Nicely taken out of context. I said that IF European leads now do not take the perfect opportunity to make adjustments in governance and do not take bold steps re limiting immigration.
Don't be afraid. We (that is, London) will always retain our number 1 position. Our uniquely positioned time zone, our centuries of know how, the finest and fairest legal system in the world, the fact that we speak the global business language (that's English in case u don't know!). No Yank or Asian trader is gonna move his/her business to some frog in paris or kraut in frankfurt just because of brexit. For starters, they don't even speak the same language! If something goes wrong, no one would trust the french or german legal system to sort it out! And finally, i think everyone knows the EU is finished. When the second largest economy in Europe (fifth largest in the world) leaves, and the countries that want to join are third world countries like Albania and Macedonia, well, it says something loud and clear. The EU stinks and needs to be flushed down the toilet. What stupid moron would want to transfer business from London to a club which is letting in Albania?
Are you kidding? What centuries of know how? How ignorant can you be? Without the Americans and tons of European traders you won't have hardly anyone knowledgeable in finance left in London. You are dreaming. I have worked at Barclays in London in rates derivatives trading and if there was 1 Brit among 10-15 other traders then that was high. And among the many companies that contemplate moving staff or even headquarters to Europe is Vodafone and HSBC. You could not be more wrong
Unfortunately, it's an illusion that is steadily vanishing and that decay started way before the Brexit. It will only accelerate after this madness. Two key perceptions have been shattered overnight - the perception of political stability (sorry, who is the British PM at the moment?) and monetary steadiness (grown-up currencies do not post 15% drops in a matter of weeks). PS. The relative ease of migration to and fro contributed to the talent supply - Martinghoul, for example, who's been so vocal here, is about as British as the caviar he spreads on his pancakes every morning. Hell, I worked in London for a few years and who has not. PPS. I think EU should and probably will do everything possible to make an example out of England to prevent this sort of shit from other members. It's gonna be fun to watch.
Sorry, but I have to make at least a token effort to defend the immature behaviour of my home country's currency: "Between the start and close of business on Oct. 7 and Oct. 8 in 1998, the dollar dropped against the yen by almost 15% from peak to trough.." Footnote: painfully recalled as I had clients invested into Julian Robertson's Tiger Fund, which lost $2 billion in 1 day in $/Yen
Me? Spreading caviar? How very dare you?! I have a trained English butler (and other servants) to do that for me, obviously!