Brexit has well and truly begun!

[Carana]

I wonder if this was behind the recent headlines that the UK would initially just wave freight through? They still haven't been able to recruit the 1000 or so extra border staff needed as no one knows where they'll be needed.

https://twitter.com/paulj71/status/1093574340191404034

I'm no longer wondering why Iannucci hasn't done a sequel...

[Carana]

Anyone fancy a stint at the UK emergency command and control centre?
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/08/brexit-no-deal-crisis-command-centre-starts-hiring-civilians?CMP=share_btn_tw

[Carana]

Channel 4 News
‏Verified account @Channel4News
53m53 minutes ago

The ferry company with no ferries might be stranded in a port that isn’t a port.

#49DaysToBrexit
https://twitter.com/Channel4News/status/1093845157403873280

[Carana]

What the US wants the UK to abolish for a trade deal.

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/what-us-lobbyists-want-donald-trump-to-get-from-the-uk-in-a-post-brexit-trade-deal_uk_5c5b26c6e4b00187b5579f64?utm_hp_ref=uk-homepage&ncid=fcbklnkukhpmg00000001

The Irish border issue isn't just about the GFA...

I wonder how many people agree to reducing standards?

[Sunny]

The EU has a free trade agreement with Japan, who obviously doesn't adhere to all rules imposed by the EU

http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/in-focus/eu-japan-economic-partnership-agreement/

So why not with the UK who are already compliant at this time?

I admit it took 5 years to bang the Japan EU one through but I can't see it taking any time for a UK EU one if the will is strong.

Unless the EU unelected top brasses priority is to punish the UK as well as mocking our political classes on twitter and elsewhere.

ALL IMO

[Carana]

The EU has a free trade agreement with Japan, who obviously doesn't adhere to all rules imposed by the EU

http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/in-focus/eu-japan-economic-partnership-agreement/

So why not with the UK who are already compliant at this time?

I admit it took 5 years to bang the Japan EU one through but I can't see it taking any time for a UK EU one if the will is strong.

Unless the EU unelected top brasses priority is to punish the UK as well as mocking our political classes on twitter and elsewhere.

ALL IMO

Which rules doesn't Japan abide by?

Who do you mean by EU unelected top brasses?

NB: According some the WTO negotiatiors familiar with it, it actually took longer than 5 years as informal talks lasted for ages. Not sure I could find a link at the moment.

[Carana]

Nigel Farage
‏Verified account @Nigel_Farage

The Electoral Commission have officially recognised The Brexit Party.

It will fight the European elections if Article 50 is extended.

I sincerely hope that this prospect is recognised by both the Conservative Party and the Labour Party as a threat.
https://twitter.com/Nigel_Farage/status/1093923638225584129

Perhaps someone could remind me what his Brexit plan actually is, aside from Leave means Leave...

[Carana]

Update to the £13.8m contract awarded to a shipping company that has no ferries, has no experience of ferry-shipping and was likely not to have a port to land in, no working phone, and that had terms and conditions pasted from a pizza delivery service.

It's been cancelled.

Seaborne Freight was one of three firms awarded contracts totalling £108m last week to lay on additional crossings to ease the pressure on Dover when Britain pulls out of the EU. The move came despite it never having run a Channel service.

Transport secretary Chris Grayling insisted that the company had been properly vetted before being chosen, after concerns were raised over its ability to fulfil the contract.

But eyebrows were raised further today amid claims the terms and conditions on its website appeared to have been lifted wholesale from that of a takeaway delivery service, with references to meal orders and hoax deliveries.

The 'placing an order' section of its terms and conditions stated that "it is the responsibility of the customer to ensure delivery address details are correct and detailed enough for the delivery driver to locate the address in adequate time.

"You must always provide a valid contact number and email when ordering online. Please provide additional delivery instructions in the relevant section on our checkout page. In the event that your address cannot be found, undelivered orders will be chargeable."

And further probing finds a number of other oddities on the firm's website, including:

- Its log-in portal redirects directly to Google's home page;

- Neither of the listed phone numbers appear to be manned, with both stating 'there is no one available to take your call' and offering no chance to leave a message;

- Other features, such as language settings, are only for show and cannot be clicked on; and

- Despite Grayling saying they are on track to run services from April, the ferry-free firm's recruitment page is currently empty.

The terms and conditions appear to have been changed today but can still be seen via online archiving services.
https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/no-deal-brexit-ferry-firm-copied-terms-and-conditions-from-a-takeaway-website-1-5838647

[Carana]

Update on the promises of roll-over trade deals:

Tony Tassell
‏Verified account @TonyTassell

- @FT scoop: UK-Japan trade talks stall, raising risks from no-deal Brexit - rpt by @RobinBHarding @Urbandirt. Signs here of a hardening position by Japan and how hard it will be for UK to strike trade deals   https://www.ft.com/content/5ce60af2-2b90-11e9-a5ab-ff8ef2b976c7 …
4:04 AM - 8 Feb 2019

https://twitter.com/TonyTassell/status/1093873255910440960

[Carana]

Just had a closer look at the recruitment drive posted further up.

Without having seen the notes, so just going off the Guardian's notes, and other articles reporting on the situation:

Job description

Role

Your role will be to:

- brief emergency centre officers, liaison emergency centre officers and situation emergency centre officers;

- provide riefing notes for ministers “at pace” and checking the “battle rhythm” for emerging urgent policy changes;

- If necessary, help with plans to deal with “putrefying stockpiles” of uncollected waste and of issues in relation to livestock caught in potential gridlock in Kent.



Qualities and skills required.

To fulfill such a role, you will need to:

- be able to “see the emergency trends with little or no information and act appropriately at pace”;

“ have a horizon scanner – someone who is looking up and out into the working environment to spot early indications of approaching issues or emergencies”;

- be unflappable, to help brief ministers and the Cabinet Office on any unfolding emergencies in a no-deal scenario;

- have the “ability to make sound, logical judgments based on possibly incomplete or imperfect information”.

Location
- To be determined.

[Venturi Swirl]

Update to the £13.8m contract awarded to a shipping company that has no ferries, has no experience of ferry-shipping and was likely not to have a port to land in, no working phone, and that had terms and conditions pasted from a pizza delivery service.

It's been cancelled.

Seaborne Freight was one of three firms awarded contracts totalling £108m last week to lay on additional crossings to ease the pressure on Dover when Britain pulls out of the EU. The move came despite it never having run a Channel service.

Transport secretary Chris Grayling insisted that the company had been properly vetted before being chosen, after concerns were raised over its ability to fulfil the contract.

But eyebrows were raised further today amid claims the terms and conditions on its website appeared to have been lifted wholesale from that of a takeaway delivery service, with references to meal orders and hoax deliveries.

The 'placing an order' section of its terms and conditions stated that "it is the responsibility of the customer to ensure delivery address details are correct and detailed enough for the delivery driver to locate the address in adequate time.

"You must always provide a valid contact number and email when ordering online. Please provide additional delivery instructions in the relevant section on our checkout page. In the event that your address cannot be found, undelivered orders will be chargeable."

And further probing finds a number of other oddities on the firm's website, including:

- Its log-in portal redirects directly to Google's home page;

- Neither of the listed phone numbers appear to be manned, with both stating 'there is no one available to take your call' and offering no chance to leave a message;

- Other features, such as language settings, are only for show and cannot be clicked on; and

- Despite Grayling saying they are on track to run services from April, the ferry-free firm's recruitment page is currently empty.

The terms and conditions appear to have been changed today but can still be seen via online archiving services.
https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/no-deal-brexit-ferry-firm-copied-terms-and-conditions-from-a-takeaway-website-1-5838647

Fills you with confidence doesn’t it?  Never mind it will all be fine by 29th March... 

[Mr Gray]

for those concerned taht the economy might suffer and we may have civil unrest...take alook at Germany and France

[Carana]

Fills you with confidence doesn’t it?  Never mind it will all be fine by 29th March... 

It's funny if people aren't directly affected. But what about people depending on a supply of eg medication who are no doubt very worried right now. Or small businesses who need that order to get through and survive as a family and possibly pay wages, plus social contributions and tax?

[Carana]

for those concerned taht the economy might suffer and we may have civil unrest...take alook at Germany and France

The gilets jaunes thing started with a legitimate reason to protest, IMO. But ex-hooligans are probably in need of an excuse to release extra testosterone and are probably 2 to an € to hire.

Whatever is going on, they aren't faced with the same count-down to D-Day that the UK is.

The "movement" will probably communicate to the UK, but who is behind it?

[G-Unit]

It's funny if people aren't directly affected. But what about people depending on a supply of eg medication who are no doubt very worried right now. Or small businesses who need that order to get through and survive as a family and possibly pay wages, plus social contributions and tax?

There is always uncertainty, all the time, it's part of living.  "'In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."

People try to safeguard themselves and avoid risk and discomfort, but life has a habit of slapping you down. Your job disappears, your business fails, illnesses occur.

They say we have less than 20 years to change our ways or risk losing our planet. That trumps anything Brexit can do imo.