Originally posted by milanbenes
- Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
- Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!
Oh dear (tm) Blair's EU deal...
Collapse
X
-
Let us not forget EU open doors immigration benefits IT contractors more than anyone -
"So you are an ardent supporter of protectionism then Milan?",
not really DA,
however, opening your market to products from countries where the competing suppliers do not have the same fixed costs as in your country is not really a level playing field is it ?
Let's put this in simple terms, manufacturing a widget in the UK will cost x where x includes the cost of health and safety provision and compliance, the cost of pension provision (for example), Employers and Employees social security contributions, Corporate and Employee tax constributions and other costs
Manufacturing the same widget in Africa or China will cost a fraction of x because the companies are not subject to the same levels of costs related to health and safety provision and compliance, the cost of pension provision (for example), Employers and Employees social security contributions, Corporate and Employee tax constributions etc
are you beginning to see where this is leading ?
the only way to open up the markets is also to remove the associated costs that local businesses have and make everything level
otherwise the only result of opening up the UK and European markets will be the demise of the livelihoods of the inhabitants of those regions
Anyway, doesn't matter does it, you don't get this, neither of us have the power to change the situation and the most we can do is do the best for our families in light of everything
Milan.Comment
-
Originally posted by wendigo100Here's the "deal". Blair gives the EU a extra billion of UK taxpayers' money, and in return, the rest of the EU will "review" CAP and the rest of the budget in three years time. Chirac won't have slept last night for laughing.
Deal moves EU forward, says Blair
What a weak, incompetent w**ker.
FungusComment
-
Originally posted by FungusI want our fish back ...
FungusComment
-
Originally posted by wendigo100Here's the "deal". Blair gives the EU a extra billion of UK taxpayers' money, and in return, the rest of the EU will "review" CAP and the rest of the budget in three years time. Chirac won't have slept last night for laughing.
Deal moves EU forward, says Blair
What a weak, incompetent w**ker.
He reminds me so much of some geek kid rushing up to the playground bullies and offering them sweets and money in a pitiful attempt to be liked and gain their respect, only to be inevitably duffed up yet again with their laughter ringing in his ears.Work in the public sector? Read the IR35 FAQ hereComment
-
Originally posted by DodgyAgent...After all they are free to and work in Estoia. ....
Comment
-
Originally posted by OwlHootGod how they must all despise the vain self-important weakling! Obviously he got so wrapped up in all his "big boy politicking" behind the scenes, and obsessed with some arbitrary deadline that no one outside EU officialdom gives a toss about, that he completely lost sight of the big picture which was that he could just say "feck 'em" and walk away!
He reminds me so much of some geek kid rushing up to the playground bullies and offering them sweets and money in a pitiful attempt to be liked and gain their respect, only to be inevitably duffed up yet again with their laughter ringing in his ears.Comment
-
The Times leader
A costly climbdown
Originally posted by The Times Comment...(snip)
As with all Mr Blair’s deals, there are two problems. The first is the deal itself; the second is the way he got to it. Taken together, the two add up to incompetence on a grand scale.
Three years ago Mr Blair allowed himself to be ambushed by Messrs Chirac and Schröder, the then German chancellor, over the common agricultural policy budget for the period to 2013. Since French farmers receive 22% of CAP handouts, France was understandably keen on the deal which it regarded as set in concrete. Why then did the prime minister allow himself, and British taxpayers, to believe that agreement could be reopened in return for a surrender of part of Britain’s historic EU rebate? Why did he tell business leaders at the CBI conference three weeks ago that the rebate would remain as long as “distortions of expenditure under the CAP” were unreformed?
Nobody would argue with Mr Blair’s sentiments about the wasteful and anachronistic CAP, which is inflicting damage well beyond Europe’s shores. World Trade Organisation talks in Hong Kong are on the brink of collapse because of the inability of Peter Mandelson, the EU trade commissioner, to give ground on agriculture. But why did the prime minister hold out the hope of a rebate-for-CAP reform deal when there was no prospect of him securing it? He is just not that good a negotiator.
The prime minister’s second error was alienating the new EU members in eastern Europe with his pre-summit proposal that spending on them, rather than the CAP, be cut. Yesterday Mr Blair insisted: “We can’t ask the poorer countries of central and eastern Europe to pay the rebate on British spending because that would obviously be wrong.” So why did he first propose a plan that was clearly against their interests? As it is, many fear that new EU spending will go on grandiose projects rather than fostering enterprise and economic independence. Does it really serve our interests for Budapest to have a better Underground system than London, paid for by British taxpayers?
Britain will pay more into the EU, our net contribution rising from £3.5 billion to nearly £6 billion a year. The British rebate has been shaved by £1 billion a year. And for what? Next to nothing. It would have been better for Mr Blair to walk away than agree this deal. He, however, was anxious not be seen as an EU wrecker — that would not be good for his so called “legacy”. Next door in 11 Downing Street, as he watches the prime minister negotiating away Britain’s interests, Gordon Brown is fuming. He is right to be.Comment
-
Originally posted by stackpoleThe BBC seem quite laid back about it, but Blair's getting a big bashing in Have Your Say.
The Sun has a bit of a go though: TONY Blair gambled £7billion of YOUR money last night on an EU budget bet that will win Britain NOTHING.
He's caved in for personal reasons - to curry favour with Europe - but it's ironic that the Europeans think he's a wnaker as well.
Well now they know he is an idiot as well. That is of course being charitable. Some commentators have been saying that he wants his 'legacy'. Well Hubris might do as well.
France have in effect weakened the rebate we get from Europe in return for absolute zippo, nadda, not a bean. A review may very well be held. But I don't give it a snowflakes chance in a very hot place for finding that French farmers get too big a slice of the action. France is hardly in the same league economically as countries such as Latvia, Lithuania or any other country that entered the EU recently.Comment
-
Quite a cutting article by Simon Jenkins in the Times.
Blair signed the 2002 CAP reform to last until 2013. This promised farmers continued EU subsidy to roughly 40% of the total budget. He personally agreed this lunacy. He signed it. It was his Munich. Like Neville Chamberlain he thought he could somehow bluff his way through the short term and leave the long term to worry for itself. At least this time the Czechs and Poles were beneficiaries of his appeasement.
As Blair’s “legacy moment” approached this autumn, the 2002 deal came to haunt him. Finally, and in clear desperation, he starting throwing British money across the Danube. On Friday night he was forced, in effect, to surrender his chairmanship to Angela Merkel, the new German leader, to broker a final deal.
The CAP, and France as its great beneficiary, remains supreme. European farming and finance are unreformed and Europe’s trade practices stand condemned before the World Trade Organisation. Blair offered Chirac a glass jaw to punch. Punched it was.Comment
- Home
- News & Features
- First Timers
- IR35 / S660 / BN66
- Employee Benefit Trusts
- Agency Workers Regulations
- MSC Legislation
- Limited Companies
- Dividends
- Umbrella Company
- VAT / Flat Rate VAT
- Job News & Guides
- Money News & Guides
- Guide to Contracts
- Successful Contracting
- Contracting Overseas
- Contractor Calculators
- MVL
- Contractor Expenses
Advertisers
Contractor Services
CUK News
- Streamline Your Retirement with iSIPP: A Solution for Contractor Pensions Sep 1 09:13
- Making the most of pension lump sums: overview for contractors Sep 1 08:36
- Umbrella company tribunal cases are opening up; are your wages subject to unlawful deductions, too? Aug 31 08:38
- Contractors, relabelling 'labour' as 'services' to appear 'fully contracted out' won't dupe IR35 inspectors Aug 31 08:30
- How often does HMRC check tax returns? Aug 30 08:27
- Work-life balance as an IT contractor: 5 top tips from a tech recruiter Aug 30 08:20
- Autumn Statement 2023 tipped to prioritise mental health, in a boost for UK workplaces Aug 29 08:33
- Final reminder for contractors to respond to the umbrella consultation (closing today) Aug 29 08:09
- Top 5 most in demand cyber security contract roles Aug 25 08:38
- Changes to the right to request flexible working are incoming, but how will contractors be affected? Aug 24 08:25
Comment