 'minds', the UK contribution to the EU have doubled in the past 5 years partly due to good old Blair and his decision to cut Britain's rebate from the EU. Net contribution last year was £8.6bn up from £4.3bn in 2009, the major cause was the decision by Blair to agree a 7% cut in the rebate

I think some more explanation is in order here, as the figures you're giving do not make any sense.

You say that Tony Blair agreed a 7% cut in the rebate. A rebate, by definition, must be less than the total amount paid - so a 7% cut in the rebate would make a difference in the UK's total contribution of less than 7%. So it cannot possibly be the major cause of a >100% increase in contributions!

 

[ExRes]

I think some more explanation is in order here, as the figures you're giving do not make any sense.

You say that Tony Blair agreed a 7% cut in the rebate. A rebate, by definition, must be less than the total amount paid - so a 7% cut in the rebate would make a difference in the UK's total contribution of less than 7%. So it cannot possibly be the major cause of a >100% increase in contributions!

You will, presumably, need an explanation from the Financial Times then, the figures are not mine so I'm unable to assist

 

[Oswyntail]

....Cameron Seems to be under some sort of impression that he is going to be able to negotiate on something as fundamental to the EU as free movement of workers so Im sure he could figure something equally as nonsensical out for our rebate ....

If there is a sound reason for changing the fundamentals of an organisation, and this can be achieved in a way that benefits all members, it is "nonsensical" not to attempt to negotiate those changes.

 

[Busaholic]

Did anyone else see Ken Clarke's barbed question to the P.M. in the House on Wednesday which basically said Osborne and the Treasury (Ozzie's new band?) had been sitting on this 'news' for five MONTHS. Clarke may not be the most unprejudiced on European matters, but I bet he's right on that.

 

[Johnuk123]

Did anyone else see Ken Clarke's barbed question to the P.M. in the House on Wednesday which basically said Osborne and the Treasury (Ozzie's new band?) had been sitting on this 'news' for five MONTHS. Clarke may not be the most unprejudiced on European matters, but I bet he's right on that.

He probably is right, and he's certainly not unprejudiced.

 

[muz379]

If there is a sound reason for changing the fundamentals of an organisation, and this can be achieved in a way that benefits all members, it is "nonsensical" not to attempt to negotiate those changes.

come and find me when he has had some success in his negotiations then