John Redwood's Diary
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My appearance on BBC Question Time Brexit Special – Clacton
I’m prepared to accept that Brexit has fed into inflation in a small way, along with other factors.
What I do not understand is why it has apparently more become difficult to IMPORT stuff from the EU Single Market, whose red tape is that is causing the problems? If it is ours, why are we doing that?
I would remind the government, and the EU, about the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement:
“Just as with the WTO as a whole the purpose of this agreement is to remove obstacles to trade, not as some imply to impose irrational rules that unnecessarily impede trade.
Hence its Article 7.4 requires each member to āadopt or maintain a risk management system for customs controlā, based on a wide range of factors including the country of origin of the imports, with the aim of concentrating its controls on high risk consignments.
Why, therefore, should Theresa May ā incidentally herself a diabetic ā order UK customs officers to unnecessarily hold up consignments of insulin and other medicines from well-known companies on the continent, which will be no more risky after we have left the EU than they are now?”
Sir John, you heard what that chap said about his electronic equipment being stuck in the Netherlands with piles of new paperwork now needed to bring it here for his business, so please could you ask Kemi Badenoch why on earth she is doing that? Is there nobody with any common sense in this government?
a-tracy June 23, 2023
I agree Denis, just what is causing problem on EU imports we havenāt put in the controls they put in to the UK and it hasnāt affected our exports.
Is it one or two Countries that are causing this, if so tell us, which Countries, which products. We need to take control if our weak government wonāt sort this out.
Roy Grainger June 23, 2023
As we have a massive trade deficit with the EU making things harder to import from there is a no bad thing. I believe our trade deficit has narrowed since Brexit ?
Denis+Cooper June 23, 2023
Not according to Ben Habib.
hefner June 24, 2023
researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk ā1999-2022 goods & servicesā
UK trade with EU27 in goods and services 1999-2022 in millions Ā£
2000 -6,743
2005 -34,884
2010 -30,398
2015 -71,409
2016 -77,116
2017 -77,669
2018 -75,604
2019 -81,161
2020 -46,176
2021 -43,364
2022 -91,858
a-tracy June 24, 2023
ā This data shows UK goods exports to the EU remain below 2019 levels. Imports of goods from the EU were 1.4% higher in 2022 than in 2019 changes to data collection methods mean it is advisable to be cautious in putting too much weight on this figure.ā
Also didnāt rest of the world trade go through Rotterdam, causing the Rotterdam effect prior to 2021?
I think the data sets I was looking at were from TradingEconomics, Iāll check later.
So if imports are higher from the EU because we didnāt put the restrictions on imports that they put on UK exports, the imports of which goods from the EU in particular is causing inflation? Our government have said theyāre putting off incoming goods checks, we are so weak and unorganised, it is only then as imports drop from the EU that theyād sit up and take notice of their unfair treatment. Perhaps weāre having to put in alternative supply lines first, get a move on Keri if thats the case! If I were a foreign country wanting a trade deal with the UK Iād get it done quickly before the Tories lose power, itās a bit like Boris dithering with Trump and we get anti-uk Biden to negotiate with.
It was 4 Remainers to 2 Brexiteers, so an improvement on the usual ratio of 5:1.
You and Ben did well to get out as much as you both did with it stacked against you. La Bruce still doesn’t seem to want to learn anything.
Mickey Taking June 23, 2023
She has kept well paid jobs by knowing which side her bread is buttered.
rose June 23, 2023
And you can be sure she won’t be presenting a programme on repentant remainers, of which there are many. They realize they really were lied to and they are horrified at the EU’s behaviour towards us. They don’t want to be part of it any more.
hefner June 24, 2023
yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2023/05/22/ āMost Britons say Brexit has been āmore of a failureāā
economist.com 02/03/2023 Charlemagne āAfter seven years of Brexit talks, Europe has emerged as the clear winnerā.
G June 23, 2023
Great performance, really enjoyed that: calm, rational and measured as usual.
hefner June 24, 2023
Actual impact: ????
Diane June 24, 2023
G: Yes my exact thought too. Would have liked to hear more but time limited and I find QT such a frustrating programme anyway. Stopped watching some years back. It was of course pointed out that no person from UKG was prepared to attend. No loss there in my opinion. Sir John and Ben Habib an excellent combination to say the least: any UKG representative could not have added anything more than what was said. Did I detect what I considered a snigger though, from certain quarters at the mention of a benefit of our not having to lob out our hard earned to the EU’s Covid Recovery Fund. Surely not.
Mickey Taking June 23, 2023
OFF TOPIC.
The Home Office has been accused of leaving people homeless by outbidding councils in a fierce competition for scarce accommodation. Several local authorities have lost out to a Home Office contractor finding properties to house asylum seekers. The number of people in England having to stay in temporary accommodation is near record levels.
Asked on three separate occasions why its contractor paid more than councils can, the Home Office refused to say. The problem is most acute in London, where councils estimate about 166,000 people live in temporary accommodation – more than the total population of Oxford.
There was no suggestion the Home Office or asylum seekers created the problem, said Labour’s Georgia Gould, who chairs London Councils, which represents all local authorities in the city. But she said “the Home Office is contributing to homelessness”.
The councils, spending Ā£52m a month on temporary accommodation, had agreed “that we will not outbid each other, because we want to protect taxpayers’ money”, Ms Gould said.
“We would like the same partnership with the Home Office,” she added.
Narrow Shoulders June 23, 2023
This if true is disgusting
Narrow Shoulders June 23, 2023
This a reply to Mickley taking above commenting on Home Office outbidding councils for accomodation.
If true a definitive statement of priorities
paul cuthbertson June 23, 2023
NS – The REAL conspiracy theorists believe their government cares about them, the media would never mislead or lie to them and the pharmaceutical /medical industry that makes billions from sickness wants to cure them.
glen cullen June 23, 2023
Any true refugee would welcome a meal & tent in a secure field
Mickey Taking June 24, 2023
but not if you are a young upwardly mobile man from a comfortably off family seeking a new life in UK specifically.
Original Richard June 24, 2023
Glen Cullen :
Any true refugee would keep their ID to prove they are fleeing persecution.
glen cullen June 24, 2023
Oh Yes
Berkshire Alan June 23, 2023
You were the only one who gave accurate reasons for the problems and offered sensible solutions
Thus you will probably not be asked to return which is a shame
glen cullen June 23, 2023
SirJ comes across as a traditional Tory promoting Tory membership views and their desired policies, ditto Tory chairperson Lee Anderson on his new show on GB News ā¦so how come our dear leader and his team come across as labour
Two completely differing messages and viewpoints canāt be good for the party and country
Mark B June 24, 2023
glen
It was always thus going right back to the very beginning and the Whigs.
Ed June 23, 2023
Not many comments.
Probably because no one watches QT any more.
Mickey Taking June 24, 2023
True – I made an effort to record it, still haven’t bothered to watch – probably delete it in a week or so unseen.
Several friends & family hate it, do not watch now it winds them up before bedtime !
Mike Wilson June 23, 2023
I have no TV licence so cannot watch it.
graham1946 June 24, 2023
You are not missing anything. Bruce is terrible. Whenever a Tory starts to speak she interrupts but lets Labour and Liberal politicians witter on as they like. BBC in action.
Bloke June 24, 2023
I have yet to view the programme, and look forward to seeing the excellence of Sir John Redwood and Ben Habib presenting their opinions with clear well-reasoned facts. The combination of their distinctive skills and experience comprises a powerful force in shifting attitudes toward doing what is much better for our nation.
Donna June 24, 2023
I didn’t, and won’t watch it.
It would appear that Bruce, on behalf of the BBC, did the usual “tipping of the scales” by giving motormouth Campbell (he of the Dodgy Dossier which led directly to the deaths of a million+ Iraqis and Dr David Kelly) an uninterrupted opportunity to put the Remoaners’ side of the argument ….. but constantly interrupted Sir John and “Brexit Ben” Habib.
Colour me surprised.
I’ll consider watching (and paying for) the BBC when the Government enforces the Corporation’s Charter, which requires it to practice impartiality and/or removes the BBC Poll Tax.
Linda Brown June 24, 2023
You were very good. Kept to the point which the others on that show have such difficulty in doing. However, what is that Campbell creature doing still in public life? Etc ed
Frances June 24, 2023
I couldnt watch remainers trotting out the usual lie blaming Brexit for Covid and the war in Ukraine.
ukretired123 June 24, 2023
I managed to watch it in Catch up and glad I did as Fiona Bruce admitted upfront the Clacton audience had predominantly voted for Brexit in 2016 which was refreshing.
Campbell hypocrisy about politicians lying about Brexit – remember his dodgy dossier sexed up WOMD? Why didn’t Bruce challenge him on that hey as she normally would on anyone else? Impartial not. He repeated this throughout the length of the whole program ad nauseam. He noted Sir John had been consistent on EU throughout his career.
The Labour rep pandered to the audience promising not to rejoin the EU yet insisted on getting on with our neighbours cue EU.
Ben Habib was excellent making the point full Brexit hasn’t happened yet, which SJR has often stated.
Anand Menon I think realised he was sitting next to a powerful man who has a lifetime of experience on Europe (Sir John himself) and toned down his previous dramas on the subject.
Sir John was first off and offered the underlying causes of the cost of living crisis in a modest controlled professional way. No one dared challenge him on the Fed and Central Banks EU and BoE especially Bruce as you could hear a pin drop.
Well interesting no one from the government wanted to show themselves up as to why we have not taken full advantage of Brexit……… Embarrassing!
XY June 25, 2023
I cannot bring myself to watch a “debate” with Campbell. The man destroys every debate he takes part in – deliberately so, since he has no arguments his approach is to be there to disrupt others.
When the BBC chose him as a panelist, they decided to make that disruption happen. Yet another form of bias.
It sounds as though no-one produced teh obvious counter to his “Brexteers lied to the electorate” nonsense – which is to point out that Remainers actually did that, because not one of their predictions has come true.
June 23, 2023
You were brilliant John
You should be Chancellor
Enjoyed the show, Ben Habib certainly knew his stuff and had done his homework
June 23, 2023
R U Sure?
June 24, 2023
Habib criticises the Withdrawal Agreement but as an MEP he voted FOR it. Not a man to trust
June 23, 2023
Alastair Campbell was appalling and Jenny Chapman was pathetic, but Anand Menon was OK.
June 23, 2023
Anand Menon has since given a short interview here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEktKUu6VMM
I’m prepared to accept that Brexit has fed into inflation in a small way, along with other factors.
What I do not understand is why it has apparently more become difficult to IMPORT stuff from the EU Single Market, whose red tape is that is causing the problems? If it is ours, why are we doing that?
I would remind the government, and the EU, about the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement:
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tradfa_e/tradfa_e.htm
which is very rarely mentioned when it should be brought constantly to the fore.
June 23, 2023
This takes me back:
http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2019/01/05/beware-of-central-banks-who-want-things-to-be-normal/#comment-986073
“Just as with the WTO as a whole the purpose of this agreement is to remove obstacles to trade, not as some imply to impose irrational rules that unnecessarily impede trade.
Hence its Article 7.4 requires each member to āadopt or maintain a risk management system for customs controlā, based on a wide range of factors including the country of origin of the imports, with the aim of concentrating its controls on high risk consignments.
Why, therefore, should Theresa May ā incidentally herself a diabetic ā order UK customs officers to unnecessarily hold up consignments of insulin and other medicines from well-known companies on the continent, which will be no more risky after we have left the EU than they are now?”
Sir John, you heard what that chap said about his electronic equipment being stuck in the Netherlands with piles of new paperwork now needed to bring it here for his business, so please could you ask Kemi Badenoch why on earth she is doing that? Is there nobody with any common sense in this government?
June 23, 2023
I agree Denis, just what is causing problem on EU imports we havenāt put in the controls they put in to the UK and it hasnāt affected our exports.
Is it one or two Countries that are causing this, if so tell us, which Countries, which products. We need to take control if our weak government wonāt sort this out.
June 23, 2023
As we have a massive trade deficit with the EU making things harder to import from there is a no bad thing. I believe our trade deficit has narrowed since Brexit ?
June 23, 2023
Not according to Ben Habib.
June 24, 2023
researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk ā1999-2022 goods & servicesā
UK trade with EU27 in goods and services 1999-2022 in millions Ā£
2000 -6,743
2005 -34,884
2010 -30,398
2015 -71,409
2016 -77,116
2017 -77,669
2018 -75,604
2019 -81,161
2020 -46,176
2021 -43,364
2022 -91,858
June 24, 2023
ā This data shows UK goods exports to the EU remain below 2019 levels. Imports of goods from the EU were 1.4% higher in 2022 than in 2019 changes to data collection methods mean it is advisable to be cautious in putting too much weight on this figure.ā
Also didnāt rest of the world trade go through Rotterdam, causing the Rotterdam effect prior to 2021?
I think the data sets I was looking at were from TradingEconomics, Iāll check later.
So if imports are higher from the EU because we didnāt put the restrictions on imports that they put on UK exports, the imports of which goods from the EU in particular is causing inflation? Our government have said theyāre putting off incoming goods checks, we are so weak and unorganised, it is only then as imports drop from the EU that theyād sit up and take notice of their unfair treatment. Perhaps weāre having to put in alternative supply lines first, get a move on Keri if thats the case! If I were a foreign country wanting a trade deal with the UK Iād get it done quickly before the Tories lose power, itās a bit like Boris dithering with Trump and we get anti-uk Biden to negotiate with.
https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/new-customs-rules-for-trade-with-the-eu/
June 23, 2023
It was 4 Remainers to 2 Brexiteers, so an improvement on the usual ratio of 5:1.
You and Ben did well to get out as much as you both did with it stacked against you. La Bruce still doesn’t seem to want to learn anything.
June 23, 2023
She has kept well paid jobs by knowing which side her bread is buttered.
June 23, 2023
And you can be sure she won’t be presenting a programme on repentant remainers, of which there are many. They realize they really were lied to and they are horrified at the EU’s behaviour towards us. They don’t want to be part of it any more.
June 24, 2023
yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2023/05/22/ āMost Britons say Brexit has been āmore of a failureāā
economist.com 02/03/2023 Charlemagne āAfter seven years of Brexit talks, Europe has emerged as the clear winnerā.
June 23, 2023
Great performance, really enjoyed that: calm, rational and measured as usual.
June 24, 2023
Actual impact: ????
June 24, 2023
G: Yes my exact thought too. Would have liked to hear more but time limited and I find QT such a frustrating programme anyway. Stopped watching some years back. It was of course pointed out that no person from UKG was prepared to attend. No loss there in my opinion. Sir John and Ben Habib an excellent combination to say the least: any UKG representative could not have added anything more than what was said. Did I detect what I considered a snigger though, from certain quarters at the mention of a benefit of our not having to lob out our hard earned to the EU’s Covid Recovery Fund. Surely not.
June 23, 2023
OFF TOPIC.
The Home Office has been accused of leaving people homeless by outbidding councils in a fierce competition for scarce accommodation. Several local authorities have lost out to a Home Office contractor finding properties to house asylum seekers. The number of people in England having to stay in temporary accommodation is near record levels.
Asked on three separate occasions why its contractor paid more than councils can, the Home Office refused to say. The problem is most acute in London, where councils estimate about 166,000 people live in temporary accommodation – more than the total population of Oxford.
There was no suggestion the Home Office or asylum seekers created the problem, said Labour’s Georgia Gould, who chairs London Councils, which represents all local authorities in the city. But she said “the Home Office is contributing to homelessness”.
The councils, spending Ā£52m a month on temporary accommodation, had agreed “that we will not outbid each other, because we want to protect taxpayers’ money”, Ms Gould said.
“We would like the same partnership with the Home Office,” she added.
June 23, 2023
This if true is disgusting
June 23, 2023
This a reply to Mickley taking above commenting on Home Office outbidding councils for accomodation.
If true a definitive statement of priorities
June 23, 2023
NS – The REAL conspiracy theorists believe their government cares about them, the media would never mislead or lie to them and the pharmaceutical /medical industry that makes billions from sickness wants to cure them.
June 23, 2023
Any true refugee would welcome a meal & tent in a secure field
June 24, 2023
but not if you are a young upwardly mobile man from a comfortably off family seeking a new life in UK specifically.
June 24, 2023
Glen Cullen :
Any true refugee would keep their ID to prove they are fleeing persecution.
June 24, 2023
Oh Yes
June 23, 2023
You were the only one who gave accurate reasons for the problems and offered sensible solutions
Thus you will probably not be asked to return which is a shame
June 23, 2023
SirJ comes across as a traditional Tory promoting Tory membership views and their desired policies, ditto Tory chairperson Lee Anderson on his new show on GB News ā¦so how come our dear leader and his team come across as labour
Two completely differing messages and viewpoints canāt be good for the party and country
June 24, 2023
glen
It was always thus going right back to the very beginning and the Whigs.
June 23, 2023
Not many comments.
Probably because no one watches QT any more.
June 24, 2023
True – I made an effort to record it, still haven’t bothered to watch – probably delete it in a week or so unseen.
Several friends & family hate it, do not watch now it winds them up before bedtime !
June 23, 2023
I have no TV licence so cannot watch it.
June 24, 2023
You are not missing anything. Bruce is terrible. Whenever a Tory starts to speak she interrupts but lets Labour and Liberal politicians witter on as they like. BBC in action.
June 24, 2023
I have yet to view the programme, and look forward to seeing the excellence of Sir John Redwood and Ben Habib presenting their opinions with clear well-reasoned facts. The combination of their distinctive skills and experience comprises a powerful force in shifting attitudes toward doing what is much better for our nation.
June 24, 2023
I didn’t, and won’t watch it.
It would appear that Bruce, on behalf of the BBC, did the usual “tipping of the scales” by giving motormouth Campbell (he of the Dodgy Dossier which led directly to the deaths of a million+ Iraqis and Dr David Kelly) an uninterrupted opportunity to put the Remoaners’ side of the argument ….. but constantly interrupted Sir John and “Brexit Ben” Habib.
Colour me surprised.
I’ll consider watching (and paying for) the BBC when the Government enforces the Corporation’s Charter, which requires it to practice impartiality and/or removes the BBC Poll Tax.
June 24, 2023
You were very good. Kept to the point which the others on that show have such difficulty in doing. However, what is that Campbell creature doing still in public life? Etc ed
June 24, 2023
I couldnt watch remainers trotting out the usual lie blaming Brexit for Covid and the war in Ukraine.
June 24, 2023
I managed to watch it in Catch up and glad I did as Fiona Bruce admitted upfront the Clacton audience had predominantly voted for Brexit in 2016 which was refreshing.
Campbell hypocrisy about politicians lying about Brexit – remember his dodgy dossier sexed up WOMD? Why didn’t Bruce challenge him on that hey as she normally would on anyone else? Impartial not. He repeated this throughout the length of the whole program ad nauseam. He noted Sir John had been consistent on EU throughout his career.
The Labour rep pandered to the audience promising not to rejoin the EU yet insisted on getting on with our neighbours cue EU.
Ben Habib was excellent making the point full Brexit hasn’t happened yet, which SJR has often stated.
Anand Menon I think realised he was sitting next to a powerful man who has a lifetime of experience on Europe (Sir John himself) and toned down his previous dramas on the subject.
Sir John was first off and offered the underlying causes of the cost of living crisis in a modest controlled professional way. No one dared challenge him on the Fed and Central Banks EU and BoE especially Bruce as you could hear a pin drop.
Well interesting no one from the government wanted to show themselves up as to why we have not taken full advantage of Brexit……… Embarrassing!
June 25, 2023
I cannot bring myself to watch a “debate” with Campbell. The man destroys every debate he takes part in – deliberately so, since he has no arguments his approach is to be there to disrupt others.
When the BBC chose him as a panelist, they decided to make that disruption happen. Yet another form of bias.
It sounds as though no-one produced teh obvious counter to his “Brexteers lied to the electorate” nonsense – which is to point out that Remainers actually did that, because not one of their predictions has come true.