I will be voting for Boris when my ballot paper arrives. He has given a clearer pledge to get us out of the EU by 31 October than Jeremy Hunt. This is vital for the future of our democracy and for the recovery of the Conservative party.
He has pledged tax cuts for individuals earners and home buyers and more spending on local schools and the police. In contrast Jeremy has promised a further expensive large cut in Corporation tax for large companies, where we are more competitive . It is our tax rates for individuals and taxes on enterprise and property ownership that are holding us back and harming the revenues.
If I needed any more reasons to choose Boris rather than Jeremy, the issue of fox hunting would supply it. Jeremy Hunt announced he would want a further Commons vote on fox hunting and implied he supported fox hunting. I have no wish to see this divisive issue re opened in Parliament. It is very unlikely Parliament would vote a different way to last time, but it would stir up strong emotions on both sides. Mr Hunt then appeared to back down rapidly under fire, saying he did not intend to introduce such a motion were he to become Prime Minister and was merely reasserting the position from Mrs May’s failed Manifesto of 2017. This made his position worse.
I look forward to our early exit from the EU without signing the completely unacceptable Withdrawal Treaty. I want a Brexit bonus budget to spend the money we save. We should stop all contributions to the EU from 1 November onwards.
July 5, 2019
I too would vote for Boris over Mr Hunt for the main reason that Mr Johnson is a Brexiteer and not a remainer in Mrs Mays cloths like Mr Hunt is, yes Mr Hunt might be coming over as a nice sincere guy but I donât trust him or the people around him to deliver us Brexit on October 31st 2019, so vote Boris
July 5, 2019
Mick, I looked up what Jeremy Hunt has said about Brexit over the last couple of years, and he is all over the place. Boris Johnson has been consistent at least since I saw him at a VoteLeave rally in early 2016.
The notion that the UK cannot prosper unless we are run by the EU is one of the most ludicrous propositions made by Remain. And MPs must accept that the country voted to leave the EU treaties, under the conditions set by MPs themselves.
Theresa May’s legacy is encapsulated in the EU’s view that “We finally turned [the UK] into a colony and that was our plan from the first moment.” Neither the country nor the Conservative party can afford a male version of Mrs May.
July 5, 2019
Hence Ann Widdicombeâs great speech yesterday which seems to have triggered all the right people!
July 5, 2019
Sir John,
I do so hope that Boris is able to secure the role of PM with your vote and hopefully enough others to give him a landslide. He then must ensure he delivers a clean Brexit by Halloween at the latest.
Perhaps, as soon as he is in situ, it would be a good time to remind Varadkar and his EU friends just how accommodating Britain was in 1922 when southern Ireland became independent and in 1937 when it became a sovereign, independent, democratic state. No trade or other restrictions imposed upon them. No fee to continue to trade with the UK. Unchanged treatment of their nationals within the UK. No supremacy of British law.
P.S. I have been finding it rather difficult to keep up to date with the English Democratsâ Brexit court case.
For anyone having similar difficulty, may I suggest a visit to:
stynesrobert.simplesite.com/442061665
This site seems to give all the news â and some in-depth and revealing background to it. In simple terms, on 28th June, a single Justice of the High Court (with proven âRemainerâ views) handed down a âNo Case to Answerâ ruling, which is now being appealed. If we get out cleanly on the due date, perhaps it is not so relevant.
July 5, 2019
Why would anyone appoint a judge without explaining to them the wisdom, or otherwise, of them posting such views on social media?
How could someone who has posted as he has done not recuse themselves, given such an obvious conflict of interest. etc ed I wonder?
July 6, 2019
Oliver,
Do I gather that you did manage to access the site?
See the response from Debs, and my response to her, to my post on this site to Sir John’s article about EU leadership dated 6th July.
July 5, 2019
@Pominoz
I suspect that there is a deliberate attempt by the Establishment MSM to suppress information about this case, unlike the widespread reporting of the Gina Miller case, with QT appearances etc.
Likewise the failure of the case against Boris over the ÂŁ350m per week. the MSM has largely ignored it, but can you imagine the hoo hah if it had succeeded?
We are living in a time of universal deceit.
July 5, 2019
Pominoz
“time to remind Varadkar and his EU friends just how accommodating Britain was in 1922 when southern Ireland became independent and in 1937 when it became a sovereign, independent, democratic state.”
Who taught you history? One of the bloodiest incidents in Irish history, although not comparable to Cromwell’s genocide, and you call it ‘accommodating’?
July 6, 2019
“Ulster says No” are three of the most inspiring words in UK history.
July 5, 2019
Good morning
But Alexander has also stated that he intends to renegotiate the WA and try to either remove or, time limit the so called backstop. May I remind him should never as here, the WHOLE of the WA is an affront to the referendum and to all that those who took part voted for. The WA is a treaty purely designed to convert UK membership of the EU to that of a colony ! Never in my life have I been so disgusted with those on the continent and the EU.
After all we and others have done to liberate them from evil they show us no respect.
July 5, 2019
” . . . should never as here . . .”
Should say:
. . . should he ever read here . . .
July 5, 2019
WA will not be reneogtiated
July 5, 2019
Billy Elliot, I hope you are right. As the EU said, the dWA makes the UK a “colony” of the EU. So the dWA must be scrapped in its entirety. We don’t need one. All we need are the same type of low-key agreements we make with most other nations already on issues as diverse as double taxation and driving licences, but which don’t turn us into colonies of those other states.
July 5, 2019
NickC at least we agree on some things. Happy days.
I am just wondering why the idea comes up all the time?
Well yes there is of course the possibility that EU would change their stance on this. Bit far fetched IMO.
July 6, 2019
Billy Elliot, I am not sure that we do agree at all. I think the EU will re-negotiate the dWA. I just hope they don’t. Not the same thing. The WTO Leave is simply the safest and best way of permanently disentangling ourselves from the clutches of the EU empire.
July 5, 2019
NickC..what you’re talking abut is having your cake..well after 1st Nov we will have no agreements with them and everything will have to start from scratch UK vs 27 is not going to happen in a week or a month or a year..so better brace ourselves..no driving licenses to drive on the continent will be the start
July 5, 2019
More multi-ID nonsense.
International Driving Permit, type: 1968 – valid for three years, costs ÂŁ5.50, available from Post Office, accepted everywhere in the EU.
Bash bash bosh, sorted.
Grow up!
July 6, 2019
ChasE, It is possible that the EU could be as spiteful as you suppose. But a double taxation agreement for example makes all the nations lives simpler and so will be done. There are after all about 3 times as many EU citizens in the UK, as UK people in the EU.
July 5, 2019
Mark B,
Agree entirely.
But, for the European Union, geography is key. Any distant country may well be able to enter into an FTA, but those contiguous, or virtually so other than a bit of water, are regarded as prey for the EU amoeba to subsume so that it may thrive and grow. Gratitude for past favours / sacrifices is not their consideration.
Boris must totally bin everything which bears the taint of May and her coterie of traitors.
July 5, 2019
Spot on!
July 5, 2019
The UK a colony? Never.
Re: Widdecombe declared: âIt is right because there is a pattern consistent throughout history of oppressed people turning on their oppressors.
âSlaves against their owners, the peasantry against their feudal masters.
Colonies against their empires, and that is why Britain is leaving, and it doesnât matter what language you use, we are going and we are glad to be going.â
July 5, 2019
We have been a colony for 46 years. Our âMonarchâ is a Suzerain, our âParliamentâ allowed itself to take orders,our courts imposed foreign mad laws and we are still citizens of a foreign power.
The RAF was in the air with the Luftwaffe bombing our anti-Fascist wartime allies, the Serbs.
These have been the darkest days in our history. God speed November 2019!
July 5, 2019
Wasn’t that a NATO operation(and therefore the foreign power was the USA),couched in humanitarian excuses but actually conducted for geopolitical reasons-as an example to Russia that she too would be broken up if she didn’t submit to globalism.
(And the Chinese have not forgotten the “accidental” bombing of their embassy in Belgrade.)
July 5, 2019
You are quite right about the Serbs. Will that history ever be correctly written?
July 5, 2019
And what a great orator Anne Widdecombe is! Commeth the hour, commeth the woman! Top marks to her for standing up to the EU and telling them what is wrong with their festering cesspit!
She’s a national treasure if ever there was one, and she would absolutely thrash the hapless, obtuse, untrustworthy and completely unsuitable turncoat Theresa May. What a pity Anne Widdecombe had no leadership aspirations back in 2016.
I wonder how many decent folk of her calibre the Tory party has to lose before it eventually collapses in on itself, or can it really get rid of all the dead and decaying extraneous beings, to be re-invented and re-invigorated?
I don’t trust Theresa May in trousers to deliver anything other than what has gone before, a succession of sick and paltry administrations that con people into thinking they are batting for Britain, whilst underhandedly working away behind the scenes to thwart the will of the people and sell us out.
Their time must surely soon be over. This is a national emergency as great as any we have ever faced in our long history, so the onus is upon Tory party members to deliver us from this evil and vote for anybody but Hunt!
July 5, 2019
Very True.
Uk will never be a colony.
Unfortunately in future there might be United Republic of Ireland,
Independent Scotland and England-Wales.
On the the other hand I am satisfied that I am not alone with this risk scenario JRM and other prominent politicians are making statments about this possibility.
July 6, 2019
Billy – but that prospect is not all bad. No Barnett formula payments, jobs come back to England, military and Civil Service. No more nose tweaking by their politicians.
July 5, 2019
Perhaps I am at fault, but I find it hard to take seriously any comments where the author uses an alternative name for a politician, for example, saying Gideon instead of George Osborne or, as you have done here, using Alexander instead of Boris. What is the point of doing so? Would you write a film review about Maurice instead of Michael Caine ?
July 5, 2019
Pud
Thank you for your comment.
As you know, in a free society, we are permitted to express the truth without restriction – stop laughing at the back ! As such, I choose to use his real name and not his ‘stage name’. This is because, unlike some, I am not as easily taken in by the character he so ably performs for the masses. I have been referring to him by his real name since 2011 FYI and will not change.
Refuse to take me seriously if you wish. But don’t blind yourself to the ‘man behind the mask
đ
July 5, 2019
I would say that rather than refuse to take seriously it’s more a question of I think the author is trying to be too clever which, rightly or not, makes me think they have nothing worth listening to. However, your explanation makes it clear that isn’t your intention. Thank you for responding in a courteous manner.
July 5, 2019
You probably won’t like my ‘Theresa May in trousers’ comment then Pud.
Believe me when I say I could use a lot of alternative words and phrases to describe those who smile in our faces, but plot to sell us out. I guarantee everyone would know who I meant, but alas, this is a moderated site.
July 5, 2019
Not at all, Tad. I think that’s a great description. I was solely objecting to the way some people use a politician’s given name instead of the name they are known as. To me, it gives the impression they are saying, for example, “aren’t I clever, I know George Osborne’s first name is really Gideon”. As I said in my first post, I may be wrong to think like that.
Nicknames like “May in trousers” or Bliar instead of Blair can be very effective and I don’t object to them at all.
July 6, 2019
Point taken. It’s a bit like someone using my ‘official’ name simply because they knew it, rather than the nickname I have been known by since I was six months old. In my case, my birth name is so poncey, I refuse to use it except when I have no choice as in an official requirement.
Boris’ case is slightly different because it is an official birth name, but nevertheless it conveys an inimitable character and has so much more resonance with the public than that of his opponent.
July 6, 2019
cheers mate.
July 6, 2019
Perhaps we should refer to the head of Project Fear as George (not his real name) Osborne?
Not very snappy is it? Let’s leave it as Gideon (his real name)
July 5, 2019
‘Never in my life have I been so disgusted with those on the continent and the EU.’
Correct, but let’s not forget the role of the UK parliament in all of this. They’re the ones who facilitated this treacherous travesty in the first place, and continued to pursue it by stealth and sleight-of-hand for over 46 years!
MPs were either too stupid to see what was going on about them, or fifth columnists hell-bent in this nation’s servitude to an undemocratic monolith.
Not in my name!
Either way, these leavers were unfit for office and did not deserve the nation’s trust. I can’t wait for the day when they can all be held to account and kicked out of office altogether!
July 5, 2019
Mark B
Indeed so, that is why I refer to them as the ungrateful EU.
Not only did we and the allies liberate them from tyranny, but also kept the soviets at bay during the cold war.
The latest thing I observe now is a real rise in anti-English sentiment from some of the eastern europeans here.
Makes you wonder why we bothered.
July 5, 2019
If I had a vote in this contest that would be my choice too. Hunt, it seems to me, is the establishment candidate. That is the last person we need at this juncture.
July 5, 2019
I am in two minds. What do you say to the arguments 1) that Mr hunt is more respected in foreign capitals esp. The EU, so has a higher chance of getting a deal; and 2) that Boris is unpopular in Scotland so his election will fuel separatism and set back the Conservative revival there?
Mr Hunt seems to poll better as PM with the public – who do you think gives us the best chance of beating Corbyn?
July 5, 2019
You seem to be more interested in hearing Labour and Jeremy Cornyn MP than saving your country from tyranny. Clearly a party before country person.
July 5, 2019
What a silly comment
July 6, 2019
But true !
July 5, 2019
Boris (by miles) has the better chance of beating Corbyn. Most people do not even know who Hunt is. He was dire at the NHS for 5+ year other than endlessly saying sorry for it he did nothing to make the system work. He is just “Theresa the nightmare continues” candidate.
25% of people with sepsis not picked up and given antibiotics within the target of one hour it seems at the NHS. How many of them die due to this negligence? Mind you one is lucky to be looked are by anyone medical within about 3 hours in my experience. And that will probably be a newly qualified doctor fresh out of University.
July 5, 2019
Because more than half “the public” don’t vote conservative and want the least effective Tory leader possible?
July 5, 2019
Indeed, I suppose I would prefer eg Kier Starmer to be PM rather than Jeremy Corbyn, but the chances of my voting Labour were he to become leader would remain at zero.
July 5, 2019
Richard1 said: “Mr Hunt is more respected in foreign capitals esp. the EU …”. How do you know he is more “respected”? And respected for what? Is it because the EU has said so? In which case you have your answer – they want the easiest opponent.
July 5, 2019
NickC agreed…
I guess Mrs May was respected, but for the reason that the EU considered and found her to be a pushover.
The good thing about Boris is that he will put the EU on its back foot, as they say “divide and conquer”…
July 5, 2019
Nick C
âMr Hunt is more respected in foreign capitals esp. the EU âŠâ.
Well he can bugger off and live there.
July 5, 2019
”… a higher chance of getting a deal…”
Well – Mrs May could easily have ”got us a deal”. But what a deal! I’m sure Mr Hunt could indeed do just as ”well” if he wanted – and I’m sure, from all he’s said, that he WILL want a deal just like Mrs May’s.
Anyway – it’s not all about the Conservative party, is it? Isn’t there something about our country regaining its freedom from the EU?
I’d rather our leader were healthily feared than ”respected” – feared because of a vowed intention of taking us out of their undemocratic ‘organisation’.
July 5, 2019
The Russians have jumped straight on a comment by J Hunt this week about the UK’s “strategic ambiguity”:-
“I love British Foreign Policy.It is beauty and the beast rolled into one.Now we understand the essence of London’s strategy in the Skripal case.It is strategic ambiguity.Thank you for your honesty,Jeremy.”
Maria Zakharova,Press Director MFA of the Russian Federation,by twitter.
July 5, 2019
Hunt is the best chance of beating Corbyn because Farage would get a bigger vote with Hunt running the Conservatives than Boris. Boris might split the Brexit vote a bit – I imagine he would come to some agreement with Farage though after Hammond and co have forced an election.
July 5, 2019
How can you possibly be in 2 minds?-
Leaving the EU to regain our freedom and democracy is far, far more important than who wins the next GE.
And it wouldn’t matter who won the next GE if Parliament signed the WA where we accept all EU laws, taxes, fines, budgets and policies (trade, environment, energy, immigration etc.) with no representation or veto and from which we could not leave without the consent of the EU.
How could you possibly vote for Mr. Hunt who is a hard remainer who voted 3 times for this traitorous treaty ?
July 5, 2019
Hunt. Theresa in trousers.
Bin there, done that and failed. Move along please.
July 5, 2019
Even with his silly pro-hunting gaff he was copying her gaff!
July 5, 2019
…and a copied gaff is much worse than an original gaff. Proves inability to learn.
July 5, 2019
True.
July 5, 2019
Hunt was totall idiotic to reopen the issue of fox hunting. Just as Theresa May was on this issue and indeed almost every other issue. Personally I would not have banned fox hunting though I have never participated. But there is nothing to gain from reopening the issue politically.
Of these two Boris is far, far preferable. He actually believes in a real Brexit, far lower taxes, far less red tape and less nanny state. He does some to have swallowed some of the green crap though he should follow Trump who is right on this issue. Of course to cut taxes you have to cut government but there is masses of waste that could be cut without any deterioration in service. About 50% of it I estimate.
Let us hope the many Libdim’s pretending to be Conservative MPs do not frustrate his leadership as I suspect they will. The main reason to vote for Boris is he is the only one who gives the country a slim chance of avoiding Corbyn. Though Corbyn and Mc Donnall are clearly doing their bext to ensure they do not win too. Poll puts Labour support at historic low amid Brexit flip-flopping and anti-Semitism row just one in five would support him at a general election it seems. The people are not as daft as he thinks they are or indeed as ‘Magic Money Tree’ Corbyn is.
July 5, 2019
He does ‘seem’
July 5, 2019
And by some accounts, he did some!
July 5, 2019
Remember he eventually caved in and voted for the WA. The question is “is caving in his MO?”, in which case, we will just repeat the past six months.
July 5, 2019
It would be good to know why, exactly, he did vote at the third time for Mrs May’s WA. Surely he knows people are suspicious of that?
Perhaps that was a ploy – part of his ‘long game’. Or is that too fanciful?
July 5, 2019
He, Raab, and Mogg all did it together. The reason was presumably that the PM was now colluding with Parliament to overthrow Brexit and they reckoned a quarter of a loaf was better than none. I don’t agree.
They seemed to be cheering themselves up with the thought that they could tear it up after leaving. I think it was a genuine split amongst the Brexiteers about what to do at that point and they did come back together afterwards.
July 5, 2019
SJS, The choice [at the time] put forward by Mrs May, was vote for the dWA or no Brexit, a difficult choice.
Some thought that the dWA was better than no Brexit, a fine judgement call IMO.
July 5, 2019
What is âcrapâ about being âgreenâ?
One assumes you prefer the days when people burned coal to heat their homes, the buildings were black and the smog was yellow. Damn that pesky, green crap Clean Air Act 1956.
Mind you weâve replaced the sulphur with other black crap – give every child an asthma puffer. Oh, wait, we already have.
July 5, 2019
I wonder how Germany is coping with the stuff belched out by using all that coal they’re so hooked on.
Are German kids suffering too?
July 5, 2019
The same way we coped when they foisted all those diesel fumes on us.
July 5, 2019
Mike Wilson, You ask what is “crap” about “green”? The answer is that every “green” initiative I have ever heard of is either: plain propaganda, not based on science, impractical, counterproductive, illusory, or dangerous. Sometimes a combination of those. That’s because most green activists are neither scientists nor engineers.
Wood chips across the Atlantic. EU ripping up 1.7m acres of rainforest for “bio” fuel. “Zero” “carbon”. Battery and hydrogen powered cars. Battery cars without building power stations. Intermittents. Intermittents without the costs of backups included. Consequent high cost of electricity. Consequent loss of industry. Consequent loss of jobs. Consequent impoverishment. Plastic recycling – that ends up in the seas. CFLs. “Smart” meters. Lost opportunities (& L/O costs) for reliable nuclear and gas powered generation plants. Dead fish dumping in the North Sea. Higher taxes. Delays to shale gas fracking. CAGW believed as a political ideology or even a religion. Arrogance that the “science is settled”. Lack of understanding about clouds/cosmic rays, so just ignored. Crap computer modelling. No usable CCS.
Do you need any more?
July 5, 2019
Nick C
Very well said and a lot of companies making billions out of it all.
Paid in full by every bill payer regardless of their capabilities to pay.
It is now all about money no more no less. Incompetent, ignorant and arrogant politicians all 500 odd in our case, all are at the high alter of the Church of Renewable Energy.
July 5, 2019
Offshore wind is cheaper than nuclear when all the ones being built are guaranteed 3x the market cost of electricity and inflation proofed and every other nuclear station in the world costs less the the EPR carefully selected by May and Clarke.
July 5, 2019
Exactly.
July 5, 2019
The Clean Air Act only got rid of the visible, the invisible from various sources continued and grew. We failed to make use of science and engineering to make coal burning in power generation, and vehicle emmissions acceptable using the criteria of health.
In failing to take this route we denied ourselves a technology export industry. Think what we could be selling to Eastern Europe, India and China had we take that route. Unfortunately we are burdoned with a glut of lawyers and a dirth of engineering and science in the HoC.
July 5, 2019
Mike
You are confusing pollution with “the world will end and humans will all die, global warming”
Two rather different things.
July 5, 2019
“What is âcrapâ about being âgreenâ?”
You can be aware of environmental issues without thinking every environmental drive is well-thought out or sensible. Green crap – to me – is where people say something is ‘green’ to hide the fact its inefficient and sometimes even worse for the environment than what it replaces.
Recycling is sensible: saves resources, importing replacements and provides work. Fining householders for not using the right bins when all those bins are then thrown into the same lorry by the collectors and mixed together (and then allowing the recycling firm that mixed them to charge the council extra for ‘mixed waste’) is ridiculous.
Commercial Solar power is indeed useful to develop in areas where there is enough sunlight and space. Paying householders in regions without enough sunlight (or enough roofspace) to install microgenerators that they can’t pay off and will never pay for themselves? Again, not productive.
Banning gas boilers just means the gas is burned elsewhere for electricity, losing some to inefficiences, loses more on the transmission line, and costs everyone a fortune to replace perfectly working technology – even less of a green idea, if you consider the costs of manufacturing all the new boilers required.
July 5, 2019
There is nothing crap about being properly green. The problem is that lots of things that governments and green movement push are not really green at all. They are green wash or just plain green crap. Often they due more damage than good (exporting energy intensive energy industries for example, building HS2) and they usually cost a fortune in tax payers subsidies needed. Doubtless much of it voted through by many MPs and Lords who have nice “consultancy” fees from people pushing for these subdies.
July 5, 2019
Mike Wilson
“One assumes you prefer the days when people burned coal to heat their homes”
Yeah, those were the days !
Green crap is one big con trick.
July 5, 2019
There is nothing wrong with improving the environment but the green religion with its hell and fire damnation in 20 years’ time is merely designed to frighten the public into a feudal and poverty stricken lifestyle whilst the elites continue to enjoy all the benefits that our modern technology provides.
Of far more importance is to control the world’s population.
July 5, 2019
Like you, I too have never participated in a fox hunt, although for myself I would support any attempt to have it banned outright (and suspect it’s demise is in any case inevitable). We can agree, though, that it was idiotic to reopen the issue now. I wonder how much damage is caused, for relatively few votes. It seems to be a chronic itch for the Conservative Party – something forever needing to be scratched.
July 5, 2019
We demand a clear pledge. A ‘clearer pledge’ is completely non-committal and affords leeway for adjustment. We’re exhausted by such games.
Why can’t politicians competing for high office be crystal clear about their policy positions rather than indulging in semantic gymnastics? It fails to deceive and invites suspicion
His tax cuts plan targets middle earners. That ‘ain’t clever’. It’s downright bad politics.
Stop spending taxpayers money on an unreformed public sector.
Reform Labour’s client state.
Cut the basic rate of income tax by a decent margin.
Privatise the BBC and purge all pro-Labour bodies like the Elec-Comm, CPS etc etc
If BJ does become PM and fails to take the UK out of the EU by the due date then he’ll be crucified and the Tories will wither.
He cannot fail in this most important of tasks
July 5, 2019
Dont complain when Boris rats on you. He is a proven liar
July 5, 2019
Any blame for this will probably rest with the many Traitor MPs within the Conservative Party and Bercow.
July 5, 2019
No. You don’t blame them for May’s clusterflick, so you can’t if BJ messes up. It’s down to him.
July 5, 2019
Yes you can blame May’s clusterflick on her, as she was one of the remainers that have got us in this position.
July 5, 2019
May was clearly not even trying to deliver.
July 5, 2019
Sir Joe Soap, No. If Remain MPs stop a Leave PM from implementing Leave, then those Remain MPs would be culpable. Theresa May’s dWA (and yes it was hers, even if the likes of Olly Robbins wrote, edited or managed it) was not written by Remain MPs.
July 5, 2019
What on earth is a clusterflick?
July 5, 2019
We’ll tell you when you’re older đ
July 6, 2019
the result of a snafu
July 5, 2019
Can you ask Boris please if and when he makes his journey to the Palace and thence Downing Street to do so using for transport the red bus with the ÂŁ350 million (*) a week message along its side?
(*) As reconfirmed as correct, this time by the High Court.
July 5, 2019
Formula57, Indeed. Remains seem incapable of understanding the meaning of “gross” and “net”, even though those terms apply on their pay slips. Are they thick? Or just uneducated? Or maybe even flat-earthers?
July 5, 2019
The actual “net” figure for 2017 is âŹ149 million a week (ÂŁ125 million). It would be pointless for me to even try to explain to you, how that figure is arrived at.
July 6, 2019
Acorn, It is Remains who do not understand the difference between the gross bill and the various net figures for the amount we pay the EU for the privilege of being told what to do. As demonstrated by continuity Remain’s continued whinging about the gross figure of ÂŁ350m on the side of a bus – which most people did not see anyway.
July 5, 2019
Emma Barnett, on Newsnight last night, had the most absurd interview with Ann Widdecombe on EU oppression and Slavery. Ann dealt with it perfectly making the inverview look like the total dope she was. It even out did Cathy Newmanâs pathetic interview of Jordan Peterson for gross stupidity.
The BBC seems to be very pleased that Newsnight now has an “all women team of presenters”. But could they not have found some women who could think logically and impress? Onces who were not lefty art graduated with all the usual BBC think misguided beliefs & lunacies? Perhaps even one who was numerate, cernte or even right of centre, understood economics, science, climate alarmist, loogic and reason? Just one would be nice.
Or perhaps they put these people on as they actually want us to think women are a bit lacking in the logic and reason department. I can find them some bright ones if they want.
July 5, 2019
That Emma Barnett interview is simply astonishing.
Despite my natural respect for the rule of law etc, I feel very tempted to just cancel my license fee direct debit.
I wonder why Hunt, when grilled on R4 about whether he was cruel ddin’t respond somewhere along the lines of “You’re being paid twice as much to ask questions as I am as Foreign Secretary to deal with substantive issues you can’t even begin to comprehend – why don’t you ask some questions the answers to which would be useful to your audience for your money?”
July 5, 2019
Oliver, Cancel your TV tax direct debit, and stop watching the BBC. Two bonuses for the price of one!!
July 5, 2019
Oliver,
Just watched the interview based on your “astonishing” recommendation. The comic value of Emma Barnett is nearly worth the TV license in itself. If I hadn’t known it was supposed to be journalism I would have thought she was a new left Alan Partridge. Hilarious.
July 6, 2019
Just done likewise and agree, Partridgesque.
Thank goodness for politicians as clever and articulate as Ann Widdecombe that clown infotainment operatives can be exposed for what they are.
July 5, 2019
I saw a bit of that Newsnight interview yesterday. I was channel hopping from the equally dire Question Time. I donât usually bother with either show. Emma Barnett wants to make a name for herself in the same way as James OâBrien who has now been reduced to radio chat show host.
Eventually I settled on ITV which had a travelogue on India with Trevor McDonald.
July 5, 2019
Indeed I suppose the three women who now present Newsnight are not quite as daft as the dire James O’Brien. But Emma was really demonstrating how very, very stupid she must be. Unless that is she was asking scripted questions under direct orders from above?
If so anyone sensible would have refused.
July 5, 2019
Newsnight starts after I have gone to bed. Does watching it help for insomnia?
Would I be right in thinking that it is now a BBC navel-gazing programme, where they invite on their left-liberal luvvies to support their pro-remain editorial bias?
July 5, 2019
Lifelogic
“But could they not have found some women who could think logically and impress?”
Well most men posting on this blog lack both I’m afraid.
Is that why you chose ‘Lifelogic’?
July 5, 2019
Well you impress with the way you are at odds with just about everyone and everything on this site. Predictable sums you up.
July 6, 2019
Well point out and address any lack of logic in specific term, rather than just throwing mud around!
July 6, 2019
Margaret Howard, Why don’t you barrack us to become the “51st” state of the USA, rather than the main offshore province of the feeble EU empire? The USA is richer, more powerful and more democratic.
July 5, 2019
Sounds about right, but lets see what really happens should Boris become PM. There is so much dishonesty and double standard behaviour in UK politics. Not to overlook a PC inability to come to terms with situations as they are, that make me cynical of politicians promises. You will be judged on what does and does not happen.
July 5, 2019
Plus about 25% of the Conservative Party will be actively working against Boris.
July 5, 2019
So 75% will actively work for and I suspect the inverse for Hunt. 75% of the Conservative Party have not been active for 23 years, so Boris will bring a revolution in that respect … if he delivers.
July 6, 2019
Lynn….I suspect 75% of the Cons Party have been asleep for 23 years, not noticing the party has been invaded and changed probably to its extinction at the next 2 GEs.
July 5, 2019
I hope Boris Johnsonâs promise to leave the EU by 31st October can be relied on should he become Prime Minister. I have reservations about both candidates.
I take more comfort from the presence of Nigel Farage and the Brexit Party as a reminder that further delay will have disastrous consequences for the Conservative and Labour parties.
July 5, 2019
Indeed Fararge and the Brexit party will (hopefully) help the many fake ‘Conservative’ MPs to concentrate. Unless they want less than 9% next time.
July 5, 2019
We need a Donald Trump. Someone who will put the UK first instead of appeasing everyone at the expense of the British.
Boris is the best of the two, but I am so accustomed to politicians lying to the electorate for 40+ years about the EU, and finding ways to sideline democracy, that I find it difficult to trust anyone. I guess I’ll have to wait and see if the winner follows through on their promises, but I’m not hopeful.
Roll on the next GE, so we can kick out the non-democrats and get a Parliament that truly represents the people.
July 5, 2019
“a Parliament that truly represents the people” – well that would be a first!
Most represent their personal interests, the party interests, the interest of the pressure groups who pay their “consultancy fees” (especially greencrap ones) …..
Conservatives always promise lower taxes, a bonfire or red tape and better services at elections and almost always deliver far higher taxes, endless new red tape and poor and declining public services.
Cameron/Osborne and May/Hammond delivered this in spades. Then they complain about poor productivity!
July 5, 2019
Shirley.
A thought. We do have a Trump type, with similar style and beliefs.
Sir John Redwood.
Reply There are some obvious differences you ignore
July 5, 2019
Yes, the hair. Its Fabricant we need
July 5, 2019
I would like to hear both candidates list everything they find unacceptable with May’s Withdrawal Agreement – apart from the backstop.
Each of them to take as much time as they need.
July 5, 2019
Me too. Almost all of it is dire. Then they could explain why they voted for it three times for Hunt and once Boris!
July 5, 2019
Hammond, Grieve, Clarke X 2, Sam Gyimah, Gauke and the rest are clearly planning to undermine Boris at every turn and to destroy the Conservative party. I assume the appalling May will joint in given her speech yesterday. Then we have B***** to Brexit Bercow to suffer too.
It seems Bercow’s vote is worth more than 17.2 million of other people’s – such is democracy.
Hammond is on the ‘Political Thinking’ programme podcast it seems.
July 5, 2019
Good reasons all, but too late as I have already voted for Boris. After a careful read of the competing manifestos sent with the voting forms it was clear to me that Boris was the only one who was clearly committed to escaping from the EU while Hunt was planning on bringing back a new and improved May/Barnier deal.
July 5, 2019
David in Kent, Thank you for voting for Boris Johnson.
July 5, 2019
Johnson’s tax cuts plan is targeting those people who probably voted Remain. I understand why he would do that. It is the idea that Leave is of benefit to them and at the same time proving that they made the wrong choice by voting Remain
But I would argue He should be targeting those real, sincere people who voted Leave who I would argue are those on voters lower earnings and less prone to signalling their piety and plastic virtue by voting Remain
What type of message does that emit to the public when BJ’s tax cuts plan is benefiting Remain voters?
I suppose it matters not in the greater scheme of things. If he fails to deliver Leave then he’s a dead man walking anyway
July 5, 2019
Dominoc,
It might be a Conservative/Eton trick, talking and walking are different things. Perhaps I misremember but didn’t Mr Osborne talk about the hard done by saver who has done the right thing, but with the OnE continued to wreck their lives thereafter? Just because Mr Johnson says one thin, whether good or bad, walking and talking are different things (PM May might be a case in point).
July 5, 2019
On most issues, especially Brexit, Boris would be my candidate, but raising the fox hunting issue should be one of great interest to all.
If for no other reason, and I can literally think of no others – Blair’s labour party should have been thanked for showing us how effectively media indoctrination works.
The concern for foxes reached fever pitch, and was one of the waves that brought blair into power – a caring decent bloke who had only the best interests of the country at heart..! (Huh)
The indoctrination was so powerful that the lies told about fox hunting still reverberate, still raise extraordinary passions – Now that is the power the media have over us all, and it never stopped at fox hunting…!
July 5, 2019
More ill thought out guff on electric cars just now on radio four.
“Young people are tending not to use cars but use taxis and hire cars instead.” This is often true but actually taxis and hire cars are in fact cars perhaps the BBC has not noticed this!
Taxis are also very inefficient cars – this as they (currently) need a driver with all their costs and Co2 outputs on top, plus they travel empty for much of the time. Often they travel to pick you up, travel to the destination, travel back to next job, then travel to pick you up again, travel to drop you off and back to next job. Often well over four times the distance covered had you just taken your own car there and back again.
So why are the inefficient taxis allowed in special lanes but not private cars?
Also electric car are not zero emmision at all. Emmisions are just largely moved to the power station and can be larger than a conventional car all considered.
July 5, 2019
Even Sir John Alexander Armitt a past President of the Institution of Civil Engineers and Deputy Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission seems to think election cars are zero emmision on radio 4 this AM.
What planet are these people on? Electric cars just shift emmsions to the power station and the battery/car manufacturing facilities. They can often be worse than conventional cars on balance. Needless to say the BBC interview did not say anything (or even notice?).
July 5, 2019
Lifelogic, The “learned” institutions seem to have fallen for the CAGW hoax. I resigned from the IEE in protest at their man made global warming science is settled type guff.
July 5, 2019
These people start to believe their own propaganda – or they just lie I suppose.
July 5, 2019
LL
Electric cars are intended to fulfil the following requirements;
1) Rip us all off.
2) Restrict our movement.
3) Make obscene profit for manufacturers.
4) Force us to have a toy car that has to be thrown away when the battery dies.
Electric cars are for naive lefty liberal thicko’s who don’t know one end of a spanner from the other.
July 5, 2019
Lifelogic,
Ride/car sharing will grow and have higher utilization, moreover it may go driverless using special lanes where available. It will solve the first/last mile issue, the parking issue, the flexibility issue and the transport disadvantaged issue. Managed fleets (so n not the current providers approach) will also.over some charging downtime.
July 5, 2019
I used to be in favour of Hunt winning out, so as to leave fewer people believing the Conservative party might actually deliver Brexit. But I hadn’t anticipated Johnson (and his proxies) being utterly incapable of providing reassurances (disingenuous as though inevitably would be) on there being a plan to leave – nevermind all the other nonsense spouted on a host of other matters.
Now, I don’t think it matters much at all who wins. The Conservative party ought to be toast come the GE, given Johnson’s exposure to, and collapse under, mild scrutiny. Leavers will have no one else to blame but themselves if they vote Conservative rather than Brexit Party, and the result is a Labour/LibDem/SNP/Green coalition. Vote Conservative, remain in the EU with a left wing government – whether it’s PM Johnson, Hunt, Corbyn or anyone else. I don’t know why it is that you seem not to understand this Sir John.
July 5, 2019
Simeon, Because you’re incoherent?
July 5, 2019
There is no necessary connection between incoherence and incomprehension, if I were incoherent. There was an error in my post due to predictive text that I didn’t spot, though I’m not sure you spotted it either.
My point is quite simple really. The Conservative Party need to get out of the way and let the Brexit Party have a go.
July 6, 2019
Simeon….’My point is quite simple really. The Conservative Party need to get out of the way and let the Brexit Party have a go.’
I doubt the CP will be in the way should Hunt be the PM.
July 5, 2019
My ballot paper arrived yesterday and was returned the same day. Boris received my vote as I do not wish to see another Remainer trying to deliver Brexit.
July 5, 2019
When Boris fails with Brexit as advertised too you will probably end up calling him a Remainer too. The problem is not the person it is the policy.
Brexit is the issue. When you all figure that out – and I appreciate that most of you are either too obtuse or stupid to ever get there – then it all becomes much easier to resolve.
July 5, 2019
Andy, Brexit is the policy of converting the UK from being an EU colony to being as independent as New Zealand. So Brexit is perfectly possible, and it is Leave. If any PM fails to remove the UK from control by the EU then that is Remain. It really isn’t that difficult to understand. Unfortunately, you are evidently either too obtuse or too stupid to ever get there.
July 5, 2019
Your idea of being clever is to stay in the EU andy.
But that isn’t going to happen.
July 5, 2019
Andy
Rubbish, as usual.
July 5, 2019
What an ignorant and arrogant little person you are, Andy.
You have never understood up to this point what Brexit means. You think it is something that will affect your bank balance or your ability to take Spanish holidays or work in a foreign bar.
Why does a sudden gleam make plain in one great moment what you haven’t seen – up to now?
July 6, 2019
L.Jones……he would have to compete with dozens of young unemployed Spanish for that bar job.
July 5, 2019
Andy, it’s not difficult to understand that a majority of the country voted leave in order to regain our freedom and democracy and retain the ability to influence our laws, taxes and policies by being able to elect and remove those who make these decisions.
On the other hand it is difficult to understand your position where you want us to be a colony of the EU and even pay a fee to be fleeced.
July 5, 2019
Ditto. We could have the count when all the ballots are returned – Monday?
July 5, 2019
May was not trying to deliver!
July 5, 2019
Boris will be forced to choose between the WA with a fee changes and colonial status and WTO after an election with the Brexit Party wiping out the LibDem Tories. He will choose party loyalty and hope that by the time of the election in 3 years time, the dimwitted leavers will have forgotten that they have not really left. They will remember and the Conservative Party will be finished.
July 5, 2019
Stred,
I think Mr Johnson and Mr Farage have real difficulties. Yes Mr Johnson must deliver a real Brexit on 31st October, but if he does that successfully the Govt still has to rapidly move away from London/SE as the transport, political, financial and cultural centre of the UK. Both Mr Johnson and Mr Farage have real difficulties in doing this, they do not understand the reality. Mr Johnson needs to immediately stop the third runway at Heathrow and speed up the delivery of HS2, committing to at least Birmingham but hopefully Birmingham and Manchester as transport hubs. (Old Oak Common to Euston could be dropped or delayed). Both Johnson and Farage have spoken out against Hs2, this is a mistake and will cost them in a GE. Condescendingly just putting a bit of investment into local infrastructure simply confirms outside London as mere disconnected periphery, a failure to deliver a train line will be seen as, and is, pathetic. Moving the political centre from London should be simple – replace FPTP, and the Lords, create an English Parliament near the centre of England (devolve much more, but maintain UK level international and defence policy – ideally outside London with Westminster mothballed/demolished) and move all senior civil servants out of London (I don’t think any of this is original, there are just vested interests). Farage might potentially have a bit more interest in shifting political power out of London, I suspect the Conservatives and Johnson have none (even Ms McVey’s blue collar conservatism was rejected in the first round). Other than the aforementioned rebalancing basics neither Mr Johnson nor Mr Farage have yet demonstrated an understanding of how macroeconomics has changed, nor an understanding of alternative tax systems. It has all been about tweaks to the current system that continue to transfer wealth and power (to be fair the other parties also seem to be lacking).
July 5, 2019
Have you noticed the two candidates are mentioning less often “WTO rules”; “Gatt 24” and “MFN”.
As I have explained before on this site, the decision by Canada not to roll-over CETA if the UK leaves the EU without a deal; is no surprise. Canada, like all the other countries that currently have big trade deals with the EU 28, is awaiting the outcome of what a future deal between the UK and the EU 27 looks like, before making a final decision.
July 5, 2019
Canada would say that at the moment because we have messed up the simple task of leaving.
With remainers in charge in number ten and in the cabinet.
Over three years wasted and Canada still cannot see what the outcome will be.
If we had left the EU, then Canada and the UK would soon after have a mutually beneficial arrangement for trade signed.
July 5, 2019
BTW. Continental number crunchers are taking bets on the three options for the Irish border.
Option 1: Northern Ireland (NI) stays in the EU (principally the Customs Union and the Single Market) and the EU Frontier moves into the Irish Sea.
Option 2: An EU regular (hard / physical / manned) Frontier Border is established between NI and the Republic just like the other 41 land borders the EU has with non-EU countries.
Option 3: The Irish Republic leaves the EU with the UK and the EU Frontier moves to the English Channel (La Manche).
Gentlemen, place your bets.
July 6, 2019
If the EU wants to build a wall then carry on.
Both sides have said they will not.
July 6, 2019
Acorn,
Option 4: The Eire/UK border is treated as it is now – a currency, excise, regulatory, legal, police, employment, people, state, and tax border. Just with the addition of customs, also handled remotely as the others already are.
July 5, 2019
Thanks to a majority of the Conservative Party MPs selecting Mrs. May and supporting her treacherous WA, Boris is now left with only one option and that is a WTO Brexit given the nastiness of the EU.
If Boris and our Parliament either revoke articel 50 or submit the country to a version of the WA the world will see that we are no longer a democratic country and we will have years of social and political unrest as unwanted EU’s laws, taxes, fines, budgets and policies (trade, environment, energy, immigration etc.) are imposed upon us.
July 5, 2019
So competence is not a requirement in your new leader? Just Brexit. Bit pathetic really.
July 5, 2019
Can I, for a moment, just comment on the behaviour of the Brexit Party MEPs this week.
What an embarrassment. A national humiliation by a bunch of uncouth thugs.
It is perfectly possible to be anti-EU and respectful. Plenty of MEPs are.
But Farage, Widdecombe and their vile bunch of louts are just rude.
Little Englanders on tour. No different from football hooligans.
They are an embarrassment to your cause.
July 5, 2019
Andy,
I do not think ‘sampling’ Beethoven to create an unnecessary European Anthem is in anyway respectful to nation states. It is clear symbolism that one either agrees with or not. If the UK eventually leaves the EU and the EU completes its federalisation, then it is of course (more likely) appropriate to respect an EU nation’s anthem. I think it is disrespectful to be played at the moment.
I listened to Ms Widdecombe’s speech, in this case her argument and examples were coherent. I also agree with the SNP’s support for the Catalan MEPs and Catalonia. The UK Govt supported a Scotland independence referendum, fought it and won it. The Spanish Govt did not support a referendum, lost it, and have then acted in a way to cause fear to drive opinion away from independence – continuation of Catalonia as a colony of Spain. It will be very sad if the UK sacrifices Gibraltar to Spain as it sacrificed HK. Island and Kowloon to China.
July 5, 2019
It is a question of respect. You can disagree without being disrespectful.
If you choose to sit down during an anthem – fine.
Turning your back on it is just pathetic and plain rude.
As for comparing leaving the EU with slavery – what a crass misunderstanding of history, of diplomacy and of politics.
Ms Widdecombe just made herself and her party look stupid. And you just need to look at the reaction from sensible Brexit supporters to know this is true.
You have all failed to understand that Brexit is not an event. It is a process. And if the process does not make our country better, richer, stronger – you have failed.
July 5, 2019
Yes it is a question of respect, hence having a federal anthem whilst the nation’s still exist is disrespectful. I do not agree with some things that Ms Widdecombe has said, but listening to her 90 second speech it is coherent and the three examples are not used in the way that people are childishly trying to paint, this reflects really poorly on them.The
I think seeing Brexit as event vs process is an operational definition, the conceptual quality of Brexit is that it is a choice of what people view as better, whether this be decreasing democratic distance from decisions, reducing trade diversion, not biasing immigration to EU, being able to make appropriate sections on CRISPR etc. Of course some people prefer techocracy, protectionism, bias, unscientific traditionalism etc., what makes Brexit better is that people have chosen it as better, what makes it worse is ignoring the choice. (Of course operationally the choice can go awry e.g. Taking laws, staying in a CU, giving preference, aligning rules etc.)
July 6, 2019
An anthem is the preserve of a nation state.
The EU is not a nation state.
Nobody in the EU ever voted for it to be a nation state. Its ‘presidents’ have asserted that it is not a nation state.
The EU ‘anthem’ – which is just a tune with no words – is, like all other supranational symbols, neither recognized by nor included in the Treaty of Lisbon.
Schiller’s poem was of course not originally an ‘Ode to Joy’ – he was forced to change his original poetic theme and the poetry itself, which was an Ode to Freedom a concept that was anathema in the German state in which he lived – he was forced to flee westwards and to alter the words of his song from ‘Freiheit’ to ‘Freude’, from a conjuration of individual liberty to something more harmlessly platitudinous and bibulous.
I shall certainly turn my back if Beethoven’s tune is ever played with such symbolic EU-Imperial pretensions when I am present. I hope every other decent democrat will do likewise.
QED
July 6, 2019
“You can disagree without being disrespectful”
Andy, I am stunned you can say this after all your numerous posts.
Perhaps now in future you can take your own advice?
July 6, 2019
Andy….I and 17.2m will take the chance on – –
if the process does not make our country better, richer, stronger.
You can still relocate to the EU and enjoy all the benefits that you hold so dear.
July 5, 2019
Caterpillar
The UK Govt supported a Scotland independence referendum, fought it and won it”
You forget to mention that that was before the disastrous Brexit vote in England. Seeing that Scotland voted overwhelmingly remain the next referendum will be to leave the union after 300 years of colonial serfdom and join the EU as an independent nation.
July 6, 2019
With its own monarchy, which we will force on them.
With its own currency, which we will force on them.
Without the Barnett formula, which we will force on them.
With its own defence forces, which we will force on them.
With a hard border, which we will force on them.
Scotland, be careful what you wish for.
July 6, 2019
The snag is Scotland would have to use the Euro.
The EU growth and stability pact rules would mean their current state spending would need to reduce greatly.
No more generous Barnet formula subsidies.
Let’s see how popular that scenario would be with Scottish voters once that sunk in.
July 6, 2019
Edward
When the oil revenue and huge whisky tax goes into Scottish coffers rather than London, they won’t need any Barnet formula.
And from experience I know that the EU is far more generous in supporting its regions than we ever were.
July 7, 2019
We send much more money to Scotland than they raise in taxes.
So net they will be worse off.
July 6, 2019
Margaret Howard, England and Scotland became the United Kingdom over 400 years ago (1603) when the Scottish King James VI took over the government of England, when government was the monarch. Serfdom had ceased already in both countries. Neither country was a colony of the other. If you cannot use words or history properly why do you bother?
July 5, 2019
So what about the “B……. to Brexit” T shirts worn by the Lib Dems – very rude? I also saw it reported that the SNP sat down during the Ode.
July 5, 2019
Andy, Perhaps they should have thrown a milk-shake at Juncker instead? Or worn lurid yellow t-shirts with puerile slogans on them? Remember you call us “far-right”, “thick”, “racists”, “uneducated”, etc. You started it, we’re just returning the compliment. You are the people who demand we should vote again until we get the “right” answer. Maybe you should have a re-think.
And what would you have said if TBP MEPs had “respected” the EU state anthem? You would simply have found another formula to vent your anti-Brexit spleen. We are anti-EU precisely because we don’t respect the EU – it is a corrupt ideology – a protection racket – that is enslaving the people of Europe via their dim politicians. Again.
July 5, 2019
It was silly to turn their backs on the EU âanthemâ. Although we should remember that when the EU constitution was supposedly abandoned and turned into the Lisbon treaty, there wasnât supposed to be an EU âanthemâ at all. Sitting down and listening to it as a musical performance would have been more appropriate.
Letâs also pause for thought and reflect on the new low established in UK politics – or in any advanced democracy as far as Iâm aware – by the LibDems adopting an official slogan with the vulgarity âbollocksâ in it, and turning up to the EU Parliament wearing shirts with that word on it. How can anyone vote for people who behave like that? – it would demean a 6th form debating society.
July 6, 2019
Richard1, TBP MEPs were sitting down for the EU state anthem, but were told to stand up. They complied.
July 5, 2019
Andy, there’s a caller at the back gate. Please attend.
July 5, 2019
I love these Europhiles getting hot under the collar about people turning their back when the EU has sought to humiliate and in many ways destroy whole Nation states in their fanatical attempt to colonise the EU. They have done nothing for the unemployed youth in the southern European states who have no hope and no future, they turn their back (metaphorically) on the Catalans, some of whom are still in prison. They also turned their back when old women were dragged along the street by their hair and hit with rubber bullets. The evil of the EU knows no bounds. Yet you call out a few people who make a legitimate peaceful process. Absolutely typical.
July 5, 2019
Nicky Roberts
You don’t half talk some rubbish.
July 6, 2019
Margaret Howard, Everything that Nicky Roberts said is a demonstrable fact.
July 5, 2019
Andy, at first I thought this action by the BP was very rude too. Very unBritish. Today I was reading Guido and there were several points made worth consideration,
* apparently ‘they tried to just sit out the anthem but were forced to their feet, they turned their back on that on purpose because we opted out of an EU National Anthem in the Lisbon Treaty’.
* there were very many MEPs from other countries who refused to stand for ‘Ode to Joy’, some sat defiant with their arms folded.
* Lamia said ‘let us recall how this all started: the Brussels Summit in December 2016 where EU leaders ostentatiously snubbed Theresa May, who was, for good or ill (well, entirely for ill) our Prime Minister’
I don’t think you can liken them to football hooligans either, bit extreme and over the top of you. Hooligan means ‘a violent young troublemaker’ what was violent about what they did? Wiki says ‘Hooliganism is disruptive or unlawful behavior such as rioting, bullying, and vandalism, usually in connection with crowds at sporting events’.
July 5, 2019
The BP MPs were respectful in their silent protest. Compare and contrast to the idiot Remainers sporting offensive slogans on yellow shirts (contrary to the parliaments dress code) like a bunch of football hooligans abroad.
July 5, 2019
Andy
“Little Englanders”
Bet you wouldn’t have the guts to say that to our faces.
“They are an embarrassment to your cause.”
No, you are the embarrassment to this country.
July 5, 2019
Have you read the CV’s of the latest four fat cat appointments to the top eu jobs. Do you actually think that farcical organisation responsible for such shocking jobsworth procedures is worth any respect. I don’t.
July 5, 2019
Andy, the EU is on course for social and political unrest which will make turning a back to the EU’s national anthem look like a very mild protest.
July 5, 2019
Indeed Huntâs view on fox hunting was just an attempt to garner some votes from the shires, his instant u turn did him no favours. His whole campaign has been a cynical attempt to deny views, strongly held only only months ago, in order to get elected.
We saw what happened with May as a Remainer, Hunt is merely a retread and we do not want a repeat of her absurd performance.
As for Boris, he voted for the WDA, either he believed in it or again a cynical act, this time hoping that May would go enabling him to take over. Rory Stewart said that he has been promising âsoftâ and âhardâ brexits to different MPs to get their votes, did nothing to oppose the Chequers agreement but flounced out later, so I do not trust him either.
My money is on some cosmetic changes to the Backstop and the WDA spun like Cameronâs nonsense but in the main, us continuing to be trapped I hope I am wrong.
July 5, 2019
Nig1, I think Boris voting for Theresa May’s dWA was a mistake. We’re all human, we all make mistakes now and then. The point is that Boris has otherwise been consistently pro-Leave while Jeremy Hunt has been consistently Remain.
July 5, 2019
I think it would be remarkable if Johnson delivered an acceptable Brexit. I don’t think he has genuine Brexit principles, which is perhaps because he doesn’t seem to actually understand the reality of our relationship with the EU. He was also the original Theresa, a remainer posing as a leaver for his own personal advantage. So he lacks motive. He doesn’t seem to understand what the necessary means are to achieve a genuine Brexit. The one thing he does have is opportunity, and so he might accidentally preside over a genuine Brexit. But perhaps I’m wrong about Johnson and he is in fact a man of vision, integrity, fortitude and ability. He’ll have every chance to make me look silly.
July 6, 2019
Simeon…..Its been a very long time since we had a PM that displayed –
vision, integrity, fortitude and ability. Care to name one?
July 6, 2019
Thatcher possessed all these qualities. Others have exhibited one or more. Blair undeniably had vision fortitude and ability. But his vision was awful. Had he been less able, he’d have done less damage. I don’t think Johnson has any of these qualities, though this would make him less problematic than May, who with only fortitude to sustain her, managed to do considerable damage.
July 5, 2019
For Hunt to bring up the question of fox hunting when all the mistakes and errors of judgement of Mrs May’s time at the Home Office and in No 10 are coming to the surface shows that he is no more than a replica of Theresa the Appeaser. He wants to be liked and that is a useless trait in any leader.
Boris has the vision and the brains coupled with the undoubted ability to ‘pick people’ and get this country back on track. He will get us free of the EU and then his team will concentrate on the many areas of government that have been neglected and ignored for the last three years
July 5, 2019
Having also voted for Boris immediately, I expect I will not be alone in thinking that he will need a first class Chancellor to tackle the nation’s crucial needs in the build up to October 31st and beyond. This surely cannot be one of the chameleon Brexiteers Javid, Truss or Hancock, despite media speculation of one kind or another in favour of each of them – especially not Hancock whose track record as Osborne’s right hand man and distributor of largesse to Kids’ Company should rule him out at once. No, what we need is a financial expert of many years’ standing who has shown his ability to communicate and explain what will work and what will not; who will face down the Treasury civil servants; and who has been a lifelong conviction Brexiteer. Now, who might have these attributes?
July 5, 2019
No one with any chance of being given the job. Capability and integrity are an obstacle to advancement in the Conservative Party. Just look at the Government. It couldn’t be clearer.
July 5, 2019
One can only hope, David, that Mr Johnson would follow your recommendation, but I sadly wouldn’t bet on it; too many wounded egos to mollify.
July 5, 2019
Hunt shows poor judgment and awareness just like May. He is also clearly in the pocket of big business givng them tax cuts and trying to stop Brexit. The very last thing we need is more big business influence in this country, it is pernicious and anti democratic. Not only should he not be leader he should not be an MP.
July 5, 2019
My vote is already in the post. Boris all the way. Hunt is a remainer and more of Mrs May.
July 5, 2019
I think footwear should decide it. As far as I know no media have collected examples of the candidates choice of footwear. It was telling to see Mrs May choosing glamorous shoes. What do the guys wear? Patent, trainers, classic brogue, lace-up – brown, black, grey even red?
July 5, 2019
Hunt on hunting reminds me of May on Grammar Schools, which for her own whim brought back into the spotlight, completely unnecessary, muddies the water and distracts from doing the business.
Hunt as PM – ” you cannot be serious”.
July 5, 2019
The Brexit Party is showing encouraging signs of being well-
organised and motivated, including their preparations for an election that
may come at any moment, their handling of their concerns over the
most recent by-election, and Ann Widdecombe’s passionate, un-
yielding speech in Strasbourg. The Tory election is, so far, a sideshow.
Reply No, not a sideshow. We are choosing the next PM who could delver a clean Brexit and needs to to restore some trust in Parliament
July 5, 2019
Reply to reply,
‘Could’ being the operative word. Will they? Not likely! The best thing the new PM can do is trigger a GE and give voters the opportunity to elect a new Parliament that can be trusted. That opportunity might not be taken, but that’s democracy for you.
July 5, 2019
I thought Widdecombe made a fool of herself. The hyperbolic language employed on both sides doesnât help anyone.
July 6, 2019
No-one is helped by disguising the truth, as the oppressed of PIIGS member states might well agree were anyone to listen to them.
July 5, 2019
Widdecombe was plain rude.
Holding up such crass nonsense as an example just demonstrates why Brexit will fail.
July 6, 2019
Says you who is rude every day on this site.
Hilarious lack of self reflection andy.
July 6, 2019
So speaking ones mind is now being rude ! That’s snowflake rubbish, especially coming from one who is happy to be rude to those you disagree with.
July 5, 2019
The first problem for Boris will be dealing with the refuseniks in his own party(Gauke, Hammond, Grieve et al), who are publicly saying leaving on Oct 31 is impossible, or that any attempt to prorogue, would be unconstitutional and unthinkable. Somehow or other, these old guard, undemocratic, technocrats, who despise and disparage David Goodhart’s Somewheres, need to be uprooted from the party. They have not got the message of emerging, responsible populism, in these latter days. Their time has gone; now it’s our time.
July 5, 2019
This is true: Boris, thanks to the evil May, has been handed a poison chalice. There is nothing ‘unconstitutional’ about Prorogation and this is what ought to have been done earlier in the year. This nonsense needs to be brought to a close and the 2016 Referendum result honoured and respected.
July 5, 2019
Politicians and the chatteratti are talking in circles about the sugar tax, its effect on the poor in society and our chancellors logic that if there is a problem tax your way out of it. Wrong, the sugar enters the food chain at the manufacturers. They have always controlled it. Have we not sufficient nutricionists able to come to a concensus on desirable sugar levels. Havi g decided levels, dictate to industry how much or little they can add. Make it legally binding and over time the sugar junkies will loose their taste for it or reduce their lifespan by adding it by hand. Goverment should control what they can, tax as little as possible, but retain individuals freedom of choice however ill advised.
July 5, 2019
You’re advocating the manipulation of behaviour by means of legislation rather than taxation? Don’t you see that they are two sides of the same coin, that coin being called State Power? How about people producing what they choose, and others consuming it, or not, as they see fit? Why the need for State Power at all?
July 5, 2019
I too very much think Boris Johnson is the only sensible choice for Prime Minister.
Boris Johnson understands politics, Conservativism and the British people (quite apart from having an exceptional amount of flair that other British politicians with the possible exception of Nigel Farage don’t have) which Jeremy Hunt doesn’t seem to. While I do think even Jeremy Hunt would beat Corbyn (though he might well lose to Nigel Farage) as Corbyn is personally almost unelectable now, it is only Boris Johnson who is likely to win the election after next when Corbyn has been replaced by somebody with much the same disastrous views but much more personable and electable. So if we want to avoid a disastrous venture into Marxism (much like Venezuela) in several years time it is essential that Boris Johnson is made Prime Minister.
As for leaving the E.U., Hunt is just not credible as he is proclaiming both what a disaster it would be and that the exit date is flexible. In those circumstances it would be all too easy for the E.U. to fob him off with some useless promise to talk when the new Commission is in office after November, postpone leaving for another year during which time the Conservative Party could well be forced into a General Election and risk being virtually destroyed by The Brexit Party or otherwise stay in the E.U. long term. By contrast Boris Johnson intellectually understands the message of the E.U. elections and the grave threat not leaving on 31 October poses to the Conservative Party and it is on that rational basis that I trust him to leave.
My other objections to Jeremy Hunt are somewhat different to John Redwood’s. I am not particularly against him going to Parliament again over fox hunting (although in acknowledgement of its divisiveness that should probably be just after the next General Election). I think he might possibly be right about Corporation Tax because even if there is some tax loss in Corporation Tax if it succeeds in creating more business that could be overcome by less social security costs and more Income Tax/National Insurance receipts (perhaps John would give that more detailed consideration in a future blog!).However I am very critical of his expensive promises over extra Defence spending. Originally he was wanting to double Defence spending from 2% to 4% of G.D.P. but soon after getting into the last two that was downgraded to an extra 25% (thus somehow over ÂŁ25billion or over 3p in the pound in terms of Income Tax vanished from his budgets which is disturbing and may explain why he is not too bothered about a one-off payment of ÂŁ39billion to the E.U.) when the surface fleet is, I submit, not only too slow but also visible enough to only serve as floating missile targets in the context of modern warfare and therefore mostly a waste of money.
So though I concede that Jeremy Hunt is a slight improvement on Theresa May (at least he is instinctively Conservative unlike her), he is to put it kindly, a candidate from a much lower political league in terms of ability than Boris Johnson. What I would also say to Conservative Party members is that a general election is coming very soon whoever wins irrespective of what either candidate is now saying because neither the Conservatives’ parliamentary position nor the economic promises of either candidate are sustainable for very long.
July 5, 2019
I have already voted for Boris. Hunt’s main case is that he was at the NHS for longer than anyone else, though I am not sure what he achieved there. He may well be a competent manager but we need so much more than that if Brexit and our country are going to stand a chance, and Boris has shown that he may have at least some of what it will take.
July 6, 2019
W.Long…. He may have been there a ‘long’ time, but left chaos and disgruntled Drs. You are right to question just what did he achieve in an over-managed, over budgeted, over spending department. Did he actually manage? Sitting at the sharp end of political decision making is not necessarily managing. For me he comes across as bland, at least Boris is more charismatic and more likely to generate feel-good, which we will need as the country regenerates. It got to the point over the last 2 years of ‘her’ when I suspect most of the country groaned and became gloomy every time she was on the tv.
July 5, 2019
We now have a sliver of good news from Jaguar/Land Rover.
However where are we on battery manufacture, is anyone talking to Elon Musk. Second, and this is where government could play a role, to rationalise the re-charging challenge. Do we go for myriad plug- ins, or how about battery exchange stations, totally automated and capable of a change cycle in the same time as filling with liquid fuel.
Lawyers and tax grabbers will not have answers, so how about turning to technology. What I have suggested is much easier than the automated production of the vehicle itself.
July 6, 2019
@ agricola “However where are we on battery manufacture, is anyone talking to Elon Musk. “
With luck no, rather they are talking to James Dyson, he of the solid state batteries.
July 6, 2019
The Faraday Institution (faraday.ac.uk) is a useful starting point if you want to find out what is happening on battery technology R&D in the UK.
July 5, 2019
If the Conservative Government led by Boris Johnson fails to exit cleanly on 31st October and then fails to successfully run Government it will be the fault of its MP’s.
In their choosing of the two candidates, neither stands out from the crowd, and I only choose Boris because he only has to sit on his hands, keep his mouth shut and we leave by default on 31st October.
July 8, 2019
I think you’ll find that he’ll need to call a general election to force through No deal. A minority government shutting down parliament is not going to happen. Sorry.
July 5, 2019
If you had the sketch of a plan as to where we are going post 1st November I might take more notice John- but you don’t- none of you ERG types have- you say spend the 39billion at home but on what and where is this money coming from- is it in some escrow account on standby- waiting?
Boris is not going to renegotiate anything before 31st Oct mainly because the EU will not negotiate further. The talking is done- the WA is on the table and if not ratified the terms of it will be caught up with later- the most important thing to point out is that in this case there will be no ‘transition period’ to or from anywhere, so by 2nd Nov we will know that we are a truly 3rd country to them. Things will not be the same, so the question is John- just where are we going with all of this?
July 5, 2019
Someone asked me what I thought of Boris yesterday in front of a mixed group of folks and I replied whilst “He isn’t everybody’s cup of tea he seems to be the only one with a vision of where we are going” unlike the others.
For that reason alone Boris, held back by May and her remainers will bolt forward with the energy he had as London Mayor.
The larger than life Ford CEO Lee Iacocca who passed away recently used to hire folks smarter than himself but especially those who had been held back, because if you gave them a break you had to step aside he said as they’d bolt forward. I am sure Boris would succeed where May has failed on Brexit and many more fronts.
July 5, 2019
I could not support Mr Hunt as PM for a simple reason, he believes more government (the EU) increases our prosperity.
All the evidence from history consistently shows it does not, at the company I work at what little government intertaction we have is extra unpaid work.
Now we get to see if Boris can deliver brexit. He has a brexit party ready to take over and an EU who publically have stated they won’t negotiate. A WTO brexit at the end of October is almost a certainty.
But it is what he does after that I am concerned about, if he pins his hopes on more negotiations with the EU they will break him. If instead he goes to countrys around the world getting trade deals he will be holding the EU feet to the fire.
There are a depressingly large number of MPs who wish to bring down a brexit government, hopefully these people who have no wish to govern the UK can get out of the job. However, they are welcome to join ChangeUK, their antics make them very unlikely to be reelected. If a coup is pulled in November I have no fears Britain will not return a pro-brexit government. Mrs Widdecombe speaks for us all.
July 5, 2019
The Times is reporting that Johnson has met Javid and Gove “secretly”, and that Gove is likely to retain his position as Environment Secretary. To me that is bad news as he is a zealous Climate Change Act follower. Worse still he supported Theresa May and her WA. He is not the sort of person to inspire confidence amongst Brexiteers and this retention of G’s services (if it is true) does not show that Boris means real change. Boris should have a new Cabinet untainted by what went on before, and there is plenty of talent outside the current Cabinet to do that.
July 5, 2019
The Conservatives have been the party of big business for too long now. Small businesses have been hammered by endless legislation, both onerous (excessive red tape) and expensive (in tax terms).
Cuts in corporation tax have no effect on small incorporated businesses that pay their profits to their owners, since they end up paying tax at individual rates, one way or another so, as you say, these CT tax cuts only benefit big businesses.
It really is time MPs realised that HMRC know very little about the real world. As long as their mandate is to collect as much tax as possible, they will behave in a manner that is not good for society as a whole.
IR35 needs to go. Expecting people who fall inside an arbitrary line to pay both employers and employees NI is ludicrous. The best way to do this would be to remove employer’s NI. This is an archaic tax on employing British BASED workers – is it any wonder we see so much outsourcing in these days of the ‘global village’ economy? The average Brit is disadvantaged over workers in other countries by costing 14% more to employ before they even start.
And why is the status known as ’employed’ (PAYE) taxed so much more heavily than other ways of working?
When we talk about ‘the rich’, why do we allow the socialists to bring the discussion back to INCOME and talk about taxing high-earners, when the debate should be about WEALTH. Why tax people who earn their money and leave alone those who don’t work/contribute?
July 5, 2019
Basic common sense and political savvy should tell the Conservative MPs that only a candidate who is determined to honour the will of the people and finally get us out of the EU, before November 1st, can bail out the Party. Furthermore, if that Leader puts Britain and its people first, every time, he will just manage to save the Conservatives from extinction in 2022.
The time for a new political model in Britain is long due.
July 5, 2019
Hunt would be OK as a common-or-garden PM under normal circumstances, but these are not normal circumstances. The times call for a risk-taker, and Hunt is a Remainer through and through, cautious to the core, just like Theresa May. In extraordinary times, a “safe pair of hands” is not safe.
I voted for Boris today.
July 5, 2019
Most of us got our ballot papers earlier this week and sent them back already.
If yours isn’t with you yet search the doormat and ask what happened to it.
July 5, 2019
Foxes kill and eat rabbits and just wound the rest in sly cunning fun.
Bravo the farming community in stopping the slaughter of rabbits which they need so badly for the pot to feed their families despite rabbits devouring their crops to desert conditions. What would the country do without the wisdom and rare courage of our farmers. The world looks on with shock and awe poor foxy-woksies.
July 6, 2019
rabbit rabbit ….do you really think foxes reduce the rabbit population? They live in towns and raid bins etc. Farmers shoot rabbits and do not badly need them for the pot, more feed them to their ferrets.
July 5, 2019
Off you go then 31st Oct with no deal. But without the WA there will be no further discussion, nor will there be a transition period so then with UK driving licences will be useless on the continent and EU licenses useless in UK, another reason the Calais Dover trade will shut down..can’t see it any other way, it means goods intended for export will have to be containerised and sent through Felixstowe for instance
July 6, 2019
@ChasE – you already posted this nonsense above.
An IDP is valid for three years everywhere in the EU, and costs ÂŁ5.50. Most international hauliers already have them.
July 6, 2019
Not so mancunius, the IDP is only good if accompanied by a valid UK driving licence, but after 31st Oct the UK driving license, which is really an EU licence, will no longer be valid for use in EU countries.
July 6, 2019
mancunius- Let me quote from an Irish government notice in yesterdays newspapers-
if you hold a UK (including Northern Ireland) driving licence and are a resident of Ireland, it is important that you understand that if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, your licence will no longer be valid to drive in Ireland. For that reason you must take steps now to exchange your UK licence for an Irish one.
and it goes on, do not wait etc etc
So in order for an IDP to be valid it must be accompanied with a valid country’s driving licence, it seems. After 31st Oct, UK citizens driving licences won’t be valid for driving in EU countries. One of the criteria i expect being the complication for vehicle insurance- on the other hand I can see similar problems arising over the UK/EU passport being accepted in some EU countries and not in others.
July 7, 2019
Yet a USA driving licence and passport is accepted.
And they are not in the EU.
How can that happen?
July 5, 2019
I notice that at every point IDS and Boris state “when we leave the EU on October 31st.” I presume this is deliberate, and I presume it comes from Crosby? I find this interesting. I guess that to state this constantly in all broadcast platforms would suggest a confidence and a plan about which we know nothing. I am rather relieved we know nothing about it, because it would suggest we are keeping our powder dry. Once remainers get a whiff of it they will start to plan too.
July 5, 2019
As the archtraitor “Sir” John Major has now come out for Jeremy Hunt that should settle any lingering doubts among patriotic Tory party members.
Meanwhile Sky and the BBC continue their campaigns against Boris Johnson, with the BBC going on about the slogan on the bus without bothering to say that judges have just said it was acceptable to claim that our gross contribution was ÂŁ350 million a week:
https://order-order.com/2019/07/04/judges-say-boris-right-350-million-week-acceptable-gross-figure/
âThe alleged offence set out in the Application for Summons is that the Claimant ârepeatedly made and endorsed false and misleading statements concerning the cost of the United Kingdomâs membership of the European Unionâ. It appears that if the Claimant had said/endorsed a figure of ÂŁ350m per week gross, or ÂŁ250m per week net, there would have been no complaint.â
July 5, 2019
Another very good reason for leaving the EU has been highlighted today (remainers please note).
Members of a gang behind the biggest modern-day slavery network ever exposed in the UK have been jailed.
Police believe more than 400 victims were put to work in the West Midlands by the organised crime gang.
They tricked vulnerable people from Poland into England with the promise of work and a better life.
This would not have been possible without freedom of movement and a badly run Home Office
July 5, 2019
No mention of Hunt’s foreign policy, then? How is one an independent nation if one does not have an independent foreign policy? Prior to Hunt engaging in piracy in the Med, he previously stated that if the US decided to attack Iran, then we would hang on to their shirt tails. In other words he is prepared to pre-legitimise actions of a foreign power knowing full-well that its foreign policy is in the hands of people who are both sectionable and without even a primary loyalty to that foreign power thereby being concerned for a beneficial outcome for it.
The man is dangerously stupid.
July 5, 2019
Surprised to hear Farage promoting the idea of a switch to PR voting for general elections. Just tactically the BP are projected to be big beneficiaries of FPTP with current polling, but beyond that CHANGING THE VOTING SYSTEM WAS DEFEATED IN A REFERENDUM NIGEL.
July 5, 2019
I’ve just dropped this letter to the local newspaper I share with Theresa May, including an indirect reference to what may well be her true geopolitical preference.
“Obviously it was just a coincidence that Hugh Lansley’s opinion piece, entitled:
“Price of leaving EU is too high”
was published on July 4, the day when Americans celebrate their Declaration of Independence.
There were colonialists who objected to separation from the mother country, or who thought the price of independence would be too high; but many were prepared to fight and die for it, in a way that we are not being expected to fight and die to leave the EU.
Supporters of the EU tend to rehearse the same old half-baked arguments against withdrawal, without bothering to tell us what they would expect to happen if instead we decided to stay in.
The EEC/EC/EU project has always been directed towards establishing a pan-European federation, as pointed out in a letter entitled:
“Explicit goal of EU is an ever closer union”
published in the Advertiser on December 20 2018.
And that is very clearly still the case now, with the politician nominated to become the new President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, having stated in 2011:
“My aim is the United States of Europe – modelled on federal states like Switzerland, Germany or the U.S.”
Well, in my view that is a respectable political aim, honestly expressed, but it is not one that is shared by the great majority of Britons.
An aim secretly shared by most of the top politicians in the UK, arguably, including Prime Ministers from Harold Macmillan six decades ago through to the present day, but supported by only a small minority of the electorate.”
July 5, 2019
Have you read the CV’s of the latest four fat cat appointments to the top eu jobs. Do you actually think that farcical organisation responsible for such shocking jobsworth procedures is worth any respect. I don’t.
July 5, 2019
Pominoz
The simplesite web address you posted 5.14am 5 July which was said to track progress in the English Democrats Brexit court proceedings does not seem to work. You posted stynesrobert.simplesite.com/442061665 is this correct?
July 6, 2019
OFF TOPIC….
Copied from BBC news internet site.
MPs have called for a ban on “gagging clauses” used by employers to silence allegations of unlawful discrimination and harassment.
Maria Miller, chairwoman of the Women and Equalities committee, said non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) were having a “destructive effect on people’s lives”.
NDAs were designed to stop staff sharing secrets if they changed jobs.
But MPs say they are now used to “cover up unlawful and criminal behaviour”.
The Women and Equalities Committee says the government needs to clarify the rules on whistleblowing and tackle the financial barriers employees face when trying to take cases to employment tribunals.
It comes as dozens of academics told the BBC they were “harassed” out of their jobs and made to sign NDAs after raising complaints about discrimination, bullying and sexual misconduct.
—–
Do the contributors believe the time has come when these orders should be banned?
July 8, 2019
As you know, the spending pledges of both candidates don’t hold water. And it’s the same with your ideas of cutting taxes and increasing public spending. You Brexiteers haven’t a clue what you’re going to be faced with in a No deal scenario. You just make it up as you go along…but, finally, when Johnson does become PM, he and the rest of you will at last be held accountable for the dishonest and dire project that is Brexit.