I am glad to see Lord Frost has been brought in to sort out the remaining difficulties over fish, and the trade issues between GB and Northern Ireland. I hope he will also be a strong voice to deliver the wins from Brexit we have often discussed on this site. Next week’s budget offers another opportunity to lower or remove EU taxes imposed under their VAT rules and to amend their court judgements on business taxes. There is also plenty of leeway to use our new grant and loan regimes at the Environment and Agriculture Department to grow more food at home and serve our local markets better. Our renewed status as an independent coastal state should be used to regulate our fishery properly, with protections against ultra large trawlers and damage to marine environments by foreign vessels
Lord Frost needs to make sure the UK is full control of our own single market so that there is free trade between GB and Northern Ireland as before, with the agreed protections for the EU’s single market in the case of the minority of goods that go on from Northern Ireland to the Republic. All loads going from GB to NI for final delivery in NI can be certified as such by trusted traders and allowed to pass as before.
There is plenty of opportunity to make and grow more of what we need as we use the freedoms of Brexit. We also need a good statement next week with a timetable to end lockdown. The way to get the deficit down is to promote vigorous recovery by every means at our disposal.
Lord Frost needs to show more determination to stand up for the UK and to use our independence. Life should no longer be a series of compromises or negotiations with the EU about how to run our own country.
February 20, 2021
It should indeed be âno longer compromises or negotiations with the EUâ as it has been nearly all my life. Even as a teenager I would have voted out (in Wilsonâs referendum) had I been old enough to do so.
David Livermore is surely right in the Telegraph today:- Is ending the lockdown too slowly the real risk? Allowing Covid to circulate among vaccinated and low-risk people will boost and widen immunity.
Also vaccination by real risk (gender risk in particular) but BAME, blood group, baldness even could make vaccines far more effective why on earth is this not being done by JCVI when so many lives could be so easily saved? Vaccinating people who have already had it when vaccine is in short supply is surely daft too.
Just as the real Climate Catastrophe is caused by various idiot governments taking insane, pointless and very expensive actions – driven by their idiotic religious beliefs.
February 20, 2021
These are not “remaining difficulties” as John claims.
This is the beginning of continual negotiation with the European Union to try to mitigate the disastrous effects of his and your brexit.
This will dominate the news evermore until a sensible arrangement is found, e.g. a Norway or Switzerland-type one.
It is exactly as I and many others always said, and as John’s repeated posts demonstrate.
February 21, 2021
Absolute rubbish and not what we voted for. As we see already any agreement with the EU gives them the opportunity to exert control. The sooner the EU is consigned to history the better, not just for us but also the good people of Europe..
February 20, 2021
@LL; “Allowing Covid to circulate among vaccinated and low-risk”
Define “Low risk”… Also, surely you demolish such argument in paragraph three!
As for second doses, oh right, Mr Lifelogic knows more about the vaccines than those who created them.
Tell me, when you have the woodwork of your house painted do you only bother with the primer or do you apply topcoat, as instructed by the paint manufactures? đ
“various idiot governments taking insane, pointless and very expensive actions”
Cough, many might suggest you were talking about modern capitalism/globalisation…
February 20, 2021
That is corporatism and globalism, nothing to do with capitalism where the huge majority own capitol and therefore come together to defend their assets, increase their assets by trade. The Continent and apparently most of you simply have no concept of what Capitalism and Democracy are – democracy allows the majority to sack their lawmakers.
February 20, 2021
Well I suggested it was sensible to consider deferring second doses (while vaccine supplies are low) well before T Blair and the government experts also finally came round to this view (two people with one dose is surely better than one person with two). A great shame the JCVI experts are still killing many people by not even adjusting for the far higher risks of Covid to men at a given age and also by wasting vaccine on people with antibodies already. I have tried my best to get them to change and save perhaps hundreds of lives. Many could still be saved even now.
February 20, 2021
We’ve just been told that our MP’S have had to write to the vaccines minister telling him that we have many vaccines and not enough people to vaccinate. They want to start on the over 50’s but have to wait for government instructions. Utter madness. I’m 64 and still waiting while vaccines are available but not being given.
February 20, 2021
Jerry,
Modern capitalism created a surfeit of calories and an obesity crisis among all levels of society. Modern Communism still creates genocide, mass murder, inequalities, starvation and people eating bats resulting in the present pandemic.
February 21, 2021
@NLA; So what does either Socialism or what used to be called the “post war consensus” (both being mixed economies) produce, a well rounded society largely free of violent conflict perhaps?! đ
February 20, 2021
So the supreme court agrees with four other court levels that the GIG economy should be strangled, prices forces up for customers, made less competitive, shirkers rewarded at the expense of hard workers and many livelihoods destroyed. Why do our courts get nearly everything wrong endlessly interfering in free contracts with negative results? Another âgift that keeps on givingâ for lawyers are daft employment laws as Lord Falconer honestly said about Covid. A gift for lawyers is almost invariably a tax on everyone else.
February 20, 2021
The Supreme Court did not decree on any of the things you claim: it simply said that Uber drivers should be given a contract as workers not as âpartnersâ.
Have you ever wondered (I guess not) whether as âpartnersâ these drivers would ever have been entitled to any share of the company potential profits (thatâs assuming that despite a $18.1 bn growth in 2019, the company would stop losing between $5.8 bn and $1.1 bn per quarter ($8.5 bn total loss in 2019, which 10 years after its creation is rather dismal)).
February 21, 2021
Very interesting VAT implications for the employees being workers rather than self employed. That means Uber is the supplier and the services are well over the VAT threshold so all journeys will become subject to VAT. 20% increase before surge charging.
Watch the terms change rather quickly so the drivers remain self employed.
February 20, 2021
We do not need a BLAIR generated left wing liberal Supreme Court. Check out the individuals who make up this body. We do not need a Deputy PM. This was another BLAIR created position for that Union steward John Prescott. Do we realy need 650 MPs.
Why are we contributing to the W.H.O., Paris Climate Accord, The UN. WHERE is the money going?
So much waste but there again it is Globalist Government. The people are irrelevant,Big Brother knows best.
February 21, 2021
Indeed Paul, time to regain our independence from all those you mention. They are surely the enemy of our people and government is too ready to serve them.
February 20, 2021
The gig economy is nothing more than modern feudalism. Personally I want to live in a country in which people are treated better than that. Clearly you do not.
Uber’s prices are as low as they are because they lose money on every journey. Local cab firms don’t have billions in Saudi government VC money to prop up their businesses so have to set their prices based on real costs. Uber don’t attempt (or want) to compete with other cab firms on an equal basis.
Uber drivers have no ability to set the prices for their labour, nor can they refuse work without consequences. The contract Uber expects them to sign means they are workers, not independent contractors. It is only fair that they are treated that way.
February 20, 2021
You have not even begun to address the problems of the vaccination.
February 20, 2021
Good Morning,
100% agree to bring back Lord Frost. The Trade Agreement is obviously a work in progress, with many flaws and needs to be amended. Trouble is, will the EU be constructive or arrogant and obdurate. My guess is the latter. It could all be done quietly and sensibly to save face.
Before making waves about NI, perhaps another Referendum on staying in the Union might strengthen the position, or remove the problem. It is certainly a full generation since the last question was asked.
Where are the fresh ideas from government departments? DEFRA, Treasury, Business and Energy, Trade? Are they all sleeping??
February 20, 2021
So brexit is far from “done” then?
Do you seriously think that it ever will be?
February 20, 2021
Peter, the Trade Agreement is NOT a work in progress, the Trade Agreement was a tough compromise, but it is now signed, sealed and delivered, and it will not be changed. What you are seeing – border checks, no trade in shellfish, no EU-wide visas for musicians and most of all massive endless red tape – is EXACTLY what Boris agreed, and what the British people approved at the General Election. If you want no part in EU law and no attachment to the ECJ, fine, but the price of that when you want to trade with the EU (and it is by far our biggest export market and geography dictates that always will be) your goods have to checked to see if they meet EU rules. Please stop complaining, it is what you voted for, sir
Reply I did not vote for the Agreement
February 20, 2021
The British people approved leaving the EU not accepting a Trade & Coop Agreement
February 20, 2021
Reply to reply: Sir Peter?
February 20, 2021
@Garland, as of today there is only a partial agreement with only the EU Commission on the UK’s trade with the EU – the talks have not been finalised.
The EU Parliament unlike the UK parliament has not yet ratified anything. So it could still all change
February 20, 2021
But you (JR) voted for the Withdrawal Agreement, and thatâs what divided NI from GB. Brexit more important than the Union, I supose
reply Spoke against the NI provisions and was told they would be remedied in the Future Trade Agreement.
February 20, 2021
Excuse me Garland, just hold back there. It’s not what our host voted for and certainly not what Brexit were voted for. This has been implemented by people without any vision or confidence in our country. Don’t tell us what we voted for.
February 20, 2021
You voted, implicitly, for whatever arrangement a government dealing with the European Union might reach, simply because you were never asked what that should be.
It happened to reach this one, so that is absolutely for what you voted, it turns out.
Get over it and own it.
February 20, 2021
The trade deal isnât a work in progress. This is it. It is done.
Those companies which do survive your tsunami of bureaucracy will get better and quicker at filling in all of your new Brexit paperwork – but until the next generation slowly undoes Brexit companies will still have to fill it in.
And you, as a consumer, will still have to pay the extra costs concerned.
February 20, 2021
I believe the EU has made a mistake in Ireland.
If you tell someone they can’t have, or do, something , especially the Irish, they tend to get bloody minded even if they didn’t really want it in the first place.
I think we are making the same mistake in Scotland.
Cohesion works from the bottom up; unless our politicians get on top of this we are in for a long hot Summer.
Lord Frost is a step in the right direction – but he needs the ‘mood music’ of Back Bench support blended with
active support of the Union, we need to get on the front foot north of the border.
February 20, 2021
Interesting to note (even pointed by the Chinese Xinhua agency) that the shipping traffic between Dublin and Rotterdam, Dublin and Zeebrugge, Dublin and Cherbourg, Rosslare and Saint-Malo, Cork and Roscoff, Cork and Santander has increased markedly in the last few months, decreasing the role of Britain as land bridge to the EU.
At least this has some positive impact by somewhat reducing the road pollution by Irish lorries and limiting it to what is due to real trade between RoI/NI/Britain.
February 20, 2021
Indeed, we don’t need that extra road traffic.
Eventually, of course, the Irish will realise they are better off in Anglosphere world so all those new routes will diminish.
February 20, 2021
No, they are all working from home. I’m afraid until there is root and branch reform of the Civil Serpents they still have a guardianista view of their pro EU, climate change, BBC, pro mass migration, anti English world. Blair radically changed the selection processes to ensure the socialist pc/woke world view is in charge of all our health and public services. Council’s, the police, etc etc are all the same. Until that changes, nothing will. The former conservatives are of a similar mind having been in office for over ten years and have done nothing to change it but add to it with their (non) equality legislation (anti English men) having witnessed their behaviour following the referendum. Did Doris radically retake action against those who helped and sided with the EU? No, he either left them in place or put them in that awful place, the Lords, with their other 850 plus left wing buddies. It’s all charades until we radically remove them from office. More taxes anyone?
February 21, 2021
Absolutely agree Timaction. Doris is not on our side.
February 20, 2021
Yes I would agree with your last paragraph. Where is the battle plan to rejeuvenate the UK post Covid and our Brexit departure. We need an outline plan in terms of what government intends to do to create the seedbed. A seedbed that will encourage industry, be it home grown or foreign, to invest and grow. As with Covid recovery, the answers will come from the privats sector. Government at best is a facilitator.
February 20, 2021
We need to show some backbone on the Northern Ireland and Calais border checks.
We import much more than we export so a bit of disruption to French and Irish goods is in order.
I still believe the best way is to boycott their goods. Driving a French or German car should be seen as heresy.
February 20, 2021
Ian Wragg
Too bleeding true Ian. Enough is enough. Time to stop the pissing down our necks and telling us it’s raining.
If we play hard ball and treat them like they treat us, there are more than a few member states will not want their export market disrupted even for a short time let alone a long haul. Time for some tough nut tightening me thinks.
February 20, 2021
@ Ian & turboterrier
February 21, 2021
Agreed.
February 20, 2021
Agree – the EU like to dish it out but some flexing by the UK might prompt them to see the light. Mind you Westminster has to have the courage, but I have my doubts.
February 20, 2021
@Ian Wragg; “Driving a French or German car should be seen as heresy.”
That will upset those who drive Rolls-Royce’s, Minis and Vauxhall’s, not to mention some Fords, oh and do not forget that Renault owns a sizeable percentage of Niassan (voting) shares!
Perhaps we should all be buying MG’s……
February 21, 2021
It might even have been more beneficial for us to buy American cars than EU ones, had May or Johnson arranged the offered trade deal with President Trump. That would have strengthened our hand too, had we still wanted a deal with the EU. I would have been interested to see the EU’s attitude to the prospect of losing most UK car sales to America!
The lack of vision of our government re Brexit, excluding a few including our host, suggests they never want us to be free of the EU and conspire to keep us tied. If the agreement cannot be left immediately, being unsigned by the EU and because of the lack of good will, we could still immediately give the arranged notice to end it.
February 20, 2021
Ian,
Meat, fish, potatoes among a large list of goods being prevented for export to EU and N. Ireland. No point in Frost when Johnson ultimately capitulates!
Who elected Frost? Quite ironic bearing in mind his role. Totally lost on JR after all his unelected comments about the EU. Same for Princess nut nut appointments and influence.
Scandals over Chinese virus death certificate count continues in papers today where a man tested negative three times but still given a death certificate with Chinese virus on it. When can we expect an accurate revision from govt in death numbers JR? These lies will not bode well when the economic hit becomes real in peopleâs pockets. Never have death certificates been issued so speculatively in our history. Undoubtedly there are Chinese virus deaths but no where near what the govt claims. Truth will out.
Reply An elected PM can appoint non elected advisers and Ministers in Lords. He remains accountable to U.K. voters and can be removed if he displeases enough people, unlike the EU
February 20, 2021
Reply to JR, PMs are elected by party and normally seek approval of public by calling an election.
Not Frost. He is now a minister of the crown without any public mandate whatsoever. Do not conflate Advisors being the same. After all Johnson could have kept him in his role or put him back in his role as an advisor without making him a minister or a Lord come to that. EU Commissars unelected just like Frost. You made the point many times. Very poor defence of your long held and frequently held position.
More Fake Tory sleaze from Johnson. Why not make his dad a Lord and make him deputy PM! Perhaps he could have all his family and mates occupying all roles in cabinet under your reply!
February 21, 2021
He did put his brother in the Lords!!!
February 20, 2021
We should all be buying British or anywhere else other than the EU. They need to understand that Treasure Island is no more!
February 20, 2021
Absolutely agree on the French & German cars Ian – but I’d like a small dispensation for Italian ones please. đ
February 20, 2021
I don’t boycott Italian goods because they are a friendly nation.
I just boycott French, German and Spanish goods because I don’t see them as our friends.
Unlike Andy I buy goods built or manufactured in the UK not necessarily British owned companies
I worked for a large French company until retirement and have first hand experience as to how they tilt the playing field.
February 20, 2021
We always cite, as proof of Italian patriotism, the fact that they drive Fiats rather than cars.
February 20, 2021
Totally agree with you Ian. We could send a shot across the bows by insisting on full minutae of every document for the importation of Mercedes, BMW and especially those horrid French cars!
February 20, 2021
Ian, the longer the EU adopts a disruptive attitude the greater will be the shunning of goods originating in the EU. The EU is shooting itself in the foot or rather shooting the feet of its member state citizens.
February 20, 2021
I have been boycotting EU goods wherever possible for a few years now, but let’s be clear: the responsibility for defending British interests lies with the government, and they cannot offload this onto the shoulders of the general public.
The government has FAILED. There is a good reason why Sir JR did not vote for the TCA: it betrays Britain, it betrays the British people and it betrays Brexit. And the ultimate responsibility lies where the ultimate power is: with the prime minister. Boris Johnson must go. I will not vote Conservative again while he reamins leader.
February 20, 2021
One of my english neighbours in Spain complains of having to pay duty on goods ordered in the UK for delivery to his home in Spain. Is this a new impediment to trade that Brexit triggered. He claims the paperwork is now horrendous. Or is it just the EU being bloody minded.
A cautionary tale. A friend of mine, years ago, in a very senior position on flight testing of Concord, related that one went to Toulouse and negotiated a position on a subject, obtained an agreement, and then spent the next five years fighting to hang on to your agreed share. I suspect that the Brexit agreement will be the same so be prepared to say no. Your last sentence is absolutely true, apparently EU fishermen in UK waters are intent on leaching away the detail and returning to their overfishing bad old ways. Learn from my Concord friend.
February 20, 2021
It’s simply the consequence of the UK deciding it wanted to be a third country from an EU perspective and therefore treated as such. No bloody mindedness, just a natural consequence of Brexit.
February 20, 2021
Paying import duty and lots of extra red tape on non EU goods is literally what you voted for.
February 20, 2021
And I would vote so again. I pay nothing BTW, because I have been boycotting all EU goods for some time, much of the replace the produce is of higher quality and lower priced. If I canât find a replacement I switch to something completely different.
February 20, 2021
I’m with you on that Lynn.
February 21, 2021
And me.
February 20, 2021
What utter nonsense. My father spent 4 years travelling between here and Toulouse, in Concord (e) development in the 60âs and had nothing but praise for his French colleagues and the âentente cordialeâ. If your friendâs attitude had prevailed this wonderful joint enterprise would never have been built or successfully flown. A demonstrate of what countries can achieve when working together- we hope Airbus can continue to compete so effectively with Boeing.
February 20, 2021
Paul, it came from about as high in the technical pecking order as you can go so I have little doubt as to its veracity. It was passed to me while being shown around the cockpit of Concord.
I too wish airbus well, we make the wings in North Wales and no doubt many of the engines in Derby. I passed on the remark for your better understanding of who we are dealing with. A situation emphasised in spades during the last few weeks.
February 20, 2021
Agreed Paul, my college cohort had a couple of guys who got junior engineers jobs with Aerospatiale/BAC on the Concorde project. Alas, I was the only one of my cohort that got to fly on Concorde. I still have the ten inch model of the plane they gave me and the luggage labels. Those were the days.
February 20, 2021
I like reading John Redwood’s Diary.
February 20, 2021
We all do – it is a reminder that there is still common sense and sanity in this blighted world.
February 20, 2021
Any truthful comment though, that goes against the government globalist narrative is not published.
February 20, 2021
until we turn to the regular comments…
February 20, 2021
The freedom of Brexit?
To wear âdistancingâ collars as we cut lettuces?
To be medically scrutinised ?
To have health apartheid?
To be ruled by the hand behind the throne?
Never has so much freedom been conned out of so many sheep in such a short time by such a bunch of *******s!
February 20, 2021
@Everhopeful; Such arguments from the hard right would be less hollow had people such as yourself stood up to protect others rights, or from being medically scrutinised, as is the case for DWP claimants with disabilities and those applying for a blue Badge, ones own doctor’s letter should suffice.
The collective loss of peoples ‘Rights’ over the last 40 odd years is long, and many are troubling, more so than those lost due to a public health emergency, but not a bleat from those on the hard right – in fact some are positivity encouraged, such as the move away from the largely untraceable cash society.
February 20, 2021
Jerry
A cashless society means a person can be economically ‘cancelled’. And you’re happy about that ?
February 21, 2021
Indeed that is probably the real intent as instructed by the globalists.
February 21, 2021
@NLA; No I am not happy about the move towards the “Cashless” society!
February 20, 2021
Agreed
Re: DWP. I question why people with lifelong disabilities that are not going to improve, are being reassessed so often? I know someone who is being reassessed only 2 years after the previous one! They are going blind and have 2 degenerative life conditions. Why? Also, the final decision needs to be made by someone who is medically qualified in the field of the relevant disability(s) being assessed, not a “DWP decision maker”.
Why do they keep changing the wording of the questions, or the size paper used for these PIP forms? I would be interested to know, not how much these benefits cost, but how much these assessments are costing the taxpayer?
Last year these assessments were deferred until 2021 because of lockdown. Then just before Christmas (22 December in most cases) they sent out assessment forms just as the government put the country into its longest lockdown. Making it difficult for the claimants to get the necessary up-to-date medical evidence.
February 20, 2021
Were I of a hard right persuasion ( as opposed to the far, extreme left)I doubt very much that I would approve of any type of socialism.
February 21, 2021
@Everhopeful; I speak as I find, it is not how you self-describe, but how you write that others read…
February 20, 2021
Except freedom of movement for non UK nationals. The airports remained open throughout this crisis. People being ‘stopped’ in dinghies in record numbers (whatever ‘stopped’ means – intercepting and bringing them here, exactly as the traffickers planned ???) While we’re all in lockdown with our liberties crushed that one freedom remains sacred – the freedom to step unhindered into Britain. It transcends even the Nation’s safety when under mortal threat. It is part of the abolition of the Nation state and the destruction of the identity of our people – did we expect a Brexit vote, an 80 seat majority to make a difference ? Not even a 1 in 100 year pandemic can make the Tories give up on the abolition of Britain. They had the most noble reason to seal our borders but refused to do it. The wilful destruction of the British pub is also part of the plan.
February 20, 2021
+1 !!!!
February 20, 2021
None of that has anything to do with Brexit. Why are you blaming Brexit for an idiot government which had 1 job and fluffed it?
February 20, 2021
Theyâve given everything away and got NOTHING Lynn, so you have questions why? These majority Tories arenât working for the United Kingdom. Theyâve given six months free and open access without delays, covid tests being required on drivers or any restrictions for months on people flying into the UK. They offer visa free work passes for musicians and creatives in the UK without getting a reciprocal arrangement. They have totally screwed up Northern Ireland if the UK canât even send them carrots, potatoes, and tree saplings. Why not just send asylum seekers straight back to France, weâre not part of Shenghen the UK so why, why are we being so accommodating. Iâm going to have to stop commenting here because Boris and Frost didnât get the UK a deal, tell us ten things that we got that a third Country hasnât got? Please John tell us all the wonderful things that Boris and Frost obtained in this deal on behalf of the whole of the UK.
February 20, 2021
So correct
February 20, 2021
The country voted to leave the EU in 2016 and, purportedly, officially left over a year ago . So it begs the question, why are the politicians still negotiating what rights we can have as an independent country?
Along with the zero carbon idiocy and continual virus fear mongering costing over a million lost jobs, people dying from undiagnosed health issues and withdrawal of life saving treatments, rising mental health issues etc, this government is looking distinctly inept, destructive, cruel and authoritarian.
February 21, 2021
Indeed.
February 20, 2021
Good to see Lord Frost back in charge of continued negotiations with the dreaded Eu, thank god that labour/libs or any other of the remoaners are on the front line to put the United Kingdomâs interest first
February 20, 2021
Why do everything by government? Will we win by emulating communist east Germany? Why not try the Elizabethan way and, for example, licence privateers to patrol our fishing grounds, with the reward of the foreign vessels they commandeer? That would rapidly clear out the thieves.
February 20, 2021
Even more unhinged as usual?
February 21, 2021
Well – the EU are pirates without the skull & crossbones flag , nor parrot.
February 20, 2021
Once we are released from ‘lock-down’ Everhopeful you will feel much better, I am sure.
Absolutely right Sir John I agree totally. It is largely the French causing these problems and I am sure Frost will get it sorted. We have had this sort of disruption in the past from blockaded ports by the fishermen, to burning tyres in the roads and tractors on the autoroutes by the farmers.
They will get over it, as they always do.
February 20, 2021
Indeed great news regarding Lord Frost, his appointment is likely to be more of significant to the Govt and the country than weeks budget speech, which I expect to be nothing more than a holding budget unless the Govt is going to be bold and thus upset those who obsess about the current borrowing requirements!
I would like to see a move towards abolishing the overly harsh VAT regime, in the meantime taking many more non discretionary items out of such taxation, eventually returning to the more flexible and ‘persuasive’ (purchase) tax system. Failing that, a return to a duel rate of VAT, as was the case before June 1979. Taxation of B2B sales needs to be looked at again, at the moment non VAT registered small and micro businesses can be at a distinct disadvantage to their larger competitors who are registered.
As for a timetable out of lockdown, surely that can not be given, on the other hand a roadmap (already softly announced by the PM) can, being data not date lead. Opening up bushinesses and society by date, not data, is likely to only end in lockdown No.4, far more damaging to businesses and people’s mental health.
February 20, 2021
There is some talk of increasing Corporation tax to 23% versus the Irish level of 12.5%
Here we go again, discourage new investment and jobs, having spewed out money to protect dead jobs.
Not the brightest idea.
February 21, 2021
Will Northern Ireland have a corporation tax of 12.5 or the same as the UK? Northern Ireland is going to have to decide, a border with the RUK or a border with S Ireland, if they choose a border with RUK we can stop the common travel area. All of this posturing over Northern Ireland I hope the Scots are watching because a hard border with England will certainly cut their job opportunties at the moment the UK is all give and no take, this needs sorting out.
February 20, 2021
âLord Frost needs to show more determination to stand up for the UK and to use our independence. â
Lord Frost does ? He is a very good, well regarded official, but nevertheless Boris Johnson chose to undo most of his good work just before Christmas.
How about the elected government showing a bit of backbone ?
February 20, 2021
They have no backbone, the best we can hope for is that they shut up.
February 20, 2021
‘a bit of backbone’ – – fat chance.
February 20, 2021
‘All loads going from GB to NI for final delivery in NI can be certified as such by trusted traders and allowed to pass as before.’ In your helpful list, this struck me as the most pressing job for Lord Frost.
February 20, 2021
Absolutely Sea Warrior.
February 20, 2021
Sea Warrior-
Nevertheless with a border down the Irish Sea I see NI cut adrift from the now dis-United Kingdom.
The EU wins again. Divide and conquer. No going back.
As one Martin Selmayr once said âThe price the UK would have to pay would be the loss of Northern Ireland.â
So it would seem to come to pass.
The NI Protocol pulls apart the Good Friday Agreement | Conservatives Global
February 20, 2021
Regarding your last sentence John. I would prefer to say we should no longer be prepared to roll over and capitulate to an unfriendly bully and scheming organisation.
February 20, 2021
The VAT should go as it is symbolic of the eu hand in our pockets. Even if a purchase tax is maintained the name must change and indicate our NEW direction.
Keep up the boycott of eu goods and services, they do not deserve our hand of friendship.
February 20, 2021
It’s a no brainer to get Mr Frost involved, indeed why was he ever removed, he knows or should know the agreement inside out back to front and upside down because he was an integral part of it, just like Barnier was and still is.
Makes sense for the two of them to now thrash out any problems they helped create.
Sometimes things that look good in theory do not work out in practice, or when one or both parties are bloody minded and refuse to co-operate in a sensible manner.
Time then to stand your ground and or move on !.
February 20, 2021
Alan Justin,
Lord Frost has only been reinstated to provide cover for Boris Johnson and provide good headlines in the newspapers.
Lord Frost has no powers and he is not even a member of the government.
Any sensible suggestions by Lord Frost will be ignored or over ridden, just as happened with the âbreakthroughâ agreement on Christmas Eve.
February 20, 2021
Alan Jutson,
Sorry the computer changed your name after I entered it.
February 20, 2021
There is no doubt that a much tougher and uncompromising stance is required from our government and I hope Lord Frost will provide it, but will he get the final support of the PM? ‘Backdown Boris’ may just be diverting criticism away from his own lack of reliability and the uncertainty about what his own beliefs are and with whom he identifies.
The French is particular must see the word ‘NO’, in English, every day. However Lord Frost has been appointed and has it seems and I hope replaced the totally untrustworthy Gove. Northern Ireland is part of the EU and must not be thought of as part of anywhere else. Sending anything from GB to NI should be no different from sending the same thing from Yorkshire to Hampshire.
We must in no uncertain terms restore our nation, we must make and grow more and buy more of our own production, we must improve the national brand and in particular we must restore ‘Made in England’. There can be no more concessions and compromises with our EU opponents who are clearly intent on carrying on a long-term economic war against us which they do not apply to others. No more talk from ‘Boris’ about their being our ‘friends’; that they are not.
February 20, 2021
The PrangWizard of England
“No more talk from âBorisâ about their being our âfriendsâ ”
Yes, I find it particularly offensive when he does that.
February 21, 2021
When the negotiation about service start you will seefurther concessions. Quite frankly you have not even seen any concessions yet. Services are the big chunk so the game is just starting.
I wouldn’t call this economic war – the other side is just protecting it’s interests.
But don’t worry. Great trading nation will expand to RoW etc so apparently nothing to worry.
In real world: it is wise to be bit concerned.
February 21, 2021
+1
February 20, 2021
When you think about it, don’t we find it amazing that despite a long drawn out deal with the EU, that we now have to have a high ranking cabinet member to confront the EU on a variety of issues because there were so many holes in the treaty which allow the EU to be as difficult as they please simply to punish the UK?
Frost is a very able negotiator, but does he have the skills to put some real control in with the EU? — WE hope so.
At what point is Boris going to tear up this faulty agreement and resort to trading on WTO terms?
February 21, 2021
Going on WTO will just make things worse.
February 20, 2021
I agree with this and others that Lord Frost ought to strengthen our dealings with the bullying EU .I watch with interest
I hope that Sir JR will be earnestly remonstrating with the Chancellor about reported increases in Corporation Tax in today’s papers
February 20, 2021
“Scientists” seem intent on cutting daily Covid cases down to fewer than 1000 while simultaneously suggesting that twice-weekly testing of school children would be a good idea. Testing that would undoubtedly result in more than 1000 false positives in an asymptomatic population on a daily basis.
Where did the idea of fewer than 1000 cases per day come from? Why no push back?
Why is it a good idea to routinely mass-test asymptomatic populations when so many false positives would inevitably result?
February 20, 2021
Lord Frost and Boris Johnston capitulation on every facet of the EU deal, the repercussions of which will be felt for years to come â the deal was and is a failure
Lord Frost will only continue his capitulation in this new cabinet post, again we are rewarding failure,
and doesnât this new post overlap the work of the Foreign Secretary ???
February 20, 2021
I am unpersuaded by our hostâs second paragraph today. It seems like a smugglerâs charter to me. Perhaps I am unnecessarily cynical but there are a lot of commercial types in this country who would be perfectly happy to abuse the proposed scheme.
February 20, 2021
I look forward to the first dispute we take to the WTO. There must be dozens of potential cases we could use as a test case. It’s just a pity that Liam Fox was disqualified from being allowed to go forward to the final short list of two candidates for the simple reason that he is a man !
February 20, 2021
The first dispute with the WTO appears to be with us not sharing our vaccines soon enough – before we’ve even treated ourselves. The narrative is to be that Britain are not the leaders in getting the World out of lockdown but are those preventing it from happening.
Why do we even bother to try pleasing other nations ?
February 20, 2021
Yes the freedoms of Brexit will be very useful in permanent lockdown. Knowing that Brussels is no longer interfering with laws is a big comfort as all of our freedoms are removed along with our jobs, holidays, mental health and future are all wrecked and we are issued with health passports to wipe out any tiny remaining privacy. 1984 was meant as a warning but it was never a dark as the future we’re seeing now.
February 20, 2021
Even in 1984 there were pubs and social interaction.
February 20, 2021
If Eric Blair had written ‘2034’ (1984) today it would be so horrific that the Samaritans would be tripling staff.
February 20, 2021
So, Johnson and Gove overrule Frost, cave in at the last moment, come to an agreement which allows them to keep selling more stuff to us without tariffs and take the same amounts of fish from our waters, and then they stitch us up with non tariff barriers. Call back Frost to sort it out but with no bargaining hand. Along with the Covid shambles, this is not looking good for the Conservative Party.
February 20, 2021
Non-tariff barriers are a consequence of leaving the internal market and the customs union. There is a solution to getting rid of them, but leavers don’t want to accept that solution.
February 20, 2021
Peter Parsons : “Non-tariff barriers are a consequence of leaving the internal market and the customs union. There is a solution to getting rid of them, but leavers donât want to accept that solution.”
We’ve always suffered from non-tariff barriers as evidenced by our ÂŁ100bn/YEAR trading deficit with the EU. Most barriers have been very subtle but some have been quite blatant.
February 20, 2021
Stred,
Correct. It is just a pointless exercise. Johnson should address the very real weaknesses in the implementation of this agreement – or better still tear it up.
But he wonât ; Johnson is weak himself and has his own agenda. Meanwhile, he will try to hide behind Lord Frost.
There are clear parallels with Theresa Mayâs âPotemkinâ Brexit negotiations.
February 20, 2021
Did he draw a short straw? What a horrible job to be given !
February 20, 2021
The UK accepted a border in the Irish sea in order to get any deal at all . Obviously we have since shown that any deal agreed with this Government is worthless, a lesson not lost on the rest of the world, but we have made our bed .
There is , of course ,a solution, and it is MAGIC . By the judicious use of MAGIC we can be out of the single market with no border in Ireland or the North Sea and have the EU agree to the open back door . I don`t mean sawing ladies in a box here I mean actual supernatural magic .
John Redwood can be the lovely assistant –
February 21, 2021
In deed Newmania.
Also if we get God amighty on our side that could solve the problem.
February 20, 2021
I am guessing that since he negotiated it, Lord Frost understands that the Withdrawal Agreement means a customs and regulatory border down the Irish Sea, and a permanent divide in the UK market. I am sure he can explain it to you, if you ask him
February 20, 2021
I would be interested in your views on the financial services sector, and the failure so far to achieve âequivalenceâ in the EU. Do you think this matters? Given the EU has granted equivalence to eg the US Canada and Brazil it is clearly politicised protectionism in services which is prohibited by the rules of the WTO – is there, therefore, a case the govt should be bringing against the EU at the WTO or is it best to handle it in a low key way? Given the FS industry is c. 100x as important in terms of GDP, employment and tax revenues as fishing, it is odd that the emphasis has not been the other way round.
February 20, 2021
Sir John – agree 100%
February 20, 2021
Lord Frost aside, ultimately it has to come from Boris Johnson, who sadly doesn’t have the guts.
February 20, 2021
Steve,
Correct. Johnson is gutless.
February 20, 2021
ah..but Carrie does.
February 20, 2021
Yes, Sir John, of course the government could, and should, do all these things. But it WON’T. And looking to Lord Frost to be the saviour demonstrates not just desperation but also a misunderstanding of the problem. All the issues you refer to are either the rsponsibility of the Chancellor or the PM. Unless Boris is willing to challenge and confront the EU then NOTHING will be achieved. And he’s not, sadly. Boris is a coward, an idiot and a traitor who would rather betray Britain and the British people then stand up to the EU and, to coin a phrase, ‘take back control’. That’s what we voted for, but we have been betrayed by the Conservative Party.
February 20, 2021
Lets be honest both the Labour and the Tory didnât want to honour the result of the referendumâŠ..and therein lies the problem
February 20, 2021
Nick,
Correct.
February 20, 2021
Well said, but what can you expect with both Houses stuff full of out and out
Remainers
February 20, 2021
A very parochial request here but I would like to see i) the re-legalisation of 2-stroke outboards for pleasure use (the 4-strokes are heavier, more expensive and complicated and most users, like me, burn less than a gallon of fuel a year) as I have seen these freely available in the US, Australia, New Zealand and, I am sure many other countries and, ii) the removal of road-fuel duty from diesel supplied for marine pleasure use.
Now that we are out of the ghastly EU we should pursue all the objectives we have wanted in the UK without those EU constraints.
February 20, 2021
Kawasaki have just developed a 2 stroke motorcycle engine thatâs more efficient than a 4 strokeâŠ..but will never be sold in the EU
The EU likes banning things – rather than banning things lets develop themâŠwe might just find the next technology
I fear that in banning petrol and diesel engines we are forever curtaining the next advance of the internal combustion engine â very short sighted
February 21, 2021
Agreed Glen.
February 20, 2021
Do 2-stroke outboards release oil into the water and is that why they were banned?
February 20, 2021
That claim has never been substantiated or proven
The EU and only the EU banned 2 stroke enginesâŠ..you have to start somewhere if you want to social engineer a change to electric vehicles
February 21, 2021
Indeed, and the problem has been recognised since at least the â90s. A usual fuel/oil ratio of 50/1 was long thought good enough in terms of potential pollution. Latest 2-stroke outboards were also advertised being able to run on a 100/1 ratio. Unfortunately except if often and properly maintained a 2-stroke outboard is likely to produce 10 times more pollution than a 4-stroke engine, and thatâs not even addressing the potential problem of unburned fuel remaining in the cylinder …
So you better learn how to dismantle and service your 2-stroke outboard yourself (it is easy enough) to maintain it in âtop conditionâ and not risk being fined by the Environment Agency (following a series of texts from 1991 to 2020 related to river and marine pollution).
The Craig Marine website has good links on a number of relevant topics.
February 20, 2021
JR
“There is plenty of opportunity to make and grow more of what we need as we use the freedoms of Brexit.”
Retailers need to understand that national self sufficiency is more important than their profit margins.
That said, the majority of shoppers are now shunning EU produce in favour of home grown. So ultimately the supermarkets will have to give us what we want if they want to stay in business.
I also believe that home economics and vegetable growing should be put into the schools curriculum, it’s a good thing to promote self sufficiency now, but we also need to ensure future generations know how to feed themselves rather than rely on other countries.
We also need to eliminate the throw away disposable culture that comes with importing cheaply made rubbish from China. Such trade causes not only job losses in this country, but is also responsible for obscene tonnage of landfil waste not just from the packaging but also from the plastic trash products themselves. Go to any council refuse tip and see for yourself….it’s all plastic Chinese muck, which if not put to landfil here will be sent to Asia and dumped into the sea.
February 20, 2021
Steve. How true about trash made in China. I have fallen too often for clothes advertised online that look stunning. I’ve ordered them but once I received them it was obvious the goods were nothing like the description in looks or quality. Everything I received has literally gone in the bin. The send no returns notes with the goods and when you do finally get a reply online from them they tell you that you have to pay to send the goods back to China which will cost more than the items themselves and with no guarantee you will actu all get a refund. I now look very carefully at any site and try to see where the goods are coming from. If anything mentions dollars then I don’t place an order. It is all unadulterated junk.
February 20, 2021
We have always known that the EU were world class regulators. And officious with it. I guess we just have to deal with it. If it carries on the EU will gradually become trading partner of last resort.
February 21, 2021
Agreed.
February 20, 2021
“Lord Frost needs to show more determination to stand up for the UK and to use our independence.” – and so does the whole Government! And should have been doing so long before now.
Granted there will be a chorus of civil servant voices forbidding such actions, reminding Ministers of the secret protocol that says we will not actually use any of the powers and freedoms we possess as a result of liberating ourselves from the Evil Empire but they, like the Foreign Office’s recently retired Palmerston, should be sent home.
February 20, 2021
I can’t help feeling that the Prime Minister is working for someone other than the British people. The EU has shown itself to be resentful and aggressive with so far no reaction from our government.
It is time to rescind the Withdrawal Agreement and fully claim our independence.
And kick Johnson out.
February 20, 2021
He takes a lot of orders from Blair apparently.
I daresay Mondayâs edict will come from that quarter.
February 20, 2021
hear hear
February 20, 2021
John Hatfield-
I seem to remember we voted OUT, not for some disagreeable agreement and the dismembering protocol etc., etc., as Mr Dimbleby proclaimed on the BBC at the result of the referendum “WERE OUT” all those years ago.
February 20, 2021
John Hatfield
+1
Well said John.
February 20, 2021
John Hatfield
+1
February 20, 2021
It is often said on these pages nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. The EU Parliament has not yet ratified the trade the EU does with the UK. The trade the UK does with the EU, services, finance and banking has still to be discussed. 4.5 years!
It is another play by the EU Commission to keep the UK under their direct rule.
February 21, 2021
+1
February 20, 2021
What is the point of Lord Frost breaking his heart to defend us and our country when the PM wades in and sells out on the turn?
February 20, 2021
If Lord Frost was so good why did we end up with a rubbish deal
February 20, 2021
Oliver Lewis has been ousted by SymondsâŠ.another great day for democracy
February 20, 2021
JR final paragraph – Lord Frost needs to show more dertermination to stand up for the UK ……….
The UK Establishment control what Lord Frost can and cannot do.
February 20, 2021
Lord Frost didnât resign, didnât walk away and didnât complain about the deal he negotiatedâŠ.heâs complicit
February 20, 2021
The FTA is obviously an outcome of negotiation and therefore subject to periodic revision. But we should remember that the EU is a declining share of our trade, just because of its very slow growth compared to the rest of the World. From almost 80% of UK trade at its peak, it was already down to 45% at the time of the referendum, and it is on track to decline to 35% by 2030.
The dwindling number of rejoiners will be absolutely desperate to keep the spotlight on the EU even as it becomes less and less important in real terms, simply because they will never be able to generate much excitement about an EU that most people will be barely aware of.
I’d think that more junior people could handle the periodic technical meetings with the EU, while Frost helps to drive engagement with fast growing markets in the outside World. That’s where the action is.
February 20, 2021
Make the most of it I want a future Gov to take whats left of the UK into the EU Customs Union
February 21, 2021
wanting and getting are 2 quite different things.
February 20, 2021
âLife should no longer be a series of compromises or negotiations with the EU about how to run our own country.â
Negotiations?
We were ruled by fax. Our civil servants huddled round the fax machine awaiting the next EU directive decided by unelected and un-removable bureaucrats or by QM voting by 27 other countries.
Only now we have left will there be ânegotiationsâ with the EU.
February 20, 2021
Is the EU playing fair with the UK. Or are there bureaucratic impediments placed on UK exporters that are not placed on exporters from Canada, the USA etc? For example, I’m told that only 2% of containers from the USA routeing through Rotterdam have their contents checked in detail. The other 98% pass through under trusted trader arrangements. Is there no way we can retaliate? For example, if the the French delay our exports, can we use subsidies to send some via other EU ports. And do we have to obey EU Laws restraining us from trading in the Euro Zone, bearing in mind that electronic transfers are possible?
The principle is perfectly clear. If we are to be good neighbours to the EU, they must reciprocate.
February 21, 2021
I must again point out, you and other politicians are mixed up. There are not customs checks between London and Glasgow and like wise there should be no paperwork between Liverpool and Belfast either.
Stop playing to the eu rules we are thankfully not a part of their cabal anymore. If they demand checks on goods entering THEIR territory it should be done within THEIR area not in Great Britain
They are nasty people playing our government for fools and its embarrassing
February 21, 2021
it stikes me that the EU has taken the somewhat predictable stance that we should be seen to pay for the temerity of Brexit, such that it does stuff to us that is essentially in breach of the international treaties it is a party to. I trust we will start to see two things emerging. Firstly actions in the relevant courts to secure remedies. Secondly, that age old cry of the unions, “working to rule”. I accept that there is a distinction between the institutions of the EU, and the countries which belong to it, but surely there can be no doubt that it is in reality the Merkel and Macron show. Neither of whom are exactly squeaky clean!
February 21, 2021
It’s evident the deal is done but only from one side, signed off on the basis of, Oh well, we can see to all that later …. lack of attention to detail, lack of scrutiny and courage to a degree but there it was, a mad rush in the end, and as we saw, the picture of the thumbs up ! Perhaps a little benevolence might make allowance for both sides’ differing interpretations of those issues & problems now having come to light. If those on here that assert the EU Parliament is indeed so powerful and democratic, then the deal is not done at all because those so called powerful parliamentarians have not agreed yet to ‘ the deal ‘ – a misnomer if there ever was one – have not signed off, and from memory at the last count were looking at the end of April for doing so after their extensive translations emerge and their ‘extended scrutiny’ ( & we all know what that really means ) has been carried out.
February 21, 2021
Thanks to the Italian State Broadcaster, RAI, we have, at last, got access to the full un-redacted contract between the EU and A-Z for the first 300m dose of vaccine.
https://www.rai.it/dl/doc/2021/02/19/1613725900577_AZ_FIRMATO_REPORT.pdf
The contract makes it very clear that the EU has no grounds whatsoever for disputing the delivery schedule A-Z have imposed following production problems at their EU plants. This makes The Commission, the Greek Commissioner and in particular, VDL look even more ridiculous and incompetent. Can she not read ?
Of more interest to us is the not-for-profit price set out in the document which is âŹ2.90 per dose.
How does that compare with the not-for-profit price the NHS is being charged for the same vaccine ?
If it is a lot higher, we need to ask why.
February 22, 2021
Brexit the gift that keeps giving. Over 100,000 trees cancelled for NI, shell fish banned for the EU, empty trucks going back across the channel, companies setting up offices in the EU to continue to sell their goods. Oh wait a minute we have signed a few trade deals. When I was working we sold to 117 countries outside the EU whilst being a member so where is this so called upside. Oh yeah its for the Eton Elite. Now we know what the “Con” is in Conservative.
February 23, 2021
1135 Tues 23rd Feb BBC “France is worried about a new infection hotspot â the northern port city of Dunkirk. The infection rate there is more than 900 per 100,000 inhabitants, so a local lockdown is now being considered. On Monday the focus was on Nice, a southern resort city, where the rate is above 700. A weekend lockdown has been imposed there and in nearby areas. These surges have been blamed on the highly contagious English variant. France is trying to avoid a third national lockdown”
“These surges have been blamed on the highly contagious English variant” HOW? we have been banned from travelling to France, everyone from the UK has to have the negative covid test to travel into France, how is this an “English Variant” Does Boris ever get off his lazy bum and rebut this or Hancock. This anti British sentiment spreading on the continent without check yet they want our coin from tourism. This anti-British blame game needs publishing in a big way before the British go on holiday.