This morning in the business section of the Today programme after 6 am the BBC’s own expert and his chosen interviewee expert both told us that today the Bank of England will announce its decision on interest rates. They will, we were told, keep them unchanged at 0.5%.
Both seemed  unaware that the Bank of England raised rates to 0.75% on the 2nd August 2018, the second rise from the lows. The BBC man was in a rush to get on to his main theme, that the Bank of England was forecasting a recession should the UK just leave the EU on 29 March 2019 without a Withdrawal Agreement to hand over £39bn to the EU.  This was a bit much for his interviewee who said she did not think the Bank had forecast that, but probably others had! She was then asked to explain why without naming any specific forecast which either could quote.
No wonder voters increasingly say to so called experts “We do not believe you”. The BBC Business correspondent for Today regularly leads his witnesses to his agenda for the day. He also seems to regard it as primarily a slot to pursue anti Brexit questions, when there are so many more accurate and interesting stories he could pursue. Normal business life carries on regardless of Brexit, and so far we are still completely locked into the EU. He usually fails to question the EU critically or to comment on the perverse consequences of many of its decisions that still affect us.
November 1, 2018
That is why I donât and havenât for some time, listen to it. It is not about the news, it is about the broadcasters own bias. No surprise that the Guardian is the most(only?) read newspaper there.
November 1, 2018
JR, why listen or watch the BBC? Your govt had the chance to reform or scrap it. Under plurality rules it should be downsized to give fair competition to other broadcasters who have to pay their own way. BBC does not need to provide value for money or justify how much it spends or its complete bias policy decisions like climate change. It no longer requires anyone to rebut man and climate change rot.
Like your govt the BBC is unfit for purpose. Its extreme left wing bias is beyond belief for a broadcaster that has a charter requiring it to be impartial. Therefore I always avoid it. Why is there a minister in charge if no action is ever taken?
November 1, 2018
@Hope
It’s not a Left-wing bias. It is a bias and bent. Has so much a ring of the Clinton Dynasty you could fall down the steps she falls down on. Low Energy. A Loser
November 1, 2018
Well some people on the Left think the BBC is biased against them!
I’m more irritated by Sky News which seems to be developing into a campaigning organisation with their campaign for an Independent Commission for General Election debates. They’re struggling to get support though as I suspect most people outside the Westminster village care little about it and perhaps, like myself, do not want us compulsorily to go the way of the USA in this.
November 1, 2018
The BBC should have been broken up and privatised years ago. In particular, their anti-Brexit bias and global warming alarmism are utterly disgraceful.
November 1, 2018
John Whittingdale made effective proposals about turning the BBC into something sensible, but he seemed to be steamrollered by others who wanted to keep it untouchable. Too often the BBC is a disgrace in not conforming with the most basic quality standards.
November 1, 2018
I note the minister resigning because lacks the compassion and empathy for those with gambling addictions. Fair to all righting social injustices,once again, May cannot Ben believed or trusted on any issue or anything she says.
A bit like Carney today. Is he being paid to promote remaining in the EU or run an alleged independent BoE, even though its forecasts have become the ridicule of the world. Apparently the U.K. Will have a run on the pound interest rates hiked blah, blah blah.
Are you voting against the budget tonight JR?
November 1, 2018
When the BBC talk about “breaking the deadlock in Brexit negotiations”, what they actually mean is “hopefully Theresa May has capitulated yet again”
November 1, 2018
Come on, you can name names. Donât make us go back to iplayer. I had âTodayâ on but I cannot recall which you interviewer you were referring too.
My main impression was how animated John Humphries was. I thought he probably does that deliberately to try to inject some excitement into the programme.
November 1, 2018
Dominic someone or other with an Antipodean voice?
November 1, 2018
@Peter
I’m impressd with John Humpheries. He puts his money where is mouth is in regard to salary equality.
November 1, 2018
Did you know that the BBC use the phrase ” Trade tariffs” because otherwise people, think they are talking about their Sky deal . Hilarious sin`t it , and these are the people who decided that we should leave the single market….
On which subject is this announcement on equivalence just dressing up the old guff as something new or has some breakthrough actually been achieved
PS – WTO facilitation is not compulsory and it would make no difference if it was
November 1, 2018
Why sign up to a Trade Facilitation Agreement if you don’t intend to honour it?
November 2, 2018
You mean why turn up and nod at vague platitudes that don’t mean anything ?
Have you ever been to any conference about anything ever ?
November 2, 2018
I mean why sign up to a treaty, and boast about it:
http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/press/index.cfm?id=1626
but without any intention of observing it?
November 1, 2018
Newmania.
You should have gone about disenfranchising the voting public before you started slapping them around the face with diversity and haughty insults.
There were likely to be bad consequences from it.
Here they are.
Be thankful (and proud) that your fellow citizens chose the ballot box and not other means.
November 2, 2018
If it “were”
November 2, 2018
Don’t bother BCL; can’t think, can’t write…
November 1, 2018
Mr.Redwood MP sir, it is all about framing the narative.
Big business, or at least those that rely on protected markets and cheap labour, need the EU. Without this their business model is ruined. Simple as.
The Withdrawal Agreement is about protecting their interests at the expense of the rest of the economy and people. Parliament and the government has sold us out.
November 1, 2018
Exactly right Mark. What I have been saying for months.
You have let down your people, Theresa.
November 1, 2018
Indeed the BBC alway pre-frame any debate in the most absurd lefty way before any guests are permitted to discuss any topic. If there is anyone sensible allowed into the studio (this is quite rare) they will be constantly interrupted and shouted down by the other three remainer lefties – plus the presenter for good measure.
They also make massive howlers in their science, “renewables” and climate their alarmist agendas. Often confusing energy with power, getting the wrong units and even using the engineering term ‘positive feedback’ thinking it is a “positive” thing! They even suggest that electric cars give ‘zero emissions’, can they really be that thick? Some even talk of car batteries as “a source of energy” when they are essentially just a fuel tank. They almost never discuss the real cost of renewables or the costs of intermittency beyond saying cost are ‘falling very rapidly’.
The laws of physics, engineering and economics remain the same, the BBC nor government can change them.
November 1, 2018
Indeed, we had Laurence Reed radio cornwalls Jeremy Vine, earlier this week telling us that all his electric is green as it is sourced from a 100% renewable supplier till someone phoned in and pointed out that unless his house is connected directly to those renewables he will get whatever is supplying the grid at the time. It actually took a while for it to sink in as he tried to shout the messenger down. He is one for spouting the BBC line, with the experts have said…….. Fact!
November 1, 2018
Lifelogic, You are right because the BBC’s output is largely governed by the technically illiterate. And people like Hefner, Margaret Howard, etc, think the BBC are experts!
November 3, 2018
Funnily enough, I don’t think the BBC are experts, but tend to go after reports from various sides on the questions of interest. Also very funnily the reports are so often shot down by commenters on this blog as being (garlic please) “EU propaganda” even when clearly the commenters have not a clue of what these reports are all about.
Sigh.
I am getting more and more tempted to take Andy’s views and say that old dogs can’t learn new tricks, and just read JR’s daily comments without bothering with the rest’s. What’s the point of turning again and again in a fish bowl the water of which is getting darker by the week?
November 3, 2018
Well just look at the frantic predictions made by remainers and look how many have actually come true….none.
November 1, 2018
Scandalous but not surprising.
We hear that Mr Liddington has advanced the following argument in the cabinet: there needs to a deal with the EU otherwise there will be a black wednesday type day / period following 29 March & he is the only one in the cabinet who was an MP on black wednesday. If there is such an event then the Conservatives will be stuffed as they were after black wednesday despite the good growth & a number of sound policies pursued by the Conservative Govt in subsequent years.
Let’s hope the EU haven’t heard of Mr Liddingtons argument or else that the cabinet rejected it. because such a perspective just confirms that the govt will under no circumstances walk away, and so obviously will be offered a bad deal. Odd that someone of this level of intelligence and experience can’t see this.
November 1, 2018
There is a difference between having no new special or preferential trade deal with the EU and its continuing member states to replace our present trade arrangements as one of the EU member states, instead defaulting to the existing WTO trade treaties, and having no deal about anything at all to replace any of our present arrangements which successive governments have allowed to gradually become bound up with our EU membership as part of their desired process of “ever closer union”.
November 1, 2018
What really stuffed the Tory party after Black Wednesday was John Major staying in it to the very bitter end and then failing even to apologise for his gross and entirely predictable incompetence. He also fail to change any of his EU policies. The economy recovered once his ERM had collapsed. Then the idiotic Tory MPs kept him in office to take them over the cliff.
If we leave with no deal we will do very well indeed if we lower taxes and cut government we could be richer than Singapore. Certainly far better than with May’s vassal state for ever plan. May will do another John Major over the cliff if not removed rapidly.
November 1, 2018
Yes itâs interesting to look back. In 1995 our host said no change no chance. I opposed it in my lowly role as a constituency treasurer but in retrospect he was of course right. We had no hope with Mr Major as PM. Although had he gone Heseltine would have won. Probably Blair would still have won in 97, albeit by less. Perhaps history wouldnât be that different. But it seems quite clear we canât possibly fight the next election with Mrs May as leader.
November 2, 2018
Lifelogic, The establishment has a lot invested in the Chequers revolving-door Remain plan – months if not years of work – all because they simply cannot conceive of us being an independent country. It is outside the capacity of what little intellect they possess. They have sneered at patriotism and nationalism so much and for so long that they believe their own propaganda.
November 1, 2018
The anti-Brexit slant the BBC places on almost everything it does is palpable and unbecoming of a supposedly neutral broadcaster. Trusted they most certainly are not, and I again make the complaint that the licence fee payer should not have to fund this nonsense by way on a compulsory levy.
I am disappointed with the Tories. They are the party who would have us believe they are all for choice and against state monopolies, but it seems not to matter in the BBC’s case because the bulk of their MPs are pro-EU, and why would they want to bring to heel a biased organisation that is effectively their mouthpiece?
It’s about as bad as me, a life-long Manchester City supporter having to pay a subsidy to Manchester United!
I am sure most people would settle for balanced news and current affairs journalism, not the Biased B*llsh*t and Crap that the BBC is now noted for.
Tad Davison
Cambridge
November 2, 2018
Tad Davison, The BBC is poison, dripping its propaganda into your ear every day. Try it as an experiment – don’t watch or listen to the BBC for a fortnight. Then go back and listen, you will be in for a shock.
November 2, 2018
Thanks for the sage advice Nick, but I’m ahead of the curve. Been there, done that, and measured the emphasis in the BBC’s content. You’re spot on when you say its poison. Anyone who is daft enough to believe the BBC is also daft enough to vote remain.
Tad
November 1, 2018
Dominic? No surname offered. Antipodean. Talking to Sarah Hewitt of Standard Chartered?
More of a no mark than an expert in my opinion. I have never even noticed him before.
BBC have certain experts that they usually turn to. Paul Johnson of the institute of Fiscal Studies comes to mind. He is on air so often I recognise his voice.
November 1, 2018
There’s a good article by Douglas Murray in The Spectator:”Angela Merkel is on her way out-and so is her vision for the EU.”Dated 3/11/18 but it is accessible on their website now.
November 1, 2018
Most voters are rightly sceptical about all “expert” opinion, and especially when the claim to expertise is coupled with a claim to “independence”; while the government is more selective, and does not rebut but instead accepts and promotes any “expert” view which works to support the course of action it really wants to take, and even if that course of action is directly contrary to its stated official policy.
Which is why notwithstanding all the pledges made by Theresa May with an appearance of sincerity we are most likely going to end up under EU economic rule in perpetuity as she, and most of her cabinet and most of her MPs if not most of her grassroots party members, and almost all the senior civil servants, have always wanted and still want now.
Oh, and the CBI etc, and also the Irish government, of course, as explained in my latest letter published in the Maidenhead Advertiser:
http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2018/10/28/yes-chancellor-we-coukd-afford-a-better-budget-if-we-leave-without-a-withdrawal-agreement/#comment-969559
“In fact it might be convenient if representatives of the Irish government were given a permanent office in Number 10 Downing Street, then they could issue their orders directly.”
November 2, 2018
Denis Cooper, When self styled “experts” tell me we are doomed if we become independent of the EU – and I look around at the rest of the world – I see contradictions between the “experts” and reality. These people are not, in fact, expert at anything other than Remain propaganda.
November 1, 2018
BBC = Brussels Broadcasting Company.
Avoid, Avoid, Avoid.
November 1, 2018
It was in Lord Geoge Orwell’s novel: the smell of cabbages at Lord BBC. Lord!
November 1, 2018
The good old BBC, pro Brussels, pro ever more government, ever more taxes, ever more state âinvestmentâ, ever more state regulation, ever more PC drivel, ever more BBC licence fee, ever more NHS, pro magic money tree economic and ever more unscientific climate alarmism and green crap.
The wrong on every issue BBC. Oh and they are anti âausterityâ which means government living within its means and spending only wisely and efficiently.
They were also pro the EURO, HS2 and ERM. They even think John Major, Gordon Brown, Blair, Osborne, Cable and even Nick Clegg are sound wise elder statesman! When the interview Mc Donnall they even take his idiotic economic plan seriously!
November 1, 2018
Yes John I heard it too. I don’t even believe the BBC’s time checks any more.
Mr Trump was right about them, just fake news.
November 1, 2018
Did you know that during the battle for the Falklands, the Argentinian Air Force had set the delay on their bomb detonators incorrectly, so they were just bouncing off of the Royal Navy ships without exploding. The BBC announced this fact over the World Service and after that the Argentinians adjusted the time delay to devastating results.
One Argentinian military officer said that the BBC World Service was the best intelligence source they had.
I don’t pay the Licence Fee.
November 1, 2018
Welcome to authoritarian Britain – Aaron Banks referred to the NCA
Did you vote Leave? Then you’re a potential criminal
Just a huge thanks to the spineless Tory party for allowing May to stay on as leader while she conspires to demonise all and anything to do with Brexit
A total disgrace and the silence from Tory Eurosceptics is absolutely deafening
Who’s the next victim of British establishment revenge?
November 2, 2018
Duncan, I think you are right. The Remain establishment must now be very sure of itself to start going after Leaves. That is in turn ominous for the “deal” – it means we will be getting the Chequers Remain deal unless Theresa May is removed.
She is like King John – appearing to agree Magna Carta (Leave) and then reneging on it. But it seems the Tory euroceptics won’t take the risk. Yet if they keep her and try to overturn Chequers in Parliament they will be outflanked by Labour support. These are dark times for our freedom.
November 1, 2018
This is the problem when “so called experts” treat themselves and their fellow “so called experts” with some sort of celebrity type know it all basis.
This is compounded now with celebrity Presenters with an opinion, facts always get in the way of a good headline and story so why bother with such trivia.
Sadly gone are the day’s of actual reporters and forensic interviewers drilling down for the facts, the news programmes now promote THEIR NEWS as opposed to what is actually happening.
Certainly as far as the BBC is concerned its all done with taxpayers money, under legal demand no matter if you choose to view it or not.
Time for the BBC to enter the real World and generate its own funds, as its long since lost its so called unbiased tag.
November 1, 2018
Agreed, Alan.
If the BBC can reach a value worth paying for, the consumers should be free to choose their acceptable price level whenever they wish or reject it, not be compelled regardless.
Wartime-type broadcasts to inform people outside the free world may be the only ones worthy of support with UK taxpayers’ money, but only if the content is truthful.
November 1, 2018
Alan Jutson
Well said Alan.
The problem is that a lot of the politicians cannot or will not see what is bleeding obvious to say many. The corporation has really lost its way and now is so biased in so many areas of its productions. It needs breaking up and being rebuilt with a service fit for the 21st century.
November 1, 2018
I wondered when Osborne would finally get around to telling the UK voters that they made a really big mistake because he made a really big mistake?? I had a regard for him as chancellor until the threats he made against anti-EU voters. I was also reminded by Evan Davis on NN that he would like to chop up the PM and put the bits in his freezer…Is this a hate I wonder crime?
Comm for ETEU – I have to say, I was somewhat disturbed by the apparent lack of understanding how parliamentary procedure actual works. I thought these were the people that preside over our key decisions that effectively become law!!! I had to chuckle when Sir David’s parting comment was “I hope I wasn’t too helpful” – Absolutely Brill!
November 1, 2018
Nigel Seymour
” I was also reminded by Evan Davis on NN that he would like to chop up the PM and put the bits in his freezerâŠIs this a hate I wonder crime? ”
That depends; if it can be shown there was a dislike of women in what he said, then yes.
If there was a dislike of males, then nothing would come of it because while they are making misogyny a hate crime, they are not making misandry a hate crime.
Bias in the extreme, and sure to cause problems in the workplace.
November 1, 2018
“Experts” are not actually expert when they keep making errors in their chosen field. Respect is earned. Being merely a self-styled “expert” earns nothing.
November 1, 2018
A brilliant post, Mr Redwood. You capture the very essence of Brexit. You won the referendum, we are leaving the EU next March, and yet you remain bitter and twisted, desperately searching for traitors and people to blame for the unfolding calamity. Always someone else’s fault, eh
Reply Brexit is not a calamity and I am not blaming people for it!
November 1, 2018
Brian Telling, A not so brilliant post where you blame Mr Redwood. Always someone elseâs fault, eh?
November 2, 2018
Yes, Nick. I do blame the Brexiters for Brexit. I especially blame the Brexiters who promised we would hold all the cards for the unfolding reality that we very much do not.
November 1, 2018
Brian Telling. Sounds like you are the bitter and twisted one. Bet you voted remain.
November 1, 2018
In the words of the great philosopher, Yoda: âYou will be. You will be.â
November 1, 2018
Let’s revisit a comment that you made recently. That the boomer generation are responsible for the state of the environment.
I expect you and your clan’s carbon footprint is far larger than average.
“You will be. You will be.” Indeed.
November 1, 2018
The BBC is no longer fit for purpose . They have completely wrecked Radio 2 and Radio 4 with their political agendas. BBC local radio is total and utter pants
The local licences at least she be re offered to community radio as BBC local radio is no longer remotely local either
November 1, 2018
R2 has also taken to playing snowflake music all the time too, in a sad attempt to court the young listenership.
November 1, 2018
The BBC has traveled a long way from the Reith standard so expecting its business correspondent to base his point on knowledge of the current Bank rate is perhaps best left in the past.
November 1, 2018
This so called self identified expert thing is laughable
The ONLY experts I trust are those with skin in the game and sometimes they get it wrong too. Its NOT expertise its opinion.
November 1, 2018
Libertarian,
Are we lecturing again outside the class-room?
November 1, 2018
Hans, You do so remind me of your mentor, the EU. Always finger wagging at other people. Still I suppose the ideology has rubbed off on you.
November 2, 2018
NIckC
You would not know what an ideology is even if it starred you in the face, you have proved this clearly in the past
November 2, 2018
You seem to have touched a nerve there NickC
Well done.
November 2, 2018
Hans
“Are we lecturing again outside the class-room?”
Indeed I am hans, indeed I am, you thickies need as much proper education as you can get.
Now then boy, sit back and pay attention
There is no such thing as an EXPERT , there are only people with experience of doing a thing. They can tell you how/why/when a thing works because they’ve done it/do it . All consultants, politicians, economists, self proclaimed experts are nothing of the sort. They are just people with opinions and guesses who, like a stopped clocked, are right very occasionally
November 1, 2018
Do you take the pronouncements of some on this blog as expert opinions, then? For example those who comment daily on climate change crap, renewable energy crap, IHT crap, tax rate crap, Chancellor and PM craps, BBC crap, BoE crap, electric vehicles crap, and everything else crap.
I would be soooooo curious to know how successful these busybodies have ever been over the years … to consider themselves “experts” in crapping everything and everybody else.
November 1, 2018
Hefner, What can you set against that but Remains crapping all over Britain?
November 2, 2018
hefner
Trouble reading again old boy? I already told you , if they have day to day experience of a thing they should be listened too. All else is opinion
However
No one not one single person is an expert on climate change as no one has any real evidence if its actually happening and if so the causes . Just untested theories, opinions and guesses
Renewable energy is so far not reliable, effective or cheap enough. Thats just a scientific fact
Taxes of IHT , Income, Corporation , VAT etc are all at their highest level for many years. As the taxes go up the revenue goes down. Thats just arithmetic
I think just about every one in every political field and in none think the PM & Chancellor are crap
The BoE are mostly a great bunch of folks, its just that the governor is politically motivated and that skews their thinking and output
BBC & SKY are both political propaganda organisations
However your question is the normal dumb type of thing you post in response to something that you dont like. I dont take the pronouncements of anyone on this blog, off this blog, in business, politics or indeed any field of activity without doing at least some basic research first , that includes my GP, medical consultants and other professionals who’s judgments have an effect on my well being
Hefner funny thing is you are quite happy to be governed by a bunch of unelected , failed politicians, Junker was removed from office , Verhofstadt was kicked out by the electorate over a series of business, economic and voting disasters, Barnier is a Gaulist. None of them has any kind of success at business, trade, climatology, energy or anything practical or experience of anything other than politics
I would be soooooo curious to know what you’ve done over the years that makes you think you can be sanctimonious and pompous with your posts
November 1, 2018
The quality of BBC Economics and Business Reporting is horrifying.
Hardly a day goes by without me blogging a full scale rebuttal of some Fake News or other which has appears on the BBC Website.
And we’re not talking about ‘opinions’ and ‘misinterpretations’. We’re talking about wholly false ‘facts’ or misleading misuse of language.
Why they pay Kamal Ahmed a salary is mystery to us all.
The false information which appears in his reports and the misleading headlines, which accompany the ones which are accurate, suggests to me that he’s public a liability.
I’ve argued for some time that the BBC should be stopped from broadcasting ‘News and Comment’ programs until it sorts itself out.
Channel 4, ITN and Sky are nowhere near as bad as this, and neither are the BBC’s Regional News programs
The Bank of England is NOT forecasting a recession in the event of ‘No Deal’.
No one can tell what the consequences of ‘No Deal’ would be. It depends what happens in the event of ‘No Deal’.
And conversely what would happen if there is a ‘Deal’ depends on what the ‘Deal’ is.
On top of that the outcome depends on what the Government’s fiscal response and the Bank’s Monetary response would be.
November 1, 2018
On March 31st 2019, Mrs May should announce she is making every citizen of the United Kingdom a LORD, so we can ALL, each one of us, altogether have free-speech without Interference nor Buts. That would be Brexit in deed! Worth more than a 50p coin. Our Pound and Bond.
Corbyn would immediately renouce his peerage and McDonnell too. Oh well.
November 1, 2018
And, come to think of it…what a wonderful idea. What greater honour could a PM post-Brexit bestow on her People??????? We are all Lords and Ladies. I deserve a merit badge for this!
It’s also an election winner though the media will laugh
November 1, 2018
2020 AD has a better long-lasting ring to it. Though the prelude to the Act could be 2019
November 1, 2018
Yorkie
You no longer have to be born a Lord, all that is required is cronyism.
Messrs Prescott, Kinnock et al can confirm this.
It’s even possible after years of slagging off the House of Lords to be made one, and say you are not a hypocrite because it was the wife who insisted you accept the title.
November 1, 2018
Incidentally. I heard Damian Green telling a Newsnight interviewer recently that we’re leaving the EU on March 31st 2019.
The interviewer didn’t question the date.
I hope he’s not correct, otherwise I’ll be the only person standing at my Town Clock at 11pm on March 29th singing God Save the Queen.
November 1, 2018
We should respect the opinion of experts, but of course the people involved here weren’t.
November 1, 2018
Now Lords could still keep their garters and such to show they were a step above.
November 1, 2018
“No wonder voters increasingly say to so called experts âWe do not believe youâ.
I think you mean Brexit voters.
However you no doubt will listen to a medical expert when he diagnoses your, say, appendicitis rather than the chap down the pub/club.
November 1, 2018
Would you still trust their opinion if you knew they got their last few opinions wrong?
November 1, 2018
If an economist isn’t of serious, self accumulated personal wealth then I tend not to believe their predictive abilities.
With a doctor you look at his body count. With an economist look at his bank account.
November 1, 2018
Margaret
Medical science is not an exact science either, and many doctors have different opinions about many ailments and the treatments.
Was miss diagnosed myself last year by three different consultants after I had initially told them what I thought was wrong, I eventually managed to persuade a fourth consultant to give me an MRI scan and low and behold my original own diagnosis was correct three consultants had got it wrong !
Thus 9 months of pain because they made an error.
In addition the first three Consultants wanted to complete an unnecessary operation !!
Yes of course Doctors get it right most of the time, but they are far from perfect !.
November 1, 2018
Oh dear Margaret. Perhaps you could tell us how EU membership has benefitted you instead of denigrating Brexit voters.
There does seem to be a propensity of doom laden “experts” working to try to counter the democratic referendum result. It seems that many of these “experts” have ties to those businesses which are linked to Brussels.
I must say I prefer the outlook of Economists for Free Trade.
November 2, 2018
The EU is the largest wealthiest economy and trade power in the world.
Trade within the Union accounts for more than one-third of the world total.
The largest exporter which contains the world’s richest countries and the top three world tourist spots: France, Spain and Italy.
It has the largest air craft industries, steel, dairy, fashion. beer, cosmetics, luxury goods, mobile telephones, energy, paper pulping,banking, car manufacturing etc etc.
We are the envy of the world. What’s not to like?
November 2, 2018
margaret howard
Oh dear oh dear, you live so far in the past its unreal
EU is NOT the largest and wealthiest trade power , its third behind USA and China and when the UK leaves it will drop to 5th
Trade in the EU is just 15% of world trade and falling
According to Stata website in 2017
The worlds largest exporters were
1 China 2 USA 3) Germany 4) Japan
According to IMF the worlds top 5 richest countries
1 Qatar
2 Macau
3 Luxembourg
4 Singapore
5 Brunei
Top Travel destinations
1 France
2 Spain
3 USA
4 China
5 Italy
Er please let me know the name of any EU mobile telephone manufacturer
If you mean network operators the
1 China Mobile
2 Vodafone Idea ( UK/India)
3 Airtel India
4 UK Vodafone
Largest Beer producers
1 China
2 USA
3 Brazil
Boeing are the largest maker of aircraft
Largest paper pulping company
International Paer Co Stamford CT
The top 5 biggest banks in the world
1 China
2 China
3 Japan
4 USA
5 UK/Hong Kong
Toyota are the world biggest car maker
The EU isn’t the envy of anyone . Whats not to like? Well a corrupt, money wasting, fraudulent unelected “government who dont ever accept democratic votes, have their accounts audited or stick to their own rules is whats not liked
November 3, 2018
ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/eu-position-in-world-trade
Source: Eurostat, Unctad. The EU is the largest economy in the world. The EU is the world’s largest trading block. The EU ranks first in both inbound and outbound international investments. The EU is the top trading partner for 80 countries.
==
” have their accounts audited”
Not than old chestnut again.
80% of the budget is spent in the EU member states and the failures are often down to the national and local governments responsible for overseeing the distribution of funds rather than the European Commission itself.
Improperly accounted-for-expenditure, including fraud, is higher in the UK’s national accounts. The EU sets higher standards for its accounts than those required by our PARLIAMENT (98% rather than our 95%).
The accounts of Britain’s Department of Works and Pensions. responsible for distributing social security benefits, have been qualified by the National Audit Office every year for 20 years. Fraud and error in the payment of benefits amount to an estimated ÂŁ3.3 billion in 2010-11
==
As for your richest countries – Quatar, Brunei…?
You really are getting desperate if you compare these oil rich fiefdoms to proper European countries.
November 3, 2018
china and usa are bigger economies than all the 27 added together
November 2, 2018
John Hatfield
” Perhaps you could tell us how EU membership has benefitted you instead”
I have lived long enough to be amazed how EU membership has changed this country.
Food was dire and eating out a disaster. I remember the first French bistro coming to Peterborough and you couldn’t book a table for months. So different from the usual lamb chops with mint sauce.
Proper coffee shops replaced the local caff – I still shudder at the mention of bottled Camp coffee extract. Proper continental pastries replaced current buns and scones hard enough to break your teeth -:)
I could go on but it’s getting too late.
November 2, 2018
Sounds like the progress most nations have enjoyed over the last few decades.
You europhiles think it is only due to the EU.
It is simply human progress.
November 2, 2018
margaret howard
What on earth has any of that got to do with the EU?
The Mon Plaisir French Bistro opened in London in 1940 !!!
It is now widely accepted that the first coffeehouse in Europe was actually opened by an Armenian merchant named Johannes Diodato In London in mid-18th century,
You really are deluded
November 1, 2018
margaret howard
You may well be right about that.
I think most Brexiters are open minded enough to do their own research and question things
Most remainers believe what ever they are told by people who claim to be experts
Hmm medical experts that kill more people per year than any other disease . Dont know about you but I like a second opinion on most things at least. You might want to try reading Do No harm , about “medical expertise” by a medical expert
Odd that you dont believe us “experts” who trade internationally around the world every day but you will believe a politician thats never run a business of any kind . Pot & kettle springs to mind
November 1, 2018
Another “expert” I do not believe is Andrea Leadsom, who provides a spectacular example of changing allegiance. She is reported in the Telegraph, Asa Bennett as basically saying to Brexiters that we cannot get a better deal than Chequers and there is no point in Brexiters hoping to overturn it: quote from Telegraph:
“How meaningful is the ‘meaningful vote’ MPs will have over any eventual Brexit deal? Brexit-sceptic MPs have been threatening to vote down whatever is presented by the Government to Parliament in the hope of forcing negotiators to thrash out something better.
However, Andrea Leadsom, the Leader of the House of Commons, warned today that “it may well not be possible for the Government to proceed” once a deal is done “on the basis of an amended vote”. In other words, MPs should not assume British negotiators will rush back onto the Eurostar to secure something more to their liking if they try to derail the deal in Parliament.
One of the big factors the Government hopes will be decided in its favour is the degree of Labour support their eventual deal will get. Mrs Leadsom told Prospect magazine that she expected to have to rely on MPs on the Opposition benches, insisting: “All day long we in Government, in a hung parliament, are seeking to persuade colleagues right across the hall.â …..”
November 1, 2018
The BBC is an anachronism, massively overstaffed, a parody of its concept and has outrageous biases. It and its “elite” staff justify their crazy incomes, tax paid or not, as market rates for their supposed talent.
This is another open goal for Corbyn to reform but like other areas for complete reform e.g. HoL he either ignores the ball or hits wide. May and Corby – you couldn’t make it up.
November 1, 2018
Not quite off topic (as we’re all speaking of Brexit!) but this is an article worth reading:
https://capx.co/the-unseen-benefits-of-leaving-the-european-union/
from 30 October.
November 1, 2018
JR
Well what can you expect from the BBC ?
I find the political bias i.e pro left wing pro EU and so on to be truly mortifying.
Equally wrong is the fact we the public are funding this blair-ism infected, politically biased leviathan.
Like the rest of the civil service the BBC needs a good purging to return it to neutral political status.
November 1, 2018
BBC are not so much leftists as globalist imo. Look how many BBC presenters are part of the Anglo American Friendship club…a front for the cia/neocons. The BBC lot get gay marriage just so long as the neocons get more overseas wars.
November 1, 2018
Why has the BBC never been censured by ANY Government? They are only in being because of the huge amount of money (ÂŁ3 Billions?) they are GIVEN by most ALL households in the country and because of it they must serve to public and not their own political agenda. But they do nothing of the sort because they can get away with it.
Are the legally BBC immune from serious complaints and drastic action over their biased programmes? Private Media Organisation have a responsibility to provide balanced programmes but the BBC are allowed to do their own thing. why is this?
November 1, 2018
Slightly off topic maybe.
Cost Of Green Subsidies Rises To ÂŁ66bn In Next 5 Years
https://obr.uk/efo/economic-fiscal-outlook-october-2018/
The cost of green subsidies continues to rise, and will cost ÂŁ66.1bn in the next five years, approximately ÂŁ2500 for every household in the country, according to the latest figures from the OBR.
I can safely guarantee that you will not see this news on the BBC.
Segment from the Not Many People That blog by Paul Homewood
November 1, 2018
This is absolutely ridiculous. Depressing how far the BBC have fallen. At school I watched a range of BBC political shows, but now I only watch Andrew Neil, who actually interviews properly regardless of the interviewee’s opinions & background. The rest I find to be mostly a waste of time and extremely boring.
November 1, 2018
George Orwell said during WW2 that the atmosphere within the BBC was ‘half way between a girls’ school and a lunatic asylum” Nothing seems to have changed.
The licence fee system is like being forced on pain of prosecution to buy the Guardian every day before being allowed to read any other newspaper.
After Brexit we can do without a gang of politically correct fifth columnists spewing out propaganda globally against their own country.
November 2, 2018
“After Brexit…..
According to Herman Pleij, Dreaming of Cockaigne: Medieval Fantasies of the Perfect Life (2001):
“Roasted pigs wander about with knives in their backs to make carving easy
Grilled geese fly directly into one’s mouth,
Ccooked fish jump out of the water and land at one’s feet.
The weather is always mild, the wine flows freely, sex is readily available, and all people enjoy eternal youth.”
Bless. (although I’m sure after Brexit a hangover is more likely)
November 2, 2018
And after March 29th, Remainers become even more miserable because it’s too late, the deed is done and the word becomes meaningless. The rest of us get on with real life.
November 2, 2018
In MY opinion
November 2, 2018
Talking of that ÂŁ39 billion bung, has the OBR included that in its fiscal forecast? If they haven’t, then either they are assuming that we remain in the EU or that we will exit in a version of No Deal that John Redwood would approve it.
I would love it if Mr Redwood were to table a question at Chancellor’s Questions, asking which of these two assumptions the OBR are making.
Reply They set it out in their report
November 2, 2018
Exactly, the bbc is European lead and not British with its bias snowflake presenters especially the new daily politics programme with jo Cole , all weâve had is continuation project fear and today there enlest coverage of Aaron banks , I always thought you were innocent till proven guilty , at the next GE the conservatives should have in there manifesto to stop funding to the bias bbc which along with leaving the dreaded Eu next March 29th will be a vote winner
November 2, 2018
Plus ca change
November 3, 2018
No criticisms of tory governments allowed then?
I noticed my comment was deleted – can you explain why?