John Redwood's Diary
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Coming soon – Union Jack and the Beanstalk a topical retake on an old tale
December 13, 2018 75 Comments
December 13, 2018 75 Comments
75 Comments
jerry December 13, 2018
John you are going to be busy, a few days ago you promised your take on exiting on WTO rules, now you offer “topical retake on an old tale”, or are the two the same? I dearly hope not!
Please tell me that my wish for a WTO Brexit is not just an old fairy-tale…
eeyore December 13, 2018
Talking of fairy tales, during the aborted debate Mrs May promised to step up preparations for No Deal. I noticed no MP grilled her on this, nor did Parliament demand weekly updates on the governmentâs progress.
One really despairs.
During the war Churchill stuck âAction This Dayâ labels on all manner of documents. He meant it. Parliament should demand Action This Day. Get those labels printed!
agricola December 13, 2018
So who is the baddie, Mrs May or JC Junker. There is little at the top of the beanstalk for either apart from fat pensions in recognition of their horrendous contributions go Brexit.
Steve December 13, 2018
Agricola
Juncker is the baddie, along with Tusk, Barnier and Varadkar. Hopefully Theresa May now realises this.
Dennis December 13, 2018
Strange that no one mentions, probably ‘cos no one has ever heard of her here or on the BBC etc., Sabine Weyand who is the brains behind Barnier.
Her input into the ‘negotiations’ probably won’t be sighted’ for 30 odd years as well as May’s input, if any. ‘Give and take’ , compromises – what did Brussels offer?
hefner December 13, 2018
Funny, Ms Weyand has been Barnier’s deputy since Sep’16, and there had been some profiles of her in a number of continental papers, but obviously not in the rags read among here. It is all the more funny realizing that some here pretend to comment on the Brexit news when their level of knowledge of everything EU is close to zero. What a laugh.
libertarian December 13, 2018
hefner
Yup as funny as all those who come on here telling us about trade, WTO and tariffs when not only have they never exported anything but they’ve never even sold anything to anybody. What a laugh
Edward2 December 14, 2018
Usual smug remainer myth that those who want to remain are somehow intellectually superior.
You dont read “rags”
Only you know what you were voting for.
Give it a rest hefner
”.. realises this”? She knew from the very beginning!
If she says she didn’t, then she is even more disingenuous than we suspected. If she led us up the garden path to this point knowingly, then surely there are far more than 200 would suspect her of perfidy. That they are in it with her is far more apparent now.
How can you Conservative MPs allow this? How can we know now who is on our side, on our country’s side?
heavenSent December 13, 2018
Yep, that’s what it is all about, and we are about to cut the beanstalk this time leaving the golden goose behind.
Lifelogic December 13, 2018
The ‘golden goose’ is the ingenuity and hard work of the people, so we already have that. We just need to stop Hammond and May from strangling them with the highest taxes for 40 years, endless PC gender pay gap drivel & similar, endless red tape, daft restrictive employment laws, very high green religion energy prices and the likes. Get a PM with an uplifting real Brexit vision instead of these project fear pushing total idiots.
Leslie Singleton December 13, 2018
Dear Lifelogic–Not just the vision but someone with charisma who can project that vision and inspire the nation instead of the apology for a PM we have now, courtesy of the idiot Tories
“Not to be confused with The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs.”
Neither really exist, you know, whatever the CBI might tell you.
Something went wrong in the minds of leaders of the Tory party in the late 1950’s, probably connected with the trauma of Suez; they became obsessed with the small parts of the UK economy which were involved with exporting to the continent, as if that minority of businesses – now about 6% – were all that mattered.
And that did not change even when it had become obvious that exporters in other EEC countries were reaping far more of the benefits of our membership than were our own exporters.
Mark B December 13, 2018
That Golden Goose, it wouldn’t be the likes of Greece, Malta, Belguim. Hungary, Poland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Slovakia and the like. All of whom are :
a) Bankrupt.
b) Highly dependent and EU (read UK and German) money
c) Sell more to us than we sell to them and would see their economy go bottom up if we put up tariffs.
That Golden Goose ? Because if it is, it pretty much cooked đ
Steve December 13, 2018
Ha ha, very witty.
Seriously though, Theresa May has serious problems now. Whilst I maintain she was not the best choice to manage our exit from the EU, she is the person we have.
Mrs May needs to realise Europe is not any friend of ours, and when we say we don’t trust the EU there are good reasons not to. Primarily the fact that the EU is run by one member state via the commission – france.
If I could offer Mrs May any advice it would be;
Get in there with your sleeves rolled up and threaten them, it’s the only language they understand. Threaten to exit on no deal WTO terms, warn them our country will work covertly to hasten the break up of the EU and make it as painful as possible.
Remind them that they owe their very existence and liberty to this country, and also remind them that next time they cause a war in Europe we won’t be involved.
When they say “the deal is final and cannot be changed” then is the time to play hard ball and show them how it works – by pulling us out immediately with no deal.
Remember we did not vote for a deal, we did not vote for negotiations.We voted to get out of the EU because frankly we’re sick to the back teeth of it, and of it being run by the french.
The only exit is by no deal, anything else is a capitulation.
Tabulazero December 13, 2018
France ?…. and me who thought it was meant to be run by Germany.
Yawn… and what benefit do you think the UK will derive from breaking up the EU ?
None. Not even John Redwood is advocating for such a thing.
The EU has more pressing matter to attend to than to watch the current Tory civil war on Europe reaching some form of conclusion. It has been going on for 40 years…
An average voter December 13, 2018
I believe we voted to ‘leave the E.U’ not for ‘no deal’. If only we had a majority vote for ‘no deal’, we wouldn’t be in this mess.
I’ve heard a lot of people tell me contrasting opinions of what ‘leaving the E.’U’ means and what the British people voted for.
The British people, however, are keeping mum on this – despite many people willing to make pronouncements on their behalf.
libertarian December 13, 2018
An average voter
I realise…………………. Leaving the EU means leaving the EU , a future trade deal of any kind with the EU can only be worked out once we’ve left. The EU told you that repeatedly , Cameron and Osbourne told you that, everyone told you that. There was nothing on the ballot paper about having a third option of a deal or any other option
Mark B December 13, 2018
Good list but my advice, not that she ever listens to any, would be simpler.
Just walk away !
margaret howard December 13, 2018
The French? Makes a change from blaming the Germans.
===
Steve:
“Remind them that they owe their very existence and liberty to this country, and also remind them that next time they cause a war in Europe we wonât be involved.”
You can play that game with endless variations.
If the Spanish hadn’t defeated the Moors Europe would be muslim
If the Confederates had won the civil war the US wouldn’t exist
If Napoleon had won Russia we would all be speaking French
And if Russia and the US hadn’t defeated Germany….
fedupsoutherner December 13, 2018
Margaret. Of course, we didn’t do anything to help defeat Germany, did we? Try telling that to the thousands of people who died in the two world wars. Again, you find it hard to say anything positive about your own country. We can do without people like you.
margaret howard December 13, 2018
fedup
We declared war on Germany both in 1914 and again in 1939.
Until the 20th century Germany was the ONLY European country we had never been at war with.
Don’t let nationalism blind you to historical facts.
WHY do people keep saying ”.. if she’d realised…” Of COURSE she blinking well ”realised”. She (even if she herself is stupid) has enough people around her to keep her informed.
SHE REALISED. It’s just that she has chosen to take this path.
Sir Joe Soap December 13, 2018
Her mentality is now clear. She’s a determined delayer. She’ll play off delaying EU exit by lining up an extension to A50, delaying the WA vote in parallel. We won’t leave the EU until her deal is signed, and her deal won’t be signed until she’s worn down Parliament to accept it, with assurances and all. Even if it takes 3 years. Meantime she’ll delay and extend, delay and extend, all the time claiming she is honouring the vote by leaving.
This is going to be long and trying.
Ian Pennell December 13, 2018
And the Incompetence of her Government, with Theresa May at the top cannot be seriously challenged for another year. And the Conservatives slip further behind Labour in the polls- then Labour, the SNP, Lib Dems get the DUP to help them vote “this truly weak chaotic Tory Government down”…Result
General Election in Sept 2019 with Theresa May still at the helm. Jeremy Corbyn wins a majority of 100 and swiftly starts lowering the Voting Age to 16, filling institutions like the Supreme Court, the Met and charitable organisations with extreme lefties. Jeremy Corbyn then muzzles the Press through a revived Leveson 2.0………The Tories never govern outright again!
What a joyful time to be alive- I’m thinking of emigrating to Canada in 2020!!
DUNCAN December 13, 2018
What’s happened the Daily Mail and the Express? They’ve been politically nobbled by May and her pro-EU Gramsci clan and there’s me thinking that this type of entry-ism was a Marxist phenomena
Hammond’s playing of the extremist card yesterday was the last straw for me. The EU’s been playing that slander against the Poles and the Hungarians for months…enough of this lefty crap from faux-Tories
What is this woman doing to our country, its press, our freedoms and our culture?
Just bring down this vile government and purge our party of these grotesque political animals
Tabulazero December 13, 2018
Yes… the Conservative party should get rid of 2/3rd of its MPs and of the vast majority of its voters below 60 years of age.
What a wonderful way to condemn it to irrelevance.
Beecee December 13, 2018
Pro EU Geordie has taken over at the Mail!
hefner December 13, 2018
Duncan, What, didn’t you know? Paul Dacre has been flushed out by Lord Windermere, and the editor previously of the Mail on Sunday is now the editor of the Daily Mail. It was widely echoed in the press at the end of August/beginning of September.
fedupsoutherner December 13, 2018
Just what I said today Duncan. The Express and the Mail were all for coming out of the EU and now they’re just as bad as all the rest of the papers. We’re surrounded by turn coats. I just don’t buy a paper anymore.
libertarian December 13, 2018
Duncan
The Daily Express is now owned by Trinity Mirror ( now rebranded REACH plc) The Labour party paper
Everhopeful December 13, 2018
âFee-fi-fo-fum!
I smell the blood of an English man:
Be he alive, or be he dead,
I’ll grind his bones to make my breadâ.
Very apposite considering the ÂŁ39 billion!
Mark B December 13, 2018
Can’t use, Englishman. The MP’s don’t use it, and Labour claim that we do not exist. Plus it is now considered Nationalistic, Populist and Racist.
Steve December 13, 2018
Markb
but it’s ok for the Scotts and Welsh to have ‘nationalist’ parties.
Yet we exercise our right to do the same and that makes us racist.
Similarly, it’s ok for Labour or the Cons to win an election – because they’re obviously popular at the time, but if anyone else is popular they’re defamed by the marxist media, and outlawed.
Not difficult to see the hypocrisy, especially when you look at the way nationalists in Scotland were behaving on the streets during indyref.
Minorities don’t like democracy, unless it’s theirs. Which is reflected in the behaviour of the minority wingers who lost the brexit referendum –
‘it’s not fair, it’s not fair oh please can we have another vote, it isn’t democratic if we don’t win and I’ve spent 350 quid of my benefits on train tickets and daft looking multicoloured knitwear to come to London and pretend to martyr myself by refusing to stand up if I’m lucky enough to get arrested in front of the cameras. Look see I’ve even got an anti nazi league badge’ (even though there’s no actual nazis left)
I and millions of others in the country have had enough of this crap interfering with our sovereignty and identity, and what’s more funding it with hard working taxpayer’s money.
If they’re not prepared to just STFU and accept democratic result of democratic referenda, and be prepared to graft hard to help rebuild this country instead of doing their damnedest to castrate it then frankly they shouldn’t be here, and certainly shouldn’t be privilege to institutions that are maintained by decent hard working people.
And if that makes me an ‘ist’ or a ‘phobe’ hard luck!
Narrow Shoulders December 13, 2018
Fee fi fo fum the EU smells the cash of an Englishman
acorn December 13, 2018
No deal NS. “Beanstalk Jack forced to pay with cow after trader laughs at devalued sterling,” says Fat Jim at News Thump.
Mark B December 13, 2018
Not just the EU, but just about every Tom, Dick and Harry.
An average voter December 13, 2018
I think the vote to keep Theresa May as PM has ensured the UK will remain in the EU. Here’s why.
I think the Brexiteer MPs bungled by voting down Brexit – and will forever be accused of voting down their own deal. This was a major tactical error, as it would have ‘got them over the line’.
I think the government will not be able to get the deal through parliament. Parliament will take over. Eventually parliament will coalesce around the idea that May’s deal is an accurate representation of the Brexit we will end with, and will put it to the country against remain in a referendum. And remain will win at a canter.
I don’t think there will be riots on the streets because ‘no deal’ doesn’t have enough popular support, and indeed most of the British people are fed up to the back teeth with Brexit and will rejoice it’s finally over. I’m not arguing this is right or defending it, but I can’t see it playing out any other way.
Edward2 December 13, 2018
Firstly it is not a deal.
It is just a document which sets out the details we and the EU agree in order for the UK to move negotiations on towards a deal sometime in the future.
Secondly it means the UK in many important areas remains firmly under EU control.
The promises made to voters in that leaflet are not being kept.
Staying in the SM the CU and ECJ is not leaving the EU
Eventially people will begin to realise that.
Steve December 13, 2018
An average voter
“I donât think there will be riots on the streets because âno dealâ doesnât have enough popular support,”
Rubbish. There will be civil unrest if these bloody whinging remoaners don’t shut the hell up. It is those pansies who have caused all the mess we are in now.
hefner December 13, 2018
Hee here hee, are you putting on your yellow jacket? Don’t you realize that right now there is almost nothing left of your Remoaners, and that the main stumbling block is within the CUP? It would make so much more sense if the Conservatives were properly splitting and (dream …) if the voting system were to be changed to something (more) proportional, with a reasonable increase in the salary of MPs but an interdiction for them to have a job on the side while they are MPs. Plus a limit to the length of a tenure as MP to three Parliaments (15 years max.)
Denis Cooper December 13, 2018
Perhaps you could get together with some of the ECJ judges to help compose the government pamphlet explaining the choice that was being put before us.
“You should not vote to remain in the EU unless you support the relentless, endless process of “ever closer union” which is the purpose of the EU treaties.”
Rather paradoxically the leading reason why we could rescind the Article 50 notice is also the leading reason why we should not do so.
BBCnot December 13, 2018
Ha ha nice try
Al December 13, 2018
While I am sure you have a busy time ahead, is it possible for you to comment on the “A Better Deal” paper set out by Dominic Raab, Arlene Foster and David Davis, or where it is possible to obtain a copy?
I wouldn’t bother A1. David Davis still thinks we will get a transition period after Brexit day, even if we don’t sign up to the Withdrawal Agreement.
The bottom line is. The UK joined the EU (EEC as was) on EU terms. The UK will leave the EU on EU terms. Our 19th Century Brexiteer MPs, can’t accept that the world has moved on from the Rees-Mogg era.
Chris December 13, 2018
I think you are the one in a different era, acorn.
libertarian December 13, 2018
acorn
Says acorn and the remainers grimly hanging onto an organisation founded in the 1950’s
Digital dear boy, technology delivers everything and more that the EU ever did without the cost or dictatorship . Join us in the positive future
Peter VAN LEEUWEN December 13, 2018
This morning I happened to see high walls inside Belfast, draped with union jacks.
Looks like a hard border to me.
Edward2 December 14, 2018
Did you see the Irish Republican flags draped in the Catholic parts of Belfast too?
Niether set of flags have anything remotely to do with a new EU border
Tabulazero December 13, 2018
The funiest of things is that after yesterday’s ERG defeat, the hard Brexit you so much cherish is now out of the question. You could not get it through the Conservative Party, you have even less chance with Labour or the SNP.
Hard Brexit is dead. Long live Hard Brexit.
… which means that your second best option to leave the EU is now Theresa May’s deal because if it does not get through, there is going to be a second referendum and possibly no Brexit at all. The Grieve amendment makes this even more likely.
It is going to be hilarious to see all the ERG members come around over the next few days to Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement they hated so much.
The humble pie factory will be working overtime over Christmas.
Roy Grainger December 13, 2018
The Grieve amendment is purely advisory and as we have been taught that means the government can ignore it entirely.
Lindsay McDougall December 13, 2018
This is why Brexiteers will have to fight the next General Election as (hard) Brexiteers. Leave means Leave is a campaign; it could become a political party. Its aim would be to seek the support of most of the 52% who voted Leave. The important thing is to sever all links with pro-EU Tory Wets in perpetuity.
Well having read the comments above, some seem to think that this appalling PM is in situ so she had better finish.
Where as I feel she is the problem, get rid of her and her Cabinet, otherwise the last strands of Our Democricy are gone for good and you enter very dark water then.
May is no fool she is not incompetent in the slightest, this is all going to plan.
Like it or not she is part of the Establishment, like all the other PMs except Maggie
The Establishment here and over there are getting exactly what they want, plus a boat load of money for the EU.
This is Globalisim , this is the long game that has been playing since before we joined.
We are in it now, and we have to get out, and it is easy as John says, all we need is people like John.
Lucky for us there are these decent people here to help, John has been offering good advice , and as he has said here , it has been ignored by those in power now.
Nothing at all will change May nothing, you have even got the last PM slithering back ?
An election maybe the only way to do it if you want out properly , and not a watered down one, unless you can change the whole top layer.
I do not think this Government will win, not with the same people, they must be changed.
The manifesto has been completely dismissed , the current elite would not get back for 20 years ?
Largehosier December 13, 2018
I have just resigned con party membership and I will not be the only one.
Roy Grainger December 13, 2018
May is prepared to be stubborn, deceitful, inflexible and contemptuous in order to get her own way but only when dealing with members of her own party, not with the EU. As she got a few votes by saying she wonât lead the party into the next election I assume she will – then most of the 200 will be out of a job.
Ian Pennell December 13, 2018
Dear John Redwood
Your party now has a very serious problem: Theresa May, who has negotiated a worse deal than even staying in the EU, that she is unwilling to walk away from and prepare for “No Deal”. Two hundred Conservative MPs supported her in last night’s crucial Vote of confidence in her leadership against 117 who voted for her to leave. Theresa May has negotiated badly, her Government has been found in Contempt of Parliament and its operations marked by Incompetence- not just with Brexit but with train-timetables, roll-out of Universal Credit and (last winter) hospital over-crowding and people with medical issues turned away from hospitals. In short, Theresa May and her government are a Major Electoral Liability for the Conservative Party going forwards.
In view of this, with no means of quickly getting rid of Theresa May through the Conservative Party’s democratic processes for another year- we are stuck with her: By the time it gets to December 2019 we may well have had “Customs Union and Single Market”, “Norway Minus” foisted upon Britain- or another Referendum on EU Membership which (if the more recent polls are right) means Remain win outright and Britain stays in the EU in name as well as in fact!
The worst that can now happen is Jeremy Corbyn succeeding in tabling a Vote of No Confidence in the Government- whilst the Conservatives have no means of getting rid of Theresa May as Prime Minister pro-tem. I would just like to know what you think her chances are of cobbling together another Government from Parliament a fortnight after such a successful Vote of No Confidence against her Government is. Maybe she would get the Liberal Democrats on-side with the promise of a new Referendum with Remain on the ballot paper.
What is very certain is that, after the mess Theresa May has made this last month (and with the Tories with no means of directly ousting her), the Conservatives would lose any resulting General Election (in, say January or February) with her still at the top of the Party and Jeremy Corbyn may well win a Majority. If Labour wins, Britain will get no Brexit (except in name); Jeremy Corbyn will mess with our Democracy in other ways- muzzling the Press, Votes for Teenagers, taking over Britain’s Institutions with the Hard Left, gerrymandering the British Voting System in his favour: The Conservatives may NEVER be able to govern outright again!
Desperate times require desperate measures: Yourself, along with all Brexit- supporting MPs need to plan to each go into Theresa May’s office begging her to resign, demanding that she stand down quickly, writing to tell her to do the honourable thing for the sake of the Conservative Party and the country. Each of the 117 MPs who voted for her to go should write letters and e-mails to her daily telling her that 117 out of 317 Conservative MPs voting against her is NOT an endorsement of her Administration and that she should make way for some-one who actually believes in Brexit.
Then all 117 of you True Brexit- supporting Conservative MPs need to keep doing this, each day, for the next month: I am sure that, with Labour and the SNP also demanding that she resign, will break her confidence to the point that she does indeed resign.
Legally, that is I think, as much as you can do (though even writing many demanding letters can nowadays be construed as “Harassment”- maybe you can all get Brexit- supporting friends to do that too): Whatever you do Sir, please NEVER give up on making sure that the 2016 Referendum Result is honoured not just in text but also in the Spirit of that “Leave” Vote (i.e. that it feels true to those who so voted) is delivered too.
All the best for Christmas and I hope that 2019 is a better year for you and all Brexit- supporters.
Ian Pennell
ian December 13, 2018
London bridge is falling down
falling down, falling down.
London bridge is falling down
My fair lady.
Build it up with iron bars
iron bars, iron bars.
Build it with iron bars
My fair lady.
Iron bars will bend and break
iron bars, iron bars
Iron bars will bend and break,
My fair lady.
Build it with gold and silver
gold and silver, gold and silver
Build it with gold and silver
My fair lady.
London bridge is falling down
falling down, falling down
London bridge is falling down
My fair lady.
Denis Cooper December 13, 2018
Off-topic, I watched the emergency debate on Tuesday and the best contributions were the three linked below, all of which made it clear that in the real world:
THERE IS NO NEED AT ALL FOR THE ‘IRISH BACKSTOP’ WHICH THERESA MAY AND THE IRISH GOVERNMENT AND THE EU ALL AGREE IS AN INDISPENSABLE ‘INSURANCE POLICY’ AGAINST A HARD BORDER SOMEHOW SPONTANEOUSLY ‘RE-EMERGING’ ON THE ISLAND OF IRELAND.
In other words the UK government is willing to pay an incalculably high premium for insurance against something which is not going to happen; so why is that? Because it is above all a pretext to keep us under the economic thumb of the EU, that’s why.
“… when the Prime Minister came before the Liaison Committee a few days ago, I asked her nine times in seven minutes who would actually erect a border â whether the Irish would, whether the British would or whether the EU would send in its army to do it? She refused and declined to answer that question every time, because the answer is that no one would ever put it there.”
“The EU has said clearly that even in a no-deal situation and under WTO rules, there would not need to be a hard border, and therefore there is no need for a backstop … The political choice was taken by the Government to treat the border as an insoluble problem.”
“… One year ago our Prime Minister made a fundamental mistake, which was to accept that a deal could be done only with a backstop that had to be incorporated as part of the deal. Unfortunately, the EU and the Irish Government have sold our Government the line that the backstop is necessary to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. I have stated this on numerous occasions in this House: there are 643 Members who take their seats in this House, 642 of whom live further away from the border than me. This is about not what I think about the border, but what I and others know about the border and its historical significance.”
“… no infrastructure established at the border can work. A backstop is totally and utterly unnecessary, because it cannot work. There are 290 crossing points on under 300 miles of land border in Northern Ireland, so no structure of any kind, anywhere, can work. That is why we do not need a backstop. People would treat the infrastructure with disdain and contempt, because they could avoid it so easily. If we had six, 16 or 26 manned roads across the border â forgetting about the possibility of threats to the people who would man those roads â all of those who lived there, worked there and traded there would know 100 ways to get round the infrastructure without having to go through any customs checkpoints, so there is no point to any backstop. We have been led into a trap. A backstop created by the EU that is null and void and that cannot exist will not prevent any border from coming about.”
Denis Cooper December 13, 2018
Now on Sky News we have the jumped-up Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar telling us that we should delay or cancel Brexit:
While on the BBC a supposed expert Bernadine Adkins is interviewed and explains that very early on the Irish government realised what was at stake for Ireland both economically and politically, and got itself organised and educated the other 26 EU countries. To which I would add that it would be utter stupidity to suppose that the Irish government would ever agree to release us from the rules of the EU Customs Union and the EU Single Market once Theresa May had shackled us to those rules and given the Irish government the only key; whatever was agreed to prevent the backstop coming into operation, or to supersede the backstop, would still have to give the Irish what they want or they would veto it.
She also explains that for the EU a first referendum doesn’t really count for much because the voters won’t have thought about the issue properly, but by the time of the second referendum they will take it more seriously and come to the correct decision. However she didn’t explain why the EU is always happy to accept the result of a first referendum if it is the desired result, then there is never any idea that there should be another vote a couple of years later.
Mick December 13, 2018
So the stumbling block is the Irish backstop, weâres the problem the Eu donât want one the UK donât want one the ROĂ donât want one could it be the fact itâs just a excuse to keep us in the Eu, but saying that if any terrorise were to begin activityâs again and use the ROĂ as a safe zone I hope that the UK would put up checkpoints and if that means a hard border so be it, and thank god labour arenât negotiating for us they keep bleeping on that itâs taken 2.5 years so far, weâre as if it were labour â Eu you have to stay in the single market and custom union â Corbyn OK muppets, I wouldnât trust them to run a bath and do they honestly think that if there was a GE they would win I donât think so, the labour or should I say ex labour voters are not that stupid even if they do think we are
Halfway December 13, 2018
Saw IDS on Sky this morning threatening that the EU will have to step up to the plate..otherwise? He’s not looking his usual bouncy self..remember the days..singing the praises of Merkel and how she would come running to our side? Didn’t quite work out that way though. The ERG set are in the sights of the EU and for this reason there is not a snowball’s chance in hell that the Withdrawal will be reopened..they are not going to be seen to fall into line to suit ERG demands in any way..the result of too many insults from that quarter over the years
acorn December 13, 2018
You should all read at Politico, “Brexit Britain: Small, boring and stupid The UK better get used to being a middling power.
Roy Grainger December 13, 2018
Sounds like a good idea, no chance of Labour invading Iraq again.
Mark B December 14, 2018
+1
libertarian December 14, 2018
acorn
Yeh just like those other really really small poor impoverished nations Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland….. oh wait a minute
ian wragg December 13, 2018
And the panto villain continues to pursue her quest for Vassal Statehood, deaf to the siren voices warning her against it.
A touch of paint and a new label and the audience will never know that it’s the very same sell out.
They’re behind you (not).
4 females
1 white, old man (another classic piece of feminist inspired slanderous poison now adopted by May and her grubby liberal left ilk that’s infected the party)…
I pray for the day, before I die, that the Tories elect a Eurosceptic radical leader that purges every aspect of New Labour’s client state and those Tories that have embraced Blair’s poisonous legacy
HenryS December 13, 2018
Here’s a thing about the backstop- the demographics breakdown in NI show that by another ten years the nationalists will have a majority and will be drawing ahead of the unionists in population size. Therefore why cannot the EU give a letter to the UK that the backstop will last only until a border poll is held in NI in say ten years time. In return for this offer from the EU, the UK will also promise to agree to facilitate this arrangement..can be all legally agreed to
Ian Pennell December 13, 2018
Dear Mr Redwood,
With Theresa May remaining Prime Minister for at least another year (Labour/ SNP success in tabling a Vote of No Confidence notwithstanding) the main threat is now a Majority of MPs in Parliament succeeding to foist “The Norwegian Option” on to the country: A future Conservative Government could, in theory, get out of the EEA at a later date (by putting WTO into a future Conservative Manifesto and delivering it), but the damage to the Conservatyives with a non-Brexit foisted upon Britain will be immense. Labour could gain (and retain) power for years making it virtually impossible for the Conservatives to ever govern again.
Having failed to get rid of Theresa May, the only way that the Conservative Party will save face is (perhaps) via a second Referendum and the Conservatives campaigning whole-heartedly for Brexit on the grounds that this is what a 4% Majority of voters wanted in the first 2016 Referendum. If Remain Conservatives won’t play ball with this, the Brexit supporting MPs in the Party (rather more than the total who voted against Theresa May yesterday) should robustly make the case for Leave (on WTO terms), team up with other Brexit- supporting MPs like Kate Hoey and the likes of Nigel Farage to start preparing for a solid Leave Campaign sooner rather than later.
If a Majority of MPs is to “Pivot” towards anything, it is better for them to go for a Second Vote than “Norway Minus”- the latter of which would seriously damage the electorate’s trust in the Conservative Party for years: If Conservatives lose the next Election we have a Hard Left Labour Government having years doing irreparable damage to our democracy/ institutions (not to mention the economic carnage). That must be prevented at all costs!
In the meantime do get as many of your colleagues as you can to each write to Theresa May urging her to go to the Queen and tender her resignation; each of you urge her to resign three/ four times over the next month (but no more- so you don’t get done for harassment); it may well pay dividends: If you can, get Dr. Liam Fox and Michael Gove (who have clout) to urge her to resign.
Brexit- as the voters who voted for it in 2016 understand it- is now in real danger; particularly with Theresa May weak and literally BEGGING Michael Barnier for something to sell to MPs back home and a Remainer Majority in Parliament. All of you in Parliament who support Brexit must fight and fight hard to make it happen: Thanks to Dominic Grieve’s success in his Amendment last week there is now a Real Danger of Brexit (as originally understood) not happening at all.
My hope is that in 2019 we see the tide turn decisively against the Remainers. Lets make it happen.
Ian Pennell
Lindsay McDougall December 13, 2018
Perhaps this is moment to scotch all of the nonsense about the Irish border issue. Cross border tariffs would be another item to be added to import/export paperwork. Spot checks on consigments could be conducted at designated locations away from the border. John Redwood, Owen Paterson and Liam Halligan, to name but three people know that there would be little problem. Rotterdam, one of the busiest ports in the world, limits spot checks on goods imported from outside the EU to 1.5% of goods. It seems to work just fine.
We could levy zero tariffs on imports from the Republic of Ireland. Would that lead to Ireland being used as a tariff free back door for exports from the EU mainland to Great Britain? Probably not for low tariff items. Exporting goods from EU-27 would involve handling the goods at a British port of entry. Using Ireland as a back door would involve triple handling – at (say) Dublin, at Belfast after a journey by road, and at a British port of entry. The extra cost of triple handling would exceed a low tariff.
An additional consideration is that we will over time get rid of much of the EU rule book, that corpus of law that has resulted from 25 years of EC laws and directives imposed on the Single Market after Maastricht. Our rule book will be a less restrictive subset of the EU rule book. Irish exports to the UK would automatically be compliant with the UK rule book. So we won’t have a problem with them. Any problems with UK exports to Ireland are the Republic’s problem, not ours.
We ought to be aware of the politics of the Irish border issue. Northern Ireland doesn’t want a hard border, the Irish Republic doesn’t, and the European Commission says that it doesn’t. Methinks the EC is speaking with forked tongue. The EC’s mindset is Euro-Fanaticism, protectionism and bureaucracy. It wants all of its external borders to be hard borders. The only hope of it getting its wish is to support the Irish Republic’s territorial claim on the north. We should consider both the Republic and the EC to be opponents, enemies even.
margaret December 15, 2018
How many beans make five? :-Two beans , a bean and a half, a bean and half a bean . It all adds up to the same thing.
December 13, 2018
John you are going to be busy, a few days ago you promised your take on exiting on WTO rules, now you offer “topical retake on an old tale”, or are the two the same? I dearly hope not!
Please tell me that my wish for a WTO Brexit is not just an old fairy-tale…
December 13, 2018
Talking of fairy tales, during the aborted debate Mrs May promised to step up preparations for No Deal. I noticed no MP grilled her on this, nor did Parliament demand weekly updates on the governmentâs progress.
One really despairs.
During the war Churchill stuck âAction This Dayâ labels on all manner of documents. He meant it. Parliament should demand Action This Day. Get those labels printed!
December 13, 2018
So who is the baddie, Mrs May or JC Junker. There is little at the top of the beanstalk for either apart from fat pensions in recognition of their horrendous contributions go Brexit.
December 13, 2018
Agricola
Juncker is the baddie, along with Tusk, Barnier and Varadkar. Hopefully Theresa May now realises this.
December 13, 2018
Strange that no one mentions, probably ‘cos no one has ever heard of her here or on the BBC etc., Sabine Weyand who is the brains behind Barnier.
Her input into the ‘negotiations’ probably won’t be sighted’ for 30 odd years as well as May’s input, if any. ‘Give and take’ , compromises – what did Brussels offer?
December 13, 2018
Funny, Ms Weyand has been Barnier’s deputy since Sep’16, and there had been some profiles of her in a number of continental papers, but obviously not in the rags read among here. It is all the more funny realizing that some here pretend to comment on the Brexit news when their level of knowledge of everything EU is close to zero. What a laugh.
December 13, 2018
hefner
Yup as funny as all those who come on here telling us about trade, WTO and tariffs when not only have they never exported anything but they’ve never even sold anything to anybody. What a laugh
December 14, 2018
Usual smug remainer myth that those who want to remain are somehow intellectually superior.
You dont read “rags”
Only you know what you were voting for.
Give it a rest hefner
December 13, 2018
”.. realises this”? She knew from the very beginning!
If she says she didn’t, then she is even more disingenuous than we suspected. If she led us up the garden path to this point knowingly, then surely there are far more than 200 would suspect her of perfidy. That they are in it with her is far more apparent now.
How can you Conservative MPs allow this? How can we know now who is on our side, on our country’s side?
December 13, 2018
Yep, that’s what it is all about, and we are about to cut the beanstalk this time leaving the golden goose behind.
December 13, 2018
The ‘golden goose’ is the ingenuity and hard work of the people, so we already have that. We just need to stop Hammond and May from strangling them with the highest taxes for 40 years, endless PC gender pay gap drivel & similar, endless red tape, daft restrictive employment laws, very high green religion energy prices and the likes. Get a PM with an uplifting real Brexit vision instead of these project fear pushing total idiots.
December 13, 2018
Dear Lifelogic–Not just the vision but someone with charisma who can project that vision and inspire the nation instead of the apology for a PM we have now, courtesy of the idiot Tories
December 13, 2018
The golden goose is in other tales.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Goose
“Not to be confused with The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs.”
Neither really exist, you know, whatever the CBI might tell you.
Something went wrong in the minds of leaders of the Tory party in the late 1950’s, probably connected with the trauma of Suez; they became obsessed with the small parts of the UK economy which were involved with exporting to the continent, as if that minority of businesses – now about 6% – were all that mattered.
And that did not change even when it had become obvious that exporters in other EEC countries were reaping far more of the benefits of our membership than were our own exporters.
December 13, 2018
That Golden Goose, it wouldn’t be the likes of Greece, Malta, Belguim. Hungary, Poland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Slovakia and the like. All of whom are :
a) Bankrupt.
b) Highly dependent and EU (read UK and German) money
c) Sell more to us than we sell to them and would see their economy go bottom up if we put up tariffs.
That Golden Goose ? Because if it is, it pretty much cooked đ
December 13, 2018
Ha ha, very witty.
Seriously though, Theresa May has serious problems now. Whilst I maintain she was not the best choice to manage our exit from the EU, she is the person we have.
Mrs May needs to realise Europe is not any friend of ours, and when we say we don’t trust the EU there are good reasons not to. Primarily the fact that the EU is run by one member state via the commission – france.
If I could offer Mrs May any advice it would be;
Get in there with your sleeves rolled up and threaten them, it’s the only language they understand. Threaten to exit on no deal WTO terms, warn them our country will work covertly to hasten the break up of the EU and make it as painful as possible.
Remind them that they owe their very existence and liberty to this country, and also remind them that next time they cause a war in Europe we won’t be involved.
When they say “the deal is final and cannot be changed” then is the time to play hard ball and show them how it works – by pulling us out immediately with no deal.
Remember we did not vote for a deal, we did not vote for negotiations.We voted to get out of the EU because frankly we’re sick to the back teeth of it, and of it being run by the french.
The only exit is by no deal, anything else is a capitulation.
December 13, 2018
France ?…. and me who thought it was meant to be run by Germany.
Yawn… and what benefit do you think the UK will derive from breaking up the EU ?
None. Not even John Redwood is advocating for such a thing.
The EU has more pressing matter to attend to than to watch the current Tory civil war on Europe reaching some form of conclusion. It has been going on for 40 years…
December 13, 2018
I believe we voted to ‘leave the E.U’ not for ‘no deal’. If only we had a majority vote for ‘no deal’, we wouldn’t be in this mess.
I’ve heard a lot of people tell me contrasting opinions of what ‘leaving the E.’U’ means and what the British people voted for.
The British people, however, are keeping mum on this – despite many people willing to make pronouncements on their behalf.
December 13, 2018
An average voter
I realise…………………. Leaving the EU means leaving the EU , a future trade deal of any kind with the EU can only be worked out once we’ve left. The EU told you that repeatedly , Cameron and Osbourne told you that, everyone told you that. There was nothing on the ballot paper about having a third option of a deal or any other option
December 13, 2018
Good list but my advice, not that she ever listens to any, would be simpler.
Just walk away !
December 13, 2018
The French? Makes a change from blaming the Germans.
===
Steve:
“Remind them that they owe their very existence and liberty to this country, and also remind them that next time they cause a war in Europe we wonât be involved.”
You can play that game with endless variations.
If the Spanish hadn’t defeated the Moors Europe would be muslim
If the Confederates had won the civil war the US wouldn’t exist
If Napoleon had won Russia we would all be speaking French
And if Russia and the US hadn’t defeated Germany….
December 13, 2018
Margaret. Of course, we didn’t do anything to help defeat Germany, did we? Try telling that to the thousands of people who died in the two world wars. Again, you find it hard to say anything positive about your own country. We can do without people like you.
December 13, 2018
fedup
We declared war on Germany both in 1914 and again in 1939.
Until the 20th century Germany was the ONLY European country we had never been at war with.
Don’t let nationalism blind you to historical facts.
December 13, 2018
WHY do people keep saying ”.. if she’d realised…” Of COURSE she blinking well ”realised”. She (even if she herself is stupid) has enough people around her to keep her informed.
SHE REALISED. It’s just that she has chosen to take this path.
December 13, 2018
Her mentality is now clear. She’s a determined delayer. She’ll play off delaying EU exit by lining up an extension to A50, delaying the WA vote in parallel. We won’t leave the EU until her deal is signed, and her deal won’t be signed until she’s worn down Parliament to accept it, with assurances and all. Even if it takes 3 years. Meantime she’ll delay and extend, delay and extend, all the time claiming she is honouring the vote by leaving.
This is going to be long and trying.
December 13, 2018
And the Incompetence of her Government, with Theresa May at the top cannot be seriously challenged for another year. And the Conservatives slip further behind Labour in the polls- then Labour, the SNP, Lib Dems get the DUP to help them vote “this truly weak chaotic Tory Government down”…Result
General Election in Sept 2019 with Theresa May still at the helm. Jeremy Corbyn wins a majority of 100 and swiftly starts lowering the Voting Age to 16, filling institutions like the Supreme Court, the Met and charitable organisations with extreme lefties. Jeremy Corbyn then muzzles the Press through a revived Leveson 2.0………The Tories never govern outright again!
What a joyful time to be alive- I’m thinking of emigrating to Canada in 2020!!
December 13, 2018
What’s happened the Daily Mail and the Express? They’ve been politically nobbled by May and her pro-EU Gramsci clan and there’s me thinking that this type of entry-ism was a Marxist phenomena
Hammond’s playing of the extremist card yesterday was the last straw for me. The EU’s been playing that slander against the Poles and the Hungarians for months…enough of this lefty crap from faux-Tories
What is this woman doing to our country, its press, our freedoms and our culture?
Just bring down this vile government and purge our party of these grotesque political animals
December 13, 2018
Yes… the Conservative party should get rid of 2/3rd of its MPs and of the vast majority of its voters below 60 years of age.
What a wonderful way to condemn it to irrelevance.
December 13, 2018
Pro EU Geordie has taken over at the Mail!
December 13, 2018
Duncan, What, didn’t you know? Paul Dacre has been flushed out by Lord Windermere, and the editor previously of the Mail on Sunday is now the editor of the Daily Mail. It was widely echoed in the press at the end of August/beginning of September.
December 13, 2018
Just what I said today Duncan. The Express and the Mail were all for coming out of the EU and now they’re just as bad as all the rest of the papers. We’re surrounded by turn coats. I just don’t buy a paper anymore.
December 13, 2018
Duncan
The Daily Express is now owned by Trinity Mirror ( now rebranded REACH plc) The Labour party paper
December 13, 2018
âFee-fi-fo-fum!
I smell the blood of an English man:
Be he alive, or be he dead,
I’ll grind his bones to make my breadâ.
Very apposite considering the ÂŁ39 billion!
December 13, 2018
Can’t use, Englishman. The MP’s don’t use it, and Labour claim that we do not exist. Plus it is now considered Nationalistic, Populist and Racist.
December 13, 2018
Markb
but it’s ok for the Scotts and Welsh to have ‘nationalist’ parties.
Yet we exercise our right to do the same and that makes us racist.
Similarly, it’s ok for Labour or the Cons to win an election – because they’re obviously popular at the time, but if anyone else is popular they’re defamed by the marxist media, and outlawed.
Not difficult to see the hypocrisy, especially when you look at the way nationalists in Scotland were behaving on the streets during indyref.
Minorities don’t like democracy, unless it’s theirs. Which is reflected in the behaviour of the minority wingers who lost the brexit referendum –
‘it’s not fair, it’s not fair oh please can we have another vote, it isn’t democratic if we don’t win and I’ve spent 350 quid of my benefits on train tickets and daft looking multicoloured knitwear to come to London and pretend to martyr myself by refusing to stand up if I’m lucky enough to get arrested in front of the cameras. Look see I’ve even got an anti nazi league badge’ (even though there’s no actual nazis left)
I and millions of others in the country have had enough of this crap interfering with our sovereignty and identity, and what’s more funding it with hard working taxpayer’s money.
If they’re not prepared to just STFU and accept democratic result of democratic referenda, and be prepared to graft hard to help rebuild this country instead of doing their damnedest to castrate it then frankly they shouldn’t be here, and certainly shouldn’t be privilege to institutions that are maintained by decent hard working people.
And if that makes me an ‘ist’ or a ‘phobe’ hard luck!
December 13, 2018
Fee fi fo fum the EU smells the cash of an Englishman
December 13, 2018
No deal NS. “Beanstalk Jack forced to pay with cow after trader laughs at devalued sterling,” says Fat Jim at News Thump.
December 13, 2018
Not just the EU, but just about every Tom, Dick and Harry.
December 13, 2018
I think the vote to keep Theresa May as PM has ensured the UK will remain in the EU. Here’s why.
I think the Brexiteer MPs bungled by voting down Brexit – and will forever be accused of voting down their own deal. This was a major tactical error, as it would have ‘got them over the line’.
I think the government will not be able to get the deal through parliament. Parliament will take over. Eventually parliament will coalesce around the idea that May’s deal is an accurate representation of the Brexit we will end with, and will put it to the country against remain in a referendum. And remain will win at a canter.
I don’t think there will be riots on the streets because ‘no deal’ doesn’t have enough popular support, and indeed most of the British people are fed up to the back teeth with Brexit and will rejoice it’s finally over. I’m not arguing this is right or defending it, but I can’t see it playing out any other way.
December 13, 2018
Firstly it is not a deal.
It is just a document which sets out the details we and the EU agree in order for the UK to move negotiations on towards a deal sometime in the future.
Secondly it means the UK in many important areas remains firmly under EU control.
The promises made to voters in that leaflet are not being kept.
Staying in the SM the CU and ECJ is not leaving the EU
Eventially people will begin to realise that.
December 13, 2018
An average voter
“I donât think there will be riots on the streets because âno dealâ doesnât have enough popular support,”
Rubbish. There will be civil unrest if these bloody whinging remoaners don’t shut the hell up. It is those pansies who have caused all the mess we are in now.
December 13, 2018
Hee here hee, are you putting on your yellow jacket? Don’t you realize that right now there is almost nothing left of your Remoaners, and that the main stumbling block is within the CUP? It would make so much more sense if the Conservatives were properly splitting and (dream …) if the voting system were to be changed to something (more) proportional, with a reasonable increase in the salary of MPs but an interdiction for them to have a job on the side while they are MPs. Plus a limit to the length of a tenure as MP to three Parliaments (15 years max.)
December 13, 2018
Perhaps you could get together with some of the ECJ judges to help compose the government pamphlet explaining the choice that was being put before us.
“You should not vote to remain in the EU unless you support the relentless, endless process of “ever closer union” which is the purpose of the EU treaties.”
Paragraphs 61 and 67 here:
http://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf?text=&docid=208636&pageIndex=0&doclang=en&mode=req&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=1087903
Rather paradoxically the leading reason why we could rescind the Article 50 notice is also the leading reason why we should not do so.
December 13, 2018
Ha ha nice try
December 13, 2018
While I am sure you have a busy time ahead, is it possible for you to comment on the “A Better Deal” paper set out by Dominic Raab, Arlene Foster and David Davis, or where it is possible to obtain a copy?
December 13, 2018
It’s on Guido Fawkes (order hyphen order dot com)
December 13, 2018
Is this the document you mean?
https://order-order.com/2018/12/12/brexiteers-dup-publish-alternative-backstop-proposal/
December 13, 2018
I wouldn’t bother A1. David Davis still thinks we will get a transition period after Brexit day, even if we don’t sign up to the Withdrawal Agreement.
The bottom line is. The UK joined the EU (EEC as was) on EU terms. The UK will leave the EU on EU terms. Our 19th Century Brexiteer MPs, can’t accept that the world has moved on from the Rees-Mogg era.
December 13, 2018
I think you are the one in a different era, acorn.
December 13, 2018
acorn
Says acorn and the remainers grimly hanging onto an organisation founded in the 1950’s
Digital dear boy, technology delivers everything and more that the EU ever did without the cost or dictatorship . Join us in the positive future
December 13, 2018
This morning I happened to see high walls inside Belfast, draped with union jacks.
Looks like a hard border to me.
December 14, 2018
Did you see the Irish Republican flags draped in the Catholic parts of Belfast too?
Niether set of flags have anything remotely to do with a new EU border
December 13, 2018
The funiest of things is that after yesterday’s ERG defeat, the hard Brexit you so much cherish is now out of the question. You could not get it through the Conservative Party, you have even less chance with Labour or the SNP.
Hard Brexit is dead. Long live Hard Brexit.
… which means that your second best option to leave the EU is now Theresa May’s deal because if it does not get through, there is going to be a second referendum and possibly no Brexit at all. The Grieve amendment makes this even more likely.
It is going to be hilarious to see all the ERG members come around over the next few days to Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement they hated so much.
The humble pie factory will be working overtime over Christmas.
December 13, 2018
The Grieve amendment is purely advisory and as we have been taught that means the government can ignore it entirely.
December 13, 2018
This is why Brexiteers will have to fight the next General Election as (hard) Brexiteers. Leave means Leave is a campaign; it could become a political party. Its aim would be to seek the support of most of the 52% who voted Leave. The important thing is to sever all links with pro-EU Tory Wets in perpetuity.
December 13, 2018
Well having read the comments above, some seem to think that this appalling PM is in situ so she had better finish.
Where as I feel she is the problem, get rid of her and her Cabinet, otherwise the last strands of Our Democricy are gone for good and you enter very dark water then.
May is no fool she is not incompetent in the slightest, this is all going to plan.
Like it or not she is part of the Establishment, like all the other PMs except Maggie
The Establishment here and over there are getting exactly what they want, plus a boat load of money for the EU.
This is Globalisim , this is the long game that has been playing since before we joined.
We are in it now, and we have to get out, and it is easy as John says, all we need is people like John.
Lucky for us there are these decent people here to help, John has been offering good advice , and as he has said here , it has been ignored by those in power now.
Nothing at all will change May nothing, you have even got the last PM slithering back ?
An election maybe the only way to do it if you want out properly , and not a watered down one, unless you can change the whole top layer.
I do not think this Government will win, not with the same people, they must be changed.
The manifesto has been completely dismissed , the current elite would not get back for 20 years ?
December 13, 2018
I have just resigned con party membership and I will not be the only one.
December 13, 2018
May is prepared to be stubborn, deceitful, inflexible and contemptuous in order to get her own way but only when dealing with members of her own party, not with the EU. As she got a few votes by saying she wonât lead the party into the next election I assume she will – then most of the 200 will be out of a job.
December 13, 2018
Dear John Redwood
Your party now has a very serious problem: Theresa May, who has negotiated a worse deal than even staying in the EU, that she is unwilling to walk away from and prepare for “No Deal”. Two hundred Conservative MPs supported her in last night’s crucial Vote of confidence in her leadership against 117 who voted for her to leave. Theresa May has negotiated badly, her Government has been found in Contempt of Parliament and its operations marked by Incompetence- not just with Brexit but with train-timetables, roll-out of Universal Credit and (last winter) hospital over-crowding and people with medical issues turned away from hospitals. In short, Theresa May and her government are a Major Electoral Liability for the Conservative Party going forwards.
In view of this, with no means of quickly getting rid of Theresa May through the Conservative Party’s democratic processes for another year- we are stuck with her: By the time it gets to December 2019 we may well have had “Customs Union and Single Market”, “Norway Minus” foisted upon Britain- or another Referendum on EU Membership which (if the more recent polls are right) means Remain win outright and Britain stays in the EU in name as well as in fact!
The worst that can now happen is Jeremy Corbyn succeeding in tabling a Vote of No Confidence in the Government- whilst the Conservatives have no means of getting rid of Theresa May as Prime Minister pro-tem. I would just like to know what you think her chances are of cobbling together another Government from Parliament a fortnight after such a successful Vote of No Confidence against her Government is. Maybe she would get the Liberal Democrats on-side with the promise of a new Referendum with Remain on the ballot paper.
What is very certain is that, after the mess Theresa May has made this last month (and with the Tories with no means of directly ousting her), the Conservatives would lose any resulting General Election (in, say January or February) with her still at the top of the Party and Jeremy Corbyn may well win a Majority. If Labour wins, Britain will get no Brexit (except in name); Jeremy Corbyn will mess with our Democracy in other ways- muzzling the Press, Votes for Teenagers, taking over Britain’s Institutions with the Hard Left, gerrymandering the British Voting System in his favour: The Conservatives may NEVER be able to govern outright again!
Desperate times require desperate measures: Yourself, along with all Brexit- supporting MPs need to plan to each go into Theresa May’s office begging her to resign, demanding that she stand down quickly, writing to tell her to do the honourable thing for the sake of the Conservative Party and the country. Each of the 117 MPs who voted for her to go should write letters and e-mails to her daily telling her that 117 out of 317 Conservative MPs voting against her is NOT an endorsement of her Administration and that she should make way for some-one who actually believes in Brexit.
Then all 117 of you True Brexit- supporting Conservative MPs need to keep doing this, each day, for the next month: I am sure that, with Labour and the SNP also demanding that she resign, will break her confidence to the point that she does indeed resign.
Legally, that is I think, as much as you can do (though even writing many demanding letters can nowadays be construed as “Harassment”- maybe you can all get Brexit- supporting friends to do that too): Whatever you do Sir, please NEVER give up on making sure that the 2016 Referendum Result is honoured not just in text but also in the Spirit of that “Leave” Vote (i.e. that it feels true to those who so voted) is delivered too.
All the best for Christmas and I hope that 2019 is a better year for you and all Brexit- supporters.
Ian Pennell
December 13, 2018
London bridge is falling down
falling down, falling down.
London bridge is falling down
My fair lady.
Build it up with iron bars
iron bars, iron bars.
Build it with iron bars
My fair lady.
Iron bars will bend and break
iron bars, iron bars
Iron bars will bend and break,
My fair lady.
Build it with gold and silver
gold and silver, gold and silver
Build it with gold and silver
My fair lady.
London bridge is falling down
falling down, falling down
London bridge is falling down
My fair lady.
December 13, 2018
Off-topic, I watched the emergency debate on Tuesday and the best contributions were the three linked below, all of which made it clear that in the real world:
THERE IS NO NEED AT ALL FOR THE ‘IRISH BACKSTOP’ WHICH THERESA MAY AND THE IRISH GOVERNMENT AND THE EU ALL AGREE IS AN INDISPENSABLE ‘INSURANCE POLICY’ AGAINST A HARD BORDER SOMEHOW SPONTANEOUSLY ‘RE-EMERGING’ ON THE ISLAND OF IRELAND.
In other words the UK government is willing to pay an incalculably high premium for insurance against something which is not going to happen; so why is that? Because it is above all a pretext to keep us under the economic thumb of the EU, that’s why.
1. Tory MP Julian Lewis, at http://bit.ly/2QKOcEp
“… when the Prime Minister came before the Liaison Committee a few days ago, I asked her nine times in seven minutes who would actually erect a border â whether the Irish would, whether the British would or whether the EU would send in its army to do it? She refused and declined to answer that question every time, because the answer is that no one would ever put it there.”
2. Labour MP Kate Hoey, herself from Northern Ireland, at http://bit.ly/2SIMlgt
“The EU has said clearly that even in a no-deal situation and under WTO rules, there would not need to be a hard border, and therefore there is no need for a backstop … The political choice was taken by the Government to treat the border as an insoluble problem.”
3. DUP MP Gregory Campbell, at http://bit.ly/2QtohkZ
“… One year ago our Prime Minister made a fundamental mistake, which was to accept that a deal could be done only with a backstop that had to be incorporated as part of the deal. Unfortunately, the EU and the Irish Government have sold our Government the line that the backstop is necessary to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. I have stated this on numerous occasions in this House: there are 643 Members who take their seats in this House, 642 of whom live further away from the border than me. This is about not what I think about the border, but what I and others know about the border and its historical significance.”
“… no infrastructure established at the border can work. A backstop is totally and utterly unnecessary, because it cannot work. There are 290 crossing points on under 300 miles of land border in Northern Ireland, so no structure of any kind, anywhere, can work. That is why we do not need a backstop. People would treat the infrastructure with disdain and contempt, because they could avoid it so easily. If we had six, 16 or 26 manned roads across the border â forgetting about the possibility of threats to the people who would man those roads â all of those who lived there, worked there and traded there would know 100 ways to get round the infrastructure without having to go through any customs checkpoints, so there is no point to any backstop. We have been led into a trap. A backstop created by the EU that is null and void and that cannot exist will not prevent any border from coming about.”
December 13, 2018
Now on Sky News we have the jumped-up Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar telling us that we should delay or cancel Brexit:
https://twitter.com/faisalislam/status/1073237337713373184
While on the BBC a supposed expert Bernadine Adkins is interviewed and explains that very early on the Irish government realised what was at stake for Ireland both economically and politically, and got itself organised and educated the other 26 EU countries. To which I would add that it would be utter stupidity to suppose that the Irish government would ever agree to release us from the rules of the EU Customs Union and the EU Single Market once Theresa May had shackled us to those rules and given the Irish government the only key; whatever was agreed to prevent the backstop coming into operation, or to supersede the backstop, would still have to give the Irish what they want or they would veto it.
She also explains that for the EU a first referendum doesn’t really count for much because the voters won’t have thought about the issue properly, but by the time of the second referendum they will take it more seriously and come to the correct decision. However she didn’t explain why the EU is always happy to accept the result of a first referendum if it is the desired result, then there is never any idea that there should be another vote a couple of years later.
December 13, 2018
So the stumbling block is the Irish backstop, weâres the problem the Eu donât want one the UK donât want one the ROĂ donât want one could it be the fact itâs just a excuse to keep us in the Eu, but saying that if any terrorise were to begin activityâs again and use the ROĂ as a safe zone I hope that the UK would put up checkpoints and if that means a hard border so be it, and thank god labour arenât negotiating for us they keep bleeping on that itâs taken 2.5 years so far, weâre as if it were labour â Eu you have to stay in the single market and custom union â Corbyn OK muppets, I wouldnât trust them to run a bath and do they honestly think that if there was a GE they would win I donât think so, the labour or should I say ex labour voters are not that stupid even if they do think we are
December 13, 2018
Saw IDS on Sky this morning threatening that the EU will have to step up to the plate..otherwise? He’s not looking his usual bouncy self..remember the days..singing the praises of Merkel and how she would come running to our side? Didn’t quite work out that way though. The ERG set are in the sights of the EU and for this reason there is not a snowball’s chance in hell that the Withdrawal will be reopened..they are not going to be seen to fall into line to suit ERG demands in any way..the result of too many insults from that quarter over the years
December 13, 2018
You should all read at Politico, “Brexit Britain: Small, boring and stupid The UK better get used to being a middling power.
December 13, 2018
Sounds like a good idea, no chance of Labour invading Iraq again.
December 14, 2018
+1
December 14, 2018
acorn
Yeh just like those other really really small poor impoverished nations Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland….. oh wait a minute
December 13, 2018
And the panto villain continues to pursue her quest for Vassal Statehood, deaf to the siren voices warning her against it.
A touch of paint and a new label and the audience will never know that it’s the very same sell out.
They’re behind you (not).
December 13, 2018
Mrs May’s EU masters know a golden goose when they see one.
Just in time for Christmas.
December 13, 2018
Two interesting posts from Conservative Woman (Not the Party).
This was written on 12th Dec. https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/has-mendacious-may-been-colluding-with-the-eu-all-along/
From a bit earlier on 12th Dec. https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/unelected-unqualified-unresisted-the-man-who-would-be-our-emperor/
(I do not know if future conditional has become present tense.)
Anywhichway â just out!
December 13, 2018
QT tonite
4 Remainers
1 Leaver
4 females
1 white, old man (another classic piece of feminist inspired slanderous poison now adopted by May and her grubby liberal left ilk that’s infected the party)…
I pray for the day, before I die, that the Tories elect a Eurosceptic radical leader that purges every aspect of New Labour’s client state and those Tories that have embraced Blair’s poisonous legacy
December 13, 2018
Here’s a thing about the backstop- the demographics breakdown in NI show that by another ten years the nationalists will have a majority and will be drawing ahead of the unionists in population size. Therefore why cannot the EU give a letter to the UK that the backstop will last only until a border poll is held in NI in say ten years time. In return for this offer from the EU, the UK will also promise to agree to facilitate this arrangement..can be all legally agreed to
December 13, 2018
Dear Mr Redwood,
With Theresa May remaining Prime Minister for at least another year (Labour/ SNP success in tabling a Vote of No Confidence notwithstanding) the main threat is now a Majority of MPs in Parliament succeeding to foist “The Norwegian Option” on to the country: A future Conservative Government could, in theory, get out of the EEA at a later date (by putting WTO into a future Conservative Manifesto and delivering it), but the damage to the Conservatyives with a non-Brexit foisted upon Britain will be immense. Labour could gain (and retain) power for years making it virtually impossible for the Conservatives to ever govern again.
Having failed to get rid of Theresa May, the only way that the Conservative Party will save face is (perhaps) via a second Referendum and the Conservatives campaigning whole-heartedly for Brexit on the grounds that this is what a 4% Majority of voters wanted in the first 2016 Referendum. If Remain Conservatives won’t play ball with this, the Brexit supporting MPs in the Party (rather more than the total who voted against Theresa May yesterday) should robustly make the case for Leave (on WTO terms), team up with other Brexit- supporting MPs like Kate Hoey and the likes of Nigel Farage to start preparing for a solid Leave Campaign sooner rather than later.
If a Majority of MPs is to “Pivot” towards anything, it is better for them to go for a Second Vote than “Norway Minus”- the latter of which would seriously damage the electorate’s trust in the Conservative Party for years: If Conservatives lose the next Election we have a Hard Left Labour Government having years doing irreparable damage to our democracy/ institutions (not to mention the economic carnage). That must be prevented at all costs!
In the meantime do get as many of your colleagues as you can to each write to Theresa May urging her to go to the Queen and tender her resignation; each of you urge her to resign three/ four times over the next month (but no more- so you don’t get done for harassment); it may well pay dividends: If you can, get Dr. Liam Fox and Michael Gove (who have clout) to urge her to resign.
Brexit- as the voters who voted for it in 2016 understand it- is now in real danger; particularly with Theresa May weak and literally BEGGING Michael Barnier for something to sell to MPs back home and a Remainer Majority in Parliament. All of you in Parliament who support Brexit must fight and fight hard to make it happen: Thanks to Dominic Grieve’s success in his Amendment last week there is now a Real Danger of Brexit (as originally understood) not happening at all.
My hope is that in 2019 we see the tide turn decisively against the Remainers. Lets make it happen.
Ian Pennell
December 13, 2018
Perhaps this is moment to scotch all of the nonsense about the Irish border issue. Cross border tariffs would be another item to be added to import/export paperwork. Spot checks on consigments could be conducted at designated locations away from the border. John Redwood, Owen Paterson and Liam Halligan, to name but three people know that there would be little problem. Rotterdam, one of the busiest ports in the world, limits spot checks on goods imported from outside the EU to 1.5% of goods. It seems to work just fine.
We could levy zero tariffs on imports from the Republic of Ireland. Would that lead to Ireland being used as a tariff free back door for exports from the EU mainland to Great Britain? Probably not for low tariff items. Exporting goods from EU-27 would involve handling the goods at a British port of entry. Using Ireland as a back door would involve triple handling – at (say) Dublin, at Belfast after a journey by road, and at a British port of entry. The extra cost of triple handling would exceed a low tariff.
An additional consideration is that we will over time get rid of much of the EU rule book, that corpus of law that has resulted from 25 years of EC laws and directives imposed on the Single Market after Maastricht. Our rule book will be a less restrictive subset of the EU rule book. Irish exports to the UK would automatically be compliant with the UK rule book. So we won’t have a problem with them. Any problems with UK exports to Ireland are the Republic’s problem, not ours.
We ought to be aware of the politics of the Irish border issue. Northern Ireland doesn’t want a hard border, the Irish Republic doesn’t, and the European Commission says that it doesn’t. Methinks the EC is speaking with forked tongue. The EC’s mindset is Euro-Fanaticism, protectionism and bureaucracy. It wants all of its external borders to be hard borders. The only hope of it getting its wish is to support the Irish Republic’s territorial claim on the north. We should consider both the Republic and the EC to be opponents, enemies even.
December 15, 2018
How many beans make five? :-Two beans , a bean and a half, a bean and half a bean . It all adds up to the same thing.