Can things get worse?

[Happy in Cyprus]

Then it's up to us, once the facts are known, to refuse to accept it.

The good thing is, the EU currently forbids the import of chlorine-washed chicken into Europe and has done so for the past 20 years.

In future, the UK will have to sort out it's own wish list in terms of hygiene standards while, possibly, at the same time having to avoid upsetting a trade partner it might be reliant on.

There is nothing wrong with using sodium hypochlorite solutions for sterilising food. The problem with US chicken is that it is often badly contaminated with faecal matter because of primitive slaughtering methods. IF the chickens were clean BEFORE the hypochlorite, there would be no problem; unfortunately, that is often not the case and you may buy your 'sterilised' chicken, encrusted with visible dollops of sh1t. The US does not want to respect EU cleanliness standards but they want to sell contaminated chicken to the UK post-Brexit.

If you had seen the programme Brian it goes much further than chickens being 'contaminated with faecal matter'. Conditions in the processing plant were quite the worst I have seen in any 'tell-all' food processing documentary. Floor and machinery was awash with bits of contaminated meat. Polystrene trays of raw chicken were stacked one of top of the other, meaning the undersides of trays were contaminated. The amount of limb loss by employees due to poor machinery safeguards was appalling; one employee lost three fingers while the undercover reporter was there filming. Staff training was almost non-existant.

You can get a flavour of the programme content from the 3 minute Twitter video halfway down this article: https://www.virginmediatelevision.ie/xp ... with-Trump

Sodium Hypochlorite does nothing more than partially eradicate contamination arising from hygiene failings. An EU food inspector commented on the programme that while dilute bleach will kill off 90% of bacteria and pathogens, 10% will survive.

This is what the USA wants to foist on an unsuspecting UK (which has hitherto been protected by EU food quality standards) as part of a new trade deal.

Good luck with that one!

[Jimgward]

The US is also asking the UK to drop its food hygiene standards and adopt the US ones, as part of a deal.

[Firefly]

So we have to refuse !

[Jimgward]

So we have to refuse !

And you think Boris, or Gove, or Hunt will refuse with the potential of no deal with the US?

[Jim B]

So we have to refuse !

Jackie
As the old addage goes, "Beggars can't be choosers" and that's the position the UK is finding itself in. The likes of Liam Fox is desperate for a trade deal with the USA and will sell off the NHS and lower food standards to get it. Leavers have voted to regain sovereignty which we already had only for the UK to become a colony of the USA.

Jim

[The Aquila]

Perhaps there will be another referendum on whether to become a US state or not

[Jimgward]

Perhaps there will be another referendum on whether to become a US state or not

Sadly, millions of people in the U.K. would vote for that. All you’d need is `Nigel or Boris to say, USA is good and they’d vote in their masses. Trumps message of, “we will reopen the coal mines, steelworks and factories” would have them eating out their hands... like the rust belt did and does

[The Aquila]

I think you’re right there too Jim!

[Firefly]

Anyone would think that the only country that the UK can do trade deals with is the USA, it's a big world out there, Trump isn't the only leader who wants our money.

As for the reopening of mines and steel works, what would be the point ? They would be closed again within months when the workers were called out on strike by the unions.

[Jim B]

Jackie
There's not that many countries or unions with large populations who want to purchase the high tech equipment or services the UK provides so the markets are very limited. Russia is third work outside the major cities as is China and India so the markets the UK provides to are very limited. We are just about to burn our bridges with our biggest trading partner.
As for strikes, if the Employers had of provided the workers with decent wages and working conditions instead of asset stripping their companies possibly things may have been different. It took the Japanese to come to the UK to show how to treat workers properly.

Jim

[Firefly]

Jim

I respect your views, but I well remember the unions trying to bring this country to it's knees, the closure of their places of work was the result. Arthur Scargill did quite well for himself, unlike the miners that he used. The trouble with strikes for more pay is that in the end, the cost of the product increases to finance the wage bill, thus requiring the purchaser to increase their income in turn, creating another potential strike in a different area. If you're not happy with the pay on offer, don't take the job, simple.

As for China and India, I still don't understand why a large amount of our hard earned taxes is given to them, charity begins at home, or it should do. Most of the products for sale here, apart from food, are produced in China anyway, so why all the fuss about the EU ?

Jackie

[Jimgward]

Jackie, Most of the UK’s GDP comes from services - like finance, design, consultancy and more. The largest market for that is the EU - not Russia, China or indeed the USA. In 10 years, when London is moaning about it’s economy being shot as the banks and insurance companies have all relocated to the EU, Maybe you will believe us.

[holitec]

Sorry Jim, but you are wrong there. The emerging markets are countries like Brazil and South America, not the EU - the EU is a declining market on services - I got this form a city broker (who voted to leave)!

If you do not belive me, just try to apply for a UK credit card or loan etc as a non UK citizen - see how far you get with the "single market on services". it does not exist, or if you are a company try to get a credit card processor that is not JCC Try getting Aviva to insure your car in Cyprus, Services are not part of the single market and never have been.

I respect your view, but facts will get in the way, yes some banks etc may relocate a small office within the EU, the the real business is outside of the EU.

Digby

[Jim B]

Holitec
Funny enough my cars are insured with AIG as is our house and our medical insurance is with PPP.
As the saying goes. "Rome wasn't built in a day" and it's the same with the introduction of services across the EU.
The top and bottom of it is money brokers want out because they're not happy with the newly introduced regulations on tax avoidance and money laundering.

Jim