I send my condolences to the families of those who died in the explosion, and my wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured. This is reported as a senseless and cruel act of terrorism, attacking families just having a good time on a special evening of entertainment. Such evil violence wrecks the lives of those caught by it.
I have delayed the publication of the piece I had written for this morning and will not be campaigning in the election today.
Published and promoted by Fraser Mc Farland on behalf of John Redwood, both at 30 Rose Street Wokingham RG 40 1 XU
May 23, 2017
Terrible terrible news; one expresses deep sorrow knowing this will not help and that nothing, said or done can fix this .Just awful.
May 23, 2017
Indeed, yet another dreadful act of terrorism probably driven, once again, by a warped religion.
There is unfortunately very little the governments or indeed anyone can do about these appalling & senseless attacks, just too many potential targets. Better intelligence and intervention before the event is all we can hope for.
Theresa May should perhaps think about another U-turn on her stance on public funding for faith schools. We surely should not be increasing the cleavages in society in this way using tax payers money. State schools should surely stick of real education rather than religious indoctrination of young minds.
May 23, 2017
Radical problems require radical solutions…however, I don’t believe this Government has the stomach to make radical decisions…in fact, neither do the other so-called parties?….so on it continues?
May 24, 2017
Indeed Theresa May even wants more state faith schools and has relaxed the rules on them. The government have not tackled the radicalisation that goes on in some schools and some mosques in any serious way. As usual we see all the religious leaders with their platitudes & speeches holding vigils and telling up to Pray for Manchester.
Etc ed
May 24, 2017
May has not even closed the Trojan horse schools recommended any HMI school inspectorate. Casey report should be implemented infull ASAP. Sadly, shelved into the long grass. May failed to deport suspected terrorists like Abu Qatada, he left of his own accord! Change the law and get rid of those determined to harm us, it is not hard decision to make or implement.
May 29, 2017
Lifelogic: “The government have not tackled the radicalisation that goes on in some schools and some mosques in any serious way.”
Don’t forget our prisons, they are a seething hot-bed of Islamic fanaticism and recruitment.
May 23, 2017
Actually there is plenty government could do . There can only be one reason to allow Isis terrorists to return to the UK, a thorough intelligence grilling and when let loose, observation to see who their friends are. The vast majority should never have been allowed to return, born here or not. It is only that government is so far up it’s own backside with political correctness that nothing is done, and innocent people suffer the consequences..
May 23, 2017
I tend to agree. Once they are known to have taken part abroad, there should be absolutely no way that they are allowed back in to the UK. End of.
Make the stance public and stick to it – their families are welcome to visit them wherever they end up
That to one side, horrendous news for all concerned in Manchester
May 23, 2017
When you have an internal security problem mix it with an external security problem and overwhelm your security services.
Politicians cannot be trusted with security they are crazy
May 23, 2017
Sadly you are correct!
May 23, 2017
Agree but sure they will blame everyone except there own policies.
Bomb foreign countries & effectively allow and almost actively encourage (using EU law) uncontrolled immigration from anywhere? Give up control of courts, borders with EU law driven court rulings. So why?
Etc ed
It takes you 9 months to send a letter? and 2 years to exit a political union which is hamstringing the UK.
The level of hopelessness at the failings of our government to look after British citizens on the ground in the UK are profoundly felt. Are governments interested in democracy anymore, where is direct democracy and right to recall?
May 23, 2017
Lifelogic: “Better intelligence and intervention before the event is all we can hope for. ”
Allegedly, Salman Abedi: Already known to the security services.
Khalid Masood: Already know to the security services.
Rakhmat Akilov: Already known to the Swedish security services and previously ordered deported.
etc, etc,.
May 24, 2017
Only 35 comments a whole day after the mainstream media has been twittering about nothing else.
Remarkable.
May 23, 2017
What dreadful news, but sadly not entirely unexpected. We are all living under a cloud these days, and there appears to be nothing we can do about it. Such a sad situation for those innocents caught up in this, and great appreciation for our Police and Emergency services , who are left to pick up the pieces. They are the Heroes today.
May 23, 2017
JR: “I send my condolences to the families of those who died in the explosion ”
Would you also give them a message from Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London?
Your children have just paid the toll for multiculturalism, terror attacks just part and parcel of living in a major city.
Along with, one supposes, the council tax and air pollution. This was no doubt, pacifists who have recently been radicalised?
You our politicians have traded our freedoms for security, so far is isn’t looking like a good deal.
May 23, 2017
“Who feel for thee with a pain sharp as is thine own?” asked the preacher. Who indeed? Yet all are vulnerable to this sort of outrage. Victims die at random. They may as well be us.
My own local town, small and remote, is so far from any centre of law enforcement that I suspect a terrorist attack there could last literally hours before adequate help arrived. I guess most of Britain is no better protected. How long before we find out?
The Manchester attacker may have acted alone. What is certain is that he did not live alone but among people with whom his boiling resentment and murderous glee were common property, aired, discussed and enthusiastically endorsed. In that sense it is futile to call for the community to draw together. There are knots of wickedness at its heart which feed on perverted and egotistical moral outrage and are impervious to humanity.
May 23, 2017
Terrible events John, as you say. I think we are all feeling the same today. The emergency services did a great job as usual and our thanks go out to them. I despair at the evil in the world today.
May 23, 2017
Morning.
I would like to second that which our kind host has stated above.
I think we will hear, and in turn not be surprised, as to the kind of animals that are behind this. I have no doubt it will be the ‘usual suspects.’
May 23, 2017
There are many dangers in every community and it is up to everyone to be on their guard . No matter how good our security forces are there are always chinks through the armour . We must not be weak kneed from exporting “undesirables”; we have been handicapped by EU restrictions from getting rid of criminals up to now ; it is our laws and conditions that count and they are the only ones for us to obey .
I cringe at the disaster in Manchester and I offer my condolences to all those who suffered .
May 23, 2017
Why?
The rest of us have to go about our business, go to work, do the shopping and so on.
More virtue signalling, by weak people. Why has your government allowed the infiltration of our nation by our enemies and then told us how we rejoice in the diversity.
No we don’t, we want our nation and our identity back.
May 23, 2017
According to the Tory Election Manifesto, the government will seek to control the internet and censor what people can say and what they can read, online. Obviously, it is all about terrorism, ho hum, because we already have CGHQ which purportedly keeps us safe from internet orchestrated conspiracies, but by drastically extending the remit to include thoughtcrime, actually, they are doing nothing more than preventing anyone reading and discussing anything more risque than ‘royal’ weddings and women with large posteriors whilst making us less safe by diverting attention to online discussions which might make some people feel uncomfortable but do not involve blowing people up.
May 23, 2017
I am very worried about this. It started with Frau Merkel wanting to stop people discussing mass immigration and the desirability of being in the EU.
May 24, 2017
This exposes the Tory party for what it is, a vicious authoritarian force that postures about soldering on in the face of domestic terrorism but does everything in its power to make it worse by maintaining open borders and engaging in wars in the ME in support of the insupportable whilst ‘making examples’ of any who dare to offer words of dissention, either thoughtfully or in anger so that they can continue to change this country in ways which we the English never wanted and never voted for. Shameful.
May 23, 2017
Absolutely dreadful but terrifyingly predictable.
This tragedy highlights yet again the fact that defence, controlling our borders and laws are our priorities.
May 23, 2017
We have come along way since W. Churchill in sombre times said for good reason “The maxim of the British people is Business as usual”.
May 23, 2017
Thoughts and prayers are with the victims.
Clearly too early to make too much comment, but afraid those who mean us harm will on occasions get fortunate and will succeed, no matter how good we are at attempted prevention.
Problem is we have large numbers of people who wish us harm in Country, made up of those who enter, and those who are (so called) home grown.
Afraid we need to become stronger and more active on border control, and the preachers of hate here at home, Social media also has to tighten its grip on content allowed.
The problem is how to best enforce more control, to weed out those who intend to do us harm, without curtailing the freedoms and way of life of the majority.
Time for intelligent, strong, but fair government.
May 23, 2017
And still we continue to import those who potentially wish us harm.
No effort is made to control our borders and some parties are proposing we import even more.
This must be the cultural enrichment we are told is the result of mass immigration.
May 23, 2017
Your sentiments are echoed by the rest if the country.
No more hollow words what action are the politicos going to take? Shut down Trojan horse schools? Close all faith schools? Ban Sharia law instead of May supporting it? Prevent terrorists/fighters re-entering our country after they left to fight? Make deportation much easier? Strict border controls? Ban burkas in public places? Implement all of Casey’s recommendations? Amend the equality jargon making people scared to report crimes in case of being labelled racist? One law for all, our culture, values upheld by all. Instil patriotic pride. Rather than write concern reports from what children say in the classroom. No more pandering to lefty left beralism ideas that make us unsafe?
We do not need to turn inward on ourselves but there is a theme here and it needs to be addressed ASAP. So much can be done, the politicos need radical Change
and a shake up.
May 23, 2017
Oh every iconic building in NYC has armed police. Any politico in parliament held responsible for having an unarmed police officer outside parliament?
May 23, 2017
I too send my condolences to the injured and to the bereaved.
After this atrocity is it not time to throw away the Human Rights of ALL those that would seek to kill our citizens?
No terrorist should benefit from Laws that supposedly , were designed to protect the citizens of this country and not to shield the perpetrators of such murderous actions.
May 23, 2017
John, you know this is just the beginning..sadly!
May 23, 2017
I’d like to think it was because they were shocked (or just inured) but when I turned on the TV news this morning,I was struck by the matter-of-factness of the presenters covering this outrage compared to the coverage of the outrages in London where the targets were closer to the Establishment.
Are we to be told again that we are going to have to live with this while we continue with mass immigration, multiculturalism and an interventionist foreign policy(none of which,it seems,are going to change)?
May 23, 2017
Is it true that your govt is allowing jihadis to return to a life on benefits in the UK after fighting alongside ISIS in Syria, while at the same time seizing the assets of frail elderly people that need some social help at home?
May 23, 2017
Bob: “Is it true ”
Since John is too busy to reply, I’ll answer on his behalf.
Yes.
May 23, 2017
Bob…Governments rarely focus their attentions on the needy, unless they gain substantial votes as part of the deal. Their raison d’etre is to grandstand…preferably on the international stage…don’t look to Politicians to resolve issues, for in general, they are the creators of the problems!
Inconvenient truth: As it stands all parties are seeking votes from substantial minority groups (throwing benefits and social appeasement at them) whilst ignoring the issues of the most vulnerable of our indigenous (long term taxpayers) society!
At any time in our recent history, did you see a Politician really stand up for rights of its people? (apart from John)
May 23, 2017
So true, political correctness is all about elevating the ‘oppressed’ minorities interests over those of everyone else. When did you last hear John Redwood discuss FGM, honor killings, wife beating or barbaric halal slaughter?. I’m sorry if that is harsh on JR but ALL politicians must accept that they are part of the medicine that has been making our society sick. ie brushing difficult issues under the carpet with the pretence it is ‘bad manners’ to discuss them. That is not what we pay our Mp’s for.
We have a political class of neo-liberals that want to start foreign wars but refuse to accept all cultures are not equally worthy. Manchester police today prioritised making announcement about ‘hate crime’ – perhaps the victims would prefer reassurance that they are doing all they can to punish the people responsible and prevent another attack ?
Basically as a country we have stirred up a hornets nest and thrown away all our clothes…
Reply Murders, wife beatings and FGM are illegal and have been made so and condemned by Parliament. I wish to see the Law enforced. I do not write about them as they are illegal and I have no special insight into any criminals here who break these laws.
May 24, 2017
How Many FGM prosecutions since the Law was changed in the late 80s John? No, hate crime against the Indigenous population needs to Stop before We Explode!
May 24, 2017
Thank you Dr Redwood for taking the time to reply.
It seems to me that the lack of laws isn’t the problem – it is the uneven handed way in which they are applied. ‘Cultural sensitivity’ should never be used as an excuse to ‘turn a blind eye’ or take a more lenient approach to crime.
The Rotherham scandal happened because the state refused to believe that predominantly ethnic minority individuals could be responsible.
Similarly the states politically correct calculus concluded that a Libyan citizen allegedly oppressed by the powerful Colonel Gadaffi couldn’t possibly pose a threat to the Uk if offered sanctuary…
The state constantly sends out the signal that it is weak weak weak with those that mean us harm.
It pretends to be tough then sends out ‘comfort letters’ to former IRA members…What kind of message does this send out to our enemies?. Attack us and surrender.. we will let you off.
I’d like to see your colleagues endorse the view that in Britain we tolerate differences of religion but there must only be one culture. Parallel cultures with different values incompatible with our own will not be permitted.
May 25, 2017
JR: “I have no special insight into any criminals here who break these laws.”
Don’t want your special insight, we want to know why these laws aren’t enforced.
May 24, 2017
Putin
Trump
May 23, 2017
I really didn’t expect to see this.
With people loosing their children, there are some still thinking assets ££ are more valuable.
Do you not think they would want their loved ones back at any cost or price?
Why are you thinking at this time, of inheritance value??
May 24, 2017
@John
I expected to see a response such as yours, but tea candles and condolences are not going to prevent future attacks, so save your disgust for the perpetrators, and stock up on teas candles.
Some of us take a more pragmatic approach, because we’d rather see govt take and spend less on importing the very people that are carrying out these atrocities.
May 23, 2017
A couple of years ago the government was trying very hard to intercept people that wished to go to join Isis . What it SHOULD have been doing was laying on trains buses and aircraft to facilitate those that wished to leave these shores to fight a holy war. The effort then should have been put into revoking their citizenship and never allowing them back into the country.
Oh for a leader with a pair !!
May 23, 2017
Thus far, several appearances on TV in set pieces by Theresa May, Jeremy Corbyn, Tim Farron, two by Lucy Powell MP,three by Andy Burnham Mayor.
Also one on CNN in a long interview with Diane Abbot who emphasised it is not a day for party politics recounting her own child and the similarity of feelings with the London bombings.
HM The Queens statement (twice) was shown but the typing was mostly illegible and it was read by a broadcaster.
==========================================================
In a day of “no party politics” you should imagine HM The Queenwould be on TV first place followed by the serving PM Mrs May.
AS TO THE REST. GET OFF THE GODDAM TV SCREEN, STOP GRANDSTANDING , STOP INSULTING THE DEAD! SHOW A MODICUM OF RESPECT!
May 23, 2017
“This is an attack on diversity”..Former interim Mayor of Manchester Mr Tony Lloyd BBC 17.47 hours. today.
No it wasn’t an attack on diversity, socialism, christianity, the Labour Party Statism, HM Government, Communism, Third Reichism, or any other ideology/ graven image.
The point isn’t for former Mayors, present mayors or PMs or policemen to defend DIVERSITY. But to defend us. FULL STOP. Bringing in criminals and allowing criminals to create criminal communities is not defending us. Was the terrorist an Anglican vicar? Just a thought.
May 25, 2017
E.S Tablishment: “Bringing in criminals and allowing criminals to create criminal communities is not defending us ”
It was educational to see where the much vaunted extra troops ( all seemed to be little girls too ) were being deployed, to protect the cowards that already work in the Westminster fortress.
And when Khalid Masood killed half a dozen civilians on Westminster bridge. To see the rats panicking as if the whole ship was going down was an utterly, utterly shameful.
Now to hear Theresa May making speeches using words such as ‘steadfast’ and ‘resolute’ .. is .. an .. utter .. joke!
Reply N o one is working as MP or staffer at Westminster this month!
May 26, 2017
JR: “No one is working as MP or staffer at Westminster this month!”
It’s now May, Khalid Masood committed his atrocity in March.
May 23, 2017
It is once again the second generation, born of “refugees”. Yet when people question the open-to-all policy on refugees, they are called rude names. It stands to reason that the second generation may not feel the same gratitude the first does. It may, on the contrary, feel resentment. HMG should think about this. I’m sure it was understood in the past.
We must come out of the Geneva Convention and out of the ECHR. Until we do, we will not have control of our borders.
May 23, 2017
Terrorism continues because successive governments won’t deal with it in a positive and direct way..there are too many people speaking platitudes and giving out votes of sympathy which is all very well but none of this will change anything because the isis extremists care nothing at all for common decency humanity or our free society, they are the direct opposite, and only want to drag us all down to their own rag tag value system.
May 25, 2017
James Neill: “there are too many people speaking platitudes ”
Of course, the radicals, will move into the space vacated by the spineless government.
Our Prime minister. “Britons may benefit greatly from Sharia law.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/674489/Home-Secretary-Theresa-May-says-Britain-benefits-Sharia-Law
May 23, 2017
When politicians send condolences it makes my blood boil and if my family had been directly involved then I would have despised the self serving claptrap shown on all the MSM – leave them alone politicians have caused all of this.
In a parallel to Brexit the true British public will say enough is enough and strike back and I only hope I’m alive to join in the realignment.
Yours very very angry.
May 24, 2017
Most importantly, I also believe that it’s God’s will that we try and convert these people to the traditional religion of our country. And so if you believe in God, then you might agree that such a project would receive the blessing of God. However, Christians would also need some financial support from the intelligence services (not for themselves but to help Muslims who would lose out financially in some way, leaving Islam).
Even if you don’t believe in God, there’s plenty of good arguments to demonstrate how vulnerable Islam is and lots of evidence to demonstrate how successful many Christians are in converting Muslims to Christianity, even in Muslim countries.
So my argument isn’t as wacky as it my first seem. And what long-term solutions are there which would be as successful as what I’m proposing, and a solution that is peaceful and lawful and something we wouldn’t have any shame over. And that relatively-speaking wouldn’t cost that much relative to the amount we pay to tackle terrorism in general, above all, the cost of human life and attack on our way of life in general.
May 23, 2017
I hsve got to say, there are a awful lot of angry people on this site and some of the posts are not directly related to today’s terrible event.
May 24, 2017
Anger is a more sincere and honest response than appropriating another’s grief.
May 23, 2017
There is another issue which is indirectly connected to what has happened in Manchester.
That is the left-wing political indoctrination of our school children and university students which I believe makes the younger generation critical of right wing policies which could in the long run save them and our country from harm.
May 24, 2017
getahead
In my town some school teachers said that cases of “racial abuse rose after Brexit”. I’m just waiting for them to say that “racial abuse rose after reporting of racial bomb attacks in a pop concert.” Liberal minds only have one page though so I better not hold my breath
May 24, 2017
The sea border is leaking. The delivery of high explosive to radicalised headers must be prevented. Is is has wealth and expertise to smuggle materials in.
May 24, 2017
“He was known to the Authorities” seems to be the European and British runner-up prize instead of what one might expect, sackings.
May 24, 2017
The authorities are not able to police 3,000 terrorist suspects so how do they propose to police 30,000,000 in the UK on the internet. Nonsense!
zorro
May 25, 2017
Zorro: “The authorities are not able to police 3,000 terrorist suspects”
With a £3bn budget too.
May 24, 2017
Only 35 comments?
The social care thread got around 200.
What criteria did you use to delete posts Mr Redwood?
Happy to acknowledge it is your site but I feel there must have been more than 35 comments about the actions of this individual
May 24, 2017
The politicians are talking technicalities the peoples of EU and GB are thinking totally different things.
Etc ed
May 25, 2017
There are, I posted at 11.02 on the 25th but it still awaits moderation. I offered a comprehensive solution to the problem but it obviously fell on stony ground.
May 24, 2017
Thanks for making part of my point in a way that was more acceptable to the site.
Unless things( policy & the law) changes , things will probably get worse.
May 25, 2017
Katie Hopkins articulates it perfectly in the Mail this morning.
May 25, 2017
Well why so long in moderation. It is not long nor is it controversial unless you are a bleeding heart liberal. Lets see what your readership has to say.
May 26, 2017
If Piers Morgan can say much the same thing in the Mail today, why are my suggestions censored.
May 28, 2017
What happened was terrible and shocking, but what the media and attention seekers orchestrated after was EVEN WORSE in my mind!
I found the coverage of this terror attack hysterical and highly dramatic – across all tv channels… who knows what it was like across social media? …from the sounds of things, just as insane!
As soon as this attack on the Manchester Arena happened, things started to take shape immediately. Fundraisers, t-shirts, caps, badges, flags, the creation of charities ! … it was all TOO MUCH!
This is a horrible disaster and it should not happen, but lets just put this into perspective! ..it was a small incident!
There are threads to this event buried in many conspiracies I am sure, but what sits very uneasy with me is the speed that everything was set up afterwards.
I watched as broadcasters MILKED every little drop of sympathy and upset from strangers on the streets, to politicians, professional, celebrities and EVENTS around the world were crashed to inform everyone of this AMAZINGLY TERRIBLE TERRORIST ACT!
It has been UTTER disgusting to see everyone SQUIRM as they hysterically and dramatically compose themselves live on TV for some MORAL POSTURING!
I AM SICK OF THIS BEHAVIOUR… the terrorists must be really loving all the attention they have gotten from this.
Lets support victims and people affected by crime, but NOT LIKE THIS !