A petulant EU has refused over many months to simply discuss a Free Trade Agreement which they agreed would be at the core of our future relationship. Now in a tantrum they propose to take us to their court to tell us they think we are wrong! Meanwhile, a rattled EU nonetheless rejigs the talks and is at last prepared to discuss a Free Trade Agreement.
The UK government should reply to their incoming letter with a short and courteous reply. It should say
Dear EU
Thank you for your letter. We have left the EU and do not accept the future jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice . We made clear in the legislation that put into effect the Withdrawal Agreement that we reserved the right to follow UK interests, with our clear sovereignty clause in the legislation. We will use this power which expressly overrides the Agreement to guarantee the UK interests set out in the Withdrawal documents should you not negotiate a simple Free Trade Agreement in good faith as you promised.
We will not of course participate in ECJ proceedings , which would be a silly political stunt. We note that you are now willing to negotiate, and trust you will respond favourably to the draft Free Trade Agreement we submitted for your approval or modification some time ago. The EU’s interpretation of the Withdrawal Agreement is not international law, it is an unhelpful negotiating ploy.
Yours etc
October 1, 2020
Sir John, you say “we do not accept the future jurisdiction of the ECJ”. Did you not vote for an Act of Parliament giving force to an international treaty in which it clearly states that during the transition period we DO accept the jurisdiction of the ECJ over certain matters such as if the EU believes the UK has breached EU law and we DO accept the continuing jurisdiction of the ECJ on cases pending after the transition period ends? I suppose we could also just ignore that treaty obligation too, as seems to be the preferred way ahead for the UK. Are there any international treaties that you believe are of worth? NATO? The recently signed FTA with Japan? The Good Friday Agreement? How will other nations know which treaties we intend to honour and which we do not??
Reply I voted for an Act of Parliament with Cl 38 as a clear sovereignty override which I now want the government to use!
October 1, 2020
It hinges on what John means by “future jurisdiction”, I think.
However, since he suggests that the UK would not – “of course” – be an active party to proceedings, it sounds like he wants the UK to break its treaty undertakings in that regard too.
Thank you for your post, Villaking – I would have written the same almost verbatim.
Reply The Agreement with the EU said the UK’s sovereignty would be respected. That is what we must now assert
October 1, 2020
Mayhab and Robbins wrote the WA and PD as a bridge back to full membership not to leave.
Guido pointed out how Mayhab’s Chequers servitude plan contained two provisions to break/depart from international law.
Her outburst made no sense other than to grab headlines to keep alight the remain faction. Sadly Johnson rewards them with titles and extra pensions to hate him and the public mandate to leave the EU.
Your party and govt are an utter disgrace. Stop writing fake letters that will be ignored and take real action against the treacherous and traitors in your party! Much better if you apologized for voting for Mayhab’s servitude plan that Johnson told us was dead! He lied and you voted for it. Shame on you.
October 2, 2020
JR, your manifesto on which you were elected is in stark contrast to the contents of the WA and PD. If it were not there would be no need for the internal market bill! Leaving as one United Kingdom!
So would now like to tell us the truth? Was your manifesto deliberately misleading/lying its intention on Brexit, if not why is there a need at all for the latest sham?
What self respecting free democratic nation would partition itself, be subject to foreign rule and adjudication?
October 1, 2020
Respecting the UK’s sovereignty does not mean letting the UK change the terms of the agreement whenever it chooses. No country would ever bother agreeing anything if that were allowed
October 1, 2020
What do you mean?
If we cannot alter the Withdrawal Agreement why do we bother continuing to negotiate?
October 1, 2020
Martin,
It must be nice for you to have a friend.
October 1, 2020
Possibly 1 or 2 more on here. Mind you people with such vindictive, cruel, ill-informed, jealous, bitter, and with warped delusions of history, legality, trading and the future – can sometimes be a source of great fun to read – especially in the morning.
October 1, 2020
So you are referring in your defence to the agreement’s wording, the very agreement that you boast of derogating.
Like sovereignty, respect is relative too.
Others will rightly form what opinions they will, and there is nothing that you or anyone else can do about that.
October 1, 2020
You are defining the process where the UK is finally asserting it’s independence.
After all these years I realise this is a shock to you.
October 1, 2020
To Reply:- Indeed it must be asserted.
But signing any agreement that agreed to arbitration by the ECJ (over disputes between the UK and the EU) was clearly idiotic. They might as well have agreed to arbitration by the EU commission.
Or indeed Blair highely political UK Supreme Court – which would probably find for the EU too.
October 1, 2020
Why is it always EU good U.K. bad with Martin. Why don’t you mention the 60 odd illegal infringements of France awaiting the ECJ, including money laundering. Why not mention the outstanding infringements of Germany awaiting the ECJ.
In order for Brexit to mean anything the U.K. must regain its sovereignty first and foremost. This is what the EU have been trying to stop since 2016. They will do anything to keep the U.K. under the thumb of the ECJ and consequently the EU.
It is the EU that have not negotiated within the spirit of the agreement. It is the EU that will not negotiate a free trade agreement without the ECJ lurking in the background. It is the EU that will not respect the U.K. sovereignty, all are requirements of the WA. Therefore it is absolutely necessary for the UK to use Clause 38 to protect itself as a nation against the tyranny of the EU polit bureau.
October 1, 2020
Indeed EU good UK bad just like the BBC. If in doubt always blame Trump, Thatcher, Climate Change, Boris, Farage. white working class males or landlords.
October 2, 2020
Great post. You strike the balance I am too cross to be able to articulate!
October 2, 2020
+1
October 1, 2020
The Withdrawal Agreement Treaty gives the ECJ permanent jurisdiction over large swathes of life in Northern Ireland.
Any Tory MP who voted for the Withdrawal Agreement Act would have known this, if they had read what they were voting for.
They would have known this has they listened to all the people they abused and called Remoaners.
But they didn’t read and they didn’t listen and we are where we are. Tory Brexit mess. And we will make sure you own the blame.
October 1, 2020
But as an independent nation we can decide what we want to do.
A shock to you I realise.
October 1, 2020
Andy said: The WA “gives the ECJ permanent jurisdiction over large swathes of life in Northern Ireland.”
Finally you admit that the WA is a Remain document. We’ve been telling you that since Chequers, but you wouldn’t listen. You keep telling us it was the Brexit we voted for. It isn’t. You keep telling us the UK has left. We haven’t. It’s time you owned the Remain WA. But you won’t.
October 2, 2020
Not ‘Remoaners’, ‘Remainders’. The latter has an appropriate sour whiff of the bits left after the jumble sale is over.
JF
October 1, 2020
Villaking, You seem oblivious to the fact that the EU has already broken international laws (eg WTO rules), and its own laws (so it could prop up the Euro), and its obligations under the WA by threatening not to respect the sovereignty and integrity of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
We have a well established and well known dualist constitution whereby the WA was only accepted through an Act of Parliament – the EU (WA) Act 2020. Personally I think fiddling at the edges to protect ourselves from the predatory EU is pointless. I would abrogate the entire WA. Given the attitude of the EU, the WA is no longer fit for purpose.
October 2, 2020
Abrogate and sever the control mechanisms put in place by the anti-democratic “remainer 5th column”. They are desperate to give legal controls to the EU, both openly and under the table.
Just leave. This should have happened many years ago!
We have had too much bad law which has removed our democracy.
We have an overseas aid budget the EU can apply! If it was just about money, but its. The EU is about power and money versus democracy.
October 1, 2020
The UK Internal Market Bill will only take effect if the EU itself breaks the WA by refusing to negotiate “in good faith” an FTA with the UK.
So it is in the hands of the EU as to whether or not the UK is forced to break the WA Treaty (not international law) in order to protect its own internal market, its constitution and the Good Friday Agreement.
BTW it is clearly understood that even breaking “international law” is acceptable if it is required to preserve a country’s sovereignty.
October 2, 2020
Villaking
I guess we now have both you and Martin in Cardiff to ignore in future!
October 1, 2020
Sir John
If Only! It is clear the EU isn’t listening, the re-moaners keep giving them hope that if they play at being the awkward squad the people of the UK will relent and accept their rule. They just don’t get it.
Michael Gove give some hope that he has got the message. Boris is of playing with his other worldly friends and pops out to make Headmaster threats.
Why would any one want to live in this desperate cabal of the EU, that wouldn’t know reality or truth if it punched them on the nose. Desperate people using malicious tactics to say look at me I am the Law.
This ridiculous outfit called the ECJ, shows its is there to reinterpret the Law to fit with their political masters – we can all see it is not independent
October 1, 2020
Ian @ Barkham
“people of the UK will relent and accept their rule. They just don’t get it.”
Not the people, just 17m of them out of nearly 70m. The usual shambles in a undemocratic system not fit for purpose in our modern world.
A two party state to keep either the haves or the haves not in power.
October 1, 2020
Another ridiculous propaganda piece Margaret
Babies and toddlers have never voted.
Under 18 year olds have never voted.
Voting is not compulsory.
We simply count those who vote.
If you had an opinion or were passionate about the referendum you would go out and vote.
For all you know everyone who didn’t vote could have been leave supporters.
October 1, 2020
Agree
October 1, 2020
Margaret H, It was Leave 17.4 million, against Remain 16.1 million. According to the agreed rules of the Referendum. I know your maths ability is poor but that’s a majority for Leave in any language.
October 1, 2020
Ian @ Barkham
the latest opinion figures shows an average of 70% support for teh Eu as an institutin aross the 27 countries with Italy the lowest at 53 %.
So there are lots of even more democratic countris than ours (according to the EIU) where a majority wish to live in the “desperate Cabal of the EU ” as you call it.
But i am aware you have to read and look it up to be aware of what is going on, outside our little island nation.
October 1, 2020
After we leave others will realise that the EU doesn’t give them any advantages.
Some nations are suffering low growth and high unemployment.
They will be the ones who are next to leave.
October 2, 2020
Edward 2
the is simple Brexiteer propaganda nothing more nothing less
October 2, 2020
No just an opinion of mine bill.
I wish the EU well in the future but if the EU fails to address the member nations who’s standard of living has declined and have very high unemployment then the desire to leave will keep growing.
October 1, 2020
Bill, If you believe opinion polls then Remain won the Referendum, Hillary Clinton is the PotUS, 78% of Brits support Boris’s covid lockdown, and 11 out 10 cats say they prefer roast chicken.
October 1, 2020
Macron said recently he thought the French people would vote to leave if asked. But, of course, he is not a fan of democracy and won’t ask them.
October 2, 2020
Mike Wilson
the French have actuallly had more referendums then us the past 50 years.
October 2, 2020
Sure pay people off,make them dependent, they vote for you, until they dont.
Lets see what happens when the payoffs dry up.
October 1, 2020
Now we are hearing statements from Mr.Gove suggesting there is no compromise on fish. Confused? I suppose the public have to get used to claims and counter claims now.
As for taking us to court, that is not a big deal. Lots of countries get taken to this court, many of them far more often than the U.K. So the slant in The Daily Telegraph can be ignored.
We can only await further developments.
October 1, 2020
So have we or have we not offered a 3 year fishing transition period to the EU ?
October 2, 2020
A three year transition with quota reductions of 33% each year is fine.
It will take a while to rebuild the British fishing fleet
October 2, 2020
transition = status quo
October 2, 2020
What was the “transition” period for?
WTO will provide a base from which to agree sensible FTA which have similar “trade” only agreements as other non-eu or eea members.
Nothing can be promised or agreed.
It must be discussed after we have left unencumbered.
October 2, 2020
The transition period wasn’t used to get us ready for a UK/EU FTA
Like you I don’t know what the transition was for or what it has achieved
October 1, 2020
I find it very strange that the EU wish to interfere with the internal law making procedure of a country that currently doesn’t actually break any agreement at this time (although it may at some stage it the future).
Would the ECJ even take this case on until the agreement is seen to be breached?
Surely on the “World Stage” this puts the EU in a bad light…
October 1, 2020
The whole world knows the EU breaks agreements and treaties all the time, even its own internal treaties.
October 1, 2020
Know-Dice said: “Would the ECJ even take this case on until the agreement is seen to be breached?”
Yes, of course it would. The ECJ (CJEU) is not a real court, and is certainly not independent, it’s just another mouthpiece for the EU empire. It’s like the EU parliament – a fig leaf.
October 1, 2020
If ever anyone needed proof that the EU still wants Control over the UK even when we have left that organisation, their actions this morning proves it.
Like the letter JR, but no one on this side will have the courage to send it, because we must not upset the commission must we.
Thank goodness May is no longer Prime Minister, she showed where her loyalties were a couple of days ago.
October 1, 2020
If Professor Stanley Unwin were still alive, we could have appointed him as our official solicitor and told the EU to address everything to him for a suitable reply. He spoke their language.
October 1, 2020
Brilliant!
October 1, 2020
but you didn’t add ‘Love Boris and the people of the UK’.
October 1, 2020
It really is not the EU being petulant.
The Brexit toddlers are finally being put in their place.
It is amusing watching their project crash and burn.
Hard rain is coming.
October 1, 2020
Hard rain will put the crash and burn out! Make your mind up mate!
October 1, 2020
He was referring to amusing toddlers, so maybe he meant crèche and buns.
October 1, 2020
Andy:
Toddlers? Normally it’s the old folk who are the objects of your scorn. This is just getting confusing. Is there any age group you don’t hate?
October 1, 2020
The only thing crashing and burning is the EU.
It demonstrates daily what a corrupt and thoroughly nasty institution it is.
I remember last year Andy your ended every post with…….
We’re the supplicants you see.
Not anymore.
October 1, 2020
OUR project, Andy. We are all Brexiteers now. Unless of course you are planning to emigrate……
October 1, 2020
Given that the ECJ will have no jurisdiction over us I think all we need to reply is
Thank you for your recent letter.
We have noted the contents.
We look forward to discussing the comprehensive free trade agreement with you before our 14 October deadline.
Your Friend forever
UK government
October 1, 2020
Sir JR,
Your interpretaion of internaitonal law does not seem to be co-herent with the interepretation of the former attorney-general’s
October 1, 2020
There are many lawyers and they often have many different opinions.
October 1, 2020
No only that but the learned High Court Judges disagree with the unanimous and learned Supreme Court and Spider Woman. What chance has anyone got of knowing what is legal In such matters?
October 1, 2020
Bill,
There is law, and there is politics. The former AG is a lawyer, but the thing called “international law” is mostly politics. In the case of the EU, I’d say it is entirely politics.
October 1, 2020
You mean the Remainer who was Attorney General under the Remainer PM? Both of whom conspired to overturn a direct Order from the Sovereigns of this country?
October 1, 2020
and don’t forget the ever helpful Sir Oliver Robbins KCMG CB
October 2, 2020
glen cullen
Hence why these Orders and Decorations (obsequiously granted trinkets) conferred by the Crown after an individual’s name are frankly, valueless!
October 2, 2020
Agree – there was a time when the word honour was attached to awards
October 1, 2020
And what’s your qualifications in international law, Bill? You have trouble writing so I don’t think I’d rely on you as my lawyer.
October 1, 2020
+1. Nothing else to say.
October 1, 2020
This is all OTT. Another, another, another PANTOMIME.
Just LEAVE…some hopes!
And in any case it has just been reported that Migration Watch is alarmed by Boris’ plans to bring in literally millions of cheap workers post “Brexit”.
“Take Back Control“…another three word magick mantra.
More like “The Great Reset“ closely followed by “The Great Replacement”.
He lied to us. Big time.
Please don’t pretend that we will have a country left.
So what’s the plan? Ruin the economy and then get “rescued” by more mass immigration?
October 1, 2020
Boris needs deposing, in the New Year. Using immigration to drive growth is nothing but a Ponzi scheme.
October 1, 2020
+1
October 2, 2020
WHY WAIT THAT LONG?
October 2, 2020
He’s not doing a bad job in handling Brussels. Better the devil you know!
October 1, 2020
Brilliant, succinct proposed letter. We need to bring CV19 and negotiations with the EU to an end. We have all had enough.
October 1, 2020
There are other international tribunals besides the ECJ.
Perhaps the European Union will take its case to one of those?
I accept that the ECJ would not be the proper place to hear a dispute between the European Union and a non-member nation such as the UK, but for conventional legal reasons relating simply to jurisdiction.
That question does not directly or expressly involve sovereignty.
October 1, 2020
‘I accept that the ECJ would not be the proper place’.
How very magnanimous, or should it be pompous, of you!
October 1, 2020
The EU has no case so unless it’s heard by it’s own minion – the ECJ, there is no means of progressing.
October 1, 2020
Martin, Well I never! So you noticed the EU’s self-serving referral to its own court too. The problem is the EU is used to throwing its weight around especially with the UK. The EU is used to us capitulating before this point. I hope they have misjudged, as they have throughout this process. Properly out of the EU we have the chance to succeed as a medium sized nation. But that chance will disappear if we cave in at the last minute.
October 2, 2020
The EU referred it to its own court because that is EXACTLY what Boris’s oven ready Withdrawal Agreement says should happen. It is exactly what john Redwood campaigned for in Wokingham and it is exactly what John Redwood voted for in Parliament. You don’t like what you signed up to? Too late now. All the stuff about the Irish Protocol goes straight to the EU court as well. Don’t like it? Shouldn’t have voted for it then
October 3, 2020
Big deal.
We will have left by the time their own court makes its judgment.
October 2, 2020
Which other international tribunals, specifically?
October 1, 2020
A good letter Sir John, just wish this government had the bottle to send it – we need to stop chasing the EU and let go
October 1, 2020
They are only pretending to discuss terms for a new FTA- because there’s not enough time or goodwill left now before 15th Oct to agree anything so in the meantime what we have is both parties throwing shapes purely for legacy reasons. The thinking on all sides now is that negotiations for the future can be started again at the WTO forum probably next year or the year after.
October 1, 2020
Talks are expensive and we need the ‘negotiators’ to do something productive. No more ‘talks’! Sir John, what has been the cost of negotiations with the EU including the 2 years of Cameron talks, May’s fiasco and Boris’ extra year?
October 1, 2020
It is unfortunate that the NI Secretary (?) said we will be breaking International law. Some pretty learned QCs beg to differ on this point.
This essay by Martin Howe QC spells it out
https://www.politeia.co.uk/internal-market-bill-by-martin-howe-qc/
October 1, 2020
No – let’s not send a letter. Send Boris to the podium and have him deliver the message verbally. It will then be shown across the EU – and the World. And saves a stamp.
October 1, 2020
Only one petulant party here, and that is the backbench MP for Wokingham. A free trade agreement is under discussion, that is the job of Frost and Barnier. What is NOT on offer is the benefits of EU membership without any of the obligations. Kindly stop throwing tantrums and grasp that just as the UK has its wants under a free trade agreement, so does the EU.
October 1, 2020
Seems many non EU nations trade succesfully with Europe without having the benefits of membership.
Why not the UK?
October 1, 2020
Tarma, Trade for trade; not trade for EU control. And we absolutely don’t want the supposed “benefits of EU membership” thank you very much.
October 2, 2020
Tarma, bloody rude.
October 1, 2020
Not so much “Liberty, Equality or Fraternity” in spirit coming from Macron or Barnier to UK.
Sad to hear the monthly gravy train from Brussels to Strasbourg costing £100+million each year is cancelled and is terribly upsetting for them as it feels like the French have no voice sacre bleu!!! It could be held in Berlin or Rome or any other capital surely to balance things out?
And English will still have to be the international language of the EU not Francaise!
We give this to them free of charge but they are ungrateful by default.
So Ltec again.
October 1, 2020
Sometimes our host is far too polite.
My response to the EU would probably get deleted from here were I to express my thoughts fully… I shall refrain from doing so, here and now, but some that hold similar views to me on here could probably guess at what I would be saying.
October 1, 2020
Dear Mr Redwood, the Withdrawal Agreement is a binding international Treaty. The UK cannot change it unilaterally and nor can the EU. Please stop your silly stunts and instead comply with the Ovenready deal which got you elected last December and which you voted for last January. From the EU, with all due respect
October 1, 2020
It isn’t .
The Withdrawal Agreement isnt a treaty.
The clue is in the name.
Trade agreements are very different to treaties about things like borders.
October 1, 2020
Edward 2
It is actually a treaty but it probably passed you
October 2, 2020
If you say so bill.
If a nation cannot ever alter or extract itself from such a an agreement who is actually running the nation?
For ever, in perpetuity?
You keep failing to see the great difference between the power and more permanent nature of genuine international treaties which agree and set things like borders between nations with this agreement on trade which often get changed.
The Withdrawal Agreement doesn’t even become effective if a final free trade agreement isn’t agreed.
So the debate is a rather esoteric.
October 2, 2020
nothing is agreed until everything is agreed
October 2, 2020
Edward 2
Even border agreement get changed as it did with Denmark and Germany several times, so yes I do know.
What is different here is the fact it only took four months to change whici is neither normal nor a source to build up confidence in the future negotiations.
By the way what is the difference between an international traty and a genuine international treaty? you might know I do not
October 3, 2020
So you agree that agreements and treaties can be changed and have been changed.
Nations can unilaterally alter and ignore terms if their democratically elected government decides to.
As I have told you previously bill, the Withdrawal Agreement only becomes effective if a deal is reached before December 31st.
October 1, 2020
Len Peel, No UK citizen or MP voted for the WA. MPs voted for the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020, a UK Act of Parliament. From me, with all due respect.
October 1, 2020
Len Peel
“Dear Mr Redwood, the Withdrawal Agreement is a binding international Treaty.”
NO. It is an agreement, not a treaty.
An agreement which the ungrateful french – led EU dishonoured when Macron and Barnier started making threats our sovereignty.
October 1, 2020
I wish John Redwood was the pm
October 1, 2020
The ECJ is the commission’s kangaroo court.
October 1, 2020
I’d have thought there is a good case for a counter-claim perhaps in an international court: 1) due to the breach by the EU of the good faith clause re agreeing an FTA and 2) (if true) the threat by the EU to block food imports from GB to NI using some interpretation of the WA would surely be an inducement to or coercion on Ireland, which would have to be a party to this, to breach the Good Friday Agreement.
October 1, 2020
Richard1
IMO a better response would be just to simply tell the french (who are the cause of all the problems) that –
1) No, they are not having access to UK maritime resources.
2) We shall not be trading with France.
3) The Tunnel will be flooded, with adequate warning.
4) All migrants entering UK sovereign territory will be turned back.
5) We will never again come to the military assistance of France.
October 2, 2020
5) ….nor any other member of the EU.
October 1, 2020
Spot on!
They responded to a real action with a piece of nonsense. Draw it out to 1/1/21… then they have no power to do anything.
October 1, 2020
It doesn’t matter what is agreed now because the EU Parliament will never pass it while the UK is in breach of the terms of the WA- that’s for sure
October 1, 2020
Love it
October 1, 2020
To Reply:- Indeed it must be asserted.
But signing any agreement that agreed to arbitration by the ECJ (over disputes between the UK and the EU) was clearly idiotic. They might as well have agreed to arbitration by the EU commission.
Or indeed Blair highely political UK Supreme Court – which would probably find for the EU too.
October 1, 2020
Good. Result
October 1, 2020
Good letter JR, but perhaps consider we ‘brexiteers’ have had enough of the EU. Also we are fully aware the EU’s position is all about French demands for access to our sovereign maritime resources. Compromise on this one issue alone and the conservative party will cease to exist.
Therefore it is obvious – just walk away and trade on WTO.
October 1, 2020
UK abandons the UN Convention that historically agreed the supremacy of the “rule of law” between sovereign states; with its Internal Market Bill.
The UK Conservative government says, sovereign nations can reject international Treaties any time they want. Keep in mind that the UK’s form of democracy (an elected dictatorship that currently governs mostly by decree), is at least two centuries out of date, thanks to being in stasis, caused by having a Monarchical legacy system supplying its Head of State.
October 1, 2020
Trade treaties are altered and changed.
“an elected dictatorship”…did you miss the elections?
October 2, 2020
Did you miss the lock down decrees JR has been objecting to in his postings this week?
October 2, 2020
No I didn’t miss that acorn.
But we now have an improvement in that Parliament will be able to debate these new “decrees” as you call them.
Did other governments like Blair and Brown not act in the same way when they had large majorities?
October 1, 2020
Let’s just go. No payments if no trade deal. Why tarris on our cars? Hope we put them on their too. As usual everything stacked in their favour. Let’s leave and get tough on asylum seekers which are at a record high.
October 1, 2020
The numbers of illegal immigrants with Covid coming is unacceptable. This country is finished.
October 1, 2020
“The government’s immigration policy will open up the jobs of three million UK-born workers – including butchers, bakers, IT technicians, tailors and welders – to unlimited global recruitment at a time of deep concern about the prospect of higher unemployment”.
Migration Watch.
Brexit? “Take Back Control“?
No chance!
October 1, 2020
Spot on.
October 1, 2020
Dear UK
Thanks for your letter but there is no chance, none at all, that there can be an FTA with you while you are in breach of the terms of the WA. If you needed to make changes to this treaty then there is provision for both sides to meet discuss and negotiate but your unilateral decision is not the way. Therefore trust has been broken between us and as far as we are concerned we can talk but nothing further can be agreed until this matter is resolved. Signed EU
October 1, 2020
Fine we leave on WTO rules.
October 1, 2020
+1
October 1, 2020
I believe they the govt are worried that the media and the people will be shouting why didn’t you go WTO 4 years ago
October 1, 2020
Dear EU,
So long and thanks for all the fish.
October 1, 2020
Gantley, You think the EU’s threat to break up the UK is not in breach of the terms of the WA already? Do you want the UK broken up – is that your preference? – because that’s what the alternative to the IM Bill is. The EU’s threats simply confirm how right we were to vote to Leave. It’s a pity our political class was so much less astute than the people.
October 2, 2020
P.S.: Keep your British sovereignty pure and clean, because it will be the only duty-free item in your Brexiteer pouch…
October 1, 2020
When we heard Frau von der Leyen, we were reminded of those infamous words, “My patience is exhausted.”
October 1, 2020
Good letter, if it would be accepted.
If Boris flunks this, the Conservative Party are over for good, in my opinion. Never again!
October 2, 2020
just another nail in the coffin of the Conservative Party.
October 2, 2020
with a megalith on top for good measure
October 1, 2020
Good luck with that, President Fond-of-Lying and your merry band of European Commission hypocrites!
You’ll need it.
October 1, 2020
If only we had a party in government whose raison d’etre is the return back to the British people of their independence and sovereignty as per the democratic wishes of the BBritish electorate. Unfortunately we have two dominant political parties in Parliament are without principle or honesty.
If charlatan Johnson and his party are willing to embrace the destructive nature of progressive fascism of the left and Labour then you can bet your bottom dollar they’ll be willing to capitulate to Merkel. I have no doubt Johnson and Starmer will do just that
I like Mr Redwood and his ilk but why does he and other MPs like him remain part of a vile party that they no longer understand nor agree with?
October 1, 2020
+1
October 1, 2020
… So that they remain in Parliament where the fight is. What is the point of not being in Parliament and being neutered, like UKIP/Brexit Pty?
Take heart, John Redwood and his ilk, (a minority) won The Greatest battle for us. Give him support, give him hope! If no matter what they achieve you are not content, you undermine our own troops morale! They have been truly magnificent, playing this nasty game with the losing hand but winning!
I no longer care how we win so long as we do win. I don’t care how long it takes to get a clean Brexit, so long as we get it. I prefer to wait than be beaten! I prefer to leave Boris where he is regardless of the CV Damage, until we get Clean Brexit. It’s cheap at the price!
October 1, 2020
We’re now at the posturing stage where each actor is seeking to pin blame for the inevitable outcome on others.
The longer-term problem is that the whole world now knows that the Johnson government is one that will happily introduce domestic legislation to overturn an international agreement.
October 1, 2020
If the ‘international agreement’ is damaging to this country, why do you have a problem with that? Do you think the EU should be allowed to partition our country? Yes or No.
October 1, 2020
To be honest the country is “partitioned” (to use your word) already. Northern Ireland has an integrated energy system with the Republic of Ireland, not Great Britain. Northern Ireland has a very different set of political parties from those found in Great Britain. (No doubt there are other aspects that people who are more knowledgeable than me could list as well.) So I don’t feel your existential pain on this point, to be honest. if the government wants to do a deal that treats Northern Ireland differently from Great Britain then I wouldn’t object in principle.
If I feel any existential pain about this whole issue, it’s that earlier this year my family and I were both European and British citizens, and now we’re not. That really grates with me.
October 1, 2020
Your last para explains your attitude in the first. Country means nothing.
October 1, 2020
Will, You’re still European. Just not an EU serf (“citizen”) any more, for which you should be grateful.
The partitioning in question is by the force of a hostile foreign power, taking advantage of a loosely worded WA to gain more power for itself, and to deliberately damage us. It has nothing to do with the varieties of regional governance found within the UK.
October 1, 2020
Will
You speak as though you think the Brutish Isles are part of the European land mass.
October 2, 2020
steve – – the Brutish people ARE part of the European land mass.
October 1, 2020
An SNP MP has been suspended by her party after she admitted travelling to Westminster despite experiencing Covid symptoms. Margaret Ferrier, the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, said there was “no excuse for my actions”. She said she took a test on Saturday – but travelled to London on Monday because she was feeling “much better”.
Ms Ferrier received a positive test result that same day, then took a train back to Scotland on Tuesday.
The MP said she had informed the police and that she deeply regretted her actions.
I’d have thought she should be encouraged to resign – considering the mock horror that ensued with Cummings little trip, and it went on and on for almost weeks.
October 1, 2020
One rule for them, and one for us. This flagrant disregard (and Cummings and Ferguson earlier) demonstrate that they do not care one iota. They are part of a privileged class, separate from us, the ordinary people.
October 2, 2020
Fred H
It’s not acceptable for nasty colonial english tories, but when the left do it we’re not supposed to say anything.
Please try to understand.
October 2, 2020
Perhaps I should apologise for holding extremist views.
October 1, 2020
LOL. The British government upholding British interests? That will be the day. They’re much too busy lying about the fakedemic and housing illegal invaders to bother about any interests except their own and their masters.
October 1, 2020
According to the ‘Sun’, border police at Dover arrested a Romanian lorry driver for attempting to smuggle four migrants out of the UK in his trailer. NOW they decide to stop illegal migration. I can confirm that Andy, Margaret, MiC and tabula were not the four involved.
October 1, 2020
Any deal with the EU will come with strings. Any string is an attack on our sovereignty. We need to leave without a deal. Trade on WTO and await the EU proposals for a trade deal when we are fully out.
October 2, 2020
BW
Any deal with the EU will involve french access to UK sovereign sea areas, and quite probably the continued french dumping of bogus asylum seekers & criminals on our shores.
October 1, 2020
Can anyone point out one benefit to the UK from the WA? Why would any sane person have signed it in the first place? It will be a mill stone around our necks for years to come. I despair at the quality of MPs sitting in our parliament most of whom seem to want to damage our country.
October 1, 2020
Agreed Christine. The Withdrawal Agreement should have been ditched immediately. As Charles Moore said, the Dublin Agreement, which formed the basis of the WA, represented a “complete capitulation” to the EU. He was right then and right now.
It is indeed a millstone as both May and the EU intended, so that we did not benefit from “leaving” the EU.
October 1, 2020
I think you mean the Belfast Agreement. It was indeed an abject surrender to an enemy which had been roundly beaten and comprehensively infiltrated. Its grave consequences continue and not just where Brexit is concerned.
The Dublin Agreement is an EU agreement which says asylum seekers must apply in the first country, and be returned to the first country they register an application in.
October 1, 2020
PS the EU had nothing to do with the Belfast Agreement, apart from M. Barnier popping over for a photo-opportunity at the conclusion. the three countries involved were the UK, the USA, and Southern Ireland.
October 1, 2020
Totally agree.
How come we have so many MPs whose first loyalty is to the EU with whom they connive against their own country and the decision of their countrymen who they are supposed to be representing.
Thank you to JR for pointing out something similar in the HoC on 29 Sept.
October 1, 2020
What on Earth is the point of anything to do with rotten “Brexit”?
The UN has now told us that illegal immigrants are no threat to us and that our money will easily stretch to bringing in more than just their nuclear families.
This chimes eerily with what Migration Watch is saying….
“The government’s immigration policy will open up the jobs of three million UK-born workers – including butchers, bakers, IT technicians, tailors and welders – to unlimited global recruitment at a time of deep concern about the prospect of higher unemployment”.
October 1, 2020
You have to ask why this is the UN’s business when it is known that the vast majority of these migrants aren’t even refugees. Mass migration does little for the donor countries as high birth rates mean the outflux is soon replaced, and the host nations incur substantial expense, increases in crime and terrorism, and loss of social cohesion. The only logical conclusion is that the intent is to break up social cohesion in white-majority nations so there is no concerted opposition to the abandonment of democracy in favour of direct globalist rule. Democracy requires an electorate which sees each other as peers with similar interests.
October 2, 2020
Hard to fault the analysis.
Seems insane to move people to democracy, rather than allow, support, trade & democracy to take place in other countries via targeted tariff reductions and other tightly targeted aid to enable individuals some economic independence.
Perhaps democracy is the problem they UN wish to overcome.
October 2, 2020
I was against this immigration bill. It opens up our country to even more immigration than we previously had. It allows employers to recruit foreign workers at lower pay. This time it’s targeting the jobs of the middle classes. Now we are going into a period of high unemployment the Government should be taking action to close these routes into the country but I doubt they will. They seem to have been under the control of the UN all along.
October 1, 2020
The EU are contravening UN Resolution 3281 Article 32 :
“No State may use or encourage the use of economic, political or any other type of measures to coerce another State in order to obtain from it the subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights.”
October 1, 2020
I fear that your leader does not have the slightest intention of paying any heed to you. You have put down markers about how you feel about things as time goes on, but words are nothing. Action is the key, and unfortunately you all supported Boris and his resurrected May’s Withdrawal Agreement.
October 1, 2020
Oh no! If ECJ finds us guilty we all go to prison! Over 60 million! Largest prison in the world! Who takes care of my garden??
October 2, 2020
Pascal Sauvage is already on the case.
October 1, 2020
Sir JR
As PM it would not be much worse
October 1, 2020
Just 3 months to go. Should one be stocking up? Could the remoaners here post a list of things I won’t be able to get hold of on January 1st when trade with the EU ceases.
October 2, 2020
As an instant thought.
Checking out our local supermarket, Sainsburys
Fine Beans etc Egypt, Kenya
Sweetcorn, India
Grapes, Chile
Fresh fruit Apples etc South Africa
Tomatoes UK
Wine New World all Varieties
Not forgetting inside the EU regional specifics are protected, but the rest of the World has equal or better similar named alternatives. For instance Parma Ham is a world wide product elsewhere but in the EU it can only come from Parma
Then again the German Lidl and Aldi publicize they are dedicated to UK Suppliers.
Fish – there’s a thought
The odd ones HP (House of Parliament)sauce and English Mustard are EU manufactured. Didn’t get the same protection from the EU, I wonder why
Cars are seemingly problematic, Japan all good to go, then again Volvo is Chinese’s. Nissan, is really Renault in disguise, but produced in Sunderland. Ford will get to remove the excessive tax on the Mustang, its 400% more than cars going the other way.
Our homegrown varieties receive punishment with excessive and punitive taxes via the Exchequer. So it is the UK Government that punishes UK manufacture
Then again any restriction pre-suppose that the UK Government will be the one to penalize imports. It also pre-supposes the World Market for goods would be excluded. Outside of the EU protective bubble most goods are considerably cheaper, and as standards are not contrived to protect the internal market the are consistently higher – as they were in the UK before joining the EU. It is often not recognised the UK had to lower its standards when joining the EU because they disadvantaged EU producers
October 2, 2020
buy your Dutch cut flowers now!
October 1, 2020
Good letter.
And needs to be followed by no to WA after Dec 31st.
October 2, 2020
Weren’t we supposed to be calling time on all this posturing sometime soon?
Let’s go WTO.
October 2, 2020
“HMRC estimates the cost of filling in 200 million customs declarations alone – deal or no deal – will cost UK business more than £7bn a year.”
Thousands of UK firms may need an EU office
Simon Jack
Business Editor BBC 2 Oct 20
==
Brexit keeps on giving!
October 2, 2020
Customs declarations are electronically produced and filled in.
You do them now for all goods you send outside the UK
As do companies who import into the EU and UK
The EU requires “paperwork” too.
It takes a few minutes to set up if you are doing it for the first time but with regular trading companies all you do is change a few details like date and quantity.
The estimate is totally ridiculous,
October 2, 2020
Agree
October 2, 2020
We all trust the BBCs reporting on Brexit
October 2, 2020
BBC – therefore must be right!
October 2, 2020
I should think that many business proprietors who can afford it will simply sell their assets and retire, rather than plough on vainly, in the face of all this detritus thrown in their path by the brexit Tory government.
And who can blame them?
The unemployed millions will be absolutely not their faults in my opinion.
October 2, 2020
So, about £35 each. It’s difficult to understand why they would cost so much.
October 3, 2020
It is a ridiculous exaggeration by HMRC.
October 2, 2020
Ho, ho, ho. What a petulant letter. Projection by Redwood as usual.
October 3, 2020
Sir John to you wab.
Show some manners.
October 2, 2020
Excellent point John. As always!
October 2, 2020
You aced it Sir John. Please when will you in No. 11?
October 3, 2020
Right on the Money John Redwood
October 3, 2020
UK sovereignty covers all territories so includes Gibralta South Georgia and the Falklands.
I believe the majority of squid sold in the EU is caught by Spanish vessels in the UK’s South Atlantic EEZs.
Could you find out from the minister concerned whether EU vessels and allocations will be treated the same in those waters as in our home EEZ.
By the way, by virtue of its scattered territories France has the largest EEZ area of any country, so they are being plain greedy to demand perpetual access to ours.
October 4, 2020
correction;
I believe the majority of squid caught in the UK’s South Atlantic EEZs is by Spanish vessels providing around a half of the EU’s supply.
October 4, 2020
It is good to hear a discussion about how disputes between the UK and EU will be adjudicated. Sir Redwood is often clear what he is against, but rarely clear about what he is in favour of.
There is the ECJ model, which is a type of court that can impose financial penalties. There is the WTO adjudication model, using appointees to allow the introduction of tariffs where rules have been broken (although in theory WTO tribunals can impose fines, I believe they never have). Other models are also possible, such as the EFTA court which has no enforcement mechanism at all!
If an UK EU trade deal is negotiated, what dispute resolution system would you like to see, Sir Redwood? Who should sit on it, and what enforcement powers should there be?
Reply WTO model