“When you gotta go, you gotta go” - Latest Brexit report

Boris Johnson gets caught short as EU celebrates World Toilet Day

As another trade deadline is passed, Facts4EU.Org looks at the EU’s ‘facilities’

Somewhat fittingly perhaps, on the day that the Prime Minister was once again caught short in his efforts to secure a UK-EU trade deal, the EU was celebrating World Toilet Day (yes, really).

Thursday 19 November was the latest in a growing list of missed deadlines for the UK-EU trade deal. There is still no agreement on the same three issues which the EU has used to block the progress of talks since it was finally ready to start talking trade in March of this year.

Sitting squarely in the “You couldn’t make it up” category, on the same day that the EU failed to offer anything new once again, the Commission’s statistics agency produced a report on the number of EU households without an indoor flushing toilet for the household's sole use.

Never ones to shirk its responsibilities, the Brexit Facts4EU.Org team plunged into the bowels of the EU’s datacentre in order to bottom out the extraordinary variance in the level of facilities available to EU citizens in their homes.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org Summary

Households’ indoor lavatory facilities for sole use
(Last full year of data: 2018)

1 in 4 Romanian households (27.7%) had no indoor flushing toilet for their household's sole use
Romania was followed by its neighbour, Bulgaria, on 15.3%
The Baltic countries came next with Lithuania on 10.6%, Latvia on 9.9%, and Estonia on 5.3%
The average in the EU27 was 2.2%
The UK was at 0.3% back in 2013

[Sources: EU Commission Statistics Agency 19 Nov 2020, UK ONS Lifestyle Survey Mar 2013]

Observations

Over the years Brexit Facts4EU.Org has produced many reports showing the wide disparities between the member countries of the EU, from economic output to minimum wages to healthcare to workers’ rights.

We have done so to highlight to the public that the UK is one of the most advanced nations in the EU and in the world. Our reports have been instrumental in countering the absurd Remain narrative that the world’s fifth-largest economy is somehow too small and insignificant to prosper as a free, independent, and sovereign country.

The availability of an indoor flushing toilet in a house is a natural expectation for British people. Our latest report above shows how untrue this is for the citizens of some EU countries.

If we may be excused...?

As regular readers know, we spend seven days-a-week on very serious issues regarding the EU and the UK’s departure from it. We felt we should make the British public ‘privy’ to the EU Commission’s latest report.

If today we have departed briefly from our serious tone in an indirect homage to the grand tradition of the ‘Carry on’ films, then we hope we may be excused….

Right: Original 1939 wartime poster from UK Government

Finally, the COVID crisis has impacted many people across the country, which in turn has resulted in the level of donations we receive from members of the public having dropped dramatically. Unfortunately we have no other sources of funding. If you have not previously donated to our work but are in a position to do so, may we appeal to you to help us now?

Any donation – no matter how small or large – will help us to ‘carry on’ and see this thing through. Unlike the EU Commission we don’t ‘spend a penny’ on limos, long lunches, wine cellars, or plush London offices. Quick, secure, and confidential links are below this article, and you will receive a warm and friendly thank you email from a member of our team. Your support will be greatly appreciated.

[ Sources: EU Commission | UK Office for National Statistics ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Sat 21 Nov 2020

Click here to go to our news headlines

Please scroll down to COMMENT on the above article.
And don't forget to actually post your message after you have previewed it!

Something to say about this? Scroll down for reader comments

Since before the EU Referendum, Brexit Facts4EU.Org
has been the most prolific researcher and publisher of Brexit facts in the world.

Supported by MPs, MEPs, & other groups, our work has impact.

We think facts matter. Please donate today, so that we can continue to ensure a clean Brexit is finally delivered.

Any credit card user

Quick One-off

From £5 - £1,000

Monthly

From £3 per month

Paypal Users Only - Choose amount first

Quick One-off

Monthly

PLEASE NOTE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT : You can write your comment under any existing comments below. After you have clicked to preview your comment, you MUST then click on the CAPTCHA system and send you comment, for it to be published. Thank you!

Reader Comments 9

1. Sydney Ashurst , Saturday, November 21, 2020, 09:13:

Why is the EU more concerned about the irrelevant to the inane than tackling the pressing need of an UK- EU trade deal.
They insert unrealistic stumbling blocks which they refuse to remove.

2. Margaret, Lincoln, UK , Saturday, November 21, 2020, 11:14:

A nice chuckle or two to start my weekend, thanks! Howeverr I do realise your article was partly to contrast the EU's preoccupations with their lack of interest in a trade deal.
Incidentally well done for your latest campaign, I sent my letter to Boris and to my MP.

3. Helen N , Saturday, November 21, 2020, 11:42:

Sydney, the EU specialises in concentrating on irrelevant things because when it comes to anything relevant or useful they show themselves up as being tremendously incompetent. Let us not forget the EU's infamous banana laws that they suddenly had to get busy to deny when they came to light.

4. Mike S , Saturday, November 21, 2020, 11:58:

The EU, the WA, the PD, & the undemocratic Remoaners whinging! What an absolutely wonderful place to put all of the above & have permanently disposed of all in one flush! If Boris & Co can't/won't do the necessary, & walk away, they can get the 2nd flush if they want &/or need from the British people! Flush the EU & all the rest down the pan Boris,or be flushed away yourself! It's up to you!

5. Soon To Be Expat , Saturday, November 21, 2020, 12:49:

Note to self: When bargaining, make sure you're on the side carrying the sword. This worked for the Empire for centuries, why would it stop now? Is it fair - ask the people bargaining without swords what they think.
The EU, like everyone else who may want a deal with the UK, are simply not hurrying. Their winding down the clock, letting the heat turn up - any trade negotiator worth his weight in Jaffa cakes or croissants would do exactly this.

6. Diane , Saturday, November 21, 2020, 13:55:

World Toilet Day - Surprising to see the statistics for the mentioned EU member 'states' and world statistics too. Makes you wonder what really happens to the many, many billions that are distributed by some world governments in foreign aid and by the EU itself. Good to see we are up there with the best on these particular standards. Like so many other standards ( Yes, EU ! ) although you'd never know it. Still, if reports are correct, not everything is down the pan, sounds like Mrs V de L feeling happier about the 'progress' made on recent negotiations so we must be doing something "right" Read into that what you will !

7. Voice of Wisdom , Sunday, November 22, 2020, 07:41:

World Toilet Day is an official United Nations international observance day on 19 November to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis. It is not an EU day.
It might make the immature giggle but sanitation is a life or death issue in many countries. Anything that raises worldwide (and European) standards and encourages investment is surely a good thing.

8. Kristie , Monday, November 23, 2020, 06:16:

The graph really brings it home doesn't it? EU in countries in 21st century... quite shocking. If the EU for once concentrated on important things this would be an obvious problem to tackle. But what am I talking about, EU being sensible...?

9. Pat , Monday, November 30, 2020, 11:54:

A lovely piece of writing and I do hope you will 'keep going', ' flushed' with success.

Add comment:

Please note: Your email address is never published unless you choose to enter it.