Power to the people

True devolution that would be popular is devolution of power to individuals and families. Indeed, in a good democracy power rests with the people and they only surrender those powers to government that are necessary for an orderly society. Government uses or abuses the powers subject to public opinion and the need to seek their renewal at general elections.

The overmighty state is now too intrusive. We do not need to be told what cars or heating systems we have to buy. We do not need so many bans and restrictions on how we use the nationalised roads we have paid for. We do not need anti money laundering checks every time we want to move money we have earned and paid tax on from a U.K. regulated bank account. Self employed people do not need IR35 controls. We do not need British Energy or a wrongly named National Wealth Fund. We do not need to be compulsory investors in costly carbon capture and storage. We do not need a monumentally  costly HS2. We should not have to pay a licence fee to use a tv if we do not watch BBC. We should not have to pay farmers to stop growing food. We do not need enforced wokery over what we can say.

 

95 Comments

  1. Mark B
    December 23, 2024

    Good morning.

    We do not need anti money laundering checks every time we want to move money . . .

    Unfortunatly, Sir John we now do need to do this as we have moved from being a ‘high trust society’ to a low one. The reason for this is due to one of the things ‘we do not need’ that you missed out. The kind of people that arrive everyday, without invitation and some with.

    Things change. They always change. Sometimes for the good, and sometimes for the worse. But what has changed and made things so much more unbearable is the pace of change and the fact that said change, when the people of the UK have been asked to express a will, have stated repeatedly that they never have, nor do not want such a change. And yet it continues.

    I recently watched an interview on YT on Syria and the various groups involved in that conflict and what it all could mean for the future. One thing that struck me was how ‘diverse’ both culturally and religiously Syria is. A true patchwork quilt of a nation created from the former Ottoman Empire. A nation that is not homogeneous is a nation that is not at peace with itself. And such a nation, in order to control the various factions, require a repressive government to keep a lid on it.

    Hardly a recipe for, ‘Power to the people’.

    1. Donna
      December 23, 2024

      This is an interesting, and scary, article from Conservative Post, predicting that the level of mass immigration which is being imposed on us by the Establishment is creating a Failed State. I sent it to my LibDem MP asking if he and his colleagues wanted to be responsible for creating a Failed State in the UK and, surprisingly, he replied and said he would be reading it over the Christmas break. It would appear that even the LibDems may now be “getting the message” over immigration – albeit two decades too late.

      https://conservativepost.co.uk/story-of-the-century-flawed-migration-policies-to-cost-the-uk-government-a-trillion-pounds-a-year/

      1. ChrisS
        December 23, 2024

        Thanks to Reform submitting some very pointed FOI requests, we are shortly going to be told a lot more details about benefit claimants, particularly those born abroad. We then need to obtain the data that the Home Office undoubtedly has about who has committed the most serious crimes and their background. Scandinavian countries already publish this information and it is truly shocking.

        Once all of this information is in the hands of voters, anger will be such that our politicians will be forced to listen and at last act on what the people are saying, rather than just ignoring us as they have for the last 20 years.

      2. Lifelogic
        December 23, 2024

        +1

      3. Paula
        December 23, 2024

        Terrifying.
        All other considerations are secondary to this.

    2. Original Richard
      December 23, 2024

      Mark B:

      Your YT video explains why we are undergoing mass immigration.

    3. jerry
      December 23, 2024

      @Mark B; “we have moved from being a ‘high trust society’ to a low one.”

      Indeed we have! Why do we need to provide our (photo) ID when voting, even though only those with an fixed address can register to vote. Even if a case can be made, on security grounds, why can one age group use a specific (regulated) type of photo ID but those in another age group can not the same type of ID? Such blatant disregard for swaths of the electorate are rightly criticized by UK governments when such voter interference happens in other countries…

      1. Martin in Bristol
        December 23, 2024

        Because people steal identies and addresses Jerry.
        It isn’t a big imposition to just show photo id

        1. jerry
          December 23, 2024

          @MiB; But the electoral commission, the and Courts, suggest that is not the case. But if you have such evidence, rather that just partisan here-say, perhaps you would care to give to both the electoral commission and the Police your enlighten knowledge of identity theft. You might wish to read up on what JRM said about the policy, I won’t test our hosts hospitality, do your own (simple) research.

          But even if correct, and a case can be made on electoral security grounds, you totally ignored my other point, why is one (officially) issued photo ID card acceptable but another is not, at one time even (military) veterans ID cards were not acceptable proof of ID!

          1. Martin in Bristol
            December 24, 2024

            I think showing identity when voting is an important check to keep our elections fair and secure.

            There are ways to get id for free should you not have any of the usual documents.

          2. jerry
            December 24, 2024

            @MiB; A far bigger risk, of stolen votes & ‘impersonation’, involves proxy and postal votes, the latter especially, perhaps we should ban postal voting. Also the Free photo ID you say is available still requires many hoops to be jumped through, it is not as simple as you suggest, many a young, disabled or elderly person remain disenfranchised.

            But have it your way; in which case we need a statutory National photo ID card/number, given that all the acceptable photo ID cards for proving identity at elections, indeed many of the acceptable forms of additional ID for logging into the .gov Gateway, are not actually necessary to live a meaningful and productive life in the UK, no one needs a driving licence, nor passport, many see no reason to ask for discounted travel, or are members of the Forces etc. Then of course, if formal (photo) ID is needed to vote, why not when visiting the doctor, picking up a prescription, dealing with your LDC, the HMRC, MP, being stopped by the police and being told to provide name and address or whatever.

            Be careful when setting precedents they tend to come back and bite, do you really want to be required by law, as is the case in some countries, to to carry your statutory National photo ID at all times – I personally wouldn’t have objections, but I suspect many on this site, and amount wider ‘Conservative’ politics, would…

          3. Martin in Bristol
            December 24, 2024

            Thanks for your advice Jerry.
            You’re now off on several tangents as usual.
            PS
            Yes I would ban postal voting.
            Apart from exceptional cases like overseas citizens and seriously disabled.
            And free ID…there is in my area CAB and Council help to fill in the form if you find the job too difficult.

          4. jerry
            December 24, 2024

            @MiB; No Martin, they are NOT tangents, unlike you, I’m merely thinking the issue through, such as postal vote fraud, and what precedents are being set.

            Also stop waffling on about free Voter photo ID cards, the way you glibly mention CAB and LDC electoral registration offices you clearly have not even laid eyes on the application form, the form is easy to fill in, a 10 year old child could do it, but no CAB or Council can help if you can’t provide the additional support documents to *prove* you are who you say you are! Yes you can still apply, doesn’t mean you’ll get though…

          5. Martin in Bristol
            December 25, 2024

            Oh do stop it Jerry
            Endlessly waffling on topics you need to argue about.
            Find a new hobby.
            It will make you happier in the end

  2. David Andrews
    December 23, 2024

    It will require a disruptor, who shares your view, to win power to achieve devolution of power back to individuals and families. The current model of devolution and it’s advocates, to yet more politicians and their expensive bureaucracies, will fight it tooth and nail because what they really want to do is boss the rest of us about to do their bidding.

  3. Lifelogic
    December 23, 2024

    Indeed – plus we do not need net zero, we do not even need state schools just vouchers for people to use at privately run schools, we do not need an enforced virtual state monopoly NHS, we do not need all the rigged markets like energy, transport, healthcare, housing, banking, schools, universities
 we do need defence, law and order, cheap on demand energy, a bonfire of red tape and a stage sector less than half the current size.

    1. Lifelogic
      December 23, 2024

      Also we did not need the net harm Covid lockdowns or the net harm Covid “vaccines” coerced on to us and which have done vast net harm.

      Labour busily doing the complete reverse of what is needed needless to say. Having been given power by the failure of the Con Socialist for 14 years to even try do what they promised in three manifestos.

      So how long before for two Tier Kier starts the his vast gerrymandering agenda, the delaying of local elections, the votes for children, boundary rigging, votes for non British recent arrivals, stuffing the Lords with placemen amd women
 all this is surely on the way given their huge majority.

    2. Nigl
      December 23, 2024

      And what precisely is the effect at a personal level? A few pennies more in tax etc a little less in terms of public services? At the margin at best for most.

      I feel sorry for people who are permanently angry about a host of things they have no solutions for or can do anything about apart from cast a vote. Faux outrage about the loss of the winter heating allowance when rightly it should be targeted at those who truly needed it as an example.

      Out and about in a not particularly wealthy part of the world, pubs, shops, restos, panto, everyone enjoying themselves, grumpy about stuff yes but no more.

      I learned a long time ago to banish as much negativity as I can to ensure my cup is more than half full. The outlook was, is and will be bright. Bah humbug to those that can’t or won’t.

      Reply Christmas is also a time to show sympathy for those who cannot afford the heating our who are about to lose their jobs. The Budget has had a bad impact and we need to discuss how it could be changed for the better.

      1. jerry
        December 23, 2024

        @Nigl; “Out and about in a not particularly wealthy part of the world, pubs, shops, restos, panto, everyone enjoying themselves, grumpy about stuff yes but no more.”

        I wonder how long that mood will last Nigl, until the next Credit Card payment is due, or the next round of (increased) energy Bill DDs are taken probably, that Faux outrage will then not be appear so Faux but enlightened…

        @JR reply; Sorry but you are wrong, as that Battasea Dogs Home warning goes “A Dog is not just for Christmas but for Life”, we need to show our sympathy 24/7/365, not just at Christmas – or at election time…

        The problem of the winter fuel payments was not how it had to be distributed, given how few elderly people claim other (means tested) benefits that are fully funded and waiting for them, all credit to the then govt making the winter fuel payments universal in their distribution (and all criticism of Ms Reeves for withdrawing from the scheme), what both Parties failed to do was build into the scheme a means for those who did not need the benefit to return it to HMT!

        Of course if we still had a State owned power industry, operating on a not-for-profit bases (as Mutual companies do, before anyone talks nonsense about no profits mean no reinvestment), the unit cost of energy would likely be a lot lower, and even if not most of the winter fuel payments would be circular money within government Whitehall departments. ho-hmm.

        Reply The price of electricity fell by more than 25% in the early years after privatisation thanks to the switch to gas and a 100% increase in Labour productivity!

        1. jerry
          December 24, 2024

          @JR reply; But that switch would likely have happened had there been no privatization, at least during a Tory government, and much of the increased productivity was also linked to the switch from coal to gas, same output from the power station but needing a smaller workforce. The handling of coal, and its byproducts, required a massive workforce besides that directly involved in power generation!

      2. Mickey Taking
        December 23, 2024

        Niggle, you clearly are comfortably off, and don’t get near the minimum wage, or living on State pension, else you too would take exception to this skinflint targetting of the ‘relative’ poor, or those who survive (often more confortably than those) on lowest paid work. Annually more taxation directed at the lowest incomes, while all unavoidable costs go up in leaps and bounds, pushing millions into hardship. All this you could direct at the previous nasty party, but now we have a caring socialist one ( sarc) who haven’t rested for one moment at leveraging more and more depressing taxation at those who can’t afford it – instead of yes YOU!

        1. Nigl
          December 23, 2024

          Please don’t make assumptions to justify your view and the use of capitals equally lets you down.

          I have been unemployed reduced almost to a baked potato and beans daily. Needing a job I worked as a hospital Porter, doing everything from emptying piss pots to putting bodies in a morgue. Made redundant more than once, umpteen job apps, no reply’s etc.

          There was no point in constant complaining when life sucked, it wasn’t going to make it better. So mental reframing from a negative to a positive outlook and the same life became rosier.

          Look at Para Olympians, extraordinary courage, positivity etc in the face of severe physical challenges.

          Do you really think that positive outlook comes because they can afford stuff?

          1. jerry
            December 24, 2024

            @Nigl; Perhaps you need to start asking why you were “made redundant more than once”, why you were “reduced almost to a baked potato and beans daily”, presumably through no fault of you own. Many people have been in the very same places as you, and perhaps even darker places, but unlike yours, their luck ran out through no fault of their own.

            Sorry but the only person showing Faux anger is you, I’ve come through, why can’t others!.

            If you want extraordinary courage, positivity, against adversity, it is not the Para Olympians level of achievement but those at the grass roots level, for every Para Olympian there will be many more who never ‘made the cut’, but they tried their damnedest, but still failed – why?

      3. MBJ
        December 23, 2024

        I spoke to a homeless young girl this am sitting on a cold icy floor outside Tesco.She has been to 3 different councils begging for a roof over her head.Not one helped her.I am disgusted that no one cares enough for these poor people and ignores their cry for help.

        1. Donna
          December 24, 2024

          She’d best get to France and on a dinghy straight back. As long as she pretends she can’t speak English and ditches any ID she’s carrying she’ll get “free everything” for years.

          1. jerry
            December 24, 2024

            @Donna; Yes, strange how after 45 years of the type of politics you appear to favor the youth of this country might well have to pretend not to be British, simply to get a shared room in a hostel/hotel; at one time British people were promised the minimum of a one bedroom flat of their own, at an affordable rent, and every effort was made to provide such accommodation [1] – not that waiting lists didn’t exist but at least there was hope, the light in the distance was indeed daylight, not just some poor s*d with a torch approaching from the other end of the tunnel.

            [1] much to the delight of private construction companies who won contracts to build the post war social housing

        2. MBJ
          December 30, 2024

          I am not sure Donna if that was a reply about the young English girl , but if it was ,why France..I support all British people.

    3. Lifelogic
      December 23, 2024

      Someone tell Kemi to stop saying “I am engineer” firstly it is becoming almost as tedious “I am the son of a toolmaker” and secondly she still supports the insanity Net Zero & so is obviously not a very bright engineer more of a software person I suspect. But then she did not even take Physics A level. Plus she then did a Law Degree so perhaps was not too keen on this.

      Best of luck to her though – she is better than “six months early and Covid vaccines are safe” Sunak but that is a very low bar indeed. But the Tories need to get off the we like net zero but want it a bit more slowly.

      How many years do wind-farms have to run before they save CO2 rather a lot I suspect. They certainly bring the CO2 emission forwards initially. If tree food bothers you.

    4. jerry
      December 23, 2024

      @LL; Nor do we need social media & blogs either; nor the internet (if it can’t be used to WFH by us mere plebs); nor does anyone need to own more than one property [1], in fact does anyone actually need to own their own property; why does anyone need to earn (total) more than say circa ÂŁ40k maximum pa; why does any family need more than one car, perhaps two at most, per family unit; in fact why does the average family need a car; why can’t people holiday in their own or domicile country; why do we need ‘subscription TV’, in fact why do we need multi-channel TV etc?

      Cherry picking what to abolish, restrict or ban is so much fun, until your own dear values come under threat! 😛

      [1] if ones work takes you away from home overnight or for the week then stay in a hotel or hostel

      1. Sam
        December 23, 2024

        You seem to enjoy telling people how to live their lives Jerry.
        eg your (1) if I want to buy a second home to suit my business or leisure life insread of living in a hotel room or hostel for weeks or months then I should have the freedom to do that with the funds I have in a decent democratic society.
        Respect that others have different opinions and lifestyles to you.

        1. jerry
          December 23, 2024

          @Sam; “if I want to buy a second home to suit my business or leisure life

          That was my point, but once again you failed to understand context (and my sarcasm, despite my using an emoticon…); go read Lifelogic’s comment again, notice how HE wants to remove choice from other people, in this case their choice to use tax funded State provided services.

          People are already free to chose whether to use the State education system or not, use the NHS or not, etc, what LL suggests is so often the equal but opposite extreme swing of the pendulum that the far-left rave about, removing personal choice, in LL case preventing people from using State provision, in the case of the far-left they wish to prevent people using private provision.

          But what about our taxes some might bleat, surely if the State did not provide X or Y our taxes could be used elsewhere or the rate be lower. Sorry but that argument was put to bed via the Courts back in the early 1980s when CND wanted to stop the Government using their members taxes to fund nuclear weapons, CND lost.

      2. Donna
        December 24, 2024

        Just shout “it’s not fair” Jerry. That’s the level of what passes for intellectual thought on the Left these days; basically the complaint of the playground.

        1. jerry
          December 24, 2024

          @Donna; Read my reply to @Sam above. As for your comment, the same can be said about those on the hard right, people such as you and Lifelogic should just shout “It’s not fair that my taxes are used in such ways”, indeed, such rational is basically the complaint of the playground. ho-hmm.

        2. MBJ
          December 30, 2024

          Justice and Fairness..a well known publication by John Rawls…
          Justice is not based solely upon feelings of distress but rather on a methodology formulated with pros and cons in relation to the many taking into consideration culture without bias.
          I hope that children and adults will think rationally about future societies.

  4. Ian Wraggg
    December 23, 2024

    Welcome to the post democratic world where the gentleman from Whitehall definitely thinks he knows best.
    Bliar was spouting in the Telegraph last week on the need for digital ID
    Excellent for keeping tabs on the population credit score determined by said government.
    You’ve had 2 flights this year computer says NO to any more
    You’ve had your allocation of alcohol this month. Computer says NO.
    You see what I mean, that’s the end game for digital ID

    1. Sharon
      December 23, 2024

      @Ian Wraggg
      The irony is, criminals will manage to continue to commit crimes, without a digital ID – or with the use of several false ones!

    2. outsider
      December 23, 2024

      Dear Ian Wragg, there is a world of difference between a simple plastic identity card, which would be useful to the citizen, and a fully digitised identity, which would as you say give the authorities untrammeled power over the citizen. A card need contain only the information and photo-ID available on a driving licence and the front page of a passport plus NHS and NI numbers and whatever else the citizen might choose from an optional menu. This can be digitally checked on presentation like a debit/credit card. Once this information is linked to a smart phone and hence to a modern car computer, email, smart meter, digital bank account, location etc, the nightmare begins.

  5. agricola
    December 23, 2024

    True we are overgoverned and regulated when at this stage in UK developement the emphasis should be on personal responsibility. Dependency is a bad philosophy, because it quickly turns to control. The only control required is on the extremes of human behaviour, defined as the point at which the freedom of an individuals actions intrudes upon the freedom of another individual. To murder or pollute a tranquil setting with a ghetto blaster are among obvious examples.

    The blanket intrusion of government is all too frequently inadequate, being diluted , as is the effect of a number 7 cartridge at 60 yards. Those, like the man sleeping on the pavement in my home town yesterday, fall through the net, while too many lazy and profligate are content to live on the taxes of others. I hope the Sally Army took him into care.

    Sally Armies and countless other charities are a monument to peoples christian choice to care for the less fortunate and animals in need. I hope it is ill founded rumour that current government has hit on the wheeze of taxing all charitable donations at 45%. If true it equates government with those who steal from church poor boxes or snatch poppy cans. It is the point at which government has lost its moral compass. It is not a case of too much interference in our lives, it is theft, and no different to shop lifting or street mugging.

    Attacking the charitable status of private education was judged by the thin lipped of government to be a step they could get away with, the iceberg tip. Are we now faced with the reality of what floats beneath the surface. Charity in the UK picks up the pieces of government failure, has that failure become so embarassing that it must be financially attacked into none existence.

    1. Lifelogic
      December 23, 2024

      They may “get away” with the VAT attack on private school fees but it will raise no money for them and hugely damage education overall. Imaging a of a working couple where one is working earning say ÂŁ100K just to pay after tax two school free. If they stop work the government lose ÂŁ60K in tax and have to pay about ÂŁ40K to educate the two children. So if just a tiny % do this they are out of pocket.

  6. Richard1
    December 23, 2024

    Indeed not. Whilst much of this was bad under the Conservatives, with no sign of a reversal, that was more because of the ineffectual and useless succession of leaders post Cameron rather than ideological commitment to statism and wokery. Now we have a government whose guiding light is statism, wokery, kowtowing to the enemies of the West, climate hysteria etc. for the smallish minority who believe in this to have voted for it is fair enough, they’ve got what they wanted. But for those who count themselves as right of centre and don’t like all this, if they chose not to vote for the 4/10 Conservative option, they need to look in the mirror to see who has brought about the 1/10 result of a leftwing Labour govt.

    1. IanT
      December 23, 2024

      Post Cameron? The “Heir to Blair” was part of the rot. The Conservative Party has four years to make it’s mind up which side of the fence it’s on. If it sticks with the ‘broad church’ idea, then it will get crushed (again). Stop CPHQ choosing pseudo Lib Dems for candidates and get rid of the left-leaning infiltrators and they may have a chance. The CP has no God given right to rule this country, it has to be earned.

      1. Richard1
        December 23, 2024

        Cameron was not perfect indeed. But he did reduce the size of the state as a % of gdp, the tax regime was clearer better then than it now is etc. the trajectory of state spending as a % of gdp was down and the U.K. was relatively competing and attractive. even though he was governing with the LibDems. When the ‘right’ finally got first Boris Johnson then Liz they proceeded to enact the most left wing policies (lockdown and the energy price cap) since the Labour govts of the 70s. Many of those on the ‘right’ went on to vote for reform, as a consequence of which we now have a Labour govt.

      2. Original Richard
        December 23, 2024

        IanT:

        Agreed. The CP has been infiltrated. Succumbed to Robert Conquest’s 2nd and 3rd laws of politics. PM May has to be the most destructive PM ever. Replaced experienced officers with woke graduates, put a spanner in Brexit, legislated the economy and national security destroying Net Zero with no vote or costing. Adding unwanted mass immigration means that continuing to vote Tory is Einstein’s very definition of insanity.

    2. Mark B
      December 23, 2024

      I chose not to vote for the fake Conservative Party. I respect those that did as it is their right but, one has to question their wisdom given what has happened over the last 14 years. At best, nothing much, and at worst, Blairsim v2.0. ie No real change. And with the current leader of the Conservative Party, just like all those so many before her, I do not see any likelyhood of any real change.

      1. Richard1
        December 23, 2024

        Labour are worse

  7. Wanderer
    December 23, 2024

    I would welcome a dose of libertarianism in this country, so your devolution of power to the individual would get my vote.

    I would stray further though, and want some safeguards to prevent government from reverting to its current path towards tyranny. Firstly, a British “First Amendment” equivalent, to prevent Parliament and Judiciary from impeding our freedom of expression. Secondly, a review of our voting system (I like primaries, referendums on important matters).

  8. Bloke
    December 23, 2024

    A needs-based Government would be better than the present over-obtrusive mess of restrictors and wasters. It would be small, efficient and inexpensive, in a land that did not squash in so many unwanted others from overseas.
    It would tick over quietly in the background, preventing and solving problems for the people it is supposed to serve.
    Most of those people would then live safer, happier, healthier lives, enabling their children to develop into magnificent citizens for the good of all in a better world.
    The people don’t need power; they just want freedom to thrive!

  9. Donna
    December 23, 2024

    I agree, Sir John. The State is over-mighty and is seeking to control our lives in ways unthinkable only a few decades ago.

    They don’t intend stopping; they intend for it to continue and become even more oppressive. Digital IDs; a Central Bank Digital Currency; “Vaccine” Passports and a Chinese-style Social Credit System are all on their Agenda. The Covid Tyranny was a very useful experiment in population CONTROL and how much they could “get away with” as Prof Neil Ferguson so bluntly put it. We are being herded into a future where nothing will be permitted unless you conform and the Overlords have specifically allowed it.

    When the WEF says “you will own nothing” that’s precisely what they mean: the “Stakeholder Capitalism” they propose is basically Corporatism (and that is Mussolini’s description of Fascism – a fusion of Government and Corporate power).

    Ronald Reagan was right when he said “the scariest words in the English language are I’m from the Government and I’m here to help.”

    1. Sharon
      December 23, 2024

      @Donna

      +100

    2. Mark B
      December 23, 2024

      The UN sees itself as a future world government. A government where certain Middle Eastern country chair UN forum on women’s rights and gender equality.

      1. Lynn Atkinson
        December 24, 2024

        And migration.

    3. Mitchel
      December 23, 2024

      More significantly,Reagan also said:”If fascism ever comes to America,it will come in the name of liberalism.”
      (you can see/hear the speech on youtube)

      1. Lynn Atkinson
        December 24, 2024

        Yes – ‘in the name of‘ NOT actually liberalism. In other words, they use a popular ideas as the sheep’s clothing 

        You might consider that when The little Corporal and Stalin signed their pact, neither could tell the difference between Fascism and Communism. I can’t either. True liberal democracy is the polar opposite of those twin evils.

    4. Ian B
      December 23, 2024

      @Donna +1, Totally agree. In the Media today there is concern expressed at the amount of espionage, both nefarious and the theft of intellectual property that is happening in the UK by the Chinese. The simply reason we are so unprotected is our own government want to spy on us, so keep the doors open to foreign agents. The latest laws, rule and regulations put individuals and the countries safety, security and future at risk by blocking people and companies from protecting themselves and their intellectual property.

      It doesn’t have to be this way, but the Government and the State are so in fear of the people they will spy on them and fight them before considering working with them

  10. Geoffrey Berg
    December 23, 2024

    I strongly agree with maximising power to individual people, or in other words maximising freedom for individual people in deciding how to live their own lives.

  11. Narrow Shoulders
    December 23, 2024

    True devolution would allow us to keep more of our own money and decide how to spend it rather than the government and local warlords telling us how they are going to spend our funds and borrowing to do it.

    1. Mark B
      December 23, 2024

      ‘True devolution’ would but London is a devolved administration and no one can say that works well. ULEZ anyone ? England will not get true devolution, just a Balkanisation version of the original EU plan.

      No what I want is what I always stated I wanted – Our own Parliament !

      1. Lynn Atkinson
        December 24, 2024

        We have our own Parliament.
        A Parliament can pass, amend and repeal laws. It is Sovereign. So you cannot have a Parliament subservient to another Parliament.
        You therefore propose trashing the British Parliament and with it the British Constitution. đŸ˜±

  12. Sakara Gold
    December 23, 2024

    Where would the bloated, unproductive, grade-inflated and non-exporting civil service be without all these regulations to monitor and enforce? What about the ever-growing QUANGO sector, which provides thousands of well paid jobs for the old boys and girls, frequently working from home for only three or four days a month – with their generous non-contributory, index-linked final salary pensions? Or the WFH jobsworths working for the councils, thinking up new ways to enforce their will upon ratepayers?

    Eventually a debt-fuelled sterling crisis will mean the IMF is going to turn up and impose restrictions on the UK government/public sector, which is now about 25% of the economy and rising.

    Add the national debt, credit card debt, business loans, mortgage debt, student debt, car loans etc together and it’s roughly 2.5 times GDP. Good grief.

  13. Michael Staples
    December 23, 2024

    If only the Conservative Party had said this, and acted accordingly, for the past decade we would be where we are today.

  14. Tim Shaw
    December 23, 2024

    We almost di not need government, certainly this type of government.
    We do not need to be told how much we need tp pay someone to work for us.
    Landlords do not need to be told how and what the should rent their property for.
    Governments should only do that which the public can’t do, that is, National Security, ensure a fair Judiciary, 5o resolve disputes, road maintenance, all else is excessive interference by those who can’t do for themselves.
    The government and politicians have become the problem not the solution

  15. Ian B
    December 23, 2024

    “good democracy power rests with the people” – it is the only form of Democracy anything else is a fudge to make dictators feel good about themselves. In the same way real democracy ensure those that have been empowered are challenged at every opportunity, hence the accepted practice in a democracy those in power seek confirmation every 2 years – only those with something to hide want longer.

    All businesses large or small have to have their boards direction approved and accounts signed off by the shareholders, usually yearly. Its a requirement even with Companies House. UK.plc/GB.plc owned by the people, who are the only shareholders, yet ruled by despots who refute and resit challenge which in this age of transparency suggests they believe themselves to be beyond the requirements of common decency, the need for accountability and responsibility all the traits of a dictatorship.

  16. Peter Gardner
    December 23, 2024

    Plenty of waste there. Easy to fill in the ÂŁ22bn blackhole from this list.

  17. Bryan Harris
    December 23, 2024

    Excellent summary of what we should not be forced to do by an overbearing government, but yet they still impose their agenda on us. An agenda that nobody voted for.

    The fact that so many people didn’t vote at the last GE because they were disenchanted with only 2 options that were likely to form a government means that labour got in by default, not because the country wanted them. Still they push their evil schemes on us, having a big majority of MPs, and we can do little about this. Just imagine how much damage they will have done by the next GE?

    This is the first government that doesn’t even hide its contempt for the people of this country. Their ‘know best’ attitude with no consultation means we lose freedoms at a regular pace. Their style of government goes well beyond inexpertness and misconduct – This is a rogue government of the worst kind.

  18. Rod Evans
    December 23, 2024

    What we need or don’t need plays no part in what is provided by government Sir John.
    The outcome of government seems to be increasing wealth for those who were once not wealthy.
    Take a look at Tony Blair and Peter Mandelson, if that does not raise questions of wealth accumulation from unexplained sources then look at the case of Joe Biden and his Green champion ex vice president colleague Al Gore.
    What the people want and deserve plays no part in those individual’s aspirations, or personal wealth generation.

  19. George Sheard
    December 23, 2024

    Hi sir John
    If only you could have been prime minister
    Merry Christmas and a happy new year

    1. Robert Pay
      December 23, 2024

      The best PM we never had…

    2. Atlas
      December 23, 2024

      Agreed !

    3. Wanderer
      December 23, 2024

      @George Sheard +1, or at the very least Chancellor of the Exchequer.

  20. Berkshire Alan
    December 23, 2024

    We have an elected dictatorship, and those who do get power, do not want to give it up !
    Under the present system Politicians can simply lie to get power !
    We need a system where we do not have to suffer for 5 years before we even have the opportunity to change things.
    When the State gets more of your money in your lifetime than you do yourself, you know it is a failed system.

  21. jerry
    December 23, 2024

    “Government uses or abuses the powers subject to public opinion and the need to seek their renewal at general elections. … The overmighty state is now too intrusive.”

    But people have been saying that the past 14 years, never mind most of the 30 years before, yet it fell on deaf ears. What about the restrictions put in place against organized trade unions and their members during the 1980s, or what could and could-not be taught in schools, even how children are taught, just to give two examples of previous government overreach. In a ‘two party’ democracy half of the electorate will never be happy whichever party is in government, all that changes in such a democracy is which half; and should Reform UK ever achieve their (stated) goals they need to remember those who are popular before an election can very quickly become unpopular after, as the LibDems also found out.

    “We do not need so many bans and restrictions on how we use the nationalised roads we have paid for. “

    Yet the cost of using those roads has increased under every Tory government since 1979, it was the Labour Party in their manifesto of that year who promised “to reduce bureaucracy and ensure fair treatment [of motorists]. The phased abolition of vehicle excise duty will remove one source of annoyance and irritation”, not the Tories!

    1. jerry
      December 23, 2024

      As for IR35, the vast majority of self employed people are not affected by IR35, and most probably don’t even know about the legislation, only those who are not truly self employed.

      “We should not have to pay a licence fee to use a tv if we do not watch BBC”

      Indeed, and why should someone have to fund 500 subscription channels just to be be allowed to subscribe to the one channel they actually want, there is a reason companies such as Sky do not rock the TVL fee boat!

      1. Martin in Bristol
        December 23, 2024

        Over 40% of self employed have been affected by IR35 and many more have had to alter the way they trade by becoming incorporated in order to avoid challenge from HRMC.
        Adding accountancy costs and administration costs as a result.
        Challenging HMRC’s decision as to your tax status is difficult, time consuming and expensive to do.
        Perhaps do a little research before giving us your opinions Jerry.

        1. jerry
          December 24, 2024

          @MiB; So 40% of those *who claim* to be self employed, less than half of all self employed then [1], say they have fallen foul of IR35, but how many of that number are truly self employed, probably less than 5%, and most of those can easily prove that they are not in Disguised Employment (a corporate tax fiddle).

          It is very easy, if truly self employed, to prove you had real choice as to when, where, what and for whom you worked for, your invoices and inward receipts (such as fuel or trade supplies), job quotations or estimates etc. are self explanatory evidence!

          [1] good luck pushing your irk uphill on that evidence, even among the self employed, never mind the wider PAYE base…

          1. Martin in Bristol
            December 24, 2024

            You start on one argument and then go off on several other issues on your reply Jerry.
            There are lots of reputable research articles available which show the negative economic effects since the introduction of IR35

            I have a feeling that if I had said IR35 was a jolly good thing you would have posted an essay on how bad it is.
            As long as it keeps you busy.
            ho hum

          2. jerry
            December 24, 2024

            @MiB; You brought up the 40% figure, not me, you raised the issue about challenging HMRC’s decisions, no me … yet now, Martin, you complain because I had the audacity to reply to your straw man arguments.

            “There are lots of reputable research articles available which show the negative economic effects since the introduction of IR35”

            There is also rather a lot of reputable research articles available which show the positive
            economic effects of cracking down on tax avoidance and evasion. Such as increased national infrastructure spending, that then benefits companies, the self employed and the economy generally.

            No one is arguing those not paying the correct amount of tax will have higher personal disposable incomes, and thus higher economic spending power, but that rather misses the point! If the argument is for lower personal and corporate tax rates, fine I can accept that; just stop trying to make victims out of those who *knowingly* fiddle their taxes and then get a back-tax demand or worse from HMRC.

  22. Mickey Taking
    December 23, 2024

    I’ve managed to get a book called ‘How Westminster Works …and why it doesn’t’ written by Ian Dunt.
    The only copy from Wokingham Libraries group – – amazed it was available. I expected a year waiting list.
    Hoping for time to read it over the immediate holiday.

    1. hefner
      December 23, 2024

      You might also want to look for ‘Parliament Ltd’, by Martin Williams, 2016, Hodder & Stoughton, eds.
      It is getting somewhat old but I guess most the points made in it are still very much relevant.

  23. formula57
    December 23, 2024

    And we do not need a political class staffed by people working to an agenda incongruent with the will of the people. It is hard to resist seeing them as traitors.

    As for ” devolution of power to individuals” recall Professor Marriott’s scheme as explained to Jim Hacker. Time to give it a try for real?

  24. forthurst
    December 23, 2024

    I knew someone whose post office business was bankrupted by a major cash theft. She went to work for another post office where one day I observed someone paying in a large bundle of cash. She confirmed to me that the individual did it every week and the money was directly transferred abroad. I wonder whether this loophole has been closed?

  25. oldwulf
    December 23, 2024

    Do we need a “Department for Energy Security and Net Zero”

    The only Government Department with an oxymoron for a title ?

    1. Mickey Taking
      December 23, 2024

      Ministry of Justice? straight out of 1984.

  26. Derek
    December 23, 2024

    Regarding people’s power, I cannot remember when such an event happened outside of General Election Days. Each party has always issued a manifesto outlining its plans to run the country after it is elected.
    However, post-election day, new governments have not followed the promises made to the electorate to get them elected. And that is where true democracy dies, along with “power to the people”.
    Thus the phrase becomes a mere cliche to be used as a marketing tool for Party promoters.
    Without some form of binding contractual agreement to ensure promises are kept, the practice will continue.

    1. Lynn Atkinson
      December 24, 2024

      It is the Opposition’s job to keep the Government straight. They are elected to do that job for us.
      Don’t forget Mrs Thatcher’s Opposition Conservatives laid and won a vote of No Confidence in the Government, forced an election and won that too.
      Starmer’s Government know what we needed – the assured us that they would deliver critical elements. So where they have deliberately done the opposite it was specifically to hurt us.

  27. glen cullen
    December 23, 2024

    SirJ, your last para is spot on ….I’m glad someone has the same views as me, I just wish kemi agreed

  28. Keith from Leeds
    December 23, 2024

    The most significant benefit to Democracy would be a recall system for MPs. At present, when they are elected, they can ignore the voters for 4 to 5 years. The conservatives did for 14 years, getting much worse after the Brexit referendum and look what happened at the last General Election. That it will happen to Labour in 2028/9 sadly makes no difference to the damage they can do until then.
    Then, another significant change would be a referendum on major issues. Who voted for the damage that the GW/CC/CO2 religion is doing and will do? A referendum would have forced the Government to present a proper, fully costed argument to the voters and enabled the arguments against it to be properly heard. No one, knowing the facts, would then have voted for this absolute disaster!

    1. Ian B
      December 23, 2024

      @Keith from Leeds – while I agree the problem there is the spin and use of words. Do you want to protect the planet and the environment? The answer is generally yes. Do you want the government to destroy your and your children s future, by exporting your wealth, your ability to respond to any new event that might turn up? No. But the 2 statements are not mutually exclusive. Having a question that doesn’t illustrate true costs against all the options, is just religious zealots imposing will

    2. Lynn Atkinson
      December 24, 2024

      Deselect them! That will straighten out a lot of the rest.

  29. Donkeys are not stupid.
    December 23, 2024

    Sir John,
    Merry Christmas and hopefully a better New Year, 2025. We need it. UK is so depressing at the moment and I certaintly don’t need telling how to live my life by the Labour governemnt. Thank you.

  30. Kenneth
    December 23, 2024

    We also need to get the public services that we have paid for.

    We have paid for healthcare, road maintenance and countless other services that are not being delivered.

    There is no point in the State saying “I’ll do it! I’ll do it” and then breaking the contract and letting us all down!

    Either do the job properly OR give us our money back and let us buy our own services

    1. Lynn Atkinson
      December 24, 2024

      We should have opt-outs associated with tax reductions. Then we could provide the services for ourselves and by-pass the state structure.

  31. john waugh
    December 23, 2024

    I notice that the GMB union has a campaign called — Workers Power The Future .
    ” If the transition is to deliver jobs , prosperity and security , and fulfil our climate obligations , then change must be done with workers – not to them .
    and – The UK needs real – world plans to make a success of our energy transition.
    This requires better cooperation between unions , industry and government ………..
    GMB is clear : a future imposed will fail . ”
    on the GMB union site gmb.org.uk

  32. MBJ
    December 23, 2024

    So..whoe changes these things!

    1. MBJ
      December 23, 2024

      Who

  33. Linda Brown
    December 23, 2024

    I have not seen any more power we have had in the West Midlands from putting a Mayor in. I am glad I was the only Councillor who voted against it and annoyed the Tories and George Osborne who wanted 100% vote in favour. I have proved correct I think and now that there is a Labour Mayor in post we will see nothing at all from him only more money wanted for extra staff he will employ.

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