Lloyds Banking Share Discussion Threads

[maxk] 23/12/2020 09:17

The mad burd is not gone...has just put on a new dress.

[diku] 23/12/2020 09:17

Anybody think markets are due for a complete shakeout come Jan 2021...it just doesn't feel connected with the real economy...what is the Dow doing up there above 30k when they passing stimulus packages...those heavy weight Tech muskeeters are keeping this markets at all time highs...it is 20 years since the last bubble burst...

[xxxxxy] 23/12/2020 09:12

073.Project Fear like that is more Project Terrorism, terrifying people just to achieve an objective, nothing to do with health.Disgusting.No DealWTOLiberty

[poikka] 23/12/2020 09:09

"First was the divorce bill. The UK agreed to pay a £40bn settlement when under international law there was no legal obligation to pay any bill to leave the EU club."

Proposed by a mad bird who conned her way into being voted in as PM. Well at least she's gone and now just mouths off on the backbenches.

[mo123] 23/12/2020 09:02

NHS leaders are calling for the Brexit transition period to be extended to avoid plunging the health service into chaos.

A month delay would take the NHS out of “the immediate danger zone” and allow medics to focus on fighting the pandemic following an alarming rise in Covid-19 infections, they say.

[xxxxxy] 23/12/2020 08:55

Trust some of that properly addressed after No Deal, after 31 December.Sovereignty and Independence and proper Democracy for ALL UK and NI and Gibraltar and Falkland Islands.For All of usTrust ERG properly scrutinise and lead and guardian. No DealWTOLiberty

[xxxxxy] 23/12/2020 08:54

Brexit has already been betrayed – regardless of any trade dealFacts4EU.Org presents the latest damning evidence of the EU's partition of the UK?© Brexit Facts4EU.Org 2020When the EU breaks up the UK with the Government's approval, the people should be informedOn Thursday last week (17 Dec 2020) the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, and European Commission Vice President, Maroš Šef?ovi?, co-chaired the latest meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee.The warnings we issued in our report of 10 December have been further vindicated by the latest confirmations and agreements between the UK Government and the EU Commission.BREXIT FACTS4EU.ORG SUMMARYBrexit will not be delivered on 31 December 2020 – with or without a trade dealThe United Kingdom will not be leaving the EU on 31 December 2020The EU has partitioned the United Kingdom, with the UK Government's acquiescenceEngland, Scotland and Wales will leave the Single Market & Customs Union on 31 Dec 2020Northern Ireland is being left behind, remaining under the panoply of EU lawsThe Withdrawal Agreement will remain in force, despite breaking the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement[Sources: Written decisions and statements from the 'Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee',10 and 17 December 2020, confirmed by HMG and the EU.]Regardless of any trade deal, there will be no Brexit this Christmas, nor subsequent ChristmasesRegular readers will be familiar with our detailed reports showing how the EU's Withdrawal Agreement (WA), signed by the Prime Minister on 24 January of this year, can never deliver Brexit.Nonetheless, on that day Boris Johnson stated:"The signing is a fantastic moment, which finally delivers the result of the 2016 referendum and brings to an end far too many years of argument and division."We can now move forward as one country..."?No Prime Minister, the United Kingdom simply cannot move forward as one country. This is a fact. Not only did you know this when you signed it, but all events subsequently have shown this to be the case.The killer fact that should have killed the Withdrawal TreatyPutting aside all other unacceptable aspects of the WA/PD, here we will deal with just one: the EU's effective annexation of a significant part of the territory of the United Kingdom.THE EU'S PARTITION OF THE UNITED KINGDOMBelow are just three pieces of evidence amongst many, from the month of December:-1. Statement to House of Commons, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, 10 Dec 2020"Throughout 2020, we have worked intensively to ensure that the withdrawal agreement, in particular the Northern Ireland protocol, will be fully operational on 1 January 2021."?Question from Richard Drax MP:"In answering questions... he said - unless I am incorrect - that EU law will apply in Northern Ireland, as will the European Court of Justice."Answer from Mr Gove:"My honourable friend never gets it wrong, and he is right. It is there in the Withdrawal Agreement and in the Protocol that we accept the acquis in a specific number of areas in Northern Ireland. That is part of the Withdrawal Agreement..."?[Note: The 'acquis' is the EU's body of laws, directives, and regulations. Mr Gove didn't say so, but these will also apply to businesses in England, Scotland and Wales in respect of state aid provisions.]2. Statement from Mr Gove's Cabinet Office, Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee, 17 Dec 2020"The Decisions adopted at this meeting demonstrate the UK's and the EU's commitment to the implementation of the Protocol in full"- Official UK Government press release following meeting of Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee, 17 December 20203. Statement from the EU Commission, 17 Dec 2020"Today marks an important milestone. We have endorsed formal decisions and other practical solutions, ensuring that the Withdrawal Agreement is operational in time, as of 1 January 2021.""Throughout this year, we have indeed worked tirelessly to ensure that both the letter and the spirit of the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, are respected and translated into viable solutions."?"Let me highlight the EU's two main priorities: First, robust working arrangements for the EU's presence in Northern Ireland so that our representatives can effectively carry out their tasks on the ground. In particular, I welcome that the UK has agreed to provide adequate equipment and facilities, as well as continuous, real-time access to their relevant IT systems and databases, both on the ground and remotely."The second priority, which I strongly welcome, is that the UK has committed to withdraw all contentious parts of its Internal Market Bill, and refrain from introducing any similar parts in its Taxation Bill."- Statement by Vice-President Šef?ovi?, EU Commission, 17 Dec 2020Background: Who is Maroš Šef?ovi??According to the EU, Maroš Šef?ovi? is "European Commission Vice-President for the Energy Union and EU Space policy". He is also "Co-chair of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy". (No, we have no idea either.)Mr Šef?ovi? is from Slovakia, an EU member country with a population only 8% that of the UK and with an economy just 3.7% of the size of the UK's. He has only ever worked in academia and politics – never in what many people would describe as 'a proper job'.He was appointed (not elected) to his current position in December last year (2019) and is paid far more than the British Prime Minister. His appointment was rubber-stamped by the EU Parliament, after MEPs were given only one candidate to vote for, and that was Mr Šef?ovi?. This counts for normal in the world of EU 'elections'.The Withdrawal Agreement "clearly rips the Good Friday Agreement apart"It is worth reading what one of the two main architects of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, The Rt Hon The Lord Trimble PC had to say on what the EU has done. Lord Trimble received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work leading to the Good Friday Agreement, so his words carry weight.The EU's Withdrawal Agreement breaks the Good Friday AgreementSays Nobel Peace Prize Winner - and one of the two main architects of it"The Withdrawal Agreement clearly rips the GFA [Good Friday Agreement] apart."Since the laws governing 60 per cent of economic activity in NI will no longer be made at Westminster or by the devolved Assembly, but by an outside law-making body, the EU, and those laws will be subject to interpretation by a non-UK court, clearly the constitutional position of NI has been changed without the consent of the people of NI as required by the GFA."Furthermore, there is no way in which the people affected by those decisions will even have a say in the making or application of them."- The Rt Hon The Lord Trimble PC, 11 July 2020, CBP Report?The EU has repeatedly stressed its proclaimed intention to protect the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. It might have been thought that they would have been deeply alarmed at Lord Trimble's conclusion that their Withdrawal Agreement "clearly rips the Good Friday Agreement apart".Instead, there has not been a squeak out of them about this. It seems that Nobel Peace Prize winner Lord Trimble's very serious statement is not 'on message' and does not suit the EU's 'peace' agenda.OBSERVATIONSIn recent weeks, EU Commission Vice President Maroš Šef?ovi? has barely been able to conceal his delight at the acquiescence of the UK Government to the continued and permanent imposition on the UK of the Withdrawal Agreement and its Northern Ireland Protocol from 01 January 2021.The EU has succeeded in partitioning the United Kingdom. Under the legal arrangements of this Agreement the United Kingdom is neither united nor sovereign, and yet the Government has expressed no intention of either rescinding or modifying it. Indeed Mr Gove seems to have been enthusiastically embracing it all year.This is fact. This is already a Brexit sell-out, regardless of any further sell-outs contained within the UK-EU trade deal which is likely to be signed on New Year's Eve / New Year's morning.Former Brexit Party MEP Ben Habib gave us his comments on this Facts4EU.Org report"The existing border in Ireland separates two sovereign states, two currencies, two corporation tax rates, two VAT rates, two excise duty rates, two phytosanitary areas and two legal jurisdictions. Unarguably it is where the customs border should be. It is an utter failure of Boris Johnson's to capitulate to the EU and to partition the United Kingdom by putting a border in the Irish Sea."- Ben Habib speaking to Facts4EU.Org, 22 Dec 2020?Where are the broadcast media on any of this?We have to say that we find it unacceptable and – frankly – intolerable that it falls to the small but dedicated team from Brexit Facts4EU.Org to summarise these absolutely vital facts for MPs and the public. Where on earth are the BBC, Sky News, and ITN on any of this?We must stress that the above points are not up for debate. They are incontestable. They are in the public domain.If this is the low level of scrutiny which our broadcast media are applying to something as basic as the effective partition of the United Kingdom by the EU, what chance is there that any of their journalists will actually read and understand the 1,000-odd page trade agreement when we all are finally allowed to see it? Non-existent, we would suggest.If you would like us to keep going through the 'festive period', holding the EU and the UK Government to account, please help us. We can't survive without the generosity of members of the public like you. Please make a donation today, if you value our work.Quick, secure, and confidential donation links are below or you can access our donations page here. Thank you so much.[ Sources: Hansard | EU Commission | UK Cabinet Office | UN population data 2019 | IMF GDP data 2019 | CBP report July 2020 ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Wed 23 Dec 2020

[maxk] 23/12/2020 08:25

His moniker should be ace€U

[geckotheglorious] 23/12/2020 08:24

Poikka
Post 326043


"A new variant of the virus causing Covid-19, first spotted in Kent, could already be circulating - or have originated from - outside the UK. But it was spotted here because of the strength of the UK's surveillance system, scientists have said"

With porous borders and airplanes flying, more or less, ALL YEAR from highly infected hot zones, anyone surprised the mutated virus got here??? Who knows what other viruses are getting into the UK because of porous borders.

[geckotheglorious] 23/12/2020 08:22

Aceuk
Post 326028

"'All the countries of the EU remain, of course, sovereign nations with the ability to make their own decisions regards border control' The majority of you here have been made to look complete fools again like the leader I am so utterly ashamed of, Boris Johnson"

Oh go away you pathetic Remainer nonce.

[xxxxxy] 23/12/2020 06:53

Learn the lessons.Made and produce of UK. First.Not Made in China or anywhere else.Made in UK.No DealWTOLiberty

[aceuk] 22/12/2020 23:50

Queues are hidden - it's a day from Spain, Germany, Italy and more from beyond

[maxk] 22/12/2020 23:49

The EU has outsmarted the UK at every turn

We are in danger of getting virtually nothing, while the EU walks away with everything it asked for

DAVID BLAKE
22 December 2020 • 5:30pm





The standard mantra in EU trade negotiations is that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. Everyone knows this, except apparently British trade negotiators who have accepted the very opposite by acceding to the EU’s sequencing of negotiations.

First was the divorce bill. The UK agreed to pay a £40bn settlement when under international law there was no legal obligation to pay any bill to leave the EU club. But we made this an act of good will. However, there was supposed to be a quid pro quo. In exchange, we would be offered a comprehensive free trade agreement, like the one offered to Canada. It would be even better and include a comprehensive deal on services as well as goods. It would be Canada Plus Plus Plus.

But the moment we agreed to pay the divorce bill, the EU withdrew the offer of any such deal. It suddenly remembered that the UK is much closer geographically to the EU than Canada and so could not possibly be offered the same terms as Canada. Any excuse will do.

Second was the Withdrawal Agreement’s Irish Protocol. The EU’s major concern was the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, leaving open the possibility that goods could illegally flood the EU’s precious Single Market from across the border. Only a tiny proportion of EU trade with the UK crosses this border, and Irish and UK customs officers were quietly working on a solution to stop illegal cross-border trade just as they had done with other illegal transactions, like red diesel. But the Irish premier, Leo Varadkar, under instructions from the EU, stopped these talks.

Instead, the EU saw an opportunity to turn its greatest weakness into its greatest strength by weaponising Northern Ireland's troubled history. Preserving ‘peace’ on the island of Ireland became the EU’s most important public objective and so the Northern Irish Protocol was dreamt up. But the real aim was to trap one part of the UK in the EU’s regulatory orbit. And this, in due course, could be used to ensnare the rest of the UK. Martin Selmayr, then secretary-general of the European Commission, freely admitted that the loss of Northern Ireland would be the price of Brexit.

The EU is not interested in peace, it is interested in power: it thinks nothing about locking up nine Catalan rebel leaders. Theresa May and Olly Robbins went along with all this – in fact they suggested the Protocol ‒ since it was part of a secret agreement they had with Angela Merkel that would make the reality of Brexit so harsh that the UK would be begging to rejoin the EU in due course.

Boris Johnson’s changes to the Withdrawal Agreement did not negate this. Gavin Barwell, May’s chief of staff, has boasted that the PM's Withdrawal Agreement was 95 per cent May’s; the most significant change being the removal of articles keeping Great Britain in the EU Single Market, but at the cost of a border in the Irish Sea between GB and Northern Ireland – thereby threatening the integrity of the UK’s own Single Market.

Having laid the trap that UK negotiators at the time willingly fell into, the EU was all set up for the third stage of the negotiations, the future trading arrangements. What the EU wanted were three things. First, to protect its £100bn trade surplus in goods with the UK. It would allow tariff- and quota-free trade in goods, but only if we agreed to follow all EU rules and any changes in those rules in perpetuity. Again, this was to ‘protect the integrity’ of the EU Single Market from unfair competition. In fact, from any competition, something the protectionist EU does not like - hence, the ‘level playing field’ requirements. But these are anything but level.

We would have to report any state aid to the EU, but there is no full requirement to reciprocate. It proposes to impose lightning tariffs on us if it decides we have broken the rules, but we cannot reciprocate. We are EU’s biggest external customer and it has a huge trade surplus with us, but as the EU constantly reminds us – and the Brussels Broadcasting Corporation faithfully reports ‒ it is the UK which is being offered ‘privileged access’ to the EU Single Market. Not once has our side used the evidence that the EU’s huge trade surplus is due to a structurally undervalued euro which allows it to treat us as its dumping ground.

Second, the EU wants to keep its existing access to our fishing waters, something that Edward Heath disgracefully gave away for nothing in the final stages of the negotiations to enter the EU in 1973. The EU has been taking us for a ride for 48 years so why should it stop now. It has spent most of the last year discussing issues that matter only to it ‒ continuing free access to a captive goods market and retaining the bulk of the fish caught in the UK sovereign waters.

The third issue is services where we have a £20bn trade surplus with the EU. It is offering absolutely no deal on services. In particular, it wants to make it very difficult for the UK to sell financial services in the EU. This is part of a French plan to take Europe’s financial services from London to Paris. To achieve this, the EU is refusing to offer either mutual recognition or even equivalence to our financial services. This is in addition to the threat from the European Parliament to stop British planes and lorries entering the EU after 31 December unless the UK agrees to follow EU competition rules.

This then is the trade deal that our negotiators are about to sign up to. Everything is agreed until nothing is agreed. We are in danger of getting virtually nothing, while the EU walks away with everything it asked for. This is what Boris Johnson will try to sell as ‘getting Brexit done’.



David Blake, Professor of Economics, City University of London, and a member of Economists for Free Trade

[maxk] 22/12/2020 23:34

Perhaps Ace. But what are they doing?

[lefrene] 22/12/2020 23:29

k38, Macron will have upset a huge slice of the club med, my guess 95% of those stranded lorries are EU trucks many of which will have been transporting food from the South, and they are just trying to return home for Christmas, which for most of Europe is the 24th not the 25th. So several thousand and their families have had their Christmas spoiled, just out of a fit of pique by Macron. It won't be forgotten in a hurry. Incidentally any UK trucks will have stayed at their base once they knew the border was closed, but it's the EU drivers who are stuck on the M20 and at Manson, because they have nowhere else to go. We need to leave with no deals, and then do our best to break up this bureaucratic empire, an empire that rewards corruption and makes ordinary people poor.

[aceuk] 22/12/2020 23:26

They've got more space ;-)

[maxk] 22/12/2020 22:59

No so called mainstream news outlets are asking what the trucks are doing on the French side of the tunnel.

[k38] 22/12/2020 22:53

Macron is just another arsh#le with a big head like a pig!

[k38] 22/12/2020 22:51

M2 and...What is his gain? NOTHING. Macron prove he is a small timer.. He kept French, Germans and others from entering Europe... How long you think he will last as president before he becomes history like his predecessors...what will be his legacy? He let down the ordinary people who give him the presidency.......;))