Is this for real or is it a comedy show?

[Him Her]

It was a TV program? Lol, shows how much TV I watch!

 

[nara]

Not at all, you provided the expected answer but completely missed the point. If we can only set VAT rates within parameters set out in the VAT Harmonisation Directive then we are not setting our own rates. Of course, VAT revenue is used in part to calculate our contribution so the EU wouldn't want member states reducing it now would they? Bit of cognitive bias on your part perhaps?

No, Realpolitik more like. If you think the UK is ever likely to reduce VAT below 15% (whether or not they can), you're living in cloud cuckoo land.

VAT is the Treasury's third biggest earner and very easy(despite your claim in post #68) to adjust when times are tight.

Now can we forget about VAT. I spent a few years doing the VAT returns for a small business concern in the late 70s/early 80s and the memories still give me nightmares. This was in the days before helpful computer business software.

 

[Him Her]

Whataboutery is not my specialist subject @nara but thank-you for agreeing we are not ALLOWED to reduce Standard Rate below 15%.

Of course we can move on, VAT is quite boring, how about tariffs? Of all tariffs collected by HMRC 80% of the monies are sent to the EU. Good for them, not so good for us, could buy a few hospitals etc. from that.

 

[nara]

Of course we can move on, VAT is quite boring, how about tariffs? Of all tariffs collected by HMRC 80% of the monies are sent to the EU. Good for them, not so good for us, could buy a few hospitals etc. from that.

Oh not the old simplistic Boris Bus tactic again! We've had enough of that bollocks ffs!

Money flows between the UK and the EU in both directions. To suggest otherwise is duplicitous.

Then again, it doesn't seem to have done Boris any harm. Maybe Fake News is the future.

 

[Him Her]

Why snipe @nara ? Is it because you have no answer to a simple question:

Please explain why you would Leave or Remain, giving reasons for your choice.

 

[nara]

Why snipe @nara ? Is it because you have no answer to a simple question:

Snipe? Is your skin getting thinner? If you're going to keep quoting dodgy Brexit propaganda you've got to be prepared to deal with the flak. Man up!

Please explain why you would Leave or Remain, giving reasons for your choice.

Two possible answers to that one:

a) Why? That question wasn't on the ballot paper.

b) See post #30 if not satisfied with answer a.

 

[Him Her]

I often wonder what would happen if we could go back in time to just before the referendum. Could we persuade people to vote differently? Then I think, unlikely, nobody has learned anything, the most persuasive tool is still to call anyone you disagree with stupid. That's the People's Vote (or whatever it's called today) out of the window then. Battle lines have been drawn, this is no longer just about the EU.

 

[nara]

Battle lines have been drawn, this is no longer just about the EU.

I think you're right there.

To borrow from the old Chinese curse: We live in interesting times.