Yep, if the referendum had been done even remotely close to properly - advisory unless there was a clear majority, with a secondary choice of the seven(?) main relationships up front, etc - it would have been much less of a disaster for both UK and the EU, and the climate would be significantly less divisive.


If I was Scotland I'd be in talks about breaking away to form a United Republic of Great Ireland and Northern Britain. :)

Just as many British are extremely fed up about it. Within two weeks, the damage caused by sclerotic border controls, rules of origin, veterinary SPS delays are fast becoming apparent. Dr. Richard North's blogs on TurbulentTimes (google it) are very enlightening. Though a Brexiter (uniquely one who had a plan), as a trade expert with decades of experience his devastating critiques of what's happening on the ground are delivered with pin-point accuracy and backed up by links to the EU directives concerned.

Yeah, it's rough. That blog https://www.turbulenttimes.co.uk/ is piercing.
Growing up in the 1960s and entering the workplace in the early 1970s, there was an employee in every company called a Customs Clearance Clerk. We Were not part of the EEC (European Economic Community, as it was then) duty had to be paid on everything. His place in the Pecking Order was just below management. He was advised of what was expected, prepared the paperwork, cultivated relationships with customs guys, pressed exporters for paperwork, knew the multi-various duty rates, arranged payments for duty, and basically handled all the messing. In Ireland, he could save a day waiting in customs by getting an early clearance. He was consulted when any "Christmas List" was drawn up, to sweeten important officials. The position was made extinct in time by the Common Market.

It looks like Britain needs a raft of Customs Clearance Clerks.

From https://www.turbulenttimes.co.uk/new...nce-all-round/


This is why I started this thread. After 33 posts, we're finally getting to the point. I could see this coming, just like I could see a (still future) response by the public in the form of a violent (metaphorical) kick where the sun doesn't shine. Thank You, EuanT.

I'm actually English (mostly) and grew up in the midlands, which is reckoned to have a significant Frisian influence so that might work for me. :) After a decade north of the border I'm biased towards keeping that border open, but I've thought for years that the UK government is out of touch with most of England, let alone Scotland, so I'm still fairly sympathetic to the idea of independence from Westminster. I wonder if the EU would be any better for Scotland in the long term (or if an independent SNP would be any better for anyone, but that's another story). My own preference would be a more hands-off UK government with most decisions made by the individual nations, maybe in a similarly hands-off EU.

I don't disagree with that, but the proper way would have been to have the referendum before entering the EU instead of 24 years later. There were calls for a referendum at the time but Mr Major was sure he knew better. The more Euroskeptic subjects were left with a feeling of being dragged along regardless, which was made worse by the handling of the Lisbon treaty. I wonder if that was how the 18th century Scots felt when their parliament tried to improve the economy by agreeing the Treaty of Union.