Forum Topic

Another Brexit benefit?

Another Brexit benefit! "Brexit border IT outages delay import of perishable items to UK by up to 20 hours". You'd think if NASA can remotely fix Voyager-1's computer at a distance of several billion miles and repair one of Hubble's gyroscopes while it's in Earth's orbit even our incompetent government could get a terrestrial system working after several year's notice ...https://www.theguardian.com/business/article/2024/may/15/brexit-border-it-outages-delay-import-of-perishable-items-to-uk-by-up-to-20-hours

Michael Ixer ● 406d16 Comments

But what does the EU actually stand for today?Would you really want to be associated with such a flag?Unfortunately I think many reminders are stuck in the past and have not kept up with the latest situation.

Ed Robinson ● 396d

Just claim it's a council of Europe flag.The UK is a founder member of that organisation so its legitimate to fly that. Aren't the flags more or less the same?

Michael Ixer ● 396d

My goodness, that is beyond ridiculous!!I would be tempted to put it on an outside wall!

Ivonne Holliday ● 396d

The Scottish government flies EU flags all over the place.  And the new £28mn Perth Museum, part funded by the EU, has their flag symbols all over the place.

Jonathan Callaway ● 396d

And yet another Brexit benefit to celebrate! Admittedly it's scraping the bottom of a barrel that's already been vigorously and mostly in vain, but here goes. Oxford City Council have warned a resident, a firmer MEP no less, that following post-Brexit legislation, the EU flag she has been flying in her garden requires planning consent, and until or unless it is given she must take the flag down. Oh, those wonderful Brexity freedoms!https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-69050230.amp

Richard Carter ● 396d

Some of this is just nonsense from both sides.Unlike the UK, Gibraltar was never part of the EU customs union. It's always had a hard border.Pre-Brexit, Heathrow had EU and nonEU exits when it should have had EU customs Union and others. The UK couldn't deal with the complexities of the EU even then so no surprise now!Anyone that has been to Gibraltar knows the Spanish and Gibraltar customs officers and only yards apart. Both very polite and helpful in my experience.Spain only had to check passports properly and the whole border would come to a stand still. Although it is a hard border the expectations from those crossing it are that it is a soft border.The sticking point is the airport that provides dual civil and military use, but then again UK overseas military airbases are probably not what you want to discuss :)

Ed Robinson ● 399d

That's true for many MPs who are just sheep, Ed, but Rees Mogg was one of the instigators of the so called "European Research Group" who were pushing for Brexit.

Michael Ixer ● 399d

Why would they???????????is no surprise that this country is going down the drain. Were they also told to vote in favour of discharging sewage in the rivers and seas? No common sense or dignity anywhere??????

Ivonne Holliday ● 399d

Why would they?Many MP's later claimed ignorance when they voted for various wars. Most do what they are told.

Ed Robinson ● 399d

And even some senior Brexiteers don't seem to have understood what they were voting for and the issues they could cause ...https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/news/jacob-rees-mogg-sparks-diplomatic-war-of-words-over-gibraltar-comments-375237/

Michael Ixer ● 399d

< ... I've come across ... >

Michael Ixer ● 405d

Ed, automation may be the only solution. This seems one of the better application of AI. This is the Autopickr website. They are a small team and they have the best Head of HR of come across in my time in IT (it's worth looking at how small their team is).https://www.autopickr.com/

Michael Ixer ● 405d

Successive governments of all colours have turned a blind eye to farm workers being abused, be it minimum wage enforcement or working/living conditions -  automation seems very sensible way forward.

Ed Robinson ● 405d

Yes, Ed, the English asparagus is delicious - and some of it's being harvested by Gus, the robotic picker, because of the labour shortage … https://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/autopickr-presents-gus-its-adaptable-asparagus-harvester-reap

Michael Ixer ● 405d

Exports would be more worrying.If you can it's normally greener to buy local.I'm not sure what specific goods a 20 hour delay would have such an impact that they were no longer suitable for the shelves.Anyway a reminder it is British asparagus season :)

Ed Robinson ● 405d

Most certainly! GrrrrIt really is embarrassing!  No back up in place, at the very least?

Ivonne Holliday ● 405d