Yesterday morning the Chancellor added his voice to the Governor of the Bank of England to reassure markets. It was important to hear him say that there is no need for panic in financial markets. The Bank is making plenty of liquidity available to banks and the markets should it be needed. He also confirmed that there will be no emergency budget. I have always argued that such a tax raising and spending cuts budget is undesirable and needless. I always knew it would not pass the Commons. I would have been one of many who would vote it down. What we need is a budget to promote expansion and prosperity, spending the saved contributions as soon as we are out.
The international reaction to the UK’s declaration of independence has seen shock give place to acceptance and in some cases admiration from outside the EU. I expect various countries to come forward soon and to ask to enter negotiations with the UK for trade agreements, now we will be free to do so for ourselves. The government needs to set up and staff a Trade Negotiation unit and get on with it.
The business reaction to Brexit is also on the move. Many companies who did not want a Brexit vote are now saying they can do business in and from an independent UK, just as they do today from the UK as a member of the EU. The new lower level of the pound will make the sums for investors better, as products made in the UK will be more attractively priced and more profitable at these sterling levels. Sterling may not stay down at its new level against the dollar indefinitely, but all the time it does UK competitiveness is much enhanced.
The fishing industry is happy, planning how a new UK based system of quotas and regulations could help us rebuild both our fishing industry and our fishing grounds. Farmers are coming to realise that freed of the EU they can help the UK government design a rural and farming policy suited to our needs. I have found some of the hostility and reserve about Brexit in the City is changing. City professionals recognise that Brexit brings opportunities. Many of the sensible ones now want to help the government negotiate a good outcome on services.
I want to see the government inject some pace and purpose into the exit process. The next few days will see Conservative MPs engaging with Leadership candidates wanting to be Prime Minister. My lead questions will be How quickly do you want to get the UK out? What route will you use to secure our objectives, clearly laid out in the winning Leave campaign? Many of the answers have already been published on this site.
June 28, 2016
Darling, Lammy, Soubury, the BBC and to a lesser extent Sky, should stop talking Britain down. The people have spoken!
Lord Hill should be utterly embarrassed at his premature resignation as EU commissioner, just when he could do some good in standing up for his country..
If Boris thinks EU lite will wash with the people he’s an idiot and will see UKIP surge at the next election.
June 28, 2016
Much of what you said has come to pass JR. Fellow Tories should take your advice and hold the line and show some backbone. This was a once in a lifetime vote. Let’s not waste it.
June 28, 2016
I sympathise, Horatio, but politics is the art of the possible. Few leaders have the liberty to govern as they like, most govern as they can and in difficult times they often just cling on in terror and govern as they must.
The plain facts of parliamentary arithmetic mean that consideration will have to be given to MPs of different views. Mr Osborne, for instance, is not popular with Brexiters right now, but he has a following that gives him clout. He must be accommodated.
We are in a quasi-revolutionary situation. Those who seek to lead will be riding the revolutionary tiger, which proverbially eats those who fall off. Small characters with narrow views will become tiger-meat. For the moment nothing is more important than to secure a majority; from that all else will follow. Backbone will be needed, certainly, but it will have to be a supple one.
June 28, 2016
And certainly not elect Theresa May (whose betting odds seem to be strengthening for some odd reason – a lets get Boris backlash by pathetic, bitter, put out remainders one assumes). She certainly has no back bone at all, backed the wrong horse, is out of touch with (and blatantly lied to the voters that they had control of our borders in the EU through Schengen).
This after her silly anti immigration rant at the party conference. She would be a huge electoral liability rather like a bossy, patronising Hillary Clinton. She was clearly in favour of burying UK democracy for good. It has to be Boris he is a proven winner, very bright, in touch with the voters and amusing with it. Above all after Cameron he is refreshingly honest and not a smooth second hand car dealer, ratter, come spin doctor.
Does this mean we will not get a runway at Heathrow/Gatwick and thus get Boris Island?
Perhaps I should be buying real estate in that part of Kent. We probably need all three so successful will the UK become, now it has let go of the EU dead weight and red tape. Stock Market up 2+% I see.
June 28, 2016
JR, your leadership is not acting very professionally or honorable to the outcome of the referendum. Today Osborne is in a told you so mode. If your party thinks Teresa May will cut the mustard with the public you are consigning your party to an irrelevance.
It strikes me and many others that your leadership and the media is stirring up trouble to make thier predictions come true and hold a second referendum or some associate partnership deal where we are in some kind of remain light to appease those of us who voted out.
June 28, 2016
I agree Hope, it’s a shambles
June 29, 2016
@a-tracy; “I agree Hope, it’s a shambles”
Yes indeed, but not of the governments choosing, this omnishambles has been made in UKIP and Brexit land, and now we learn -well hear, the silence is deafening- that neither UKIP nor the Brexiters have anything more jotted down on their road map than a destination, not even a compass heading, north,south, east or west.
Oh and no more comments like some made the other day, that the Brexiters don;t have access to to the information, UKIP has the largest number of UK MEPs whilst of the Tory Brexiters one head the HoC European Scrutiny committee.
June 29, 2016
You are getting obsessed with the need for a written plan Jerry
Osborne stated that the Treasury had been working on contingency planning for the event of a Leave win for months and that a plan exists.
Even where I work there has been similar though more modest planning.
Would a copy calm you?
Much of what is happening is what is known as current events
Where one or more parties involved act and react.
Plans are not very useful in these scenarios
All you need is a team with a strategy and goals.
June 30, 2016
Edward2; “Much of what is happening is what is known as current events”
So is war, but I bet the MOD have a written ‘plan’, people know what they should be doing, who they should be talking to etc.
“Plans are not very useful in these scenarios”
Absolute tosh on stilts, it is because of plans that people know how to react to the various scenarios, not run around like headless chickens, that is why a company of any size of importance or governments use ‘war gaming’ exercises.
July 1, 2016
Jerry “Yes indeed, but not of the governments choosing, this omnishambles has been made in UKIP and Brexit land”
What utter rubbish Jerry, the government gave us the referendum, the leaflets were very clear. The arguments presented by the Remain team were fierce and quite clear, the rebutted the claim on the leave team battle bus, so EVERYONE knew what was meant by that statement. The remain team asked about the plan.
The plan is to leave the EU.
We have as long as we need to write a plan.
I’ve read plans in a Spectator article if I remember correctly.
I’m sure Nigel can give the Conservatives his plan if they don’t have one soon.
We spoke to Citroen who supply vehicles and they had a plan. Please don’t think companies don’t have a clue or a plan.
What we don’t need is a do nothing Theresa May capitulating to all sorts of remainers, WE WON. Leavers wouldn’t have any concessions.
So much for Daves promises when Turkey’s back in the EU talks, the EU Army is on the cards and the Euro is trying to be forced on the other 27.
June 28, 2016
Lord Hill took an oath to work for the EU and not his country when he became a Commissioner.
June 28, 2016
I assume that is why he resigned so quickly.
June 29, 2016
@LL; Indeed and Lord Hill is an honourable man for resigning, something our MEPs should consider, especially those who wanted the UK to leave, their job is now done, but as usual their armature dramatics in the EP yesterday did the UK no favours at all.
July 1, 2016
Do you believe Jerry that we should stop paying in if we get no say and no representation? We do pay, we are still held by all the rules in the club, we haven’t resigned yet. If an employee that was thinking about resigning was being treated like this by a boss you’d be the first one demanding their rights.
Lord Hill is not honourable he (he has let us down ed)
June 28, 2016
Why indeed do they BBC keep inviting people like Soubry, Ken Clark, Greening, Morgan, Rudd and the rest on. The talked total nonsense before the referendum and have absolutely nothing sensible to say now either. A long period of silence would be welcome.
Rather a silly interview with Nicola Horlick on the radio yesterday too. The BBC seems totally unable to lift its eyes to the new sunlit uplands. It is still trying to show they we right in pushing all their endless, hugely biased, remain propaganda. Propaganda that with the milking of the death of Jo Cox very nearly destroyed Great Britain as a democracy for good.
How on earth can Theresa May even consider standing for leader when she had took such an absurd “we have control of our borders under Schengen line”. She is about a courageous as a lily-livered mouse. Who would want to go into battle behind her?
Hopefully the new leader will appoint on merit and get rid of Cameron’s rather pathetic A list/token this and token that flower arranging/socialist approach to political appointments and elevations to the Lords.
June 29, 2016
@LL; Why do broadcasters do so, you ask. Because not to invite the opposing point of view to air their opinions, by only inviting those opinions that you approve of Mr Lifelogic, would be biased…
June 28, 2016
Lord Hill works and speaks for the EU, not the UK. His generous EU pension is assured and will not go without.
Believe me, we will not miss him or his ilk when we finally leave.
June 29, 2016
@Mark B; When ever anyone starts abusing others by talking about their pension entitlements they have truly lost the argument, why, because that is sort of argument is nothing but a race to bottom, after all many people -through no fault of their own- have to live on nothing greater than their basic state pensions with perhaps a small top-up. Such people might think the same way about you Mark B as you think about those with EU pensions.
June 29, 2016
It wasn’t an argument
it was a statement of fact
June 30, 2016
@Edward2; Well Edward, if criticising another person for having pension arrangements above that of the state minimum is a “statement of fact” I do hope you will enjoy your own retirement on nothing more than the basic state pension when ever that is, or is this just another example of your “Do as I say, not as I do” style of argument?
June 28, 2016
I worry about Mr Johnson becoming the next leader. He could not negotiate a reasonable settlement with the RMT as Mayor so how will he cope with an equally intransigent and idealistic EU?
Michael Gove imposed his will on the teaching unions so has form of delivery.
My preference would be David Davis, steely, purposeful and inclusive. I would like to see Michael Gove as Minister for Exit heading up the Foreign Office supported by Gisela Stuart and I would like to see our host installed in the Treasury. Mr Johnson could have the Home Office. Andrea Leadsholme could be promoted to Business including energy policy.
We can but hope. Unfortunately I have not seen David Davis put forward as a potential candidate.
June 28, 2016
Just heard that David Davis has ruled himself out, that is a real shame.
Mr Redwood any chance of you throwing your hat into the ring to ensure that a legacy Eursceptic with real world views is at least on the PLP ticket?
Reply No, there is insufficient MP support despite a good number of friendly emails from around the country.
June 28, 2016
Throwing your hat in the ring might a t least ensure that you are offered a role in the new government.
June 29, 2016
@Narrow shoulders; An MP who throws their hat into a leadership race but then can not secure enough fellow MPs to nominate them does nothing but humiliate themselves publicly…
Support that leads to influence is created in the corridors, not built from soapboxes – as Mr Corbyn has just found out!
June 29, 2016
I would have thought standing for election is the honest process where you advertise yourself and your policies.
And then those that want to support you decide to do so.
Nothing humiliating if you fail to gain a lot of support or fail to win.
June 29, 2016
I give you Dianne Abbott in the Milliband administration. An irrelevance in the vote but given a shadow cabinet position.
As the Conservative party hierarchy has willfully ignored Sir William Cash, Mr Redwood and Mr Davis since at least 2009 I think getting one of them into the inner sanctum might be worth temporary, passing humiliation if it comes to that.
At party hustings Mr Redwood may convince a few of the MPs that he knows what he is talking about and become the heir apparent.
I heard it said that we need a bank manager now not a showman and Mr Redwood certainly has the gravitas and the knowledge of the best old school bank managers.
June 28, 2016
Lord Hill was right to resign. He took the EU shilling and followed the EU bidding with the support of the Cameron government. In view of the outcome of the referendum it is questionable that he even be replaced, as any replacement will get the cold shoulder from the EU cabal. Our exit negotiation should come straight from the top and not be nuanced by a career Europhile civil servant.
June 28, 2016
Horatio
Agree with you.
We now need a leader who was prepared to put their head above the parapet way before the referendum was announced.
IDS has had his day, Liam Fox has tried before but run out of support, but maybe worth another try.
Problem is we are all looking in from the outside so really do not know what is going on with all the wheeling and dealing, all of which rather turns my stomach.
JR will know the real story.
I really do hope this time we get it right.
The negotiation team also needs to be sensibly chosen, should contain hard nosed commercial people,and not just be supporters who are getting a payback.
I see it is being reported that Mrs Merkel has said Article 50 needs to be enacted before any negotiations take place.
Sounds sensible, and avoids the nonsense of half in half out, re-negotiate nonsense. etc etc.
We voted out, so out it is, then we negotiate some trade deals and agree in areas of co-operation, but we should be prepared to walk away if they do not suit us and use WTO terms where applicable.
One thing is for sure, free movement of any kind is absolutely out.
June 28, 2016
BBC questions to the Chancellor were more of the ‘Why weren’t you on tap over the weekend? What are your leadership chances? Why haven’t you resigned?
Absolutely awful.
June 28, 2016
Indeed and Osborne was still pushing doom and gloom to a large degree.
June 28, 2016
The referendum paper said Remain or Leave. It made no reference to acceptance of a VoteLeave manifesto. Take note Daniel Hannan Boris Johnson and all those who want a Brexit-lite. Let us first leave the EU and then negotiate as necessary any trade agreements.
June 28, 2016
We are being betrayed by people who pretended that they wanted to leave the EU but have no intention of ever allowing that to happen.
June 28, 2016
Will we be leaving the EU ?
How do we get the majority of pro EU MPs to vote for this to happen ?
June 28, 2016
We need to nail down our membership of the EEA while we negotiate.
We need to join EFTA urgently.
1. This will free us up to leave the CFP and CAP.
2. It will free us up to negotiate a Liechtenstein type immigration policy which is surprisingly similar to that of the Australians. (EURerendum blog today).
3. We are being excluded this very week from negotiations within the Council of Ministers, even though they may discuss security. So that means we have little to lose.
4. It ties in with the planned EU Associate Membership of the Spinelli Constitution which is soon to be unveiled.
June 28, 2016
sorry – EUReferendum blog
June 28, 2016
It seems much less likely that we will leave the EU when some of the leaders of the official Leave campaign are already working with the de facto leader of the Remain campaign to make sure that we never leave.
There is no need for a majority of MPs to vote for the notice to be put in under Article 50, that can be done as a matter of Royal Prerogative and should be done now.
June 28, 2016
Half of MPs are just pathetic career politicians and sheep they will follow a sensible leader.
Had we have a sensible leader, no project scare and an impartial BBC before the vote it would have been more like 2:1 for leave.
June 28, 2016
Many of them seem to be exfoliating themselves from the face of the Labour Party to make way for Corbyn’s new (EU Out) version. Those who don’t will find themselves resigning to be trounced by UKIP. As will any Tories who don’t follow the will of the people. Mission completed.
June 28, 2016
Jeremy Heywood this morning has suggested that there should be a period of horse trading followed by ANOTHER referendum.
https://www.eureferendum.gov.uk/why-the-government-believes-we-should-remain/eu-referendum-leaflet/
Page 14 the governments own leaflet’…This is your decision, the Government will implement what you decide’.
It doesn’t say anything about 2nd referendums..or delaying the decision so that an alternative government have a chance to veto it.
Then the politicians wonder why there is a lack of trust in politicians!
June 28, 2016
By reminding them that they offered the people the choice and having chosen, the people are entitled to have their will done: anything else would be an affront to democracy and would extinguish the legitimacy of Parliament.
June 28, 2016
Anon–I asked this here yesterday but answer came there none. JR was once ever so sure that Out means Out but I never quite understood. Even if the Act enabling the Referendum was more than advisory (I do not know as I write what it purports to be) how would that prevent the losing MP’s just reversing it? Can’t bind successors and all that.
June 28, 2016
With a pitchfork,if necessary!
June 28, 2016
I have always been cynical about whether we would be “allowed” to leave the EU even if we voted to. I suspect at some point in time in the near future, we will see our parliament adopt an EU lite agreement where we would still have access to the single market, we would still pay a fortune to Brussels, we would still need to adopt EU rules and regulations and we would still have little or no REAL control over our borders.
I suspect that as PF2 (project fear 2) continues, people will be “grateful” to our great and good for protecting us from ourselves because, after all, the state’s broadcaster has run scare story after scare story sine the result to tell us how silly and naughty all of us ordinary people have been voting out.
I see George Osbourne reckons that tax rises and public spending cuts will have to happen because of our decision to vote out and yet, as I understand it, nothing changes for two years and then we would save our contribution money…..Obviously not that I think we’ll be allowed to leave as stated above. I hope I’m wrong but, I really doubt it.
Just when things couldn’t get worse, Jeremy Hunt says he is considering standing for leadership of the party. I suspect he would succeed in alienating the party from the electorate completely.
June 28, 2016
The PLP, disgusted with the result, act to depose their leader who probably voted no and actually represents typical labour voters. Wet out if touch Tories such as Soubury, Hunt and Clarke witter on about their disdain for English democracy.
Great speech from Farage in the EU today. Lots of very uncomfortable looking MEPs as the hard facts were hit home. Marvellous stuff.
June 28, 2016
He was blame by Junker and an MEP for the ‘£350m a week to spend on the NHS’ badly worded poster calling him a liar in the debate, although he had been critical of it and not of his making. This stupid advert will be repeated as alie until many of the Remainers think they have been robbed. All of the corrections will be ignored, as were any reply he may have made today. Both accusations were on BBC news but not any reply.
It will be used to justify reversing the referendum result. Who is responsible for this blunder?
Reply Most of us used the net figure. THis issue was done to death on the media before the vote so everyone heard the Remain points about it. Remain said there would be an emergency budget but that now turns out to be untrue, but that’s no reason for a re run.
June 29, 2016
Anon. Could the Conservative constituency associations that Eural wishes to eliminate recall the Theresa Mays of the party and tell them that they will be de-selected for the next election?
June 28, 2016
How quickly do we get an effective border force in operation ? Bearing in mind that this was the trigger issue for the referendum.
June 28, 2016
see EUReferendum blog for how to go about this painlessly.
June 28, 2016
@Anonymous; “How quickly do we get an effective border force in operation?”
That might depend on how badly we want a EU trade deal, no EU “Four Freedom” no free trade deal. Who will that hurt the most, those who can find an easy market for their goods or those who need to buy such goods, after all we do not buy German cars out of some long standing sense of charity towards a defeated nation like we might have in the 1950s.
“Bearing in mind that this was the trigger issue for the referendum.”
Was it, or was it just used by some as a populist excuse during the campaign to get a referendum and then during the campaign to secure a Brexit result amongst those voters unable to consider the wider and more detailed issues of our EU membership. I might be wrong but I do not recall people like Alan Sked (the actual founder of UKIP) ever campaigning on immigration, keeping the UK out of the Euro yes and that was indeed Farage’s campaign until the question of the UK joining the Euro was dead and buried and thus ‘immigration’ became the problem to be fought, that was in 2009.
June 29, 2016
There are many nations who sell happliy in Europe without being “in the single market”
And they have no free movement arrangements either.
China and USA are just a couple of examples.
My memory of UKIP was their focus on stopping the UK giving away sovereignty and the pound.
June 29, 2016
@Edward2; Once again you miss the point, the impositions of tariffs and what effect it will have on such trade, and which economy will hurt the most – one that has to buy to survive or the one that chooses to sell…
June 29, 2016
Tariffs are single figure rates.
WTO rules apply
No barriers of a major effect
Currency variations cause companies more difficulties.
I have been involved in these matters over the last few decades
Trade all over the world as long as you know the rules is quite manageable.
June 30, 2016
@Edward2; You are still missing the point, or should that be ignoring the point, the UK does not buy from the EU27 out of a sense of charity, as you would know if you really had been involved in import/export for a few years never mind a “few decades”. Our trade imbalance, with the EU27, is such any tariffs will hurt us far more than it will a country like Germany whop can find a ready market for their widgets or what ever, can we find a supplier of those widgets and at the same pre-Brexit price though…
June 28, 2016
How quickly do you want to get the UK out?
“That all depends on the meaning of the word “out”.
Will we still be paying contributions to the EU budget? Will we be paying a level of contributions anywhere else that is out of the control of our own electorate?
Will we still have free movement of people across our border? Will we significantly reduce our net immigration?
June 28, 2016
If we nail down EEA and EFTA membership, this could all happen surprisingly painlessly and surprisingly quickly.
June 28, 2016
“Out” of the EU simply means “no longer bound by the EU treaties”, irrespective of the alternatives which may be put in place. The referendum question asked whether we wanted to Remain in the EU or Leave the EU, it did not ask voters to choose between possible alternative arrangements. And while we are getting bogged down talking about that the bad losers, and some of the winners, are working to make sure that we never leave the EU and so those alternatives will be irrelevant.
June 28, 2016
MAtthu
The probable answer to your questions is Yes, Yes, Yes & No
June 28, 2016
According to Dan Hannan, yes we will still be paying contributions, yes there will be unrestricted free movement and no net immigration will not fall and that further the Leave campaign didn’t say those things would happen. You need to be worried that even an “extreme” Leaver like Hannan is saying that as if somehow that’s the outcome he wanted. Something very odd is going on and the longer the delay the more worrying it is.
June 28, 2016
Yes to all your questions. Nothing has changed until Article 50 is invoked and negotiations start. It will take 3-5 years before we stop paying to the EU but we will now STOP.
June 28, 2016
Indeed the sooner we get a sound PM and chancellor, with a sensible leave agenda the better.
A chancellor who can inspire confidence rather than the current tax, borrow and waste. IHT ratter, pension mugger, tax complexity increasing, tenant mugging, wage controlling, emergency budget threatening, lets run down Britain, socialist.
We need to move every rapidly to low simply taxes and a bonfire or red tape. A country that welcomes businesses, the hard working and the rich rather they deters them constantly.
June 28, 2016
Osborne has not fixed the roof as he claims. He is running a huge PSBR and has a massive trade deficit too. Doubtless he will blame are future problems on leaving the EU rather than his poor grasp of economics and silly policies like sugar taxes and wage controls. It is a convenient excuse for him, he should be very grateful that someone else will sort the mess out for him.
Hopefully someone like JR or in the Allister Heath mode. Low simpler taxes, as little red tape as possible, far smaller government and far more efficient public services. A country that welcome the rich and hardworking rather then pushes them abroad.
June 28, 2016
I vote Jacob Rees-Mogg as PM and would love to see (but pretty sure it won’t) our host as Chancellor
June 28, 2016
Breathtaking quote from Osborne:
“It was not the responsibility of those who wanted to remain in the EU to explain what plan we would follow if we voted to quit the EU.”
In that case why did he explicitly prevent the Leave campaign from accessing the Civil Service to get the required information to plan ? It is standard practice for any big business to do contingency planning to cover different possible outcomes and it always looked like Brexit had a high probability (>40%) of happening, the fact the government did no contingency planning is breathtakingly incompetent and should mean he gets no job at all in the next government.
June 28, 2016
It is the illogicality expected of an arts graduate.
In calling the referendum, the government should have put two honest scenarios as choices to the electorate, and let them decide.
We would be in a different place now.
June 28, 2016
Rather like the Hotel California Article 50 clause.
All wilder aspects of Project Fear should be looked at and plans made for a reshuffle. They seemed to plan a scorched earth no fallback to encourage with perhaps a revote after a lesson.
Those who came late to the Vote Leave are still more than suspect.
We should stop paying subscriptions, until we get informal talks from the EU. If talks dont arrive, or fail, we dissapply the 1972 Act and leave with no deal and no payment of subs. This is economic blackmail or poker and we more than clear we mean it.
Meanwhile we pursue fast track negotiations with other sovereign countries in Europe who wish are willing and able.
All government contracts with EU countries should not be renewed until we get some an exit with a better deal than no deal.
No deal sounds reasonable in an unreasonable EU scenario.
Lets concentrate on the rest of the world for once including Russia and China. The US should take a lesson from Errol Flynn.
We are open.
June 28, 2016
Theresa May now is favourite to be the next leader. What a dire mistake that would be electorally for the Conservatives. A cowardly remain supporter who lied to the nation only a few days ago. Wrongly assuring them (among other deceptions) that the UK “had border controls within the EU through Schengen”. A complete and blatant lie to the voters – what a way to start off your battle for leadership.
Also one who has as Farage might have put it – the charisma of a damp rag.
She comes across as a bossy, not too bright school teacher, Anyways at 59 she is also rather too old. A geography graduate it seems (so probably not too numerate or good at risk reward calculation or deal negotiation either). Furthermore she has serious health problems with diabetes type I which can be very limiting and serious indeed. She would be about as hopeless as John Major was – at least he did not sound bossy – just very dim.
Boris is hugely superior, he is bright, principled and managed against the odd to win two terms as London Mayor (a rather strong Labour area).
Ms May would be a total disaster, worse than the Cast Iron, No ifs no buts serial ratter. Similar but with rather less ability on her feet and far worse PR skills.
Has the woman ever said anything funny in her life I wonder, I rather doubt it?
June 28, 2016
And rather worryingly she has religion too. The CofE being a hot bed of lefty lunacy and “BBC non think”.
June 28, 2016
The people voted to leave the EU by 52 per cent to 48 per cent = yet three quarters of MPs backed the campaign to Remain.
This points to a future scenario where MPs might try simply to ignore the referendum or they might interpret the call to “leave” the EU very differently to how the people interpret it.
Either way, hundreds of sitting MPs face future de-selection (re-enforced by public anger after Chilcot of course).
Some might argue that would lead to a brighter future indeed.
June 28, 2016
An intriguing idea on how the government might engineer an early election despite the introduction of 5-year fixed term parliaments: by proposing a vote of no confidence in itself.
If it wins the vote, it has demonstrated no confidence and this would result in an early election.
(But if it loses a vote on a motion of no confidence …?)
June 28, 2016
This is why it is vitally important to find out if your local candidates are pro EU and forget voting along party lines if they are.
This is often difficult to tell because they don’t exactly parade their EU-ness proudly, they don’t wear badges or put the EU flag on their literature as one would imagine an EU patriot would be keen to do.
June 28, 2016
UKIP will be on the backs of each and every one of those MPs to keep the promise or stand for re-election, then be trounced at the polls. Or they might just prefer to play the waiting game for an early election, and be trounced then.
June 28, 2016
Matthu. I think if the MP’s voted against what is a democratic vote then they will see all support for their parties disappear. UKIP will be rubbing their hands with glee. I could not vote for any party that voted against the wishes of the people especially something as important as this. I think a lot more who comment on this page would feel the same way. I want us to get out as quickly as possible. I don’t know the legal wrangling that goes with it but surely someone in government must know the best way to do it quickly and with a good result for Britain. The sooner we leave, the sooner we can trade all over the world. Bring it on!!
June 28, 2016
Agreed. There has been too much that is underhand and not becoming.
Lets strike now and break clear. The EU must not be allowed to dictate our method of departure. These agreements have been voted on and i think the world will think kindly on us in the circumstance. Afterall we were stitched up against the will of the majority.
They must be made aware they have more to lose here and we are past the point of worrying. If you like we have crossed the Rubicon.
Looking forward to the future as a free trading country.
June 28, 2016
I don’t think it should necessarily be a condition that a candidate be a Brexit supporter, though personally, it would be an added recommendation. I have no doubt that there are many M.P.s who have honestly considered that staying in would be best.
However, those candidates who have misled voters in the past or who have plainly been careerist turncoats should not be considered.
P.S. Do we have a figure showing the percentage of Conservative voters who voted for Brexit?
June 28, 2016
I think Con-man-eron is using stalling tatics, very when he said that he didn’t want the hard work that invoking article 50 . Why can’t the deputy start the ball rolling?
The Eu wants us to invoke article 50 now so we play the waiting game until you guys choose another leader.
Just get in with it already.
June 28, 2016
During the referendum campaign Cameron said that he would trigger Article 50 immediately, now he has reneged on that and some of the leaders of the official Leave campaign are letting him get away with that. They are playing for time to build up organised opposition to block our exit, it will all have been for nothing.
June 28, 2016
The Lisbon Treaty and 1972 European Communities Act are mutually locking so long as we have a majority of pro EU MPs.
Art 50 stipulates that our constitutional needs must be met and these are outlined in the 1972 Act. A Parliamentary vote is needed to activate Art 50 therefore. The PM cannot do this autonomously.
We must:
– keep the referendum result and wait patiently for the public to change the make-up of Parliament to one more reflective of the population through further elections and VERY careful voting (giving prime consideration to a candidate’s position on the EU.)
or
– agree to another referendum and hope that the result is so overwhelmingly in favour of Leave that the current batch of MPs dare not disobey the will of the people.
This referendum was, indeed, too close to make any change.
June 29, 2016
No, the Article 50 notice would be a matter of Royal Prerogative.
Parliament has had at least three opportunities to say that it must have control of that but has shown no interest in doing so.
June 28, 2016
They’re deliberately stalling, while they work out how to overturn the referendum result.
June 28, 2016
I think his behaviour is disgraceful. Being half-resigned, and descending into a sulk, looks like this sore loser’s way of punishing the country for disappointing him.
June 29, 2016
starting now gives 2 years. We must work out what we want and then start the ball rolling else we risk shooting ourselves in the foot. It is clear not everyone campaigning for Brexit, and thus voting for Brexit, was thinking the same way.
Juncker wants us to start know as he knows it will give him the upper hand. I cannot think of a better reason to wait and be properly prepared.
June 28, 2016
While to my mind the Norwegian model is a none starter, many in the press seem to be pushing for it.
Surely the Norwegian model would require a further referendum under the European Union Act 2011 as there would be a further transfer of sovereignty.
With the Norwegian model the EU can introduce new or modified diktats, which are binding on us, without the UK having any input or need for our agreement.
Also an interesting comment from EurActiv.com
Norway’s parliament voted to attach the country to the EU’s financial supervisory body on 14 June 2016; critics called it the “biggest concession of sovereignty since the European Economic Area agreement”. As the UK and the EU embark on the next phase, this may put paid to any hopes of adopting the so-called Norwegian model.
I wonder what pressure the EU put on the Norwegian Government to get that accepted.
June 28, 2016
If I was putting a choice of two options to someone I would have Plan A and Plan B, why didn’t the government have a Plan B? I think the head of the civil service should be joining the job seekers too. (It wasn’t for the leave campaign to have a plan, the government IS the government).
The BBC and ‘remainers’ should get over the fact that they lost and stop talking the UK down. We are getting a re-run of the election, the BBC spending weeks discussing why they (the BBC) lost the election. Nicola should be told to shut up too. Her powers are delegated from Westminster, she does not have foreign policy delegation so can’t even use public funds to phone or write to the EU leaders without running foul of the law.
June 29, 2016
because there are multiple options for what post Brexit looks like. The Brexiters clearly do not agree on what option they want – which is normal as they come from across the political spectrum.
June 28, 2016
Regarding your final paragraph Mr Redwood. On behalf of ovet 17 million citizens, can I just say that;
1. Scotland voted to remain in the UK for better or for worse.
2. Gib wants UK protection.
3. The UK voted to leave the EU for better or for worse.
We didn’t vote to keep freedom of movement or for another negotiation and a second referendum. If the result had gone the other way it would have been the end of it. If Scotland had voted 52-48 to leave the UK they’d have been gone by now.
We voted to Leave, so can we leave now please?
June 28, 2016
“How quickly do you want to get the UK out?”
The first question is:
“How quickly do you want to get the irreversible commitment that the UK is leaving?
And the answer to that is “Now”, “Today”, “Don’t stall, put the notice in”.
After that we can discuss how long we would like to take to get out. At the moment, it’s looking increasingly likely that we won’t be getting out anyway, so that question is irrelevant as are questions about what alternatives we would prefer.
June 28, 2016
“Yesterday morning the Chancellor added his voice to the Governor of the Bank of England to reassure markets.”
Indeed, and even the ex governor of the BoE weighed in but what happened, more money wiped off the value of companies, the GBP at its lowest point for 30 or so years and to cap all that -after UK markets closed, no doubt to try and protect them from the shock waves- S&P and Fitch both cut the UK’s converted AAA credit rating.
This is not talking the UK down, as some on this site will claim, it is the reality – as the ‘dries’ used to say way back, ‘you can’t buck the market, the market is a barometer, the markets have spoken – they have and they hate doubt and uncertainty, the people have spoken and Brexit is here so lets get on with it, Cameron should trigger A50 today and not a day later.
June 28, 2016
Jerry: “you can’t buck the market, the market is a barometer, the markets have spoken ..”
No, the people who lost their bet on the Brexit referendum had to sell the kitchen sink and pay up.
This fund didn’t do quite so badly on Brexit day.
June 29, 2016
@APL; But that doesn’t explain the ratings agencies down grades does it.
June 29, 2016
Ratings agencies that gave excellent ratings to securitised mortgage products before the 2008 crash and until recently gave some currently struggling Eurozone nations top marks.
June 29, 2016
Jerry: “But that doesn’t explain the ratings agencies down grades does it.”
Quote: “Last Friday, ratings agency Moody’s cut the UK’s Aaa credit rating to Aa1” Unquote.
‘Last Friday’ was 18th February 2013. The UKs credit rating has been in decline for some time.
Just like the hysteria over the losing bets of the REMAIN bankers causing the stock market to drop, this credit rating announcement just happens to coincide with the BREXIT referendum result.
Correlation is not causation.
June 30, 2016
@APL; “Correlation is not causation.”
Just as opinion is not fact.
July 1, 2016
Jerry: “Just as opinion is not fact.”
Just so, but what has that got to do with the declining creditworthyness of the UK?
The ratings decline having been an established trend for some time and in this case is largely unrelated to the BREXIT vote.
June 28, 2016
The £ is down. Bank shares are down guess which ones most.I suspect this is not coincidence. The issues of the banks need to be resolved. It appears we are still bailing them out. Doing it outside of the EU will be easier i think.
Bring back Mervyn King. Mr Carney can handover asap.
June 29, 2016
@anon; “It appears we are still bailing [the banks] out. Doing it outside of the EU will be easier I think.”
Easier perhaps but as cheaper or cheaper?
June 28, 2016
Why is Boris keen to appease the Remain side ?
Is it not the fact that if we have politicians elected on one platform jumping to another to placate the feelings of those who lost the vote, then we never get the change the majority want ?
June 28, 2016
It is tragic that the British public have waited peacefully and patiently and used due democratic process to get to this result and yet – even after this – their will is unlikely to be held.
It is most likely that the fogeys in the Remain side will hijack the youth revolt that is coming – the same youth that could only muster 34% of its vote despite it being given an extra 48 hours to register. And of that 34% only 26% of 18-24 year-olds in this country voted to Remain.
What a complete distortion of reality the Remain camp is promulgating – to claim for itself the fresh , wrinkle free and nubile face of this argument… with flowers in its hair !
June 28, 2016
What is going on is bloody disgusting.
June 28, 2016
“What route will you use to secure our objectives”
When we ratified the Lisbon Treaty we agreed that if we or any other member state wished to leave the EU then the route would be that provided in the new Article 50 TEU.
That has some defects but in view of what is happening now it has this huge advantage: once the formal notification has been put in it cannot be revoked, and we will definitely leave the EU, whereas in contrast a mere promise that we will leave the EU can later be withdrawn or cancelled or set aside and then we will not leave the EU.
June 28, 2016
Germany decides EU policy if not the detail and if the noises emanating from Merkel and German business leaders is anything to go by an orderly acceptable deal is eminently possible. The Brussels clique, the BBC, Lord Hill and the like are acting like spoilt kids and throwing hissy fits. In the end to no avail I believe but perhaps for good reason as the EU has lost much by Brexit but the UK has gained much.
We need to get on with Brexit but it should not be overly rushed. The danger is it is going to very difficult to put together a Brexit package as there are so many different opinions as to what that should be. It will need strong and determined leadership to deal with the negotiations and all the other ramifications of Brexit. Is Boris up to it? What will happen in the Autumn will there be a need for a general election? If so all bets are off.
June 28, 2016
I agree with your views. I see that Mervyn King has said that the £ was overvalued and needed the correction that has occurred to help bring the trade balance back onto an even keel. The Wall Street Journal, in an editorial, has called for the USA to enter into free trade talks with the UK – with the backing of some in Congress. The UK has escaped the possibility of the financial transaction tax, which should please the City – and if the EU is silly enough to press on with it, it would make the City even more competitive than it is now. UK ports will escape the forthcoming ports directive which was wholly inappropriate for UK ports. More and more people around the world see the outcome of the referendum vote as a cry for democracy against the over bearing, over compensated international bureacracy that seeks to controll more and more aspects of our lives.
Re the Conservative party leadership contest some curious runners and riders have emerged from the woodwork. James Hunt appears to want a second referendum. Steven Crabb and Sajid Javid propose a joint bid. They were all in the Remain camp. These are not the people to carry the country forward to implement the referendum decision.
June 29, 2016
And here’s another.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3498705/Sajid-Javid-handed-16-000-donations-ex-Deutsche-Bank-colleagues-sparking-Labour-calls-spell-exactly-knew-firm-s-tax-avoidance.html
June 28, 2016
The referendum result continues to appear to trickle into the sand and preparation for watering down up to bare-faced capitulation.
Theresa May (Remainer) begins to rise.
Jeremy Hunt and the Lords support a second referendum.
There is the beginning of a drip that we will have to accept free movement of labour with some small modifications and of course pay in to the EU to trade.
Where is the leader that like Mrs T says “No”, “No”, “No”.
Are we drifting into “never mind the referendum” business as chaps.
This is a good way for many “Remain MPs”, with small majority’s” to lose their seats.
This time a fear campaign based on “Vote Conservative. Think what could happen with an SNP/ Labour alliance and a Socialist Government” won’t work.
June 28, 2016
I suggest you also question candidates on their attitudes to Messrs Cameron and Osbornes virtue signalling policies which cannot be justified economically. Now would be a good time to call into question: HS2, 0.7% of GDP automatically for overseas aid (can net contributions to the EU now count for the remaining period of our membership?) and of course those policies classified by Mr Cameron as ‘green crap’. The U.K. Outside the comfort blanket of the EU cannot afford expensive politics which Arnt justified on fundamentals. Every policy needs to pass a fundamental test: does this make the uk more or less attractive as a destination for investment and what does it do for confidence? Hopefully the next chancellor will be a radical tax simplifier. We do not need and cannot now afford a PM and Chancellor who play tactically for the marginal 10% swing voters. The new government needs to move rapidly and boldly to establish the UK as the most economically liberal, lowest tax, and most flexible economy in Europe.
Boris Johnson needs to commit to the much needed Heathrow expansion – or he should not be chosen.
June 28, 2016
Good morning.
Sorry, but this is off-topic (slightly)
It is of concern to me and I am sure many here, that there seems to be a move to :
a) force the UK electorate to vote again.
b) have Parliament to annul the result of the referendum.
c) use the result of the referendum to negotiate a ‘better deal’.
I would kindly like to remind our kind host and others, that Parliament on this great issue handed over responsibility to the people (plebiscite). By doing so, they have, without question, submitted themselves to the will of the plebiscite and now, even if they do not agree with the result, act upon it.
Again, I would like to remind our kind host and others, that the question placed before the nation was both simple and clear. It was whether or not ‘we’ the ‘people’ wish to remain in or out of the European Union (EU) ? The answer given after much debate, was a clear; “No !” PM David Cameron stood before outside No.10 before nation and stated that the result was clear and that the decision of the people would be enacted.
Can we please have a statement, either form our kind host or the PM, to confirm that we shall be leaving the EU ? I think it is important, for the good of the nation, that those who campaigned on the Remain side accept the decision of the result and the Plebiscite. It should be made clear to those in Parliament who do not, that they should not stand in the way of the people. If they feel unable to commit fully to the result, then they must resign their seat and allow someone who is committed to democracy to stand in their place.
Our kind host has himself stated here, that he does not understand why some politicians when standing for election, stand on an anti-EU platform only then, once elected, to then change their minds. This in my view is wrong. You are elected to represent we the people, not yourselves. And in this referendum it was a UK decision not a party or constituency one. ie We are all bound by it no matter what.
It is, in my view, important that the will of the people is respected. In the past when referendums in EU member countries were held, they were about accession of Treaties, not leaving. The game that the EU has played in the past of asking member countries to vote, vote, and vote again until the “right answer” is achieved will not work. If this trick is tried here, and now the claims of Armageddon made by the Chancellor (where is he by the way ?) have been proven to be totally false, they will backfire on all the political parties in the UK, except perhaps one.
The political class needs to be very careful from here on. do not say that you have not been warned.
Thank you.
Reply Leave means leave. the government said this before the vote and has confirmed it after the vote
June 29, 2016
Mark B. Well put. The constituency associations of Conservative and Labour must recall and make it clear to MPs that they are there to serve and not frustrate their constituents.
June 28, 2016
I see that Jeremy Hunt is calling for a second referendum. This must not be allowed to happen, JR. We voted democratically to leave the European Union and this is what should happen. No half measures or reruns, please.
June 28, 2016
Our opponents are recovering from the shock of their defeat in the referendum and are rapidly regrouping to block our withdrawal from the EU.
Here is an article published yesterday:
https://ukconstitutionallaw.org/2016/06/27/nick-barber-tom-hickman-and-jeff-king-pulling-the-article-50-trigger-parliaments-indispensable-role/
“Pulling the Article 50 ‘Trigger’: Parliament’s Indispensable Role”
Anybody who thinks that MPs, let alone peers, will feel bound to follow the will of the people as expressed in the referendum simply hasn’t been paying attention over the years: in both Houses large majorities of the members have transferred their primary loyalty to the EU and they will vote to keep us in it. On no account must they be allowed to decide whether or not Article 50 should be triggered, because the answer will be “No” – a very emphatic “No” in the Lords – and that will be our referendum victory wiped out.
Among the comments on that article there is mine pointing out that MPs and peers have had at least three opportunities to assert a claim to control the issuance of an Article 50 notification but have shown no interest in doing so and therefore it is legitimate to regard it as a matter of Royal Prerogative.
June 28, 2016
Fine words on this site, but the broadcasters are treating this as a national disaster, when it is the reverse. We will soon be seeing flowers strewn outside the House of Commons with messages of sympathy to Juncker etc. Really, you need all the airtime you can raise, and encourage Leadsom, Hoey, Stuart etc to do likewise to explain where we are now and where we’re going.
Grayling, poor chap, seems to be the only face of sense on our TV screens.
June 28, 2016
Looking at the eight leadership contenders on the Mail website there is nothing there to get me to consider voting Conservative again. Where is David Davies? Talk about brassneck what are the likes of Morgan, Hunt and Javid doing there?
June 28, 2016
It would seem that we have got out by the skin of our teeth. If this report in the Daily Express is even half true it will be very interesting in how all the sour grapes remainer’s deal with it
European SUPERSTATE to be unveiled: EU nations ‘to be morphed into one’ post-Brexit
EUROPEAN political chiefs are to take advantage of Brexit by unveiling their long-held plan to morph the continent’s countries into one GIANT SUPERSTATE, it has emerged today.
The foreign ministers of France and Germany are due to reveal a blueprint to effectively do away with individual member states in what is being described as an “ultimatum”.
Under the radical proposals EU countries will lose the right to have their own army, criminal law, taxation system or central bank, with all those powers being transferred to Brussels.
Controversially member states would also lose what few controls they have left over their own borders, including the procedure for admitting and relocating refugees.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/683739/EU-referendum-German-French-European-superstate-Brexit
Its in the paper so it must be true!!!!!!!!!
June 28, 2016
Well, I don’t know about you lot, but what with Gibraltar, Ireland, Scotland, the £, the FT250, I am beginning to think that we have backed the wrong horse.
June 29, 2016
I was lucky enough to have to transfer money to buy a property in France in November 2015 when the £/€ was 1.40.
Now JR tells me I should rejoice when it is 1.20.
Can he really be serious? Or does he take his readers as complete innumerate?
etc ed
Reply Most people like it when their assets go up in value,but you are quite entitled to complain about that if you are unhappy it has happened.
June 28, 2016
Many of the answers have already been published on this site.
Too true John, hopefully you will be elevated to a position you can add impetus to the whole process.
June 28, 2016
Why is Mrs Merkel saying there should be no informal contacts between the UK government and the EU before Article 50 is triggered formally? It seems to me that what global markets want to see is a rapid and amicable deal. Perhaps the US can play a useful role banging heads together.
June 28, 2016
Why should there be? Article 50 is perfectly clear: put in the notification that you intend to leave, then negotiate the new arrangements for after you have left, not the other way round. More to the point than why Merkel is saying that this is how it should be is why our treacherous political leaders are saying that it should be the opposite, and the answer is that they are just playing for time to allow those who want to keep us in the EU get organised to make sure that we never leave.
June 28, 2016
Time to move on, the conservatives need to pull together elect a new prime minister & chancellor, get a team together and start negotiations for our exit.
Continued procrastination will mean continued uncertainty & instability.
June 28, 2016
There has been talk of our economy going into recession next year. The chancellor should be making a statement to the House setting out how he plans to spend our saved contribution. My worry is that whoever negotiates for us will ‘give it or part of it away’.
Making such a statement will further reassure the Markets and show the doom merchants how wrong they were. If a further reduction in corporation tax could be found, that would ease City fears and, maybe attract more companies or deter those that are thinking of leaving.
June 28, 2016
I want to see immediate determined action to protect our coastlines, which is in in our hands to implement. There are clandestine operations all along the south coast bringing illegals into England.
We need an urgent building programme to create a fleet of patrol craft – not ribs – they must be armed and fast and sea-going. There must be enough to be on constant patrol on the 12 mile limit. All suspicious craft especially at night must be boarded and shot at if they don’t stop. And NO we don’t bring them to our shores – we confiscate the boats for destruction or conversion here if they are good enough and the individuals are immediately to be taken back to the French side.
There was a piece on local TV about the Dorset coast just now about a police patrol in a very small open rib largely useless for the job required out at sea, only good enough for harbour work – it was said they were to be allocated an addition policeman, yes ONE, so they could double their patrols.
Our defences are currently pathetic, it is negligence. And the idea that Theresa May who has presided over this could be a Prime Minister is outrageous. She has failed so far.
We must have a strong-willed determined Brexiteer for the next PM.
June 28, 2016
Three questions? Why is Osbourne still chancellor? He threatened the British people in a blatant attempt to scare them off voting for Brexit. He shamelessly promoted the Brussels agenda. He will work to make Brexit fail in the next few months. He should be gone.
Why do we need free trade agreements that largely work to favour large corporations? A one sentence announcement is more than sufficient. “We agree to allow free trade between our countries with no tariffs or other impediments.” How long does that take? If it were truly just a free trade agreement then you could do it over the phone in 5 minutes. What “free trade agreements” are really for is to restrict trade to the benefit of big business.
Why does the government need to have a budget to promote growth? Cut taxes and bureaucracy. That would do more for growth than all the government policies in the history of the world.
June 28, 2016
I think it’s time for a tester bill in Parliament. How about pulling out of the CFP and putting it to a vote.
If it doesn’t get through it will expose the traitors and then we will know where we stand.
We don’t want a Norwegian model and as IDS says
.free movement is non negotiable.
If you don’t want a UKIP walkover at the next election we had better see some movement pdq.
The referendum result is more legitimate then both the general election or the Welsh devolution.
We won so action this day.
Please don’t say there is no Parliamentary majority. Put it to the test and flush them out.
As Denis Cooper says the single market is a bit of a sideline. China USA and the rest of the world aren’t in it and still trade.
Get on with it.
June 28, 2016
When Mr Osborne “also confirmed that there will be no emergency budget” he showed that in the referendum he abused his position as Chancellor to knowlingly and deliberately mislead and scare the British people. He is a disgrace and public life will be better off without the dishonourable scrub.
June 28, 2016
“I want to see the government inject some pace and purpose into the exit process” – so do we all!
This dithering will soon look like treason.
June 28, 2016
I think there is grave danger in dragging our feet and not implementing Article 50. This article from EUu Observer indicates just that, with time being given for our own ministers, e.g. Jeremy Hunt, to talk about second referendums, and the EU to start talking about a new type of EU. What is it that our UK politicians do not understand? The people have voted to Leave.
https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/134065
June 28, 2016
It is difficult to have confidence that the wishes of the people expressed in the referendum to leave the EU will be carried out. It is clear that the majority of MPs don’t listen to the wishes of their constituents. They expect their constituents to listen to them and accept whatever they throw at them. Add to that the outrageous situation where a Prime Minister called a referendum and produces no contingency plan in the case of a vote for leaving the EU. Furthermore, he told everyone he would continue and carry out the wishes of the people and immediately after the result reneged on those statements. During the campaign those who wished to leave were deemed to be stupid or extremist. There was a sneering arrogance on the part of those who wanted to remain in the EU. I have no confidence that they will do as we voted but do all in their power to thwart that democratically expressed desire to leave the EU.
June 28, 2016
Seems to me that Brexit has happened at just the right time. Apologies for inserting this link, John but I think it relevant to the discussion re effects of Brexit. It seems that France and Germany are now going to push hard to form all EU member states into a single entity as the US of the EU. All EU member states will become a region of the EU and stripped of their national rights to decide their future on all of those issues we consider to be democratic rights of free nations. According to this link their plans will be issued as an ‘ultimatum’, which is a very frightening thought.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/683739/EU-referendum-German-French-European-superstate-Brexit
June 28, 2016
By September 2nd we will have seen the departure of this century’s equivalent of Neville Chamberlain and his useless renegotiation “triumphs” – but do we have a Churchill or a Thatcher waiting in the wings?
One or other is needed desperately now!
June 28, 2016
We desperately now need a government who are enthusiastically committed to actually leaving the EU and will move ahead with good speed. This is not a time for worrying about the hurt feelings of the Remain camp. No such sympathy and spirit of compromise would have been forthcoming had the vote gone their way.
Like many, I am deeply concerned by some prominent figures who campaigned for Leave now apparently redefining “Leave” as meaning “gradual divergence keeping most of the EU in place”. That is not what we voted for. We had a very clear choice and made that choice.
There is no reason to delay action, and making it secondary to the internal politics of the Conservative Party is extremely disappointing. It is the government’s duty to commence the Leave process as instructed by the electorate; Mr Cameron had said he would immediately do so but on losing the referendum, unilaterally changed his mind, leaving us with three months at least of stasis.
Millions of British voters are in no mood for a betrayal of their decisive referendum vote. It seems that you are among a very small minority who actually want to act on it. This is disturbing.
June 28, 2016
The aftermath of the referendum is rocking the rest of the EU ; criticisms of it systems and leading individuals are making headlines . It is only now that we can see just how important our place around the tables of influence is valued ; this I believe is the stepping stone of our new place in the world – one we can be proud of and use to our advantage .
All the schemes and systems being talked of now are futile until new leadership is in place ; everything will depend on him/her and the team assembled . Those who advocate some sort of “re-think” like Hunt’s proposal today are political shifters fighting for another shot at an appointment of importance ; whatever they propose is nothing more than shadow boxing .
Meanwhile it is the economy and what stimulates it that counts the most . Carney has a real job to do alongside manufacturers and service providers ; jobs need to be secured and markets serviced . The reassurance that is needed to the public can only come from these sources ; once a new team is in place they will be able to benefit from a stable platform and able to move forward with a calm confidence .
June 28, 2016
We need to be on our guard with Remainers talking of putting a ‘new settlement’ with Brussels to a referendum.
No!
June 28, 2016
Have any Conservatives suggested to the PM to remind Mr Osborne that the Remain campaign is over, and that should no longer be his interview script, seemingly confirming the ‘need’ for cuts and hikes. The PM is politically outmanoeuvring the Leave politicians, stopping progress, keeping Osborne in place and allowing a little bit of the fear fire to be fanned. Call me a conspiracist, but …
The negotiating team needs to be put together and the U.K. needs to be out the EU and not in a Norway style agreement. So much world opportunity and so uch opportunity to repair the UK itself, where is the integrity and intelligence?
June 28, 2016
I have always had a lot of time for Theresa May and thought that in time she would be our second lady PM. Unfortunately since she hitched her wagon to the remain campaign I think she has blown her chances.
The next leader MUST be from the leave side .
June 28, 2016
That nice Mr Schultz is at it again: “President Of The European Parliament: “It Is Not The EU Philosophy That The Crowd Can Decide Its Fate”. (Google that at Zero Hedge)
Remember the fuss about the £350 million a week EU subs; well Neil Wilson reckons we can stop the other £240m per week paid to non-UK holders of Gilts, that the EU Treaties insist on, but give an opt-out to the UK, which we don’t use. Google: The other £240m per week ‘contribution’ due to the EU.
June 28, 2016
And what makes you suppose that the answers by Leadership candidates wanting to be Prime Minister to your lead questions are going to be anything like as good as the answers you yourself have given? Or that they would be as capable of implementing those answers?
(Of course, another lead question might be “Do you read my diary every day?”: candidates answering other than “faithfully and fully” need not apply.)
Be aware that there are a good number of us Redwoodistas (oh yes!) poised to support your candidacy should you be willing to assume the burdens of office.
June 28, 2016
Apart from the four pillars baloney does anybody know what is supposed to be so wonderful and non-negotiable about the dreaded free movement? To me it’s as if it’s some kind of punishment or penance for free trade, which is what matters. If free movement were an ambition once everything else were OK there would have been none of the present grief.
June 28, 2016
I hope those negotiators do not forget our return to the 200 mile fishing limit.
We must kick out all those Spanish trawlers hoovering up our fish only to sell it back to us as “Spanish” fish.
June 28, 2016
There is a cuckoo’s egg in the nest. The cuckoo uses deception to steal the little birds food and then flies off and makes a lot of repetitive calls. They reproduce on the backs of others and are protected by the RSPB.
June 28, 2016
I do not and will never accept that a vote cast on the false prospectus that we might throw out immigrants, win the lottery and live in 1950 , by the Nations stupidest people justifies ourselves into further debt just to save the reputations those who will stand as the buffoons of a generation .
You are already trying to pretend this further act of folly is “spending what we have saved” when surely even you cannot be so entirely cut off from reality as to believe any such thing . You mean borrowing .
The best possible way forward now, in fact the only way , is that we retrain access to the single market and hence freedom of movement in some semidetached format. This will cost up to three years of investment a recession, inflationary pressure and the lost a large part of banking Hi Tech Insurance legal services and , in fact just about every growing part of our economy . Quite what we will gain is a mystery and when you think of the promises of extra funding( £150bn when you tot it all up) it is a sad sad joke .
The funereal gloom around the City is asphyxiating , etc ed
Someone has to pay for this .
June 28, 2016
John,
Boris needs to be elected Conservative Leader – and soon than the start of September at that.
If there is rowing back on our exit the EU (and its single market tentacles) then I think UKIP will see great support in those areas outside London who have ‘Remain’ Conservative and Labour MPs.
June 28, 2016
Agree Atlas. Why does it take so long when the country is crying out for leadership to decide on a new PM????
Stop dragging your feet and get on with it. UKIP will be the winners if something isn’t done soon. I don’t know about everyone else but reading this blog and the fears of everyone is making me pretty depressed! The NHS cannot afford to treat us all.
June 28, 2016
I think many of the Tory MPs who said they were for remain only did it to suck up to Cameron. Now we have voted out they will soon become in favour of leaving.
June 28, 2016
We certainly need to get on with it. Delay is of no advantage and may lead to second thoughts and goodness knows what shenanigans the elite will come up with. Marking down the markets is one sure sign that they are at work. There is nothing different to last Wednesday at the moment, yet they have slumped the share markets and the pound. More to come here, and the bankers may well try to bust the economy and pensions etc just so they can hoover up cheap shares later on. They are selling off and going into gold so their money is safe, which is all they care about. This Brexit is a godsend to them who have had no excuse for a long while to cause this volatility.
Very disappointed in Dan Hannan and even Boris saying that immigration may not be controllable – it is the number one thing in most people’s decision to vote Leave. Politicians must not be allowed to water the referendum down, so I’d like you to ask the candidates their views on immigration and what concrete steps they intend to take, not airey fairy stuff that can be bent any whichway at a later date. I Supported Boris even before he came into the campaign, but if his answer is not 100 percent satisfactory, then regretfully I will change my mind about him and suggest he is not up to being our next leader. We need 100 percent commitment. What has already been said is too much and will make the negotiations more difficult.
June 28, 2016
Yes I agree with john, great news the pound is down, borrowing at below one percent on the 10 year bond.
If we can get a correction in house price all the better and if you could open up some more new banks and bring down borrowing for councils and building infrastructure like hospitals and schools.
Free trade zone would be nice for most goods and things like steel just give out quota’s of how much steel you need to import once government contract are filled, it doze do to make to much yourself.
Everything is good apart from the law makes talking the country down and determent to get in way of thing happening and being obstructive as they can and party politic.
June 28, 2016
Much of the Vote Leave campaign (apart from the woeful 350m claim) has been about our being the fifth largest economy by GDP; according to Jeremy Hunt, a potential surprise candidate for Tory leadership if ever there was one, in the DT, “We have not addressed people’s economic concerns by being honest that growing economies do need immigration (unless we want to stagnate like low-immigration Japan).”
GDP may be used as a measure of relative international muscle, but it is a very crude one from an internal point of view because it takes little account of the individual whose vote politicians take and his sense of financial and societal wellbeing; in part this can be measured by GDP at purchasing power parity per capita, where we are well below some of the peers we should wish to emulate, and partly by the ease with which the essentials of modern life, housing, education, and healthcare can be obtained and also the degree to wish people do not feel alienated within their own neighbourhoods. Furthermore, a country with a huge and growing current account deficit and a huge and growing budget deficit cannot presume to be in the best of financial health. Apart from his posture with regard to the Brussels regime, we need someone to lead who grasps that increasing the performance of our economy is about sensible policies, fiscal, and in energy, training and education, infrastructure investment etc. rather than the very crude tool so much favoured by the current pair of inadequates driving the ship of state, namely that of importing more people; such sensible policies are contingent on kicking the green crap and pc crap into the long grass.
June 28, 2016
The smart meter qango is spending a lot on ‘gas and leccy’ adverts telling us how they will save on the bills. Converting the UK will cost around £15 apparently and the cost is passed to the consumer. As usual this is a directive from Junker’s mob and has been enthusiastically taken up by our civil servants at DECC. But also typically, the Germans have decided they are not worthwhile and are not installing them. And now the industry experts have told the Commission that they don’t really work and the interconnecting smart grid can be designed without them. But the Commission have decided to alter the time intervals for measurement, so the smart meters installed or made up to now will have to be changed anyway.
If we hurry up and get out, we may be able to save £15bn or even more.
June 28, 2016
£15bn
June 29, 2016
Doubt it – half the country has already been done and the whole lot will be completeed before the next scheduled GE, and we are already paying. It doesn’t save anything. I don’t know about you, but I don’t put leccy on just for the sake of it, and seeing that it costs 3 p to boil the kettle will make no difference – I won’t be drinking less tea. My sister in London has one and for a week or two it is a novelty, but that’s it. I heard that once you have one it only works with the Power Company you use when it is put in, so it’s no use if you change suppliers, but maybe that’s not so. Just what she’s been told. No doubt someone is making a great big fat profit out of it, other than just the manufacturers
July 1, 2016
It is true. We changed and it no longer works.
June 28, 2016
Good news that some of the group’s necessary for the UK to capitalise on our release from the EU, are already planning for post Brexit. Now is the time to crack on with organising the main negotiating team, so that they will be ready to meet their EU counterparts ASAP.
June 28, 2016
I’ve just heard George Osborne talk about increasing taxes and cutting spending because we’ll be “poorer after Brexit”.
We certainly will if he does that. If there is a concern about a recession then you do the opposite. ie Increase spending and lower taxes. Like Gordon Brown sensibly did with VAT by lowering it to 15% when he did. He should have cut more taxes too.
We only raise taxes and lower spending if we are worried about the economy overheating which not many people are right now!
We don’t do that to reduce the deficit because a depressed economy produces lower taxation revenue and the deficit is unaffected.
The National debt of government has to be owned by someone -so, in other words, it is everyone else’s total savings. To reduce the debt and/or the deficit (which is just the rate of change of the total debt) then we need to persuade everyone to save less and spend more.
It may seem counter intuitive at first but it makes perfect sense when you think about it.
June 28, 2016
I’m becoming fearful this referendum result has deliberately been placed in the pending tray. Those who voted Leave deserve to see some constructive action – and see it now. It is imperative to put a marker down (dated and signed) stating the UK referendum on the 23rd was/is the only one that will be held.
The PM has decided to stay in post until the Party conference but seems not too keen on doing the ground work to prepare a timetable of priorities prior to invoking A50. He seemingly said – why should he do it if only to hand it over to someone else. Great. Give three months notice and sit on your hands.
The Tory Party of today is at a necessary turning point in its existence which has been a long time in arriving but better late than never. To survive it must be attractive to a far wider swathe of the electorate than in recent years. I don’t think it is inaccurate to say it has become a Party of the rich for the rich. At least that’s how it comes over.
If you want to make a good beginning ensure the result of the Referendum is honoured as this will remain in voters’ minds and pay a dividend at the time of the next GE. What you want the electorate to remember is – It was the Con. Party that got us out off the EU.
I’m no longer a member of the Party but I would be sad to see it pass into the history books as it is the oldest democratic right of centre Con. Party in Europe and has proved itself the better by far of the two main UK Parties over many decades.
June 28, 2016
It is time now for the bosses of major and lesser known companies in the UK to add their names to a list; to be published in leading newspapers of their intention to leave the UK or to curtail future investment in the UK. Also their timetables.
This will allow other international and national companies to fill the gap which they are about to leave. It will allow their UK employees to seek and apply for other jobs here and abroad. It will permit British workers, their employees, to engage in further education and training whilst still employed.
I write the above without satirical intention. It is a matter of law that when a company is planning to make redundant workers that it affords them paid time off work to seek other opportunities. This is moral and good.
Now, lets have the list. Then take your hook.
OR write a letter to the newspapers signed by each and every CEO of your companies affirming your request….request ..to be allowed to trade in the UK
June 28, 2016
Short-term thinking has undermined our Nation for decades now. Since joining the ECC/EC/EU unemployment in the UK has never fallen below 1.5 million. Yet businessmen were quite happy to hire the foreign worker at a lower rate of pay than address the National Problem of Unemployment by hiring British Workers. In fact when Gordon Brown said he wanted to see “British Jobs for British Workers” he was roundly mocked by David Cameron for even suggesting that British workers should come first. Perhaps Gordon Brown was merely giving lip service but David Cameron showed his true colours on that issue. Now that we are going to exit the EU we need to see legislation that puts UK born workers first so that the 1-in-20 who are struggling to find work are given first-option on unskilled jobs ahead of migrant workers. Donald Trump has made a big issue of Economic Nationalism and we should follow that lead. British Jobs for British Workers, should become a right, enshrined in law. No Briton should be unemployed while a foreigner works. We must Index-link unskilled migrant labour to levels of unemployment and give our workers the dignity of earning a living and finally address the decades old problem of mass unemployment.
June 28, 2016
I cannot see what they are all on about, there is no need to enter into talks with the EU, we will be making are own laws and trade go on as before unless they do not want that, as for people it the same the world over, if you can afford to live in another country without working your ok, if not, you need a work permit or to become a citizen of that country or they say that people from your country are ok to come and live on hand outs, pension and health care will still be the same that is paid for hear, holiday will be the same.
Of cos you still hope to be best friends with Europe and also sit a round table with them at the NATO, UN WTO and the rest and help out if we can.
I think politician are seeing thing that are not there and trying to make a big deal out of everything to try and themselves look important.
June 28, 2016
Perhaps the fear and doom mongerers should read this from D Tel today about the EEA/Single Market, and learn something, instead of apparently trying to generate fear based on often dubious claims (remember that Switzerland only few weeks ago withdrew its longstanding application to join the EU. They can obviously thrive without joining, and build a 30 mile or so tunnel under the Alps for £8 billion, I understand. How much is HS2?)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2016/06/27/letters-time-for-remainers-and-leavers-to-get-a-grip-and-devote/
SIR – In 1992, a slight majority of Swiss voters refused to join the European Economic Area (50.3 per cent to 49.7 per cent).
According to the pundits – and most national newspapers – the country was going to break up. (It was indeed divided between a French-speaking Europhile minority and a German speaking anti-European majority.) The economy was going to crash and the Swiss franc was to be worth less than the Zimbabwean dollar.
Calls for a second vote came, and companies warned they were ready to leave the country. Local authorities talked of individual cantons joining the EU. The government was warning of a massive haemorrhage of talent.
None of this happened. Instead, after a slight recession, the economy started to grow again. Nowadays, even if the country’s relationship with the EU is far from settled, almost no one seriously envisages joining the EU or the all-but-defunct EEA. As Britain goes through similar times, it is worth remembering this.
Nicholas Antenen
Geneva, Switzerland
June 28, 2016
How about this as a scenario: Bojo is PM but can’t form a government because of the rancour. A general election is forced. Labour is falling apart; the Tories are divided.
The only party that can represent either side of the referendum argument is Ukip.
Landslide for them and slam dunk for the mob.
June 28, 2016
Or, Johnson is PM and he can form a government, and he considers himself free from Cameron’s personal promise that if we voted to leave the EU then he would immediately trigger Article 50, and so we stay in the EU forever.
June 29, 2016
Exactly my worry, Denis. Cannot bind a future parliament and all that, though of course they do it all the time.
June 28, 2016
I’d be interested to hear your opinion viz. the current internecine squabbles effecting the opposition.
June 28, 2016
Ms Sturgeon’s desire for Scotland to shackle itself to one of the most dictatorial Empire’s in the world ( the EU ) could mean a spur to housing prices and housing development in the north of England as Leave voters inScotland may fear being a Juncker neo-colony with an impossibility of ever freeing itself for all time.
June 28, 2016
Yes, quite right Christopher except many of us will have to sell our houses first up here in Scotland and who the hell will want to buy them??? I would not want to live in an independent Scotland and anyone with half a brain cell would feel the same.
June 29, 2016
fedupsoutherner:
I guess they could rent out to European migrants, and they themselves get a house in Northern England. House prices in Scotland would definitely go up in the inner cities. In just five years the demography of Scotland would fundamentally change of course. Proportionately, “Braveheart” would not stir so many hearts except as an action movie without instinctive referent.
Ms Sturgeon would need asylum in England or Wales I fear in the course of time.
June 28, 2016
The fishing industry should be happy with the possibilities that Brexit can bring, however, like everything else it depends on the exit negotiations. We also should not forget ‘the cod wars’ with Iceland, a similar outcome may develop with EU countries’ fishing fleets who have become accustomed to fishing UK waters over the last 40 years. A programme of boosting our fishery protection fleet would be in order.
June 28, 2016
Hinkley point on the rocks, HS2 might follow and also windmills.
June 29, 2016
Win, win, win.
June 28, 2016
Wet & mad still at it, we will be pooper, he might be, the man making a complete fool of himself.
June 28, 2016
Dear John – have you seen this article by Boris Johnson in the Sunday Times? His words are : “British people will still be able to go and work in the EU; to live; to travel; to study; to buy homes and to settle down. As the German equivalent of the CBI – the BDI – has very sensibly reminded us, there will continue to be free trade, and access to the single market. ”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/26/i-cannot-stress-too-much-that-britain-is-part-of-europe–and-alw/
If this is correctly interpreted he intends to ensure that there is still “freedom of movement” – in which case, what on earth is the point of voting for BREXIT? I look forward to your comments –
June 28, 2016
The Pound – when it’s up it’s up, and when it’s down it’s down, and when it’s only half way up it’s neither up nor down.
It hardly seems that many weeks ago that the ‘experts’ and ‘The Bank’ were opining the Pound was ‘too high’, and in fact is that not why bank rate is so low?
Well now the Pound is ‘down’.
June 28, 2016
…whatever the EU might declare in terms of freedom of movement being “non-negotiable” for EU Member States, it is undeniable that it is negotiable within the framework of the EEA Agreement, as it applies to Efta states.
Therefore, if the UK chooses to follow the Efta/EEA option as an interim solution to expedite the Article 50 settlement, once the agreement is adopted it can then follow the procedural steps pioneered by Liechtenstein, imposing limits on immigration from EEA states. – from the EU Referendum Blog.
June 28, 2016
It is promising and indeed heartening that the ‘business community’ is beginning to see it the peoples’ way.
However, we never thought it would be plain sailing, now did we? Yes and firmly did, the British want out of the EU and voted thus but what is a cause of great angst, the vacuum, an inertia in Westminster and more particularly the total absence of any sort of method of going forwards and to mapping out a course for Brexit.
Dave jumped ship, that was an egregious dereliction of his sworn responsibilities to the nation, a nation he echoed in his valediction, that, ‘I love’. Hmm, before and since your resignation Mr. Cameron – I and distinctly, never sensed even a nano particle wave of “your love”.
This nation, which has made me a second class citizen in the land of my birth, the land of a lineage, forefathers stretching back into time.
NO, I am not feeling the love – Mr. Cameron from you, nor, all your mates in the elite a political-corporate EU claque.
Heath took it away, now – I want my country back and I am not the only one.
June 28, 2016
Great news for the North of England:
In particular, if Ms Sturgeon manages to create enough uncertainty in the minds of her fellow Scots, and she is doing her best, we may see Scots selling their houses in Scotland at today’s prices and availing themselves of similarly priced houses in the North of England.
The very skilled Scots who have existing communities in the North of England in all coalmining, steel, textile and fishing areas, for decades, are most welcome.
It will be a tremendous boost to housing development and furnish Northern England with English-speaking trained craftsmen and women. Northern NHS will be another beneficiary.
Wonderful news.
June 28, 2016
Christopher Houston ,
(How) are the prices of these houses pertinent to the story ?
Thanks
June 29, 2016
A different Simon.
House prices, generally, in certain parts of the south of England are much higher than in Scotland and the North of England. A Scot with the sale money from his or her house may find it easier to afford a home in the North of England…. or rent a home.
June 28, 2016
The longer invoking article 50 is delayed, the more chance there is of having this referendum stolen from us. I can smell a Rat, Cameron has kicked the ball into the long grass for 3 months before anything is likely to start happening, thus giving the oh so many anti democrats in Parliament plenty of time to overturn the peoples vote. The entire political debate in the media seems to be against us. Why offer a referendum if you are going to rat on the result?
June 28, 2016
You are right to smell a rat, at least one.
June 28, 2016
The way to inject some pace into the proceedings is to repeal our Act of Accession to the Lisbon Treaty so that Article 50 does not apply and to appoint 500 Eurosceptic peers so that we don’t get any obstruction from the House of Lords.
Many siren voices are now urging us to join the EEA like Norway – Ken Clarke, Philip Hammond, Jeremy Hunt, George Osborne, and all four party leaders at Holyrood to name but a few. It ain’t on. Leave means Leave – a complete constitutional divorce and a trade deal something like the draft Canadian deal CETA, of which there is a downloadable technical summary.
We could agree to our exporters incurring tariff and non-tariff costs to the tune of £3 billion per annum while still granting tariff free access to imports from EU-27. Compared with saving £14 billion per annum net cash contribution to the EC, it is cheap at the price. That might be the way to getting a quich exit.
June 29, 2016
“repeal our Act of Accession to the Lisbon Treaty”
Good luck in getting a Commons majority for that.
June 28, 2016
The markets are getting it right. After a hiccup, the FTSE 100 is fluctuating around about 6100, the level that it has been for some while. Sterling is down because our future terms of trade are uncertain. Both of these things are as expected and neither is a problem.
So why do we need lots of easy money sloshing around the system?
The German DAX and French CAC stock market indices are down since we voted leave. I’ll leave you all to work out why – it’s not difficult.
June 28, 2016
John. Please throw your hat in the ring for Chancellor.
June 28, 2016
Today Nigel Farage returned to the European Parliament and told his fellow MEPs a few home truths.
One can forgive him his moment of triumph having been abused and laughed at for the last 17 years. “As he said, You aren’t laughing Now !”
You can see his speech here :
http://news.sky.com/story/1718503/farage-tells-meps-youre-not-laughing-now
I feel deeply uneasy that we are already being treated as if we have already left. In particular I find it deeply offensive that Juncker can say that “there will be no secret meetings between UK, national governments and commissioners in the corridors”. “I ban that,” he said.
Who the hell does this guy think he is ? He has no power to stop HM Government from talking with another EU member state or even to initiate discussions with a group of them.
Also, what right do the 27 have to hold an EU official meeting and discuss Brexit without the UK when we have not even declared we are leaving ?
June 28, 2016
Just caught end of Joshua Rosenburg prog on Radio 4. Was appalled. They were basically discussing, in a so languidly, earnest faux intellectual way, how to get round it legally. It being something to them that was obviously wrong. The battle is not yet won. The opposition has all the might of propaganda media on its side.
June 28, 2016
Gideon Osborne needs to go on an extended holiday. He is talking down the economy, and is trying to cause a crisis by threatening to cut spending and raise taxation. I repeat again, he is a clear and present danger to the UK economy…. This must be dealt with.
zorro
June 28, 2016
They don’t care.
When does irresponsibility switch into treason?
June 28, 2016
Will Cameron appoint a replacement for Lord Hill. He should. There’s still up to two years to go.
Would our host accept the job?
Reply Of course not. I want out as soon as possible. There is little point in being in the Commission for a few months when we are leaving. They would not allow the Uk Commissioner access on the UK negotiations which are all that matters now.
June 28, 2016
At the rate we are going there will be no exit negotiations and we will stay in the EU forever despite a majority having voted to leave.
June 28, 2016
To answer JR’s questions, it might be good to consider a report from the Lords
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201516/ldselect/ldeucom/138/13802.htm
June 28, 2016
Just when you think there might be some hope Eural is still there up to his usual tricks. He probably just can’t help it. It’s his nature with deceit running through his veins. Sometimes he lets out his real side and speaks his inner mind, as when he told the Khazaks about his hopes for a push to the Urals. It seems like one of those horror films where the zombie is clobbered but stands up and keeps coming.
Having made no contingency plans the task force is to be run from the Cabinet Office and be headed by Oliver Letwin ( Remain) and assisted by civil servants in the Foreign Office and Treasury. These are headed by Sir Jeremy Heywood, who left to work for Morgan Stanley after a difficulty during the Hutton Inquiry, then came back to the top to assist in abandoning impartiality and spending public money on the Remain campaign. Then in the office we have Daniel Korski, who was fingered as the civil servant who arranged the sacking of the chief of the Chambers of Commerce and has assisted Baroness Ashton in her role with EU policy and Paddy Ashdown. He has worked for the European Council on Foreign Relations and Condoleeza Rice of transformational diplomacy.
The Brexit task force will be a nest of arch Europhiles. What next- employing Goldman Sachs as advisors? And Remain sudden convert and EAW fixer without debate Mrs May as PM?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Korski
The wiki on J.Heywood is also an interesting read
June 28, 2016
The civil servant in charge of the Brexit task force
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Heywood
June 29, 2016
They will need to be watched very closely.
zorro
June 28, 2016
I don’t believe we should trigger Article 50 until we are ready for negotiations to begin in the Autumn. Two years is already a very short timescale and we need to be well prepared.
Every week we delay will be to our advantage. I think that the EU will suffer even more profound difficulties before Autumn 2018 when serious negotiations are concluded and final decisions need to be made.
By then events should be moving more in our direction :
After this Summer’s holiday season ends, Hollande and Merkel will have plenty to worry about at home. There will be a new French President in place in less than 10 months and Merkel must hold the German General Election between 22nd August and 22nd October 2017. She may not even be a candidate, such is the anger over her migrant policy.
Nothing we have seen since our referendum result is likely to reverse the rise in Euroskepism across Europe. Since last Thursday, pronouncements about fast tracking Ever Closer Union by Juncker and the French and German Foreign Ministers show that they continue to fail to listen to the people and have therefore learned absolutely nothing.
As a result, there is a strong likelihood that at least a couple more referendums will have been called within the two year negotiating period.
In addition, EU leaders and some of our own politicians are over-estimating the value to Britain of being in the single market. We can live without the single market if continuing membership means also accepting FOM and EU budget contributions.
But will Germany’s car manufacturers allow Merkel to keep us out of it ?
Europe will need to make concessions.
I’m convinced that when history comes to be written, Britain will be seen to be in the vanguard of a move towards a Europe of prosperous Nation States trading peacefully between themselves without all the EU political crap and the tensions that inevitably causes.
Margaret Thatcher was never afraid of being in a minority of one in Europe.
Nor should we be, but in this case, I suspect we won’t be alone for very long.
June 29, 2016
Personally I don’t believe it need take as long as two years to get the basics of a new arrangement in place, but in any case that period can be extended.
June 28, 2016
Dear John, do you believe we should aim to join the EEA? If so, wouldn’t we still be subject to the majority of rules and regulations that we are now, without any say over what they are? If not, are you aware of any of the touted party leaders that share that view?
June 29, 2016
Norway has to accept about one in five EU laws. That is a central estimate, some say that it is as low as 9% while other say it is more like 27%.