May I reassure the Opposition that I wanted to make a few comments in this debate, and I submitted a request to participate on my own initiative? I have not received any message from the Whips, either before or during these debates, that I should not make a few remarks. With the permission of the House, I will exercise that democratic right.
I understand that there is a parliamentary game going on and that the Opposition want to extend this debate because there are some other things that they do not want to discuss, but that is a matter for them. Oppositions are quite entitled to use what time is available for their own purposes.
Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the game is not on the Governmentâs side, given that they have withdrawn all their speakers, except for his good self?
John Redwood: On the contrary. As I have just explained, there has been no pressure to withdraw my application. Some of my right hon. and hon. Friends who thought that they were going to speak in the debate have reread the proposal and realised that, given the incisive eloquence we would hear from the Minister, there was absolutely no need for them to come to the Chamber and duplicate and triplicate that. I have been foolish enough to think that I can add something to the Governmentâs case, because I support the measure. The fact that my right hon. and hon. Friends seem to have better things to do shows that they are 100% behind the measure, and just want it to be passed as quickly as possible as they attend to their other duties as busy MPs.
So why do I support these regulations, and why are the Government doing this? The first reason is to take back control. That is what millions of people voted for, and many of us are very frustrated that it still has not happened. As the Minister stated clearly, this is about ensuring that, from 1 January, we in this House, on behalf of the British people, can decide for ourselves within international law what the rules shall be on tariffs, quantitative barriers, restrictions and inducements to tradeâand how right that is.
I always find it so disappointing that the Opposition, who now say that they understand the spirit of Brexit and have embraced it, do not believe that they can come up with any single improvement on the great body of European law that has been forced on us over many years. I am more optimistic. Working with the talent on the Government Benches, I can see lots of ways of improving on European law. It can be better, not worse, and more rather than less in the right areas. Surely our trade policy should be geared to the interests and concerns of businesses that back this country by investing and creating jobs in it.
Stephen Doughty (Cardiff South and Penarth) (Lab): I raised a serious point in an intervention on my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester Central (Lucy Powell) about the Falkland Islands. Does the right hon. Member agree that the UK family is a large one, including our overseas territories, and we ought to be backing the fishing fleet in the Falkland Islands that are trying to export squid and calamari to the EU? Will he join me on a cross-party basis in urging the UK Government to address the concerns of the Falkland Islands?
John Redwood: Of course I hope we can do things to help the Falkland Islands, as we have over many years. They are clearly part of our family, and blood and treasure have been shed to ensure that they are part of our family, so I above all think that we should do all we can.
From 1 January, we in this House can do the things that are in the power of an independent country. We cannot instruct the EU when we are out of it any more than we could when we were in it. There have been a glittering array of failed issues that we put to the EU on which it did not sympathise with us. We had a series of Governments who were so broken backed that they only ever accepted things that the EU wanted to do and did not try to do anything that we wanted to do, which is why it got so frustrating as a member of that body.
It is about taking back control, and I urge everyone here to be more optimistic about the powers of this House. What is the point of someone being a Member of Parliament if they do not believe that they can improve on anything in the inherited corpus of EU law? Why do the Opposition, on the whole, say, âEverything EU perfect, everything generated in this country rubbishâ? It is not plausible, and it is against the spirit of the Brexit majority in this country. They want us to get a grip and do better. If we do not do better, they will change us. That is the joy of Brexitâthey, at last, will get back control over us. If the law went wrong in the European Union, it did not matter who was in the Government. Even if they threw the Government out, nothing changed, because the EU would not change the law, whereas if we get the laws wrong, the public will know what to doâthey can throw Ministers out.
Alex Cunningham (Stockton North): Will the right hon. Member give way?
John Redwood: I am not giving way, because I have a couple of points to make, and I am conscious that many Members wish to make speeches.
Lucy Powell (Manchester Central) (Lab): Where are they then?
John Redwood: There are clearly Members on the Opposition Benches wishing to catch Madam Deputy Speakerâs eye.
The second point I want to make is that this is about our balance of trade and our balance of payments. One of the tragedies of our membership of the European Union over nearly 50 years was how we transformed ourselves from an industrial country with a strong farming and fishing industry into one that had been badly damaged by the rules and tariffs that the EU imposed on us and our trade with the rest of the world. It was asymmetric and very cruel.
We lost a large chunk of our motor industry in the first decade of our membershipâI think it halvedâand we lost a lot of our steel industry. We moved from being a net exporter of fish to being a heavy net importer, with much of our fish taken by foreign vessels and foreign industry. We have lost a lot of our self-sufficiency in temperate food, because the common agricultural policy did not suit us. State aid, cheap energy and so forth on the continent helped places such as the Netherlands to outcompete us on salads and flowers, for example.
We have a big job to do to rebuild ourselves as an industrial, farming and fishing country that is capable of cutting the food miles, cutting the fish miles and delivering more to ourselves and to our own plates through import substitution.
I hope that from 1 January, if not before, Ministers will use these new powers to review all the restrictions and rules about trade and tariffs and create a British model that is better and fairer to Britain, so that âmade in Britainâ means something, and more is made in Britain and willingly bought by British people. It is very difficult for the Opposition to oppose that, although they will doubtless try to, because they always want to sell Britain short and to build the EU up to greater heights.
None the less, outside this Chamber there will be great relief to know that at least some people in Parliament wish to see a revival of British fishing, British farming and British industry and to understand that the rules of trade and the skewed subsidies and tariffs against the rest of the world have been extremely damaging to people who want to build businesses and farming activities in the UK and that it is time for a reversal.
I wholeheartedly support this measure. I want to take back control and I urge more MPs to get into the spirit of it, and, instead of cavilling and criticising every move that this country wishes to make to be independent, contribute to the debate about how we can be better.
November 26, 2020
Indeed, it is so that “…outside this Chamber there will be great relief to know that at least some people in Parliament wish to see a revival of British fishing, British farming and British industry” yet it must be wondered at if plans and preparations are other than well-developed to see that “….Ministers will use these new powers to review all the restrictions and rules about trade and tariffs and create a British model that is better and fairer to Britain…”.
Why has the people’s Blue Boris not yet appointed our own Ludwig Erhard?
November 26, 2020
Dangerous question…
Too old, too right wing, too earnest when speaking about Brexit? Dare I observe that he is a white male…? Feel free to edit that last bit…
Of course, the point is that either Sir John would be a radical reformer – which would trump the reasons above, ruling him out immediately – or he would fit in, and make no difference whatever. The truth is that if a fully-formed Thatcher rolled into the Tory party, she would get nowhere. Though I suspect she’d understand that and not go near the Tories in the first place.
November 26, 2020
People caused this economic devastation not an inanimate virus and those people were led by Johnson and Sunak.
Tory MPs now have to ask themselves, do they want to be responsible for allowing the continuance in destroying our economy and way of life or get rid of them? That is also a choice.
No sane intelligent person would vote for the measures set out by Johnson today with his fake graphs.
The words ‘related’ and ‘with’ were added to the Fake graphs so they would not be seen for dishonest scaremongering. Presumably Scaremongering was the intention of Witty, Valance and Johnson, if it was not their intention then they are truly incompetent. They could have produced graphs that were accurate and factually correct. They have access to all the experts the U.K. could provide.
November 26, 2020
+1
November 26, 2020
I have yet to see any convincing evidence that any prominent figures in the pro-Leave movement are anything other than US supremacists, way before they have any regard for this country or for its people.
To that end – and perhaps to others no less ignoble – all their claimed advantages of leaving would therefore be excuses rather than reasons for so doing.
However, perhaps their subservience might be moderated a little, now that the US is set to remove its europhobic president?
November 26, 2020
But how can you judge when you are an EU supremacist?
November 26, 2020
Well at least that is a new insult Martin.
To add to the many you have used previously to attack the 17 million voters who chose to vote to leave the EU.
November 26, 2020
Edward2
The insult is that we have a system whereby 17m mostly elderly voters can determine the future of a population of nearly 70m and who will be dead by the time the young have to pay the price for their folly.
And we have the nerve to preach democracy to other nations.
Reply In other words 17 million votes dont matter in your tyranny
November 27, 2020
The rules on voting are clear and well understood.
You have to be 18 or older.
You have to be a UK citizen.
It is not compulsory to vote.
So your 70 million number is ridiculous.
No matter how many voted to leave the EU, less voted to remain.
November 27, 2020
More people voted to leave than to remain.
How else would you have us decide? Give a new born baby a pen on exit from the womb. Toss a coin? Jelly wrestling? Committee of chosen representatives (your choosing I assume).
The certainty that you are right and anyone who disagrees is wrong makes you less relevant in any debate.
November 27, 2020
Good god margaret, you do come out with some puerile utter nonsense, and insulting to our past hardworking aged to boot…what is your problem?
November 27, 2020
Margaret H, By looking at the YouGov polling information about the age of voters in the Referendum (polling because the vote did not record the age) elderly voters – those over 65 – amounted to about 21% of those who voted Leave. So not “mostly elderly voters” at all. You’ve been told this before, but – hey – when did a Remain bother about accuracy when a snide slogan can be made against the UK?
November 27, 2020
Dear Martin–Your efforts are pure twaddle and get more and more frenetic. Was my mistake for not doing what I normally do and bin your efforts before reading them.
November 27, 2020
Martin, So your solution to guard us against subservience to the USA, is subservience to the EU? What about trying independence instead?
November 26, 2020
Sir John.
Bravo Zulu.
What is the point of being an MP? I ask myself this question on a daily basis about 80% of the of the members so elected. Why do they really bother? Neither use or ornament.
The fault clearly rests with Central Office and the selection process. Somehow it has to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century. What the people of this country have representing us in the vast majority are not fit for purpose.
November 26, 2020
Yes itâs Heathâs subversion of the selection process, controlled by Central office that is the cause of our abundance of untalented MPs.
November 27, 2020
And the party system itself…..
We are supposed to elect people from our communities to represent us in a parliament.
Instead we have this ridiculous system where no matter who you vote for, the government always gets in !
November 26, 2020
Agree
November 26, 2020
You just passed the Fisheries Act JR? What on earth are you talking about? This is not taking back control of Fisheries it is allowing foreigners in the EU to legitimize theough the back door to con the public! Suggest you read the article by Harkem and others.
Immigration policy another con. Braithwaite bragging at UN how U.K. Is the second largest contributor and will continue to support the UN Migratin Pact that proper Tory govts,around the world will not touch! Including Australia who has a proper points system with cap on numbers, cap on earnings etc. not the con you and your govt introduced!
November 26, 2020
It was the British gift to the Germans of the Deutschmark in place of the Reichsmark that turned the German economy. Honest money.
Germany operates a corporatist model rather than a capitalist one, and we most certainly do not want to replicate it here, that is what the EU had been trying to impose on us.
Major German corporations are fined billions of ÂŁs every year for breaching International law. Siemens, Volkswagen, on and on.
November 26, 2020
They still build the best cars (German cars made by Germans for export).
We in the UK should be doing the same, making the British equivalent of the BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Audi etc
For lots of reasons:
1) High Skills (Engineering and Design)
2) High Productivity
3) High Sense of Patriotism
4) High Quality Exports
November 26, 2020
I do disagree. I know a company which has recently refused to purchase any more (of a named German car make ed) because of poor quality. In addition the MPG and emission claims are fiction Etc ed. The product of software engineers.
However I do agree that the German worker in general is conscientious, happy to do repetitive work and good at taking orders.
Not what you would call free thinkers which is what you need to design great cars, or great anything. We can make machines to do the job of a a German worker.
November 27, 2020
I think we can make cars just as good as the Germans (in terms of engineering and design – and that our workers, from most skilled to least skilled in this industry, just as good).
But the fact is, we’re not. There are no British equivalent of the German BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen, Audi. And for all the German’s faults in this area, at least they are still making these cars – we’re not – not British ones.
November 26, 2020
From the experience of a lifetime I much prefer any products other than European from a reliability aspect.
November 27, 2020
‘From the experience of a lifetime I much prefer any products other than European from a reliability aspect.’
– Fine, but we can’t base a key part of our economy on what just you, as an individual do or don’t buy / think or experience. The reality is that millions of people around the world are buying BMWs, Mercedes, Volkswagens and Audis.
November 27, 2020
I owned a Mercedes and a Toyota for some years and disagree with the notion that the Germans make the best cars, The Toyota was far more reliable than the over-engineered Merc, cheaper to run and cheaper to service.
November 28, 2020
@Dixie
You’re just one person. The important thing for the German economy / productivity / exports / sense of German patriotism is that Mercedes sells 2.4 million cars per year.
Nearly 100 Billion Euros in Revenue.
They’re doing something right!
Instead, we in the UK should be learning more from the Germans on this, trying to emulate them – and sell even more quality British cars than them!
November 28, 2020
German car industry is worth 425 Billion Euros in Revenue.
Not sure how that breaks down into German cars – but significant amount no doubt.
And they’re exporting abroad. And sold as high quality brands whether you agree or not. With high skills. High wages. Adding real sense of patriotism to German economy.
November 26, 2020
Because “the people’s Boris” has become “the people’s Corbyn”.
November 26, 2020
Thank Farage for getting us to this point not this authoritarian PM.
Thank Farage for getting us to this point not the Tory party who conspired with Marxist Labour to prevent our exit from the EU which of course still hasn’t been achieved
Don’t expect praise though I suspect this offence of a PM and his party probably does
I know if such a ‘deal’ is agreed to by Merkel and Johnson then it will be a deal that prevents our exit in some shape or form
And what exactly are we exiting from and entering into? Today, the UK is an authoritarian environment in which the rule of law is applied according to identity and where free speech has been crushed to protect the filth that are the main parties
From slavery out of the EU to slavery within the UK
When does the new blasphemy laws come into being regulating what we can say about anything and everything both outside of and within our own home?
I’m not taken in by Tory bullshit. They have no love for the UK, its people and our culture. It’s simply something to be abused for political gain. At least Labour don’t hide their hate for the UK
November 26, 2020
I’m not convinced Nigel would appreciate you crediting him with being where we are in any shape or form! But I know what you mean.
November 26, 2020
+1
November 26, 2020
You have a very bad persecution complex. Abuse, slavery, crushed, filth. Ludicrous words for which there is no evidence. Only in your sad world. I think you are abusing the good nature of our host because we get this same diatribe daily.
You add nothing ever substantive to the body of the debate.
November 26, 2020
Nigel,
we are currently in vassalage as Johnson called it. That is another term for slavery is it not? The same Vassalage that he resigned from govt for. Vassalage was the reason that he told us May’s deal was dead then signed it! Abuse, yes, slavery, yes, filthy lies, yes, ludicrous words by Johnson I am afraid that Dom has described. I think he could quite rightly also add totally dishonest govt.
November 26, 2020
When do we start getting told when we can put our washing machines on ?
When do we start getting told when we can drive our cars and how far ?
It also seems that our pensions and properties are to be confiscated.
One genuinely fears a knock on the door from the Thought Police for a pithy comment or a joke that would have been acceptable only a year ago – so we’re hardly talking Bernard Manning or Jim Davidson stuff here (I didn’t like either btw.)
Covid 19 has been a right Karen’s Charter.
For the Lefties here who don’t understand irony a Karen is not a racist woman. A Karen is a bossy boots. They didn’t understand the humour behind “I’m going for a McS**t ” either. McS**t wasn’t something that was rubbish as one MP thought but using a McDonald’s toilet without buying any food.
They don’t understand us.
They choose to defame us instead.
November 26, 2020
âWhen do we start getting told when we can put our washing machines on ?â
After the New Years Honours, when Keith Vaz gets a well-deserved move to the House of Lords as Lord Zanussi of Neasden
November 26, 2020
Just remember that 14,000 people voted in the UKIP leadership election. 1.7million voted for Brexit. They were and are conservative and labour voters.
Remember also that while JR and others were fighting for a âfair referendumâ i.e not a yes/no question, Farage was commissioning âNO Campaignâ merchandise because he had conceded that leaving would be the ânoâ (and therefore the ânegativeâ and underdog) campaign. He then conceded the referendum before a vote was counted, and to add insult to injury, said he would not accept the result!
Farage has been a major liability to the long running Sovereignty campaign.
Iâm sick of you kicking the huge majority of Brexiteers in the teeth every day! I for instance, worked longer and harder for Brexit than you ever did, and I have NEVER once voted for UKIP (even though my husband came within 6 votes of the leadership).
JR in this speech has landed another great blow for the clean Brexit we need to restore Democracy, i.e the ability to sack your law-makers. He really deserves a standing ovation from us all.
Thank you JR. A slap down the shoulder at the psychological moment usually gets the horse over the fence.
November 27, 2020
+1
November 27, 2020
Lynn, Thank you for your Tory eulogy. It has reminded me both how little the Tories did around here for the Leave vote, and how much most Tory MPs did to thwart the implementation of BrExit after we’d won.
Locally, Green Leaves did more here than the Tories did. Of course without the many honourable Leave Tory politicians and activists nationally we would have lost. But without UKIP, and without Nigel Farage (even with all his faults), we would have lost too.
November 26, 2020
â 1
I do not agree
November 26, 2020
Spot on Dom as usual.
November 26, 2020
Dom, Actually serfdom – serfdom under the EU empire, to serfdom in the UK. It seems our establishment, particularly the civil service, are prone to the sort of pervasive and petty authoritarianism beloved of EU supporters. Which is hardly surprising. No wonder they (both) love lockdowns.
November 27, 2020
Nick, Johnson and Rees-Mogg called it vassalage. The went to great lengths in the media to make sure everyone knew the country would be in vassalage.
Johnson then lied to pretend May’s deal was dead, he had an oven ready deal and that he would walk away. Over a year ago he publicly stated the U.K. Should leave the EU with or without a deal by the end of October or his party would face extinction. That time cannot come soon enough for me. Then a true Conservative party will emerge.
At this time, although I cannot stand socialism, I think Corbyn could have done better than Johnson.
November 26, 2020
As far as the European Union is concerned, the Tory UK absolutely has left – much to most of its people’s great relief, I assume.
Why do you not share their celebration?
November 26, 2020
you assume wrong – workers in numerous industries are raising the spectre of even MORE unemployment in Europe after UK really leaves and takes the business away.
November 27, 2020
So why is the EU so desperately demanding to cling on to their control over us, if we have left, Martin?
November 26, 2020
+1
November 26, 2020
Much truth in this alas.
Allister Heath today.
Britain is facing ruin, but deluded Tories are still refusing to accept it
Rishi Sunak knows the dangers, but his party has embraced a destructive economic illiteracy.
Indeed, but do not worry Boris says you will be able to boil you kettle on rip off wind energy in a few years time (if the wind is blowing that is). The wrong reset, as the Spectator rightly put it last week. Millions losing their jobs and yet he plans to make it even worse by ramming expensive and job destroying green lunacy down everyoneâs throat.
November 26, 2020
Sunak,knows the dangersđđ
November 26, 2020
+1
November 26, 2020
âState aid, cheap energy and so forth on the continent helped places such as the Netherlands to outcompete us on salads and flowers, for example.â
I remember watching a court case from the public gallery of the European court (2010) after Italy had been subpoenaed for allegedly providing cheap energy to one of its industries on Sardinia. That is how the single market operates. The UK could have taken the Netherlands to court if there had been state aid or other infringements of the rules. That is what a level playing field is all about.
November 26, 2020
Morning Peter – the reason the EU (EEC) did not work for Britain is that we have a civil service and legislature that gold plates rules imposed upon us, the British sense of fair play if you would> Other EU countries stuck to some rules that suited them and ignored others. ‘Twas ever thus and the WE allowed the EU to make us uncompetitive.
The EU model is not one in which the UK can flourish and that is why we had to leave. We, as a nation, can not do selective legal compliance (individuals maybe but not nationally) . That is why we will be the only ones to leave.
Let us go, wish us well and treat us well.
November 27, 2020
@Narrow Shoulders:
I will happily wish you well. After all, my large in-law family are all British or N. Irish.
November 26, 2020
Yes of course the EU legislates for the sun to shine similarly and with ambient temperatures on a level playing field across the EU. Why do the southern countries never obey this rule?
November 26, 2020
14 reactions is a bit much, can I give a combined response please?
* I wasnât referring to the emergency of the pandemic during which a âTemporary Framework for State aidâ was set up after consulting the member states.
* Yes, southern member states and northern member states are different. They still want to be in one union.
* The competition regime is much more than smoke and mirrors, and yes, not perfect.
* The ECJ has often ruled in the UKâs favour. Relatively recently in cases against the ECB.
* The CAP is slowly changing (too slowly for the Dutch) but I donât think it disabled UK farmers from competing. I think that during that era the UK was less interested in growing its own food and more in growing its service industries. Outside the EU that of course has to change, which is what is advocated for on this website
* Larger member states like the UK and Germany tended to have more influence than smaller member states like the Netherlands. Brexit has of course changed this.
* The resumĂ©s of judges of the General Court and the Court of Justice are all listed on the courtâs website. Which one(s) do you object to?
Going to court is often done by the affected parties, which donât have to be governments.
* Nobody âstealsâ your fish. This is all written in agreements (one even by your Charles II đ ) and they now will need to be changed due to Brexit.
* There can be trade deficits in a level playing field. In goods there is/was a UK deficit, but in services it is/was the other way round. Our problems with low wages in other countries are a challenge, but we gradually learned to deal with them
* The complaining about Cameron getting too little from the 27 other EU members goes on and on. Some on our side still think that Cameron got too much.
* WTO litigation on dumping or state aid is a very very slow process.
* Within the EU some member states are indeed more equal than others. Especially in the intergovernmental process. Outside the EU that is no different.
reply If we reach agreements with the EU they cannot be adjudicated by the EU court! The single market was rigged against the U.K. so we ran a permanent large deficit with the EU whilst showing we were globally competitive by running a surplus with the rest of the world. I ran two global manufacturing businesses Which had factories and customers all round the world, but not in The continental EU despite trying.
November 27, 2020
Reply to reply:
If after the separation, a UK farmer experiences unfair competition from a continental exporter, UK courts will now decide as the UK will have left the single market. Vice versa, if e.g. a food company in the Netherlands were to allege unfair competition from a UK chicken exporter, a European court will give the verdict. For Union to Union conflicts, I assume there will also be different arbitration as in other FTAs. We will soon know whether a FTA can be reached.
November 27, 2020
PvL, So you not only steal our fish, but deny it whilst you are doing it. The EU offers a level stealing field – stealing our money, fish, independence and civil rights – whilst permitting mere trade – itself controlled by the EU. That’s a bad bargain.
Ironically it is the Remains (europhiles) here in the UK who are the main culprits, not the EU. Remains here have been so eager to roll over for the EU that – in control of the UK for 50 years – they refuse to defend the UK’s corner (see comments from Andy, Martin, Margaret, etc). They think nationalism is bad. Unlike the politicians from other EU states.
November 26, 2020
Well, thanks to Plague Reaction, EU state aid rules have been relaxed.
It seems that Germany has raked in the biggest share! 52% of money on table apparently!
So much for level playing field and single market integrity.
November 26, 2020
None of them know or care Peter. They have been fed decades of false headlines by The Sun, The Mail and The Express – and they have fallen for them all. None of them can tell you what the ECJ is or does. None of them can name a single ECJ ruling they object to. They just bang on about terrorists and human rights. Imagine their surprise when they find out that the court they hate – the European Court of Human Rights – is nothing to do with the EU.
November 26, 2020
Whereas the nice remain voters who read the Observer Independent Guardian Mirror and FT and yet are not influenced even a little bit.
Another hilarious post from you Andy.
November 26, 2020
Agreed
Most of the damage against the reputation EU was done by judicial activism in the UK using the EU as a cover.
REMAINERS did it.
November 27, 2020
Andy, I object to all CJEU rulings. They all contravene the 1689 Bill of Rights. That’s why I voted Leave.
November 26, 2020
True, indeed Italy have been fined for subsidising their industries, but not stopped from doing so. Brussels has responded to violations of state aid rules with fines but has failed to institute a mechanism to prevent breaches in the first place. So all smoke and mirrors in the EU, as is their norm.
November 26, 2020
The classic European get out. You can always sue. Oh yes and trust the ECJ.
Many European airlines are flying only because of state aid. You might discuss the matter with the boss of Ryanair.
November 26, 2020
I don’t read Sir John’s comment as being an allegation of law-breaking by the Dutch, simply that the rules were completely aligned to the Common Agricultural Policy (particularly for the benefit of France, I believe), and were against UK interests.
November 26, 2020
Germany does sweetheart deals with Russia but that’s ok.
France and Germany do what they want.
November 26, 2020
I see wind is supplying 0.66 gigawatt or 1.6% of demand.
I wonder if part of the new lockdown by another name is to prevent power cuts.
What has princess nut job got to say about this, after all her arts degree gives her experience in power generation.
November 26, 2020
Germany provides more state aid than any other country. What point spending decades and billions in the political EU Court where many judges are not even lawyers? And their brief is to defend the EU above all else? The ex-countries, now subordinate states of the EU bankrupted by Germanyâs disgraceful antics canât afford to take legal action against her.
Donât you know that?
November 27, 2020
Germany also benefits from Euro mercantilism.
November 26, 2020
Not to the CJEU though. They do not apply the EUâs laws. Their terms of reference are to achieve âever closer Unionâ through the court syste.
Better to appeal to the WTO. As the US did, winning a $7.5billion arbitration award because of illegal state aid subsidies to Airbus.
The award of $7.5 billion annually is by far the largest award in WTO historyânearly twice the largest previous award. The Arbitrator calculated this amount based on WTO findings that EU launch aid for Airbus is causing significant lost sales of Boeing large civil aircraft, as well as impeding exports of Boeing large aircraft to the EU, Australia, China, Korea, Singapore, and UAE markets. Under WTO rules, the Arbitratorâs decision is final and not subject to appeal.
November 26, 2020
Sorry for the typo. Not annually!
November 26, 2020
PvL – I think John Major and Tony Blair have been very clear recently whose interests they represent, David Cameron was also weak as you say, if they truly had the rights to go to the court to overturn an unlevel playing field why didn’t they?
It is well past time our media when interviewing these two ex-PMs, that had these opportunities to sue but didn’t do anything about it, why they didn’t take action? One of the biggest things I heard was jobs decimated in the North because our milk was given away to France, our car parts are given away to E Europe, our bacon and pork products etc, plus ‘backroom signed agreements’ by Brown signing our powers away.
November 26, 2020
PvL, Pull the other one. It didn’t help us much with our beef exports, did it? Or your stealing our fish. Or our money. You’d think there would be some gratitude for all we have gifted you, but no, your contempt for us is manifest – it’s more like a level stealing field.
On our side, one of the characteristics of Remain dominated Britain was the propensity of our establishment to put a sign on our backs saying “kick me!”. You can see the same mo with the Remains on here – if it’s British kick it, if it’s EU praise it. And of course the EU duly obliged.
November 26, 2020
There never has been a “level playing field” and our ÂŁ100bn/YEAR trading deficit with the EU evidences this.
BTW, how can you even begin to have a “level playing field” when statutory minimum wages differ so widely across the EU?
The UK has always suffered from asymmetrical non-tariff barriers where we have opened up our market only to find ourselves locked out of EU markets through both devious means and just refusing to implement EU directives.
As a typical example, I remember a German company I knew well was being illegally supported by the German government by being paid large sums of money for “market research” reports.
November 26, 2020
+1 typical – the continentals obey the letter of the law sometimes, but the spirit of the law is beyond them. Ergo no âlevel playing fieldâ is possible.
November 26, 2020
It was the equivalent of an east European countries leader going to Moscow & demanding from Stalin, Khrushchev or Brezhnev change. As Cameron found out when he returned to the UK with his tail between his legs having totally failed to return with even crumbs from the captain’s table. The British people took notice & dually decided to vote leave.
PS How many of the 4000 bottles of vintage champagne & other wines in the vast Brussels wine cellars that they helped to pay for will be returning to the UK on 31st December? That’s if Jean-Claude Juncker hasn’t quaffed them already before he left
November 26, 2020
Peter,
The UK have, I believe, always considered the Netherlands intrinsic friends. Our cordial relations, shared history/culture and indisputable warm mutual attachment is worth upholding.
I am positive, should the British Government wish to give leeway on trade infringements, these would be given to the Dutch first, and trust vise-versa. I hope this will be the case post Dec 2020.
November 26, 2020
Lot easier to block imports invoking WTO rules on dumping. A lot of the cut flowers come from Kenya.
November 26, 2020
Rubbish! The eu laws on State Aid only applies when it suits them. Germany and France have broken that law on many occasions without retribution because the eu has always made an excuse for them.
November 26, 2020
I can remember how the EU first operated its laws on maximum State debt (60% of GDP) and maximum fiscal deficit (3% of GDP) in the Eurozone. France, Germany and Portugal just exceed the 3% fiscal deficit limited. France and Germany were let off but Portugal got a hefty fine.
All Member States are equal ……………………………
But some are more equal than others.
November 26, 2020
+1 Portugal can no longer escape. Itâs political leaders were under the illusion they could strike a trade agreement with the U.K. Hell, they thought they were Sovereign, they donât anymore.
November 26, 2020
Grow up!
November 26, 2020
Exactly.
November 26, 2020
+1
November 26, 2020
On planet normal podcast this morning they report that the 111 service advice has changed and is now encouraging more people with Covid (but not seriously ill) to go into hospital. I assume this is so as to pretend the NHS is more overloaded than it is, why else?
November 26, 2020
Also perhaps infecting more people in the process – seems totally idiotic. Best to post them a ÂŁ10 pulse oximeter for the finger and tell them to come in if it goes below X%.
November 26, 2020
Thanks for that entertaining account, well done John ! I wonder what deal Boris will finally land us with though.
I see the Treasury projections used in yesterday’s spending review were developed before news of the Covid vaccine availability and so assume an entirely incorrect schedule for Covid effects to reduce. What is it about the Government that they are prepared to use the output of flawed and compromised models to set policy ?
November 26, 2020
“I hope from 1 January, if not before, Ministers will use these new powers…”
So, why haven’t Ministers taken action yet, or even articulated a plan to take advantage of impending independence? Why is it ‘hope’ rather than ‘expect’, especially given your (very touching) confidence in Ministers abilities? Could it be that there is no action to take, because so little is going to change, because BRINO is on the verge of being formalised?
On a separate point… I am grateful that you saw fit to pulish my contributions yesterday, but can’t help but be a little disappointed that you didn’t make your engagement with them apparent. Obviously I am confident in my views and arguments. If they forced you to reconsider, it would be good to know – not so much for my own satisfaction, but for the benefit of others perhaps taken in by your own eloquence.
November 26, 2020
If only your views could be supported John. Some of us still have the belief that with the right government in charge this country could be proud of the Great in Britain. Unfortunately with the current dire lot in the cabinet and Symonds at the tiller we are likely to crash and burn. Your talents have been truly wasted. Please don’t give up trying. I am scared for the future of this once amazing country which seems to have floundered over the past few decades. It’s tragic.
November 26, 2020
How come, through the Great Pandemic all of this Brexit stuff carries on apace?
Business as usual…but not OUR businesses.
Why is a nation-crashing virus not more important than a process we have all been effectively excluded from?
I was desperate for Brexit …TO BE FREE OF BRUSSELS.
And now I do not even have my basic freedoms.
November 26, 2020
Freedom – the hardest thing to fight for and the easiest to lose
November 26, 2020
Congratulations on a stirring speech describing well how the EU has not worked to our advantage and the opportunities which will be available when we leave.
November 26, 2020
Very good speech.
I just wish to God we were back in the sort of normal times it echoes.
November 26, 2020
I welcome the prospect of the UK growing more of its own food. To achieve this, we need farm workers, who currently can’t live in the countryside because they are priced out of the property market, by wealthy people buying up country cottages for second homes and holiday lets.
Currently, its seems the government see more value in the countryside by the farmers keeping it looking pretty for the tourist industry.
November 26, 2020
The OBR set out the cost of your Brexit yesterday.
4% of GDP – a permanent hit for future generations m.
An additional 2% with no trade deal.
The Europhobes expect my generation to pick up the tab for their xenophobia.
The Europhobes have a shock coming. Weâll make you pay your own bill.
November 26, 2020
It’s a guess into the future.
Maybe we might be worse off than we might have been at some point in the future.
If the Government takes positive action we might be better off.
Anyway I thought you green fans were against growth.
November 26, 2020
Oh the OBR!đđ and then you are coming after us over the Sticks with a bill?
Give over Andy, I have a stitch!
November 27, 2020
Andy, I thought you told us that the 4% majority of the Leave vote had already died off? I seem to remember you chortling about their deaths last January. So you’re going to have trouble making them pay!
The crucial point is that you have never explained why Brexit Britain is such a basket case (in your opinion) out of the EU, when the rest of the world isnât. The reality is that setting rules for ourselves is bound to be better than having a bunch of corrupt foreigners doing it for us.
November 26, 2020
Last December the Conservatives pledged to maintain foreign aid at 0.7%. This was a manifesto promise that they are now trying to break.
The money is almost a side issue. Sure that rabid frothing hard right Faragists will lap it up. The ignorant always do.
The real damage is twofold. Firstly, the decision will kill children. Save The Children estimates at least 10,000 children will die as a result of this Tory decision. Andrew Mitchell last night made an even higher estimate. 100,000. Either is shocking.
The second is reputational. Even as they pull up the drawbridge further the Pensioners claim to be fighting by for a Global Britain. It has always been nonsense – and their further reversal of policy to try to replicate the white nostalgia days of the 1950s proves it.
Be in no doubt this aid cut does not help anyone here. The money does not go to the homeless or to veterans or to the overfunded elderly in this country. It goes straight into the pockets of Tory donors – the billionaire offshore tax avoiders.
The money literally means nothing to any of you. It means everything for the people you are taking it from.
At some point this government might choose to step out of the gutter. Just not today.
November 26, 2020
Switch the money currently being wasted on ridiculous projects to worthwhile ones.
Maybe Save the Children’s top management might reduce their overheads and the numbers of staff on big salaries.
We still give more in aid than nearly all the EU nations.
November 26, 2020
Brexit was a manifesto promise. We are waiting.
Overseas aid does more damage than good. It should stop.
November 27, 2020
I believe the Swiss Banks are not happy with Britain reducing its overseas charity budget….and Dictators are beside themselves with fury?
November 27, 2020
Andy, Remain pledged to respect the Referendum vote. But you didn’t. That is anti-democratic corruption, and has damaged the UK’s reputation and material well-being. The Tory manifesto didn’t promise to knock 11.3% off UK GDP, but that’s what has happened. And that is the consequence of the lockdowns you and people like you hysterically demanded. You obviously enjoy the damage you have inflicted on the UK – you boast about it. Isn’t it time you recognised that your bile, bitterness, and hatred of the UK is damaging even you and your family?
November 26, 2020
If there’s a deal then the UK will not have left the EU, as we all know.
The EU will find a mechanism to prevent Farage from achieving his dream and no doubt fulfilling the dreams of both main parties which of course is creating the mirage of LEAVE to deceive their leave voting constituencies while knowing we haven’t left
Both main parties are very much on the side of Merkel and her plan to place a muzzle and a leash on the UK. A muzzle imposed from without and a muzzle imposed on the majority by this poisonous, rancid Parliament
November 26, 2020
Thank you.
November 26, 2020
Well said Sir John, and we have a huge opportunity to re-establish this country’s industry, fishing and farming.
I am sorry for all those small cafes that have been put out of business by this pandemic but all those involved now have the chance to switch jobs and help rebuild this country. Do something productive and move us away from being the ‘snack bar of Europe’.
November 26, 2020
The majority of the state sector will get a pay increase and that is a fair and reasonable approach says Sunak. So why exactly is this fair? The state sector (with pensions included) are about 50% over remunerated relative to the private sector already and a high proportion of them do little of value and some do positive harm.
The economic downturn partly due to Covid but mainly due to the Goverment’s over the top & misguided reaction to it (and the appalling performance of the NHS) will & have meant very large pay cuts for the private sector on average. We need pay cuts in the state sector and far less state sector too Sunak – time to get real.
November 26, 2020
+1
November 26, 2020
Agreed. But unfortunately Johnson is doing all he can to destroy what is left of the motor industry by his misconceived policies. His enforced shutdown of much of the economy has put paid to a further chunk. We have yet to see what concessions he makes to the EU in the final stages of the current negotiations. His comprehension of the economic consequences of his green agenda is woefully inadequate, misguided and will be the ruin of the nation. The Conservative party needs to replace him with someone who actually understands how wealth (and jobs) can be created and what will destroy it (and jobs).
November 26, 2020
So state aid and cheap energy benefit the Netherlands in the EU but pénalise us in the EU. Where is the logic in that.
November 26, 2020
Andrew Mitchell on the cut in overseas aid – âWe are a very generous nationâ. Fine then we can obviously give directly to suitable overseas charities as we are so generous. Rather a gap in him logic here. One is not being generous if we are forced through government taxation to give especially as so much is wasted on route and in corruption.
Why Mr Mitchell do we need government to confiscate money in taxes and give it away for us (after their huge cut in administration costs). There clearly should be no legally binding limit at all. Some overseas aid may be justified sometimes but the sum needed varies on the circumstances pertaining at the time.
November 26, 2020
A gap in HIS logic!
November 26, 2020
Less trade! More protectionism! What a dismal anti-intellectual tirade. Don’t you know anything about the economics of international trade? How it is win/ win?
November 26, 2020
Well said..!
Everything now depends on Boris – Does he have the nerve to now walk away without a deal?
If he does we all know the media, the lefists and remoanres will be on his back for weeks, probably months, complaining….. and that will be at a far higher heat setting than used by those complaining about the pathetic decrease in overseas aid by a measly 0.2%.
If he doesn’t or goes for a fudge then he and the Tory party will never be forgiven.
November 26, 2020
Allister Heath in the telegraph has a good piece on the utter failure of yesterdayâs statement to recognise the depth of the disaster caused by the Wuhan virus and the panicked lockdown reaction.
The key sentence is â[Rishi Sunak] must explain to his increasingly economically illiterate party that it cannot continue its debilitating descent into proto-socialist stupidity.â
Beware Tory MPs. You need to demonstrate a strong and growing economy – better than the eurozone – or its Starmer and Rejoin in 2024.
November 26, 2020
Sunak canât explain that because he has proved beyond all doubt that he is economically illiterate.
Starmer has abandoned rejoining, thatâs why is is a greater threat than had he cling to it.
November 26, 2020
He will change and so will public opinion unless the Conservative govt delivers.
November 26, 2020
Off-topic –
I believe that the Second Reading of the Rule of Law (Enforcement by Public Authorities) Bill, which had been due this month, has now been delayed. This is my understanding of where we are now:
1) the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill, is a Government Bill, sponsored by the Home Secretary;
2) if passed in its current form, it has been argued that it would permit a limited range of UK authorities to commit an unlimited range of crimes;
3) it has completed its Second Reading in the House of Lords, two months after having been introduced to the Commons.
Meanwhile,
4) the Rule of Law (Enforcement by Public Authorities) Bill is only a Private Members’ Bill;
5) if passed, it would require authorities to actually enforce the law; and,
6) it is not even due for its Second Reading in the Commons until almost eleven months after its introduction to the chamber.
November 26, 2020
Back in the real world, your Brexit kicks away the crutches of an economy already crippled by Coronavirus.
There are more UK people working in the leisure industry in Europe that will likely lose their jobs to EU workers due to Brexit, than employed by fishing.
November 26, 2020
I’ve seen a couple of products Made in Britain that bear the Union Jack, but the small print reveals that the source of the product is another country; or, in the case of a handsoap with a British sounding name and flag, scrutinising the label showed the head office to be based in Dublin. We should require more accurate labelling.
November 26, 2020
“…….. State aid, cheap energy and so forth on the continent …..”
“…… at least some people in Parliament wish to see a revival of British fishing, British farming and British industry”
A revival of British industry will need cheaper energy.
November 26, 2020
I distrust the EU so much that I really hope there is no deal. The one that they are now calling a treaty!!
There is no possibility whatsoever of any sort of agreement with that pack of snakes that will not have at least one tenuous method of dragging the UK into the ECJ at every opportunity.
This is exactly what they are trying to do to Hungary and Poland with the Covid fund. The clause, “you get the money if you follow the law.” Then all of a sudden a law appears stating you must take illegal immigrants. If you don’t then no money. it is an insidious way of controlling the member states.
November 26, 2020
BW
“I distrust the EU so much that I really hope there is no deal”
==========
There shouldn’t be one, we didn’t vote for one, so Boris Johnson has no authority to sign or even pursue one. He has no mandate.
November 26, 2020
+1 and the âWithdrawal Agreementâ was invented by Remainers in Westminster. Agreement was not required.
November 26, 2020
+1
November 26, 2020
Michael Gove has been claiming that any border chaos after January 1st will be all the EU’s fault. Specifically, it will be the EU’s fault for actually following the rules, when he thinks they should be taking a “lassiez faire” approach i.e. have rules but not actually bother to implement them, which is what the UK will be doing (presumably because the UK will be incapable of doing so on January 1st).
What a weak attempt to pass the buck. Anyone who advocated for Brexit and shares responsibility for its implementation should also be taking full responsibility for any and all negative consequences.
November 26, 2020
Surely you don’t expect M Gove to take responsibility for anything never mind consequences. Everytime I hear his name my mind conjures up the image of him standing in front of that red bus saying how we have to be practical, confident, forward looking. Well we’ll see in a few day’s time when the bad news of the trade talks seeps out- no wonder Boris is putting the country into almost total lockdown
November 26, 2020
Speaking personally Sam, I don’t expect any Brexiteer to take responsibility for anything. One of the core “messages” of Brexit was blaming everything on others.
November 27, 2020
Well, Peter, when are Remains going to take responsibility for the incredible political and judicial turmoil over the last four years consequent on their attempts to thwart our democratic vote?
November 27, 2020
It was a national decision.
Made by counting the votes in a referendum.
I haven’t seen Leave voters blaming others.
Except remainers who have made it their life’s work to delay that decision.
Over 4 years now.
November 26, 2020
The authorities in Calais have guaranteed there will be no delays, they have spent big money preparing.
November 26, 2020
So why the delays earlier this week? The authorities in Calais appear ready to implement the necessary checks. Why is the UK not similarly prepared?
November 27, 2020
You seem to be hoping there will be delays Peter.
Why is that ?
November 27, 2020
Quite correct Lynn
CALAIS, France (Reuters 2020) – Authorities in Calais are lobbying the French government to create a duty-free zone for British shoppers that would cover the entire port town in northern France if a future trade deal between Britain and the EU heralds a return of trade tariffs.
Several million Britons used to make day trips across the Channel every year during the heyday of the booze cruise, local officials say, before duty-free shopping ended in 1999 following the creation of the EUâs single market.
Its renaissance on board vessels and in the ferry terminal would be âvery good for the portâ, said Calais port director Jean-Marc Puissesseau, who is overseeing a 700 million euro expansion that will double the portâs capacity from early 2021.
November 27, 2020
Peter
If you had manufactured products for years and sold them in Europe with all the certifications required including CE marking, then holding up passage of that product suddenly after January 1st is simply playing us up.
There are hardly any queues at EU ports for goods arriving from non EU countries like China India and America so why pick on the UK?
November 26, 2020
I was lucky enough to turn on the TV at the right moment to witness this speech. It was excellent and persuasive. It was just a shame that it was not made to a much fuller House.
November 26, 2020
excellent speech, and specific points made about Governments and indeed Oppositions.
When is that House of 650, less the votes ever used, actually going to represent and promote the British. Thank you!
November 26, 2020
Dear Mr. Redwood,
The sort of speech our Prime Minister or the current holders of the great offices of state should be making. I look along the government benches and sigh.
November 26, 2020
Agree – JR should be PM
November 26, 2020
+1
November 26, 2020
Thank you, Sir John. Your last paragraph expresses what I hope all MPs will do for many future Parliaments. Success will take decades and needs our people onside and up for the task of restoring our country for the benefit of future generations. The short term is likely to be hard, not least because the EU do not want us to prosper. But first we have to get past this year-end without the shackles with which the EU (and sadly some here) wish to bind us.
November 26, 2020
Once again, you have hit the sweet spot with this contribution.
Everything you say is exactly correct. One only has to read the comments section in the Times, in particular, to realise that there are a huge number of supposedly intelligent people who are so intent on running their own country down that they can see nothing good about it. They can’t all be Russian trolls.
I have to say, we have heard nothing from the government about industrial strategy, or even my pet subject, rebuilding our fishing fleet. This is a missed opportunity. The government should be offering financial inducements from the formner CAP contributions to encourage our farmers to diversify and replace foodstuffs and plants that we currently import from the EU.
It surely isn’t necessary for the whole of government to be paralysed by the Virus problem.
We should have a firm plan for boosting highly automated UK manufacturing in all sectors. By the time one takes into account the extra income tax, NI, the reduced amount of unemployment benefit, and the benefits to our economy of the wider supply chain, the gap between manufacturing in China and the UK cannot be as wide as it appears.
We might even manufacture our own PPE !
November 26, 2020
Why have we not walked away from talks with the corrupt EU Ponzi negotiators? Boris and Frosty are losing the public’s respect.
November 26, 2020
“Why have we not walked away from talks with the corrupt EU Ponzi”
========
Because Boris Johnson was lying when he said that would happen on Oct 15th.
Oct 15th – the date at which the conservative party made sure they would never win another general election.
November 26, 2020
It was like a D Notice on the 15th October – another deadline missed and the media and MPs said nothing – utter disgrace
November 26, 2020
Frost doing a great job. He has to stay the course. He will deliver. But we need to support him anyway we can.
November 26, 2020
Lynn Atkinson
“But we need to support him anyway we can.”
============
Better to warn of what will happen if we’re betrayed.
November 27, 2020
I hope you are right Lynn…..I smell theatrics?
November 26, 2020
Marvellous speech and what a damming summary of the Opposition Sir John.
Our parents generation would not believe you had to stand up in Parliament and spell it out to fellow MPs Incredibly.
November 26, 2020
The Brexit Political establishment have two tasks over the next year .
1 They will wish to borrow a huge amount of money with which to subsidise business and jobs so as to cover the |Brexit damage whilst cause and effect can be seen. They will do all they can to prevent any clear view of the amount they are forcing our children to pay and our public services to do without, to pay for the Brexit con. They will wish to confuse it with Covid spending and borrowing.
2 They will wish to convince their own supporters that perfidious foreigners are responsible for the bad effects they are unable to hide with our money , queues higher prices and the non appearance of almost every bounty they promised
That is more or less the shape of the next year I shall leave Sir John to fill in the misleading comparisons and the usual bag of tricks employed for arguing black is white
November 27, 2020
Newmania
Rather hypocritical, but at least you are starting to understand the ramifications of Remainer political shenanigans.
Remainers have been deploying disruptive tactics since 2016…..which includes the current crop of incompetent Government officials! A clean Brexit may have been completed in 2017, but egregious Remainers have used every cynical trick in the book to thwart Brexit (aka, will of the majority).
November 27, 2020
Newmania, I expect that the benefits of the partial BrExit we will get, will partly offset the damage due to the foolishly imposed lockdowns. Remains have, of course, been on the wrong side of both – preventing an early, full, Leave; and stridently demanding ever harsher lockdowns.
November 26, 2020
we’ve heard it all before- the old meaningless slogan like taking back control- so we’ll see in a couple of days how much control we have actually taken and then we’ll begin to wonder what it was all about- considering we’ll be in backwater creek with no say and that in any case the next generation is already drawing up plans to have us rejoin. Taking back control? like as if we ‘the people’ ever had control- nonsense- and where is Liz Truss with all of these talked about plans for new foreign trade with new foreign partners? sigh….
November 26, 2020
JR, A wonderful speech, just the sort of tonic we need. Let us hope that Boris Johnson listens.
November 26, 2020
The Conservative woman is now my Go-to read every morning, oodles of common sense displayed whilst the government displays a minus figure in the common sense department.
November 26, 2020
And me.
November 26, 2020
Lester
It’s conservative – so not to be trusted.
November 26, 2020
Iâm Conservative, I have been fighting in this ditch that you have happily joined for decades. The British, left right and centre always join to oppose continental fascism.
Donât discount the magnificent contribution of Conservatives. You will not win without us.
November 26, 2020
Problem is, Lynn, Johnson Cameron Major May have made conservative somewhat of a dirty word.
I used to hold similar views, but now I don’t even vote.
November 27, 2020
Lynn Atkinson
Continental fascism? We had our own murderous fascist in Cromwell. He even chopped the king’s head off, a feat not achieved by any other ‘continental’ fascist.
November 27, 2020
Still living in the past.
November 27, 2020
Fascist? Just a (religious) Puritan at odds with the concept of Royalty. A fair point. However, was Civil War justified to be promoted and execution of the Monarch acceptable? Reap as you sow. No tears from most people.
The terrible retribution levied by Charles II on so many of his father’s plotters was also pretty murderous!
November 27, 2020
Perhaps Kathy Gyngell should run for PM. She and her team could hardly make a greater mess of things, and perhaps even resurrect the real Conservatives.
November 26, 2020
The story reads much better in Hansard. I thought at least the veteran Eurosceptics would have turned up; Bill Cash, Bernard Jenkin and co!
November 26, 2020
Many watching on the monitors all over the building. Social distancing and all that…
The Tories only needed that 1 contribution. It was a bullseye!
November 27, 2020
+1
November 27, 2020
Which Tories do you mean? The Boris Downing Street Party; the Mark Francois (ex Steve Baker) ERG 62 Party or the Steve Baker (ex Mark Harper) Covid Recovery Group Party?
November 26, 2020
Off topic as usual. Birmingham was in Tier 2 before Lockdown 2 and will apparently be in beefed-up Tier 3 after Lockdown. Proof if any was required that shutting pubs and gyms while allowing the infection hotspots in schools and colleges to flourish doesn’t work. But of course the real objectives are those of the World Economic Forum, control of the worker drones by a small rich ‘elite’. Hopefully the Reform Party will be visiting the doomed pubs and bars with suitable educational leaflets to display in their windows.
November 26, 2020
+ 1
November 26, 2020
So its not the shops and restaurants spreading it is it. Four weeks lockdown for a two week incubation virus and numbers rose in that four weeks! So what happened, why are there investigations done. Children wouldnât have been visiting Grandparents in the last month, teenagers not mixing outside of school, no inter house mixing, no sleeping over or travelling between tiers, no weddings, no christenings, no childrenâs parties, we deserve to be told how this is spreading from track and trace otherwise this is just never ever ending. If we get shut of it, weâre allowing people to fly into the UK without covid tests with the virus.
November 27, 2020
+1
We dare to hope!
November 26, 2020
Very well stated John.
Thank you for your inexhaustible determination and courage!
November 26, 2020
Indeed Sir John; if only you were PM instead of dithering Boris. Perhaps you should also press for the restoration of a robust Treason and Sedition Law to deal with those who have done a disservice, often seemingly deliberate, to our country.
November 26, 2020
David J
“restoration of a robust Treason and Sedition Law”
=============
Two illegal wars – lying to the nation Tony Blair repealed those laws, unsurprisingly.
November 26, 2020
No, they were repealed after Maastricht by the Major Government, slotted into a long and complex Bill at the last minute. No MP noticed and even the Civil Service was unaware until Norris McWhirter (a conservative) pointed it out got asked questions.
Have you read âTreason at Maastrichtâ? Itâs an education and time has proved its assertions.
November 26, 2020
Lynn
Well there’s a revelation. I always thought it was Blair.
Still, I automatically blame him for most things.
November 27, 2020
…a sad historically negative political education! What is in the head of so many of these people we call the ruling class?
November 26, 2020
Rod Liddle today in the Spectator points out the economic problem we have.
Jobs in the private sector reduced by 51,000 from March through to September, while public sector jobs increased by 39,000. Over the year to June public sector weekly earnings increased by 4.1 per cent, while those in the private sector reduced by 2.4 per cent. Even before Covid struck, average weekly wages in the public sector (ÂŁ632) were ahead of those in the private domain (ÂŁ570).
And the 10% variation is before state sector pensions are considered which can make it more like 50% more.
November 26, 2020
Just heard that Poole where my son lives and Shropshire where I live are both in Tier2. Wonderful! I can go and stay in a hotel and eat in the restaurant with strangers but can’t see my son in his own home. I can go shopping and go to the hairdressers ( thank God), go to the gym or theatre or cinema but can’t meet my daughter indoors. Have I got this right? It’s utter rollocks.
November 26, 2020
Indeed.
Lord Sumption – Covid measures will be seen as ‘monument of collective hysteria and folly’ âa cavalier use of coercive powersâ and âloss of freedomâ
He is exextly right and futher it will clearly cause far more marm than good even in health terms. The government has not even bothered to assess the costs of the lockdown so negligent are they.
November 26, 2020
“a revival of British fishing, British farming and British industry”.
This was fifty years ago. World has changed. It will not happen.
As Gina Miller put it: “Brexiteers are longing for a world that dosen’t exist”.
There won’t be no Sunny Uplands with brexit. It will just be downward spiral I am afraid.
November 26, 2020
But British fish are caught daily, just not caught by the people who own the fish – nothing to do with 50 years ago!
What causes Continental sleepless nights, that as far as the British are conserned “There are as many good fish in the sea as ever came out of it.â
November 27, 2020
According to a recent letter in the Faznet:
“The British have already spent more on Brexit than 47 years of EU membership cost them!”
November 27, 2020
Stop and have a think Margaret.
Over 47 years of membership the UK has probably given the EU over ÂŁ300 billion in membership fees.
The costs of implementing laws directives rules and regulations is probably another ÂŁ300 billion.
We run a trade deficit with the EU of tens of billions a year.
I look forward to you explaining how Faznet calculated that ridiculous claim.
November 27, 2020
And you justify your EU sycophancy from one letter in the FAZ? Amazing. I suppose we can be grateful you don’t base your views on eleventy three letters, then, Margaret, other wise your logic would be irrefutable.
You do realise that at current rates of gross payments to the EU of cÂŁ20bn/yr, for 47 years, the cost to us of the EU is about ÂŁ940bn? Which is four times the covid lockdown hit of 11.3% of UK GDP (cÂŁ230bn), itself the worst disaster to befall the UK economy for 300 years? No, of course you don’t.
November 28, 2020
NickC
there is actually an exact figure and it is not close to what yo have calcultaed, but then it comes to real facts you are rather sloppy
November 27, 2020
Billy Elliot, The world is what we make it. So of course the UK can prosper outside the EU. Just as Japan and New Zealand do.
November 26, 2020
The argument over FULL sovereignty is over, we voted the for the Conservative party and gave it a large majority so that it can reverse Calamity Theresa’s disastrous WA.
Sir Redwood, you are right and I hope that the government will stand fast and not allow the EU any leeway on absolute sovereignty.
Regarding fishing, we should also stipulate our full right on INSPECTION of foreign catches and large fines for infringement.
We should stop the use of electric shock fishing in UK waters.
Obviously, NO to ECJ and NO to level playing field.
November 26, 2020
Elli,
Clearly you have not read the Fisheries Act passed through parliament I. Stark contravention of Fake Tory got promises. Auggestmyou acquaint yourself before getting too excited.
November 26, 2020
Elli
“we voted the for the Conservative party and gave it a large majority so that it can reverse Calamity Theresaâs disastrous WA.”
==========
But they have not reversed it, and they have no intention of doing so.
November 26, 2020
Off topic, an intervention I saw from the current Speaker reminded me I have neither heard or seen his predecessor for months. Isnât life grand!
November 26, 2020
UK councils are required to make application and justification for a slice of the ÂŁ4bn Levelling Up Fund
Likewise shouldnât foreign countries wishing for aid be required to make application and justification for a slice of UK development aid fund
November 26, 2020
Can we have a debate on politics as religion, it seems to me the modern political class want to set up a mirror image of the religious totalitarianist nightmare of the middle ages.
November 27, 2020
Welby believes in BLM certainly. Maybe thatâs why he has no congregation.
November 26, 2020
In terms of what our host wishes to achieve through Brexit there is great cynicism as to what will be achieved by the constant toing and froing between Brussels and London. Not surprising when in the same newspaper on the same day one can read articles that contradict each other. It is as if the papers are trying to cover every possible outcome with little by way of fact that can be verified. From within the smoke of information it would appear that the EU would wish to retain some form of legal control over our fishing grounds, our ability to compete industrially in terms of financial support within international law, and to retain some form of control via the ECJ. On the part of the EU this would seem a basic lack of understanding of what a sovereign country is. Not surprising as they drive to reduce the sovereignty of their remaining members.
For me it would be unacceptable to relinquish any of the above sovereign powers for an FTA with the EU. The EU must greatly fear our collective talents to make such demands. If that is the current state of the game then reversion to trade on WTO terms is no great hardship. Parliament and the British people deserve clarification by the PM in the HoC. It will not be acceptable for any final agreement to be pushed through Parliament on the nod, because I for one do not trust members of the HoC to even now understand the full implication of the peoples vote in 2016. Get this wrong and it is the end of the conservative party.
November 26, 2020
England circa 1350 during the black death,
“Ye Olde Inn will be closed until further notice as we are unable to serve substantial meals.”
In a real pandemic you don’t need rules and this is why the Government is making themselves look silly with contradictions and inconsistencies.
First try admitting that this is not a pandemic at all. It is a syndemic.
Why is Focused Shielding* any less practicable than Total Lock Down or Track, Trace and Isolate ?
*As with war time this will involve evacuations of vulnerables but for shorter durations.
November 26, 2020
It now appears that refugees have more rights than the UK people and mainly as they please.
November 26, 2020
I see that Boris is surrounding himself with remainers with the appointment of Dan Rosenfield as his new chief of staff
November 26, 2020
An Osborne man. Julian Braithwaite (Blaire man) UK ambassador to UN bragging how the U.K. will implement the UN migration Pact! Tory govt throughout the world will not touch it i.e. Australia with its proper point based system!
November 26, 2020
glen
Johnson can surround himself with what he likes – he’s finished and has taken the conservatives with him.
They will not be winning another general election, ever.
November 27, 2020
If the Tories have the guts to get rid of Johnson as soon as Brexit is over, and replace him with a conservative, all to play for. Else you are right. When they lose me they are on the cross benches.
November 26, 2020
Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP today said ââThe North is at the forefront of the UK’s green industrial revolutionââ
What planet are the Tories on ?
November 26, 2020
Insane. This the Transport Sectretary (business and finance at Manchester Poly) who is so ignorant of science, transport and engineering that he even thinks electric cares are zero emission! He probably quite wrongly also thinks they save significant C02.
Led by donkeys!
November 27, 2020
LL
+1
If he can’t change the rear axle on a Bedford truck on a dark winter’s night during a blizzard……..he can’t be called Transport Secretary.
I bet he doesn’t even know what a carburettor does.
November 27, 2020
Do you remember Marples, who couldn’t drive, but became Conservative Minister of Transport from 1959-1964?
November 27, 2020
where does the carburettor fit on a EV?
November 26, 2020
JR
Can you shed some light on The United Kingdomâs Fisheries Bill 2020 that received Royal assent on 23 November. Does this give the UK control? How come itâs gone through now, is it to safeguard against the EU or have we been duped and itâs been agreed with Brussels?
November 26, 2020
Sharon,
It is a con to allow foreign owned boats and companies to disguise that it is somehow UK controlled! The EU boats will be U.K. Registered with their catches landing in the EU or taken bymraodmto the EU! Harken and others explain the Con by the Fake Tories.
November 26, 2020
100% correct we have been conned
November 27, 2020
It has taken a long time to craft weasel words in some areas to enable the EU to continue controlling every aspect of life in the UK. This might be another. Fishing has been a red-line subject from the beginning – 2016.
Here we are 4 years on and still have not delivered the ultimatum- ours or we end talks.
It appears that the United Kingdomâs Fisheries Bill 2020 is a slight of hand to enable an apparent win in negotiations, yet is actually conceeding like so many before it.
November 27, 2020
Remember that once we are Sovereign, in a month, we can sack anybody who does anything we donât like. This bill can be repealed! First time in 48 years we have been able to do that.
November 26, 2020
I see the fishing bill was passed in the commons with next no change for British fisherman just another sellout with more to come. Still using the old quota system.
November 27, 2020
Another fudge to placate the angry MPs and voters?
November 26, 2020
I thoroughly agree with everything you say but I would like to extend the meaning of ‘taking back control’, to include defence and foreign policy and to review EU laws and directives.
Our increased defence spending should be aimed at the defence of these islands. NATO should be a narrowly defined alliance for mutual defence, not a military organisation supporting American foreign policy. The election of the bellicose Biden, with his determination to restore Pax Americana, to confine the UK to the role of American stooge first advocated by Dean Acheson, and to meddle unhelpfully in Northern Ireland’s affairs, heightens the need for this policy. The next time that Biden sends American troops into a foreign country, and wants an ally to send troops in support, we should refer him to Germany.
We shouldn’t rule out a rapprochment with Russia, our most important WW2 ally, in the longer term. Putin and his kleptocracy won’t last for ever. The most constant and reasonable component of Russian policy is that they don’t want the countries bordering them to be actively hostile. And they did hold a plebiscite in Crimea, even though we thought it was illegal. Provided that Russia defines that policy narrowly, we can live with it. There is a basis for negotiation.
The Single European Act contained clauses authorising the European Commission the right to bring forward laws and directives to ‘complete the Single Market’ (i.e. to meddle with it). These rights were activated when the Maastricht Treaty entered UK law on 1st January 1993. Since then, we have had 28 years of measures aimed at supporting German technology, French style bureaucracy, big business and incumbent businesses. It has been a regime that is actively hostile UK style innovation and capitalism. Taking back control should involve taking a red pencil to much of this EU inspired law; any treaty with the EU should make no concessions on this point. The EU can to some extent control what we export into the Single Market but not the environmental and labour laws within our factories.
November 28, 2020
Lindsay
“It has been a regime that is actively hostile UK style innovation and capitalism.
So Lindsay, remind me why we begged to be allowed to join this useless organisation? If we were so vastly superior why couldn’t we make our own EFTA equally successful instead of leaving it in favour of the EU?
November 28, 2020
Because it was thought the Common Market would be advantageous to our nation with better easier and cheaper trading.
At that time the left hated the idea.
A bosses club they called it.
Sadly over the decades it has become a huge protectionist rules based centralised bureacracy.
That is why the left now loves it.
November 26, 2020
Once we leave the EU, the economy needs to be completely re-balanced. We need to focus on what English people are good at doing which is making stuff, not what globalists in the City are good at which is predating on English businesses and using banksterism to destabilise the economy and defraud us. The so-called ‘investment banks’ need to kicked out of the City; they serve no useful purpose and employ many people who could make useful contributions to the wider economy. It’s also time to look at the banking industry again and whether further work needs to be done to unravel Gordon Brown’s orchestrated takeover of major English banks by wee Scottish banks etc. An expansion of the economy away from banksterism and property speculation requires a healthy banking industry wanting to lend to businesses that want to grow and have good business plans.
November 26, 2020
Covid 19
It’s very clear that the new measures being brought in as the “cure” are now most definitely far worse than the virus itself.
To place almost the entire country in Tier 2 or 3 will finish off swathes of the Hospitality industry for good.
We supported the previous “rule of six” but now my wife and I cannot go to a pub or restaurant and eat indoors with any of our friends whatsoever. Eating out is a social activity. These measures mean that people will either ignore the rule or won’t bother to go out to eat at all. Neither outcome is in the least bit satisfactory.
The letter sent this morning from the industry to the government was absolutely right :
The industry cannot survive under such draconian measures, even if they are relaxed for five days over the Christmas holiday.
I suspect that the number of your fellow conservative MPs voting against the measure on Tuesday will be greater than the government’s majority.
Once again the same old excuse is being trotted out : it’s to “Protect the NHS”
Well, if the NHS is not in a position to protect its customers after nine months of preparation, then we need to look at a different way of running our healthcare system.
November 26, 2020
By Spring everyone will know that the Tories have wrecked Britain.
By Summer they’ll be out.
November 27, 2020
By Summer theyâll be out.
…….
It doesn’t worl like that anymore
November 26, 2020
Boris’ green policy has stuffed all that.
November 26, 2020
Very well said Sir Redwood !
However….restoring our industry to the strength it had will necessitate ripping up of EU imposed environmental regs – the purpose of which was to cripple British industry.
We need foundries, shipyards, heavy engineering and we need to make use of that valuable natural resource, coal.
There should also be a an on giving away North Sea oil.
In my opinion self sufficiency is more important than overseas trade. Let the rest of the world rot, we need to take care of ourselves and not be dependent on anyone else.
November 26, 2020
+1
November 26, 2020
‘In my opinion self sufficiency is more important than overseas trade’ – – couldn’t put better.
November 27, 2020
‘In my opinion self sufficiency is more important than overseas trade’
– How do you control consumer demand?
Consumers are everyone from buyers of iPads to ships.
If you own a shipping company, you’re going to go for a country that produces good value ships – China for example.
Unless you want Boris to build ships? Or directly invest in this industry which would cost a huge amount (and when the Chinese are so good at it).
The easiest and best and cheapest way for government to boost the manufacture of physical goods is to indirectly support the High Tech, Digital and Car industry more – so that we produce the Apples and the Audis and the Oracles of the future.
1) Giving more financial perks to entrepreneurs
2) Encouraging and giving more financial support for kids to learn how to code
3) Helping to create Cambridge as Europe’s Silicon Valley by building better transport to and from etc
4) Set up hedge funds like Israeli government did turning Tel Aviv into major High Tech hub
5) Car industry? Controversial how to support. But we should be producing high quality, stylish cars like BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes and Audi (high skills, high productivity, sense of patriotism building great cars like this, high exports).
And so on
November 27, 2020
Also, supporting the High Tech industry also spills over into lots of background, high value services. You might get related services in shipbuilding – not sure. But not as integrated as in High Tech i would have thought but I might be wrong.
For example, IBM manufacture mainframe servers – and around this sell a whole range of high-value, sophisticated services.
November 27, 2020
China has coal, steel, labour to build ships which might transport their exported goods…..
November 27, 2020
steve
” ripping up of EU imposed environmental regs â the purpose of which was to cripple British industry.”
Really? So how did the other EU members manage? After all the same ‘regs’ applied to all.
November 27, 2020
You mean all the good done to Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal et al? How many really successful EU economies can you name?
November 28, 2020
graham1946
Italy? Not doing too badly according to wiki:
“Today, Italy is considered to be one of the world’s most culturally and economically advanced countries, with the world’s eighth-largest economy by nominal GDP (third in the European Union), sixth-largest national wealth and third-largest central bank gold reserve”
And I’m sure that the people of both Spain and Portugal prefer their present life to what they had before under the dictatorship they had lived under for decades.
And the Greeks keep voting in a pro EU government being fully aware that despite all their hardship their present life is a great improvement on the kleptocracy they previously endured.
November 28, 2020
Graham 1946
Denmark, Sweden, Lux, Australia , Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Belgium, Slovakia, Czech Repeblic and so on
November 27, 2020
They ignored them.
November 27, 2020
+1
November 28, 2020
“One of the tragedies of our membership of the European Union over nearly 50 years was how we transformed ourselves from an industrial country with a strong farming and fishing industry into one that had been badly damaged by the rules and tariffs that the EU imposed on us and our trade with the rest of the world. It was asymmetric and very cruel.”
It was asymmetric and very cruel.
This describes the euphilic attitude towards the UK, and some of our own aided and abetted this process.