Sone of you have written in suggesting I post less on this site in order to have more time to moderate. Some of you have written in with your own views on what this site is or should be . Maybe it would help you if I told you what I think this site is.
This site is not a conventional MP website. Such sites are paid for by the taxpayer and present the MPs work in a favourable light. They are not allowed to be party political. This site is paid for by me and ranges beyond my work as an MP, though it does cover the ways I am seeking to influence the national debate in the interests of my constituents, and has local pages for constituents.
This site is not a Conservative party site. It does not reproduce the party line as this is readily available on official party sites. If I disagree with the party line or am trying to amend it Ā I will say so here. The pieces are Ā often about things where there is no party lines, or are about controversies raging prior to the formation of a party or government line. It is of course a site written by someone who does support the Conservative party and takes the whip.
This is not a Brexit website, though all the time press and Parliament are preoccupied by the Brexit process this site will provide commentary on that.
This is not a business website. It refuses adverts or sponsorship and does not promote any individual company interest.
The idea of the site is to provide insight, commentary and a contribution to the national debate, laced with pieces about topics I am interested in that may be of interest to others. I have, for example, run pieces about historical events and anniversaries,about cultural events, Ā pieces about continental politics , and insights into the global economy.
I am still happy to post the views of others who want to extend the debate or add their own facts and perceptions. I will, however, simply delete pieces which may offend others, are potentially libellous or repetitiously unpleasant. Two people who try to contribute have all their pieces binned as their descriptors could give offence. Ā I am going to bin more submissions from the one or two who disagree with anything I write and seek to undermine any positive idea or action. I also do sometimes bin long and potentially worthwhile submissions Ā if they come from someone who has already published more than I have written that day on my site and has laced the comment with references that need checking.If the workload gets too high on busy days I will post fewer incoming messages but will not stop my own postings as I need to keep people informed.
I do not knowingly post false allegations about anyone, including about myself. Ā Those who have tried to post false allegations about me will be able to find the true position in what I have written here.
June 17, 2018
Don’t change anything!
I think the site is great as it is.
I like the fact that it is a daily post. More natural and reads like someone talking to a friend everyday rather than a much wrought over piece.
A good mix of topics is also good – you never know what you are going to read about each day.
So all good for me!
June 17, 2018
Totally agree.
A wonderful insight into the political world and all its issues and debates.
June 17, 2018
I too agree. The web site is unique and badly needed. You are doing an invaluable public service for the whole nation. Don’t change it!
June 17, 2018
While it is frustrating not to be able to get my point of view across John and maybe sometimes my contribution may not be inspiring enough I really do appreciate your site. Its the first thing I look at in the mornings and find it most informative. I also learn a lot from it and find other people’s entries interesting to read. I admire you for your dedication to the site and your willingness to help others get an insight into the workings of politics too. Well done John. I wish there were more politicians like yourself.
June 17, 2018
John, I read this site for your insights. That is all and quite enough. There are websites like ‘Comment is Free’, and many others, for those itching to communicate their own opinions.
June 17, 2018
Thank you for your posts John, I find them both refreshing and enlightening – I come here for your posts, not those of others.
June 17, 2018
Good morning
So no more ‘off topic’ posts then ?
Reply Nothing I write is off topic!
June 17, 2018
Not sure that Mark meant you, John. His comment was ambiguous.
June 17, 2018
You have no need to explain yourself. You have developed the site to be just about right, balancing views and answering questions we are all interested in. I am sure that all of the regulars all very grateful that you put aside so much of your time to moderate our comments.
In return we should do more to assist you by posting shorter comments and limiting ourselves to one new post per topic per day.
Thank you and long may you continue.
June 17, 2018
Meenwhile under 5% of burglary and theft crimes are prosecuted. Most not even investigated. Rollup rollup all you criminals seems to be the home office message, but May is more worried about gender pay, the pay gap multiplier, attacking the self employed and upskirting.
June 17, 2018
“but May is more worried about gender pay, the pay gap multiplier, attacking the self employed and upskirting.”
When Theresa May was appointed Home Secretary in May 2010, she also held the portfolio of Minister for Women and Equality for two years. One might be forgiven for wondering why she didn’t bother to address the issue of equal pay for Women when she held the portfolio explicitly intended to address that matter?
Maybe, John Redwood might give us the benefit of his opinion to help resolve the conundrum?
Presumably May was paid for the job, why didn’t she address the matter then?
As to ‘upskirting’, sounds to me like it could be addressed by the Police as the crime of common assault. But seeing as the Police don’t seem to study the law, maybe they need additional training in applying the law? No doubt there needs to be a new budget allocated in addition to the Ā£billions already to help the police understand the instruments of the Law they are supposed to be upholding.
From Wiki on common assault:- ” this may be converted into an assault if the intention is to exploit the condition and embarrass the victim.”
I’d say that covers the matter.
June 17, 2018
“Iād say that covers the matter.”
From the website of the (politically correct ? ed)run and thus useless CPS
“An element of the offence of common assault is lack of consent so that the prosecution has to establish that the offence was committed without consent. However, a lack of consent can be inferred from evidence other than the direct evidence of the victim – CPS v Shabbir [2009] EWHC 2754 (Admin).
The House of Lords held in R v Brown (Anthony Joseph) [1994] 1 A.C. 212 that in the absence of a good reason, the victim’s consent is no defence to a charge under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, ss20 or 47 ; the satisfying of sado- masochistic desires does not constitute such a good reason.”
June 17, 2018
My own MP, Chris Chope, was right to challenge the Upskirting bill. It really hsn’t been thought through.
Two years jail time is grossly over the top for taking a photograph in a public location when you can get a caution or a suspended sentence for a fairly serious fraud or even an assault involving actual bodily harm.
June 17, 2018
Indeed C Chope is sound on most things – the minimum wage, climate alarmism and mad energy policies, the rights of landlords …… though I would not support capital punishment myself (and certainly not with the current gross ‘criminal’ incompetence at the DPP)
The upskirting drivel is hardly a priority given the dire state of the NHS, Brexit, the absurd fiscal system and endless government waste. It is, after all, already an offence anyway. We can hardly expect to have a separate offence for every singe actively people get up to. Perhaps a specific down cleavage photo offence, or no up nostril one or close up photographs of dark unbleached hair roots or under arm hair, or cellulose?
June 17, 2018
Blair passed 3,000 or so laws. What is the point of laws if they are so numerous and ill thought out that we no longer know what they are? This particular one seems to have been conceived to be rushed through without scrutiny just because the police have found a loophole. Well fill the loophole then.
June 17, 2018
I like reading your blog and recognise that, as you are prepared to post contributions from the public, it requires robust moderation – indeed you solicit contributions when you are interested in your contributor’s views. Inevitably, people who disagree with your point of view will try and post comments that reflect their opposing views
Your blog provides near real-time commentary and insight into the parliamentary and other issues of the day and long may it continue:}
June 17, 2018
Even out here in the ex colonies your website is a regular ‘go to’ for some sanity – Thank you Dr. Redwood
June 17, 2018
Succinctly put, John and it is a pity that so many other websites, blogs etc do not make their aims, ideals and position as clear to all as this – especially as to what content they will accept from other posters. Maybe that is how so much false news gets bandied about these days…..
June 17, 2018
This site has developed a pathological hatred of the EU and anyone who doesn’t hate the EU. I reckon it’s at Stage 3 of The Seven-Stage Hate Model: The Psychopathology of Hate.
“Not all insecure people are haters, but all haters are insecure people.”
Reply I do not hate the EU And write moderately and analytically about it. I just dont think it makes sense for the Uk to belong to it.
June 17, 2018
“Not all insecure people are haters, but all haters are insecure people.ā How hateful to say that!
June 17, 2018
Oh dear, Acorn! ”First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
(But thank you, Dr Redwood. This blog is most interesting and readable. Perhaps if people could be given a way to ”agree” with a post, it might stop many from producing their own rambling reply!)
June 17, 2018
I do not hate the EU either and I love Europe, have an Italian wife and have houses in France and Italy. But I do think its current direction is anti-democratic, top down socialism through regulation (and one size fits all) and full of green crap and potentially rather dangerous too.
June 17, 2018
As Francis Ewan Urquhart would say (House of Cards), “You might very well think that; I couldn’t possibly comment”. But, it is becoming obvious that the ERG 62, (Mogglodytes), have started slithering back into the undergrowth. As we get nearer a possible General Election, Mogglodytes will be looking for a lifeboat to take them back to the bosom of the Conservative Party.
F**k the 65 million proletariat, the prime directive of the Conservative Party is it MUST survive regardless. Mrs May, I think, would make a very good Borg Queen.
June 17, 2018
Acorn, All your bile, just because you want the UK to remain a vassal of the EU.
June 17, 2018
What on odd comment acorn
You seem very bitter.
PS
No party can ignore the 65 million, because they need far more than the remaining millions to gain power.
June 18, 2018
You remoaners are like the German football team, nicely presented until getting beaten ( by Mexico ) and then fouling, tripping, pushing and moaning.
June 18, 2018
To: Acorn
Fm: Peter Moore
Ref: EU, hate, insecure feelings
I hate the EU [which could have been good] for its incompetence, dishonesty & for that it defrauds me. I am insecure because I am helpless in the face of its fraud & clumsiness.
There are similar political entities closer to home I hate more & for the same reason. Some of them pretend not to be political. I am insecure because I am helpless before them, too, given the strength of the position in public life from which they operate.
Does that make me a bad person?
June 18, 2018
P Moore – join the growing club!
June 17, 2018
I have found this site very interesting over several years. It is the first site I go to in the early mornings. I dont always have too much to contribute on some subjects, but I enjoy reading the contributions of others (if they are not too long). I dont always believe what I read on the āofficialā sites, so it is refreshing to read your site, and get some perspective.
I hope you are able to continue to keep this site going. I am sure that would be appreciated by many of your contributors.
June 17, 2018
Good for you. I always appreciate your comments and the fact that you must take such much time to post as well as read, and often respond to, contributions from others. Thank you.
June 17, 2018
Dear John, I thoroughly enjoy reading this blog because I enjoy being provoked and enlightened, and occasionally being amused, (sometimes at the same time).
More strength to your elbow!
June 17, 2018
You provide a valuable service and an outlet where many of us may let off steam. Congratulations. Keep it going.
June 17, 2018
It is your site, you make the rules. You have created a very worthwhile resource that I am sure many join me in valuing and trust it will long remain as it is.
June 18, 2018
‘It is your site…, …worthwhile…’. Exactly.
June 17, 2018
I have been enjoying this site almost since it was invented.
Allow me to add my thanks for all the hard work and, more important, all the hard thoughts that you have presented quite openly for discussion.
June 17, 2018
Many thanks JR for providing such a site with your thoughts and idea’s, to which others can add their own views.
The volume and quality of comments reflects the success of the original format and content which you post.
Sometimes passion runs high on certain topics, and the seemingly lack of understanding or knowledge of both Government and opposition views and action, does lead to strong and lively debating comments from time-time.
Thanks for providing an outlet for our views, I try to comply with your requests on length and content, but sometimes a more lengthy explanation cannot be helped if the posting is to make sense.
June 17, 2018
Keep up the good work John. Really enjoy this website, even if sometimes I seem to be in moderation for ever!!! (Just wish you really would speak for England more!!)
June 17, 2018
I appreciate this site and I appreciate the efforts to keep it maintained.
Like many I post my views and sometimes they are posted and sometimes they are deleted.
Like many we are all frustrated at current events regarding the political elite’s attempts to undermine democracy and impose their political dominance
We therefore become frustrated and use this site to express our dismay and anger at current events.
June 17, 2018
It is to your credit that you run this site. I disagree with virtually everything everyone posts on it – and yet you still publish most of my comments. I donāt disagree just to be awkward. I genuinely think most of the posts on here are seriously misguided and wrong with ideas that will massively harm our country.
The absolute worst thing that has happened to politics probably ever is the social media echo chamber. People have Facebook feeds only full of stuff they agree with. It is important to understand there is always another view. I urge you all to find some more liberal blogs to look at – just to understand there are many many people who do not think like you.
June 17, 2018
Andy, You may disagree – you are entitled to do so – precisely because this is a liberal blog.
The problem you have is your disagreement is fueled by emotion, not by facts. I can understand your hurt and bewilderment at the Leave reforms. But you have never been able to say why we must continue as a vassal state of the EU empire, either for practical or philosophical reasons.
Your ground is that, uniquely, the UK is unable to be practically independent of the EU. It is self-evidently false. So all your consequent assertions are falsified too.
And if you finally admit (to yourself) that the UK can indeed be independent of the EU, then the disagreement comes down merely to your prediction (ie not a fact) of a relatively slight economic decline, set against the general view here of the reverse.
June 17, 2018
Andy
An excellent post, why dont you post in this vein the rest of the time? You would get a much better hearing.
You are right about echo chambers and bubbles, although interestingly my FB timeline is filled almost entirely with left wing memes and fake news .
I actually enjoy reading left foot forward and several other left wing and liberal blogs .
June 17, 2018
I admire you for posting on a site you disagree with, but you assume many sites you describe as “liberal” I find are fast to block any voices of dissent.
June 17, 2018
The next step to enlightenment, possibly,…. is to admit all views are right.
If you have had one idea or a complex of ideas and then changed your mind then perhaps it would be dishonest and partly an ad hominem fallacy to think your current ideas are right and your previous ideas wrong. What happens if you revert from your current ideas and return to your former ideas. With age..we do these about turns. When one figures out how you can be right both times without any underlying changes in circumstances and method of reasoning then.. arguably…one can understand what it is to be British and why we are tolerant of ourselves having a variety of opinions. “Hate-speech” depends on ones particular momentary preference and the term, in my view, lacks wholesomeness and is inherently unpatriotic and anti-British.
June 17, 2018
There are few people who think like you Andy which is fortunate as you vilify the elderly persistently with your messages on this otherwise excellent website.
June 17, 2018
I’m always interested to see your responses, Andy, and especially the responses to you. It always strikes me as a touch ironic when there are posts decrying those coming to the UK from afar and “helping themselves” to our resources, be they benefits or housing etc. Two hundred years ago there would have been many countries that could have levelled the same complaints at us. And then those British Empire builders would have responded to those reluctant to give up their resources with actual and sustained violence.
However, John Redwood’s cogently argued viewpoints are always worth reading and I congratulate him on a blog of a type that is all too rare from parliamentarians of any Party.
June 18, 2018
David L. Because most British people were enslaved in those times too.
Children up chimneys and down pits – my own ancestors as well.
We had a settled and civilised society until recently. The nu-aristocracy have decided to atone for their sins using the proletariat as their whipping boys.
June 17, 2018
OK..got it loud and clear
Now listening to the PM on Marr this morning we can hear that parliament does not count as much as we thought it seems..so then just what is the point in taking back control..who will have this controlismrs May?..certainly not parliament?
June 17, 2018
Drachma, Please have some patience, for God’s sake. We haven’t even left yet. When the UK controls its own destiny, the sovereign people will be able to vote in new Parliaments to rectify previous sins.
June 17, 2018
Before you go too far with that line of argument I will gently point out that some of those who now claim to be staunch defenders of Parliamentary sovereignty have no great track record in that regard, in some cases to the contrary.
It has already been mentioned in general terms that few parliamentarians objected when successive governments went off and negotiated EU treaties which they then dumped on Parliament for approval through Acts, without members ever being able to change as much as a comma; but I will go beyond that and highlight the past record of one of the leaders of the Tory pro-EU anti-Brexit rebel band.
From a long way back, this is from July 2009:
http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2009/07/15/supremacy-of-parliament/
referring to an attempt to pass a clause to affirm and defend the supremacy of Parliament, which Tory MPs were told not to support because Dominic Grieve advised that it would ācreate a constitutional contradictionā.
And then this is the same gentleman speaking in November 2017:
http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2017/11/15/ownership-for-everyone/#comment-900998
ā… in the globalised world in which we operate … the notion that the only source of law is likely to be the domestic Parliament of oneās country is rather fanciful, given that we are currently subordinate or have signed up cheerfully to all sorts of areas of international law without any difficulty at all …”
There are unfortunately many parliamentarians who never cared two hoots for the sovereignty of their Parliament, and whose primary loyalty was clearly to the EU, who are now faking deep concern about the rights of Parliament.
June 17, 2018
Parliament is constitutionally subservient to the will of the people. Voters elect MPs on their declared manifestos.
When MPs – once elected – exploit a government’s slim majority and conspire to vote in parliament against those manifestos in order to thwart the expressed will of the majority, then they were clearly elected under false pretences.
In our constitution, Parliament does not ‘control’ the making of treaties, governments do.
June 17, 2018
Drachma
The biggest problem I have with some of the more vociferous from the Remain community is they seem to lack any sense of perspective.
They say things like … See this government has done this, or not done that therefore we can’t trust our government. You do realise that unlike the EU if our government does things we dont like we can eject them and replace with something different.
The one that makes me shake my head the most is but but but without the EU we wouldn’t have workers protection rights… Leaving aside that the UK Labour Party pioneered most of those rights , you dont seem to understand that IF what you fear actually happened you can vote in a Labour or Lib Dem govt which would restore those rights. I feel its this lack of practical pragmatic down to earth thinking that makes the few Remainers who act like this seem a bit unbalanced
June 18, 2018
Totally agree.
I addition, no political party would get elected today if they promised to remove or reduce employment rights for employees.
June 17, 2018
Keep up the good work John.
June 17, 2018
This site has been top of my “favourites” list for many years.
June 17, 2018
I know JR is keen on his roundabout/traffic light analogy for capitalism/socialism (an in the Oxford Union Debate with Corbyn). Rather early this morning I had to drive round Cambridge, no traffic at all, but held up endlessly by long phase red lights and then a totally empty dual carriageway with a 40 speed limit and average speed check cameras for miles. Stopped by three sets for about five minutes just on one roundabout. Why on earth do they not switch them off at quiet times at least?
Tom Welsh has it right in the Telegraph Today.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/06/17/train-journeys-decline-public-transport-dream-has-derailed/
Also interesting to read that the lay people on the Commons Standard Committee were prevented from voting or even from submitting a dissenting opinion in relation to the Bercow Matter.
Rather like MEPs they seem to be another superficial fake veneer. In this case to make it appear that MP are not marking their own homework when they clearly are.
June 17, 2018
May I politely suggest LL, that since you have such a decided set of views on such a very wide variety of subjects, that you set up your own blog – or indeed start your own daily newspaper. The endless repetition of your opinions is very tedious.
June 17, 2018
Well you do not have to read them. The truth surely need to be repeated, given all the lies and propaganda we get endless pushed at us (often using out taxes so to do).
June 17, 2018
Might I offer my congratulations to you for being able to produce a readable article every day on a wide range of subjects. Many have tried to do this, including myself, and most have failed!
June 17, 2018
There are one or two who foment hatred on this site and if it were directed at any racial or sexual group they would be getting their collars felt and rightly so.
Such thinking has resulted in the very real abuses we read about in the press; the neglect and abuse of old people, this begins with disrespect, it is not harmless.
The word ‘pensioner’ is now used in the pejorative. This is because old people have voted the wrong way.
Read that sentence again to let it sink in. Know the true nature of Remainers.
They also smear those of us who disagree with them as racists in an attempt to discredit and nullify our votes. Having said all that I would not want Andy or Newmania barred. I am a democrat and they do us a great service in exposing to us their anti democratic thoughts.
This is not a court trial and and there is no libel as I post anonymously so my unagitated internal jury knows the truth when they tell me rather coarsly that I voted to leave the EU because I ‘dislike foreigners’.
When Andy and Newmania ascribe to me such views my own verdict is that they are (wrong ed). They’d fit in well with the EU establishment then.
I am on the right side of history.
June 17, 2018
@Anonymous
Agreed, and I hope that the useful idiots are as successful in their bid for totalitarianism as the Soviet Union was.
June 17, 2018
Thanks for the moderation. I just wish to add that my words were not profane.
June 17, 2018
My only comment is that I am extremely grateful to you for the time you devote to this site. How you manage to do so is far from clear to me.
June 17, 2018
Seconded.
June 17, 2018
Another much respected long serving GP at my surgery is giving up in despair and leaving. What was an excellent committed practice for over 30 years is collapsing thanks to the latest Commissioning Group nonsense. Itās not possible for doctors to treat people properly in a treadmill of ten minute consultations with a constant backlog of patients in the waiting room.
So given that reality I couldnāt even bring myself to listen to Mrs May this morning and have to agree with your fellow Conservative MP Dr. Sarah Wollaston when she says : āDonāt even begin to swallow any rubbish that this will be some Brexit bonanza. In reality the tax rises and borrowing will need to be higher as a result.ā
Another opportunity fudged and another major issue left to fester.
June 17, 2018
@JJE
Maybe we should nickname her Theresa Fudge.
She seems to excel at fudging.
It calls into question our political system when people like May, Heath, Cameron, Major and Blair are able to become prime ministers.
June 17, 2018
oops. I forgot to mention the other one, that took over from Blair.
June 17, 2018
Indeed what an appalling collection, but as Auberon Waugh put it:-
āAnyone in England who puts himself forward to be elected to a position of political power is almost bound to be socially or emotionally insecure, or criminally motivated, or mad.ā
ā Auberon Waugh
I put it only at about 60% though clearly it is much higher on the left and with the Libdim types.
June 18, 2018
Or is it that we get those who, by and large, represent the general ‘mores’ of the populace as a whole. Besides, where are all the ‘perfect’ people you would like to see?
June 17, 2018
The NHS is a complete waste of money, throwing more money at it is stupid.
When I can self refer to a specialist, get seen for less than 80 quid, given a proper expert opinion (free from any bias to make the NHS approach sound acceptable), why would I waste my time at 2 GP appointments when they had less than half a day on this subject at medical school, and the waits, and unnecessary time off work?
Why when I have seen the NHS kill my friends and family, and been lucky enough to have consultants so disgusted with the NHS they have been prepared to tell me the multi dimensional ways this is true, why would I support more of this lazy politics of throwing money at failure, and failing to take on the NHS brand and hype for what they are?
June 17, 2018
Indeed at least 80% of the new money will certainly be wasted. The current structure of the NHS can never work but no one dares to touch it so the endless deaths and suffering continues.
June 18, 2018
Despite very obvious symptoms and repeated visits my own father died of a treatable illness, misdiagnosed. He regretted not getting a second opinion. His passing was long and excrutiating and totally unecessary.
June 17, 2018
JJE
Your post seems to have confused two completely different things.
GP’s …. i.e. private companies operating within the NHS and Brexit which has absolutely nothing what so ever to do with GP’s.
I know a lot of GP’s every single one of them has kids at expensive private schools, so maybe they can afford to invest a little more of the revenue from their NHS payments into properly staffing and organising their surgeries. Maybe if GP’s offered a decent service like opening in the evening etc they wouldn’t have to crowd everyone into the same 6 hour window ?
June 17, 2018
Reason GP’s leave is more to do with poor leadership and BS from the NHS, clinical commissioning groups and centrally, political interference, the fact that making their customers happy does not lead to success, and having to sit in the middle in the way that their equivalents in other countries never do
Its not so much about money
Plenty of British GP’s abroad who would love to come back if they were allowed to work unhindered by this nonsense
And when a private GP consultation, including taxes, is about 60 quid, it makes the expense of the NHS GP service look outrageous
In fact if private GP’s could write NHS prescriptions (like private dentists can) and could refer onwards into the NHS they would take over like wildfire. Indeed if private consultants could do likewise most people would dispense with GP anyways and self refer to the appropriate specialist like they do in the rest of the world.
June 17, 2018
Well if you paid Ā£30 each time you went they would. As indeed vets do.
June 20, 2018
6 hour window: what a lark!
My surgery is open from 08:00 to 20:00.
June 17, 2018
You write with a great deal of common sense which is unfortunately lacking in many politicians of all colours.
June 17, 2018
All too often, I think you read my mind.
June 17, 2018
Dr Redwood, Yours is an excellent website – even if I disagree with you sometimes! I am extremely grateful that you are willing to provide what amounts to a free service. Please keep its tenor and general rules as they are.
I hope it is worthwhile for you too, in that some problems may be examined or solved by separate and fresh eyes. I know I learn a lot. Anyone who wants something different can go elsewhere as well, or instead. Thank you.
June 17, 2018
I reckon that the previous comments are people just checking to see if their posts come up, thereby finding out if they are the ones that you have blocked John. On the other hand I fully expect to be blocked mid com . . .
June 17, 2018
Its interesting how people think they have a right to tell you what to post, its your site you post what you want, I always find it a worthwhile read especially when you cant trust the media to give real insight into what is going on.
June 17, 2018
The site works best when we are able to tell you that the government whips and ministers are wrong. Better still when you are able to do something about it, like speed limits on motorways. Works least well when we tell you what the ordinary majority think and you fail to see it for that, instead framing your reference on the liberal elite view you inevitably get surrounded by.
Still far better interaction than any other politician.
June 17, 2018
Indeed. I see this as discussion forum with the daily subjects guided by JR. Otherwise I wouldn’t post anything at all.
In any case here’s my contribution for the day.
BREXIT DIVIDEND
Whether shovelling yet more money into a money wasting sump like the NHS without getting categorical assurances that it will be change its’ ways, is a matter for debate.
Hunt has already wasted a significant sum from any future increase, on a big pay rise (and consequential final salary pensions rise) for its’ staff.
But this extra Ā£20 Billion a year for the NHS by 2023, announced by Mrs May, represents an extra Ā£384 Million a week for the service.
And that doesn’t include the big rises already in place this year.
When the Leave campaign promised Ā£350 Million a week extra, Remainers accused us of lying.
So who’s been exposed as the liars now?
But money spent isn’t everything. An equally important benefit to the NHS from Brexit, is that (assuming we Leave the Custsoms Union and Single Market), the NHS, will be able to contain some of its’ costs by buying things, including medication and expensive equipment on the global market at global prices, and not at the sky high prices the EU demands we pay within its tariff walls.
We’ve already seen a step forward on this front with the announcement that more non EU doctors and nurses will be able to come and work for the NHS. This is only possible because we will have control of our borders and therefore be able to pick and choose who we want.
It’s absolutely outrageous that the deluge of unskilled low wage migrants from the EU has, in the past, left us with no alternative but to turn away doctors and nurses from outside the EU whom we desparately need.
Whatever the pros and cons of Brexit, the NHS is the undoubted winner.
June 17, 2018
Personally, I visit http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/ in order to read John Redwood’s views and opinions. The comments are very much in second place.
June 17, 2018
This site is excellent. I just wish the gov would read it.
June 17, 2018
Keep your site as it is, John – it is a successful forum and the quantity and quality of your readers reflects the quality of your site.
June 17, 2018
JR says “Maybe it would help you if I told you what I think this site is.” Yes we will all allow you š
Wheezingly funny, people take this site to be public property. Have their ideas on how ….it…should function
June 17, 2018
Very grateful to JR, and all contributors, even if I don’t usually have time to read the often hundreds of comments. Thanks a lot.
June 17, 2018
This site chaired by your good self Mr Redwood is very fair ,
Off topic
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/06/17/tory-remainer-rebels-admit-could-collapse-government-voting/#comments
These remoaners looking smug think they have the upper hand well I donāt know the others but all these remoaners elected by majority leaver voters can kiss there job in Westminster good bye if they bring the government down, there is life outside of London which all these remoaners seem to forget, the British people will not be taken for mugs we voted out and that means OUT we donāt want negotiation on anything which could leaves us in by the back door at some later date, we do not trust politicians that is one reason we voted the way we did ,once we are free we get to put in power who we want and if you betray us we can vote you out, the days of well our hands are tied by the Eu are coming to a end, just get us out thatās what 17.4 million voted for
June 17, 2018
May,will cave in for leave in name only under the guise she had no choice but quietly delighted. She is doing her best to buy off leavers at the moment.
Johnson, Davis and Fox need to think carefully. It would be bette to have a general election rid the Tory party of May to deliver a proper clean Brexit as we voted for than accept a dishonest fudge that the people will nev forgive the party for.
Grieve and Soubry have a problem. If they make the ballot box null and void, as they are trying to do, they should accept the consequences of their decision. No good crying about civil disobedience threats etc when they were the architects of their fortune! It is also no good making inflammatory remarks about Brexiteers must suck it up without expecting a consequence of that remark. Rather foolish to think otherwise.
Neither had to stand to get elected on a manifesto knowing they did not beleive in it or intend to deliver upon it. That would be dishonest to the public would it not?
June 17, 2018
Yes, Mick. Also the MP’s ‘Meaningful Vote’ on Brexit. What Meaningful Vote? We had that 23rd. June 2016 and the answer was Leave. Remoaners say that the vote did not say how we exit. Neither did it say we would stay in and be rule takers and payers. May was wrong trying to appease her Remoaners – she should have said at the outset ‘We are leaving, with or without a deal. If you want to bring down the Government over it, be my guest. Most of you will lose your seats and Corbyn will take over and he is a bigger Brexiteer than I am.
June 17, 2018
THANKS, John.
June 17, 2018
Off topic, I suppose I could feel embarrassed that in a recent letter to the press:
http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2018/06/15/the-benefits-of-brexit-2/#comment-940865
I claimed that the economy has grown by 3.6% since we voted to leave the EU, now Paul Johnson of the IFS has told the nation through the BBC’s Sunday Politics that:
“… the economy has already shrunk a bit as a result of the vote … “.
And moreover:
“… the government has accepted that actually the public finances will be Ā£15 billion or so worse off, not better off.”
But whatever the government may or may not have accepted I will stick to my own guns on this, because I do not think I am reading this chart:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/263613/gross-domestic-product-gdp-growth-rate-in-the-united-kingdom/
upside down; I believe those blue bars rising up from the baseline do indicate economic expansion, unlike the two bars for 2008 and 2009 indicating contraction.
Where Mr Johnson, and the OBR, have gone wrong is to suppose that the vote to leave the EU has reduced the economic growth rate, but there is no factual evidence from the chart to support that supposition; the annual growth rate was already trending downwards from a peak of 3.1% in 2014, and there is no indication at all that the pre-existing trend to lower growth has been accelerated by the vote to leave the EU.
Likewise on the chart with the more erratic quarterly growth rates mentioned here:
http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2018/05/22/uk-net-debt-down-by-18-5bn/#comment-936348
where the transient peak was in Q3 2012, even further back before the referendum.
June 17, 2018
Very fair comments: here’s an alternative suggestion for reducing moderation time. Could you allow comments on only some of your posts.
June 17, 2018
My only moan is John, that the stupid government does not pay enough attention to you.
June 17, 2018
I thoroughly enjoy reading your articles and people’s comments, and I greatly appreciate the time and effort you put into this site, and just as important the chance that you give people to air their views on matters which are of real importance to them. I suspect that there are not many other MPs who really have such a good grasp of the feelings of constituents and others outside the Westminster arena. Thank you.
June 17, 2018
Thank you for the work you do to run this site. I think it works well as it is. It might be an idea to pin this article, or a short summary of it, to the left hand side of the web page for newcomers. Perhaps that would reduce correspondance you receive on site moderation?
Reply Good idea
June 17, 2018
I appreciate this site and the effort you put into it Mr Redwood. I wouldn’t change anything but would just observe that Remainers’ comments are almost invariably negative and pessimistic.
June 17, 2018
Lots of comments above that I agree with. I value this site, particularly John’s common sense and objectivity, plus the knowledge of some posters.
Viva la difference.
June 18, 2018
That knowledge includes some of the Remainers (not Andy or Newmania, I’m afraid.) The better informed ones put shivers down my spine.
We *should* be scared. I nearly walked out before casting my Brexit vote. I did not do so lightly.
This is no echo chamber. Well done for that, John – unlike everyone else I come here for the variety of informed comments, your postings are excellent but secondary !
June 17, 2018
John , yours is the first website I go to every morning and always gives me ‘ food for thought’. Need I say more? Long may you continue as we journey towards extricating ourselves, the UK, from the tyranny of the EU.
June 17, 2018
You are appreciated.
Donāt change your blog.
May offers the NHS massive payment boost, NHS in Guardian still moaning itās not enough, message from your patients spend it wisely or you will be removed, we are not stupid! You can start by not paying pilgrims to politic but pay them to nurse others and improve billing those not entitled.
June 17, 2018
Given, it is hard not to feel that Mexico isn’t such a bad place š
June 17, 2018
I think we would miss him though – I’d love to meet some of the regulars on here – we could have some tremendous ‘discussions’. If/when Brexit is delivered, it would be great to have a celebratory meal together – with JR as guest of honour :).
June 17, 2018
More spin and blarney from Mrs May &Co about how better off we’re going to be with all of tnis money from the money tree..still treating the british public like fools ..i wouldn’t mind so much but she won’t even be around after anothef year or so after the cliff and neither will a lot of yhe Tory heads currently in situ so what is the point in all of this nonsense talk.. of course by then it will be Boris, Gove or Corbyn promising more of the same..350 on the side of a bus..and taking back control..blah blah..sick of it
June 17, 2018
Thank you for this site and itās content, as others have posted it is the first site to look at every morning.
I find it difficult to understand how day after day you put up with much of the guff spouted in the House by Labour, Lib Demās and the permanently angry and badly behaved SNP without having a seizure AND the socialist opposition within the Conservative Party. Unfortunately being right on the major issues is never apppreciated by your bosses.
June 17, 2018
Just to say that I have discovered your site only recently and find it very valuable and informed. The tone is always civilised and free of jargon. Please keep up the good work.
June 18, 2018
I am going to bin more submissions from the one or two who disagree with anything I write and seek to undermine any positive idea or action.
I am a fiscal conservative and supporter of Liberal democracy .I am especially interested in the prosperity of the country . I also have an attachment to moderate government .
As such ,I oppose and dislike Brexit , but I am not troll and do not have limitless time .
If my comments are not to be published I would appreciate the courtesy of simply being told so.
June 18, 2018
Newmania: “I am a fiscal conservative and supporter of Liberal democracy ..”
Newmania: “As such ,I oppose and dislike Brexit”
Huh! Talk about cognitive dissonance.
June 18, 2018
I’ve found that an intemperate manner leads to censorship.
I’m surprised so much of yours has even passed moderation – I get away with a lot less than you do so don’t take it personally.
The word ‘cheats’ was recently edited from one of my postings.
June 18, 2018
If we could just stick to facts on this site it would serve us all much better
June 18, 2018
Facts are used by both sides in a debate.
Take reports published by economists of various research bodies.
Some of these bodies have different political leanings.
They make predictions into the future.
Then partisan supporters latch onto these reports as if they were the truth.
June 18, 2018
Well spotted Edward: Project Fear has given us plenty of examples of abuse of the process of mathematical modelling. They feed dodgy assumptions into a mathematical process and, hey presto, the final figures “confirm” the prejudices they fed in.
June 18, 2018
Totally agree.
It amazes me how so many lazy journalists just repeat the conclusions of these posh sounding research bodies reports with no scrutiny of the input data.
They create a headline which becomes a new folk more.
This then creates a clamour for legislative action.
Take the report on air pollution stating 400,000 premature deaths.
This is now driving congestion charges is cities outside London and a further charge in London and a drive to force us out of diesel cars.
Yet the data, if you scrutinise it, is open to question.
June 18, 2018
It’s a shame this site is not more widely read and, in particular, reported. On the subject of contributions, there are those who comment here multiple times each day and say the same thing over and over again. Yes, we get you are against renewable energy. You don’t have to say it every day.
June 18, 2018
Very commendable and altruistic of you, and I am sure I speak for many others in showing my respect.
June 18, 2018
I apologize for writing so many comments critical of Mrs May. I am waiting for her to do something right. Consequently, I would comment less if she did less. How can she be in the same party as you, Dr Redwood? Just stop her and your comment thread will fall silent.
June 19, 2018
This is a good descriptive summary about the site. Itās worth putting it on the main menu of the front page or in the āAboutā section.
On the subject of comments on articles, Iāve thought for a long time that things have got out of hand. Too many commentators use this site as their own soap box rather than providing feedback on the daily article. They drag down the value of the comments overall. If it was my site (which it isnāt) I would delete all the comments that arenāt relevant to the article.