Lloyds Banking Share Discussion Threads

[excell1] 02/2/2021 10:05

Sounds to me as though EU money may be behind the Scottish Nationalists.They would no doubt love to see a wedge driven between members states of the UK.
Hasn't happened before? How much EU money was behind MP's (remainers)prior to Brexit.

[utrickytrees] 02/2/2021 09:59

Sounds like you want to have your cake and eat it SS, the SNP cant expect to employ the tactics you describe without it damaging the relationship. The SNP have cleverly managed to amalgamate anti English/ Westminster sentiment and Scottish independence and label it the SNP manifesto & Scottish people cant simultaneously vote them in and wash there hands of them when the rest of the UK voice their disapproval. It's either one thing or the other.

[pete123456] 02/2/2021 09:44

When will dividends return?

[xxxxxy] 02/2/2021 07:42

Pacific. Why not....John Condon1 Feb 2021 8:39PMKeep going Liz Truss.Brilliant effort so far - and more coming hopefully Of course these deals create opportunities - WHICH MUST  BE GRASPED ... Daily Telegraph

[xxxxxy] 02/2/2021 07:28

7:09amAgenda: Silver rally coolsGood morning. The FTSE 100 is set to open higher as the retail-induced rally in silver cools.... Daily Telegraph

[xxxxxy] 02/2/2021 07:22

Free trade and the retreat from globalisationFEBRUARY 2, 2021 3 COMMENTSI accept the theory of free trade, that all nations would  be richer if they traded  freely with each other. Successive rounds of GATT followed by the work of the WTO have boosted world economic activity a bit.I also agree that for any individual country in theory  it could be better off if it went for unilateral free trade, on the grounds that it would benefit from cheaper imports, though would not gain extra opportunity for its exports. I do not however recommend such a policy because it does assume that other countries would not exploit the perceived weakness of a country welcoming more  imports without demanding something in return. Were other countries to accept the freedom to sell to that country and at the same time exploit it by making imports from it more difficult it might harm the country making the unilateral offer. It can also lead to strategic weakness by being import dependent on countries that may later become hostile or unhelpful. Trade theory assumes rational economic actions by others, when they may act in a harmful economic way for other reasons.I am a free trader who believes in offering to remove tariffs and barriers in return for similar offers from trading partners. Today we must recognise that there are strong winds of economic nationalism. President Trump called out China for her trade and IP practises. He  moved to ban certain Chinese trade in goods in technologically sensitive areas, and imposed tariffs in an attempt to stem the tide of imports. President Biden is continuing with the same policy albeit with a different choice of diplomatic language. He is reinforcing the idea of making more things in America to replace imports. China retains higher tariffs than the west, controls inward investors through joint ventures and restricts access to some markets.There have always been cultural and administrative restrictions on free trade and investment in countries claiming to believe in open markets and the free movement of capital. Some  UK  companies have found it very difficult to invest and work in France and Germany despite being members of the single market for many years. UK retailers for example, reckoned to be world leaders in our early days in the EEC/EU,were unable to build profitable chains of shops on the continent. There have also always been aggressive strategies pursued by some countries to grab market share for their companies and put others at a disadvantage. We have just seen some of this over vaccine production and supply within the EU.Given the avowed America First, EU first and China first policies  being pursued currently, the UK needs to do more work on import substitution and domestic capacity.  There is a fixation with marginal changes to export volumes and opportunities, and too little study of how we can become more  independent in timber, energy, fish, temperate food,and much else besides. The recent expansion of vaccine production here at home has been a  great strength and shows what can be done when there is a concerted effort to use our new freedoms to good effect.... John Redwood

[jl5006] 01/2/2021 23:34

how can an any mp or mep say I acted in best faith for those I I should represent - bcos I had no finng clue

[maxk] 01/2/2021 23:19

Robbed from the gold thread.



weyweyumfozo1 Feb '21 - 22:58 - 260736 of 260736
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Neil Kinnock had the right qualifications for a job in Brussels.

...."today, in a coruscating leader piece, the Berlin-based Bild admitted Brussels has largely become a holding pen for failed politicians considered too inept or dangerous to be of any use in their own country. Bild is Europe's biggest newspaper. Tabloid in tone and broadsheet in size it is hugely influential in German politics."......

[maxk] 01/2/2021 22:52

They could have signed a deal earlier .. but they didnt!

The die is cast, the show is over, they lost. Move on!

[cheshire pete] 01/2/2021 22:26

Boris and Nadhim Zahawi really bobbing on with getting the country vaccinated. Brilliant move to get the army to help. We'll get a head start on the rest of the world when our economy fires up again first ahead of the rest. Great for UK, success story soon to unfold.

[maxk] 01/2/2021 22:07

I'm beginning to think Min is Ursula, in drag.

[xxxxxy] 01/2/2021 22:06

Boris and Conservative government done well on Vaccine Programme. Credit where credit is due.Well done Boris and crew.Nos da. Cymru am byth.

[cheshire pete] 01/2/2021 21:31

After your defence of EU Minerve, perhaps you could apply for Ursula's job if she steps aside?

[minerve 2] 01/2/2021 20:53

First, countries that are leading on vaccinations are doing so in part out of political necessity. Boris had to take a leap of faith on vaccines given he seems to have bungled everything else. It's the same for Israel and the US. Australia for example is nowhere in terms of vaccination, but they also aren't sitting on a huge body count.

Second, most of the issue the EU faces are out of their control. Nobody expected we would only have 2 widely available vaccines now, only one of which has great reliability. Both Pfizer and Astra knew they would be getting a contract, even if the ink was not yet on the paper. Astra’s excuses about when the contract was signed deserves very little credit, and seems an effort to deflect from the fact they've had issues that were clearly not anticipated. Also, if it is true that the Belgian Astra facility has been topping up UK supplies, but the UK won't return the favour, you can understand the anger. So Pfizer has had to fill the gap from all the other unsuccessful and delayed vaccines, so it has had to upgrade its European facility, temporarily reducing supplies to Europe and other places all over the globe, including Canada. The US Pfizer facility, which supplies the US, has been unaffected.

Yes, the EU could have signed a contract a few weeks earlier, but really the EU has been unlucky. They will likely be a month behind the UK when all is said and done, but they will still vaccinate something like 300 million people by the summer. Its not great, and it doesn't feel great right now, but in the end it will not be a disaster for the EU.

[cheshire pete] 01/2/2021 19:51

1carus574: Have holidayed in Scotland frequently over the years and have always been made to feel very welcome. Never any hostility to us for being from south of the border. Could do with a few more middle of the road moderates to stand up to the wee beastie/SNP.

[jl5006] 01/2/2021 18:45

Israel announces huge success with their vac.Israel's vaccination programme is showing signs of working to drive down infections and illness in the over-60s.

The fall appears to be most pronounced in older people and areas furthest ahead in their immunisation efforts.

This suggests it is the vaccine, and not just the country's current lockdown, taking effect.

Israeli Ministry of Health (MoH) figures show 531 over-60s, out of almost 750,000 fully vaccinated, tested positive for coronavirus (0.07%).

And far fewer fell ill, with 38 becoming hospitalised with moderate, severe or critical disease - a tiny proportion.

The MoH assessed the medical records of almost a million people in total - 743,845 of whom were over the age of 60 - until at least seven days after they received a second dose of the vaccine.

There were three deaths in vaccinated over-60s - although it is possible they contracted the infection earlier, before their immunity had time to build.

Before the vaccine had time to take effect, more than 7,000 infections were recorded, just under 700 cases of moderate to critical illness and 307 deaths.

The MoH data suggests infections and illnesses fell consistently from 14 days