'The positive impact on growth would be significant,' influential thinktank says of reversing Brexit - as it forecasts £40bn cost of ploughing on

Investment lawyers also welcome Brexit as an opportunity to prevent much-needed reforms to the current ISDS system. In particular, they want to continue to be able to appoint investor-friendly arbitrators for the panels who decide ISDS cases. In today's ISDS system the parties to the dispute – and de facto their lawyers – pick the arbitrators. But this is no longer possible under the EU's new ISDS system included in its recent trade deals. There, the arbitrators are randomly chosen from a list of arbitrators who are pre-appointed by the EU and its trading partners.

This is only a small improvement on the previous system. Indeed scholars, activists, and even judges have criticised this as “zombie ISDS”, due to the way it continues to give foreign investors greater rights than anyone else and for allowing them to attack health and environmental regulations and claim huge sums of taxpayer money. However, the revised appointment process does partly curb the arbitration industry's power over the dispute settlement process.

Obviously the industry is not happy with this, and is trying to use Brexit as a way to avoid the reform.

In or out, it doesn't matter to normal people,

Does it matter to them

ordinary people

"He was elected with a mandate to tackle perceived politicisation in the organisation."

Hilarious

In the West, he’s seen as a reviled dictator whose actions have resulted in the country being subjected to more than a decade of targeted US sanctions.

At home, he continues to be the subject of hero worship. ... Members of Zanu PF likened Mugabe’s birthday to that of Jesus Christ, “who was born to rescue us, the same way President Mugabe was born in 1924 to free all of us.”

Some insight into the roots of Mugabe’s power can be gained from late Zimbabwean political scientist Masipula Sithole’s 1979 seminal book Zimbabwe: Struggles within the Struggle. In his ascendance to leadership, Mugabe cleverly sowed discord among the ranks of Zanu PF, clearing the way for himself. Deceptively charming and eloquent, the highly intellectual Mugabe was a godsend for Zimbabwe’s liberation movement. Since then, he has outlasted his opponents by being cunning and manipulative, skillfully playing members of his party off one another.

Two possible successors have emerged: divisive Mugabe-ally and vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa, considered to be the architect of a number of violent campaigns against dissenting voices in Zimbabwe; and Mugabe’s wife Grace, 40 years his junior. After recently obtaining a PhD three months after registering at the University of Zimbabwe, she has since assumed Promethean powers to make or break political careers.

[quote]Although this doesn't help[.quote]and Mugabe’s wife Grace, 40 years his junior. After recently obtaining a PhD three months after registering at the University of Zimbabwe,

I hope the lot break their necks!!!

Gannets

After recently obtaining a PhD three months after registering at the University of Zimbabwe.

Elsewhere on Monday, business leaders take to the Financial Times to "sharply criticise the state of capitalism".

A panel of more than 50 leading figures in finance, business and policymaking describe capitalism as in need of reform, as "management greed, corporate tax dodging and investor short-termism" have caused it to "lose its way", focusing too much on delivering for shareholders, rather than increasing productivity.

If a major investor pulls out the company is in dire straits.

Why are so many children questioning their gender identity?