Brexit Begins

[RandBlade]

Yeah great. It needs to be spelt out clearly so businesses have six months to adapt.

[RandBlade]

What do you think of the news that Unilever is moving its headquarters from being divided between the UK and Netherlands to solely Rotterdam which was put down as due to Brexit?

https://www.ft.com/content/4fcd127c-...e-cc62a39d57a0
When a 130-year-old company and mainstay of the FTSE 100 decides that an iconic building on the banks of the Thames, just down from the Houses of Parliament, is no longer viable as its global headquarters, it sums up waning confidence in post-Brexit Britain. Make no mistake, this is a devastating blow for prime minister Theresa May — and only strengthens the hand of the EU in Brexit negotiations. Moving to a single legal entity based in the Netherlands means some jobs will move from the UK and, even if Unilever maintains a listing of its shares on the London Stock Exchange, those shares will disappear from Britain’s blue-chip index — unless a special exemption can be granted. It is yet more self-inflicted economic harm.

Hold on, Prime Minister May? Oh, they've done a volte-face and are now moving the headquarters to solely the UK instead. Nevermind, I guess that will fall under "despite Brexit".
https://www.standard.co.uk/business/...-a4465716.html

[Flixy]

What do you think of the news that Unilever is moving its headquarters from being divided between the UK and Netherlands to solely Rotterdam which was put down as due to Brexit?

https://www.ft.com/content/4fcd127c-...e-cc62a39d57a0
When a 130-year-old company and mainstay of the FTSE 100 decides that an iconic building on the banks of the Thames, just down from the Houses of Parliament, is no longer viable as its global headquarters, it sums up waning confidence in post-Brexit Britain. Make no mistake, this is a devastating blow for prime minister Theresa May — and only strengthens the hand of the EU in Brexit negotiations. Moving to a single legal entity based in the Netherlands means some jobs will move from the UK and, even if Unilever maintains a listing of its shares on the London Stock Exchange, those shares will disappear from Britain’s blue-chip index — unless a special exemption can be granted. It is yet more self-inflicted economic harm.

Hold on, Prime Minister May? Oh, they've done a volte-face and are now moving the headquarters to solely the UK instead. Nevermind, I guess that will fall under "despite Brexit".
https://www.standard.co.uk/business/...-a4465716.html

AFAIK that was never about Brexit but about tax breaks for shareholders.

[RandBlade]

AFAIK that was never about Brexit but about tax breaks for shareholders.

I don't think its because of Brexit either. But I think its because "Project Fear" was hysterical nonsense and companies see a future in post-Brexit Britain.

[Hazir]

AFAIK that was never about Brexit but about tax breaks for shareholders.

Tax breaks in the Netherlands and an obligation to divest that British shareholders couldn’t have lived with. The move to Rotterdam have made Unilever entirely Dutch in a more profound way.

[Hazir]

What do you think of the news that Unilever is moving its headquarters from being divided between the UK and Netherlands to solely Rotterdam which was put down as due to Brexit?

https://www.ft.com/content/4fcd127c-...e-cc62a39d57a0
When a 130-year-old company and mainstay of the FTSE 100 decides that an iconic building on the banks of the Thames, just down from the Houses of Parliament, is no longer viable as its global headquarters, it sums up waning confidence in post-Brexit Britain. Make no mistake, this is a devastating blow for prime minister Theresa May — and only strengthens the hand of the EU in Brexit negotiations. Moving to a single legal entity based in the Netherlands means some jobs will move from the UK and, even if Unilever maintains a listing of its shares on the London Stock Exchange, those shares will disappear from Britain’s blue-chip index — unless a special exemption can be granted. It is yet more self-inflicted economic harm.

Hold on, Prime Minister May? Oh, they've done a volte-face and are now moving the headquarters to solely the UK instead. Nevermind, I guess that will fall under "despite Brexit".
https://www.standard.co.uk/business/...-a4465716.html

We will see if the research included the notion that the EU will actively discourage London’s role as a European financial hub. The previous board wanted to move to Rotterdam. Does it matter much to me? Ask Americans and Italians if the consider Chrysler and Fiat Dutch.

[Aimless]

As it should, given the rationale provided in the article.

[RandBlade]

As it should, given the rationale provided in the article.

Sure. When the change was the other direction it was because of Brexit, when its the reverse its despite Brexit. Good to get some consistency.

[Aimless]

Sure. When the change was the other direction it was because of Brexit, when its the reverse its despite Brexit. Good to get some consistency.

It's in the article, you should read it.

[RandBlade]

It's in the article, you should read it.

I did, I was calling out the hypocrisy of those like the FT who said the polar opposite when the shoe was on the other foot.

[Aimless]

I did, I was calling out the hypocrisy of those like the FT who said the polar opposite when the shoe was on the other foot.

Perhaps you can link those articles as well so that we can read them?

[RandBlade]

Why are you shouting? I quoted the relevant snippet I was referring to.

[Aimless]

Perhaps you should've quoted the entire article, so as to include the other snippets relevant to your criticism of the FT.

[RandBlade]

I quoted the relevant section, if you have more to say then spit it out and say it.

[Aimless]

I quoted the relevant section, if you have more to say then spit it out and say it.

You did not quote the relevant section, because the "section" relevant to your inane criticism of FT is the entire article.

[RandBlade]

You did not quote the relevant section, because the "section" relevant to your inane criticism of FT is the entire article.

The FT were prepared to call Unilever's decision summing up "waning confidence in post-Brexit Britain." To call it a "devastating blow" that would "strengthen the hand of the EU". Whether the decision was apparently about Brexit or not at the time.

Yet when the shoe is on the other foot its simply "despite Brexit". Just as everything else good is always "despite Brexit".

There's a word for that. That word is hypocrisy.

[Aimless]

The FT were prepared to call Unilever's decision summing up "waning confidence in post-Brexit Britain." To call it a "devastating blow" that would "strengthen the hand of the EU". Whether the decision was apparently about Brexit or not at the time.

Yet when the shoe is on the other foot its simply "despite Brexit". Just as everything else good is always "despite Brexit".

There's a word for that. That word is hypocrisy.

There's a term for the glitch you're exhibiting here: Lewkowskianism. Please read the entire article you linked to.

[Hazir]

There's a term for the glitch you're exhibiting here: Lewkowskianism. Please read the entire article you linked to.

I read the article. It’s very obvious he didn’t.

[RandBlade]

Now its been officially confirmed that Britain won't extend transition.

[Hazir]

Now its been officially confirmed that Britain won't extend transition.

Cool. Now I hope that you will bugger off next month without continuing negotiations.

[RandBlade]

Not going to happen. This is going to end the way Brexiteers always said it would - with the British negotiating with Merkel.

Merkel and German industry wants a deal, Merkel hasn't wanted to step on European toes but the timing has already been agreed that it is Merkel's tenure of Presidency of the EU that will sort this out. Funny coincidence that!

[Hazir]

Not going to happen. This is going to end the way Brexiteers always said it would - with the British negotiating with Merkel.

Merkel and German industry wants a deal, Merkel hasn't wanted to step on European toes but the timing has already been agreed that it is Merkel's tenure of Presidency of the EU that will sort this out. Funny coincidence that!

I see you're strong in your faith. Too bad what you believe is such rubbish. Even if Merkel would be willing to give you what you want, it's not possible for her to go against the EP.

[RandBlade]

I see you're strong in your faith. Too bad what you believe is such rubbish. Even if Merkel would be willing to give you what you want, it's not possible for her to go against the EP.

The EP will do what its told. The idea the EU's 27 nations will agree a deal with the UK only to see the EP reject it simply isn't going to happen.

[Hazir]

The EP will do what its told. The idea the EU's 27 nations will agree a deal with the UK only to see the EP reject it simply isn't going to happen.

You're delusional. No other word for it.

[Khendraja'aro]

Merkel and German industry wants a deal, Merkel hasn't wanted to step on European toes but the timing has already been agreed that it is Merkel's tenure of Presidency of the EU that will sort this out. Funny coincidence that!

You do realize that there are several other countries to consider, yes? While Merkel certainly holds a position of power, it's not absolute power. And she's also smart enough to not let you get away with cherry picking.

Basically, she's actually the worst kind of opponent you can have at the negotiation table.

[RandBlade]

The article was behind a paywall. I've just read a copy of the full article now and ok I screwed up that one. Context matters and yeah ... Ok I'll put my hands up that was taken out of context.

At the time though people were speaking like that and that seemed familiar. Could have chosen a better link to make my point but ... Nevermind.

Sorry.

[Hazir]

At the time the case for Rotterdam was clear, and it was only the peculiar voting rules in the UK that stopped the move. But either way the case being made was that the 'other half' would not be worse off by the new unitary structure.

[Hazir]

Oops, Mutti tells the other members to get ready for no deal. Guess she's not so certain she's going to be able to save you lot from your own idiocy.

[RandBlade]

We'll see. There'll be much brinkmanship over the next few months but if the EU are taking the idea of no deal seriously that is a good thing. It was never taken seriously under May who was always going to fold like a cheap suit.

[Khendraja'aro]

We'll see. There'll be much brinkmanship over the next few months but if the EU are taking the idea of no deal seriously that is a good thing. It was never taken seriously under May who was always going to fold like a cheap suit.

I am probably misremembering things then with the Netherlands massively stocking up on duty agents in their harbours in preparation for a possible No Deal. And similar stuff. I'm probably also similarly mistaken in remembering that it was the UK who approached the whole endeavour with a rather nonchalant air.

The latter hasn't changed much, though.