Just for those who don’t already know, the UK government has today ‘gone live’ with its Job Retention Scheme. This provides for companies in non-essential sectors to ‘furlough’ staff rather than lay them off, and guarantees 80% of the employees pay from State funding. A minister from our (Conservative) government stated that this is no time for ideology, but for the government to do what it is meant to do -take care of its people. A statement in passing that may either turn out to be just that, or a signal of a looming and profound change in thinking regarding ideology, politics and government. I’ve never, myself, heard a politician say anything remotely like that in my entire life!

It also, by the way, shows us that the UBI is in fact possible, if the will exists to implement it!

Umair, you may want to read a history book or three. Your constant harping on the ‘folly/lunacy of Brexit’ demonstrates nothing but ignorance. Fact: the history of Europe has been one long struggle for hegemony between the French and the Germans, both alternately aided or hindered by the Southern countries who — despite empires, wars, industrial revolutions and religious reformations — still retain the mindset of the Middle Ages.

Other fact: the history of Britain shows an alternating pattern. There are the times when we got involved with mainland Europe, and ended up broke and miserable, and the times when we ignored them and looked to the wider world, and were prosperous and happy.

Just saying…