Brexit and Scexit

I never said I believed it was more credible, you took that comment out of context. I think you missed my point.

Brexit means Britain will no longer need to fund two European Parliament buildings. Back in the early nineties, when the EU consisted of 15 nations, the French got all moody because the EU Parliament sat in Brussels and Chirac the then French President lobbied hard (ie demanded) that MEPs conduct their business in a French building. A compromise was struck whereby MEPs would divide their time between sessions in Brussels and in the French city of Strasbourg where, naturally, there was no suitable building. In 1999, after a massive expenditure of €470 million - itself a huge cost overrun on the original €81 million project cost - the building was opened complete with private rooms with £13,000 showers for each and every MEP - which are rarely used because the building can not be occupied overnight. But the building is only ever in use for no more than four days a month. The logistical operation to move all the MEPs, support staff and the paperwork from Brussels to Strasbourg and then back again after just four days is hugely expensive and has cost the tax-payers of Europe some €2 billion to date - or about €9.8 million a month.

And for what - simply to satisfy French vanity.

Well there's a problem. The Parliamentary authorities have had to close the Strasbourg building because unacceptable high levels of the bacteria that causes Legionnaires Disease has been detected in the building's hot water supply. With the buildings only being occupied for such little time, the hot water supply becomes stagnant and an ideal breeding ground for bacteria.The building will only re-open once repairs and preventative maintenance have been carried-out. It would really make sense for all Parliamentary sessions to be in Brussels but the French won't hear of it and would veto any attempt to change.

Europe is not for reforming. Or accountability.

The New European newspaper is unashamedly bashing Brexit and this is today's cover:

​

The paper emailed a copy of its front page to leading Remainers and media organisations along with a note which read:

​

Lincolnshire recorded the highest vote (75%) for Brexit in Boston, a town just 40 minutes drive from Skegness.

Needless to say, today's edition of the New European has sparked fury. By Remainers! Skegness MP Matt Warman – who campaigned for Remain – today slaps down the paper for its condescending targeting of his constituents: "The idea that this front cover portrays everyone who voted to Leave the European Union as some kind of swivel-eyed lunatic who is only interested in themselves, is kind of mad, is not only fundamentally wrong but also a fundamentally daft way of trying to think this country can move forward. We are all leaving the European Union people need to get over that rather than campaign to try and stop it which is what this newspaper is trying to do."

​

How childish can a newspaper be ... or is it a comic ?

The British people can do without all this whining and negativity.

They are ALL dependent upon their country being successful, not self-destructive.

Faux
Out
Rage

I've read this a few times, and I think there's been a clever little rewording to make it appear that the outbreak of legionnaires happened recently.

Although @Markham mentions the early 90s he then finishes in the present tense.

Legionnaire's disease is transmitted via water droplets. It is feasible (and likely) that the bacterium was well contained and that there was no risk to occupants of the building.

We had a similar outbreak at our school in 1988. The school remained open throughout and nobody became ill during the clean up operation.

Most healthy people exposed to legionella do not get sick. Furthermore, moving the meetings temporarily would have cost millions of Euros.

I have slightly underestimated the scale of the problem. According to a memo circulated to MEPs and staff on 27th March 2017, Legionella bacteria above a safe level has been found in both Parliament buildings - Brussels as well as Strasbourg:

​

MEP Bill Etheridge is quoted as saying "If it wasn’t so serious it would be comical. On one hand the European Union is fighting to retain control of the UKs fishing waters, yet in Brussels it cannot manage to control a little warm water to MEPs offices. With these offices only fully used half the time due to constituency work and the ridiculous monthly move to Strasbourg, the stagnating water in the Brussels pipes is a disaster waiting to happen. The Parliament here is similar to the water; infested, dangerous and cold. Roll on 2019."

The UKIP MEP is 100% correct, it has also reminded me of the issue of the UKs fishing waters, more fun and games ahead and more for us to discuss, and more for Bluebird to disagree with

Bad news for Sturgeon and the SNP: a newly-released survey shows that support for independence amongst Scots has slumped to just 40% whilst support for a referendum on Scottish independence is supported by only 26%. The survey by Kantar also showed that some 46% of Scots do not want another independence referendum. This news could not come at a worse time for Sturgeon who faces losing 11 or more of her MPs to the Tories.

Thanks..

Excellent news!
If the worst came to the worst though,could we make the Jocks pay for
, at the very least, renovate the wall?

As far as Brussels is concerned, the United Kingdom is not a member of what Brussels refers to as "EU27" as these newly released maps show:

​

Its good to be wiped off the map

NornIronxit?

It is not necessarily absurd, the Good Friday Agreements provide for a referendum on union with the 26 counties - and the power of the DUP is not now what it was.

Yes, hmmmm. I feel sure some outraged English politician will accuse Brussels of aiding and abetting the break-up of the Union. And, of course, this will fuel Sturgeon's demand for an independent Scotland to be made a member of the clyub.

May as well speak for me...

Oh is it him again?

The Gentleman speaks sense.

Do you think he tells it the way it is Bluebird old boy?

I expect accuracy: the upper of the two illustrations depicts quality of life in 2016 and the lower one shows unemployment rates in February 2017. In both cases, the United Kingdom was a member of the EU and therefore should have been included. The EU is not "EU27" until March 2019 at the earliest.