Canzuk

[Dr Jekyll]

There is a fairly serious proposal afoot that Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK should not only have free trade with each other, but also freedom of movement similar to that existing between Australia and New Zealand. That is, freedom to travel live and work in each others countries unless there are really serious skeletons in your cupboard, but not to vote or collect social security without being granted citizenship.

https://www.canzukinternational.com/

Sounds good to me, opinion polls indicate around 70% backing in all 4 countries. But what does PH think?

[T6 vanman]

Surely now they've accepted the "Ginger one" we don't want to risk his return ??

[grumbledoak]

Good idea. We are a good match, culturally and economically. Much more so than EU, Commonwealth, or World level free movement. It would have to be linked to work though, or NZ would be swamped with the retired folk. Again.

[Not-The-Messiah]

The free movement of the EU was a good idea when it was just the more developed nations, It all went tits up when all the less developed ones got in on it.
Canada, Australia, New zealand all have similar economies to ours so I can't see it being a massive problem, Plus are probably more similar culturally to us than many of the european nations are.

[frisbee]

Do it properly, so India and all other Commonwealth countries as well.

[warch]

Australia for one would never accept it, they already think there are too many undesirables in the UK that they wouldn't want coming to Australia. Can't speak for the politically more moderate countries like New Zealand and Canada, but Aus is politically and religiously increasingly similar to the US.

[dai1983]

frisbee said:

Do it properly, so India and all other Commonwealth countries as well.

Pakistan too!

Anyway the Aussies say no:

https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/australia-reject...

[bloomen]

Australia will never allow it plus they'll probably imprison and torture our dossers on far off islands if they don't like them. NZ is starting to get uptight about their swelling population without this in place.

Canada's ties to the UK really don't feel very strong to me at all and why would they want any of us?

All of these places have links to bigger, closer and stronger economies plus the pick of whatever immigrants they want already.

Edited by bloomen on Sunday 26th January 14:37

[grumbledoak]

frisbee said:

Do it properly, so India and all other Commonwealth countries as well.

Everything that's wrong with EU freedom of movement only with far bigger economic differences and twice the numbers! Way to miss the point!

[bloomen]

grumbledoak said:

Everything that's wrong with EU freedom of movement only with far bigger economic differences and twice the numbers! Way to miss the point!

And yet between 1948 and the 60s 800 million commonwealthers had the right to live and work in the UK visa free.

[Condi]

bloomen said:

And yet between 1948 and the 60s 800 million commonwealthers had the right to live and work in the UK visa free.

And they made a valuable contribution to the UK economy and cultural make up IMO.

[Budflicker]

Deepend et al are going to lose their st at this massively racist thread.

Which it would be really to only allow predominately white and wealthy countries freedom of movement.

Edited by Budflicker on Sunday 26th January 15:38

[PositronicRay]

The world is a bit nuts when FOM with countries a long way away is deemed a good thing, but next door is bad.

Doesn't help with carbon foot print, but language easier and air miles a bonus.

[gregs656]

bloomen said:

Canada's ties to the UK really don't feel very strong to me at all and why would they want any of us?

Canada wants people.

Culturally they are similar countries from what I have seen of both.

[Troubleatmill]

Canada, Australia and NZ have a lot of Chinese immigrants
UK have a lot of Pakistani and Bangladeshi immigrants


Whatever the proposal was trying to achieve... I suspect the horse has long bolted out of the stable.

[durbster]

grumbledoak said:

Good idea. We are a good match, culturally and economically. Much more so than EU, Commonwealth, or World level free movement. It would have to be linked to work though, or NZ would be swamped with the retired folk. Again.

Are we? Can you show your working here?

I don't see how we're closer either culturally or economically to any of those countries than we are to Europe. Unless you just mean language?

[Budflicker]

What are the odds that most people in favour of this voted for Brexit?

It's a strange world.

[Troubleatmill]

Budflicker said:

What are the odds that most people in favour of this voted for Brexit?

It's a strange world.

That is one hell of a leap fella.

Would you be so kind as to prove your workings.

[Dr Jekyll]

durbster said:

Are we? Can you show your working here?

I don't see how we're closer either culturally or economically to any of those countries than we are to Europe. Unless you just mean language?

There are more British expats living and working in Australia than in any EU country, indeed more than all EU countries put together, there must be something in it.

[Troubleatmill]

Dr Jekyll said:

There are more British expats living and working in Australia than in any EU country, indeed more than all EU countries put together, there must be something in it.

Did they steal a sheep?