On Tuesday I will vote for Andrea Leadsom. Her message is fresh and exciting. Behind it lies a lifetime of business and political experience.
In recent months she has shown she is a woman of principle, placing the UK’s interests before her own, campaigning for a cause that was unfashionable in the government she served. She did so with passion, with dignity and with effectiveness. Those are the qualities I look for in our next Prime Minister.
I like her vision of a global UK, looking outward to the wider world. To do that well the UK needs to regain her vote and voice on international bodies the EU took us off. We need to have a fair migration system with the same rules for Europe as the rest of the world. We need to be able to spend our own money on our own priorities.
She understands that we need a speedy and smooth transition from EU subsidiary state to an independent UK. She recognises that there are many who want to make it complex. At its heart is a simple legislative act, to reassert UK control over our laws, borders and money. The faster we do that, and the more we reassure our former partners that we do not wish to impede their trade with us, the better.
I spent part of my life as the UK’s single market Minister. Much of the time was used up opposing needless regulations, or seeking to amend clumsy laws. I never thought you needed almost 300 new laws to be able to trade with each other. They said the programme was completed in 1992, but subsequently we learnt we needed many hundreds of extra laws to extend and improve the construction we created in the last century. Trying to agree something sensible and that works with 27 other countries is exceptionally difficult. That is why the EU does not have free trade deals with the USA, India, China or Brazil, four of the largest economies in the world.
I came to see that so much of the so called single market programme was more about creating a common EU government and less about oiling the wheels of exports and imports. The Cassis de Dijon judgement which said that if a product is accepted as of merchandisable quality in one EU country it should be allowed for sale in any other EU country was all you need as the basis of a common market. Some common regulatory standards can be added in various areas, but too much prescription impedes innovation and penalises small and challenger companies. We should worry that for all its laws and rules the EU has not led the digital and internet revolution. The USA has done that, spawning all the large new companies that dominate the market.
As a business woman Andrea understands this. She wants to see more business success, not less. She wants more investment and more opportunities for UK students and employees. She wants the prosperity that business can bring to percolate through every part of our country. She is driven by a charitable wish to help those in need, and by an ambition to offer more opportunity and prosperity to the many.
I welcome that approach and am impatient to get on with it. With Andrea leading us I look forward to an early passage of a Bill to taking control of our laws, borders and money. Far from expecting a Brexit recession or slower growth, I forecast that we will be able to stimulate our economy more with the extra money we have to spend. We will soon be able to negotiate job enhancing trade deals with many other countries. Already since Brexit the markets have given us our best ever credit rating as measured by our very low borrowing costs. That is a further improvement in our public finances. Government bonds at are at all time highs. We should be optimistic with the bond markets, and look for ways to free investors and companies to innovate, train and add jobs across our land.
I have seen Andrea go about briefing herself on all aspects of the EU project. She set up Fresh Start in the last Parliament. She worked well with a diverse group of colleagues. Between them they produced excellent papers charting just how much power had gone, and just how damaging many EU policies have been. Remember the Exchange Rate Mechanism, and the Common Fishery Policy? She now has the chance to use all that work to good effect, leading our team to negotiate a better future,. She will do so with skill, with vision and with control of the detail. I wish to help in any way to get her elected to do so.
July 4, 2016
Absolutely delighted, Mr Redwood. Thank you.
July 5, 2016
We read today the German Finance minister being quoted that Osborne requested him to make his intervention on 10/6/2016. So how many more foreign leaders and experts were prompted by Osborne and what will be the consequences for him?
July 4, 2016
Having see both arguments, between andrea and the Home Secretary, for me apart from the fact she fully supports BREXIT, Fresh Start swings it for me.
She probably knows more about the EU that the rest of the Tory Paty put together
July 4, 2016
I totally agree John. Given the way other candidates want to stall over Brexit we need to see a PM who is decisive and who will implement the will of the people right away. Quite frankly I do not trust the other candidates to deliver. Micheal Gove seems to have got cold feet and Theresa May seems to want to postpone the decision to leave the EU long enough for public opinion to change so she can call a second referendum. I don’t trust either to deliver. We have to back a PM who wants to get on with the job. The Liberal Media is working overtime to try and build the narrative for a second referendum. The BBC etc are dredging up Dinosaurs and ex-PMs like ‘Black Wednesday’ Major and ‘Iraq’ Blair with firebrand Socialist ‘Lord’ Kinnock thrown into the mix in a conspiracy against democracy and the clear will of the people. I urge all Conservatives to play fair here and support the candidate who will respect and carry out the will of the electorate, without delay.
July 4, 2016
Excellent. That is what is needed. A fresh start for a new exciting era banishing the fudge and fog of the past.
July 4, 2016
Andrea Leadsom is a strong candidate and I sincerely hope she gets in, as she seems to have a more comprehensive grasp of the EU issues across the board than others. However I suspect she will have trouble as the press are currently trying to paint her as simultaneously pro-EU and a UKIP plant (and apparently the papers see no contradiction in this).
July 4, 2016
That’s very good 🙂
She DID pin her flag to Brexit BEFORE the referendum, unlike others 👿
July 6, 2016
@Know-dice; Yes, three years ago, and she said that Brexit would be ‘disastrous’ (or words to that effect) and did so publicly…
To her credit she was likely still speaking with her City hat on then but like others, I suspect, she changed her mind in the last 12 months simply because she saw raw political opportunity should the UK actually vote for or very narrowly against Brexit and indeed that opportunity has come – for her at least.
July 4, 2016
Seems like a good choice to me…
Can’t see Gove leading anything and May might as well be endorsed by Merkel.
Can we assume that the rebellious souls on the back benches will club together to ensure that we get a Brexit Prime Minister?
A Brexit cabinet too, why not.
The rest are yesterday’s men.
July 4, 2016
Your vote meets with my full approval. I shall vote the same way – if I am given the chance.
July 4, 2016
The right and only move.
July 4, 2016
I am not a party member and thus cannot vote but were I a member, she would most certainly get my vote. Her clarity, politeness, insight and approach to brexit put many, many other MPs to shame.
Good luck, John and thanks for so resolutely carrying the flag for UK sovereignty over the past years.
July 4, 2016
What a refreshing change to read such a positive view of our possible future, after months and months of listening to project fear.
Listened to you on Radio Berkshire this morning John, as usual, calm and logical with your arguments, statements, and very clear answers made to any questions put to you.
I hope Andrea wins.
We need a change from the old guard, as that is sadly what I fear we will get with Mrs May if she is elected, given she has the backing of Soames, Clarke, Heseltine and the rest of the so called Establishment Remainers behind her.
July 4, 2016
Excellent news, good luck! Only Leadsom or Gove will do, or Liam Fox, anyone but May!
July 4, 2016
Anyone but May. She probably can’t even spell principle.
July 4, 2016
I sincerely hope that she wins. She is the best candidate by far to rid us of this monster.
I do worry about her musings about climate change and decarbonising the UK economy. This shows a woeful lack of technical knowledge and is a recipe for disaster.
Let’s hope we can have a sensible energy policy at last.
July 4, 2016
You are absolutely correct in your choice, she ticks all the boxes. I was impressed with her performance alongside Boris and a very sensible Labour MP when in debate with Angela Eagle and two unbelievable remainers. I suspect it will be a battle in the parliamentary party because there are so many remainers who would wish to dilute the effect of Brexit. If she is successful I do hope your talents are made serious use of.
July 4, 2016
I believe you have made the best choice, JR, despite her history with the so-called “Fresh Start” group. I admit that I was (pleasantly) surprised when she recognised that there was no possibility of any such thing and came out in favour of leaving the EU, I had assumed that it was just another “jam tomorrow” exercise to string along Tory supporters and the wider public for a few more years.
However I think you are wildly over-optimistic to “look forward to an early passage of a Bill to taking control of our laws, borders and money”, when members of both Houses of Parliament will be overwhelmingly opposed to that Bill and are unlikely to accept that they should respect the will of the people as expressed in the referendum. And of course as far as the unelected legislators-for-life in the Lords are concerned they have no need to pay any regard to public opinion, they need not fear the next election.
It was one thing for the EU supporters in Parliament to allow the Bill for the referendum to pass, eventually, on the third attempt, because they were supremely confident that they would win that referendum; it would be an entirely different matter for them to allow the passage of a Bill which meant accepting that they had lost the referendum.
Moreover there is a risk here that the introduction of any such Bill would lend support to those who want Parliament to be able to block Brexit, despite the clear promise in the government’s official booklet for the referendum:
“The referendum on Thursday, 23rd June is your chance to decide if we should remain in or leave the European Union.”
“This is your decision. The Government will implement what you decide.”
On the last but one page, for those who didn’t return it to sender.
July 4, 2016
I read that Nigel Farage has resigned as leader of UKIP. The next PM should recognise that as leader of the largest UK party in the European Parliament and in recognition his effort over decades to extract us from the EU, it would never have happened. A seat in the H o L is the very least recognition he should be given. I will miss his injections of common sense into the politics of the day.
July 4, 2016
Hear, hear.
July 4, 2016
While not denying Nigel Farage’s great achievements in promoting the Brexit cause, his decision to retire is another benefit to the UK.
July 4, 2016
Everyone should be Prime Minister once in their lives. Mrs Leadsom’s turn, I hope.
July 4, 2016
JR, you need now to highlight May’s appalling record in office and ask if there are any serious minded MPs who would vote for such a modernising failure.
Will May retain the services of Osborne?
July 4, 2016
Mr Redwood I am glad you are for Andrea Leadsom why would the party pick some one who is against Bretix it is a no brainer but I am afraid that is what will happen.
Something is rotten in the State of Britain
July 5, 2016
What is rotten is the detachment of many MPs, and for that matter civil servants from those they are supposed to be serving. It is highlighted in this century because the level of information and the speed of communication ensures that the electorate are well informed. Conservative MPs are detached from the Conservative party at large. The same disease pertains in the EU, which is why we are leaving and many others are thinking about it. My answer is a greater direct involvement with the electorate via referenda, a la Swiss.
July 4, 2016
That’s very good news John, and thank you for detailing your reasons in such a clear way. I will share this with my friends, not all of whom share my/our optimism for the future!
I hope that your support will encourage more of you party colleagues to follow suit.
July 4, 2016
I sat very near Andrea at BZW when she was on the metals desk and I sat on fx. It was a very tough environment. Possibly the toughest in the City at the time.
She had an extremely good reputation and was expected to rise to the top.
She walked away from negotiations when they wouldn’t give her time off to help her children. So be under no illusions she will be prepared to walk away during negotiations.
July 5, 2016
Not sure if you are saying that is good or bad?
But, if that means she will stick to her guns over something she really believes in, then that is surely a good thing 🙂
July 4, 2016
Good, clear reasons and so I am happy now to join you in throwing my (feather) weight behind Andrea and in the full recognition of:
– a supposition on my part that she is perhaps not wholly sympathetic to George Osborne staying put to spread more doom, make poor forecasts and take maladroit measures;
– the effect of highlighting the Labour Party’s woman problem where more than 40 years after the Conservatives, it still has not elected a woman leader.
July 4, 2016
Indeed she is now by far the best choice (after Gove’s idiocy of the knifing and his suicide).
We certainly do not want Theresa May. Above all she is boring, bossy, tedious and mislead the nation in the referendum campaign. She presided over absurdly high migration figures (while the government policy for for tens of thousands) without a murmur. Above all she is an electoral liability and the public has has more than enough of her and her type already.
Has Mrs May ever said anything ammusing in her life I wonder?
Leadsom is far, far more likely to win elections.
She should go for tax cuts, no IHT, tax simplification, a bonfire of EU red tape, the abolition of VAT to be replaces by a simple sales tax, cheap reliable energy, efficiently run state services and a much smaller state sector.
July 4, 2016
After all that, and by appointing a new competent chancellor the UK economy will generate huge confidence.
Simpler lower taxes and a bonfire of red tape will work far better for everyone in the end.
Less employment protection helps even the workers in the end, as it creates more jobs for them to choose between. Also good employees do not have to work alongside people who are not pulling their weight.
July 4, 2016
The BBC is quite openly campaigning to reverse the referendum and I fear that it will promote Theresa May as the best hope of keeping free movement.
The BBC is the single greatest threat to this country in my opinion.
July 4, 2016
I agree fully, they distort the whole political debate to the left – in the ever more EU, every bigger government, ever more tax, ever more red tape, ever more non selective immigration, ever more fake equality, dumbed down education and ever more climate alarmism directions.
July 4, 2016
Kenneth
You are not alone
July 5, 2016
Quite so. BBC World TV is an absolute disgrace, talking down the country and spreading anti-Brexit propaganda at every opportunity. In the last week I have seen only one interview with a pro-Brexit business owner (and one man in Ebbw Vale who was prompted to say that he was beginning to regret his vote). Everything else has been relentlessly pro-EU and suggests that somehow the result of the referendum is invalid and might be reversed.
If the BBC wants to push a political agenda its news and comment arm needs to be privatised and earn its own living in the tough hard world. CNN is far more objective and in many ways gives a more adult perspective.
I suppose the BBC is just like the EU Commission – a self-absorbed, smug, complacent echo chamber totally unable to comprehend that the majority of voters who are paying for it all have simply had enough.
July 4, 2016
I note the BBC consider Taplow, next door to Mrs May’s constituency and in Mr Grieve’s, to be representative of Conservative party opinion – and did so without comment.
July 4, 2016
We get weasel words from people like Heseltine, Blair and the likes. Things like:- we need to check that the public feelings (on leaving the EU) has momentum. Or silly ‘Brexit is a house you have not yet seen’ analogies. Remaining in the EU is a house we have not seen either but we do not like what we have seen so far at all Tony.
Without all the endless bias from government, Labour, Libdems, the Conservatives, the Green, the SNP, Obama, the government propaganda leaflet, Osborne, the emergency budget threat, the milking of the tragedy of Jo Cox, Obama’s intervention, the EU propaganda, the state sector and all the other tentacles of government it would have been more like 2:1 for Brexit.
Do not worry, Brexit has a lot of momentum.
Theresa May would however be a kick in the teeth and a disaster at the ballot box and for the Tory party.
July 4, 2016
Totally agree Kenneth. There is no point having Brexit if we still have to abide by free movement rules. We must repeal free movement of labour that invites one-way-traffic, of poorer nations peoples gravitating to richer nations, with all the adverse effects on that countries infrastructure & wage arbitrage.
The sooner we have a Brexit PM, like Andrea, the better for all & an end to the uncertainty for business & individuals alike.
July 4, 2016
I very much agree with you that Andrea Leadsom is the right choice to take us out of the EU.
You mentioned a simple legislative Act that needs to be passed but that would need to get a majority in Parliament – passed by MP’s the bulk of whom don’t want to leave the EU ! You don’t mention triggering A50 surely that should be done ASAP so that everyone in the UK and Europe can see there is no going back. Right now we are in limbo.
July 4, 2016
I agree that she is by far the best Conservative candidate. I believe she will be against the failed Home Secretary Mrs May. If she is picked there will be fudge and serious upset in the Country. Why can’t the remainder get used the the fact that the people know best, Mrs Leadson is the people’s choice.
July 4, 2016
Indeed, you can be sure that Mrs May won’t be passing any such simple legislative Act. John, don’t you remember what she said about changing her view on getting out of ECHR? – No majority in the Commons…. same goes for getting out of the EU once she is PM! Unless, she doesn’t become PM….. We will have to trigger A50 to force their hand. I am also worried about the prolonged effect of ‘full on’ BBC propaganda campaigning…..
zorro
July 4, 2016
If she invokes Article 50, then she would have my vote if I had one. But I do not so will have to wait until the time that I do.
I have a long memory and do not forget or forgive those who do not act in our nations best interest. Remember what happened to the Conservative Party after the ERM and the so called, Grassroots of recovery. And there are many more like me. 😉
July 4, 2016
You can still get 7:2 odds on Andrea, it looks quite reasonable to me – surely the Tory party members will not prefer the bossy, tedious, charisma lacking, remainer (who mislead/lied to the nation on immigration) Theresa May over Andrea Leadsom will they?
Just look at some of the dire people in her list of backers, nearly all are from the no nation Libdim wing/Nick Clegg types of Tories.
Nearly all are in favour and ever more government, every more taxes, ever more EU, ever more human rights, ever more lawyers and ever more expensive energy!
July 4, 2016
reading about her career should make MPs realise that at last we have a chance to elect a PM who is numerate and understands investment and basically how the economy works. Since Mrs T we have had a PM with no qualifications, an actor with delusions of transforming the planet, a jounalist and lecturer that sold our gold and invented the Brown Bottom, and a short term PR man professional politician who is a good speech maker about anything he agrees with in any direction at any time- in partnership with a failed jounalist who thinks he can forecast the economy 15 years ahead.
Andrea went to the top of Barclays in a short time and only retired in order to support her young family. She then rose to the top in investment and htis was at a time when these funds were worth while investing in. She has probably been given a load of misinformation by innumerate zealots at DECC while there but will quickly pick up the truth about the disatrous energy policy when listening to others. Then we might dump the European Pressurised Reactor disaster and adopt the less expensive options and have a look at the wisdom at putting wind turbines that last 13 years in the middle of the North Sea and running cables to Iceland.
On top of that most people thought she was peruasive and likeable in the debate. If the Conservative job seeking Remainiacs choose May instead, the other half should vote them down when delaying and then we would have a HoC split between Ignore the Referendum and Honour the Referendum. The grass roots will decide who represents the electors at any election.
July 4, 2016
I think Leadsom, Gove & Fox need to be put in a room today and told not to come out until they agree which one of them is going forward as the single Leave candidate. Otherwise there is a high probability that two Remainers will be on the shortlist and party members will get to choose between Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum for a PM who will keep us in the EEA with lots of extras like the European Arrest Warrant that Theresa May introduced even when not obliged to do so.
July 4, 2016
Being numerate, Andrea may also understand that quarterly online tax returns are also causing a huge waste of time and expense for small business. Osborne just waved through any burdonsome tax grabbing idea that the civil servants invented.
July 4, 2016
Indeed yet another insanity from the man.
July 4, 2016
Good. Let’s hope when she is looking for a Chancellor she looks no further than our host
July 4, 2016
MickN
Second that
July 4, 2016
I was very pleased, but not very surprised to read this! I think the biggest service Messrs Fox and Gove could now do is to swing their weight behind Mrs Leadsom too.
July 4, 2016
Let’s get this done, very exciting.
July 4, 2016
She must be a good choice because the BBC seems to be on a mission to belittle her etc.
There can be no better commendation than to have the Guardian ‘luvvies’ at the BBC be outwardly against her!
July 4, 2016
She is my choice too. As for Mrs May just look at the oilies with Hammond the oily in chief who support her.
May is not a Brexiteer. She cannot be relied upon.
July 4, 2016
Yes, already Hammond is faux jumping on her pledge to allow EU nationals to remain here without preconditions/using as a bargaining chip….. It allows May/Hammond to appear as tough negotiators by not giving something unilaterally. I am not sure it was necessary to be so magnaminous so early before the EU has conceeded anything for our nationals abroad…..
zorro
July 4, 2016
I agree with you John.
July 4, 2016
I also give Andrea the edge over Theresa . I prefer someone who has been successful in business life whose background includes financial services ; in a nutshell it means that directing the economy will have fewer headaches . She certainly must have done well to have secured and retained her seat on the Board of Barclays at a relatively young age ; I also have considerable respect for Invesco Perpetual where she also excelled – moving and proving in this sort of company enviroment is an indication of her skill .
During the referendum campaign she did not enter the hostile personality bit ; she kept a calm profile and always managed to get her points across forcibly and without rancour . She can secure the confidence and unity that the Conservative Party needs .
July 4, 2016
An advantage of those like Leadsom who have had a long and successful career in private industry, is that unlike their peers with purely political or journalistic backgrounds, they understand the mechanics of making things happen; many politicians have never got beyond the stage of raising the expectations of the multitude with a headline grabbing public announcement.
Anyone who has had success in private industry knows that this can only be achieved with team building, clear direction, removal of impediments whether people or other obstacles, monitoring of progress using critical path analysis and a determination to see things through.
Clearly, Leadsom lacks cabinet level experience; however, a review of the other candidates with regard to foreign policy such as Gove who claimed that he would always put the interests of the UK first and then went on to endorse his prior vote for the illegal Iraq war on the grounds of ‘fighting terrorism’, definitely not a safe pair of hands, there does not seem to be a desire to move away from the unsuccessful foreign policies of Bliar/CMD; putting the interests of the UK first means not being driven by the Brzezinski and Wolfowitz doctrines which are about provoking conflict with Russia over Ukraine etc and deliberately causing mayhem in the ME, none of which harms the USA in any way.
Because the USA was behind the original impetus to deprive European states of their nationhoods, their finding it much easier to achieve control of us through unelected apparachiks and a faceless bureaucracy in Brussels, there may be an attempt by them (but not with Trump) to derail Brexit using economic or geopolitical means.
July 4, 2016
Good, it is disturbingly unrealistic for Mrs. May to be considered a viable option in this very disordered election for PM.
July 4, 2016
“Behind it lies a lifetime of business and political experience.”
The facts say otherwise, she has not headed any business that actually makes things, she has only been in politics since May 2010, if a mere six years in parliament, only two of which have been in any Ministerial position, no cabinet experience what so ever is a “lifetime of business and political experience” then I would hate to know what inexperience is!
She has become the favoured candidate for many not because of her experience but because she has the most pure Brexit message – probably because of her lack of government experience.
“In recent months she has shown she is a woman of principle, placing the UK’s interests before her own, campaigning for a cause that was unfashionable in the government she served. […/etc/…]”
That is a very good reason why she should perhaps be the person heading up a newly created Ministry for Brexit, and I hope that who ever does become PM can persuade her to take such a job within government.
“She is driven by a charitable wish to help those in need, and by an ambition to offer more opportunity and prosperity to the many.”
As I sincerely hope all MPs are these days!
You are not my MP and this is surely constituency business anyway, but I seem to recall that your own Wokingham referendum area actually voted to ‘Remain’ – thus many of your constituency will obviously wish to see a sensible but middle way?
July 4, 2016
Good decision, of the five candidates she has the greatest breadth of experience and the clearest intent to get us out. As a constituent I thank you for supporting her in this bid and hopefully you will be able to help more extensively as we progress from Brexit.
July 4, 2016
I watched Angela Leadsom’s speech this morning and was mightily impressed. I found her no nonsense approach to Brexit most refreshing, she has obviously done her homework. Furthermore, she had a proper job before becoming an MP. I hope she makes the shortlist so I can vote for her.
July 4, 2016
Best choice you have for the country and if MRS ANDREA LEADSON can resonate with people in the north of the country and wales all the better but as for half the party, will not go down well with what they have in mind.
Party PMs must come last and the country and the people come first or all hope will be lost.
July 4, 2016
Completely agree – Andrea Leadsom is absolutely the right leader for us to get on with starting the process now that we’ve voted to leave. In fact, if she doesn’t win I seriously doubt it’ll ever really happen – there’ll never be a right time etc, or events will overtake us. Still no sign of Article 50 being enacted, or indeed any intention of it happening soon, the softening of free movement from the May campaign, in fact no real moves or signals from the govt that anything in the slightest is happening at all (apart from setting up the Letwin unit which I’ve heard nothing else about). We’ve gone from a vote that the vast majority of the country took part in to one with an electorate of 150,000 people and to me the outcomes are as important as each other.
July 4, 2016
I’m pretty disgusted by the attitudes of May and Hammond to well-behaved EU citizens already legally settled in this country at the invitation of our government and Parliament. They are blameless people and it is unjust and unreasonable to even suggest that they could be used as bargaining chips in negotiations with other governments.
July 4, 2016
Cameron has also said this. It is simple, both Labour and UKIP have said EU citizens already here should stay so we just vote for one of them instead when the occasion arises. Those three have obviously identified this issue as one to leverage during the second referendum they are working for.
July 4, 2016
It could be because they have realised that if they stretch out the process for years then many more will wish to migrate before Brexit happens. Her assistant James Brokenshire was denying previous assurances from Remain and UKIP today. Their tactics are displaying panic.
http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2016/06/racist-attacks-since-the-referendum-send-them-home-rhetoric-whos-responsible-and-what-can-be-done.html
July 4, 2016
It is Project Smear and Project Fear still being carried out. They give not a fig for the fears of the people affected. All they care about is stoking up the numbers in the movement against democracy.
July 4, 2016
Well said Denis
My thoughts entirely.
July 4, 2016
Dear Denis–Not sure who first started talking about their being “bargaining chips” but on the other hand it is hard to argue against not giving them carte blanche till the EU do the same for Brits
July 5, 2016
It is very easy to argue against our government mistreating entirely blameless people in our country however badly other governments may behave.
July 5, 2016
Dear Denis–Being or not being blameless is insufficient a criterion for me–For instance I’m very sure lots of potential immigrants who have been given wrong messages are “blameless” but nevertheless cannot sensibly be allowed in.
July 5, 2016
Postscript–On any basis I doubt very much if anybody who came here legally, especially if been here some time, will be thrown out. Could you seriously think different, given that, at least at present, throwing anybody out – murderers, rapists the whole bit – is impossible. But that is no reason to declare one’s hand before we start. My opinion of Mrs May has gone up. Why doesn’t Gove clear out?
July 4, 2016
Playing the devil’s advocate – What if the EU say fair enough but we will not reciprocate and non EU nationals will no longer have the right to reside in the EU?
zorro
July 5, 2016
zorro,
I hear and understand where you are coming from on this. But, in this instance it may (small “m”) be worth taking the moral “high ground” before entering negotiations. Remember that the EU negotiators will be “dyed in the wool” socialists.
July 5, 2016
We keep talented EU workers but send back unemployed to be paid in euros. Our expats come home, the Spanish and French property market collapses, the Spanish economy and unemployment worsens,BTL gets British tenants. We take them to court for discrimination as they have not expelled other non EU nationals.
Also, if the French change the Calais arrangement, we put passport checks on the ferries and imports and tourism slow down, causing a French operation stack 100 km long and a big increase in French hotel vacancies.
July 4, 2016
Hear hear
July 5, 2016
I share the same view. I was under the impression that we were bound to this as a signatory of the Vienna Convention and international law. I may be mistaken but if not while France isn’t a signatory and the EU can’t be, many of the EU countries are.
Regardless, if people are legally here then they aren’t available for May and Hammond to play their “nasty” games with.
If the EU does penalise or punish our ex-pats legally settled or resident or on work contracts in the other countries then they demonstrate to all exactly how important free movement really is to them – not a fundemental cornerstone at all.
July 4, 2016
Absolument!
zorro
July 4, 2016
Go Andrea.
July 4, 2016
She is the best candidate in this election. I hope she wins. Now that Theresa May has indicated that migrants already working and living here should be used a bargaining chip, Andrea Leadsom`s outright and principled opposition to this should have improved her chances of doing so.
July 4, 2016
A very good choice. Emphatically not Theresa May, who is already stalling by saying that we will not invoke Article 50 until the New Year. Sorry, but we want out now if possible and by April 2017 at the latest.
We want control of immigration NOW.
We want to stop payments to Brussels NOW.
We want our Supreme Court to be supreme NOW.
We want to negotiate free trade deals with out countries NOW.
We do NOT want to join the European Economic Area.
I suspect that Stephen Crabb and Liam Fox will come 4th and 5th in the first round and that both will drop out, so there will only be one more round of parliamentary voting. Michael Gove cannot expect to seize the crown after the way he has behaved. The assassin rarely gets to wear the crown. Michael Heseltine knows this. Macbeth succeeded but only briefly.
July 6, 2016
@Lindsay McDougal; “The assassin rarely gets to wear the crown.”
Indeed, and that is why ‘BoJo’ is already out of the contest!
July 4, 2016
John,
I agree 100% with your decision.
July 4, 2016
As a non-resident UK citizen who had no vote, you have no idea how pleased I am with your declaration. Thank you.
July 4, 2016
As another non-resident UK citizen you sound very much like me Simon.
Go Andrea!
July 4, 2016
I agree with JR. Not only is it essential that Leadsom be on the ballot paper but all those who see Brexit as an opportunity rather than a threat should vote for her. The sooner we get this sorted the better.
July 4, 2016
John, paranoia is kicking in, I wonder if you could dispel a rumour that Mrs Mays supporters are being used to split the vote and prevent Mrs Leadsom from being the second candidate? Is that mathematically possible or can the Leave MPs unite to get enough?
Reply “Lending” MP votes is theoretically possible but needs the individuals MPs to agree. I do not k now if that will happen.
July 4, 2016
I wish I could vote for her too.
It is refreshing to hear that you will fight her corner, I just hope many other MP”s do the same, because if a remainer becomes PM I’m not voting for Tories again.
As we read in the papers online that the leave Eu referendum could not ow be blocked. If so, doesn’t that make a joke out of British democracy.
July 4, 2016
Andrea for PM, your good self as Chancellor and Owen Paterson Energy Secretary for starters. There should be no place for Osborne and his faux austerity.
July 4, 2016
Chancellor – JR
Foreign Secretary – MG
Home Secretary – CG
???
The Foreign Office will need a thorough clean up and so will the embassies, to instil a new attitude to GB’s place in the world. MG should be the best person to do this.
July 4, 2016
John S. Absolutely agree with your choice here. Well done John for backing Andrea. Let’s get some common sense and knowledge of ones subject back into government. We need someone to get on with the job in hand.
Off topic. I thought the BBC were very kind when they actually recognised the fact that we have Farage to thank for the referendum as he was the one that pushed Cameron into giving it to us in the first place. Well done that man.
July 4, 2016
Excellent!
Mr. Redwood: I understand that nothing goes forward until and unless there is a vote in the House of Commons (AND the Other House – is that correct?? So I ask you this:
1) When is this debate/vote taking place and who sets the timetable?
2) If the majority of MPs vote against triggering Article 50 thereby delaying the process and making it impossible for the UK to leave the EU perhaps for years and years by which time we could be so ensnared by the EU frame-work and integrated within that system that it wouldn’t by that stage make it worthwhile to even consider leaving it – WHAT can we do about it?
3) If Brussels is saying ‘no discussion before triggering'” and we are saying “‘discussion before triggering’- that will be the perfect solution for Remain (one of whom may become our PM) to turn to the Country and say ‘”your voice is heard but the practicalities of it may take quite some time”” and effectively shelve it for years behind a cloak of faceless individuals in the Civil Service who can spin it out forever. Nothing would please Brussels more?
It’s not Europe we fear – its ourselves.
July 4, 2016
This article sums up the current anti-Leave campaign fom the BBC and other media. It was not Leave or UKIP that started to scare EU workers already here but Straw junior and lack of answers from government Fear campaigners. That May is suggesting that there was or should be a question over this is quite disgusting. I have thought she is as crafty a politician as any for some time.
I hope you can write on the matter before the scare tactics become accepted.
http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2016/06/racist-attacks-since-the-referendum-send-them-home-rhetoric-whos-responsible-and-what-can-be-done.html
July 4, 2016
And this-
http://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2016/07/why-is-may-talking-so-tough-on-eu-nationals-living-in-britain.html
July 5, 2016
Nice photo. An attractive PM. Look at the eyes.
I am very embarrassed now that the Remain campaign side and ministers have suggested that my Polish and French friends may be used as ‘bargaining chips’. I explained that this would be against international law and that both sides new damn well that it wouls be in no-one’s interest to expel anyone and that even criminals could not be expelled. Eric Pickles had to explain this again on Newsnight after this blunder was being used by Evan the Inner.
I am glad that Andrea made it clear that the May/Brokenshire threat is empty.
By the way my French and Polish friends also would like control of their own borders.
July 4, 2016
I am absolutely delighted that you are pushing for Andrea to be in the last two to go to the membership. Although not a member I feel sure the grassroots members who voted by a large majority to leave the EU will support her candidacy.
We have to have someone who wanted to leave the EU and whom we can trust to push for an early exit. Prevarication and delay will only play into the hands of the malcontents who do not believe in the democratic vote.
July 4, 2016
I’m delighted to read about your support for Andrea Leadsom John but will she make it to the final ballot? There seems to be more “Remainiac” Conservative MPs than Brexit so Theresa May will inevitably be one name amongst the final two for the membership to choose.
If Mrs May wins it will be as if there had never been a referendum. She will fill her Cabinet with fellow Remainiacs and Article 50 will be triggered sometime never. I hope Andrea Leadsom supporters will run a vigorous campaign and we see much more of the lady on television and other forms of the media.
July 4, 2016
Indeed Theresa May would be even worse than Cameron. The same lefty policies, the same dire remainers in power and a boring, bossy and rather depressing woman conducting it all. More to the point she is not an electoral asset Andrea Leadsom will be.
At least Cameron can be amusing on occasions and can think on his feet. Peter Hitchens has it about right (except May will hopefully not win).
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-3671939/PETER-HITCHENS-voted-revolution-got-Blair-robot.html
July 4, 2016
There are 330 Conservative MPs, so as long as there are 111 of them who support a Leave candidate in the final three, there is no way for the remaining 219 MPs to split their vote to prevent a Leave candidate going into the final two. Ahead of the referendum, the BBC reported 138 publicly declared Leave supporters and 185 Remain among them. It is of course possible that some MPs who declared for Leave might consider Mrs May a preferable leader.
BBC listing:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35616946
July 4, 2016
They must expose Mrs May to single combat before the public glare….
zorro
July 4, 2016
Thank you, Sir!
Like many an other grateful guest visiting your Diary, I share your impatience for a swift escape (and am anxious lest delay should play into the hands of those who do not have the nation’s best interests at heart).
Is there in reality any need whatever to “invoke Article 50”?
July 5, 2016
Only if we want to leave the EU by the procedure we agreed to. Otherwise we can just stay in the EU, or we can break our word and leave by another route. The first, just stay in the EU, seems much more likely at the moment.
July 4, 2016
John – During the campaign you explicitly stated here that any EU citizens currently living here would be allowed to stay. Cameron, May and Hammond have made it clear that is simply not true and they will be used as bargaining chips in a negotiation. Don’t you think you should have found out what your parties policy was before saying anything ? At best all you should have said was that you didn’t know as it was for the next leader to decide.
Reply Under international law they have that right. Mrs May us wrong and does not have the backing of Parliament on this issue I suspect
July 4, 2016
If you think Leadsom is right, I’ll trust your judgement. Sadly I don’t have a vote.
July 4, 2016
I believe Conservative Mps would be wise to heed the lessons from the Labour Party regarding the consequences of them setting themselves apart from ordinary party members. I’m sure many of them believe they know what’s best for us (‘One nation’, liberal, political correctness balh blah blah but they need to spare us the preaching and get listening.
The message from the majority of Conservative supporters is simple – We want Brexit not an exercise in window dressing and defeatism with everything essentially carrying on the same…Mrs May doesn’t even want to drop out of the Eu court of human rights..
I strongly believe there is no great appetite for Mrs Mays socially Liberal ‘modernising’ agenda. She is skilled in pretending to be a euro sceptic when it suits her but this is no more than a silly game to promote her image and divert attention from her many failures. Now is not the time for her brand of Blairite presentation over substance politics.
Why should she be rewarded for backing the losing side ?. The logic seems to be that the remain side lost so to spare their feelings they should be given a prime minister. No no no. If Mrs May had the guts to back the remain side fully she might have more credibility.
(with Mr Redwood’s kind permission)
July 4, 2016
I havn’t heard much about this lady but trust your judgement in this respect. It is frustrating when you have spent your life looking at problems, trying to sort them out against others who are content to let things be , even though they are wrong .I do appreciate that you have been instrumental in policy making for many years, even though in some respects there has been a lot of heartache. I do appreciate that it has been written that you write one thing and say another to others closer. I do recognise your diplomatic skills and even though as you say you work behind the scenes , you should now be more up front.
From a different perspective , I qualified in 1972, and through my career, have taken degrees , special prescribing qualifications, have taken courses until I explode with knowledge, have worked in every aspect of secondary care as cheap labour for agencies against youngsters from other countries who got it wrong and stamped their feet when they were approached, have taught in college, have been a sister and manager , have had mistakes turned around and had to take the flack for many years and after that put down to the same status as 1972 and walked on and told that I havn’t learnt any more. People can be offensive. People have to realise that because a person has been put in an important position it does not mean to say they have the knowledge or experience.
July 4, 2016
Yes she appears to be the obvious choice now. I mailed my Conservative MP to say I hoped he would represent his constituents view on this matter having had the opportunity to express his personal view last Thursday.
Good to see the House of Representatives in the USA urging to get going on negotiations now with the 5th largest economy to protect US jobs and continue to have a successful world partner and allie
July 4, 2016
Ms Leadsom voted to bomb Syria which at the time, even if one knew who exactly the enemy was to be bombed could not be seen or validated properly from the air. Her fellow viers for leadership are of equal irresponsibility.
So it is a typical Conservative level playing field.
July 4, 2016
Excellent! Quite apart from anything else, she exudes a human warmth that is totally lacking in her principal opponent. Please try and convince as many of your colleagues as possible that she is on the ballot that will go before members.
July 4, 2016
Excellent news,that you are backing Andrea Leadsom, all we can is to wish her well.
Conservative Remainer MP placemen, like my local MP, need reminding that Theresa May and back peddling on Brexit will lose marginal seats to UKIP next time around.
It also needs to be pointed out to Remainers, arguing about a 52 to 48 result in favour of leave, that Tony Blair and the Labour Govt of the time accepted devolution for Wales on a much lower turnout and a vote of 50.3% in favour, but hey that was a vote in an “approved” direction.
July 4, 2016
Great choice. The only choice if we are to have a speedy and successful Brexit. There is simply not a credible remainer. Dr Fox & Mr Gove will not get enough support.
July 4, 2016
Yep you’re right.
Now Osborne trying to hold on to his job by reducing CT. Too little too late I’m afraid, and contrary to the punishment budget threatened 3 weeks ago. He must be the forst one out of the door.
July 4, 2016
Leadsom please.
I don’t expect her to be elected by the same Tory party that signed every EU treaty.
Ted Heath signed the Treaty of Rome and told our people that the EEC would never supplant the UK.
Well. Who would doubt that, in a referendum, had Scotland voted to leave the UK she would have been allowed to do so ? Yet we have voted to leave the EU and will not be allowed to do so.
The continuation of our EU membership is, therefore, more important than the continuation of the UK.
The biggest lie was by the pro EU side – from 1975 onwards, that our nation state was not under threat.
July 4, 2016
Im with you Mr Redwood she will be the angel weve been waiting for…by the way youve always been one of my top politicians and believe me its a short list ha
July 4, 2016
Credit to Dr Redwood for making the right call..
I think the Leavers were lucky to get a brexit vote..then dare we now believe we could actually get a PM that believes in Britain as an independent self governing country…
My fear is we have escaped from one prison cell, seen the sunny uplands..only to be dragged back into the darkness by Mrs May’s bandwagon..
July 4, 2016
Warning bells about FOM from both Mrs May and Philip Hammond supporting her.
Unlike Andrea, they are willing to compromise for the dubious advantage of staying in the single market. We voted for no FOM and no budget contributions. Better World Trade terms than compromising on either.
July 4, 2016
It must be Liam Fox as he seems to be the one who wants out quickest. No other candidate is credible after the majority vote on 23rd June. Out is what the 52% thought they were voting for and that is what they should get.
July 4, 2016
Congratulations, Dr JR. One never imagined that you would pick any other person after the recent pathetic bickering between leading Leavers. This writer knows from his own business experience that forming a working partnership with a very capable woman is often the key to success. In difficult negotiations with a testosterone driven counter-party (ie any French politician) a woman can ask questions that a man could never dare to venture, and will totally disarm the opposition. Cometh the hour, cometh the woman.
July 4, 2016
Brexiteers claimed that they were defending Parliamentary sovereignty . As we all know, in reality their vote was swollen by a protest against immigration from the sub-continent and promises of fictional monies. Sufficient numbers have already changed their mind to reverse the result and when we plunge of the precipice by leaving the single market the regrexit vote will be a torrent .
We on the remain side whilst justifiably furious that lies and bigotry have blighted our future have a quiet problem.
The problem is that we are democrats and should some barely sentient Brexiteer ask if we would have complained about the referendum had it been the other way around we can only shift uncomfortably .
Lets try to be fair about it .No matter how foolish and unpleasant these people may be ,they are people( I suppose ) and one has to admit they would be justified in considerable anger if the referendum was ignored .That said, a democracy is not a dictatorship justified by a dubious plebiscite ( aren’t they all). The 74 referendum was a confirmation of the settled view of our elected representatives and required an Act of Parliament to be implemented .
The government of the day had obtained a mandate for its broad direction at an election and the PM was the one we had voted for not a person selected by a tiny group of unelected swivel eyed blimps whose views were the polar opposite of the elected Premier .
If this country is to be sent forever down a dark tunnel of poverty and irrelevance then we must insist the decision is taken at least as democratically .
For this to be the case the new would be PM musts seek a mandate for the new and entirely different government . The claim that the referendum was a mandate for a right wing conservative coup is manifestly absurd . Neither is there any mandate for any particular course other than leaving the EU. Remaining within the single market is certainly encompassed and the would be government must go to the electorate with it direction of travel on the manifesto.
If a deeply unpleasant virtually UKIP leader such as Andrea Leadsom it is able to win a majority in Parliament then she must submit her plan to invoke article 50 to Parliament .It cannot use prerogative powers , so called , to undo Parliamentary legislation.
That would be the democratic way to proceed . In a democracy the rights of the minority are not trampled on and when it such a large and deeply unhappy minority ( not the case in 1974), that is obviously sensible .
Any other course will be a attempt to impose a dictatorship without any legitimacy either form the referendum or Parliament . If such an attempt I made then Remain must take extra Parliamentary action and I applaud the use of the law. The law is not as Brexiteers claim, a nasty inconvenince just as they have the torch light parades planned .It is an essential bulwark of our freedom and their claims to represent the disembodied spirt of “the people ” have distinctly unpleasan associations
July 4, 2016
Most regrettably it would appear that ‘Remain May’ is likely to have the majoritive support from Con MPs which will mean that they have won. So ends Democracy.
July 4, 2016
How anyone who was not actively on the side of “Leave” can even seek to further their own career on the back of Mr Cameron’s resignation beggars belief.
That was the issue that caused him to resign.
If another “Remainer” is to take his place then what was the point of his resignation?
“Leave” was, as you put it “unfashionable”. I would say it was more akin to a leper suggesting that clubbing baby seals to death should be made legal.
Those people went out on a limb on an issue of utmost importance. The effect on their careers had the population voted “Remain” could have been fatal.
I hear Theresa May saying (along the lines of) “This is not just about appointing a PM who will deliver Brexit, it is about appointing a PM who will deal with the many other issues a PM must deal with”.
Fair enough but not one of those issues was as important as the Brexit issue. None of them even come close.
It’s like saying that the surgeon who successfully operated on your brain might not necessarily be the best qualified to deal with your ingrowing toenail going forwards.
We were dying. We’ll deal with the toenail another day.
Leadsom for me.
July 4, 2016
I’ll also say this.
Conservative won the last election on the strength of the promise of the Referendum.
Many UKIP voters voted for you for this reason (many fell for the line that a vote for UKIP was a vote for Labour).
They won’t make the same mistake twice if your lot mess up on this.
After the Referendum, there can be no doubt about where the electorate leans on this issue.
Screw us over on this and the next election could see carnage.
July 5, 2016
All the papers reporting the first hustings were not good for AL. Can this be true or more political gaming to stop the bid?
July 5, 2016
Fingers crossed Andrea Leadsom will be our next PM. Let’s hope she makes you her Chancellor John.
July 5, 2016
Noting the positive comment about AL at BZW from Javelin, and appreciating that metals trading isn’t a cissies game, I just have one concern re the credibility of her financial experience.
Initially it seemed she was CIO at Perpetual, a very serious role. Now that has become “Head of Governance, CIO”…
When I was in Fund Management, Corporate Governance was where losers ended up. It generates no revenues, is of no interest to clients, and doesn’t improve performance. It exists only so PR to back up the claim there’s something other than relentless expedience going on.
A little like, in the pre “Human resources” days, that those that couldn’t hack it ended up running personnel.
I’m not saying that is how it SHOULD be, just that that is the reality.
One other thing – there’s a 2 minute “Freshstart” Financial services video on youtube where she entirely poo-poos the idea passporting is an issue. Is she right in what she says?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPxfFH7Z204
For the avoidance of doubt, I’m hoping to be informed, rather than stating an opinion. I find Mrs May quite spooky, and as a PPE graduate myself, just now I’m not overly thrilled with the way my former fellow students have handled this!
July 5, 2016
The establishment bandwagon seems unstoppable and the powers that be seem to have it all sewn up (the “pulling” of the D Telegraph article is just one example of apparent attempts to stifle the truth). This does not augur at all well for the future of this country, and nor for the Conservative Party itself. Have these individuals not heard the message loud and clear from the country?
July 5, 2016
It is worrying that David Davies is backing Teresa May. Surely this cannot be out of spite over Boris Johnson? Johnson is backing Leadsom. Has Davies been promised a job? I hope Davies’ choice is not the deciding moment in this leadership contest.
July 5, 2016
Does the Conservative Party’s method of choosing its leader and the nation’s PM date from a time prior to the media being able to communicate effectively…now showing body-language, accent, tone of voice, wardrobe, interactive behavior with its own politicians and members of the public both in crowd speeches, TV speeches in front of a studio audiences, visual and audible references to personal and professional friends and enemies? And yes the Twittershere. One should not underestimate the power of voters talking to one another across class status, town and city and county boundaries. age groups and irrespective of whether one another’s face fits as to someone with whom one normally converses. The Revolution has already started.
Ms Leadsom, of the named candidates, has the greatest chance of eliciting electoral support in the country at large.
July 5, 2016
So uniform the male candidates, dark suit, tie, shiny shoes: look stilted in anything else like jeans as did Ex-PM Blair “Look at me, I’m just like one of you plebs (internal snigger )”
Ms May would look better in a suit. But Ms Leadsom would look quite natural whatever she decided to wear. She could wear flippers and and an astronaut helmet and still look more electable than the rest
July 6, 2016
If Michael Gove really wants the best for the country and a Brexit PM, he needs to stand aside now. If he should remain in the race and come second in this ballot due to tactical voting by May supporters, it will certainly lead to May winning.
July 7, 2016
I agree the fresh face and common-sense ideas of Andrea Leadsom would be a welcome leader and Prime Minister. During the campaign, Andrea conducted herself with courtesy, and respect for those with a different point of view. She always talked up our country, and engaged with that determination prior to our referendum.
When it comes to the dedicated trading department, I would suggest that amongst others, Mr Redwood, and Lord Digby Jones would be of great service in this regard.
Amongst the many, we must never forget the incredible contribution Nigel Farage has given to our country, and I believe history may in time shine a more favourable light upon him once matters settle down. He told it as it was without the spin, regardless. If I could, I would nominate him for a seat in the HL for recognition to political services to our country.
Mr Farage and many others have forced the EU into actively taking a look at themselves, and the changes they must consider. They now say brexit has been a massive “wake-up call” for them, whilst they had previously ignored UK concerns. In fairness to our country, the EU had many years to reform, but chose not to.
It is now time for our country to put all differences to one side, come back together, and talk our country up, though I am disappointed some are now attempting to subvert what has been a straightforward democratic instruction to Government.
Thank you Mr Redwood for keeping everyone informed of the positives that are now ahead of us.
July 9, 2016
Such an endorsement by JR can make one think twice about his judgment. Please read Guy Adams’ 7 July 2016 paper in the Daily Mail on all of Andrea Leadsom’s inaccuracies in her CV, and ask yourself: is she the best prospective MP?
July 11, 2016
A good resolution of the mess in the Conservative Party. Sorry for you, JR, but you seem to have a knack for taking bad bets …
Reply Like supporting the winning side in the referendum? I thought that was a good choice.