Why we should trigger Article 50

This is a written version of a speech I made in Parliament earlier today. It was to be tomorrow’s blog, but I have decided to publish it early in view of the interest. This is not identical to my speech in Parliament which I gave without reference to notes or text.

 

 

UK voters decided to take back control

They decided our once mighty Parliament must be mighty again

After exhaustive debate of the dangers, they voted to leave

Told the EU would bully us on exit,

they voted to stand up to the bully.

 

Told the economy would plunge into recession this winter and suffer early damage

They vote to leave because they did not believe the experts

It is good news the experts were wrong

Voters want this Parliament to decide our laws, control our borders, spend our money on our priorities –

and  answer directly to the voters for how we do it

The people have proved they have more courage, more vision, more belief in freedom than their recent Parliaments

 

If the referendum vote had gone the other way I would not have sought election again

I have had enough of belonging to a puppet Parliament,

Of having to support endless European laws and decisions we are instructed to accept

or acting as the permanent rebel, out of sorts with the ruling follies of the EU accepted by both front benches

Had we stayed, the only future I saw for these great buildings

Was as a mausoleum to our dead democracy

A  museum to a once powerful Parliament,

A history lesson of how we used to be self governing

 

Instead, today, thanks to the people

This is now the once and future sovereign Parliament of the UK

 

When we have swept aside the power of the Commission and extinguished the sovereignty of the European Court

We will at last control our own destiny as a nation

 

The day we leave the EU will be a day for celebration

It will be the day everything changes and nothing changes

It will be the day we take back control

 

From that day onwards we can change any law, reverse any EU decision we opposed, spend any money we collect as we choose

It will be the day when all current EU laws are confirmed as UK law so there is no disruption or lack of clarity

 

I will vote for this Bill with more enthusiasm and more conviction than any other measure brought before us in recent years

It is time to do what the people demand

It is time to recreate their sovereign Parliament

The Parliament they can support or alter at their will.

 

 

 

89 Comments

  1. Old Albion
    January 31, 2017

    Well said JR.

    1. eeyore
      January 31, 2017

      Thank you Mr Redwood. I hold you to be one of the major statesmen of our generation, as well as one of England’s wisest and most dutiful public servants. That you are excluded from power reflects far worse on those who are in power than on you.

      Your comment that, had the referendum gone the other way, you would have left Parliament, is a sobering thought for those of us who are proud to trail a pike in Redwood’s company.

    2. christine o'donnell
      January 31, 2017

      What a wonderful speech you made – well done and thank you. And may I add without hopefully causing offence GOD BLESS YOU!

    3. zorro
      February 1, 2017

      Well done JR, hopefully itmight wake some of them from their EU induced slumber ?✌

      zorro

  2. Margaret
    January 31, 2017

    Strongly agree*

    Whilst I see that it is the protestors right to protest about Trumps views , they should not try and stop his UK visit. This is collective pomposity . We have had African leaders welcomed here where many African villages have been slain and wiped out: .a far more cruel scenario and other visitors with diametrically opposed views to those values GB hold. We are talking about building bridges , not pulling them down . We need to create deals with the USA and not all companies hold the same view as Trump but will suffer if he is denied a state visit.
    These protestors who shout out will be shouting again if they lose American backing in their jobs and lose employment as a result. As we leave the EU we want friendship all over the world, we want to network where we can change views . I am so angry at the lack of perspective by these protestors.

  3. Beecee
    January 31, 2017

    I see Ken Clarke CH continues to mimic an ostrich!

    1. turboterrier
      January 31, 2017

      @ Beecee

      I have never ever thought for one minute he had his head stuck in the sand!!!!!

  4. Lifelogic
    January 31, 2017

    Perfectly put.

    But why on earth do so few people in Parliament and the House of Lords not see this as clearly as you do. Surely it is blindingly obvious now. It was obvious (even to me as a teenager) in 1975 as Powell, Benn and Shore pointed out.

    So why did Theresa May, Hammond, Cameron and the rest not see this? Why did Theresa even lie to the voters (that we had control of our borders through Schengen) to try to deceive them into a remain vote? Why did they go along with all the lies from the state sector, the chancellor, the treasury, the Bank of England, the BBC and the rest.

    Even not I am far from convinced we will properly escape under the current rather dithering socialist leadership.

  5. alan jutson
    January 31, 2017

    Thank you for your efforts in helping us get this far.

    We do not want to fall down in the last furlong.

    I was going to say last hurdle, but I am sure many more hurdles will be erected by those who want to frustrate democracy, as we get get closer and closer to the finishing line.

    1. NickC
      January 31, 2017

      There will be many more hurdles because TEU Article 50 is an open invitation for the opponents of Brexit to erect more hurdles.

      I guess I have lost the argument here, but let us see who is right? Both Remains in the UK, and the EU itself, gain control of the issue because Art50 is a supplication – please sir, can we have our independence back?

      There is nothing to negotiate; nothing, that is, which must indispensably be negotiated. How much did the American colonialists negotiate with the UK? The answer is nothing. The decided they should have independence, and they took it. And now we have a “special relationship”.

  6. Anonymous
    January 31, 2017

    And thanks to you too, John.

    Few of us are expecting an easy ride.

  7. Hope
    January 31, 2017

    Well said. Is Clarke going to lose the whip?

    1. The Great Ear
      January 31, 2017

      It has been said for some time he’s lost it

  8. Lifelogic
    January 31, 2017

    The “experts” were wrong as you say, but they were never experts they were hired guns. You get the opinion you want and pay for.

    The EU & government’s “experts” are/were also wrong on climate alarmism, the unworkable structure of the NHS, the EURO, the ERM, the absurd current fiscal system, tax levels, HS2, Hinkley C, the size of the bloated state, gender pay reporting, compulsory workers on boards, the apprentice tax, centrally dictated pay controls, the endless red tape, the unfair subsidies for electric cars, trains & buses, the unreliable energy agenda, the no win no fee litigation culture, the removal of moral hazards ……. Indeed almost every issue they ever address.

    Just hired guns (for the endless expansion of the state) largely paid for out of taxes, not experts at all.

  9. Iain Gill
    January 31, 2017

    I saw it live on TV.

    Well done!

    1. old salt
      January 31, 2017

      Jolly well said John. Can’t thank you enough for your clarity of thinking and for which we are forever grateful.

      Your speech (or part) re-played on LBC FVw Ch 732 tonight between 19.00 and 20.00. Excellent.

      1. G Walsh
        February 1, 2017

        Not only was the speech a masterly display of oratory (sans notes) but it was given in the face of loutish heckling, even by HoC standards.

        1. Tweeter_L
          February 2, 2017

          Hear hear– I was disgusted by the amount of noise throughout Dr R’s speech. Whatever happened to good manners?

  10. Mitchel
    January 31, 2017

    Wow!

  11. Edward2
    January 31, 2017

    Brilliantly put.
    Many thanks for your efforts to restore this great nation’s freedom and independence.

    1. formula57
      February 1, 2017

      Agreed. Thank you Mr Redwood.

      Parliament and the people would be advantaged to be as well-served by more of those who act as our representatives.

  12. ian wragg
    January 31, 2017

    Well done John. I heard Ben Bradshaw on the news this morning, the sheer arrogance of his likes is truly astonishing.
    These people vote in favour of a referendum (which they were confident of winning) then vote against the outcome.
    As for Ken Clarke, he is beyond a joke, I him saying he would like to see parliament relegated to the status of a County Council. These people are treacherous and should be treated as such.
    Then we have Soubry, she sits well with (Sturgeon ed), lets hope she decamps to Edinburgh.
    Keep up the good work.

  13. Andy Lestocq
    January 31, 2017

    Marvellously put,
    Could it be that with Brexit achieved,we will have direct accountability from those whom we elected. And no longer will be told that Brussels ordained something and we had to do as we were told .
    So our MP will have to listen and act.
    Something that the Cleggs of this world will have to face as they will count for nothing without Brussels unelected to hide behind
    I feel sorry for Cameron , as he fell flat on his face . His legacy should be Gay marriage, it sums him up

    1. Lifelogic
      February 1, 2017

      Cameron had a huge opportunity. With a proper Conservative low tax, anti EU agenda he would clearly have won the two sitting duck elections easily. He blew it all due to his duff agenda of modernising, high tax, pro EU and LibDem broken compass. He was clearly a LibDem all along, just pretending not to be. What was he even doing in the Tory Party? Just a better career path that he saw I assume.

      1. Bob
        February 1, 2017

        It’s being reported that David Cameron lobbied the owner of the Daily Mail to sack editor Paul Dacre because he refused to support the Remain campaign.

  14. William Long
    January 31, 2017

    Very well said – your speech encapsulates the entire reason for leaving the EU; the economic advantages or disadvantages are irrelevant and incidental. It is all about democracy.

  15. pleb
    January 31, 2017

    Perfect.
    We have America onside now. The “opposition”, professional protesters and mainstream media have turned their sights on to Trump. He knows what he has to do and is surrounding himself with the right people.

  16. E.S Tablishment
    January 31, 2017

    I am unsure about Parliamentary protocols, more so when Anna Soubry today referred in the House to Nick Clegg being “my NEW friend”. She needs one. At least this one is visible.

    1. Jagman84
      January 31, 2017

      I fully expect Ms Soubry to cross the floor to sit with her new ‘friends’. However, I do not expect her to allow her constituents to put a cross on a ballot paper in the near future.

      1. E.S Tablishment
        February 1, 2017

        Well she would be stepping into a party with a proud tradition of…..of errr…of err, well, ….they put the “h” in wig! An utterly useless addition. She is a good fit.

  17. Bert Young
    January 31, 2017

    I wish I had been there to applaud your speech . This was straightforward stuff full of truth and dignity .

  18. bigneil
    January 31, 2017

    “It is time to do what the people demand”

    Can we please stop being a safe haven for foreign criminals murderers paedophiles and terrorists? They come here, claim persecution if sent back – then walk our streets in freedom while living off our taxes. We all know it is wrong. They should not be here – why should we bother about them, let alone provide free lives ? They are a waste of our money and a danger to us all.

  19. The Prangwizard
    January 31, 2017

    I saw your contribution today. It was very much your day. Thank you.

    I saw Kate Hoey too earlier and Owen Paterson later. All very powerful stuff. Those opposing looked and sounded like yesterday’s people, with nothing to say but empty words. Losers in more than one meaning of the word.

  20. ian
    January 31, 2017

    Well said but who is going to control 85% of liberals in parliament who take away the peoples service and money to give away and vote against the people at every chance they get, who is going save the plebs from them.

  21. Roger Parkin
    January 31, 2017

    Thank you John. The speech of the day delivered so articulately and passionately.
    I intend to keep replaying it until the day our sovereignty returns.

  22. Archie
    January 31, 2017

    Hear! Hear!

  23. Alexis
    January 31, 2017

    This is a superb speech. I hope I can catch it on YouTube.

    Bravo sir, and thank you.

  24. Mark W
    January 31, 2017

    I saw it. You are a class act. Thank you

  25. SM
    January 31, 2017

    John, you have enlightened me and others from Maastricht onwards, thank you for what you said in Parliament today.

  26. Duncan
    January 31, 2017

    JR

    I saw your speech today. You did your country proud but its people even prouder.

    Thank-you

  27. Cheshire Girl
    January 31, 2017

    I watched the debate, and I was impressed by your contribution. You spoke with eloquence and conviction. I’m glad you were there to represent the interests of those of us who voted to leave the EU. It gives us hope for the future.

    1. NickC
      January 31, 2017

      Indeed. Well said both.

  28. Chris
    January 31, 2017

    Well done, Mr Redwood. Reports in some of the papers tonight about the debate are alarming, so it is very reassuring to have this posted by you.

  29. Jack
    January 31, 2017

    Weak consumer credit number came out today. Government deficit clearly too small to even sustain the current private credit structure. Don’t risk a collapse, especially if you want Brexit to be a success. We need huge payroll tax cuts and extra government spending ASAP.

    1. Jack
      January 31, 2017

      Also I should add that I saw your speech in the Commons today. You made great points about the importance of sovereignty and democracy. I just dearly hope we don’t go down the route of austerity because it will greatly damage the cause.

      We have so much spare productive capacity we can put to use immediately. If we do, Brexit will be a massive success. Prosperity, not austerity! With our newly-refound monetary and political sovereignty, we can be a positive example to the world.

  30. Dave B
    January 31, 2017

    Bravo! Well said!
    Keep up the good work of outing the idiots like Clarke.

  31. mike fowle
    January 31, 2017

    Just seen it over at Guido’s site, where another poster has also put up your interview a little while ago with Kirsty Wark. Love the way you said that’s a very silly question. You’ve kept the faith, John.

  32. Mark B
    January 31, 2017

    If the referendum vote had gone the other way I would not have sought election again

    Respect to you Mr.Redwood MP sir.

  33. getahead
    January 31, 2017

    Wow 2. It’s a pity you are not the PM.

    1. old salt
      February 1, 2017

      My thoughts for some time.

  34. Colette Parsons
    January 31, 2017

    Sir, I heard you, and extend my thanks on behalf of my family. MPs like you are rare indeed, be proud.

  35. MickN
    January 31, 2017

    You are absolutely bloody wasted Sir !
    When this EU stuff is sorted I would love to see you as Culture Secretary to sort out the BBC.
    You are just over the border from the constituency that I live in. Your constituents should be very proud of you. I am.

  36. Deborah Skuse
    January 31, 2017

    Dear Mr Redwood,
    I heard your rousing speech and the cacophony of voices around you today, I had actually arrived home in my car but I stopped in the car because I was so captured by your words and voice. The feeling it roused was the feeling I felt when the Brexit vote returns started coming in and I saw the vote results read out in Sunderland and my heart was bursting with pride at their courage and their show of pride.
    I came on to your page and read the text of the speech and thought hang on this isn’t all of it, then saw afterwards that you had edited it. Beautifully spoken Mr Redwood and spoken with real feeling. Thank you.

  37. Graham
    January 31, 2017

    I think that a lot of MP’s have for many years forgotten who puts them where they are but ignore the wishes of their voters nonetheless.

    It’s only more starkly seen on this clear cut issue but has been a source of the abuse of democracy for a long time.

    Well said JR

  38. Martin Conboy
    January 31, 2017

    Stirring stuff! Thanks, it needed to be said and you’ve said it.

  39. Peter
    January 31, 2017

    Never having previously joined in any ‘web chat’ I am moved here to say: Thank you, thank you, John, for your today’s 3pm impassioned speech to reinstate Parliament as the sovereign instrument of the people of Great Britain (your words here cannot do it justice). A grown man nearly cried!

  40. Newmania
    January 31, 2017

    “We” it clearly doesn`t include me .Where is my country I wonder?
    One joke about this was that the victory really belongs to UKIP. The miserably mediocre right wing of the Conservative Party , who let others do the hard work, are sitting pretty with UKIP still excluded completely.
    If we are to salvage anything from this disaster then the system has to be reformed to provide representation for everyone .
    Millions of moderate centrists have no-one to vote for, millions of UKIP supporters have no representation .The SNP are ludicrously over represented and a bizarre amount of power rests with a few members of the Conservative Party most of whom are batty .
    The Labour Party is a diabolical animated corpse incapable of more than blundering around the Laboratory but unable to die.

    If this sovereignty is all we get for at god knows what cost, then to sit and look at this farce for years is not good enough

    1. Anonymous
      February 1, 2017

      Being in the EU for a number of decades is precisely what has caused political constipati0n. Clearly there was an urge to Leave the EU because there was so much discontent with it.

      It took an age to do, many warnings were given but unheeded – it was done after open and extensive debate, court hearings and is still subject to careful scrutiny.

      Hopefully people will, henceforth, vote for politicians being alert to their position on the EU from now on. Sovereignty will re-energise our politics once the soporific effects of foreign governance are lifted – thanks for acknowledging that sovereignty had been taken away. Once you put a proper value on its return you can begin to heal yourself.

  41. Chris
    January 31, 2017

    Compliment from my husband to you – he heard you on the radio this evening and was most impressed. He is not easily impressed by politicians, either!

  42. turboterrier
    January 31, 2017

    John

    I find it incredible the way that you seem to identify yourself with the rank and file of the population of the UK.

    Very much a speech along the lines of “don’t look now but follow me” and we would and will.

    Sad to see the Home Secretary trying to sit on the fence. Trying to be all things to everybody. She was not up to the mark at the DECC and sadly she is repeating her lack of performance again. She should have read your entry yesterday and learnt something and kept her nose out of it.

    The PM needs to take a leaf out of the Presidents book ” Your fired” The coming months are not the place to have faint hearted politicians. Why are so many experienced , knowledgeable politicians left to languish on the back benches when they could be such a force for the fight ahead of us? The cabinet in the coming months is not going to be the place for the weak and politically correct politicians.

  43. Juliet
    January 31, 2017

    Well said John.

    We need more positive thinkers like yourself

  44. Chris
    January 31, 2017

    Link to Mr Redwood’s contribution:
    http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/fe6bc3c9-5d0b-4808-ba0b-8ce9c08475c1?in=14:56:50&out=15:03:12

    I have now seen, as opposed to read, your contribution to the debate, and again say well done. What horrified me were the obvious detractors constantly muttering or shouting or laughing during a debate of vital significance to the whole future of the UK. How utterly disrespectful, not only to the person speaking, but to the Leave voters. What utter contempt these rude individuals seemed to display to your passionate delivery about what is the key issue behind this debate: the question of the UK finally getting back its sovereignty. No wonder so many politicians have such a bad name. Thank you Mr Redwood for standing out as one of the few good men.

    1. a-tracy
      February 1, 2017

      Why didn’t Bercow or his deputy stop them? The days of people being able to woof woof at fellow MPs are hopefully coming to an end soon.

  45. Doh!
    January 31, 2017

    I used to believe in the EU with a passion. But then when I turned first to one side and then the other and saw who my comrades were. …

  46. Pauline Jorgensen
    February 1, 2017

    Agreed John, Brexit will return parliamentary democracy, gone will be the unelected self annointed EU ‘elites’ who decided our future – freedom will be ours and opportunity.

    We have seen in some of the attacks on Trump the ‘we know best’ brigade who only support democracy when it gets the result they want. Trump has his flaws but the US people have spoken.

    We need to hold firm against these same people in the progress to Brexit, Brexit means Brexit not some slippery ‘pay me all the money give me all the power but pretend you have exited’ compromise.

  47. Pauline Jorgensen
    February 1, 2017

    Thanks to Chris I have now watched the speech – bloody good barnstormer – well done John

  48. EdwardM
    February 1, 2017

    Dear Sir,
    An eloquent and passionate speech for us and our country. The fundamental truths laid clear at this key turning point in our parliaments history, spoken by you, an MP true to his country.
    Like you I have never wanted Westminster to be a puppet parliament. Shame on all those MPs who wish to impose a foreign power on us. We need more like you.

  49. EdwardM
    February 1, 2017

    An eloquent and passionate speech for us and our country. You spoke the fundamental truths about restoring sovereignty to Westminster.
    We need more MPs like you.

  50. rick hamilton
    February 1, 2017

    Well said JR and what a loss to our country that you never became leader of your party. It takes a great intellect to make things as simple and clear as you do.

    The British electorate have seen the EU for what it really is, a wasteful and fraudulent elite club for politicians and bureaucrats to control peoples’ lives without any heed to their wishes.

    I am not sure whether to laugh at or cancel my subscriptions to the FT and Economist (and BBC if it were possible) which are relentlessly negative about Brexit and only interested in peddling predictions of doom and gloom.

  51. David Price
    February 1, 2017

    Excellent speech, thanks for keeping the faith and yet another brilliant contribution.

  52. Mick
    February 1, 2017

    I watched the debate from the start until the wife told me to turn it over, there were some great speeches from the Mr Cash Mr Bone Mrs Gillian and many more and of course yourself Mr Redwood, then we had the eu loving MPs who we know who they are

    http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/761427/Brexit-Remain-plot-block-European-Union-exit-committing-political-suicide

    I can only hope Mrs May calls a GE so all these pro loving MPs can be given there P45 and replaced with people who believe in Great Britain

  53. John
    February 1, 2017

    I hope they listen to those fine words and find the courage to make decisions in Parliament.

  54. Denis Cooper
    February 1, 2017

    Well said. Many contributions were a bit boring and repetitious, but not this.

  55. A.Sedgwick
    February 1, 2017

    Great speech, I congratulate your non use of notes. A recurring thought when watching these major debates is how pathetic it is for some MPs virtually to read their speeches. The SNP MP, who Ian Paisley stopped in her tracks with his suggestion that Eire should quit the EU as its two major customers were USA and UK, was a prime example.

    As for Ken Clarke and Clegg brevity prevents my commenting.

  56. Iain Moore
    February 1, 2017

    The problems in Parliament were no better shown than by the MPs who attempted to barrack you while you made your speech , compared to the applause they gave Ken Clarke for his sneering EUphile contribution.

    We might have won the Referendum, but we still have a long way to go changing the culture in Parliament.

  57. June Romans
    February 1, 2017

    Wonderful speech. I wish you every success in our post- Brexit country, which will still need your clarity of vision. It’s a pity there are not more MPs like you.

  58. Roderick Roberts
    February 1, 2017

    JR. I saw you deliver the speech live on television yesterday afternoon and I’ve never seen you speak with such passion. Thank you.

  59. Alexei
    February 1, 2017

    Thank you, Sir. I hope the voters re-engage in the next general election and it washes out those without their people’s mandate, because it will matter once again precisely who is representing us.

  60. Paul Cohen
    February 1, 2017

    That crescendo ought blow them all away – well done indeed.

  61. John Whitehead
    February 1, 2017

    I felt quite emotional when I saw it yesterday on a link in Twitter. I feel the same emotions today reading in black and white the same sentiments. Well said Mr Redwood – you express so eloquently and passionately what so many of us feel.

  62. Andrew S
    February 1, 2017

    The inescapable fact is that we would not have achieved this without campaigning work of Nigel Farage in particular, and the electoral threat he wielded with the concept of UKIP.
    I do hope that one day we will have June 23rd celebrated as our Independence Day. History will I am sure recognise Farage for his pivotal role in returning Sovereign rule to our country. In which others including Mr Redwood played vital roles. This blog has been a great source of information and analysis. I hope it may continue for a long time, hopefully its author a Member of Parliament so long as he and his constituents prefer it. Its wisdom will persist however, even beyond a parliamentary position.

  63. Don Dutta
    February 1, 2017

    Great speech Mr.Redwood. Heard it live yesterday.
    Still lots to do and lots to look forward to!

  64. Paul Mossman
    February 1, 2017

    Thank You

  65. Victoria
    February 1, 2017

    Absolute twaddle. Can’t wait for you to lose your seat in 2020.

  66. Vanessa
    February 1, 2017

    You seem to forget, conveniently, that most of our laws now are made by global organisations such as CODEX and UNESCE. These organisations make laws which are then handed to the EU, they are branded and distributed to the 28 countries.
    If you go to Hong Kong or the USA and ask for a AAA battery you will get one which conforms with all the GLOBAL regulations and it will fit your device. If we do not stay in the Single market all these global laws will cease to apply to Britain as we are not members of one of the accepted world “clubs”.

  67. Mike Bailey
    February 1, 2017

    I want to add my own thanks and compliments for truly understanding what’s at stake for our great Nation. The leave campaign was ridiculed for being made up from non-graduates like me. With a handful of ‘O’ levels, when then meant something I started work and was led astray by promises that a vote to remain in the EEC (Common Market) would not impinge on our Sovereignty.

    Wilson’s 1975 plebiscite was retrospective, it should have been carried out before the passage of the ECA 1972 because this Act would ultimately change our constitution and pass over control to a foreign Supra-National State. Shame on Heath’s Government who told us there would be no diminution of our Sovereignty. I have regretted ever since that our nation was hoodwinked by Heath. Maybe his Charlemagne award in 1963 (+ £35,000 cash) drove him to get us to join the EEC in 1972.

    I refer anyone interested with our History to check out the Bill of Rights Act 1689 (still in force): it contains the following oath: ‘I do declare that no foreign prince, person, prelate, state or potentate hath or ought to have jurisdiction, power, superiority, pre-eminence or authority within this Realm.’ Since this Bill has not been repealed it is clear that every treaty Britain has signed with the EU has been illegal, including the European Communities Act 1972 which took us in without the Government first seeking a Plebiscite even though it was surrendering our Sovereignty. Over the last 44 years, successive UK Parliaments have ceded further Sovereignty without consulting the electorate until 2016. Sovereignty is lent to our elected representatives with the condition they return it undiminished to the electorate at each General Election. We hear about Parliamentary Sovereignty when in fact this Sovereignty resides with the people of our great nation.

    The EU’s approach of one size fits all is doomed to fail: 2 quotes by Friedman expose this approach as fallacious: “A society that puts equality before freedom will get neither. A society that puts freedom before equality will get a high degree of both.”
    “One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results.” ― Milton Friedman

  68. stred
    February 2, 2017

    I have only now had an opportunity to hear your speech,which was for the main part delivered calmly and wish reasoned argument. This was largely ignored by the media. They picked up the last few sentences when you sounded impassioned. Even Ian Dale said this was an example of why you never became leader. Presumably, he only respects centre right bendy politicians. They think you are too cold and logical on the one hand and then too emotional when you let off steam.

    Unfortunately, the HoC will always be full of the bendy types and continue to pass daft and bent laws. I have had to work 12 hours 7 days running to avoid prosecution because of one of them.

    I started letting a 4 bedroom house after improving it in 1994. The tenants were pleased with it. I let to students and families. The council refused HB to the best family because the house was too big, even though the rent was the same as the flat they had to move to. Then 12 years ago the council decreed that the smaller bedroom was unfit as below their new area standard and I closed it to convert to a big bathroom. This has since been revised and now it would not be too small. The tenant asked me to divide the bedroom to make a kitchenette and shower/wc, as the ground floor kitchen and shower is very small. The number of persons in the house was then restricted to no more than 2 related persons. I housed a couple and their friend. Recently, they left and recommended another EU citizen with limited English. She found a Spanish friend to share the house. When asking about council tax, the officer queried whether the house was divided into flats as there is now a spare bedroom.Unfortunately, she did not understand that they were trying to issue two council tax demands, almost doubling the charge. They phoned me and confirmed that if there was a kitchenette then they would consider the top floor as a flat and will report me to the planners even though I never wanted to convert to flats and it would be refused anyway. They are also refusing planning for any more HMOs, not that I would ever wish to get involved with that nightmare. As a result,I have been busy upgrading the top floor for one of the two sharers but have to remove her cooking facility in order to avoid prosecution for a conversion that I never made.

    This is all beyong the belief of the EU tenants and I explained that insane legislation is a British speciality.

  69. Rob Casper
    February 2, 2017

    Brilliant; I caught it on the way home from work – Well done! Well done! Well done! I loved every single word of it together with the power with which you delivered it. Awsome!

    Rob C.

  70. J.White
    February 4, 2017

    Thank you for your brilliant speech very eloquently said. It is a shame the opposition benches have so little respect for anyone who isn’t a Europhile! You would think the part about it being a puppet parliament would get through to them but obviously they need to be told what they can and can’t do! Your speech was very inspiring. I am very concerned we will never be free of the EU because people like Tony Blair and Richard Branson will use their money to get what they want to the detriment of ordinary working people. Their God is money ours is freedom! Please keep up the figh we will be right behind you and will definitely vote for you in 2020 should you decide to stand.

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