The People Of Port Talbot Must Be Pleased With Brexit (Not)

[Hymie]

[Hymie]

Of course our Brexit problems are entirely of our own making; deliberately choosing to cut ourselves off (or at least make trading much more difficult) from our nearest and largest trading bloc.

 

We can only blame ourselves, and those idiots (such as Farage, Johnson etc) who promised us the sunlit uplands of Brexit – and people were gullible enough to believe them.

[newmodarmy]

You can blame who you want but it means nothing. The uk public was given a vote wnd chose to leave. Nothing you say or think will change that. I've no idea why you're still bleating about it . You are clearly obsessed and I suppose this is some sort of therapy that helps a few but not the majority who just want to get on with things. Maybe in 15 years we can rethink it but I can't see any prospect of us rejoining as the terms would be far worse. 

[Hymie]

Just a thought, maybe we could solve all our Brexit problems by re-joining the EU – have the Brexiteers not thought of this (the quicker we re-join, the less damage will be inflicted on the UK).

[naomi24]

Another thought, hymie - and it's just occurred to me.  You sound just like Gulliver.  Are you his dad by any chance?

[davebro3]

// from our nearest and largest trading bloc.//

If it had remained just that - a trading bloc - there would have been no problem. The majority who voted had no wish to be involved in the political machinations of the EU.

The EU Parliament & Commission and the regular sguffling between Brussels and Strasbourg would be a complete farce were it not for the superstate ambitions of the eurocrats.

[New Judge]

“As ever, my mate Phil explains the full story, and the disaster this Brexit caused closure is for Port Talbot.”

Not so. As ever, your mate Phil says something repeatedly and hopes everybody will believe it is true (whether or not he believes it I neither know nor care).

The only justification he provides for Brexit being the cause of the loss of this steel plant is that, as the UK is no longer a member of the EU, it does not enjoy the “protections” for the industry that the EU provides. (Do tell me if he mentions anything else which I've missed). He neglects to mention that those protections are also failing to save many steel plants within the EU.

The UK’s steel industry has been in decline for decades. But the reason that decline has accelerated recently is down to one reason – you cannot make steel on an industrial scale and profitably without burning coal. Europe will no longer countenance burning coal (even its most voracious coal-eater - Germany - is having to cut dow), so steel cannot be made here. It’s as simple as that. Whatever remains of Europe’s steel-making  capacity will be die a death. That doesn’t matter whether it is within the EU or outside it. The arc furnaces that are being developed will be white elephants. They can only melt down existing scrap steel and the supplies of that are not plentiful enough to sustain a business. The furnaces are just a sop to those suggesting that “net zero” might not be such a good idea and this development is but one of very many  that will manifest themselves over the coming years which will reduce much of Europe to an industrial backwater.

[New Judge]

“…but some countries are still producing steel somehow.”

They produce it because they have not priced their industries out of business by pursuing policies which increase the cost of energy beyond the level those businesses can bear. And they produce it because they don’t care how much coal they burn. So consider this:

- China burns more coal than the rest of the world put together, India and the USA burn 40% of the rest. 

- Between 2017 and 2022 China’s carbon emissions increased by 15% (1.64bn tons) to 12.66bn tons. By contrast the UK’s total emissions in 2022 were 10% lower than in 2017, at a total of 0.34bn tons. So, to offset the increase in emissions by China it would need five countries with emissions at the UK’s level to cease all their emissions entirely.

That’s why other countries such as China, India and the USA produce steel and much else besides. It is because their governments have not sacrificed the wellbeing of their economies and their people on the altar of the ridiculous and unachievable net zero. The people of those governments who have, will see their economies, their standards of living and their livelihoods decrease enormously as a result. And it won’t be because of Brexit.

I chuckled when “Phil” spoke of the transition that he says should have taken place in Port Talbot from high carbon jobs to low carbon jobs, rather than closing the steel works. I wonder what sort of “low carbon” jobs he envisages await  the people of South Wales in the Brave New Low Carbon World?

[Deskdiary]

Perhaps it's just me, but I find it a little strange that somebody's sole opinion is obtained from some random bloke posting nonsense on the internet.

 

Clearly that person doesn't possess the ability to think for themself.

[ToraToraTora]

Once again the judge demolishes Hymie and his mate Phil! Hymie do you ever read and digest the judge's very comprehensive answers? Judge you should put all your replies to hymie in a book!

[royfromaus]

Aye, the steel making industry was in rude health before Brexit

 

https://thumbsnap.com/zK1GY2Mr

https://thumbsnap.com/Y928ER3o

[Old_Geezer]

There are no problems of our own making from Brexit. We have problems from a petulant EU. We also have work to do to establish the new status quo. But the big thing is that we now have more control for ourselves, run by the government/parliament in Westminster, which is much better than obeying unacceptable demands from others putside our nation; and if we can find decent politicians with the courage to make the right decisions, rather than those who refuse to support those that suggest the way forward, then we can prosper. Unfortunately at present we get all talk, and little useful action. Much that is done simply gets bogged down by those creating difficulties and extends the period we have to put up with issues; I suspect because weak kneed ministers fear to upset global powers that still try to dictate to them, and consequently us.

[Old_Geezer]

...outside...