Yesterday the Opposition parties and 17 Remain Conservatives voted for amendments to legislation to try to ensure Parliament has to meet in September and October to give them more time to try to  delay or cancel Brexit. They call this taking back control and advocating Parliamentary democracy! It is of course the opposite. Labour and Conservative MPs were elected in 2017 on a manifesto for each party that promised to implement Brexit. Parliament voted by a large majority to send the Article 50 Notification of our exit, which means in European law we will leave on 31 October. I remember explaining to the Commons then that was the decision point, the moment Parliament legislated to leave.  Now they wish to tear up their promises and refuse to take back control of our laws, our money and our borders despite the referendum.
I do not think even this discredited Parliament full of Labour  MPs and a few Conservatives who have ratted on their promise to implement the decision of the people will find a way and a majority to revoke our exit letter. Short of doing that we will leave on 31 October, as promised by the likely next Prime Minister. We are due to leave according to European law. The UK Parliament cannot overturn European law, and only the PM can ask for a delay and seek agreement to changes to EU law to delay our official exit date.
The people made clear in the European election what they thought of the decision of the two major parties to delay our exit. They rejected both. They made it even clearer what they thought of Mrs May’s Withdrawal Treaty, which got less than 9% support from the electorate in that election. The Conservative government must press on with preparations for our departure in October. Only such an exit can save this Parliament from driving itself even further from the electors it is meant to serve, and only such an exit can provide a platform for the two main parties to start to rebuild the trust of voters which has been undermined by the delay to Brexit.
The desperate idea this morning that a Remain majority should ask the Queen to override the PM taking us out is absurd.
Meanwhile Project Fear is in an extreme stage. Yesterday the OBR gave us a very pessimistic “scenario” – not a forecast – for a so called No Deal exit. If we just leave and have a Brexit bonus budget as outlined here we will grow faster next year as a result. All the time we stay in the EU as today with a combined monetary and fiscal squeeze we will grow slowly at best against a difficult world background for trade and manufacturing activity. The right fiscal boost, facilitated by saving our budget contributions to the EU, coupled with a more positive money policy could deliver considerably better growth than in the Euro area for us next year. The UK economy has proved very resilient considering the anti growth and anti enterprise policies being pursued.
July 19, 2019
Sir John,
Thankyou so much for your candid views which I am sure are greatly appreciated by all visiting your site.
No doubt the few remainers who write here will be rubbing their hands at continuing treachery by ‘their’ type of MP. I am sure a clean Brexit will now happen by Halloween and it will then be good, not only, to demonstrate to those doom and gloom, EU loving, fearmongers that Britain is capable of great success in it own right on the world stage, but also to demonstrate that treason does not pay.
Those responsible for selling the country out must face justice.
July 19, 2019
Why are you sure a clean Brexit will now happen by Halloween? I hope it is, but it is very far from certain that Boris will deliver. Or indeed be allowed to deliver a clean Brexit given the dire, remainer make up of most MPs and Lords.
Some dreadful Brexit deal fudge, probably based on May’s appalling W/A looks more likely to me.
July 19, 2019
LL,
I admit I am a ‘glass half full’ person. I think Boris knows he will go down in history in much the same vein as May if he muffs this one. He is an incredibly intelligent guy and I am sure sees no merit in being regarded as the equal worst PM in British history, on top of which he would also be the shortest-lived PM.
I sincerely believe that, despite the attempts of traitors, the tide has turned and the will of the majority will prevail. Failure will result in anarchy. Boris will not wish to trigger that.
July 19, 2019
Weâll know when he appoints his Ministers. A balanced Cabinet means heâs fudging. A strong Leave Cabinet means heâs for real.
Most of all, itâs the Chancellor who counts. Putting our host in No 11 would tell the EU that Boris means business, and theyâd better believe him.
July 19, 2019
How will Johnson do anything? Grieve will leave the Tory party along with another two like Gymiah who claim they will not remain in the Tory party under Johnson.
1. Change party rules to make sure the forty New Labour tribute traitors are never in the party again or the likes of them.
2. Make sure the forty Labour MPs are on board to leave without a deal.
3. Leave.
4. Call a general election.
July 19, 2019
JR, Barnier claims Mayhab never raised no deal with him, repeats twice, never! Did she lie on many occasions to the British public and parliament? Why should this pass without action against her?
The same with the nothing agreed until everything agreed, which included a trade deal. Was this said to pacify everyone so she could give away the ludicrous tens of billions for nothing in return divorce bill. The amount only quantified by the discredited Hammond and Treasury. The amount being much higher! Mayhab never even discussed a trade deal!
It seems Salmyr is correct her plan was to effectively put leaving on ice while kowtowing to every EU whim as a supplicant under her vassal state plan until the UK fully rejoined. She is a national disgrace. It appears she is on manoeuvres to hand over a poisoned chalice to Johnson. Once more, true to form vindictive behaviour.
I am not vindictive like her, but there should be consequences when people in high office lie to the public and parliament to deliberately deceive them. Both Barnier and Mayhab cannot be telling the truth.
July 19, 2019
Hope,
Certainly something like that is needed. Has Boris got it in him?
July 19, 2019
Let us hope you are right and that the Brexit party concentrates the minds of the remoaner MPs.
July 19, 2019
âI do not think even this discredited Parliament full of Labour MPs and a few Conservatives who have ratted on their promise to implement the decision of the people will find a way and a majority to revoke our exit letter.â
I hope you are right.
Grieve admitted on âNewsnightâ that he would not support involving the monarch in the Remain manoeuvres – they can be dismissed as fanciful nonsense. However, it still remains to be seen how the next Prime Minister moves forward, with Barnier and co continuing to say âNonâ and Remain mischief making in Parliament.
July 19, 2019
I agree with you, Pominoz. As you say, he’s intelligent. What kudos there would be in achieving a resounding Brexit success! Because sure as eggs is eggs, and as our host keeps telling us, Brexit Britain will go from strength to strength (which is why the EU doesn’t want us to leave, besides losing our financial input into the failing project).
As Eeyore says above, putting our host in a prime position would certainly send the right message that BJ will definitely achieve our escape on 31 October.
I just hope BJ does see that re-hashing Mrs M’s ST won’t cut it – and that being ‘allowed’ by the EU to ‘leave’ on that basis is going to galvanize the country and The Brexit Party.
July 19, 2019
Well put. I think some sort of fudge is inevitable.
July 19, 2019
Plus, one assumes Theresa May will stuff yet more socialist, green crap remainders (like herself) into the Lords with the honours she bestows as she leaves office. Doubtless all will be fairly dire or appallingly dire given what May stands for.
Proposals that all police officers will soon have to be graduates it seems. What on earth is the point of this? Well over half the degree people do are fairly or totally worthless and lumber them with circa ÂŁ50k of pointless debt. Can the police service not train then properly on the job. I though that apprenticeships were rather in vogue currently and rightly so.
July 19, 2019
LL, I haven’t heard about the proposal that police officers should all be graduates. That worked so well in the nursing profession, didn’t it…….!?!
July 19, 2019
I always chuckle when we’re told about police “shortages”, which might be helped by looking at how they recruit. Firstly, once candidates have been selected for interview, they then go through a soul-destroying 9 long months of interviews (why?), quite often failing to secure a job at the end of it. Then, of course, they might fail to meet the required standard at any time during the 2 years of training.
They also have recruitment drives, so probationers are all recruited at the same time for what is, in effect, a fixed term contract, so they all retire together, too, resulting in shortages again.
Clearly, insisting on a degree will do nothing for organisational issues and is unlikely to raise standards, but your suggestion of vocational apprenticeships sounds sensible and workable.
July 19, 2019
Nonsense!
All Boris has to do is precisely NOTHING! Only the PM can request an extension(not the EU), which means that we leave automatically on Reformation Day. Proroguing Parliament is a red herring, completely unnecessary, and all this talk of remainiacs seizing control of the Commons agenda to repeal the WA, is also nonsense, since a) there is no time left between now and the Queen’s Speech, b)the repeal bill would necessarily contain a money clause(which gives the government total control of procedure), making such a repeal ultra vires.
July 19, 2019
The Sun gets it absolutely right in its editorial.
No meaningful Brexit = No Tory party and Marxists in government.
July 19, 2019
And the supine, charmless, not my fault Teresa May does nothing. Good bloody riddance.
Ps presumably these are the same people who parrot when it suits them that the royal family should not get involved in politics.
July 19, 2019
Good belated riddance indeed. The 200 Conservative MPs who voted confidence in this appalling woman last year should hang their heads in shame for making us all suffer her and Hammond further.
July 19, 2019
They should have demanded her being impeached! Underhand throughout.
All this virtual signalling over Trump again, presumably to wreck any trade deal with the US, when Mayhab as Home Secretary had vans patrolling London with ‘Go Home’ written on them! Is her memory that bad?
Then we have the Windrush scandal where she picked on ‘people of colour’ to deport who were legally here! Her defence, Labour did it as well! Rotten to the core, this woman must be punished for her actions without hiding behind crown immunity.
We have Corbyn and Khan signing a letter against Trump. The first leads an anti Semite party being investigated by ECHR and the latter addressed segregated audiences of men and women!
JR, tell us that this is not true.
July 19, 2019
Good morning
There is a lot of irony in that statement. Here we have a Remain parliament elected on promises to Leave the EU but, legislating to, ‘Take control’, so that we Remain in the EU and slowly lose control. They also think that their actions somehow will succeed but fail to see the Elephant in the room of legislation that the above makes so perfectly clear. Thanks to EU law being above UK law as our kind host explains, we will Leave the EU according to the EU Treaties they passed without reading or being able to change.
Madness !
July 19, 2019
But, can the EU extend Article 50 unilaterally?
It seems like that is what happened in March and because of the wording of the Withdrawal Act, Mrs May just went along with it.
Ok, she did request an extension, but what happens if they [the EU] just do it?
July 19, 2019
On the fascinating Brexit programme yesterday the bigwigs of the EU were muttering about a 5 year extension.
July 19, 2019
Mike,
More uncertainty is absolutely NOT what is needed, just plays into the EU’s hands đ
Hopefully our new PM will stand firm…
July 19, 2019
No. The request for an extension must originate from us.
What happened in March was driven by Theresa May’s refusal to accept departing without ratifying the draft withdrawal treaty. The remainers gloated about the motion in the HoC against a no deal exit but motions do not trump Acts of Parliament.
Theresa May was not obliged in any way to request an extension, she applied for one because she wanted to.
Current UK Law and EU Law dictates that we leave the EU on 31st October.
I’m tired of hearing comments about how the will of Parliament should be honoured! I would just remind these commentators that Bills supporting our departure (WITH OR WITHOUT) an agreement were passed into Law by a sizeable majority of BOTH houses of Parliament.
All the next PM is required to do is two things:-
1) Refuse to request an extension under Art. 50, and
2) Prevent the repeal of the Art.50 and European Withdrawal Acts.
Should No.2 become a serious threat then the Party should be sacrificed for the sake of Democracy by calling a General Election.
July 19, 2019
No, the other 27 members, even if they themselves unanimously wanted to extend Art. 50, can only do so if actively requested to by the UK government. All the new PM has to do is to shut up and not request it.
On a previous occasion, May engineered a HoC vote to support her request for an extension from Brussels.
But if the incoming PM does not want to request a further extension, Parliament has no further role, having already ratified the Withdrawal Agreement 2018. Even if the rebels and their vote-abstaining henchpersons were to vote to extend Art. 50 once more, it has no legal force, and the PM can ignore it. Remainers might try to take it to court, but they would not get far, as Parliament has no role in enacting Treaty obligations. By the terms of Lisbon Treaty Art. 50, we must leave on 31st October, and the 1972 Act would be thereby repealed – making Nov. 1st a memorable All Saints Day celebration!
July 19, 2019
May I quote prescient EP again?
”The House of Commons is at this moment being asked to agree to the renunciation of its own independence and supreme authorityâbut not the House of Commons by itself. The House of Commons is the personification of the people of Britain: its independence is synonymous with their independence; its supremacy is synonymous with their self-government and freedom. Through the centuries Britain has created the House of Commons and the House of Commons has moulded Britain, until the history of the one and the life of the one cannot be separated from the history and life of the other. In no other nation in the world is there any comparable relationship. Let no one therefore allow himself to suppose that the life-and-death decision of the House of Commons is some private affair of some privileged institution which at intervals swims into his ken and out of it again. It is the life-and-death decision of Britain itself, as a free, independent and self-governing nation. For weeks, for months the battle on the floor of the House of Commons will swing backwards and forwards, through interminable hours of debates and procedures and votes in the division lobbies; and sure enough the enemies and despisers of the House of Commons will represent it all as some esoteric game or charade which means nothing for the outside world. Do not be deceived. With other weapons and in other ways the contention is as surely about the future of Britain’s nationhood as were the combats which raged in the skies over southern England in the autumn of 1940. The gladiators are few; their weapons are but words; and yet the fight is everyman’s.”
(Speech on 4 March 1972 from ‘The Common Market: Renegotiate or Come Out’)
July 19, 2019
Implement Brexit? Well, go right ahead, Mr Redwood: show us the plan to fulfil the promises made in 2016. Get us a deal with the EU which (a) takes the Uk out of the EU, (b) keeps frictionless trade (the “exact same benefits”) with the Eu, (c) kicks off great trade deals with the rest of the world, and (d) releases billions for the NHS, and I am sure Parliament will vote it through. Until then we all know that the problem is not Parliament’s failure to implement Brexit, but rather the Brexiters’ failure to produce a remotely workable plan for the Brexit they promised
July 19, 2019
Yawn ⊠how many more times ⊠we can’t negotiate trade deals with the EU or anyone else until we leave âŠ.
July 19, 2019
Unless the EU becomes certain that the UK infighting has finished and we are leaving on our own terms not theirs.
At that point I have no doubt that rules can be changed.
July 19, 2019
Totally agree, but a lot of ‘innocent’ Remainers believe that the EU has offered a deal on trade and cooperation. When there is and never was such a thing coming from anywhere other than in their minds.
July 19, 2019
The Remainers still donât âget itâ. Itâs not about trade, itâs about sovereignty. We donât need a plan to Leave the EU.
July 19, 2019
I agree it was about sovereignty the peoples right to choose our own laws, finance, trade etc. Its sad that we don’t hear much about the 17.4 million people who voted to leave in the media
Remain Tory MPs justify their stance by saying they are doing it for the people; they don’t want to see our country destroyed….what they really mean is we know best and forget the referendum vote
July 19, 2019
Spot on. ‘Trade’ is being used as ‘smoke and mirrors’. Trade is important – people trade. It’s what we do. But:
”….the power to control the supply of money, which is one of the fundamental aspects of sovereignty, has passed from government into other hands…”
July 19, 2019
James
Maybe we don’t “get it” because you don’t tell us when we are supposed to have ‘lost’ our sovereignty.
Can you explain to me what this ‘sovereignty’ is that we have lost and what it looked like the 50 or so years ago before we ‘lost’ it?
I was there then and can’t remember ‘missing’ whatever it was we are supposed to have lost since then.
July 19, 2019
Dear Margaret
On account of what you said last week I have become a vegetarian, so I do listen to you.
Have you read the Maastricht/Lisbon treaties ?
July 19, 2019
Anonymous
I admire you for that. You will soon feel the benefits healthwise as well as in your pockets.
PS No, I haven’t read either of them.
July 19, 2019
When any law, tax or policy is imposed on a country by another they have lost their own sovereighty
Our loss of sovereighy started with ”The Maastricht Treaty 1992”
July 19, 2019
This could explain why remainers see nothing wrong with the undemocratic EU. They’re either too blind or too stupid to see what the rest of us acknowledge is a very real problem. Which are you Margaret?
July 20, 2019
Tad Davison
Well, I, along with 17+m, or 67% of the population voted for EU membership in the 1975 referendum against 8+m or 32% who voted NO.
So I suppose you are perfectly entitled to call us either too blind or too stupid or both.
Furthermore both Ireland and Scotland still value their membership and only England think we are wrong, or as you say,too blind and too stupid.
So in your way of reasoning surely it should be English voters who deserve to be called too blind and too stupid.
What do YOU think?
July 20, 2019
You didn’t vote for EU membership in 1975.
The EU started in 1993.
It was a very different organisation back in 1975.
July 20, 2019
Margaret Howard,
Firstly, we are part of a country called the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, and it was agreed in advance that we should collectively honour the result of the 2016 referendum. When it didn’t go the way of remain, against the many predictions of pollsters and experts alike, that’s when they started to kick up about it – sore loser syndrome.
It has clearly escaped your attention that the thing the people voted for in 1975 in good faith, was quite different from the thing the EU eventually became which nobody voted for. And I wonder how many people at that time had taken the time to read the Treaty of Rome?
Only this past week we have been treated to the spectacle of the undemocratic processes of the latter day European Union at work – something akin to the old DDR or Soviet Union – so I wonder what is the fascination with belonging to such a monster? The EU is very shaky money pit as it is. Its champions cannot possibly be thinking people, so what alternatives are there other than sheer blindness or stupidity?
July 21, 2019
Tad
“It has clearly escaped your attention that the thing the people voted for in 1975 in good faith, was quite different from the thing the EU eventually became”
And extract from the official 1975 Referendum Leaflet:
The aims of the Common Market are:
To bring together the peoples of Europe.
To raise living standards and improve working conditions.
To promote growth and boost world trade.
To help the poorest regions of Europe and the rest of the world.
To help maintain peace and freedom.
That’s what we voted for and that’s what we got. All things change to adjust to new events or they die.
The EU adjusted to keep up with the times.
As for your claim “the undemocratic processes of the latter day European Union at work â something akin to the old DDR or Soviet Union” – what do you call our ‘democracy’ where we are about to have our new prime minister ‘elected’ by a cabal of unelected shire establishment figures representing about 2% of the population?
July 22, 2019
Margaret Howard,
I have often said with the best will in the world, one cannot teach where there isn’t the capacity to learn in the first place. I accept that my dogs will never be able to recite Shakespeare however much I might wish they could, but where ostensibly intelligent people come out with absolute tripe, there must be something else at play – as in a form of blinkered pro-EU hysteria where its proponents cannot see its failings.
You quote five aims from the 1975 Common Market referendum leaflet – all very noble – then go on to say, ‘That’s what we voted for, and that’s what we got.’ and that ‘The EU adjusted to keep up with the times’.
How do you really hope to be taken seriously when the EU’s record is so bad, and all five can be called into question?
Trying to keep this short, why would it be necessary for the UK to have full political matriculation with the EU to achieve any of those goals where, incidentally, the European Union has so lamentably failed?
As for keeping up with the times, I take it you don’t think much to devolved government, but are fine with the EU pushing more soviet-style centralisation?
I see tellingly that you didn’t deny the democratic processes of the EU are akin to the DDR or the Soviet Union, turning instead to the present Tory leadership contest to deflect attention away from your error. That is for others to comment upon, but my sincere advice to you, is stop eating the Lotus fruit and clear your head with a copious dose of reality!
July 19, 2019
At present there are 32 areas of legisaltion controlled by the EU:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/browse/summaries.html
As the EU further intefrates this will become evwn wider.
All these areas can never feature in a UK General Election meaning voters have now way of expressing a view.
The recent Tampon Tax saga shows just how neutered the UK Parliamnet has become.
However, some may agree with ‘ever closer political union (Treaty of Rome 1957) leading to a federal Europe but such a surrender of UK sovereignty must be approved by the people of the UK and to date with succesive EU Treaties not subject referenda it has not been.
The 2016 Referendum was not about economics, roaming charges, travel visas…………. but a simple question of “who governs the UK?” those we can elect/eject from office or faceless bureaucrats in Brussels we cannot elect/reject!
July 21, 2019
EastDevon ~Tory
Don’t you have an MEP? And don’t forget the EU is a trading bloc of 28 independent countries each with its own elected parliament – just like we are.
July 19, 2019
For someone who is a fan of the EU you seem to have little knowledge of the power the EU has over member states and what their future ambitions are Margaret.
Try reading the Five Presidents Report.
Then look up the Lisbon and Mastricht treaties.
Sovereignty was lost slowly, bit by bit, over the time of our membership that is possibly why you fail to realise that we are no longer an independent nation.
July 19, 2019
Margaret,
Delighted. Sovereignty is âthe full right and power of a governing body over itself, without any interference from outside sources or bodiesâ. We donât have it at present, and certainly we lost it when we joined what was innocuously referred to at the time as the Common Market. Fortunately we will get it back shortly
July 19, 2019
James
“Fortunately we will get it back shortly”
Thank you for that. But if that is the sovereignty you talk about then we have already lost it to the Americans. It will soon make the EU version seem like a golden age.
July 19, 2019
It isn’t complicated: you either have Sovereignity or you don’t. You can’t compromise it, like you can’t compromise virginity. In this context it is the right to say and to mean ‘NO’.
You really are being very stupid and dishonest if you do not understand how belonging to an Imperialistic project like the EU restricts, compromises and loses Sovereignity.
July 20, 2019
Andy,
Totally unnecessary remarks we have compromised our sovereignty in an interdependent world a long time ago.
July 20, 2019
Big difference between independent nations deciding on mutually advantageous relationships with each other and the EU which has legal supremacy over nation states.
What started as the Common Market will soon be the United States of Europe.
July 19, 2019
Thank you to our host. Completely agree. Mr Hammond does not vote on the very day the new Commission head (elect) says that she will push ahead with QMV for taxation.
In reply to Tony in Cumbria, why do we want ‘the exact same benefits’ of our trade arrangements with the EU? Because our current trade arrangements with the EU result in us having a lovely, frictionless trade deficit, costing us jobs, jobs, jobs. Last year a trade deficit of over ÂŁ105 billion.
July 19, 2019
Don’t worry too much about the trade deficit. As the exchange value of the Pound depreciates, this will automatically reduce the trade deficit. UK citizens just won’t be able to afford foreign made cars; holidays; wines, foods or continental property purchases.
If you have currently hold overseas assets that yield rent; interest or dividends in a foreign currency, you will be quids in. Assuming that is, you don’t have mortgage debts in foreign currencies like the Euro etc.
July 19, 2019
A Brexit plan. Oh yes, what a good idea. Would that be the Brexit plan that the responsible David Cameron formed in the event of a vote to leave? No sign of that it seems.
It’s not the failure of Brexiteers not in government to come up with a plan, but the government’s to implement the referendum decision, presuming nothing about what the EU will grant.
The WA is not a plan by the way, it’s just kicking the can down the road for a couple of years, and paying the EU uncapped amounts for the privilege.
July 19, 2019
If anyone would like a decent solution which respects our membership of the EEA and also gets us as far as possible away from the United States of Europe, it is here:
http://www.eureferendum.com/documents/flexcitlite.pdf
July 19, 2019
Tory in Cumbria :
The main reason for leaving was for us to retain the ability to influence our laws, taxes and policies (trade, immigration,environment, energy, foreign and military etc.) through the ballot box by retaining the ability to elect and remove those who make these decisions.
This is not possible whilst remaining a member of the EU.
As for the “exact same benefits” I cannot see ANY benefits to remaining in the EU where we pay a large fee (which most others countries do not) to have a trading deficit of ÂŁ100bn/YEAR and the loss of our fishing grounds.
I don’t even want an FTA with the EU – I want us to trade on WTO terms to correct this massive imbalance in our trade.
The large fee we have paid each year but one has been used to subidise corporates to move their factories out of the UK (even to Turkey!) and to (over -)build infrastructure in other EU countries.
We are being fleeced.
July 19, 2019
The EU should be admired for pulling off the biggest ever fraud.
Through the rebranding of tariffs as membership fees, they’ve managed to pull in far more revenues than simple trade tariffs ever could. Despite our trade with the EU continuing to decline, our membership fees have increased beyond their wildest dreams because they’re based on our overall income, including our very successful worldwide trade. We have a situation where one widget traded with the EU could be costing us ÂŁ1b, but how would we ever know?
July 19, 2019
T I C
No pride or belief in your country and sovereignty then. How can a declared Tory accept a future with the EU that has federalism at the top of its agenda?
July 19, 2019
how can you blame the brexiteers for the state we are in, they had plans but were stopped at all times by may and her remainer mps.you cannot present deals if you keep getting stopped from presenting them.
July 19, 2019
Sir John,
I wholeheartedly agree with this post. I would also like to add that I saw a post from a constitutional law professor & his Phd student that said that the Grieve amendment had absolutely zero effect in law and does not stop the PM from requesting the Queen to proroguing Parliament. Once Parliament has been suspended from sitting, requirements in legislation requiring reports to the house are also suspended.
/ikh
July 19, 2019
Good. But alas the legal profession and I suspect the vast majority of judges are very pro EU. The judges may well see it differently, if they can find a way they will I suspect. The dire, tedious and failure PM John Major (who last buried the Conservatives for many terms) has already said he will challenge it in the courts.
July 19, 2019
A little birdie told me that John Major himself threatened to Prorogue Parliament when he was having trouble with rebellious Eurosceptics during his tenure of No10. It seems that Prorogation is ok if it is to reinforce our membership of the EU but not ok to reinforce the democratic wish to leave.
Not for the first time, I detect a whiff of hypocrisy.
July 19, 2019
I say this as a leaver. While I want this as much as anyone else, I do not back proroguing parliament as I fear it will lead to massive civil unrest in London and risk the U.K not leaving the E.U at all.
I think this is the time for cool heads and considered action.
July 19, 2019
Civil unrest in London.
What’s new about that then ? Property prices are plummeting there due to knife crime but they blame it on Brexit.
When did civil unrest become more powerful than the ballot box ?
July 19, 2019
If it does have an effect would it also rule out a VONC as that could lead to a GE which would also Prorogue Parliament?
July 19, 2019
That is not ‘Prorogation’. If a Motion of No Confidence is successful Her Majesty ‘Dissolves’ Parliament and, I think by a Proclamation summons another or New Parliament.
With Prorogation Her Majesty brings to a close this Session of the Parliament which in days of old would mean a Ceremony of Closing Parliament when the Sovereign would attend in State and give Accent to the various Bills which then become Law. State Opening of Parliament begins a New Session laying out a legislative program which the Queen does with the Gracious Speech.
July 20, 2019
But the act says Parliament must be sitting to receive reports from the Government, so it cannot be dissolved.
July 19, 2019
Boris has promised you nothing! and he will sell you out, like he sells everyone out. The ERG should have backed Raab or McVey. When Boris betrays you, you will have no one to blame but yourselves
July 19, 2019
You could well be right I hope not. But Raab and McVey had very little chance of winning even with ERG support.
July 19, 2019
Very often it’s better to be the power behind the throne.
July 19, 2019
Once he has ticked Prime Minister off his bucket list,I shouldn’t think he would care too much if his tenure was to prove the shortest on record.He can then go back to being a reality TV star/game show host/children’s entertainer,etc
July 19, 2019
The good thing is now the rats have shown their faces we can despatch them at the shortly to come General Election.
Let’s see how well they do in civvy street.
July 19, 2019
Where is a list of these dire 17 plus all the abstainers?
July 19, 2019
If you Google ‘digiminster’, then plug in yesterday’s date, it will bring up the votes.
July 19, 2019
Thanks.
July 19, 2019
Guido Fawkes has them all listed, included abstainer-by-mistake J. Hunt.
July 19, 2019
By mistake!
This the J Hunt who wants to introduce anther tax on income in the form of enforced savings for your long term care! We already have employers NI, employees NI, about 23% combined, income tax (up to 45%), enforced pension contributions circa 5% – the workers do need something left to live off mate.
July 19, 2019
Given the UK’s distribution of salaries and the median salary at less than ÂŁ30k, the workers (welcome to socialist party phraseology, LL) are more than likely to pay only income tax at 20%, the lucky ones at 40%. Parasitic BTL portfolio owners like you might be paying it at 45%, but you know what, you are just in a minority of less than 400,000 people representing about 1.3% of the population. So stop whingeing and just a question: how many of your self-declared 80 hour work-week do you spend on this blog?
July 19, 2019
Hunt. By mistake?
July 19, 2019
Also Brexit Central have a complete list of who voted what.
July 19, 2019
Brexit Central website will give you a full list
July 19, 2019
Lifelogic
“Where is a list of these dire 17 plus all the abstainers?”
Off with their heads! That’s what living in your type of democracy is all about.
July 19, 2019
I do not support capital punishment – not even for these traitors against the people.
July 19, 2019
Margaret, are you confusing Lifelogic with your fellow Remoaner, Andy, who frequently posts here about how people wishing to leave the EU should be imprisoned?
July 19, 2019
No Margaret, it is just you that has violent tendencies against those that oppose your world view. Living in your type of democracy is just ignore everyone who doesn’t agree with you.
July 19, 2019
More likely in the House of Lords.
UKIP would abolish the HoL because it has become a cronies retirement home.
July 19, 2019
‘such an exit can provide a platform for the two main parties to start to rebuild the trust of voters which has been undermined by the delay to Brexit’
How odd and indeed how unnerving that a Tory MP should show concern for the political fortunes of an anti-Semitic, Marxist political party led by the most appalling bunch of dangerous reprobates. Its activist wing is off the scale in terms of the threats they pose and their philosophy is one full of hate for the west, its values and its people
The Labour party is a danger to us all, a real danger
I don’t believe Mr Redwood understands the nature of what Labour’s become. These people are not playing at being socialists or Marxists. They are the real deal. They will destroy the UK, if given the chance
To prevent a disaster it’s either Tory or the BP.
Very strange
Reply Dont be so silly. I oppose Labour and do not want them in government. I was making an independent forecast, not wishing them to do better
July 19, 2019
Thanks for the clarification but the reason we’re at this point of Parliamentary obfuscation is the grip of the ‘two party’ system that uses its duopolistic powers to circumvent popular democracy.
I for one don’t want to see both of the main parties rebuilding their trust with the electorate. I’d prefer to see the destruction of the Labour party by the BP before they do any more damage
Thanks
July 19, 2019
Two parties only have duopolistic powers because the electorate sees voting as a win / lose activity rather than an opportunity to express an opinion.
Change voters’ perception and the game changes
July 19, 2019
Exactly.
July 19, 2019
No one sensible wants Corbyn/Mc Donnall/SNP. Though May/Hammond seemed very determined to do her best to help him.
July 19, 2019
One now suspect May/Hammond were trotskyite plants to enable certain destruction of the UK’s political system
July 19, 2019
That has a very sinister ring of truth…..
July 19, 2019
As I believe Obama was, and Hillary was meant to be. The 16 year plan for America was well on its way with Obama, and Hillary was meant to finish it off. They, the global political cabal/deep state, never thought she would lose.
July 19, 2019
It is clear, reinforced by Robinson’s interviews with key players in the Brexit “negotiation/surrender”, that at the heart of the issue is the political system under which we will be governed. It has nothing to do with the economics of the case. That will be collateral damage. The EU negotiators said as much. The issue is vassal state Vs independent state. My vote was and is for independence. It appears that a majority of MPs voted for a vassal state. If/when the GE comes the electorate will declare it’s choice. I think it will choose independence.
July 19, 2019
All the attention via the media/politicians is being focused on the economic issues of EU membership. The underlying question posed by the referendum was do we want to become part of a future Federal Europe (or not). Once you’ve decided the answer to that fundamental question, all other issues are much simplified.
I can’t say I’m overjoyed by the prospect of BJ as PM – but better him than Corbyn & Co. A clean Brexit will be a walk in the park compared to a Corbyn/McDonald “managed” economy…
July 19, 2019
And you side up to these eu loving mps instead of sending them to Coventry what is needed by you or someone else is to let the voter know what these Iâll go against my manifesto pledge of leaving the Eu and there interest is staying in the Eu is, Iâm not quite sure if Iâve read it right no doubt some one will put me right but it as to be the ruling Monarch our Queen to summoning of parliament when prorogued and not mps
July 19, 2019
Prorogation is a Royal Perogative and is exercised personally by Her Majesty on the advice of her Ministers. It is not MPs who decide this and indeed MPs have got their proper function and role totally confused. They are not the Government and it is time some of them realised this.
July 19, 2019
The behavior of the remoaner MP’s has brought parliament into disrepute. I have a number of friends who voted remain but even they regard the likes of Dominic Grieve and Anna Soubry as traitors. I fear that two outcomes from Brexit will have very long lasting and damaging effects on the UK. One is the erosion of trust in parliament where some MP’s cannot be relied on to keep their promises or their manifesto commitments. The other is the erosion if trust in supposedly impartial sources of information such as The Treasury, the OBR and the media especially the BBC. There are some MP’s who still have honour, our host among them, but they are few and far between.
July 19, 2019
Strange I know a number of Leavers who are appalled both by the suggestion that they voted for no deal and also that they voted to prorogue Parliament.
How is shutting Parliament up when an (unelected) Prime Minister does not get his way anything other than dictatorship?
Iâll wait while you read your 1930s German history.
July 19, 2019
You don’t know any Leavers Andy. Also Boris doesn’t need to prorogue Parliament (and hasn’t proposed doing so) all he needs to do is ignore Parliament when they ask him to seek an extension, because that request will be purely advisory and as you have told us at length anything that is purely advisory can be entirely ignored.
Surprised to see you posting today, not in London with your Extinction Rebellion middle-class chums for a jolly day out now the school holidays are here ?
July 19, 2019
Waitrose hampers at the ready,crammed full of those lovely goodies flown in from exotic parts of the world!
July 19, 2019
A permanent state of revolution stoked up by the BBC.
“Let’s keep chipping away at the bridge we’re standing on.” (Stopping White Van Man getting to work.)
July 19, 2019
Exactly. Boris holds one trump card: Parliament can do nothing to change events without changing the Law and that means they need Royal Assent. While no Sovereign has refused assent to a Bill since Queen Anne in 1708 if were I in Boris’s place I would make it plain that any Bill which sought to change the Leaving date would be refused Assent. And further he should string these games out with Remainiacs until about the middle of September. After that date even if they bring down the Government it would be too late to stop Brexit. Bercow isn’t the only one who can change conventions to suit events.
July 19, 2019
Your response is impertinent, particularly as I said nothing about proroguing parliament. The constant mantra about “no deal” merely demonstrates ignorance of the huge number of arrangements in place to smooth the process of our departure. Look up the interview on “Today” between John Humphries and the head of the Port of Calais, for example.
July 19, 2019
Spot on as usual Andy, we are still waiting for your critique of the benefits of staying in against the cost of leaving.
As you mention 1930s Germany maybe you could add where you see our resentment coming from equivalent to that of the Germans following the treaty of Versailles which led to the rise of the Nazi party that presumably you are alluding to?
July 19, 2019
Andy, as you know UK PMs are never directly elected. Perhaps a change to a more presidential system might be considered in any future constitutional reform,.but that is probably to far in any distant future to be relevant now.
July 19, 2019
I think we must change to a more presidential system because the present arrangements are too confusing and unsettling to all those whose understanding of British Constitutional Law is derived from their viewing of the West Wing.
July 19, 2019
No, the answer is to educate people, from an early age, in our Constitution and our system of Parliamentary Democracy.
If we ever decide to change, I would support a HoC that reflects the share of the national vote NOT a Presidential style of election.
July 19, 2019
The Toady program today was like a string of press releases with “Mr Javid is expected to say…” type announcements, mainly those that comply with the BBC’s agenda. Is this what you get for ÂŁ4 billion a year?
If we ever get done with EU membership, the BBC Licence should be next on the list for the chop.
July 20, 2019
So we’ll be losing YouTube (the greatest learning resource there is) because censorship will be akin to China and Saudi.
Proposed by Tories.
July 19, 2019
Conservative Manifesto 2017
âTheresa Mayâs Conservatives will deliver the best possible deal with Britain as we leave the European Union delivered by a smooth and orderly Brexit.â
Itâs on page 32.
It seems to me that those Conservatives who voted to stop no deal are very much standing up for what was promised in their manifesto. Where does the manifesto say âjust leaveâ Mr Redwood?
Reply The WA was not leaving but staying in. The Manifesto said No deal us better than a bad deal
July 19, 2019
So the Conservative party manifesto was self-contradicting? It could be interpreted in different ways? It could be used to justify a whole host of different policies? It was both a promise to leave and remain, and therefore no kind of promise at all? Really, I am surprised. I would never have guessed that incoherence, stupidity and dishonesty would be combined in a document produced by the Conservative party.
July 19, 2019
That is the art of politics – to say things which can be shown to be true whatever the situation, to show black is white or anything else. Parliament is Wonderland – words mean what they want them to mean so politicians can always be on the right side when favours are being doled out. Few like Sir John are straigtforward and factual with actual principles.
July 19, 2019
You are being dishonest, Mr Redwood. The WA was leaving. Simple as that – had it passed, we would have left the EU on the 29 March. But you voted it down, not because it did not deliver Brexit (it did) but rather because it did not deliver the Brexit you wanted. But the ballot paper in 2016 did not offer as a choice “leave on the terms favoured by J Redwood”, it merely referred to “leave” – and the WA delivered leave. What is happening here is that you and your ERG cronies are trying to hi-jack Brexit, and force through the most damaging version of it, ie no-deal – one that was never offered even as an option in 2016
July 19, 2019
The WA is a re-accession treaty. The type of document that a new EU member state would be required to sign. Leave, but rejoin on more onerous terms. Perfectly acceptable, but only to someone who despises their own nation.
July 19, 2019
The WA was leaving in name only. ÂŁ39 billion hand cuffs with no escape. It was Mayâs way to pretend to the electorate she had delivered Brexit. It was an attempted fraud. It was worse than remain, we would have had no say and it had no clear escape route ever.
What on earth made the idiot May and all those daft or traitor MPs who voted for it think it was a good deal?
July 19, 2019
What made them thing it was a good deal? – -Possibly a vague hint by a European that they would get a VERY well paid seat at the top table in Brussels as a reward.
July 19, 2019
The WA is not leaving. It leaves control of our laws, our money, and our borders in the hands of the EU.
July 19, 2019
You are being dishonest, Mr. Pugh. The ballot paper did indeed refer to “leave”, not “âleave on the terms favoured by T. May but rejected by most others as being Brexit in name onlyâ.
“Leave” was not conditional on being subsequently interpreted by Remoaners to mean something different. It is long past time that Brexiteers had a go interpreting “Remain”, a condition that cannot be implemented as the Evil Empire is transfiguring itself into some new version not congruent with what it was when the vote was taken.
July 19, 2019
The only way to test all of this is for the UK to leave without a deal. But of course easy for me to say as I don’t live there- however I do believe the British people will not be convinced until they see things first hand for themselves.
July 19, 2019
The WA agreement takes us out of the EU. It takes us out of the single market. It takes us out of the customs union – which most Brexiteers had not heard of until after the referendum. It ends regular payments to the EU. It takes us out of the ECJ. It gives us full control over fishing.
I agree it is a rubbish deal compared to what we have now. But it is simply fraudulent to claim it is not leaving. It is leaving and it turns out that leaving is rubbish. Just like we told you it would be.
July 19, 2019
You haven’t left something when it still runs your life, your law, your taxes. The ECJ under the WA remains our supreme court. The WA sort to break up and wreak the UK
July 19, 2019
This is the point where I ask you how the EU runs you life – and you fail miserably to answer.
July 19, 2019
So you voted for your President. You got choose who you got as your MEP. You were not permitted those freedoms
The EU doesn’t permit UK citizens to vote in those that make their laws and just importantly the EU does not let UK citizens amend bad laws.
The EU reports that just 8% of UK GDP is in goods to the EU, the so called single market and it’s burdens on industry keeps goods and services high in the UK compare with the rest of the Worldi it is an impediment to growing prosperity.
The UK stratigcally needs a healthy steel industry, the EU wants those UK workers out of work. Those people having to be unemployed would like your support not your denigration on thier livelyhood.
July 20, 2019
Andy
No we continually answer you, providing lists of regulations and directives that have a very negative impact on day to day business. At which point you run away, come back with a rant about pensioners then a week later post the same drivel all over again.
You epitomise the inept, incompetent virtue signalling ultra remain camp
July 19, 2019
âTheresa Mayâs Conservatives will deliver the best possible deal with Britain as we leave the European Union delivered by a smooth and orderly Brexit.â
The only achievable objective within the control of government is the “smooth and orderly Brexit” part of this statement. The “best possible deal” relates only to what the EU will permit.
Ergo, “those Conservatives who voted to stop no deal” are very much PREVENTNG delivery of what was promised in the manifesto, because no deal would be “the best POSSIBLE deal” at this time.
July 19, 2019
“…. no deal is better than a bad deal….”
Page 36 of the Manifesto Andy!!!
July 19, 2019
You make all the right points.
As you say:- the UK economy has proved very resilient considering the anti growth and anti enterprise policies being pursued. These anti-business policies are absurdly high taxes, endless tax complexity, tight money, over regulated and uncompetitive banking, endless red tape, an idiot tax system that deters some from working at all with rates often at 100%, a bloated and overpaid state sector, the expensive intermittent energy policies, the making tax digial lunacy ….
Policies pursued by the appalling, economic illiterate and abstainer (yesterday) Hammond with his absurd tax rates and complexity. Wages are still below the level of 2008 in real terms however. Hunt even want another tax on top of the enfored work place pension of a similar scheme to force people to provide for their long term care. (Long term care that statistically most will never even need).
When I say the word “Irony” my mind though about Theresa May’s absurd and dire speech on Wednesday on the state of UK politics. What did she expect after her great betrayal, dishonesty, contempt for the electorate, her gross incompetence and lack of vision? Not even threatening or preparing for a no deal Brexit. Thank goodness she has finally nearly gone. Even worse than John Major doubtless she will never say sorry either.
It seems Theresa May is set to give ÂŁ2bn pay rise to public sector workers in one of her final acts in Number 10. A rise the public sector pay is generally (in effect) a pay reduction for the 80% who do not work for the state and have to carry these people with their taxes. This 80% are remunerated (when pensions are included) at only about 66% of the rate of state sector workers who are getting the rise. And who pay in real terms has not increased for 11 years.
We already have the highest taxation for 50+ years and generally appalling and declining public service, police who have virtually given up and new higher state charges/licences/application frees/death certificates/refuse/probate/passports/birth certificates/tv licences….. indeed for almost everything the state forces on us.
Why on earth has the dire Theresa not sacked the appalling Philip Hammond, Greg Clark, Rory Stewart & David Gauke?
July 19, 2019
The private sector’s been under attack now since 1991 but since she came to power three years ago her attacks on private sector workers and the companies that employ them as accelerated
An appalling PM. An empty vessel without core or principle.
July 19, 2019
Indeed she is. She got almost every single thing totally wrong.
An excellent piece by BjĂžrn Lomborg in the Telegraph today. Good to see voters rejecting the expensive, job destroying, green crap policies in Australia and elsewhere. Boris should ditch it all too.
July 19, 2019
The reason she has not sacked them is because she completely agrees with them. If she did not she would have withdrawn the Bill, as it seems she was advised to do by the Chief Whip.
July 19, 2019
When I “saw” the word Irony.
July 19, 2019
It would seem the majority of our Mp’s still do not get it do they.
Frustrate the people, and the people will not vote for them again, its very simple.
EU law can be changed by EU members, and we will have no say, so I should not put too much strength in that argument JR. It was the EU which gave us a deadline of 31st October, not us requesting such !
I simply cannot understand why People stand for Parliament, I assume to make a difference, and then reject the system of self determination, self rule, that would allow them to make a difference.
July 19, 2019
May both requested the extension and accepted its terms.
July 19, 2019
Mark
I was under the impression that May only wanted an extension until the end of June, so that we did not have to take part in the European elections.
It was the EU that offered 31st October, but you are correct May accepted it and all of the terms involved.
For them it meant an extra income of just over a ÂŁ1 Billion per month for nothing,
For us it meant an extra cost of ÂŁ1 Billion for nothing.
Great deal for them, useless for us, just typical of May.
July 19, 2019
@AJ
It’s almost as if they have a hidden agenda.
July 19, 2019
I find it interesting that as these fanatics have lost all sense of propriety and basic common sense with their every increasing bizarre fanaticism and are completely blind to the way the rest of the real world sees them.
What do they really hope to achieve by stopping us leaving the EU on 31 October, or keeping the country in this corrupt political institute? Do they really think if and once they achieved this aim, that’s it and everything will just settle down?
The people would meekly accept it? They would be welcomed on World forums as fine upstanding people for upholding their definition of ‘democracy’? That other countries around the World would respect and trust them?
Do they think at all?
July 19, 2019
I see the EU is determined to crush the independence of Poland and Hungary’s judiciary as both nations fight to prevent further dilution of their nation’s legal system from coming under EU control
Frans Timmermans is in essence making a direct threat to another sovereign nation state
This is one of the main reasons we need to exit the EU and their appalling interference in another nation’s affairs
July 19, 2019
The Panorama program interviewed the main EU rottweilers, including Timmermans. Nice to see they all lost out in the next EU session.
July 19, 2019
You didn’t mention the Tory MPs who abstained which included cabinet ministers: poor little Rory Stewart, Hammond etc. Since when could cabinet ministers ignore a three-line whip without being sacked ? Of course these clowns will flounce out the moment Boris is appointed, so they can say they resigned rather than having being fired.
July 19, 2019
Yes we have a very malignant and arrogant cabal within Parliament who are trying to undermine the expressed wish of the electorate. Between now and October end they must be stopped. Longer term when the numbers allow it or at a GE they must be exorcised from the party. That the BBC give this preaching, self richeous minority, so much oxygen in air time condems them to radical surgery in the form of privatisation, once the dust has settled on Brexit. They think they are untouchable but they are not.
The kipper pillow mentality within health and safety, that sees it’s prime goal as infiltration into every corner of UK existence must also be dealt with. They and their thinking are a drag on a sovereign UK. They have built an empire of negativity from life on oil rigs to kipper distribution that has outgrown it’s original purpose and must be culled. We need productive jobs, not jobsworths.
July 19, 2019
Indeed as you say âitâs prime goal as infiltration into every corner of UK existenceâ that is alas what the state does. It grows like a malignant tumour to suffocate and kill the economy. They are in the business of taxation, regulation, licensing, fining and controlling so more and more rules suite them fine.
We will I hope soon be rid or the EU section of all this but the UK government is as bad or even worse and must be culled. Much of the legal profession too is essentially totally parasitic on the productive. That system needs addressing too to cull the parasitic activities.
July 19, 2019
Mayâs direction has been to make things even worse here all over the place. Gender pay reporting, proposals to prevent landlords getting tenants out at the end of their contracts, perhaps even racial pay gap reporting, building on workers EU workers rights, endless increases in tax complexity, making tax digital, bank lending red tape, mad employment laws … the state sector parasitic tumour continues to grow and grow and grow some more. Then people like Philip Hammond complain about low productivity rates – look in the mirror you daft, tax and regulate to death plonker.
July 19, 2019
Oh for a real Conservative party whose MP’s have not sold their souls to the devil, because JR, the policies you propose are really just those of logic and a ‘real’ honest political party.
Will we ever learn why so many – and I don’t mean the brainwashed – have been so willing to surrender us all to the demanding clutches of the EU…. To know the truth behind their reasoning – the whole definitive truth – would really help us to fight their traitorous activities.
July 19, 2019
Controlling the individual and the thinking of the individual is the 1984 concept in practice. Without radical intervention or out and out rebellion it is not going to go away. The genes of rebellion have been leached away from us in the UK. Unlike the French we assuage violence on the streets thank goodness. However consider the effect of the nation not paying the TV licence until the BBC was reformed or car tax until the state ceased predating on the motorist. Hitting the state in the pocket would have more effect than breaking shop windows.
The State is the great exploiter of the people. It extracts vast sums of money from individuals, but gives us a very poor service in return. Give me an example of where the state works really well. I cannot think of one. Government comes way behind private enterprise when it comes to delivery. The next government should give free reign to the creation of wealth, only controlling those excesses that mitigate against the interests of the individual. Within the term government I include the banks. They are the clamp on the blood flow of enterprise. They borrow from individuals at 1.5% and charge at up to 60% to lend that money out again. The robber barons of their
profession do so at 1300% or more. Only because they are so close to government do they get away with such usuary. Government allow this because they are the biggest customer. As long as government can keep getting cheap money they will not stop the banks predating on everyone else.
Whether it be ice pillows for kippers or HMRC playing catchup by retrospective collection of tax on schemes they have accepted by default in the past, government’s capacity to interfere needs drastic curbing.
Reply People must pay the legal demands of the state and use democratic means to cut or remove unwelcome taxes through repeal and amendment of laws.
July 20, 2019
Yes I would have subscribed to your reply when I was at school, but now the State is so apallingly bad and dishonest in so much that it does I feel it needs a short sharp shock of financial reality. Witholding tax due is a way to achieve this. As I said, better than breaking windows.
Reply Breaking the law is not condoned here and is likely to result in prosecution and penalties
July 21, 2019
JR – One can only agree with the sentiments of agricola – This government has been a total disgrace, and May has enacted many things, some out of spite, to hurt us..
Sometimes waiting for a GE is not good enough, nor an adequate response to the pain caused when a government operates against the people, when justice is turned on it’s head, when one group is given special treatment, when morals are thrown to the wind.
Marches by those that want to change government plans are ignored and called ‘Far Right’ Etc and they are vilified.
How are people supposed to react when democracy is so badly damaged?
July 19, 2019
Sir John,
The law, as it is, points to us leaving on October 31st. This was also the case previously, when Parliament legislated to leave on March 29th. The date was changed before. Obviously it could change again. You express a steadfast conviction that we will leave on October 31st. At least by implication in your post you acknowledge that this may not come to pass. So the question is, how does BJ ensure that the date is not changed by this Parliament?
July 19, 2019
March 29th was determined by Article 50. The October 31st extension was set by the EU commission. All of the proposed extension dates requested by May were rejected. The PM has little or no control over it. If they decline a further extension, other than to pass the WA or hold a second vote, then we are finally free. TBH, I think that the EU are more resigned to and prepared for our exit than our MPs!
July 19, 2019
You make a valid point about an extension being possible only through mutual agreement. Strategically, I can’t see why the EU has not simply drawn a line under this and chosen to pursue its plans free of a the malign influence of the UK (their perspective, not mine). I don’t think it’s simply the case that they have an insatiable appetite for our money and are willing to risk anything for a few extra pounds.
Rather, the point is that this UK Parliament and the EU would happily agree to a further extension, subject to terms. Currently, it’s all to play for. Yes, there is the possibility of a No deal Brexit, but there is also the possibility of some form of treaty modelled on the WA, or of a referendum and therefore the possibility the UK elects to remain. As long as there is no decisive action, both parties will happily kick the can.
July 19, 2019
That is how I see it. The EU want us OUT !
July 19, 2019
Mrs May didn’t have the authority to extend our membership beyond the 29th March. Robin Tilbrook of the English Democrats is current pursuing the matter through the courts despite attempts by the Judiciary to have the case thrown out.
We now have a Blairite Judicial Appointments Commission which will only appoint Judges who can âdemonstrate a life timeâs commitment to Equality and Diversityâ and are therefore ideologically only of the multiculturalist Left and therefore almost all Remainers.
July 19, 2019
In 2007, first David Milliband as Foreign Secretary and the Gordon Brown as PM signed the Lisbon Treaty on behalf of the UK. Correct me if I am wrong but I do not recall a line by line debate or disection of it in the HoC. If so it is as I supposed, a PM supported by the Cabinet can agree to and sign treaties on behalf of the UK without recourse to Parliament. It is a function of government. If treaties can be enterred into thus so can they be left. If that is so, leaving the EU is an act of leaving a series of treaties. Ergo the PM and Cabinet can effect our departure from the EU under whatever conditions prevail at the time. I would be interested to read the Attorney General’s verdict on the matter or for that matter our hosts.
July 19, 2019
Slightly off topic but the four freedoms are supported by our remain Parliament.
The education select committee has determined that school funding has not kept pace with RISING NUMBERS and rising costs.
If the people being imported to drive our rising GDP are all genuinely contributing then there would be more money to educate the children they are bringing with them. That there is not enough money begs a question doesn’t it.
The vast proportion of the rising costs are NI payments and pension payments for teachers’ protected pensions. So any extra money will not go to the children it will go to the early retirement of public sector workers.
July 19, 2019
Narrow Shoulders
Nothing changes it is has it has always been. No matter how much money they throw at these departments it is how and where it will be spent. Waste has never been eradicated from the public and civil services.
July 19, 2019
When those who are responsible for their departments are treated the same way that those in the Private Sector, then we will begin to see savings as they will actually have some incentive not to fail.
đ
July 19, 2019
Press chatter this morning that the four ministers who abstained yesterday will resign the moment Mr Johnson is confirmed as your party leader.
Why has Mrs May not reinforced cabinet collective responsibility and headed the coming demonstration of petulance off by sacking them for abstaining?
July 19, 2019
I strongly suspect May has given her tacit approval to these antics, as it adds to her poisoned chalice she wants to hand over.
July 19, 2019
Because she agrees with them.
July 19, 2019
There are a lot of old people living in one bedroomed flats on the fifth and sixth floor whose circumstances will not change one bit whether we remain or leave- they have nothing to lose. There are others, better off, who can see great difficulties ahead for themselves, their business and families should we leave without a deal, think Dover/Calais choked off, and then of course we have the scattering of the deluded politico types who are comfortable anyway and don’t mind where they lead us? Must say it frightened the life out of me last evening when I watched BBC Panorama, to think that we sent the likes of DD over to Brussels to negotiate on our behalf- again Mrs May’s doing- and now Boris thinks it is his turn to impress and will go over with ERG and 350 stamped on his forehead and think if he waves a kipper about tucks his shirt tail in it will make the difference, schmuck.
July 19, 2019
hardlyever
Your post is confused but then if you believe what you hear from the BBC regarding Brexit no wonder. There is no point railing against Boris he will be our PM in a few days and hopefully will respect the Referendum by taking us out of the EU on good terms. Why don’t you get behind his efforts instead of making derogatory comments about him. Wasted energy.
July 20, 2019
“There are others, better off, who can see great difficulties ahead for themselves, their business and families should we leave without a deal,”- hardlyever
And there are others, in the digital sector, resale sector, small business sector, fisheries and many others, who can see great difficulties continuing for themselves, their business and families should we remain in the EU. No deal, on the other hand would reduce those difficulties.
But given that EU legislation favours large businesses over small, it isn’t surprising that the “better-off” as you put it, who run those businesses, might loathe no deal.
July 19, 2019
Federalism doesnât work, and neither does a currency without a country. The tensions within Europe are huge, and many financial institutions are forecasting the collapse of the Euro by 2022, and some within this year. The reason – Italy. The German Bundesbank has a debt ten times German GDP, the ECB is completely maxed out and has no funds, so who bales? EU members! Our share will be ÂŁ220 to ÂŁ430 BILLION.This situation is far more disastrous than Brexit., but this, and mush else is what we are not told.
July 19, 2019
The EU was deeply flawed in it’s setup right from the start – and the creation of the Euro just compounded that. To survive the EU Federalists know they must push forward to full fiscal and legal integration. The problem with that is that the larger economies have to effectively subsidise the smaller ones – and the second largest contributor is in the process of leaving. The German tax payer isn’t daft (I have several good German friends still – despite voting leave!) and whilst they did dig deep to get East Germany up to speed – they won’t do it for Club Med or Eastern Europe (quite apart from the fact that they have a few economic problems of their own at the moment).
I watched Panorama last night with great interest but politics in Europe are not quite as simple as Mr Timmermans would have us believe…
July 19, 2019
A very good post and one I fully agree with.
We will see, over time, just how committed these countries are to each other and their precious union.8
July 19, 2019
Tory Dorset yes all of this needs to be reported in the press but there is a dearth of real investigative journalism in the UK currently. As Christine says, when Boris stands up to talk about leaving with no deal, he has to counter that argument with the folly of staying within the EU and what that will mean for all of us. The amounts of money we will be expected to pay if things go wrong in Brussels as you outline has to be called out. The general public are not getting these facts.
July 20, 2019
Russia is nominally a federation but it’s members are all officially termed “federal subjects.”
July 19, 2019
The late Nancy Reagan started a campaign that Boris would do well to remember when he meets the EU Council in October, when they will doubtless offer him a further negotiating standstill with lots of conditions perhaps including a referendum attached.
Just say no.
July 19, 2019
Unless Boris has a secret, he will not succeed in getting us a reasonable deal from the EU. Those in The House have undermined any negotiating position he can take. The EU knows it does not have to offer anything else with MPs in their pocket. .
It looks like Farage and the Brexit Party will have the majority of MPs in the government in a few years.
July 19, 2019
Sir John.
Why on earth has the party not laid down new instructions to all the members especially the constituency chairpersons that enough is enough. These people are neither use or ornament to the future of this party. They have to be thrown out, what they are doing flies in the face of our democratic process.
July 19, 2019
“Labour and Conservative MPs were elected in 2017 on a manifesto for each party that promised to implement Brexit.”
Many said they would respect the result to avoid losing their seats. It’s clear that the majority, including Mrs May and many senior Conservatives, had no intention of delivering a meaningful Brexit.
The actions of those Conservatives voting against the Government yesterday, and of those abstaining, shows that Boris will not be able to avoid a General Election before Brexit is delivered.
If Parliament prevents Boris from delivering a clean, managed Brexit, I would like to think that Boris, possibly with a Brexit Party alliance, would win a majority of seats by campaigning for a clean, managed Brexit. This assumes that the Conservative rebels who blocked the deal are deselected.
July 19, 2019
It strikes me that Parliament’s intention is to prorogue the people. We are to be ignored and sidelined. As for the Liberal âDemocratsâ, polite words fail me. They are completely open and proud of wanting to ignore the outcome of a democratic election. And nobody ever seems to challenge them.
July 19, 2019
Referendum, not election. Although, come to think of it, 80% voted in the 2017 election for parties that promised to leave.
July 19, 2019
Along with many others I just hope that our new PM has the wherewithall to appoint you as his future next door neighbour. It has come down now to people with experience, proven track records and related qualifications to the position offered. That could be the first real move to bring real credibility to the PM and his cabinet. We have suffered far too long from having square pegs in round holes.
July 19, 2019
Seconded.
July 19, 2019
Having people in positions that reflect their qualifications and experience does indeed make sense.
Trying to ram square pegs in round holes epitomizes why May was so appallingly dreadful. It also explains why she felt she needed so many Spads, about 35, all funded by the taxpayer! Sadly, they were all as undemocratic and appalling as her.
July 19, 2019
These Remaining so-called Conservative MPs seem to be completely oblivious to the damage they have done and are doing to both our negotiating position and the countries economy.
Ever since July 2016 they and people like them have tried to wreck Brexit and at each stage their methods and attempts have become more extreme. In amongst them you get people like ‘Tory in Cumbria’ who re-write and expand the question that was put on the referendum ballot paper.
We knew what were voting for and we knew that it was not going to be easy, but unfortunately we believed the manifestos put up by both Labour and Conservatives in 2017 upon which, as you have stated Sir John, they have ratted. They were voted in to implement Brexit not destroy it and the country with it.
July 19, 2019
Typical leaver – utter refusal to engage with detail or reality. You want Brexit to be “implemented”? OK, which one? The one that guaranteed frictionless trade and the exact same benefits as EU membership? That’s the EEA (Norway). The one where we settle our bills and sort out the Irish border – yep, that’s on offer but Redwood voted it down. The one where lots of other countries line up to offer us great trade deals? That one doesn’t exist. The one that shovels cash to the NHS? Doesn’t exist either. I have only one plea to you Brexiters – try to live in the world as it is, not the world as you would like it to be. Get real, in short
July 19, 2019
Tony in Cumbria, like all Remainers your posts which I have read here and elsewhere are full of negativity, doom, gloom and often bad temper. There are solutions to all the problems you raise providing there is the will to confront them. Theresa May had no will and like you she preferred to give in to threats and prophesies of Armageddon. People are held back by fear, no one did anything worrying about failure. We have opportunities here, but we are being hobbled by people like you who are frightened to try something different and want only to prop up the status quo.
July 19, 2019
Democracy is not about reality however you spell LEAVE.
It is about voting and honouring majority vote rule. The details of whether you had a 2B, 4B or 2H pencil etc is neither here nor there. It is the cross in the box that mattered.
If you were not prepared to honour the X then you should have abstained in the first place. Did you?
July 19, 2019
It’s not going to be anything other than signing the Withdrawal Agreement and then leaving or not signing the Withdrawal Agreement and then leaving.
As Parliament repeatedly refuses to vote for the Withdrawal Agreement the option we will have to take must be pretty obvious TIC.
July 19, 2019
Typical Remainer – utter refusal to engage with detail or reality. You want to Remain. OK, which one? The one you think you have at the moment moderated by vetoes, or the one set out in the legally binding treaties? Believe me, it’s the latter, and with increased use of QVM neutralising vetoes it will happen sooner rather than later. Be careful what you wish for, because the EU world as you see it doesn’t exist either.
July 19, 2019
”…. seem to be completely oblivious to the the damage…”
I think that’s being far too kind to them. They know EXACTLY what damage they are inflicting, but because of their blinkered arrogance and self-serving, EU-inspired greed, they don’t actually care. They will suffer personally not one bit, no matter what harm they do to our precious country.
The words ”I’m all right, Jack” spring to mind. Sickening self-importance.
July 19, 2019
I am a right-winger and used to call myself a Conservative. The party could have me back onboard very easily. I would rejoin and pay a membership fee. I would attend your meetings and events, like I used to. I would deliver your leaflets, like I did at the last general election. But yesterday’s antics by the Remaintremists have just solidified my support for the Brexit Party. Increasingly, I feel that Boris will need to call an election and de-select all of those Remainers who cannot adjust to, and respect, the referendum decision.
July 19, 2019
Boris, once in office, should start talking secretly to Farage, and publicly start mooting an election.
To focus minds
July 19, 2019
If Johnson does become PM he surely mustn’t legitimise Marxist Labour by entering into discussions with them about any policy issue. Such an approach would be disastrous as it creates the perception in the minds of their indoctrinated core vote that they are still a conventional political party, which of course they’re not. They represent an existential danger to our security, our freedoms and our economic freedoms
The entire Labour construct must be dismantled to prevent them from expanding their influence
Even their own members are exposed to physical threats on a daily basis and now we have BJ offering to hold talks with them about some idiotic nonsense termed the ‘Social care settlement’.
When will Tory leaders learn from their mistakes? Do not afford Labour one ounce of legitimacy. By doing so, you are laying the foundations of a future Marxist government
This vile political entity must be demonised and buried, not encouraged
July 19, 2019
Telegraphing the means by which one intends to implement the will
of the people (e.g. by proroguing Parliament) does not appear to be
much help. Remember that Mrs. May gave no notice to Parliament when she
made a binding agreement in international law to change our legal exit date. If
you really want Brexit, Mr. Johnson, just do it.
July 19, 2019
Sir JR,
Interesting forecasts for the UK economy, where you still believe that we will have a boost as son as we leave, I am not sure I am persuaded by your economic arguments.
The old record on the Remainer project fear is getting rather tiresome to listen to
July 19, 2019
It’s not all about economics. The issues of sovereignty and the supremacy of our law are far more important.
July 20, 2019
L Jones
We have given up on our sovereignty though international collaboration a long time , this is history
July 20, 2019
Rubbish bill.
There is a world of difference between our increasingly complex legal entanglement with the EU and freely deciding to have a mutually advantageous relationship with another independent nation.
July 20, 2019
Edward 2
Nonsense again, it is already the case with other trade agreements
July 21, 2019
“Other trade agreements” are entered into by two or more independent nations freely for their mutual advantage.
No yearly huge membership fee is paid
No open borders.
No ability of one party to make laws, rules, regulations, nor impose directives on the other.
International collaboration over things like trade is nothing like our relationship with the (soon to be) United States of Europe.
July 19, 2019
Hoard food. Build an ark. Keep an eye on the two rabbits and, the two kangaroos who may have something in a pouch.Forget about polar bears. They never existed.
July 19, 2019
Dear Mr. Redwood,
MP’s continue to behave as if their words and actions have no consequence so accustomed have they become to saying one thing and doing another.
Words such as shysters, frauds, cheats, liars and traitors gain traction outside the bubble that they inhabit. They ensure that the backlash from voters will be ever more vehement.
July 19, 2019
Boris is saying he will tell the British people what the problems of a No Deal will be. What he should be doing is telling the British people where the EU is going. How they plan to centralise taxation, spread our wealth to poorer countries, expand to take in poorer countries including North Africa, set up an EU army, abolish vetoes, and take over foreign policy. They want an empire without democracy. I want to see a proper debate where the truth about remain is explained.
July 19, 2019
Agreed. We know the Remainer politicians will never do it, but what’s stopping the Brexiters from doing it?
July 19, 2019
Christine, you are absolutely right to make this point. We have had little information about the real motives and driving forces of the EU. The information is difficult to find. Only the really motivated find it, others just catch sound bites and repeat them back. Most of my friends are Remainers and they come up with the most fanciful notions I have ever heard. Boris does need to explain where the EU is heading and in very clear terms. Many will be disappointed if he just suggests a future of uncertainty because there is so much fear at the moment, this will surely only endorse it.
July 19, 2019
This is the thing. Not even here do we go into enough detail or debate with regard to what Remaing in the EU means.
July 19, 2019
Christine
” expand to take in poorer countries including North Africa,”
That’s a new one on me. Last time it was Boris who claimed that Turkey would be next.
Talk about Project Fear!
As for your: ” I want to see a proper debate where the truth about remain is explained.”
Judging by the other claims of your post, what you really want is to have your prejudices confirmed.
July 19, 2019
MH
You are a fine one to talk about prejudice.
July 20, 2019
It was actually Cameron who was championing Turkey joining. Read this BBC article.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-10773007/cameron-uk-strongly-supports-turkey-eu-membership-bid
As for the rest of it just go to the EU web site. It’s all there. Most is covered in Frau von der Leyenâs manifesto.
As for the EU expansion:
“The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) promotes economic integration across 15 neighbours to the EUâs south in North Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans region.”
It’s you who has your head buried in the EU sand and wants to keep the truth about the direction the EU is going in away from the British people.
July 20, 2019
I find it remarkable how uninformed pro EU fans are.
Margaret tells us earlier that she has never read the Five Presidents Report nor the Lisbon and Mastricht Treaties.
She along with others fails to accept the future expansionist ambitions of the EU nor their desire to create the United States of Europe nor to force all member states into a common currency and tax policy.
Nor to have their own flag , anthem, armed force and ambassadors.
Some difference from 1975 and the few similar nations involved in a mutually beneficial trading club.
July 19, 2019
When it comes to economics, the Project Fear narrative has largely been based on forecasts and fantasy.
The Leave narrative is based on the mathematical fact that we will no longer need to pay in to the eu.
It is sad that the BBC and some other media promote the fantasy and ignore the fact.
July 19, 2019
Political parties managed to ignore/sideline democracy since 1973, by only offering us a choice of one pro-EU party or another. The emergence of UKIP changed all that. We finally had a pro-UK party to vote for. Votes returned to the Tories when they offered an EU referendum, and when they issued a manifesto promising to Leave the EU.
Do Remainer politicians think they can go back to offering us a choice of pro-EU parties only? If so, then they are 100% stupid! The Brexit Party is here stay until we leave the EU and the EU is managing to increase Euroscepticism within EU countries without any help from us.
July 19, 2019
Mrs Merkel was on TV this morning speaking for the whole of the EU and saying the EU could agree an extension of Brexit.
It still has not dawned on Remainers why over twenty EU nation leaders are never asked, nor dare take it upon themselves to speak for the EU. Ireland in particular should take note. It will never be allowed to speak on any other matter except on a policy harming the UK as much as possible. Then , Ireland will be put out to grass by the EU like a knackered donkey. But the SNP could be their new temporary donkey to be used and the SNP is willing.
The EU’s brief Don Quixote
July 19, 2019
Frau Merkel gave her usual press conference this morning before her annual holidays. Brexit was just one of many questions she answered as was a question about her health and what she thought about Trump’s treatment of the 4 congresswomen:
âWithout question, I reject [Trumpâs comments] and stand in solidarity with the congresswomen he targeted.â
Like Mrs May’s condemnation of Trump’s outrageous behaviour it is refreshing to hear two female world leaders stand up for decency in public life.
July 19, 2019
MH
Do you know all the facts surrounding Mr Trump’s comments ?
I suspect you don’t.
July 20, 2019
Don Quixote
“It still has not dawned on Remainers why over twenty EU nation leaders are never asked, nor dare take it upon themselves to speak for the EU. Ireland in particular should take note.”
Much truth in what you say. That’s why Wales, Scotland and Ireland are always overlooked when people speak of Britain and really mean England and the power base of London in particular.
July 20, 2019
Overlooked?
All I see is their dominance in political discussion and England sending billions to these regions.
July 19, 2019
I thought the idea of the Office of Budget Responsiblity, was to keep an eye on the executive to ensure budgets are true and to be independent and factual. From this latest lot of guesswork, chiefly based on International work that has already bee discredited, it seems to be the last hurrah from Eeyore Hammond and is very political. Looks like it is time for a change of leadership as they seem to have lost their way, or time to cut it altogether and make another budget saving.
July 19, 2019
Exactly, until they(OBR) become political tools.
Of course if as now the next incumbent to run the economy does it in the way their EU masters have been dictating and not respond to UK situations – things will get BAD.
The idea of being a sovereign democracy is for the elected to run the country for and half of the people of the UK.
Then again the idea of a Parliament managing the UK has been lost for a generation. That is why it is now about egos and look at me, they have forgotten what a free Parliament does.
July 19, 2019
No. These QUANGOS are created to give well paid jobs to their friends. Why do think that every PM, including the outgoing one creates them ?
July 19, 2019
A question no Brexiteer can answer. What if all of the experts are right and you are not?
What if the business leaders, trade experts and economists who tell you of the harm
no deal will do to your country and its children are, in fact, correct?
The answer to this is not that they are wrong. They may be wrong – but then, on balance, they are more likely to be right than you.
So what do you think happens to your country, to your Brexit and to leading Brexiteers if Brexit turns into the disaster many experts expect?
July 19, 2019
Andy
We know harm will be done, but what I suspect frightens you is the fact that most are willing to take up the challenge of rebuilding the country and restoring home rule.
I believe you and your remain buddies are terrified by the prospect of having to roll your sleeves up and get on with it.
No more free stuff for you old boy !
July 20, 2019
Well I judge it by looking at the many previous predictions of these experts and I see they got it wrong with their Project Fear 1.0
So that’s why I’m skeptical about their equally gloomy Project fear 2.0.
And these same people wanted us to try the ERM prior to joining the Euro.
Which was an economic disaster for us all.
July 20, 2019
Perhaps now is the time for a nice expensive re-branding, giving some PR firm hundreds of thousand of pounds to re-design the OBR name and logo.
The NGA (National Guesswork Authority) has a nice ring to it and would more accurately reflect their standard of work.
July 19, 2019
JR
“The UK economy has proved very resilient considering the anti growth and anti enterprise policies being pursued.”
So why is the pound still dropping like a stone? Do they know something you don’t?
July 19, 2019
Ms Howard:
Low of the Past Year: 1.1002 (29-08-2018)
High of the Past Year : 1.1801 (14-03-2019)
Today’s opening rate: 1.1137
Present rate: 1.1152
”…. Finally, some relief for the British Pound which is rallying against the Euro…”
Facebook doesn’t tell you everything.
July 19, 2019
Then you could as why did 7 other major currency’s drop against the US dollar at the same time and that’s without them being involved in trying to become sovereign democracies.
Or was that maybe overall the US dollar is getting stronger?
Not forgetting money is only made in the currency markets when there is a reason to trade. Or in other words the Market Maker wont earn unless they can cause trading
July 19, 2019
The reasons that seem to be given (the experts here can day which is the biggest effect) are:
1. General uncertainty preventing planning
2. BoE possibly easing
3. Lack of confidence in UK political system
4. Threat of general election and business unfriendly govt (Labour or hung).
July 19, 2019
Margaret, do you know that inward investment to the UK over the last 3 years has been more than inward investment to France and Germany combined over the same period? Have you compared the latest UK employment stats to those in Southern Europe?
July 19, 2019
Hopefully, our tourist board is being a wise advertiser and our UK exporters are taking full advantage of a low pound.
July 19, 2019
Angela Merkel, the President of the German Republic, has just announced the EU will enter into negotiations on reworking the backstop arrangement. This stinks of slander politics creating the idea that a rejection of such a proposal indicates intransigence on the part of the next British PM.
As May been speaking to Merkel in another attempt at a ‘stitch up’ of the next PM?
If Johnson enters into negotiations on this basis he will signal his intent to betray Brexit as the backstop arrangement involves a deal or some form and a deal equates to the continuing influence over British laws, moneys and borders
We leave the EU as per the 2016 EU referendum result and then enter negotiations on a FTA.
Indicate to Merkel, in no uncertain terms, that we will not cajoled nor manipulated and that her proposal and every other proposal designed to keep us tied to the EU is unacceptable to the British electorate
July 19, 2019
Dominic
Nearly 50% voted Remain and seeing that 75% of under 25s voted to remain but 70% of over 65s voted for Brexit it is imperative that we older remainers fight this battle for the future of our children and grandchildren.
Too many older people who voted for Brexit were “driven by nostalgia” for a world where “faces were white,” Sir Vince Cable has said.
The Lib Dem leader said the votes of the older generation had “crushed the hopes and aspirations of young people for years to come.”
We must fight the good fight for them.
July 20, 2019
Vince has got it wrong as he has on most policy issues.
Driven by nostalgia?
No
Driven by a desire to be a free independent nation once more.
July 19, 2019
“The right fiscal boost, facilitated by saving our budget contributions to the EU, coupled with a more positive money policy could deliver considerably better growth than in the Euro area for us next year. The UK economy has proved very resilient considering the anti growth and anti enterprise policies being pursued.” /end quote
How right you are Mr. Redwood and so nice it is to hear some positive and truthful statement concerning Leave.
It’s what they EU all fear most, they know it, we know it, that, once outside of the Federal gulch, Britain will thrive and prosper!
July 19, 2019
Dear Sir John,
Yesterdayâs Northern Ireland Bill sought to stop âNo Dealâ Brexit by the back door.
I thought Parliamentary legislation is required to be explicit in its intentions and not to say one thing while meaning another.
How was this allowed to happen ?
Are we to believe Parliament is now running roughshod over the law ?
July 19, 2019
I am not afraid anymore of a parliament that blocks brexit because I know the consequences – Nigel Farage.
These MP’s still sqwark about Corbyn, but he is sinking in the polls like Theresa May and will be obliterated if brexit is still to be delivered.
I hope though that Boris can deliver a WTO brexit, he should us his energies to secure a GATT 24 agreement with countries such as US, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and others to ensure we have alternative importers if the EU refuses a FTA.
The next GE will hopefully be a long way away, but it is clear that many MP’s do not want to serve in a independant sovereign parliament and should resign before they are deselected.
July 19, 2019
Reading about the proposed antics of some members of Parliament , it would seem to be verging on insanity, or some kind of sociopathic spite because theyâre not getting their own way in the matter of remaining. Because this is what they want and are terrified it might not happen, and we might actually leave.
Having a deal has become such an obsession that as John Redwood points out – no deal will not be a problem.
The members are mentioned are making our country look quite absurd, and it is quite embarrassing.
July 19, 2019
Sharon Jagger
“The members mentioned are making our country look quite absurd, and it is quite embarrassing.”
I don’t think we should be embarrassed, Sharon. The new tactic of the left and the liberals is to go into sore loser cry baby mode. It’s happening in many countries, not just ours.
July 19, 2019
Sir John,
if Boris becomes Pm whats the likelihood of a no confidence voting being brought against him? Would Hammond and other mps really vote against the new Pm and risk losing a general election and letting Labour in. Labour would cause a lot more damage to this country than Brexit.
July 19, 2019
Sir John, I am unsure whether you speak with your Remainer colleagues, but can I ask that you do have a word with them about claims today apparently from Hammond etc, that they intend to call a vote of no confidence in the new government to bring it down. This for them I imagine would be the last throw of the dice, but I am concerned it might succeed. Obviously Boris and his team have notice of this now so will be planning for the eventuality, but it would surely be better for these people to be persuaded not to carry this out.
Currently if that happened all bets are off for a decent Brexit, the electorate is splitting into many different factions and a hung parliament would be deadly moving forward, even if we have by then left. Can I ask you and maybe those from the ERG to try and head this off at the pass. Some of these rabid EU fanatics will not listen of course, but some might. Let’s hope wisdom prevails.
July 19, 2019
I, along with most of the UK, am very cross with the present set of MPs. We look forward to half of them joining the dole queue. Hammond in particular, that will be a much reposted photograph.
This country’s economy coped with two world wars and the most expensive war ever fought and won, the Cold War. Our economy dealt with separatiion from the USA when they got independence. This will be like falling off a log in comparison, bring it on, we’ll work our way through this again.
July 20, 2019
In reality the Cold War never ended-it was a phase in an on-off struggle for mastery of the European landmass that has been going on since 800AD when Charlemagne’s Germanic empire was set up in confrontation with the continuing Roman(Byzantine) empire in the East by the Pope.
Our economy was not separated from the USA when they got independence-commerce continued.
July 19, 2019
The end could be in sight for Labour & the Conservatives!
July 19, 2019
There wonât be time to negotiate a new âdealâ so the default position is leave without a deal. This will probably mean an election
Boris if is PM will have to a deal with Nigel Farage to get the support of leave Labour voters in the north to stand aside for each other in leave constituencies to enable a parliament to leave
If he doesnât do this it will mean the end of the Tory party
According to article 50 they can only extend the terms once so Mrs May and the EU were acting against the terms of article 50
July 19, 2019
Hammond –the Chancellor, no less — is today declaring that he intends to bring down the government. Boris needs to have him deselected, together with May, Grieve and all the other extreme Remainers.
July 19, 2019
Hypothesis: The Chancellor is one of the people that held up preparation for ‘no deal’ and perhaps doesn’t want details to come to light.
July 19, 2019
Sir John, how many Tory MPs do you think would vote against Boris in a VONC? And do you think enough Labour MPs, in particular those that are not standing for reelection, would balance them out. Bringing down Boris is their only way to stop us leaving, and that is not certain as with a clear out of anti democratic Remainers like Grieve, Hammond, Gauke etc., Boris could well win a good majority.
July 19, 2019
Why are these continual scare stories not exposed for what they really are, lies, on the floor of the house in PMQs?
July 19, 2019
The pound v euro rate is virtually the same as it was 1 year ago.
The pound v dollar rate is down by just a few cents compared to a year ago.
Hardly “dropping like a stone” as you claim.
July 19, 2019
Edward
“Hardly dropping like a stone”
In 2000 the rate was over 1.60 and today it is 1.10. So what would you call this catastrophic drop?
July 20, 2019
“In 2000 the rate was over 1.60 and today it is 1.10. So what would you call this catastrophic drop?”
Given that the euro to pound rate ended 2010 at 1.16, I’d call the drop from 1.60 the consequence of ten years of Labour government.
July 20, 2019
Great reply!
July 20, 2019
AL
Well, we’ve had 14 years of the Tories and it’s still dropping like a stone.
July 20, 2019
Margaret, please check your maths. There haven’t been 14 years since 2010. There have been nine. Five of those years were under the Liberal Democrat/Conservative coalition.
Also, from 1.16 to 1.10 is a fall of 0.06 (leaving it at around 94%). That’s rather less than catastrophic.
The fall of 1.60 to 1.16 under Labour(2000 to 2010) meant the pound dropped to 72% of its previous value, a loss of over one quarter, and a fall it has never recovered from.
July 20, 2019
You have ruined your own argument with that reply Margaret.
You continually say Brexit is making the pound “drop like a stone”
Yet the major reduction in value has been before the referendum whilst we were still in the EU.
July 19, 2019
My view of all this is that pro-leave people should stop talking about what can be done and what cannot be done.
We’ve seen enough of disclosing our strategies and tactics ahead of time; they just listen and take steps to thwart in advance.
That includes the EU, who do their strategising behind closed doors, and remoaners who do the same.
We mention prorogue of parliament and they immediately start tabling amendments to prevent it. Let’s keep quiet on what can be done and leave BJ to do his work without anyone getting wind of how he will deliver. If he fails to ditch the WA, as Portillo prophesies, then we will all vote BXP at the next GE.
P.S. As Neil pointed out n the last ever episode of This Week, their record on forecasting is 100%…. wrong!
July 19, 2019
Most MPs cannot hear Trump can they.
He has not said anything racist, ever. Unless it was in a language like German or French or Esperanto or some other foreign tongue or we would have heard it. We hate racism and racists.
July 19, 2019
JR
“…only the PM can ask for a delay and seek agreement to changes to EU law to delay our official exit date.”
And that is exactly what will happen if Mr Hunt gets the top job. And then things WILL turn nasty for sure.
There was even talk of remain asking Her Majesty to step in and stop brexit. That would really kick things off.
July 19, 2019
Circumstances of the prolonged period of NOT leaving should over-ride the desire of our Parliamentarians to have a Summer recess.
The required policy has been decided. The new Leader is aware of the policy. It is the route that has been endlessly discussed. The new Cabinet should be appointed on the expressed condition that those Ministers steer the course the Electorate decided. Therefore, no further discussion is needed.
All to jointly and severally read their Brief, settle their Staff and action the relevant means.Statutory Instruments to be reported to the House as required. Members, such as are present, should be permitted to listen, but do not require to vote.
Once the pieces are placed, each Minister to take: a short 2 week holiday break :Daily briefing call.
Return (by mid-September), and fine tune.
If matters develop, then would be the time to action a COBRA style Cabinet committee to keep the show on the road.
The people of this Nation expect nothing more, nor nothing less.
July 19, 2019
Well we’ll soon see if we have another liar in the Tory party.
July 19, 2019
OFF TOPIC……This latest naval intervention by Iran needs to be faced. I would support sinking of their fast small armed craft and if supported by a helicopter, that too.
Showing weakness is a challenge we must not allow.
What would you do?
July 20, 2019
Stay on Topic? đ
July 20, 2019
I hope those conservative MPs whom ratted, including my own Keith Simpson. are deselected.