The decision of the 1922 Committee Executive to change the rules of the leadership election has changed its dynamics. We have gone from having a wide range of choices with more candidates likely to come forward, to a narrowing with more candidates likely to drop out even before Nominations close on June 10th. Putting in rising requirements for MP support for Nomination and the first two rounds makes it much more difficult for an outsider or different candidate to start from a small base and grow their support over the early rounds. There has been a mini rush for more MPs to declare for a candidate,creating a premier league of four, Boris Johnson, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove and Dominic Raab. Two candidates, Kit Malthouse and James Cleverly have already stepped down, with pressure on other candidates to do the same for want of more support. This is now a more traditional election, with growing camps for the main candidates trying to hoover up more votes and pledges by demonstrating momentum for their candidate.
Nominations close on June 10th. The first round ballot is on 13 June, the second round on 18 June, the third round on 19 June and rounds four and five if needed on 20 June. That would allow for a seven candidate race with just one dropping out at each stage and two winners to go on to the contest amongst the membership or for a more numerous field if more than one drops out between rounds owing to the new thresholds or candidate choice. It is likely we will not need rounds beyond June 20th. It would be worrying if we got to a last two only for the second placed candidate to do a deal to prevent a membership run off. Under the rules the race in the country can be eliminated by candidates colluding or changing their minds, as with the last leadership election.
I have now seen and heard a range of views from members of the Wokingham constituency. 50 came to a reception and others have emailed or spoken to me.There is no one stand out candidate commanding great support, with many members saying they do not know a number of the candidates and do not therefore wish to commit to one particular one at this early stage. Boris Johnson is the best known and attracted the most mentions wanting him on the ballot paper, but his numbers were still in single figures with most do not knows.
I have now had the opportunity to talk to Dominic Raab, one of the two candidates in the front runners list who resigned from the government over the Brexit policy being pursued by Mrs May. He took the job of Brexit Secretary knowing the PM’s commitment to the Withdrawal Treaty. He voted for the Withdrawal Agreement on the third vote despite having strong reservations about it. He states clearly that as PM he would get us out by October 31 with or without an Agreement. He also says he has a preference for an Agreement and thinks it should be possible to renegotiate it with the EU despite their repeated statements to the contrary. He wants changes to the backstop and some other matters, but seems willing to countenance a two year delay in exit and making further substantial payments to the EU. These views make it difficult for me to vote for him.
Michael Gove has repeated his support for the Withdrawal Agreement, and said he would countenance a further delay in our exit to try to get a better deal. He seems to think he might be able to renegotiate the Treaty, and seems to imply the only really bad feature of it is the Irish backstop which he would like to time limit. These views make it impossible for me to vote for him. Both these candidates have interesting views of a range of other topics, but if we cannot get out of the EU promptly and cleanly the policies we follow post Brexit will be drowned out by disappointment and continuing rows over Brexit. The general view of most of the candidates is in favour of relaxing austerity, with some tax cuts and some spending increases, as recommended regularly on this site.
June 6, 2019
Sir John,
It is good that the field of candidates is contracting. Your concerns regarding Dominic Raab are understandable, but I do see he has affirmed that, if elected, he would, if necessary, suspend Parliament in order to ensure exit no later than October 31st. Perhaps just a tactic to get more votes. Steve Bakerâs ERG paper âA Clean Managed Brexitâ is a good document. The right candidate is absolutely essential to deliver a timely WTO Brexit and save the UK (and the Conservative Party) from oblivion, not least because of my continuing concerns which drive me, once again, to draw the attention of readers of your diary to the potentially dreadful outcomes for the UK which are deeply embedded within the putrid and treacherous WA which Theresa May continues to describe, even face-to-face with Donald Trump, as âa good dealâ.
A chilling article dated 5th June 2019 by Torquil Dick-Erikson entitled âTheresa Mayâs successor should not allow the UK to be entangled in EU legal, defence and security projectsâ can be found on the website of brexitcentral.com
This is yet another essential read and details the utter subordination of control of British law, police and armed forces to Brussels which, potentially, could see the whole basis of British justice, which has evolved over centuries, be replaced by alien and inferior legal systems which currently exist in various continental countries.
This provides yet more evidence that a prompt WTO exit is essential.
June 6, 2019
Baker’s ERG paper is a BETRAYAL. He wants to negotiate a free trade agreement with the EU, and he wants bilateral deals too. Which bit of LEAVE does he not understand? We did not vote to agree deals with the EU, we voted to leave it, and that means we turn our back on it and look out to sea, as we have done for centuries. I now consider Baker is as unsound as Gove, Rudd, etc
June 6, 2019
Gordon, why does it have to be one or the other? This is the myth being bandied about by remainers. There’s no reason we can’t continue to trade with the EU and strike new trade deals with the rest of the world which a free trade deal would allow us to do unlike a customs union which Labour and a lot of Tory MPs want us to be tied into.
June 6, 2019
JR, when Alan Duncan MP signed away further military subordination to the EU in November last year I presume this was with the knowledge and connivance of the Foreign Secretary Jermey Hunt, candidate for PM, and the cabinet. All knowing the country had voted to leave and that included All EU institutions pointed out by Cameron and then Mayhab!
The ugly character Rudd and her likes have all the appeal and persuasion of an out of control snappy Jack Russell.
Gove last night thought words like Traitor are inappropriate, would that be because his behaviour (towards Cameron and Johnson, I also seem to recall he briefed against Mayhab behind her back when she was HS) invokes all the characteristics of a traitor? He previously said a couple of weeks ago he learnt his lesson. Presumably he accepts his treacherous behaviour is an ugly character trait and wants us all to forget the way he behaves? Will the public trust him, I think not.
None do the candidates will inspire grass root Tories let alone the wider public. Barnier now openly taking the pi55 of the next U.K. PM who will sign his servitude plan!
Suggest the rules are changed so Tory associations can remove and replace with their own candidate. They need to withdraw all support immediately until they are allowed to have a say on policy, candidates and PM- not offered a choice of clones from CCHQ!
I think the Tories are in the same position as those who defected to Cringe UK to whatever they are now called. By election required for their posts as well.
Come on, time to clear out parliament and put the Brexit party in place. None of those present parties can be trusted.
June 6, 2019
Why would we not wish to trade with the EU after Brexit? They are part of the World out there and they are just over the water. Leaving the EU politically does not mean we can’t buy from them and sell to them. That would be cutting of our nose to spite our face.
June 6, 2019
I fully agree with Gordon. We should continue to trade with the EU, but on the basis of BRITISH law. That is what we voted for, control iof our laws. Any deal with the EU is a backdoor to remaining, and is a betrayal of the will of the people
June 6, 2019
Graham Gregg
Its posts like yours and Gordons that gives Remainers ammunition
These are totally dumb posts . A Free Trade Agreement is EXACTLY what we want with as many countries as possible
June 6, 2019
I think we are confusing ‘deal’ with ‘treaty’ here. Not surprising, perhaps?
T May’s WA is a treaty, not a deal. No deal is, in fact, a WTO deal. When we say ‘deal’ we mean trade deal. That is what S Baker means.
You could not get a more honest, reliable and trustworthy MP as S Baker (apart from, perhaps, sir John himself)?
June 6, 2019
I’m sorry, Gordon, but that is the biggest pile of… nonsense I have ever read in the Redwood Diaries comments section — even allowing for “Remain Andy’s” frequent nonsensical contributions!
Steve Baker’s proposal is an eminently sensible solution and is certainly the most hard-line Just Leave plan being proposed by any of the candidates. Unfortunately, it is so much in tune with what I believe the majority of us actually voted for that I would be surprised if it would have strong enough support in our Remain-dominated Parliament to push through.
As for the possible addition of a FTA and other bilateral deals of mutual benefit, it may have escaped your attention but this is precisely how world trade works outside the EU. The ability to finally do proper trade deals with the rest of the world is one of the main benefits of Brexit, so to even suggest that we should not even offer the same to the EU itself is simply infantile thinking at best, and incredibly self-harming at worst.
We need a return to practical, sensible, middle-of-the-road politics and policies, not yet more of the very damaging and divisive extremes — on either the Remain or the Leave sides.
June 6, 2019
Your contest to be Captain of the Titanic is every bit a mess and failure as your time in government over nine years. Who would believe any of them. They had one simple plan to leave the EU with or without a deal by 31/03/2019. They failed and have delayed ever since. The extension agreement is vassalage until further notice. Mayhab made this her choice and the cabinet went along with it! Most of them advocate for more delay.
Treacherous Gove caused this by backstabbing Johnson. He should not be an MP let alone leader of a party. Mayhab wanted to make Corbyn Brexit king but not speak to Farage, Corbyn will speak to all vile organisations which hate U.K. But not have dinner with the US president who loves the U.K.! It strikes me Trump loves the U.K. more than Mayhab or Corbyn. Self serving vacuous greedy virtue signaler out of touch with the public and still refusing to act on the public will and vote three years ago.
Mayhab needs to be investigated for dishonest KitKat policy along with the rest of her pro EU cabal selling out our nation.
General election is now the only way forward.
June 6, 2019
Can’t see what your issue is with a FTA arrangement to TRADE with the eu. Leaving is about freeing up our options to trade with the wider world, to control our borders and our laws. We don’t need to beg / negotiate for such an arrangement and if the Eu don’t want a FTA then thats their choice off we go.
June 6, 2019
Woody
” Leaving is about freeing up our options to trade with the wider world”
I remember that time very well. We couldn’t wait to give up our ‘trade with the wider world’ because we saw better markets in Europe rather than trade with countries thousands of miles away. It was pure opportunism.
The empire was gone and we couldn’t wait to join a new, lucrative club.
Let’s not forget that at the time Britain was so poor and mismanaged that we had to beg the IMF for a humiliating bailout.
June 7, 2019
Margaret Howard, You are a fact free zone all on your own. That’s not surprising given you are a Remain.
The UK had to beg the IMF for a humiliating bailout in 1976 – three and a half years into EEC membership, and after even the referendum of 1975. Not so lucrative then.
June 7, 2019
You misrepresent the reasons we joined the Common Market Margaret.
The idea was that it would be an addition to our world trading.
Not an alternative.
June 6, 2019
Gordon Smeath
Nurse , he has stopped taking his meds again.
Blimey Gordon thats a new one . We want to leave and not trade with anyone , are you Andy’s alter ego?
June 6, 2019
Libertarian, Is that the same comment by Gordon Smeath that I read? I don’t think it can be, because what I understood Gordon to mean was we should turn our backs on a trade deal with the EU. I can’t see where he says we should not trade with the EU?
June 6, 2019
I agree. Lets just trade. We dont need a deal
June 6, 2019
NickC
Read his post again , he is saying we shouldn’t negotiate a FREE Trade Deal. That is total stupidity . If we dont get one then fine, but there is no reason we should leave and not go for a FTA
Ive no idea why you would turn your back on a trade deal once we’ve left , Ive no idea why you would turn your back on a FTA whilst we are leaving.
No matter what if we want to sell anything to Germans or Italians or French then we have to make things compliant with their rules exactly the same as selling with the USA, or Brazil or Japan . A FTA just recognises mutual standards normally through a series of bilateral deals
smh
June 7, 2019
Libertarian, I’m not sure you have my position clear. I would walk away from the EU tomorrow – without an agreement, and without a (general) trade deal, “free” or otherwise.
Once out, at a later date, I would be prepared to have an RTA with the EU – but only provided the same terms could also be offered to other nations.
The reason is the EU in 47 years has shown it cannot be trusted. So I want to see the UK safely outside the EU first. So far, my position, developed in 2013, has proved correct.
June 6, 2019
You have to be joking Gordon. Steve Baker is right to want an FTAS with the EU, along with the US, AU, NZ, CA and other Commonwealth countries. IMHO, he should be standing, amd I hope he does if none of the other candidates do what his paper suggests.
June 6, 2019
Please could you replace FTAS with FTA, which was a typo. Thanks
June 6, 2019
Peter Day, The problem with the EU, as we have seen for 47 years, is simple trade deals just don’t seem possible. The EU is besotted with control. Our fish for access to their market, for example.
If we set our own trade policy well, including low import tariffs, then trade deals become less important and hence not as necessary. I certainly prefer not to have a “trade” deal with the EU, because I do not trust them an inch.
June 6, 2019
NickC
” The EU is besotted with control. Our fish for access to their market, for example.”
Control only as far as upholding common standards are concerned. That’s what’s made the EU the most trusted trading bloc in the world and hence the largest and wealthiest. Quality and reliability are its most respected virtues.
Regarding the old fishing claim the fishing rights were handed out to all nations to do with as they pleased. Alas our own fishermen chose to sell theirs to the highest bidder for a quick profit rather than invest in them for long term benefits.
In the same way as we flogged off much of our industry to the highest (mostly foreign) bidders.
June 7, 2019
NickC
Give your head a wobble mate. WE ALREADY COMPLY with all the EU rules for exporting to them , once we’ve left we can get them to accept our rules for selling to us thats what a FTA allows and we are busy trying to set up FTA’s with as many countries as possible . As an independent country we can negotiate FTA’s that suit us, thats one of the major reasons for leaving. If you dont want an FTA because of trust its the UK government who you need to trust to not give away stupid concessions .
Setting low import tariffs is fine, what about export tariffs ?
The reason the EU struggles with FTA’s is because they are trying to accommodate 28 countries with different needs , hence the can’t agree one with Australia because of Italian tomato growers for example. Thats why we need to leave and become an independent country
A FTA with the EU would kill 90% of remainer arguments stone dead
June 8, 2019
Libertarian, It’s your head that needs a wobble. Mate. I did not mention “standards”, Margaret Howard did. When we export to another nation we must comply with their standards. Whether we have an RTA with them or not. Mate.
June 6, 2019
Trade is either free or it is not free. If we have to “agree” with some foreign government how to trade, it is NOT free trade, and it is not taking control of our laws, as we decided to do in 2016. You would undermine the 17.4 million, I would not. A free trade “agreement” is a contradiction in terms
June 7, 2019
Gorton II
Oh dear
Our laws DO NOT APPLY in other countries . Our laws apply here . Other countries including the EU operate laws ( tariffs) that can make it more expensive to sell certain things to them . A Free Trade Agreement means recognising each others laws and removing barriers to free trade
We need to do this with as many countries as possible
The EU is a Customs Union a Free Trade Agreement is the opposite of that
Its bad enough having to explain international business and trading to Remainers , when you have to explain it to Brexiteers too it becomes tedious
June 7, 2019
I FULLY agree. If a country does not want to trade with us under BRITISH law, then let us not trade with them. Make them suffer if they do not trust BRITISH law
June 6, 2019
No problem with an FTA with the EU, that is not a betrayal. We will continue to trade with them so one would be helpful though not essential. A FTA with the EU does not equate membership, does not require the signing of a treaty, does not mean handing over cash. It is fine.
June 6, 2019
Why donât you want a free trade agreement with the EU – our government is now off the table!
June 7, 2019
No Lynn, no way. A free trade agreement with the EU means binding rules plus arbitration – that is NOT what we voted for. We voted for control over our own laws. Having a free trade agreement with the EU is the same as being in the EU, it means we are not in control, it means we do not make our own decisions. No deal means no deal, and it means NO free trade agreement (or any agreement) with the EU (or the WTO, or anyone else).
June 7, 2019
Lynn Atkinson, The reason I don’t want a trade deal with the EU is because I do not trust them. And I have 47 years of evidence. All trade deals come with strings which reduce the benefits of free trade. But the EU candidly wants control of more than our mutual trade. We should never swap independence for a trade deal.
June 6, 2019
I assume Gordon Smeath is attempting to be heavily ironic.
We all want to trade with other nations, we simply don’t want to be governed by them.
June 6, 2019
It staggers me how delusional some Brexiteers have become. We cannot not have any agreements with the EU. We need agreement just to do all sorts of basic stuff.
You have clearly spent to long listening to Baker, Francois and the other angry bunch of know-nothing ERG ranters.
Embarrassing.
June 7, 2019
Andy, It staggers me how delusional some Remains are. We are perfectly capable of prospering outside the EU. We do not need to be governed by the EU – most of the world is not. We do not need a trade deal with the EU – especially as the EU insists on ruling us in exchange for trade. All we need are some minor bi-lateral agreements with the EU on issues such as double taxation and driving licences. Many of the important issues such as flights are international, and not up to the EU.
June 6, 2019
Pominoz, I fear that Theresa May has already got us to entangled/committed that we will need a President Trump type leader to get us out. Noone in the Cons Party leadership line up so far fits the bill.
June 6, 2019
Pominoz – Thanks for the pointer to the Dick-Erikson article. The security and defence elements of the WA have always been the most dangerous parts of it, in my view, and a reason why any talk of “partnership” with the EU turns my blood cold. The EU doesn’t do partnership; it subsumes all. Cooperation, yes; partnership, no. Any country that does not have a totally independent control of its defence and security arrangements is not truly sovereign.
Sir John – I would like to hear from the Tory leadership contenders where they stand on this.
June 6, 2019
Piglet, Me too. I fear the Tory leadership contenders still have not understood that the EU will stitch them (and us!) up. The EU doesn’t do cooperation, it only does integration. And the hopefuls also have little knowledge of the EU military and security policies in Theresa May’s WA.
June 6, 2019
Following through to Steve Baker’s paper:
http://2mbg6fgb1kl380gtk22pbxgw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/201906-BetterDealv2.0.pdf
I find it is noted near the end, on page 12:
“It is untrue to say that there is no Parliamentary majority in the Commons for any deal. The âBrady amendmentâ for a Withdrawal Agreement where the Backstop is replaced with âalternative arrangementsâ passed the House of Commons on 29 January by 317 votes to 301.”
As for what those ‘alternative arrangements’ might be, there is a reference to the paper published by the ERG on September 12th 2018:
http://2mbg6fgb1kl380gtk22pbxgw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/The-Border-between-Northern-Ireland-and-the-Republic-of-Ireland-3.pdf
“The Border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland post-Brexit”
in which it was stated:
“The key obstacle in the negotiations is the EUâs concern that goods could enter into the Single Market area through the Irish border without being compliant with EU standards or tariffs.”
The unspoken, and maybe unconscious, assumption underlying that EU concern is that the UK should be treated not as a friendly and co-operative third country but as a potentially hostile power, which at best might be indifferent to the integrity of the EU Single Market and at worst might actually relish the opportunity to disrupt the EU system by allowing and even encouraging the carriage across the border of goods which not meet EU requirements – rather like a bad neighbour throwing his rubbish over the fence into an adjacent property.
As I have said for a long time now, repeatedly, ad nauseam, surely it should be enough for the UK to pass a new law to control exports across the border, and rigorously enforce that law in close co-operation with the Irish authorities to minimise the quantities of contraband goods entering the EU Single Market.
Whether they be the dreaded US-style ‘chlorinated chickens’, or just vacuum cleaners which are more powerful than permitted under the EU diktat.
June 6, 2019
Good morning.
First I would like to wish the BREXIT Party the very best of luck today. A strong finish is all that is required, so anything more would be great.
—
Turning to the Leadership of the Conservative Party may I suggest you just draw straws. After all whilst in the EU all the real power is with the EU Commission.
Oh, and EU have said they will not renegotiate. Something that those who keep plugging this lie need to be called out on.
June 6, 2019
@Mark B; Other Brexit candidates/parties are also standing.
June 7, 2019
Jerry
Yup and they split the vote , so well done UKIP , SDP , EDL for letting Labour back in
June 8, 2019
libertarian; Wrong again Walter. The TBP split the TORY vote, stopping the Conservatives taking back their seat
Vote TBP get Corbyn, remain in the EU, allowing TBP MâŹPs to remain on their gravy train…
June 8, 2019
Libertarian, Not so. UKIP, SDP, EDP (not L) would barely have managed it, even if all their votes had transferred. It would have made more sense if either TBP or the Tories had not split the vote.
June 6, 2019
Indeed, good luck Mike Green, a win would of course change the arithmetic in the HoC!
June 6, 2019
Boris is really the only hope the party have of getting a real Brexit, winning an election and avoiding Corbyn. It will not be easy especially given the all those no nation fake Conservative MP in the party.
I am certainly in favour or tax cuts, tax simplifications, cut in renewables and electric car subsidies and cuts in red tape. I am not however in favour of increased government spending. They waste far too much already, much of the expenditure is entirely pointless and quite a lot is positively damaging. Leave the money with the people who make it they will invest and spend it far more wisely than politicians and bureaucrats. Especially politicians as daft as socialist, social justice warrior, insufferably PC Theresa May and her tax to death side kick plonker Hammond.
June 6, 2019
They’ll listen to the Newmanias and the Andys about all the tosh that Remain won the EU elections and produce yet another LibDem like party… and then walk off a cliff in denial.
June 6, 2019
Johnson has ruled himself out by his environmental message yesterday. You do not leave the EU to take back control to give it away to another group of extreme left wing nutters which will damage industry, with huge hikes for domestic energy. While China cause more pollution in one day than the U.K. in a year. Paris agreement exports jobs to other countries it serves no other purpose and is detrimental to U.K. Interests.
Ford claim drop in diesel engine sales cause for closure to plant in Wales. Well done Hammond!
June 6, 2019
I am not a particular fan of David (Danny) Blanchflower’s ‘economic thinking’ in general. But on the daily politics today he rightly pointed out the vital importance of job mobility to an economy and employment.
So what has our economically illiterate Chancellor and the one before him done over the past few years? They have increase stamp duty to absurd rates so people cannot move easily and they are killing the rental market supply by forcing people to sell (using an idiotic tax regime that taxes “profits” that are not actually being made both income and gains, He is also deterring them from renting by other endless red tape and threats about not being able to ever get the property back. They have also micro controlled bank lending incompetently to inflict further damage and push up bank margins.
When will Hammond finally get lost and be replaced with someone at least vaguely competent? Hopefully while avoiding john Mc Donnall who must be one of the few people who would be even worse than IHT promise ratters and pension pot muggers Hammond or Osborne.
June 6, 2019
Lifelogic, It certainly shows a lack of joined up thinking. Personally I would prefer more home ownership and fewer rentals, but that means lower stamp duty and a concerted effort to make buying and selling easier. Hitting both options at the same time is crazy.
June 6, 2019
All resulting in longer commutes, more congestions, more pollution, over crowded public transport, long days and extra stress for many workers. And costs that are not even tax deductible either (other than for MPs it seems).
June 6, 2019
I fully agree with Lifelogic and in my opinion Hammond has been a big part of the reason why support for The Conservative party has collapsed. Section 24 hurts the poorest landlords who are trying to support themselves in their old age meanwhile he is incentivising build to let funded by large pension schemes. It is kind of like destroying corner shops to help Tesco.
June 6, 2019
Gove is a remainer and is already talking about a 2 year extension. Boris is the only one who seems to acknowledge the dire straits of the party. Vote Boris.
June 6, 2019
Not perfect but the only hope the party have.
June 6, 2019
Gove and Hunt and the rest have little appeal to voters. Boris is their only hope now.
One it is established that Brexit can win easily (as in Peterborough today) they will not get them back in the box easily. May and the dire 200+ fake Tories (who kept here there) has nearly killed the party with her and their total incompetence and dishonesty.
June 6, 2019
Yes. It’s a great pity that he can’t bring himself to pledge to tear up Mrs M’s surrender treaty, knowing how unpopular it is, and how much the people now know about it. At a stroke he’d endear himself to many.
As it is – how can he be trusted not to resurrect it, since he thought it was good enough to vote for once?
As far as I recall, only Ms McVey tried to justify her intention to vote for it that fateful third time. I remember being disappointed, but at least she tried. She now says she’d only have Brexiteers in her Cabinet if she were PM. We know well who they are by now!
June 6, 2019
A 2 year “extension” ( each one gets longer !!! – -all at ÂŁ50m+ a day). Meanwhile the BBC Crisis in Care program shows homes closing through lack of funding. Old people fought to keep this country free – now they are thrown about from pillar to post while their funding is given to EU people who only care about their own luxury life.
June 6, 2019
But Boris has now espoused the Great Green Idiocy which to my mind makes him just as much of an unmitigated disaster as all the rest of them. There is literally no hope for the Tory Party as they seem intent on proving over and over again, till the cows come home. I despair of them. I am continually reminded of the Monty Python silly walks sketch by their idiotic antics.
June 6, 2019
Ian Wragg, I think a lot hinges on Peterborough. If TBP win then that will be three major hits to the Conservative party in a row – over 1300 councillors lost; a 9% drubbing at the EU election; then (possibly) Peterborough.
Will the bulk of Tory MPs take notice? I think they will enough to avoid a general election; but they won’t enough to change their Remain ways. So that means the members will be offered Gove or Hunt. Goodbye Tory party, it’s been good knowing you.
June 6, 2019
Your evident concern that party members might again be denied a vote on its leadership seems well justified. If that is perceived by them as yet another stitch up by MPs to deny them their voice then they will ask themselves what is the point of being a member.
Fudge also seems to be the watchword of several of the candidates programmed as described by you. I doubt there is much, if any, room left for fudge on the Brexit issue.
PS Mr Hammond belatedly seems to have woken up to the implications of Mrs May’s intention to inflict one final disastrous policy decision (zero emissions by 2050) on the nation before her departure.
June 6, 2019
Oldtimer,
Your PS – it is indeed a remarkable policy with an estimated cost equivalent to one totally completed HS2 every year for two decades. Opportunity cost does not seem to have been considered. The behaviour of other countries seems to have been ignored so far. The PM being even worse than the Chancellor to this late date – totally bizarre
June 6, 2019
If she goes to Parliament with her policy let us hope it is voted down, although with so many supporters of this Blind policy on the opposition side she may just get it through.
June 6, 2019
And it won’t make a ha’porth of difference worldwide. We will once again sacrifice the prosperity of our people for virtue signalling, whilst the rest of the world looks on and laughs and banks all the profits. Haven’t we lost enough industry to this lunatic idea?
June 6, 2019
There can be no better proof of May’s staggering incompetence that even Hammond can appear to be relatively sane (in this case) by comparison with her.
June 6, 2019
More difficult yet Mordaunt and Baker might still enter the contest?
Seems victory will go to one of the four leading options but it is difficult to have great enthusiasm for any of them.
Meanwhile the Brexit Party could have its first MP soon…..
June 6, 2019
“Meanwhile the Brexit Party could have its first MP soonâŠ..”
Let’s hope so and let’s hope it’s one of many!
June 6, 2019
Brexit party odds on 1/6 for the by-election, but surely even at those odds itâs worth a punt. Boris at 5/6 to become leader surely also worth a punt. The Tory MPs would be very stupid to prevent him going through to the last two (though a majority are alas after 200 voted confidence in May and nearly all for Milibandâs moronic Climate Change Act). The party members would surely choose Boris very easily indeed (over Gove, Hunt, Leadsom, Rabb or Stewart).
Rory Stewart clearly seems to think he is running for leadership of the Labour Party or to edit the Guardian – he would have far more chance if he were, perhaps he is.
June 6, 2019
LifeLogic, I predicted on 27 May that the two offered to CP members would be Gove (as the fake Leave candidate) and a Remain. The Remain looks likely to be Hunt at the moment. Tory MPs appear sufficiently unmoved by the two election disasters so far to re-think their disastrous Remain inclinations.
June 7, 2019
Perhaps but that would be a huge mistake for Conservative MPs to make.
June 6, 2019
What is wrong with these people? Are they deaf and blind to what the majority in this country are saying?
I’m torn between 2 thoughts, do they really have such a high opinion of their capabilities and just want to prove how ‘marvellous’ they are in getting the EU to back down, or is it to hell with what the country wants, this is what I want?
Either way, they will destroy your party and cause further unrest by continuing to disregard democracy and the referendum result.
June 6, 2019
@J Bush
The writing has been on the wall for some time and they are consciously choosing to walk by with their eyes shut.
It’s obvious with their ostrich like approach they do not want to save the Conservative Party or the country.
June 6, 2019
‘as PM s/he would get us out by October 31 with or without an Agreement.’
Were have we heard that all before, so often summed up as ‘no deal is better than a bad deal’?…
As for Gove, for me he has always been one of the most unsuitable candidates, even had we left already on a WTO exit that caused TM to resign, his views on Farming whilst at DfFRA are very dangerous, not just for our countryside economy but our food security of supply.
June 6, 2019
I want a Spartan. The choice is limited. The change in the rules does not help. The Brexit Parties 1st MP will win todays bye election. The rule change will help the Brexit
Party. In 3 years time the Conserative party will be overwhelmed.
June 6, 2019
Odds on Nigel Farage becoming PM before 1st Jan 2015 are only 2:1. Not one for me at those low returning odds. Not as unlikely as it seems though.
June 6, 2019
I’m struggling to see the life or the logic in your posting.
You seem to be suggesting a scenario where time travel is invented and history rewritten, and judge that as “Not as unlikely as it seems”, a view I cannot share.
June 6, 2019
Ll,
I can absolutely guarantee Nigel will not be PM by the date you mention.
June 6, 2019
L/L. 2015??
June 6, 2019
2025!
June 6, 2019
I would give you personally odds of 500/1 on that if you fancy it đ
June 6, 2019
Sorry 2025
June 6, 2019
Lifelogic
“Odds on Nigel Farage becoming PM before 1st Jan 2015 are only 2:1.”
It would be a bad idea to put money on it, as we are now half way through 2019
June 6, 2019
I also want a Spartan. If 9% does not hammer home to the Tories that need, nothing can save them.
June 6, 2019
We’re going to end up with a candidate that’s neither for nor against leaving. I can smell compromise in the air. Even this farce of an election is being rigged to create an eventual compromise
Well, the voter won’t be conned any-more. We now know the strategy too well. It is idiotic to try and indulge in subterfuge. It is counter-productive to try and massage our expectations.
I hope the Tories elect someone who’s just about good enough to prevent that filth of an opposition from forming a government (SNP alliance) but still allows the BP to achieve good electoral gains at the expense of both Remain parties
Johnson made a reference to our climate change responsibilities this week. I stopped listening after that. We’re tired of this lefty crap and it is crap. This tosh may be an issue in the dying metropolis that is London but in most part of the UK it is meaningless, virtue signalling detritus
Climate change is NOT AN ELECTORAL ISSUE
June 6, 2019
He is trying to get to the last two. I do not think he is really taken in by climate change alarmism.
Endless talk on the dire BBC of Climate Change âDeniersâ, who on earth denies the the climate changes or even that mankind has some effect on it. What sensible people deny is that a run away, irreversible, fiery hell awaits us all if co2 concentration are allowed to rise slightly. Also we (sensible physicists, scientists and engineers) deny that the solutions proposed (and idiotically tax payer subsidised) – wind farms, photo-voltaics, heat pumps and electric cars/planes even banning gas boilers …. will work to reduce Co2 to any meaningful extent anyway.
June 6, 2019
What too is the point of exporting jobs in the energy intensive industries (due to a deliberate high energy cost government policy) when this almost certainly just increases net world CO2 output? We have unscientific idiots and new virtue signalling, green crap pushing priests with their new fiery hell religion now in charge of the asylum.
Gove even takes advice from children like Greta Thunberg.
June 6, 2019
Delingpole reports that Boris has tweeted:
“Today is #WorldEnvironmentDay and a pivotal moment for our planet, our climate, our wildlife. A government I lead would win our bid to host COP 2020, legislate for net zero emissions by 2050 & embrace the opportunity of green growth for the UK as a global decarbonisation leader.”
I suspect this is the influence of his father and his sister. However the reality is that there is nothing untoward with our current climate.
The Met Office Central England Temperature record shows no warming in the UK for the last 30 years, just less severe winters than for example 1947 and 1963. Rainfall has not changed significantly in a hundred years. There is no climate crisis, other than the one that will be created if we continue down the foolish, fairy dust, “green growth” and total “decarbonisation” path.
June 6, 2019
Indeed.
June 6, 2019
Talking of virtue signalling I see the Home Office is sanctioning yet further ongoing funding for the Madeleine McCann case
June 6, 2019
Indeed ÂŁ12 million that could have been spend saving many other lives and to what advantage. Clearly everyone has huge sympathy for the family, but surely money should be spend more sensibly rather than on virtue signalling by politicians and senior police officers who are also now politicians in the main. The NHS still avoidably kills several people every single day. Tackle that perhaps.
June 6, 2019
The extra CO2 has a beneficial effect on most plant life. Getting rid of CO2 would mean no more plants and certain extinction of most other life forms.
June 6, 2019
Indeed it greens the planet, increase CO2 uptake in plants and increases food productions. A bit warmer is actually a net good thing too on balance anyway. Not that we have has much recent warming.
Corbyn’s brighter brother Piers has got it right.
June 6, 2019
Lifelogic
“even banning gas boilers âŠ.”
Yes I heard something about this. Though I do wonder how the hell they think people will heat their homes ?
It wouldn’t bother me so much as I have both coal and log burners, and make use of old palettes etc. But, there are millions of homes designed solely for gas central heating.
June 6, 2019
Climate change is most definitely an electoral issue. Not for you. But it will be for everyone who voted Green and for many Lib Dem voters. For 15% to 20% on voters it is the most important issue.
June 6, 2019
If only they understood it and stopped sloganising. What all those concerned can do is clean up the environment, a multi faceted task with considerable health and aesthetic benefits. If there is a very small climate benefit fine, but do not delude yourself that you are able to influence the main driver of climate, the Sun. Where there is a downside to climate change take steps to mitigate it. It has been occuring for millions of years, get used to it.
June 7, 2019
@ agricola
Well put!
June 6, 2019
Dominic, this is what Boris tweeted yesterday on his commitment to the flawed climate change agenda. I see no hope for him. If, as I think that you suggest, he may be virtue signalling and then may not necessarily pursue such an agenda if elected, then that will be just more of the same from politicians – they promise all sorts of things to get elected but do not deliver/have no intention of delivering. The electorate have had enough of that, and I think many see Boris for what he is/is not. He is not suitable PM material in my view.
@BorisJohnson
âToday is #WorldEnvironmentDay and a pivotal moment for our planet, our climate, our wildlife. A government I lead would win our bid to host COP 2020, legislate for net zero emissions by 2050 & embrace the opportunity of green growth for the UK as a global decarbonisation leaderâ.
June 6, 2019
Three weeks before the Paris Conference in 2017, the Chinese made an astonishing admission. For years they had been under reporting their carbon emission by 17 per cent. The shortfall was the equivalent of the German economy â itself the fifth-largest carbon emitter. The conference was to discuss how disaster would strike if such emissions occurred, but in fact they were already happening and over many years billions of tons of carbon had already been added. What is truly extraordinary, and seems to have passed most protestors and commentators by, is that for all the expert predictions, scientific measurements, investment in studies and computer modelling, nobody had noticed!
June 6, 2019
Indeed, I too am astonished that it was only 17% of under reporting!
June 6, 2019
The candidates you mention lack clarity and the resolution to see Brexit through cleanly. But so do those who might vote for them. There are some candidates who might make it to a leave cabinet. I just hope that Boris emerges from it all and has the drive and vision to carry through Brexit on our terms. I hope he has the clarity of vision to understand the options, but asume you will tell him if there are any doubts.
Get it wrong and the Brexit Party will confine you to the dust of history.
June 6, 2019
You seem to be reaching the conclusion, by a process of elimination, that the only person you can lend your support to is Nigel Farage ?
June 6, 2019
An internal battle between logic and emotional loyalty. No problem for a Klingon.
June 6, 2019
It was a Vulcan not a Klingon!
I do believe John’s got a delicious sense of humour which is why I have always liked the fella.
June 6, 2019
Whatever, I’m no star treckie, but I think you got the point.
June 6, 2019
Or the sound Steve Baker who alas has no chance.
June 6, 2019
Steve Baker or Owen Paterson (with John Redwood as Chancellor).
When the leadership election/stitch up is over and the few good men see what has happened, I hope there may be reconsideration about which Party they wish to belong to. The truly committed, genuine Brexiteers could become prime movers in the Brexit Party and become Conservative again.
June 6, 2019
He will certainly have no chance of winning if he does not enter the race.
June 6, 2019
As Douglas-Home could attest.
June 6, 2019
Even if he does.
June 6, 2019
My own fantasy, Lifelogic, is that an imaginative Conservative Party would choose a sacrificial candidate purely to achieve a quick exit. He or she would then name another leading candidate as an official deputy and swiftly go to Brussels to present a reasonable offer to M. Barnier and/or the Council. If that was declined, the sacrificial PM would declare exit on the spot, then immediately face and likely lose a no-confidence motion. Mr Corbyn would then have a go at forming a Government and fail, allowing the deputy to form a post-Brexit Government more acceptable to the HoC.
Sadly, it is only a fantasy.
June 6, 2019
Gove seems to be favourite to be the next chancellor at 4:1 – surely we do not want another tax to death economic illiterate after all the damage Hammond has done do we?
I assume he would put VAT on private school fees and abolish their charitable tax status and give us more green crap lunacy as his first stupid actions – given his many daft earlier announcements.
Mogg a close second favourite at 5:1 would be better option by several orders of magnitude (as would JR but he is not even given any odds). Though John Mc Donnell and even Rebecca Long Bailey are. Oh what a dire position we are in, thanks to Theresa May (and Michael Gove for inflicting her on the nation).
June 6, 2019
‘Gove seems to be favourite etc’
This the trouble with this stinking system of electing Leaders – people are promised plum jobs in exchange for support rather than on any merit or aptitude for the job. Thus we end up with duds and the country suffers. Time this method was consigned to the bin and the public in some way had a say, which would forestall such corruption.
June 6, 2019
Graham, One way of reducing the power of a PM would be to remove the No 10 Unit, and any other policy wonks, civil servants, and spads at No 10, so that the PM would be forced to rely on the Ministries. That would restore Cabinet government, make the PM less powerful, and conversely make holding a Ministerial post more important.
June 6, 2019
favourite to be “Chancellor” an English Graduate, lover of Game of Thrones and someone who want to tax private schools to death!
June 6, 2019
John Redwood would be the best Chancellor bar none.
June 6, 2019
It looks like there will be no choice in the end as they all seem committed to throwing our money at the EU while we go without and signing us over to a foreign power. What buffoons as they don’t seem to realise even now, the anger out in the real world at their failure to deliver what was promised in the referendum and what all parties voted for. It has certainly helped me make my mind up John come another election and I will vote for the party I hope will do well in Peterborough today.
June 6, 2019
I doubt the EU have any incentive to give us a better deal, when there are so many MP’s and other influential people willing to assist them in keeping the UK in the EU.
I also have no doubt the EU want the WA to be ratified. It gives them everything they could dream of, and gives the UK nothing. May has led them to believe the WA is acceptable to the UK. It isn’t.
The only option for a clean Brexit is a WTO Brexit. It may be disruptive, and test the mettle of government, but if they are not up to the challenge then make way for someone who is. We have so many advantages over other EU countries, so we need to play to our strengths instead of conceding everything we have by deceitful people willing to destroy democracy, and the trust of the electorate.
June 6, 2019
Your point is well made Shirley.
We can not know how good a deal might be available while Parliament shows it will not leave.
Raab’s idea to shut Parliament down has merit.
June 6, 2019
Sir John,
Raab’s willingness to countenance a delay is interesting. I get the impression he is the candidate now most likely to fall victim to a stop campaign, taking into account the breadth of Johnson’s offer. Allowing the possibility of a delay would seem to improve his chances with soft/no Brexiters. It is interesting also that you would find it difficult to vote for him rather than impossible, as is the case with Gove.
The likelihood of the four candidates mentioned above constituting the serious options, and your comments thus far, indicate that you are considering Raab or Johnson. It is very interesting that you have not commented on Johnson yet, despite addressing his candidature in an earlier post. I know that you would prefer not to support someone that voted for the WA, but appreciate you won’t be dogmatic if the otherwise best candidate available had done so.
Your predicament is unenviable. I get the sense that Steve Baker is soon to declare. I would assume this would solve your immediate difficulty, though it’s virtually impossible for me to imagine him making it to the final two. (Please do correct me if I’m wrong.) Needless to say, I, and I’m sure everyone else, will be fascinated to learn who receives your final vote.
PS I remember you saying Bill Cash had already decided which candidate to support. I haven’t noticed his name on any of the lists of declared candidates. Does it remain the case that he knows who he will support?
Reply I think Bill Cash has been disappointed by his preferred candidate and is still considering what to do
June 6, 2019
Reply to reply,
Thank you for clarifying. Very interesting. I am surprised that Sir Bill would have supported a candidate who would then disappoint him the first place.
Speaking of Sir Bill, how likely do you think it is that his legal challenge will succeed?
June 6, 2019
“It is likely we will not need rounds beyond June 20th. “ – take all the time wanted, we don’t mind having a failed, lame duck, quisling Prime Minister hanging around. After all, the replacement could well offer much the same.
June 6, 2019
formula57 – The voting is irrelevant as the conservative party cabal will hold sway and decide who is leader. That is how we ended up with the useless and incompetent puppet May and remember she is still around to cause havoc “a la Obama for Trump”. The conservative party/establishment will ensure the new PM is not a Brexiteer.
What we need is a general election with hopefully CHANGE. First we need to exit the EU with NO deals and take it from there. Trade is abundant elsewhere. There will possibly be some initial difficulties but we shall prevail.
However if the fickle public are stupid enough to vote for either Cons /Lab/ Libdems/Irrelevant Greens, who are ALL one and the same, then the people deserve the outcome. Unfortunately there are still millions who have not a clue what is going on and do not really care. Hard to believe. I live overseas and I know more about the UK and USA than any of my family in the UK, there again I do not have the TV/radio.
June 6, 2019
With Boris facing court action, there is clearly a determination by remainers, in and out of Westminster to limit his chances of getting on the ballot to members.
AS May got away with persuading other candidates to drop out, the big worry then is that we will end up with 2 remainers by June 20, with one dropping out. Even if no such collusion occurs then the prospect of a remainer PM fills the soul with dread.
Will there be ‘NONE OF THE ABOVE’ option to members?
As previously mentioned too many Tory MP’s simply have no intention of allowing us to get out of the EU, and this contest is beginning to look like more time wasting.
June 6, 2019
I think Boris is backed up by The Pink Book which lists our debt to the EU in 2020 (2021?) as being c. ÂŁ19.1 Bn which is more than ÂŁ350m per week.
The judge should have thrown the case out!
If I am wrong then this post will never see the light of day.
June 6, 2019
As detached as the party generally seems to be, I would be amazed if there were a coronation by the MPs once more. It seems even they understand this would be suicidal (interesting how much ‘life and death’ language is being employed these days, and with good reason too). Nevertheless, I think it’s inevitable that both candidates will be soft Brexit/remainers – regardless of the rhetoric. This wouldn’t be a conspiracy or a stitch-up, but merely a fair and accurate reflection of the views of a sizeable majority of Conservative MPs.
June 6, 2019
@Simeon
I fear you may be right, but that will satisfy nobody and leave us in limbo for God knows how long. Each day in limbo will represent a decade out of office for the Tories.
If Tory MP’s refuse to take account of this then the only option would seem to be to force a GE… but that will mean more delay and possibly not even a surrender Brexit.
June 6, 2019
What a mess this is all turning out to be, changing the rules when we are halfway through a contest which should not have officially started until next week.
The simple solution to avoid what happened last time is to insist that at least two people must go forwards to the membership vote, thus if one drops out having got to position, then the next one down stands up into that position.
In truth it should be the membership who chooses a leader, not a cabal of Mp’s who are trying to fix themselves a senior position in exchange for their support.
Only S Baker and E McVey seem to have a strong and sensible view, but neither have huge cabinet experience (although neither did TRUMP) neither do they seem to be getting much traction with Mp’s.
All the others seem rather vague on a plan, even B Johnson.
June 6, 2019
The 1922 committee can change rules quickly when they have the will – but refused to change any rules regarding deposing May – They are as bad as the rest of the remainers…
June 6, 2019
Bryan…..amazing isn’t it? The 1922 won’t budge to get rid of an appalling PM who is giving our country away and paying incredible sums to do it, but manages to change rules overnight to undemocratically remove candidates who might have proved viable. What a shambolic organisation.
June 6, 2019
That was what immediately struck me, BH. They can move fast when they want, and all the excuses are nonsense. As you say, where there’s a will, there’s a way.
June 6, 2019
Some ww2 veterans are calling for Ref 2 thinking EU kept the peace not just NATO but many long gone with no voice would vote leaving for freedom not servitude.
June 6, 2019
We know that those who actually lived through the war voted overwhelmingly Remain. It’s people born after the war who were fed a diet of Biggles and Plucky Tommies in their childhood who voted leave.
June 6, 2019
@Emily – You have no evidence to support that statement – Veterans were brave souls not cowardly surrender monkeys
June 6, 2019
Emily Jones, So how do “we know” that? Have you any proof? I suggest you are making it up. Members of my family who lived through WW2 either believed the hype that the EEC was just a trade deal (as I did), or were hostile to it, even in 1975. Of our two branch members who are old enough to have served in WW2 (being in their 90s) I can assure you they are opposed to the EU and voted Leave.
June 6, 2019
Emily – what unmitigated, patronising, ill-informed tosh from someone who sounds poorly educated.
I suggest you go and do some research of your very own. And perhaps even read a good informative book or two, and maybe even talk to some people older than you, who might just put you right and broaden your very narrow mind.
You obviously have no idea what you’re talking about.
June 6, 2019
Those ww2 veterans would be the views selected by the MSM. The ww2 veterans whose view is to just leave are discarded.
June 6, 2019
To whom would you give more credit? Veterans who actually fought in WW2, those dead you are keen to speak for without any knowledge whatsoever of what they would have been thinking, or a bunch of oldies too young to have been involved in any meaningful way in WW2.
What about asking younger generations?
June 6, 2019
Freedom is not negotiable and donât insult their sacrifices as told by survivors of German POW camps told me personally with 50km death marches near starvation and freezing winters in summer dirty blood-soaked clothes
The reality was nothing like the films eg Arnhem Dunkirk etc
Reality was too harsh to show in peacetime so airbrushed for you.
June 6, 2019
Dear Sir John.
I reckon that there are two huge obstacles that are likely to cause problems for the next leader.
A vote for Boris Johnson would give a leader that would be capable of beating the Brexit Party. There is no other tory that is as instantly recognisable as Boris. He is also very capable and a brilliant wordsmith. My difficulty is that as I am not a supporter of the Tory Party, I reckon that our best future leader is Nigel Farage.
Regarding actually leaving the EU though…
Steve Baker is the only trustworthy and plausible proper conservative, and he would actually leave the EU, his only issue is that nobody knows who he is, he looks like an insurance or mortgage advisor.
June 6, 2019
From certain angles and with his glasses on, he reminds me of the late, great Roy Orbison.
June 6, 2019
On the basis that the so called Withdrawal Agreement and political statement took umpteen months to negotiate, has a myriad of clauses and had to be agreed by all EU states, to suggest it can be fundamentally rewritten by October, even if the EU agreed to think about, is the ultimate in cynical dissembling of which Gove especially is a master.
A No Deal is the only option to get us out and get support back for the Tory party,maybe?
June 6, 2019
I am disappointed that Priti Patel is not standing / doesn’t have support.
It is positive that Esther McVey has said that she would only have Brexiteers in her cabinet. I cannot see the lead candidates saying the same; they ought to follow suit to callout the MPs – are they careerist remainers or do they value democracy.
The only way the Conservatives will recover is a clean leave by 31/10, a UK wide vision, escape from London/SE eccentricity – dragging on negotiations under the perpetual WA plus a few token tax cuts will fall far short.
June 6, 2019
Yes, I concur. Patel is a superb candidate to lead the Tory party. Thatcher reborn
June 6, 2019
Kim Jong Un only has people who agree with him in his government.
So do most other failed regimes of both the right and the left.
Have you not noticed?
June 6, 2019
Andy,
I am sure a Cabinet can disagree on many other things not specified in manifesto or for contents of next manifesto. Having a Cabinet that is committed to delivering a promise the people freely voted for does not seem unreasonable.
I do agree that breadth gives flexibility, whether management team, genetic diversity in a species, investment portfolio, competitive market, or a country with the freedom to have many independent relationships.
June 6, 2019
Do you not understand how UK Cabinet Government works Andy?
June 6, 2019
Andy, Yes and they regularly ignore what “their” people want. A bit like our Leave vote. Have you not noticed?
June 6, 2019
If Raab is prepared to delay for 2 years it is all over for him. He would end up going into a 2022 GE election still in the EU and your party will be reduced to a tiny rump of MPs.
June 6, 2019
The ECJ has ruled that German public prosecutors lack the political independence to be trusted with the issuing of European arrest warrants! (*)
Can leadership candidates be encouraged to tell us whether their post-Brexit policies maintain UK participation in this obviously dangerous and damaging measure, as originally provided by Home Secretary May the Quisling?
(*) https://www.dw.com/en/ecj-deems-german-prosecutors-too-political-to-issue-european-arrest-warrants/a-48911931
June 6, 2019
The EU operates Corpus Juris, which is far inferior to our Habeas Corpus. We keep getting told that the EU has superior Human Rights (superior everything in some eyes), so why are we downgrading the rights of UK citizens to match those of EU citizens?
June 6, 2019
Shirley, You would have to ask “Andy”, “Margaret Howard”, “Rein Huizer”, etc, that. But don’t expect a fact based answer, just more blind adulation of their EU empire.
June 6, 2019
Itâs fascinating to watch the Tory Party self-destruct. The members will be stitched up and the only person who might be able to rescue them, Boris, will not be in the final two. Gove and Hunt must be blissfully unaware of what is happening in the country. If either of them becomes PM, the Tory Party will be destroyed in the next election. Do they really think people will shrug and vote for nurse! They wonât. And they will be a Party without members as well as without MPs. What a bunch of self-important fools they are.
Brexit means Brexit.
Brexit means nothing.
The government will implement what you decide.
The government will not implement what you decide.
No deal is better than a bad deal.
Any deal will do as long as we donât actually leave.
If your lot think we are going to swallow this then you are all deluded.
June 6, 2019
Mike Wilson, I fear you have accurately summed up what passes for thinking by the majority of Tory MPs.
June 6, 2019
I have read that Raab intends to circumvent Parliament to force the UK out of the EU against the wishes of its people and their elected representatives.
He sounds right up Mr Redwood`s street to me and the two of them will doubtless enjoy the long years of squabbling as to who has most of the 30% or so who support No Deal
.I`d guess this would settle down to about 10 % the Conservatives and 20% Nigel`s Turquoise army
June 6, 2019
Newmania, In the actual test of the wishes of the people, a majority who bothered to vote opted for the Leave outcome. There were no conditions to that option as David Cameron and the government made clear in their booklet sent to every household. There was no warning that the Leave result would be discarded. It was clear that Leave meant leaving the EU treaties, as even TEU Art50 states.
June 6, 2019
Boris or Raab would make great Tory PMs. Not so Gove or Hunt. If we end up with one of them, I’m sticking with the Brexit party thank you very much.
June 6, 2019
I attended last nightâs event with mr Gove. As ever he spoke with fluency and charm. He was a little vague on how he would get a better deal from the EU, which does seem rather unlikely. He was however quite right to say that no negotiation in the real world has a hard deadline at which, if every detail is not agreed, the parties just rise from the table and walk away, binning whatever has been agreed.
I think the problem is three years of mrs May have left whoever takes over in a very difficult position. The EU will not lightly give up what they have secured: 2-4 years of non-voting UK membership, a great bung of money, and an ability to hold the UK indefinitely in the customs union, thereby controlling UK trade and much of its regulatory policy.
We need a credible PM who can convince people who arenât ideologically right wing to vote Conservative. The credible candidates are Gove, Hunt, maybe Raab, maybe Boris (but how much will come out about his private life and how damaging will that be?). Stewart is also articulate though his continuity-May approach to Brexit would surely fail. The others are not and it is good two of the least credible have dropped out.
June 6, 2019
to correct one statement above: Michael Gove did not repeat support for the WA, he said it needed to be improved & said there is a particular problem with the backstop.
June 6, 2019
Richard1, There is a particular problem with the entire WA: where it isn’t merely turgid or badly written, it is Remain, being just a different treaty from the existing ones.
June 6, 2019
but you must be prepared to get up and walk away IF the alternative is to accept the unacceptable. So GOVE is saying he would accept a bad ‘agreement’ – thats curtains for him in my book.
June 6, 2019
Trust in politicians – never very high – is at an all time low. Who can be trusted to lead your party and fulfil the statements they are making to get your vote and ultimately those of the wider party? Examining their past performance and consistency of purpose is all the evidence you have on which to base your judgment. On that basis, anyone wanting the UK to leave the EU on 31 October, at the latest, has a poor choice currently.
June 6, 2019
It seems that none of the candidates understand the urgency of concluding a trade agreement with the USA. Unlike the longed for Agreement with the EU, it does not âhave our government on the tableâ. It will also hoover up any excess exporters donât send to the EU and will be able to provide better quality and cheaper imports of everything we require. It is already a profitable relationship for us.
I am reaching the conclusion that unless one of the Spartans on on the membership shortlist, I will accept that my politics is dead in the Tory Party and take my vote elsewhere. No vote on the floor of the House is required to implement Brexit and we donât need to wait until October. If T May can delay by SI I expect the new PM to enact by SI, and move on.
June 6, 2019
The arrogance and conceit of some contenders is consistent with many MPs hyper inflated opinions of themselves.
Why does this process take so long? Once candidates have outlined their views, surely one day should be enough to select the “leader”.
There is still only one answer for 100% Leave MPs, defect to BP.
June 6, 2019
Dear Sir John.
I have not contributed to this forum before so firstly let me state my credentials. I am from a working class background but have made my way into the middle classes. I am now in a profession for my working life. I have a wife and two children a decent living standard etc ..as you can see a very natural conservative voter. The problem is that there is a very high likelihood that I will support the Brexit party at any subsequent election and my reasons are as follows:
I find it hard to believe that virtually any of the politicians who are likely to succeed TM are genuine Brexiteers; I believe that anything other than a full WTO Brexit will allow the door open for a incremental return to the Brussels fold. Putting these two factors together leads me to believe that once the dust has settled the lies and the deceptions will start again and any new leader will steadily and stealthily start to plot against the real people (those outside the London bubble) and once again the remainer parliament will start its hegemonic rule again. I think that by Voting for the Brexit party there will be a purging of the left wing infiltration of the Tory party and an eventual realignment of central right pro business, fiscally conservative socially libertarian politics..does this strategy have risks? Yes it does, but these risks are dwarfed by the problems of a parliament in it’s current form and make up that has set its face against the people and its only natural that we fight back
June 6, 2019
Two winners to go on to the contest amongst the membership? So the
outcome is firmly in the hands of the Parliamentary party, with the
members unlikely to be given any meaningful choice. This process should get a
mention when historians document the demise of the Conservatives. Keep
your fingers crossed that those responsible are barred from the Brexit Party.
June 6, 2019
It is reported that on the first night of the One Nation Tory hustings for the leadership candidates, the loudest cheering was apparently when one of the candidates said that he definitely would not work with Nigel Farage (Katy Balls article, Spectator).
The Cons seem very slow to learn. Many in the electorate do not like the sidelining, belittling and smearing of Nigel Farage that has taken place over the last few years. In fact they are very angry about it. What the actions of those MPs shows is that they really have not understood the current situation and do not understand their electorate, or refuse to. That is not a vote winning strategy.
June 6, 2019
On the contrary. Mr Farage has repeatedly proven that despite blanket media coverage he is unable to get more than a third of voters to back him.
Sure, his angry fact free rantings appeal to those who like easy answers. Those who do not pay close enough attention to his appalling policies and questionable friends.
But to the rest of the electorate – the majority of over two thirds – Farage is toxic. An unelectable hate monger with no moral compass.
Farage is nothing to fear. What is to fear is where those he has duped turn to next when they finally figure out what he really is.
June 7, 2019
Andy….’Sure, his angry fact free rantings appeal to those who like easy answers.’
Pot, kettle, black ??
June 6, 2019
Yet again, another small glimmer of hope has it’s underlying opposition of so many deluded politicians. It would be great to see a poll that asked the question of – should Michael Gove disappear down a rabbit hole? I’m sure we would see 100% from the public
June 6, 2019
Whatever the outcome for the party leadership there is no time left now to renegotiate so the only option left is to leave 31st without a deal and perhaps later on to start talks again when we are clear about what we want and where we want to go. They will not grant an extension on the 31st Oct ‘Macron stated’ unless we are going to hold a second referendum, which by all accounts is out of the question. In addition the EU side have repeatedly said the WA is closed and I believe them in this, they are not going to open Pandora’s box again so any Tory hopeful putting such an idea forward is delusional at best, fibbing at worst.
June 6, 2019
No deal – IDEAL
Just get free of the EU. Then all the other things like climate change and taxes and defence and all the other important issues can be discussed and this country can proceed forward. Whilst we are shackled there is no point to trying to find a way ahead. To me, all the candidates still have not grasped the result of Leave the EU.
The EU does not listen, negotiate or take advice, when will these idiots realise this. The time wasted, the stalling is all detrimental to the businesses, it is this fudge that is causing pain to the Uk. It is shameful to watch the politicians dragging us through this again and again. Had we left on March 29th we would be settling in to a new beginning and not wasting so much money on this utter mess. Every housewife will tell you, you never give your purse to a stranger, to buy your shopping, force you to eat unpalatable food, tell you what to wear etc. It is common sense to be in control of your own life.
June 6, 2019
Out of the candidates so far Esther is the only one who has been clear about brexit by both abandoning the WA and committing to WTO deal. After that point we are instantly free to negotiate trade deals with the rest of the world and the negative effects of brexit would likely be over in 6 months max.
Boris does have recognition though and is experienced and well liked by voters. The main worry is he is still mentioning the WA, I suspect he is thinking of the Malthouse compromise, that did pass but 6 months ago. Back then we would have had 1 year free of the EU before the next election, now it is far too late. Here he needs to change the WA so much that ignoring it and going for that US trade deal would be much better.
I guess he has a tricky dilemma trying to appeal to remain MPs while promising brexit, here I would be put more at ease voting for him if we had some fighting talk against the EU because I suspect the EU will be very negative to us with no WA signed. I want to know and believe Boris knows the wide benefits of brexit starting with a US trade deal and that he believes in Britain outside the EU.
Lastly we need a lot of change in the UK, I find it abhorrent that civil servants and quango workers earn huge salaries for non-jobs while retiring early. Closing many of these positions would be a massive tax cut, and very easy to justify to the average voter.
June 6, 2019
Sir John….The guidance you offer from inside information, and your teasing out of attitudes by the front runners, points to a shortlist of Johnson, Hunt, with hopefully Baker, McVey and possibly Patel joining late. I have to trust that you and others are being pencilled in for key positions in their Cabinet. If not, I fear serious damage in the upcoming GE. It is truly remarkable that candidates are still proposing re-negotiation, and delays. That is certain to mean Conservatives will not have a majority, and will be the 2nd, probably 3rd supported in the GE.
June 6, 2019
JR, you write that Dominic Raab “took the job of Brexit Secretary knowing the PMâs commitment to the Withdrawal Treaty”; but of course at that point there was no such treaty to which she could have been committed, only the Chequers plan devised with bad advice from Olly Robbins which had caused David Davis to resign:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44763998
“Dominic Raab replaces David Davis as Brexit secretary”
It may also be worth recollecting that unlike David Davis Boris Johnson did not resign immediately and according to one source:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/06/theresa-may-secures-approval-from-cabinet-to-negotiate-soft-brexit
“One minister said that Johnson âwas actually very big about it and by dinner spoke passionately in favour of making it workâ.”
If you want somebody who is virtually untainted and hopefully reliable then perhaps you should urge Steve Baker to stand.
June 6, 2019
Denis Cooper, You are correct, it was Chequers, not the WA, though the parallels are plain. And of course we had the prelude to both in the “Kit-Kat” tapes.
June 6, 2019
Sir John,
Re-reading your paragraph on Raab, I noticed both that he has stated clearly that the UK will definitely leave the EU, with or without a deal, on the 31st, AND that he is willing to entertain a delay to leaving. Both cannot be possible, unless he is confused, or if, confusingly and unnecessarily, one statement supercedes the other. Putting your faith in someone requires trusting not only their character, but also what they say. Your difficulties are obvious!
June 6, 2019
Raab is after the big job whatever he has to agree to, thats his name binned!
June 6, 2019
Don’t forget that at this stage any hopeful candidate needs to get the support of a mainly remaining cabal of Conservative MPs.
So, should we be surprised that the likes of Boris are making noises in that direction?
If it gets to the Conservative Party members voting then surely Boris is a lead contender, but only if he can get that far.
So expect loads of “pandering” in the next few days.
For me the new leader MUST be a true “Leaver” not one that just pays “lip service” to leaving
And I don’t have a big problem with those that voted for the WA at the third time of asking.
June 6, 2019
Off-topic, I’ve been watching the TV series about Margaret Thatcher, and the last episode included the Brighton bombing and once again the eurofederalist credentials of the Tory party were displayed on my screen, as mentioned some years ago:
http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2015/02/20/the-euro-shatters-the-old-politics/#comment-755039
“So in terms of international, including British, flag protocol it is significant whether the EU flag or the UK flag is being given the recognised âposition of honourâ in any display; such as when the Foreign Office organises a joint press conference for Cameron or some other UK minister and some EU notable, with the two flags set up in the backdrop of the stage, when civil servants have routinely accorded precedence to the EU flag despite it being pointed out to them that this is wrong, and such as when the Tory party did the same on the backdrop to the platform for its 1984 national conference in Brighton â in both cases, signalling to the world at large their view that the EU is now to be seen as our âcountryâ, and the UK has been relegated to being just a subsidiary component of the EU.”
June 6, 2019
Esther McVey is the only stand out leaver in the pack. Why is she not being mentioned on here? Is the name Esther McVey a dirty word in these circles or is it that you don’t think she could tackle Corbyn. Well I think she could and I think she would. I remember Mrs Thatcher being snubbed like this in her leadership campaign. She was seen as a massive risk……she became our finest.
June 6, 2019
I agree that Esther McVey looks to be a good pick and wondered why she isn’t mentioned by Sir John? I watched her being interviewed on LBC and thought she did very well.
June 6, 2019
I have thoroughly enjoyed âwe Donât Believe Youâand have passed on copies to all the grandchildren for their edification.
Keep up the good work.
Kind regards
Pete kite
June 6, 2019
It does appear that Boris Johnson continues to stand out like a sore thumb or a shining light . I would much prefer a sore thumb than a thumping defeat by Brussels.
June 6, 2019
It is not an election. At least not one that is fit for purpose.
The rules have effectively been changed after the contest has started. Worthy of only a banana republic and the Tory Party.
Incidentally, I wonder how many of the Ford workers in Bridgend – who are losing their jobs largely because of your Brexit – get to vote for your next leader?
June 6, 2019
Check the lead story on the website of Sky News Andy.
Headline is “Ford: No Brexit link to Bridgend plant closure”
Read the article educate yourself and then come back and apologise for your made up incorrect claims.
PS
The rules for all 3 main parties to choose a leader are similar.
Brown took over from Blair and became PM in a similar way.
June 6, 2019
Andy, We haven’t had Brexit yet. The Ford workers are losing their jobs largely because of your, and others, irrational CAGW beliefs.
June 6, 2019
Amazingly, this is from Sky News, which is just as anti-Brexit as you are:
https://news.sky.com/story/fords-bridgend-engine-plant-to-shut-by-september-2020-11735935
“Ford: No Brexit link to Bridgend plant closure”
“Stuart Rowley, president of Ford Europe, told reporters: “This action has nothing to do with Brexit and the simple way to think of that is, if Brexit had never happened, would there be a different decision, and the answer to that is no.””
But I expect you will know better …
June 6, 2019
Why are you quoting the liberal elite media? You donât believe them.
And of course Ford is going mainly because of your Brexit.
And of course they will not admit it.
Ford understand that you Brexit snowflakes are thin skinned.
They know it will affect their sales if they tell you the truth.
But it is painfully obvious.
1700 families facing an uncertain future. And you voted for it.
Sleep well.
June 7, 2019
Andy, Or, alternatively, you are making it up. As you usually do.
June 7, 2019
None so blind…
The Chairman of Ford who has no reason to lie said what he said.
In fact blaming Brexit would be a good PR excuse especially with Unions protesting about the closure to divert blame away from Ford onto Brexit.
But Ford did not.
Come on Andy, this is a ridiculous post from you.
June 7, 2019
You have no interest in truth that runs counter to your prejudice.
June 6, 2019
Don’t you think that possibly the EU and the UK’s one up manship environmental commitments including they will outlaw anything other than electric vehicles over the next couple of decades might have had more to do with plans to shut an engine manufacturing site rather than Brexit being the problem
June 6, 2019
Nothing to do with Brexit, Andy. Even the BBC reported that!
June 6, 2019
I have just seen a statement by Boris Johnson which to my mind makes him unfit to be leader.
He wants Britain to be a ‘world leader in decarbonisation’, to be zero emissions by 2050 and to host COP20.
In other words he has fallen for the climate change hoax, will close down the rest of our fast-diminishing manufacturing and impose yet higher energy costs on every household in the land.
The trouble is none of the other contenders look any more sensible. Nigel Farage alone speaks sense on climate and energy.
June 6, 2019
IW,
Agreed. It seems Mr Johnson has bungled here in trying to take the green agenda from Mr Gove. I presume the Ford factory will be carbon zero.
June 6, 2019
The big problem as I see it, is whoever wins, is undermined or prevented from leaving by the selfish actions of the extremist Remainers. (even assuming they don’t rig the ballot to give party members no acceptable choice).
The candidate with the largest potential for popular support is Boris, who therefore may have the best chance of driving things through (if they allow him in the final 2). If Raab thinks he can prorogue parliament and prevent the extremists destroying party and nation, presumably boris can do the same?.
Its a desparate situation, whatever! Yest as someone said yesterday, IF we could leave on WTO terms at 31stOctober, by Christmas everyone would be wondering what the fuss was about!
June 6, 2019
What’s to be done? Who to vote for? For me the choice would be you (of course) or Steve Baker. I can only urge you to either throw your hat in the ring or encourage Steve Baker to do so.
What I did read recently was a comment that the next Prime Minister will either be remembered for taking us out of the EU on the 31 October or for consigning the Conservative Party to oblivion. So true!
June 6, 2019
“[Raab] seems willing to countenance a two year delay in exit and making further substantial payments to the EU.”
That is disappointing and neutralises his former commitment to leaving by 31 October, even if he has to prorogue parliament in order to achieve it.
Boris, seems to avoid such criticism by saying nothing much of substance.
June 6, 2019
Its DIRE
The Conservative Party has nothing to offer , its over. They are irrelevant
They can’t find one suitable leadership candidate, you know someone with ideas, imagination, principle. Just a bunch of virtue signalling non entities
June 6, 2019
It would appear from a recent paper written by a retiring senior Law Expert on these matters that we actually left the EU on March the 29th by default.
Article 50 was illegally changed by civil servants which allowed numerous extensions and delays to withdrawal.
We had a two year period during which we could apply for an extension should a few days more mean a successful conclusion.
Not repeated appeals for extensions which are bad for the EU and frustrating beyond belief for the UK. I cannot see why the Attorney General has let this little matter slip, we are in fact “Out”.
June 6, 2019
Reading through the comments here…. I conclude that the new system isnât great or even particularly fair! The likes of Steve Baker May not get a look in, and I also think the members should be given the first vote and then the MPs. I have lost trust in the vast majority of MPs, hence I am an ex-member of the Conservative party.
Itâs likely to end up with us having an entirely unsatisfactory PM, one who will not do the job of us leaving the EU properly!
Which leaves the way for the Brexit Party to become the main party….of which I am a paid up member.
June 7, 2019
Sadly Sharon you are not a paid up member. Nigel’s party has no members. All you have done is send your money to Nigel as a gift. You will never find out what he has done with it, but rest assured, it will help keep him in the very comfortable lifestyle he enjoys as an expense account career politician
June 7, 2019
Dougal hamer, Don’t be more than usually silly. If Farage was motivated by money he could have found a lot more lucrative employment than being just an MEP for UKIP and TBP.
June 7, 2019
Dougal…you shouldn’t have spilled the beans, others might latch on!
June 6, 2019
Why can’t MPs vote now? Why couldn’t MPs vote by email? Even using the UK Gov. website? Why could it not all be done and narrowed down to two candidates in 24 hours?
MPs have physically seen one another over years, one or two have been one with one another and one with another, debated in The House and on the media, gone for drinkypoos and free lunches together, been to bring-several- bottles parties.Whooped it up.
Yes, you may need to consult members in the Constituency. Why? After years you should know their bottle.
You are MPs Delay.
Vote!
June 6, 2019
The party moves at a glacial pace. The country moves at a glacial pace. Such is my observation. When do you get a straight answer from anyone. Double-talk is the required language.
We truly need a purge of so-called ‘authorities’ and of course the people who run them. All experts in can kicking.
June 6, 2019
Only Boris could win the next General Election for the Tories.
It is probably too late for him.
The Tory Party should have made him Leader but they hadn’t got it in them.
He still may have failed.
Farage is set to give you all at least a bloody nose. He may cut you all up. and still not win for his Party.
We’ll see how the bi-election in Peterborough goes today for some indication of your likely injuries and deaths. A Marley’s Ghost like insight will still be seen as only an amusing metaphor by Tory MPs. Losers!
June 6, 2019
The Echo: “We shouldn’t read too much into that result” depending how each quarter is quartered up of your whole.
June 6, 2019
Sir John,
As Boris Johnson, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove and Dominic Raab cannot give any indication and firm commitment to drop the May Proposed Withdrawal Agreement, even wanting to roll over any minor differences (not available from the EU) “until later/ after 2020, two years” ie the next General Election then it is time that yourself and others should stop playing this silly game of ‘Rem,aIN in any way possible! and split form the Conservative Party in the Commons and indeed support any No Confidence Vote – the Tories are broken beyond mending and people like yourself can only offer a fig leaf of respectability to a bunch of careerists.
June 6, 2019
I was going to vote for Raab (if he was in the final two) until he spoke of keeping the WA in play. Gove has not been a Brexiteer in my eyes since he supported the Chequers Proposal. He will not get my vote.
It looks as if Boris will get my vote unless, and it’s a long shot, Steve Baker enters the contest and gets to the final two.
June 6, 2019
Commentors like David Lammy say “a PM not chosen by the Country forcing through a no-deal Brexit not chosen by the Country, against the will of Parliament. So much for ‘Taking Back Control’. This would be a constitutional outrage.
How does Boris Johnson, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove and Dominic Raab answer this?
How does the remainers favourite Rory answer this?
The #stopBrexit people suggest other Tories would just walk out and bring any no deal leaver PM down before s/he could enact a no deal Brexit. So they seem to making promises they can’t keep and this horrible limbo will continue.
Remain Tories like Rory should offer to revoke A50 and stand by what he Ken Clarke, Sandbach, Hammond etc actually want to do. instead of being dishonest because his only real acceptable EU trick and you know it is if Clarke and Sandbach want it is to sign the WA with a slight tweek to kid us its changed.
June 6, 2019
Dither and timidity …
You inherited the sacrifice of tens of thousands, with scores more unborn families from the fallen who will never live.
You MPs, were entrusted with that inheritance, and what have you done with it?
Capitulation and humiliation ⊠gongs, arrogant contempt for the people and blatant abuse of power. Prosecution and persecution of anyone who says anything that “upsets you”
All you had to do is what you promised to do – 3 – YEARS – AGO
Shame on you. Shame on you 650, every single one of you.
June 6, 2019
Voted Out…..err I think you need to take those who never wavered from trying to do what is termed No Deal out of your criticism, plus plenty of others. The main bearers of SHAME are the Remainers.
June 6, 2019
If 650 MPs were 650 cars in a showroom, would you buy one?
Didn’t think so.
June 6, 2019
The Brexit referendum result was never intended to be about the Conservative Party, nor should it ever be. Manufacturing Brexit policy to suit Conservative Party survival speaks volumes, …… at high volume , in big neon signs,…. and stinks. I would not touch them again. All my senses tell me ( as with millions of others) to vote Brexit Party. Squabbling Conservatives presents yet another ugly spectacle that will likely kill them off. There will be innocent victims,…….both Boris & John may be among them yet, but the time may have come to wipe the slate clean and start again. If the public get’s the slightest “whiff” that Boris will slack-off, or be undermined by his “colleagues” in the House, then they are all toast, and should NOT rely on anti Corbyn sentiment to save them.
June 6, 2019
Boris is your best chance of survival
Dominic Raab and Boris may work well together, they each bring different skills to the team
June 6, 2019
The problem with the leadership format is not the elimination of candidates, but the fact that with only two going to the membership, the chance of a shady deal leading to another coronation is worrying, as you say.
The only mitigating factor is that a Brexiteer is unlikely to stand aside for a Remainer, but a Gove could sneak through that way and foist the WA on us. And I do not believe Gove is a Leaver at all…
What many of these candidates don’t seem to realise is that they will not be able to sell the WA to the electorate as Brexit.
And that a coronation would lose voters permanently to the Brexit party and possibly to the Lib Dems. In that respect, Leadsom has form and cannot be trusted.
The only real question here is how they will get WTO over the line. As a politician, JR must be aware that to get past MPs, you probably cannot say that you are aiming for WTO. Even saying that you accept it as a possibility makes life difficult – so, we can take everything they say at this stage with a pinch of salt.
Raab has said that he will ‘use all the levers of constitutional power’ to secure No Deal if he has to – perhaps that’s the grain of truth that tells you that he is ok.
McVey is the only one saying that WTO is the only way to go – perhaps she is the one to vote for initially at least?
In the unlikely event that we end up with 2 or 3 leavers at the end, it would be interesting to see how their stated intentions shift.
Bottom line: what they say, especially at this stage, is irrelevant. They’re politicians trying to get Brexit past a remainer electorate – how much truth can you expect?
I suggest a voting strategy that is designed to get the best outcome from a WTO exit viewpoint.
June 6, 2019
Sir John I would like your comments on the feasibility of closing down Parliament to push through No Deal. We now have Bercow stating he will not allow it to happen. Does he have that power or not?
June 6, 2019
Those complaining most loudly are those who were delighted when Bercow and Grieve ignored precedent and ripped up the constitution only a few weeks ago in order to frustrate the government, and the Queen allowed it. So, tough, if itâs allowed it should be done. Of course Bercow should be in court for his lie, in writing, that he would step down as Speaker after 9 years in the job when he was soliciting votes from MPs – a far more clear-cut case than that against Boris.
June 6, 2019
I fully agree we should close it down. We did not vote to leave the EU only to have MPs blocking the will of the people. Too many people dont know their history
June 6, 2019
Just seen the ECB’s economic forcasts
Growth:
Sees 2019 at 1.2% vs 1.1% in March
Sees 2020 at 1.4% vs 1.6%
Sees 2021 at 1.4% vs 1.5%
Inflation:
Sees 2019 at 1.3% vs 1.2% in March
Sees 2020 at 1.4% vs 1.5%
Sees 2021 at 1.6% vs 1.6%
So they see the economic malaise persist, I suspect the above is optimistic, some nations still have not recovered from 2008. If we leave on WTO terms they can choose to stick to the WA and apply tariffs. However this will leave EU companies and their large market share in UK at a disadvantage vs USA, Japan and anyone else who negotiates a FTA.
I’m not worried about risking the EU’s prosperity if they decide to punish us, in fact I believe Europe will be a much more prosperous place without it.
June 6, 2019
Of the four main candidates, one is a boy, one is Mrs. May in drag, and one is a swivel eyed loon, but only one has the potential to get us out and save the Tory party. I wonder who this is? Here are a few clues…he is vaguely related to George III, he was a King’s scholar at Eton, he likes riding a bicycle, had a senior political and management role in the government of London, is a moderately good historian, and most impressively, is a master of written English. His knowledge of economics is poor, but then again he can always hire Patrick Minford to advise him. So, who is this? Answers on a post card not required!
June 6, 2019
It looks like John Becow will be leading the country and not the next PM. John Bercow says do as I say or don’t do it at all. Is he right Sir John? It Looks like we need to change the speaker from a remainer to a Brexiteer.
June 6, 2019
Yes, and it may involve sending the army in to remove Bercow.
June 6, 2019
Stephen Reay
Easily resolved! Take the advice of historian Andrew Roberts and the editor of the
Sunday Telegraph, Allister Heath, and prorogue Parliament. This way,
‘de-bercowing’ the Commons will not be necessary. Another possible solution is an empty Queen’s Speech, or alternatively, introduce an interminably long and detailed bill to reform local government, together with voting reform. This should take up
most of remainers’ time.
June 6, 2019
I too find it hard to believe that the speaker, supposed to be an arbiter and independent voice of reasonableness, is publicly announcing that he will block a “no deal” .. he uses the words no deal but really he means any deal he disagrees with. Surely this cannot be allowed to happen.
June 6, 2019
Funny thing is that I remember John Bercow as a prospective Tory candidate doing the rounds – he was an âextremist thatcheriteâ just as he is now an âextremist remainerâ. He has no judgement and wants to be more popular than the next man, so goes the extra mile!
June 6, 2019
So you want a Brexiteer Speaker.
Is this as well as having only Brexiteers in Cabinet – like Esther McVey has suggested?
And as well as closing Parliament – as Dominic Raab has suggested?
And as well as scrapping the House of Lords – as Farage has suggested?
And as well as getting rid of the BBC – as many of your on here suggest.
How long before you are all demanding that people like me wear armbands with EU flags on them so you can identify us in the street?
June 6, 2019
We assumed you were already wearing armbands!
June 6, 2019
Calm down Andy. Given the multiple posts written by some contributors there are at most a hundred contributors on this website. They might think (how I laugh) that they are â the voice of the nationâ. I donât think they are anything like that. Just some people with nothing else better to do.
June 7, 2019
Wasnât I right, Sir John? Peterborough, anyone. And your chance to be called as Chancellor at next GE by the winning Brexit Party? Ooops!
June 7, 2019
Polls do not show your views are right PeterM
June 7, 2019
I assumed you did already.
June 7, 2019
I want a neutral Speaker who does not trash hundreds of years of parliamentary procedure to facilitate the overthrow of PARLIAMENT. The House of Lords is not longer peopled by the Lords but but failed politicians and other riff raft. Itâs easy to shut the Lords House now they have departed. The BBC has always appeased European Power over British democracy – when a monopoly it kept Churchill off the airwaves for 28 consecutive months because he opposed Nazi Herr Hitler – nothing has changed and I resent having to fund it. If it is as loved as it claims, it has no cause to fear the end of the BBC license fee. Any more Lord Haw Haw?
June 7, 2019
We simply want a Parliament that is truly representative of the electorate, AND upholds democracy. Is that too much to ask?
The problems are caused by a majority Remain Parliament representing a Leave majority electorate. Those Remainers in Parliament are willing to destroy democracy in order to prevent the referendum result being delivered.
June 7, 2019
Andy, Parliament gave the choice of Remain or Leave to the people. We chose Leave.
It is a reflection on the lying, cheating, dishonourable Remains in Parliament who are, so far, succeeding in overturning our Leave decision, that we must have a Leave government, with at least a neutral Speaker.
You are not the victim here.
June 7, 2019
Andy…..YES YES YES to all your questions. On the question of armbands, that won’t be necessary because just like ‘ Q: how do you know if someone is vegan? A: because they tell you!’
June 6, 2019
It’s a shame that May wasn’t gone before D Day – I really resent seeing her basking in past glory when she should be begging forgiveness for her crimes against this country…
June 6, 2019
You’re right, Mr Harris. It felt entirely inappropriate that she was still occupying such a high profile role after all the kowtowing she’s been guilty of. She may not be a ‘bad person’ – but the position she was occupying today should have been filled by someone more highly regarded, even if it was merely ceremonial.
As for her reading a MAN’s letter to his wife – who’s idea was THAT?
No – entirely inappropriate.
June 6, 2019
Reading JR’s excellent summary, I find is curious that none of the Tory leadership candidates appears confident of actually governing the country – which is what leaving entails. Their motto seems to be based on St Augustine: ‘Oh God, let us leave the EU, but not just yet.’
I find no resolute, creative thinking there at all, among the Hunts, Raabs and Johnsons.
Mr Gove is certainly a creative thinker, but his creative thinking seems focused more on his career rather than on the welfare of the British nation.
June 6, 2019
Any candidate who wants a deal that is better than the one Mrs May agreed must:
– Make proposals that are entirely time limited to 31st December 2020 at the latest
– Produce detailed calculations of a full and final offer for an exit payment and set the number in stone
– Demand that our past contributions made towards projects in progress (e.g. Galileo) from which we are to be dismissed, are returned plus interest
– Inform the EU that any unnecessary non-tariff barriers (e.g. delays) they impose on our exports will be evaluated for damage to the UK economy and invoiced
– Demand that EU tariffs on our exports to them are broadly the same as tariffs on their exports to us; if that involves the EU revising their WTO rules tariffs, so be it
– Make proposals for the Irish border that utilise technology and trusted traders
– Include a declaration (unilateral if necessary) on our agriculture and fisheries policies
Such candidates should produce a detailed SWOT analysis of their proposals vs No Deal. Any believable analysis will include not only short term damage to UK-EU trade but a long term boost to UK trade with the rest of the world. The No Deal scenario should include a vastly reduced bung (no transition period), near zero immigration, accelerated technology and AI.
Then there is a little matter of getting the EC and this rotten House of Commons to agree to it all.
The only leading Tory who has stated that the Conservative Party is ‘drinking in the last chance saloon’ is Steve Baker – and he isn’t standing.
June 6, 2019
I see Mrs May (remember her ?) says sheâs only going to step down as PM if the new elected Conservative leader can command a majority in the house. So thatâs none of them. So she stays on ? I wouldnât put it past her at all.
June 6, 2019
I repeat what I had already written yesterday. “Mind Blowing”. Only this time I refer to those candidates for the position of Conservative Party Leader who wish to carry on ignoring the people, expecting them to capitulate and to comply with May’s disastrous Withdrawal Agreement and/or request an extension to the cut-off date, just because there is a new name at the bottom.
Do they not understand the anger in the back streets, where the voters live? We have waited three years already and are no further forward in our departure and even the original date has been extended twice, despite promises to the contrary, added seven extra months and now we learn that some of the candidates will try to extend the extended extension. What are these people thinking of?
I am highly sceptical of these extensions because I now conclude they are an element in the sinister plot to delay Brexit to the point it dies. A plan I believe was put into action back in 2016 instigated by those faceless, unelected Mandarins that now seem to run Whitehall and therefore, our Country. Their counter-parts run the EU of course.
It MUST stop dead, otherwise we can never ever again call our Country a true Democracy. In doing so, shame those that died 75 years ago protecting it.
SJ, can you not raise enough supporters to stand for the job? You have proven the ONLY Politician I know of who actually keeps his word and is consistent in his policies and aspirations for the people. Qualities sadly lacking elsewhere in Parliament.
June 6, 2019
It is reported (D Express) that May has indicated that she would not leave until she is sure that the new leader has the confidence of the House. The paper then went on to make the assertion that this would be used to prevent Raab or Johnson being the new leader…..?
If this is true, it will only enrage the electorate more and will probably send even more people into the arms of The Brexit Party.
June 6, 2019
Sir John, I have just read in the DX that according to the ‘Guardian’, Mrs May could delay her resignation as PM if the person elected to replace her ‘does not command the confidence of the House’. If there is any truth in this it further devalues herself and her office and the Conservative Party as a whole.
Tory MPs and Party members select their own leader who has to be vetted by the other Parties? Please tell us it is April Fools day again.
June 6, 2019
In Deal, Kent to be specific but not as broad, walking inland into Kent and it was almost gone inland or completely gone as far as I know for I was not listening consciously as my eyes were delighted as a young man with young women. My ears were nothing to do with it. I read and heard books on the surface then, when I had time.
I’ll shussh now JR, I have write it somewhere. You’re here.
June 6, 2019
Looks like the country will get continuity May, with minor variations. They are all inhabiting the same small area of thought, and don’t remotely undestand the true feelings of the people. Hopeless, weak and out of touch.
The Tory party needs to be exterminated. Unreformable.
All our efforts must be to grow the Brexit party.
June 6, 2019
Sir John
Is any of this really relevant when on line from the Daily Express it is being reported that our PM will not completely stand down until the new leader will achieve the confidence of parliament. Has the wowan no pride or self respect? She is determined to destroy our party.
June 6, 2019
She is taking her cue from her hero Merkel and the EU. She knows it does not matter how corrupt she behaves, there is no remedy for the people, other than taking to the streets. The Tory party is useless and complicit and does not care about us or democracy.
I haven’t forgotten the success of the Poll Tax riots although I opposed them at the time. I think it’s time we had another one or two like them. Perhaps they would listen then.
June 6, 2019
There is a time for pragmatism and a time for principles.
In a different era I would say that you should choose to support as leader the candidate whose offer, in terms of capabilities, claims and intents are most likely to deliver the best results for the country. That would be Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, or Dominic Raab.
However, today we are in a different era. We cannot simply believe the claims and intents of the candidates. Far too many Tory politicians have made claims that they clearly do not believe, and made promises that they have not kept. Whatever their capabilities, they are unelectable if they cannot be trusted.
Esther McVey is the only candidate that can be supported.
Unless, of course, you put your own hat in the ring
June 6, 2019
Tory Eurosceptic MPs must find a way to destroy this PM and her Remain cabal’s grip over the party
I believe this is a fight to the death. Remain are determined to crush Brexit. May has no intention of departing and is again looking for ingenious ways to delay her poisonous exit
Please do what you must do and save British democracy from withering on the EU vine
June 6, 2019
Doesn’t matter who we make leader the EU side have said there will be no further talks until the WA is ratified. Even if we agreed to ratify, the EU parliament side will then have to do the same and with the EU parliament and Commission only sorting themselves out it could be well after Christmas before talks could begin. So don’t know how any Tory hopeful can claim they are going to renegotiate before 31st Oct unless they are M Gove who is on for an extension into next year. But of course Macron and Merkel will not agree to any of this as they will see it as being unnecessarily disruptive to the EU workings.
June 6, 2019
STEVE BAKER VOWS TO STAND FOR TORY LEADER IF NO OTHER CANDIDATE BACKS HARD BREXIT PLAN – DEADLINE MONDAY
https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/news/104365/steve-baker-vows-stand-tory-leader-if-no
June 7, 2019
Labour winning in Peterborough was caused by the Brexit Party and Conservatives to split the vote.
As I posted here a few times. I am watching out for the social media comments that say a vote for Conservatives is a vote for the Labour. Or visa versa, that a vote for the Brexit Party is a vote for Labour. To see which way the wind is blowing.
So the Brexit Party getting more than the Conservatives is now challenging the Conservative voters to vote for the Brexit Party.
June 7, 2019
So Labour hung on to Peterborough in spite of a 17% swing against them (31%). Brexit party produced a 29% share from nowhere, and the Conservatives were hit with a predictable 25% swing against, putting them back in 3rd place. A confirmation that the disillusion with the Tories indecision on the EU continues.
June 7, 2019
I am thinking outside the box. Esther McVey has the right idea. Chuck out all the remainiacs in the cabinet and chuck out the abominable Withdrawal Agreement. Why waste any more time energy and money on it?
June 7, 2019
It sounds as if Gove wants to manipulate Northern Irish politics – a euphemistic way of putting it – to aid the EU in annexing Northern Ireland. He cannot be allowed anywhere near power. I hope you will grill him on this.