Bazz,

'Waste of time' is putting it mildly. Why is it that what starts as a sensible thread often ends up with two idiots engaging in pointless slanging matches?

Because they are only interested in spoiling an interesting discussion
where perhaps half those involved may learn a few points.
Never acknowledge their presence.

thinkabit,

In the 1950s the proto-EU (if you want to think of it that way) was politically not economically motivated albeit it acted through an economic agency namely ensuring that steel and coal production could not be used to produce arms.

That is, its goal was to prevent war in Europe by denying its peoples access to the weapons of industrial destruction that had been employed during WW1 and WW2.

PS I understand the reason you could only see it in terms of economics rather than politics. You can only see things in terms of the simple and everyday, like you yourself are.

Dear Bazz,

Awww mate. Do you feel ignored? Sorry for not joining your reminisces of a conversation with your pommie mate or the curve of bananas (which was a red herring) and episodes of Yes Minister on Netflix.

But you see the topic was the deal which has just been done by Boris and the EU. We could of course have gone down the rabbit warren by rehashing Brexit slogans and memes but I'm not sure there would have been much of a point.

However seeing you are feeling a little put out what would you like to contribute to the discussion? I will make a point of responding even if it is off topic or not specifically addressed to me.

The stage is yours.

SR,

Once again you failed at lying.

If you look hard enough and cherry-pick you will always find an "expert" that agrees with you. That most of the other experts don't is a problem for you.

That this "expert" has himself cherry-picked a few examples from the treaty that puts the agreement in a bad light does not detract from the UK fishermen getting a 15% increase in their quota in the first year extending to a 25% increase in 5 1/2 years and a negotiated increase thereafter all of which they can sell tariff-free into the EU.

I also see that you still have no answer for the other 90% of the treaty benefits.