Michael
@vivamjm.bsky.social
Cyprus resident, ex Leeds freight forwarder & Brexit is bloody idiotic believer
Pinned
Michael
@vivamjm.bsky.social
· Dec 7
Once again, a thread for the Brexit ignorant
1/ All countries start with their own market standards, regulated & customs territory. If an outsider wants to sell on it you must prove you meet its standards & pay a tariff at its border
1/ All countries start with their own market standards, regulated & customs territory. If an outsider wants to sell on it you must prove you meet its standards & pay a tariff at its border
Reposted by Michael
No mention that pre Brexit quite a large proportion of our export trade don't require this
It reads like cutting your own legs off then writing how work has stopped on a new improved wheelchair
Slow handclaps all round
It reads like cutting your own legs off then writing how work has stopped on a new improved wheelchair
Slow handclaps all round
February 17, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Reposted by Michael
HMRC just published payroll data for the UK...and it turns out, Northern Ireland is the *only* region in the UK with positive growth in the labour market.
NI is actually outperforming London in the labour market!
Which is unheard of in the 103 years history of NI as a UK region.
1/3
NI is actually outperforming London in the labour market!
Which is unheard of in the 103 years history of NI as a UK region.
1/3
February 17, 2026 at 10:16 AM
HMRC just published payroll data for the UK...and it turns out, Northern Ireland is the *only* region in the UK with positive growth in the labour market.
NI is actually outperforming London in the labour market!
Which is unheard of in the 103 years history of NI as a UK region.
1/3
NI is actually outperforming London in the labour market!
Which is unheard of in the 103 years history of NI as a UK region.
1/3
"if issues around ..& border guard numbers didn't improve, he warned of 5 to 6 hour waiting times"
This report features getting into *non EU* CH.
A lesson (Swiss - & Gibraltarians -no issues getting into EU & vice versa as fellow Schengen members) for the UK? 🤔
www.bbc.com/news/article...
This report features getting into *non EU* CH.
A lesson (Swiss - & Gibraltarians -no issues getting into EU & vice versa as fellow Schengen members) for the UK? 🤔
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Warning of long airport queues under new EU border control system
Airport organisation says queues could last up to six hours over the summer holidays.
www.bbc.com
February 17, 2026 at 10:23 AM
"if issues around ..& border guard numbers didn't improve, he warned of 5 to 6 hour waiting times"
This report features getting into *non EU* CH.
A lesson (Swiss - & Gibraltarians -no issues getting into EU & vice versa as fellow Schengen members) for the UK? 🤔
www.bbc.com/news/article...
This report features getting into *non EU* CH.
A lesson (Swiss - & Gibraltarians -no issues getting into EU & vice versa as fellow Schengen members) for the UK? 🤔
www.bbc.com/news/article...
When I read back my many similar tweets this last decade I always think "is it just me"? That this seems so simple to understand, yet so many *still* seem to have difficulty grasping it?? What the UK did (Cockfield with Thatcher support) was remarkable & unique in world ..*We* decided to trash it
Utter stupidity these last ten years ..
"Both sides in alignment" will considerably ease trade.BUT you will never get "frictionless trade" across borders unless ..the ONLY way ..both sides (buyer & seller) operate under mutually recognised legal oversight & authority..
with common external tariffs.
"Both sides in alignment" will considerably ease trade.BUT you will never get "frictionless trade" across borders unless ..the ONLY way ..both sides (buyer & seller) operate under mutually recognised legal oversight & authority..
with common external tariffs.
Gosh! You can’t have frictionless borders unless both sides are in alignment!
Who could possibly have foreseen this?
@vivamjm.bsky.social @squibbmeisteruk.bsky.social @garethaethwy.bsky.social
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Who could possibly have foreseen this?
@vivamjm.bsky.social @squibbmeisteruk.bsky.social @garethaethwy.bsky.social
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
February 17, 2026 at 9:57 AM
When I read back my many similar tweets this last decade I always think "is it just me"? That this seems so simple to understand, yet so many *still* seem to have difficulty grasping it?? What the UK did (Cockfield with Thatcher support) was remarkable & unique in world ..*We* decided to trash it
Utter stupidity these last ten years ..
"Both sides in alignment" will considerably ease trade.BUT you will never get "frictionless trade" across borders unless ..the ONLY way ..both sides (buyer & seller) operate under mutually recognised legal oversight & authority..
with common external tariffs.
"Both sides in alignment" will considerably ease trade.BUT you will never get "frictionless trade" across borders unless ..the ONLY way ..both sides (buyer & seller) operate under mutually recognised legal oversight & authority..
with common external tariffs.
Gosh! You can’t have frictionless borders unless both sides are in alignment!
Who could possibly have foreseen this?
@vivamjm.bsky.social @squibbmeisteruk.bsky.social @garethaethwy.bsky.social
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Who could possibly have foreseen this?
@vivamjm.bsky.social @squibbmeisteruk.bsky.social @garethaethwy.bsky.social
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
UK quietly shelves £110mn frictionless post-Brexit trade border project
Halt to programme that had used Deloitte and IBM as contractors draws criticism from experts
giftarticle.ft.com
February 17, 2026 at 9:48 AM
Utter stupidity these last ten years ..
"Both sides in alignment" will considerably ease trade.BUT you will never get "frictionless trade" across borders unless ..the ONLY way ..both sides (buyer & seller) operate under mutually recognised legal oversight & authority..
with common external tariffs.
"Both sides in alignment" will considerably ease trade.BUT you will never get "frictionless trade" across borders unless ..the ONLY way ..both sides (buyer & seller) operate under mutually recognised legal oversight & authority..
with common external tariffs.
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to not number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎
February 16, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to not number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎
Reposted by Michael
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎🤪
February 14, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎🤪
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎
February 15, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎
February 15, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎
February 14, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎🤪
February 14, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎🤪
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎
February 13, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎
February 13, 2026 at 1:03 PM
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎
Brilliant again from @philmoorhouse.bsky.social
As I keep saying...
"Brexit will get worse before it gets worse"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYeU...
As I keep saying...
"Brexit will get worse before it gets worse"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYeU...
Britain's About to Face the Next Brexit Hammer
YouTube video by A Different Bias
www.youtube.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:02 PM
Brilliant again from @philmoorhouse.bsky.social
As I keep saying...
"Brexit will get worse before it gets worse"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYeU...
As I keep saying...
"Brexit will get worse before it gets worse"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYeU...
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎
February 11, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎
Reposted by Michael
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎
February 8, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎
February 11, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎
Reposted by Michael
@vivamjm.bsky.social ¦ @anandmenon.bsky.social
@quietriotpod.bsky.social ¦ @lizwebster.bsky.social
Quick thread on how the EU single market gets a major upgrade with the 28th Regime, expands east into Ukraine & Moldova quickly with new DCFTA deals and asks were britain fits in👇
@quietriotpod.bsky.social ¦ @lizwebster.bsky.social
Quick thread on how the EU single market gets a major upgrade with the 28th Regime, expands east into Ukraine & Moldova quickly with new DCFTA deals and asks were britain fits in👇
Sylvian Kahns «L'Europe : un État qui s'ignore» argues the EU has accidentally built the "new state": mutualising sovereignty while promoting the freedom of member states.
A quick 🧵on the crossroads the EU faces as it expands east and Canada says hi.
TL;DR: "Atlanticism is dead. Long live the EU".
A quick 🧵on the crossroads the EU faces as it expands east and Canada says hi.
TL;DR: "Atlanticism is dead. Long live the EU".
February 11, 2026 at 2:11 PM
@vivamjm.bsky.social ¦ @anandmenon.bsky.social
@quietriotpod.bsky.social ¦ @lizwebster.bsky.social
Quick thread on how the EU single market gets a major upgrade with the 28th Regime, expands east into Ukraine & Moldova quickly with new DCFTA deals and asks were britain fits in👇
@quietriotpod.bsky.social ¦ @lizwebster.bsky.social
Quick thread on how the EU single market gets a major upgrade with the 28th Regime, expands east into Ukraine & Moldova quickly with new DCFTA deals and asks were britain fits in👇
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎
February 11, 2026 at 10:51 AM
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out. Judge's decision final 😎
Reposted by Michael
I used to dream of living in France.
“F off & live there then” they sneer
They removed that opportunity from me with one ignorant x on a piece of paper 🤷🏼♀️
“F off & live there then” they sneer
They removed that opportunity from me with one ignorant x on a piece of paper 🤷🏼♀️
February 11, 2026 at 10:23 AM
I used to dream of living in France.
“F off & live there then” they sneer
They removed that opportunity from me with one ignorant x on a piece of paper 🤷🏼♀️
“F off & live there then” they sneer
They removed that opportunity from me with one ignorant x on a piece of paper 🤷🏼♀️
Hence my long ago advised "Invest in Pontins"..
As tweeted many times these last 9 yrs, there'll be ever more Brits deciding to holiday at home as accessing our continent becomes progressively harder across their chosen "(still descending) Gammon Curtain".
(worse than) back to the 1970s for us plebs
As tweeted many times these last 9 yrs, there'll be ever more Brits deciding to holiday at home as accessing our continent becomes progressively harder across their chosen "(still descending) Gammon Curtain".
(worse than) back to the 1970s for us plebs
Gone are the days of taking my dogs on holiday 😞
In fact, gone are the days of leaving rain sodden England 😞
“Oh you can just fill in a form” they sneered. Um no.
In fact, gone are the days of leaving rain sodden England 😞
“Oh you can just fill in a form” they sneered. Um no.
February 11, 2026 at 10:15 AM
Hence my long ago advised "Invest in Pontins"..
As tweeted many times these last 9 yrs, there'll be ever more Brits deciding to holiday at home as accessing our continent becomes progressively harder across their chosen "(still descending) Gammon Curtain".
(worse than) back to the 1970s for us plebs
As tweeted many times these last 9 yrs, there'll be ever more Brits deciding to holiday at home as accessing our continent becomes progressively harder across their chosen "(still descending) Gammon Curtain".
(worse than) back to the 1970s for us plebs
Reposted by Michael
I can see now why Gove had ‘had enough of experts’ like you, Michael, pointing out facts & the truth.
An excellent thread as usual.
An excellent thread as usual.
February 11, 2026 at 9:45 AM
I can see now why Gove had ‘had enough of experts’ like you, Michael, pointing out facts & the truth.
An excellent thread as usual.
An excellent thread as usual.
Some of you might remember me/some of us warning of all this years ago...
in eg many of my previous tweets such as..
"Brexit will get worse before it gets worse"
"Gammon Curtain still descending"
"My advice: invest in Pontins"
www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-...
in eg many of my previous tweets such as..
"Brexit will get worse before it gets worse"
"Gammon Curtain still descending"
"My advice: invest in Pontins"
www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-...
Warning of four-hour passport control waits due to chaotic EU entry-exit rollout
Digital borders scheme causing ‘massive delays and inconvenience’, say aviation insiders
www.independent.co.uk
February 11, 2026 at 9:47 AM
Some of you might remember me/some of us warning of all this years ago...
in eg many of my previous tweets such as..
"Brexit will get worse before it gets worse"
"Gammon Curtain still descending"
"My advice: invest in Pontins"
www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-...
in eg many of my previous tweets such as..
"Brexit will get worse before it gets worse"
"Gammon Curtain still descending"
"My advice: invest in Pontins"
www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-...
This report fails to tell truth this is because GB is no longer part of same single market under mutually recognised legal authority. Instead GB now needs border controls it hasn't got the extra capacity for
"How Britain became a dumping ground for illegal meat"
www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
"How Britain became a dumping ground for illegal meat"
www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
www.telegraph.co.uk
February 11, 2026 at 9:37 AM
This report fails to tell truth this is because GB is no longer part of same single market under mutually recognised legal authority. Instead GB now needs border controls it hasn't got the extra capacity for
"How Britain became a dumping ground for illegal meat"
www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
"How Britain became a dumping ground for illegal meat"
www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out: judge's decision final 😎
February 10, 2026 at 3:17 PM
Quick Quiz: ID all accurately to Number the Odd One Out: judge's decision final 😎