Can Labour make Britain the best place in the world to start and grow a business?

[Fagin2021]

Luxury! We ‘ad to do it on us knees, backwards.

On knees? Luxury! We used to dream of going up hill on knees! We had to roll uphill so trousers wore out evenly. When it were our turn t' wear trousers that is.

 

[bodgitt&scarperLTD]

On knees? Luxury! We used to dream of going up hill on knees! We had to roll uphill so trousers wore out evenly. When it were our turn t' wear trousers that is.

Aye lad, but it got easier t'be fair.

Ah still remember the day the dog died, we ate like kings

 

[MOIC]

Eat y'say? What's that?

 

[IanSuth]

Aspiration is split - those who want to progress their education in all ways, and those who see no sense in it. My grandson's teacher says they now have fourth generation unemployed parents. Their kids have holidays, cars, electronics, without having worked for them, so why would they wish to work, or go to uni, or even pass exams. They are unnecessary for modern life in certain social-economic groups. We used to have three classes, now we have four, and that new group hold an awful lot of power. Nobody has courage to even acknowledge this, but we all know it. When I grew up, we had some rough council areas, and everyone dodgy was holed up in the worst of them. The decent Council house folk were at a disadvantage. Now, these areas are actually quite nice locally - and we have all the dodgy folk in private rented accommodation all over the place - in all kinds of council band areas. We've lost control. My son's trying to move house - everywhere they've looked there is some low-life, and we're not talking about just cheap housing - there always seems to be one house on every street with a scrapyard of cars in the front garden!

I know what you are trying to say but...

I wouldnt think a scrapyard of cars defines aspiration. I grew up on a farm with literally a wood full or scrap cars as my stepdad mended cars all winter to supplement farm earnings. He had zero qualifications having left school to work on the farm asap, so did his brother. However my step uncle built a flat 8 bale sledge with optical sensors and pre transistor logic control in the early 70's and we had warm air heating in our house with zones etc managed by servo controlled flaps powered via a zx81 and rs232 interface in the mid 80's. (we also had home made tv's with remote control including volume up and down before Phillip's were selling them). Before the farm when i was 7 I had lived in a council flat with my mum (after father left) having livid in a static caravan until i was 2.5 due to lack of affordable housing (1970' house price bubble)

I was VERY lucky i passed the very hard entrance exam to get into a school where i boarded for 7 years paying nothing (all fees were means assisted and calculated to the nearest penny), my closest 2 academic peers from my little village primary school well 1 wanted to be a pilot, failed on sight grounds went off the rails a bit, stabbed his dad in the thigh with a screwdriver whilst drunk and picked up a drug habit whilst inside. The other is running her fathers woodland and lumberyard. 2 of those of my age in my house at school are owner of an equity release firm and the guy whose name is on most of Sony's patents for sound for the PlayStation (although he now works for MS).

I think the main difference was having passed an exam to get in we were all made aware how lucky an opportunity we had been handed and so with class sizes under 20 and a desire to learn we nearly all did, even those who dropped out at 16 have mainly done well. At A Level my largest classes was maths & further maths where there were 11 of us, but we had 3 different teachers to cover pure, stats & mechanics. Those doing just maths had 15 in theirs using the same 3 teachers rostered differently, I had 8 for Geog and 10 for Chemistry (where they split 21 pupils doing ALevel into 2 classes)

My daughter who finishes her GCSE's tomorrow (with a further maths paper) only has computer science with less than 30 in her class, she has up to 35 in some classes and almost all of her subjects contain a kid or 3 who take up all of the teachers time for one reason or another. She actually thrived with lockdown and distance learning as she could do what was set in half the time given and then spend the rest of the time reading around or investigating further. She has decided on Maths, Further Maths, Computer Science and Physics ALevels hoping that the wasters will have left.

Her elder sister is studying for a physiotherapy degree (the proper one where you do nhs placements) after 4 Alevels.

Her brother had gained a scholarship on a special maths scheme at a private school where he was 1 of 4 specialist mathematicians who took their exams early and spent a lot of time reading around the subject - after 5 Alevels (maths, further maths, physics, computer science and French) he got a 1st class maths degree and is now on a paid research contract using his maths to develop a cost benefit model to help with treatment/mitigation of one of the big African diseases

And if it weren't for the fact my vehicles are bikes not cars I would fit your profile as we have 6 motorcycles in various states of disrepair strewn around the house/garden

Some of the neatest houses contain those with more time on their hands through a lack of work

 

[Paul FilmMaker]

What would help my business is the ability to sell in Germany, Spain and Italy again. Brexit means I can't.

So fix it. This would be the biggest, single difference a government could make to my business.

 

[IanSuth]

What would help my business is the ability to sell in Germany, Spain and Italy again. Brexit means I can't.

So fix it. This would be the biggest, single difference a government could make to my business.

I predict we will be in the EFTA within 1 parliament

 

[NickGrogan]

What would help my business is the ability to sell in Germany, Spain and Italy again. Brexit means I can't.

So fix it. This would be the biggest, single difference a government could make to my business.

What's changed? I would have thought that things like video are fairly international anyway.

 

[japancool]

What would help my business is the ability to sell in Germany, Spain and Italy again. Brexit means I can't.

I don't understand why you say you can't. Brexit doesn't, and has never meant that we can't trade with the EU. Yes, there are more hoops you have to jump through, but there are lots of firms that trade with the EU. It's just the same as trading with the rest of the world.

 

[NickGrogan]

If it's harder to work with EU clients, that's a good thing as you'll have less competition - many companies have just given up and aren't even trying.

 

[BigDreamer]

I import most of my products from the EU, and whilst the products were produced for and are already circulating in the EU, the goods are not of EU origin as they were produced in many different countries around the world. The new Rules of Origin make it impossible for me to claim any sort of relief for customs duty.

This makes everything I sell more expensive now. So much for Free Trade.

 

[Paul FilmMaker]

I don't understand why you say you can't. Brexit doesn't, and has never meant that we can't trade with the EU. Yes, there are more hoops you have to jump through, but there are lots of firms that trade with the EU. It's just the same as trading with the rest of the world.

I don't understand what you don't understand.

It's illegal for me to sell into the EU now. What do you need explaining?

 

[fisicx]

It's illegal for me to sell into the EU now.

Why? Is there some sort of law stopping you driving to France and making a video for Croissants R Us.

 

[Paul FilmMaker]

If it's harder to work with EU clients, that's a good thing as you'll have less competition - many companies have just given up and aren't even trying.

It's not just harder... it's illegal.

And if somehow, it became legal for me to sell in the EU, I'd have to deal with the paperwork that makes it impossible, the extra costs from the carnet system that push up my prices by 100% and that's without customers having to go onto a different tax regime when dealing with us.

In case you're wondering, I speak Chinese so am trying to activate an area of the Chinese market and have a Chinese marketing campaign going out soon. I even made one sale through a Chinese agency to a Bangladeshi company. However, it will take years to develop that market.

Why? Is there some sort of law stopping you driving to France and making a video for Croissants R Us.

Yes.

 

[DontAsk]

I don't understand what you don't understand.

It's illegal for me to sell into the EU now. What do you need explaining?

Perhaps the reason why it's now illegal would help those who don't understand, rather than this silly reply.

 

[NickGrogan]

I don't understand what you don't understand.

It's illegal for me to sell into the EU now. What do you need explaining?

Sounds really interesting, what law is that?

You make promotional videos right - https://www.fnxmedia.com/ is your site?

 

[NickGrogan]

I import most of my products from the EU, and whilst the products were produced for and are already circulating in the EU, the goods are not of EU origin as they were produced in many different countries around the world. The new Rules of Origin make it impossible for me to claim any sort of relief for customs duty.

This makes everything I sell more expensive now. So much for Free Trade.

What would happen if you bought the goods from the countries that they were made in, rather than via an EU-based third party?

 

[SillyBill]

Didn't even read the link - I have had zero interest in what Labour has to say about anything for over 10 years now. Perhaps the only thing worst than this shambles of a government is knowing that you also have no confidence in the opposition. I am from an ex-mining town in Derbyshire, solid (previously) Labour voting area and family solidly Labour for decades, as everyone tended to be. All my family also have no interest in the Labour party now. Mother and father finally deserted in 2016 with Brexit and won't be going back. Brexit unbeknownst to London liberals was actually quite popular in ex-mining and working class communities in the Midlands - Labour wouldn't have known that though. The Labour party has become so out-of-touch with its core that it is on another planet. As they prattle on about cervixes as well as other abstract minority issues then all they do is alienate communities like the ones I grew up in wondering who on earth has time to invent grievances we weren't even aware existed. Until we told about them, endlessly. To me they are not a serious party of government anymore. They can't even effectively articulate a vision for this country despite us having one of the most unpopular prime ministers and governments in living memory.

 

[Gyumri]

What can the Government and Labour opposition do to ensure Britain is the best place in the world to start and grow a business?

Leave politics.

 

[BigDreamer]

What would happen if you bought the goods from the countries that they were made in, rather than via an EU-based third party?

I would have to pay full wholesale price + extortionate shipping costs. I buy clearance lots so get them at a cheaper/same price than what they cost in the factories in Asia (even after paying Tarrifs). Due to the nature of the goods, even if they were produced in an Asian country with a trade deal with the UK, It's impossible to get all the paperwork they require for the Rules of Origin.

I understand they do this to prevent people illegaly routing third country goods through the UK or EU to save on tariffs, but surely there has to be a solution to it. It doesn't help exports either as If I want to sell similar goods back to the EU, customers will prefer to buy from someone else in the single market and save on the headache of tariffs.

 

[Paul FilmMaker]

Sounds really interesting, what law is that?

You make promotional videos right - https://www.fnxmedia.com/ is your site?

The law that says I'm not allowed to work in Germany, Spain or Italy without being an EU Citizen.

That means all the EU agency work has dried up. Conferences, exhibition, pharmaceutical documentaries etc... Without an EU passport, we can't do any of it.

All gone.

 

[simon field]

Leave politics.

That’s probably the best two word reply I’ve ever seen on here, congrats ?

 

[DontAsk]

What would help my business is the ability to sell in Germany, Spain and Italy again.

The law that says I'm not allowed to work in Germany, Spain or Italy without being an EU Citizen.

It might have helped if you had said that instead of talking about "selling". There's no general law that stops UK citizens selling to the EU.

 

[simon field]

This is really interesting. What’s the specific law?

 

[japancool]

The law that says I'm not allowed to work in Germany, Spain or Italy without being an EU Citizen.

What's stopping you from getting a work visa?

 

[Paul FilmMaker]

Perhaps the reason why it's now illegal would help those who don't understand, rather than this silly reply.

I'm just staggered you can't imagine how

It might have helped if you had said that instead of talking about "selling". There's no general law that stops UK citizens selling to the EU.

What would have helped is if Brexit hadn't locked my business out of the EU. We were able to run around having a great time, making money and coming from the UK was a huge advantage in Europe in video production.

Instead, Brexit, has shut us out.

So in answer to the OP's question, the only thing I care about is Labour getting us back in the EU. That's the one thing that would massively improve my business.

 

[Paul FilmMaker]

What's stopping you from getting a work visa?

The law is what stops us since Brexit.

Brexit stops EU types randomly coming over here and working and us Brits randomly going to the EU to work.

 

[simon field]

The law is what stops us since Brexit.

Brexit stops EU types randomly coming over here and working and us Brits randomly going to the EU to work.

Seems a bit extreme! Who enforces that, das polizei?

 

[Newchodge]

Seems a bit extreme! Who enforces that, das polizei?

Border Force

 

[simon field]

Border Force

Scary!

So if I pop to see my mate Fritz and help him lay bricks for a couple of weeks, border force will come for me?

I’m glad we don’t do that over here!

 

[Newchodge]

Scary!

So if I pop to see my mate Fritz and help him lay bricks for a couple of weeks, border force will come for me?

I wish we didn't do that over here!

Fixed your answer for you.

 

[japancool]

The law is what stops us since Brexit.

Brexit stops EU types randomly coming over here and working and us Brits randomly going to the EU to work.

No.

The law allows you to apply for a work visa to go and work in the EU. There is no law stopping you from applying. Once you have that, you can work in the EU just fine. Yes, you can't just pop over there when you want. But once you have the visa, there is nothing stopping you from going over and doing what you need to do.

EU citizens continue to come here and work. They applied for, and received the right visa to do so.

It's exactly the same thing as you would have to do if you want to go and work in China, unless you have Chinese nationality.

And as it goes, it seems you may not even need a visa to make films in France:

Fact sheet : work permit application - Welcome to France

Find all the information about the work permit application, the exemptions and the renewal procedure on our Welcome to France website

www.welcometofrance.com

From the link:

A number of employees are exempt from the requirement to obtain a work permit :​

for a three months or less period, foreign employees who are nationals of third countries, coming to French territory to exercise a salaried professional activity in one of the following fields:

• Production and distribution of cinematic and audiovisual works, shows and recordings.

 

[japancool]

Scary!

So if I pop to see my mate Fritz and help him lay bricks for a couple of weeks, border force will come for me?

I’m glad we don’t do that over here!

We do, in fact, do that over here.

 

[Paul FilmMaker]

No.

The law allows you to apply for a work visa to go and work in the EU. There is no law stopping you from applying. Once you have that, you can work in the EU just fine. Yes, you can't just pop over there when you want. But once you have the visa, there is nothing stopping you from going over and doing what you need to do.

EU citizens continue to come here and work. They applied for, and received the right visa to do so.

It's exactly the same thing as you would have to do if you want to go and work in China, unless you have Chinese nationality.

And as it goes, it seems you may not even need a visa to make films in France:

Fact sheet : work permit application - Welcome to France

Find all the information about the work permit application, the exemptions and the renewal procedure on our Welcome to France website

www.welcometofrance.com

From the link:

No. We consulted a lawyer specialising in visas and literally everything you have written is wrong. I mean you're giving out legal and visa advice which is 100% wrong.

Take France. You're referencing le registre unique du personnel. This has absolutely nothing to do with a UK video production company getting a visa. Literally nothing. There is no relation between the registre and a video production company coming over to do a bit of shooting.

Or China. I'm half Chinese, have travelled across China, speak Chinese and even won live streaming business from a Chinese company. Visa and video production laws applying to China are completely different from the EU.

It's amazing you're telling me this stuff without any actual experience or legal knowledge.

 

[japancool]

No. We consulted a lawyer specialising in visas and literally everything you have written is wrong. I mean you're giving out legal and visa advice which is 100% wrong.

Oh, am I? So there's no such thing as work permits for the EU? So British people can't go and work in the EU any more?

Funny that, all those Brits going there to work must be breaking the law!

Even if that were true, if the EU is such a big market for you, it'd be quite easy to work around it.

 

[Paul FilmMaker]

Oh, am I? So there's no such thing as work permits for the EU? So British people can't go and work in the EU any more?

Funny that, all those Brits going there to work must be breaking the law!

Even if that were true, if the EU is such a big market for you, it'd be quite easy to work around it.

Why don't you open a business issuing temporary visas for businesses because you know more than the lawyers we consulted. Clearly you must be the world's greatest expert.

And you know more than me who actually applied for and received a French work visa.

And you know more about France than someone who lived, worked and studied there even though clearly you don't even speak French.

And you're explaining China to someone who is half Chinese, speaks Chinese and has visited a ton of Cities in China. Genius.

Can't wait until you do brain surgery because you know all about that as well.

 

[scstock]

I seem to recall a certain G. Brown doubled down in this.

It's a no from me.

The same G. Brown that reduced Capital Gains Tax to 10% and cut Corporaion Tax from 33% to 28%.

 

[NickGrogan]

And you know more than me who actually applied for and received a French work visa.

So, you can get a work visa that lets you work in France and you have had one. So its not illegal just difficult.

Being difficult means that many of your competitors wont do it, reducing competition for you.

 

[japancool]

And you know more than me who actually applied for and received a French work visa.

Right, so that stuff about not being able to go and work in the EU was total bollocks then, seeing as you have, by receiving a French visa, been given permission to do so.

So perhaps you can point us to the legislation that prevents you from carrying out your work in France. Because I'm curious.

And as I said, even if any of what you claim about Brits working in the EU is true (which, by your own admission, isn't), if the EU was such an important market to you, there are ways to work around it. What ways, I'll let you work it out yourself.

Oh by the way, I do speak French. Not very well, but I speak it. And don't try to impress me with how many languages you speak. I speak three fluently, and I've lived, worked and studied in four different countries so I know all about getting visas.

 

[japancool]

So, you can get a work visa that lets you work in France and you have had one. So its not illegal just difficult.

Yup, exactly. So this:

The law that says I'm not allowed to work in Germany, Spain or Italy without being an EU Citizen.

Is a load of bovine feces.

 

[simon field]

Is filling a form in difficult?