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David Cameron announces resignation

theguardian.com

71–80 of 345 posts

Re: David Cameron announces resignation

#71
post #42

He'll go down in history as one of the worst leaders the UK ever had. Which he already was before yesterday. By the way, if he let the people decide on such a super topic as leave/remain in the EU, why does he not let his people vote on whether they want total surveillance or not? If they want a police state? Why can't they decide on stuff that affects their daily lives in a potential negative way? Or will they ignor…

Do you forget what a shambles Tony Blair was? Led us into a pointless war that cost 100,000s of lives. As bad as David Cameron was, he kept us out of war.

Re: David Cameron announces resignation

#72
post #10

So today Britain cripples it own economy for nothing. But hey, no more Cameron!. I call it evens.

There has been so much scaremongering in the UK press that the markets are now reacting accordingly. Ultimately trade deals are important not just to the UK but to the countries it trades with. People in power will make deals happen because they have to. There's going to be some short term pain - but ultimately everything will balance out.

If the so-called scaremongering proves to be true (foreign investment shifting away from UK, etc.), I'm afraid, people like you will call it a conspiracy and a global plot facilitated by a vengeful EU.

Re: David Cameron announces resignation

#73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As someone from Ireland I'm really not sure I could be bothered dealing with all the shit that could entail. Would prefer if they just went independent and joined the EU as a separate country.

Unfortunately Northern Ireland doesn't have the economy or infrastructure to realistically function as an independent state at this point. You never know about the future, but it's likely not on the table any time soon.

Which is ironic given how long foreign rule has had to sort the place out.

Re: David Cameron announces resignation

#74
For those of us who do not live in GB, could somebody ELI5 about how these things work? Does the Prime Minister just hang out until he decides he's had enough?

(Yes, I know I could Wiki it. For others browsing the thread, however, 2-5 sentences on how it all works would be useful.)

Re: David Cameron announces resignation

#75
post #53
post #49

What has he ever done, other than reletentlessy dividing his country, every way he could, for all of his 6 years ?

Equal Marriage was a good move which was broadly supported. Other than that, not much.

I think 'religion is the opium of the people' cuts both ways. Politicians will push through popular socio-economic policies (e.g. gay marriage) in order to be able to get enough support to also push through their unpopular economic policies.

Re: David Cameron announces resignation

#76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really!? Everyone I know who works is very pleased with how the economy has recovered, many friends under 30 have bought a house (without parental help), many are nearing 40% tax bracket and my Facebook feed is full of people going on holiday. Not sure which UK you are living in but the one I'm in is pretty nice - well it was, until this vote. And before you say I'm in some kind of elite I run a small factory in the…

> many friends under 30 have bought a house (without parental help) Wow really? Do you live up north? Or have rich friends? I mean I think the UK economy is in pretty good shape (especially compared to the rest of the world), but let's not pretend that houses are remotely affordable.

>north east of England

Property market here in the north is nowhere as crazy as in London. Which is why the constant moans about it in national media are extremely grating for us (it's actually hard to flog houses, over here).

Re: David Cameron announces resignation

#77
post #65
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Theresa May is one of the scariest contenders as far as I've seen. Very pro-surveillance and anti-open internet. She would be a (nother) disaster for UK tech. If there's anybody left who hasn't moved to Dublin/Berlin by October.

The problem we currently have in politics it demography. People get older and older, the baby boomers forgot to "produce" children. Elder people tend to be deeply conservative and anti-technology. And as they are the majority now, they vote for stuff that they think is right ("let's 100% control that freaking thing called internet") and totally strangle the younger generation with their bad taste and shortsightedness…

I find it at a little odd to read this characterisation on HN of all places. I mean, it's pretty much run by "old" technologists, right?

Re: David Cameron announces resignation

#78
post #42

He'll go down in history as one of the worst leaders the UK ever had. Which he already was before yesterday. By the way, if he let the people decide on such a super topic as leave/remain in the EU, why does he not let his people vote on whether they want total surveillance or not? If they want a police state? Why can't they decide on stuff that affects their daily lives in a potential negative way? Or will they ignor…

Hard to beat Blair, really. Cameron may be dumber, but certainly not worse.

Re: David Cameron announces resignation

#79

For those of us who do not live in GB, could somebody ELI5 about how these things work? Does the Prime Minister just hang out until he decides he's had enough? (Yes, I know I could Wiki it. For others browsing the thread, however, 2-5 sentences on how it all works would be useful.)

It's a referendum, not a general election. He could hang around, but I suppose it wouldn't be long before he got a vote of no confidence.

The plan is to sit around until the Tories find a new leader and try to hand over gracefully.

Whether there will be a new general election is also not part of the referendum, but it's a thinkable possibility.

Re: David Cameron announces resignation

#80

In my opinion, the most interesting thing he said in that speech is that he doesn't plan to trigger article 50 immediately. That will be controversial in both, the EU and Britain I think.

If the UK starts muddling through, the EU should firmly act and suspend UK membership: we can not allow uncertainty, and a future ex-member abusing the good will of the rest of the EU. Cameron promised to trigger article 50 immediately: if he does not, we should force him to.

> Cameron promised to trigger article 50 immediately

Did he?

edit: it seems to as the following quote is frequent (and from as early as February) though I can't find an original citation:

> Mr Cameron previously said he would trigger Article 50 as soon as possible after a Leave vote

though it follows up with this interesting

> but Boris Johnson and Michael Gove who led the campaign to get Britain out of the EU have said he should not rush into it.

And the following "wtf-worthy" declaration:

> They also said they wanted to make immediate changes before the UK actually leaves the EU, such as curbing the power of EU judges and limiting the free movement of workers, potentially in breach of the UK's treaty obligations.

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