The International Writers Magazine March Editorial 2016

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Hello - In this issue James Campion keeps us up to date on the rise of Trump and self destruct mode of the GOP as well as the obits on Sir George Martin and the momentum that Hillary has now, James Skinner updates regularly on the increasingly chaotic state of Spanish politics and we have travel from Colombia and India and lifestyles, as well as new fiction from our regulars Abigail and Martin with newcomers added. If you like what our writers write, do let them know.

Welcome: Editorial: Cool Brexitania? Put not your trust in those who sing siren songs of leaving...

If only separation could be painless and didn’t cause so much anxiety.  The moment Boris Johnson, erstwhile Mayor of London, and not so secret coveter of the post of Prime Minister, threw his hat into the ring for the ‘Outs’ it was game on.  The pound is plummeting and one can only hope that all those who clamor for the exit from Europe don’t want to go abroad in the next few months, because it will be a painful experience buying anything with these shrunken pounds. Might as well rename the pound the Zika.

The market has already spoken.  Shares down, pound down and it’s all about risk.  The UK outside Europe will be a puny thing as one company after another departs to trade with 500 million rather than our 65 million (and avoid the inevitable tariffs).  Banks, Ryanair, widget makers, they will all drift away and every year onwards we will stand prouder, but poorer, relishing our island status, but unable to keep the lights on at night.  Meanwhile if we want to sell anything at all to Europe we will still have to abide by all their directives and rules and negotiate separately with 27 nations to sell there.  This could take years.  Ask Canada about that, seven and counting and they had skilled negotiators as opposed to our moribund civil servants.

Germany has already made threatening noises about how we shouldn't expect any favours. “It wouldn’t be an amicable divorce,” Markus Kerber said, leader of the BDI. (German Confederation of Industries) And, unlike for Norway and Switzerland, “there’s no default European free-trade status in the waiting...' Resolving post-exit legal issues including trade treaties, taxation and regulatory matters might take five to 10 years, “embroiling companies in thousands of contract revisions'
Source: Bloomberg 29.02.16

Boris Johnson will happily lead us over a cliff, all for his personal glory, as he hopes to replace Cameron.  Of course he stands the great risk of being replaced rapidly in turn by a Podemos style Labour party newly enthused about Trotsky and Marx seeking to impose Zimbabwean economic ruination on the UK.  Our future in the UK looks bleak indeed.

I would like to think none of this will ever happen, but almost everyone I know and meet is all set to vote out like the little Englanders they are.  Around my local town at least I seem to be one of the few shouting ‘fire’ in a burning forest. And it gets worse, of course, as now Turkey is in the game with 75 million Turks able to move freely around Europe after the latest agreement. This has certainly frightened the horses and for many makes Brexit even more attractive.

Sure Europe is being swamped by economic migrants, absolutely it is choked by pointless regulations and unelected officials who squander our money with no accountability and lack any vision; but it’s a dynamic trading zone with 500 million people, all of whom could quite happily live without us given the chance (until that day Putin comes to call with his tanks of course).  Sadly a Corbyn administration will have melted down all the tanks and decommissioned any lethal weapons (except the tasers they’ll need for crowd control and strikers).

Then think of all the Brits who live in France and Spain and elsewhere in Europe; at least two million of them, of which a million own property in Europe at the latest reckoning.  Are they safe?  If you vote ‘Out’ will they have access to medical services there in Europe?  Do they still have rights?  Or do they all come home and crush the already overworked NHS and need emergency housing? Should they apply for European citizenship right now whilst they still can?  Will they even get it?

What about the migrants from Europe already here?  Some of the people ready to vote ‘Out’ are looking forward to them all leaving.  So say goodbye to your doctor, nurses, plumbers, electricians, and plant pickers, because if you think English, Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish skilled professionals will suddenly appear to fill those jobs, forget it.  Our economy is flourishing because those migrants are here and creating wealth and paying taxes.  Who will pay those taxes when they leave?  Where are the skilled Brits? I haven’t seen a native English doctor in thirty years.  There are severe restrictions of the number of doctors, nurses and other professionals who can be trained each year.  It’s called professional restricted practice to enhance their pay.

There is no Cool Brexitania.  It will be a cold harsh life on our own with interest rates ever rising to defend a falling pound, lots of mortgage pain, a housing bubble crash and huge dole queues, not to mentions cuts in pensions and benefits.  No rosy scenario.  Think it won’t happen.  Ask yourself who owns the water in your tap? Who owns the electricity? Who owns gas?  It’s not us.  Who own the car plants?  Railroads? It’s not us.  Who pays the salaries?  It’s not us.  Will they continue to invest here for ever diminishing returns?  Dream on. I spoke with a Brit yesterday who works at a high level with an American bank in London and they are already making plans to decamp to Paris or Frankfurt if we vote to leave, taking 3000 city jobs with them.

We haven’t controlled our destiny in years and a vote out will only accelerate the process.  Being an island went out of fashion thirty years ago.   If you buy the ‘Out’ ticket you’re taking the country down with you and crowning King Boris on the dungheap.

Enjoy this month’s Hackwriters - packed with ideas, comment and travel. Share something you like.

© Sam North - Joint Editor March 2016
*As ever Hackwriters is supported by sales of our books - so do buy, print or kindle we aren't picky.
**And thanks for those who do. The Heaviness, Another Place to Die: The Endtime Chronicles are recommended. Buy the spy/romance Repercussions of Tomas D set in the Blitz first. You know you want to.
Check out Marikka published by Hammer & Tong

MARIKKA- exclusively on Amazon Print and kindle 2 Based on a tragic real life event, Marikka flees from an arson attack on her home to the sea, where she meets Starfish boy – a runaway working for Jackson, a scarred man hiding a sinister secret from the world. Meanwhile her real father searches for her with the aide of Anya, ‘the girl who can read objects’. More about the writing of this book ‘Long after my tears dried, my heart stayed with Marikka, Starfish Boy and the strange girl who reads objects.’ CT You will smile, you will gasp with shock, and you will struggle to read the words through your tears. Gemma Williams - Amazon.co.uk 2015

The all new 2nd Edition of 'ANOTHER PLACE TO DIE: ENDTIME CHRONICLES By Sam Hawksmoor and Sam North (2015 version) Could you live in a world where antibiotics no longer work? Print & Kindle Q&A interview with the authors here A city gripped by fear as a lethal virus approaches from the East. No one knows how many are dying. People are petrified of being thrown into quarantine. Best friends Kira and Liz once parted are scared they will never see each other again. Teen lovers, Chris and Rachel, prepare to escape to the islands. Do you stay and hide, or do you flee? Review from the First Edition: 'Beautiful, plausible, and sickeningly addictive, Another Place to Die will terrify you, thrill you, and make you petrified of anyone who comes near you...' Roxy Williams - Amazon.co.uk

Spy/Romance thriller set during the Blitz in WW2 - Kindle download All proceeds go to keeping Hackwriters going The Repercussions of Tomas D A Hero? Or Englands Greatest Traitor? USA Paperback here 'Disturbing and very poignant YA love story that presents a chilling alternate future for an England that lost the war.' Marcel d'Agneau 'A brilliant imagining of living in the Blitz, well researched.' Amazon UK *download the Kindle version or buy the paperback from Hammer & Tong

'The Heaviness' for any reader who likes to think about such things as betrayal, revenge, relationships and the laws of gravity. An original Genie Magee story The Heaviness published by Hammer and Tong Genie & Renée have just 36 hours to save Rian or he dies 'Without a doubt, one of the best YA Sci Fi series out there.' Evie Seo Bookish Kindle & print Thanks to readers who have been buying this title this year. If you enjoyed it, please post a remark on Amazon or Goodreads. It all helps.

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