Bring on the ludicrous scares

Project Fear is now caricaturing itself.  Is mighty Luxembourg to mobilise against Holland if the UK leaves the EU?  Is Spain to launch a new Armada? Will France and Germany suddenly drop sixty years of working together  building a political union because the UK has opted out of their constitutional construction?  Of course not. These are all peace loving democracies, tied together in the defence alliance of NATO, with a common interest in avoiding war.

If the UK stays in the EU will peace suddenly be restored to Ukraine, when it was the EU/Ukraine Agreement that provoked Russia into its illegal grab of Crimea? Will the EU learn from its blunders intervening in the former Yugoslavia where it did anything but keep the peace?

We should expect the next move to be concerted action to get the pound to fall, and to talk up any bad news about the UK economy. The Remainian government has had one attempt with the Bank of England to talk the pound down, only to see it rise from end February to last week as the polls moved more in favour of Brexit. They will probably try again. They are desperate to tell us anything bad about the Uk economy and then to blame fears of Brexit for it.

They have decided to contradict themselves on interest rates. They both tell us that mortgage rates will go up if we leave, and they tell us the Bank will cut interest rates on Brexit to deal with the short term uncertainties! If you are going to make up a good fib of fear, at least agree one and stick to it. Arguing on  both sides of the fears serves to remind people that they cannot believe a word they  say.

The Treasury, Bank, IMF and the other powerful bodies that now want to talk the pound down and scorn the UK should we leave are of course famous for their incompetence at forecasting the results of European economic policies. These were the organisations  who told the UK  to enter the Exchange Rate Mechanism which caused a big recession. None of them forecast the damage their dangerous policy produced. They also favoured entering the Euro , and issued no warnings about the obvious damage to employment and output which the Euro would do to many of its members. They did not forecast the 2011 Euro crisis.

Do not believe a word of their bad forecasts. The US economy has slowed more than ours, so is that Brexit? The Chinese economy has slowed. Is that Brexit?  The oil price collapsed last year having a big impact – was that Brexit?

Of course not. The world economy is largely unaffected by the issue of whether we remain or stay. Our trade is not at risk. We will be better off out when we have our own money to spend on jobs and output here at home.

102 Comments

  1. Tom
    May 10, 2016

    Mr Redwood, you seem to be saying the Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party along with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who has been chief election strategist and tactician of the Conservative Party for many years, will do or say anything to win an election. As someone who has been involved in many Conservative-run election campaigns that can hardly come as a surprise to you. I believe the expression is “a taste of your own medicine”.

    1. Hope
      May 10, 2016

      The apocalyptic warnings by Cameron is leaving everyone baffled why he did not use his examples of the economic collapse of the world, supported by the IMF, war across Europe, supported by failed politicians who went on to work in NATO, civil unrest across Germany because of mass Muslim immigration, sexual assaults in Cologne by Muslim immigrants, civil unrest in Scility because of uncontrolled immigration as a bargaining chip to tell Merkel to go away in jerky motions if we were unable to control our borders, alternatively to negotiate something of substance with the EU. Cameron dropped all points of substance before negotiations, cowed to Merkel despite all evidence that something needs to be done about immigration, stood by Hollande while he made threats to the UK and went with his begging bowl to Junker to plead for help. He still had the Gaul to falsely claim he ruled nothing out!
      His weird little side kick now claims that mortgages will increase, house prices will fall even though the evidence from the disastrous Major to enter the Euro cost jobs, business to go broke and house repossssions. The fact the Treasury record on predictions under him have all been out, he failed to meet any of his targets or achieve any of his economic pledges seems to escape him..Currently looking across the Eurzone which country’s housing market would he show us as a comparison- Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal? His predictions are so painful it is enough to make you scream Louise!

    2. stred
      May 11, 2016

      Tom.
      If you can not tell the difference between spending tax payers money on a campaign when this is illegal, sending leaflets to children to influence their elders,using civil servants to produce bogus economic forecasts and telling ridiculous lies about causing wars- then you should not be involved in any political campaign. I hope your ID is now known.

  2. stred
    May 10, 2016

    Don’t forget that the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in between its efforts in Yugoslavia and Ukraine. The chair of the Nobel committee was Thorbjorn Jagland who, according to Wiki was PM of Norway, Labour, Socialist International and .. Secretary of the Council of Europe. All the right connections for a self-pat on the back.

    Perhaps the atom bomb had most to do with the end of German hostilities and the fact that the second attempt to unify Europe as regions resulted in a somewhat flat region and a big loan to rebuild it. No country would try to invade another with a nuclear bomb or allies with one.The way to avoid local hostilities is to avoid change by force or central policy, such as fining countries which do not take orders to accept large numbers of migrants invited by daft lady politicians.

    The most nauseating aspect of Eural’s beautifully presented load of bollocks was his reference to the Commonwealth war graves. If those soldiers, who gave their lives in two world wars knew that a British PM was lying in their name to achieve his aim of handing over to a German dominated Europe, most would not be pleased.

    1. ChrisS
      May 10, 2016

      Remember Obama also “won” the Peace Prize five minutes after he was elected.

      That must have been the lowest point in Nobel history. The EU award runs it a close second.

      1. ChrisS
        May 10, 2016

        Why hasn’t NATO ever won it ?

    2. Hope
      May 10, 2016

      I am still waiting for Cameron to highlight to us what parts of the five presidents report he thinks is so beneficial that he wants the UK to remain in a clandestine organization that suppresses free speech before the referendum, performs coups on elected governments if they do not like them and is, according to him, so vindictive to want to punish the auK if we do not do as they want. Fck em! That’s my view and I suspect the view of all the brave men who fought and lost their lives to give us our democratic right to self government which Cameron wants to give away by telling lies to the public, traitor. The U.K. had a civil war to prevent the Devine right of the king to impose law and taxes. Instead the people wanted elected representatives, the same as our American cousins, Obama forgets. Two world wars fought on the same principles. So why does Cameron think it is okay to give away our taxes to EU politicians to spend and waste as they like (dance classes, mating programmers for fish) and make laws for us when we have not elected them? What does he think he was elected and paid to do?

  3. Mick
    May 10, 2016

    So we had Osborne and Cameron saying we’d be over £4000 worst off if we leave and now world war three if we leave, how does that work if it’s WW3 then we won’t get to the stage were we are thousands out of pocket, then there was the statement made by both that if they didn’t get reform they would campaign for out, what flaming reforms they got nothing they were lieying then or now , take the gloves off outers and stop playing by Queensbury rules we have one shot at this,

  4. Roy Grainger
    May 10, 2016

    Here’s a great article that should boost Brexit – Chris Patten moaning that the BBC is biased in favour of Brexit because they balance the views of the IMF with “some backbencher no-one has ever heard of”. Truly the voice of the liberal elite – only famous people like us should be allowed to have opinions.

    http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/apr/27/bbc-brexit-case-lord-patten-john-whittingdale

    1. matthu
      May 10, 2016

      And here was I thinking that choosing a backbencher no-one had ever heard of was a deliberate BBC bias in favour of Remain!

  5. bigneil
    May 10, 2016

    It has now got to the point where it is making the old Monty Python and the Spike Milligan shows look sensible. Any more silliness we may as well have Mr Blobby as PM – – he/she/it would make more sense.

    1. Brigham
      May 11, 2016

      I thought we had!!

  6. Duyfken
    May 10, 2016

    A group of former secretaries general of Nato has declared in a letter that “Brexit would undoubtedly lead to a loss of British influence, undermine Nato and give succour to the West’s enemies” and that “we need to stand shoulder-to-shoulder across the Euro-Atlantic community against common threats, including those on our doorstep.” Lord Carrington as the lead signatory possibly sees no irony in this, but I do.

  7. Lifelogic
    May 10, 2016

    Indeed. Will the UK really be frightened into serfdom under the EU rather than returning to a nimble democracy with a government that acts in the interest of the UK and can control who lives here.

    I see that Newsnight even dug out the full intellectual might of Tracey Emin to fight for remain and extinguish UK democracy. I could not work out what her argument was though. It seemed to be a gut feeling that we were on the brink of world war three and she sold here art in Europe or something equally rigorous.

    More drivel on science cooperation requiring the EU this morning too.

    The remain camp are getting desperate.

  8. formula57
    May 10, 2016

    I thought hitherto that your friend Mr Cameron would have insufficient credibility to stay in office if the vote outcome were to Leave but I know consider he has surrendered his credibility and hence authority and should hasten off stage – just as soon as he likes now please.

  9. Ian Wragg
    May 10, 2016

    I find it incredible. On the one hand we are told by the remainiacs that we are insignificant and cannot possibly go it alone. In the next breath armageddom is going to break out if we leave. We will be responsible for a worldwide recession and world war 3.
    Funny old world.

  10. oldtimer
    May 10, 2016

    Yesterday I heard someone comment that Project Fear looks as though it is turning into Project Panic.

    No doubt we shall get much more of the same between now and the referendum. One rreason for the scare stories is to distract our attention, and the focus of the Leave campaign, from the core issue of restoring control over our own affairs.

    I thought that Boris Johnson’s apeech yesterday was excellent. It covered all the key issues. The Conservcative Home website has helpfully provided a full text – next to the text of Mr Cameron’s speech.

    1. stred
      May 11, 2016

      Ukip has put it on Youtube,where undecideds and milleniphiles may see it. Well done Boris. When writing carefully he produces the goods. The gridlock in London is temporarily forgiven.

  11. John Bracewell
    May 10, 2016

    The more ludicrous these scares become, the more Project Fear plays into the case for a Leave vote. The British people will see through this self interested nonsense from foreigners which is so obviously co-ordinated by the Remain campaign and the government elites peddling these palpable exaggerated lies.

  12. Ian Wragg
    May 10, 2016

    Last night on East Midlands Today the remainiacs interviewed a Baker in the Peak District village of Crich. This bakery was a family business for over 100 years. It was sold to a franchise and the manager said we must remain so he can continue to employ Polish staff.
    Very good for him paying minimum wage and the taxpayers subsidising them.
    If this is the best the BBC can do its definitely time to leave.

  13. turbo terrier
    May 10, 2016

    Very good post John

    Regarding the fear project and scare stories I can assure you with absolute confidence that “you ain’t heard nothing yet” as the BTO song goes.

    Today in dictatorship Scotland they have finally started their referendum campaign.

    We will be Doomed Doomed as the Scottish Frasier would say on Dads Army. I do wonder if the likes of Jim Sillars will get listened to who is advocationg leave.

    Scotland will always need a prop wether it be Westminster or the EU to fall back on if and when it goes wrong.

    The one question that should be asked of the remainers is: With more and more countries polling their peope and actually questioning the EU membership what will happen when it slowly but surely falls apart. What then? Will it be the end of the world as we know it? Of course not countries and the people will get on with their lives.

    Too little is coming out of Europe on all the contentious issues that are being held back until the referendum is over, especially Greece and it debt problems and a whole lot more. The EU treats its members with at times a manner that borders upon contempt.

    There has always been the rich and the poor in both people and countries and ultimately it is those who want to improve will and do, others will accept their lot and hold their hands out.

    Leaving the EU is not the panacea to all that is wrong over here but it goes a long way towards correcting it. It is time that this country of ours started deciding things for itself and it will be judged on our decisions and our production and above all our belief in ourselves to just get on an do it.

    1. Mark
      May 10, 2016

      I am left wondering whether Alex Salmond is going to recommend a Brexit vote on the basis that it would in his opinion result in Scottish independence within two years.

    2. fedupsoutherner
      May 10, 2016

      Turbo, not only the problems in Greece to worry about but also the fact that Italian banks are close to collapse. Being the 8th largest economy in the world it will make Greece’s problems look like a child’s piggy bank being stolen. How much will it cost us even though we are not in the Eurozone?? You can bet we will have to cough up.

  14. Sean
    May 10, 2016

    I see the scaremongers having the opposite effect, people roll their eyes and shake their heads at the stupid nonsense coming from the stupid stay campaign.
    I hope what’s the referendum it’s over a lot of politicians that supported the same company should going on Heads Will Roll.

    1. fedupsoutherner
      May 10, 2016

      Heads will Roll????? Could we be that lucky?

  15. Denis Cooper
    May 10, 2016

    This morning one of my google alerts has thrown up two articles about Greece.

    They are from opposite ends of the conventional left-right political spectrum, but both attribute much of the blame to Germany, or to be more precise the German elite.

    The first is in the Telegraph:

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/05/09/matthew-lynn/

    “Britain must back the IMF to free Greece of its punishing austerity”

    and is by Matthew Lynn, thriller writer as well as financial journalist.

    The second is in the Guardian:

    http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/may/09/the-choice-for-europe-rescue-greece-or-create-a-failed-state

    “The choice for Europe: rescue Greece or create a failed state”

    and is by Paul Mason, very left wing, previously of the BBC and Channel 4.

    Meanwhile, the Sun runs a front page depicting Cameron as a puppet with Merkel pulling his strings:

    http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/7138226/Germany-sabotaged-David-Camerons-EU-renegotiation-and-he-let-them-explosive-claims-from-IDS.html

    with IDS to make a speech on this claim later this morning; and I read elsewhere that Cameron has asked Merkel to stay out of our referendum, unlike virtually every other leading figure in the world whose aid he could possibly enlist.

    I’m not keen on winning this referendum by whipping up hostility towards the German people – like us they are stuck with a scheming, apparently irremovable, political elite, which may often not be reflecting their true views or even working in their interests – but I have no qualms about driving it home to the voters that Merkel and her crew have actually been a force for evil in Europe, and one which our own political leadership – under Blair, and Brown, and Cameron – have seemed to be either unwilling or unable to moderate or influence, let alone control, through the EU mechanisms.

  16. Anonymous
    May 10, 2016

    The waverers – the waverers !

    Those who listen to the news merely as background noise are hearing the BBC’s volume turned up on key EU supporting phrases.

    We can argue the detail here as much as we like. We know we’re right, but the waverers don’t.

    This morning’s BBC LOUD message was: “Research scientists won’t be allowed to come here. Britain will fall behind !”

    (Never mind that our great universities are falling behind anyway – because of BBC ‘affirmative action’ in the interest of diversity and discrimination against middle class white children. The same stuff that BBC recruitment pages are advertising (words left out ed))

    1. Anonymous
      May 10, 2016

      Once again – I understand the censorship. The BBC advert has to be seen to be believed. THAT’s what needs censoring.

  17. Old Albion
    May 10, 2016

    The points you make may well be the truth, but that message is not being heard.

    Why are those leading remain/project fear so keen to stay in this destructive ‘union’ ?

  18. Brexit Facts4eu.org
    May 10, 2016

    Dear JR, it’s very good to see plain talking from a respected parliamentarian like you. As usual, you’ve summed things up beautifully in your article above.

    We were frankly amazed that TV political journalists didn’t ridicule Mr Cameron’s assertion yesterday that somehow Brexit could lead to a new war in Europe.

    We try to present facts as you know, but yesterday we felt compelled to write an editorial asking whether the PM has been under too much strain and has now lost it completely. Frankly, the PM’s lies are now becoming scary.

    Overall we’re focusing more on winning the economic argument and on promoting our “Make Britain Great Again” message. Readers can catch up on all these subjects here:

    http://facts4eu.org/news.shtml

    Only 43 days to go and we still need more volunteers and for pro-Brexit people to post our link out there on as many other sites as possible.

    Thanks for your continued hard work on the Leave campaign.

  19. agricola
    May 10, 2016

    Having listened to Cameron yesterday I conclude that he has lost track with reality. It was an extraordinary change of tone from his Bloomberg speech to the point where I thought he had lost touch with reality. It had much of the quality of Lord Haw Haw.

    Boris Johnson was by contrast surgically precise in his dissection of the EU from it’s birth to the present day. Whether he realises it or not he has laid down a marker for the type of leadership the country will require post Brexit. There is no way for Cameron to retain any ambitions in this direction.

    Keep spreading the Brexit gospel as widely and publically as possible. have faith in the UK electorate to see through the paucity of the remain campaign.

    I conclude, having heard Bloomberg and Cameron’s abysmal effort yesterday that he must have been told to get in line with the Bilderberg Group who, comprising all the large vested interests Worldwide, wish us to remain for their comfort, convenience, and continued wealth. If you do not believe me , check out who belongs and the support for remain that they have given.

    1. Mitchel
      May 10, 2016

      Well,Cameron did manage to get the phrase “common purpose” into his speech yesterday!

  20. Shieldsman
    May 10, 2016

    Yesterday was a sad day for democracy in the UK. We had Dictator Cameron aided and abetted by the biased broadcasting corporation at his scaremongering worst.

    The BBC reported – Peace in Europe could be at risk if Britain votes to leave the European Union, David Cameron has warned.

    He warned the peace and stability Europe has enjoyed in recent years could not be guaranteed, saying leaving risked “the clock being turned back to an age of competing nationalism in Europe”.

    Now I was not aware, like the rest of the Public that Cameron planned to leave NATO and join the European Army. Christopher Soames will be most disappointed.

    The BBC failed to report fully on Boris Johnson’s speech.
    Quoting at length from David Cameron’s 2013 speech, which Mr. Johnson said “savaged the EU’s lack of competitiveness, its remoteness from the voters, its relentless movement in the wrong direction”, he pointed out that the Prime Minister’s much-vaunted renegotiation of the UK’s terms
    of EU membership amounted to nothing, and to claim otherwise is “an offence against the Trade Descriptions Act”. He explained:
    It is above all bizarre for the Remain campaign to say that after the UK agreement of February we are now living in a ‘reformed’ EU, when there has been not a single change to EU competences, not a single change to the Treaty, nothing on agriculture, nothing on the role of the court, nothing of any substance on borders – nothing remotely resembling the agenda for change that was promised in
    the 2013 Bloomberg speech.

    Mr. Johnson pointed out that having been told “there had to be ‘fundamental reform’ and ‘full-on’ Treaty change that would happen ‘before the referendum’ – or else the government was willing to campaign to Leave,” the Government should “logically” be campaigning to leave.

    Cameron’s ‘I have reformed the EU’ and ‘the best of both worlds’ is a myth that only exists in his mind.

    This of course goes to the heart of the leave EU argument and why we are having the referendum. Cameron is trying to scare the young and the simple minded to join him in his fool’s paradise – the reformed EU that does not exist – nothing changed.

  21. Bert Young
    May 10, 2016

    There is no need for further conflict in Europe to establish control – Germany has already won it ! . I came to this conclusion some time ago but the press this morning confirmed how Cameron had been forced by Germany to withdraw his condition on border restrictions . It was reported that he had decided to withdraw his condition prior to the speech he made in Germany ; he was advised by the Germans that if he went ahead they would oppose it . So much so for our ability to establish and influence a better sort of Europe .

    Weak kneed leadership is never the way to run things . If you want to establish change you must first establish a strategy that is sound and meaningful ; once this stage is reached the leader must not be swayed in the way the current approach is delivered . Cameron has never been big enough to surround himself with alternative views ; he has always preferred a council of sycophants ; it is only today that the “cracks” have appeared and gone public ; those who once held degrees of variance succumbed and fell victim to his policy of “the Cabinet is one”.

    This country has a past and tradition of leadership in the world ; it has not been based on fancy it was achieved by standards that were always an example of decency and effective administration . It is time we returned to our proper place .

  22. Chris
    May 10, 2016

    I welcome IDS’s intervention this morning, focusing on Cameron’s non renegotiations, and the power that Germany (Merkel) exerts over him. This is an Achilles Heel of the Remain group and they have diverted attention away from this. All the more reason to focus relentlessly on the failure of the renegotiations. This in turn highlights the reasons for the failure, which are crucial to the debate viz. the EU has its own agenda of ever closer union, that it will not be swayed under any circumstances, that the UK is powerless in influencing the EU (and will be even less so if we vote to Remain), and that Germany (Merkel) is the power in the EU, apparently dictating exactly what Cameron may do and so.

  23. Brian Tomkinson
    May 10, 2016

    I can think of no other examples of a Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer so demeaning their offices with outlandish threats to the British people. Not many months ago both men stated that they did not rule out leaving the EU. Now they tell us that such a move would bring about financial ruin and World War 111. How irresponsible then for them to even allow such a possibility let alone suggest they would support it.

  24. Bob
    May 10, 2016

    The cost of the British Museum event hosting Mr Cameron’s war speech was £25,ooo, which will be met by the taxpayer.

    It looks like David Cameron will stop at nothing including outspending his opponents to buy his desired outcome (as he did last May).

  25. AndyC
    May 10, 2016

    Great post, needs distributing far and wide.

    I think it was Matthew Parris who said that being Prime Minister drives everyone mad in the end. Looks like we’ve reached that point with the current incumbent. There must be several people sat round the cabinet table who are aghast at the way the government is now simply lying – with no attempt at credibility – to the British people in order to bully us into submission. They need to speak up, even at this late stage. I’m looking forward to IDS’ response this morning.

    Radio 4 tendentiously pro-EU again this morning.

  26. Denis Cooper
    May 10, 2016

    I read the Telegraph letter from five former secretaries-general of NATO:

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2016/05/09/letters-at-a-time-of-global-instability-britain-needs-to-stand-u/

    and wondered how and why we have been surreptitiously taken from being in NATO as a sovereign member state since its foundation in 1949, and then joining a Common Market or European Economic Community in 1972 under a treaty which made no mention at all of defence:

    http://aei.pitt.edu/37139/1/EEC_Treaty_1957.pdf

    to apparently now being regarded not so much as a NATO member in our own right but just as a part of the EU which is now “a key partner for NATO”, with the consequence that if we left the EU that would weaken NATO.

    Am I confused here, because this referendum is not about whether we should leave the EU, as I thought, but rather about whether we should leave NATO? Maybe that is what we should do, leave NATO but stay in the EU so that it can speak for us within NATO, and no doubt in time discuss the deployment of its own army that it craves to possess:

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/11861247/Merkel-expects-Cameron-to-back-EU-army-in-exchange-for-renegotiation.html

    “Merkel ‘expects Cameron to back EU army’ in exchange for renegotiation”

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3580199/We-create-EU-army-says-senior-MEP.html

    “We must create an EU army, says senior MEP”

    And where does this leave the 6 EU member states which are not also members of NATO, are they nonetheless being dragged into that other, unwanted, relationship through the EU acting on their behalf as “a key partner for NATO”, just as it acts on their behalf for trade negotiations?

    And what about the NATO countries which are not in the EU?

    Have the Norwegians been told they must allow the EU to speak for them in NATO, in the person of Italian ex-communist Federica Mogherini, the current holder of the office of “EU foreign minister” which Tories such as Hague once said should not exist?

  27. Caterpillar
    May 10, 2016

    (1) The largest fear I have about Brexit is that after such a vote Mr Cameron and Mr Osborn will still be in place, and they have shown no willingness to set forth a Government or party strategy for a Brexit scenario. As competent leaders I would think that they would be able to set forth a strategy for either the remain or exit situation, the certainty that they have been unable to rationally do this is, to me, far more frightening than the imagined uncertainties.
    (2) On a pedantic note it is possible to have negtive central bank rates and increasing mortgage rates – perhaps Switzerland has seen this. The negative rates are set as a macro policy to encourage banks to not deposit but to lend, but this can be interpreted at a micro level by banks that see it as a tax / business cost and so supply shifts left increasing the cost of mortgages.

  28. Nick
    May 10, 2016

    Just ask Cameron who invades whom, or if he is making it up.

  29. Antisthenes
    May 10, 2016

    Virtually everything said about Brexit by David Cameron and the rest of those who wish remain in the EU is false or has no basis in fact. It is either lies or grossly distorted speculation. Recognising that is what the stayers is doing for some of us is easy but I suspect for many the majority not so. This will have considerable effect on the outcome of the referendum and that outcome is going to generate ill will especially if the stayers prevail. That result will go down in history in ignominy.

    Remaining in the EU and keeping the current climate change policies are going to shape the future. A future that is best not contemplated as David Cameron’s war will look like a peace conference in comparison to what happens then.

  30. Ex-expat Colin
    May 10, 2016

    OT..Londons roads largely blocked….Bus Lanes

    My son showed me vids from his Honda scooter helmet cam …last week Forest Hill to Catford. Of the extensive bus lane perhaps one bus is in it. Plenty of buses present. All others are in the outside lane along with jammed traffic. Good for m/bikes I suppose. Why more roads and white lines when the existing are prohibited use…about 50%. Probably better to make most of them one way if its to remain a jobs and crime honey pot…in/out channelling

  31. Phil Richmond
    May 10, 2016

    John – Your esteemed leader and unfortunately our PM is not conducting a fair campaign. As a conservative I am spitting feathers at the outrageous lies (which the BBC reports as facts) and the devious spending, plus arm twisting any world leader or establishment figure to beg the British people to stay in.
    I would like to know (out of 10) how angry the Brexit Tory MPs are?

    1. Chris
      May 10, 2016

      They are not nearly angry enough, PR. They are not holding Cameron to account effectively and one has to question why. They could wield enormous power but they choose not to. I fear that if there is a Remain vote there will not be the outcry from these MPs that there should be, and that Cameron will strengthen his hold on power. A tragedy for the country, the Conservative Party, and all the grassroots who have been so singularly failed by David Cameron.

      1. Phil Richmond
        May 10, 2016

        Chris I fear you are correct. What I think will happen is that if the vote is to Remain then Cameron and his imposter clique are going to bribe the key opposition players and he is going to beg for unity. Most Brexit MPs will fold meekly back into the clan.
        What should be going on is that Brexit Tory MPs should be sharpening their knifes and letting the Cameron/Osborne/Clark/Soubry /May/ Hammond etc etc etc wet quislings know quite openly that their days are numbered!
        (our host is too loyal to the Tory Party also I fear)

        1. Chris
          May 10, 2016

          Yes, too true. I read, only a couple of days ago, a very depressing article analysing “eurosceptic” MPs’ actions (or lack of them), and that after a Remain vote they would either be marginalised by an emboldened and empowered Cameron, or go meekly into line. I am afraid it makes my blood boil to see David Cameron not being brought to account when I think of what he has done to this country and also when I see what weak and unprincipled individuals so many of our MPs seem to be.

  32. bluedog
    May 10, 2016

    David Cameron is starting to behave like a man who confronts his own mortality, politically speaking. It’s as though he has been told he only has weeks to live.

    Suddenly the glorious career, the step by step gains towards the prize and the prospect of an early retirement with glowing accolades are threatened by a date on the calendar, June 23rd 2016. The authoritative claim to become Britain’s negotiator in the event of Brexit is looking more like what it always was, delusional bluster. In the event of Brexit, Cameron will be frog-marched out of No 10. One suspects that as the witching hour draws near, ever more fantastical threats and promises will be placed in front of the electorate. The blueprint will be the Scottish indyref debacle, where Cameron won a pyrhrric victory at the 11th hour at huge cost to the UK.

    With his own self-interest at stake, Cameron promises to exceed all expectations in terms of frantic desperation.It’s going to be fun to watch, but what will be the price, and who pays? The answers are very high indeed, and possibly you, dear reader..

  33. NickW
    May 10, 2016

    The EU as it now stands has brought about the very thing that it was supposed to prevent, a Europe dominated by Germany along with an increasing suppression of democracy. (According to the Sun, Merkel blocked Cameron’s attempts to reform our membership conditions).

    Why is the EU strangling Greece with deficit targets that Germany and France were allowed to ignore.?

    Why is the EU bribing Turkey with billions, but threatening Eastern Europe with heavy fines if they do not obey Merkel’s diktats on taking refugees.?

    What is the difference between the way that Eastern Europe was treated by the USSR, and the way that the EU is now treating the former Soviet satellites.?

    The EU is not a Union of equals, and if it is not a Union of equals, it is not a Union at all, it is something far more sinister.

    1. NickW
      May 10, 2016

      The “European “Army that Germany wants will in the end, (like everything else in the EU) be subservient to Germany’s wishes.

      It will in no time, be seen as an army of occupation if it is deployed in EU Countries other than Germany. (How would the Greeks view a European army sent to “help” with Greece’s problems?)

      In addition, one cannot help feeling that Brussels wants its own army to protect the EU Government from the rage of its citizens which is increasing on a daily basis.

  34. Atlas
    May 10, 2016

    John,

    I just play the opening sequence of TVs “Dad’s Army” to remind myself of the real issues.

    Remain in the superstate EU? “No, no, NO!” as somebody once said.

  35. acorn
    May 10, 2016

    “Ex-NATO and U.S. defense chiefs warn UK against EU exit.) (Reuters.) We are now starting to see the US foreign policy machine, winding up for the referendum vote. As I said previously, Brexit is not compatible with the US plan for the United States of Europe and its requirement for the US of E to fully annex the ex Soviet States that now form the Russian border. All being done behind the mask of NATO naturally.

    Stay tuned, it’s going to get worse.

    1. Denis Cooper
      May 10, 2016

      This is why I refer to the EU/NATO/US “troika”.

  36. Hope
    May 10, 2016

    The apocalyptic end to our country is worrying. Why did Cameron not use it as his bargaining chip to get some real substantive change? If world economies are so badly affected why did the EU leaders not listen to Cameron? If war is about to erupt why be part of it and again what a bargaining chip. Germany refusing to even discuss border controls for our country so Cameron dropped it from discussion! Chamberlain would have given a King’s ransom to prevent war. Moreover, if what he claims has nay merit why has tax avoiding Cameron NOT planned for exit?

    I am sorry JR, but Cameron’s behaviour is well beyond any sensible debate. He is a disgrace to our nation and is a disgrace to your party. I am honestly at a loss why he has not been ousted even at this stage. Look what happened in London.

    1. Hope
      May 10, 2016

      Carrington and Robertson signing a letter is hardly troubling, remind me what did they actually achieve for our country?

      1. John Wood
        May 10, 2016

        Carrington cocked up British defence policy in the 1980s resulting in the Falkland conflict – althought o be fair he did resign over it.

      2. Qubus
        May 10, 2016

        Carrington won an MC in WW2. I am amazed at his stance.

    2. Chris
      May 10, 2016

      I fully agree, Hope.

  37. Tom William
    May 10, 2016

    It gets more like Corporal Jones of Dad’s Army “Don’t panic…. they don’t like it up them..) every day. Cameron’s history master at Eton would be embarrassed by his lack of understanding of European history over the last three hundred years and bizarre comparisons.

    Good to see that Digby Jones has come out for Brexit.

  38. Kenneth
    May 10, 2016

    As Mark Wallace pointed out in Conservative Home yesterday, why would a government call a referendum if they thought this could lead to a World War?

    1. Know-dice
      May 10, 2016

      That’s the BIG question…why would any sane government that supports its own citizens call a referendum and not put forwards plans for any result that the people vote for…it’s crazy

      CMD is taking us for fools…

      My only hope is that people can see straight through this stupidity.

  39. Original Richard
    May 10, 2016

    Mr. Cameron should be asked to explain his assertion that a UK exit from the EU would put peace at risk and specify just where and how he expects our lack of membership of the EU will trigger a war.

    Are we likely to be invaded by the EU when they have built their EU army ?

    Will the EU attempt to meddle in UK politics as they did in the Ukraine with the policy of separating Scotland from England ?

    Will civil war break out in the EU ? And Why ?
    And, if so, how will the UK’s membership of the EU prevent a civil war ?

    In the BBC program on Europe “Them or US”, Nick Robinson tells us :

    “Why the UK U-turned on its membership of the EU is revealed in the Government Papers held in the National Archives held at Kew. In a memo written before the Common Market was formed, before MacMillan was PM, MacMillan wrote, “It may be very dangerous to us, for perhaps Messina (the talks which set up the Common Market) will come off after all and that will mean Western Europe dominated in fact by Germany and used as an instrument for the revival of German power through economic means. It is really giving them on a plate what we fought two wars to prevent.””

    Is it still UK government policy to attempt to prevent Germany dominating the EU through economic means, which in fact has been hastened, if not actually brought about through the introduction of the Euro, and hence is the only reason that Mr. Cameron wants the UK to remain in the EU ?

    If so, is this the right policy for the UK bearing in mind all the costs to the UK ?
    And will it work ?

  40. They Work for Us?
    May 10, 2016

    I see that Quisling Hague has re-entered the fray by warning us of the safety of the Falklands, Gibraltar and Ulster.
    None of these need be a problem if the UK Govt. stopped being lily livered and took the responsibility of actual protecting our interests.
    The effectiveness of a nuclear attack submarine deployed to the region would interdict attack and re-supply by sea by the Argentinians.
    Trade with Spain and Eire involves a large quantity of perishable agricultural products that makes an immediate response to any bad behaviour possible. If only we had leaders that were not prepared to let us be pushed around.
    When oh when will Conservative MPs act against these quislings?

    1. Qubus
      May 10, 2016

      I just cannot bring myself to read Hague’s non-sensical, now regular, column in the Daily Telegraph. What a 180 degree about turn. These people simply have no principles.

  41. CHRISTOPHER HOUSTON
    May 10, 2016

    Top Astrologers, Tarot Card Readers and Psychics have not had a Press Conference yet advocating Remain in the EU. It’s on the cards.

    1. Denis Cooper
      May 10, 2016

      🙂

      The Britain Stronger in a Trance group will be led by Ms Clair Voyant.

      1. CHRISTOPHER HOUSTON
        May 10, 2016

        Denis, it would be a cheap and easy joke for me to say their palms will have already been crossed with silver. It would have to be US Dollars or even Rubles if we remain in the EU

  42. matthu
    May 10, 2016

    This from the International Buasiness Times:

    http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/fear-mongering-david-cameron-over-eu-brexit-not-fooling-british-voters-1559127

    However enthusiastically the ‘Remain’ camp promotes Project Fear, the public isn’t really buying it, And I think I know why.

    To put it bluntly, our elected leaders no longer deserve to be believed on anything they say on matters European. From the very beginning of our involvement with the then Common Market, voters have again and again been quite deliberately misled by the porkies of a patronising political establishment that holds them in contempt.

    Examine the record.

    Older readers will remember the promises of the then Tory leader Ted Heath when he took us into the Common Market in 1973. “There are some who fear that we shall in some way sacrifice independence and sovereignty,” he said.

    “These fears, I need hardly say, are completely unjustified.” That soothing reassurance was also made in the 1971 White Paper on Europe.

    Well there’s a three-letter word beginning with ‘l’ for Heath’s claim (which he knew to be false), but it wasn’t to be the only example of terminological inexactitude since then. When Labour’s Harold Wilson held a referendum on our membership in 1975 he too insisted that there was no threat to our independence. ‘All decisions of any importance must be agreed by every member,’ proclaimed his government’s case for staying in. Looks a bit silly now, doesn’t it?

    On and on it goes. Government after government since then have claimed that Britain is ‘winning’ in Europe. The reality, of course, is quite the opposite – or why did Cameron ever bother to begin negotiating a new deal with Brussels in the first place? The truth is we have lost our veto, lost a large chunk of Margaret Thatcher’s rebate, lost control over our own borders and even lost much of our ability to make our own laws. So that’s what ‘winning’ means, eh?

  43. Mike Stallard
    May 10, 2016

    On the EUReferendum blog is some sheer common sense about how we leave. Well worth a look.

    1. Denis Cooper
      May 10, 2016

      I guess that it may come down to that as a less-than-perfect interim position, not least because of the need for a smooth transition in a short timescale. We will no longer have a veto on new countries joining the EU, but we will still have a veto on them also joining the EEA as expected.

      http://www.efta.int/media/documents/legal-texts/eea/the-eea-agreement/Main%20Text%20of%20the%20Agreement/EEAagreement.pdf

      “Article 128

      1. Any European State becoming a member of the Community shall, and the Swiss Confederation or any European State becoming a member of EFTA may, apply to become a party to this Agreement. It shall address its application to the EEA Council.

      2. The terms and conditions for such participation shall be the subject of an agreement between the Contracting Parties and the applicant State. That agreement shall be submitted for ratification or approval by all Contracting Parties in accordance with their own procedures.”

  44. Timaction
    May 10, 2016

    You really do need to get rid of your leader and Osbrown. They are the biggest traitors in office ever! They are a disgrace to the positions they represent with no morals or scruples.

  45. Elliot Kane
    May 10, 2016

    I must admit, Cameron’s claim that the EU is yearning to explode into an open war that only Britain’s presence can prevent was my favourite Remain argument yet. It’s just so outrageously funny! Even Cameron himself cannot believe it.

    I am imagining the scenes at the Elysee…

    Hollande: “I, President Hollande, am declaring myself Emperor of France!”

    Crowd: “Vive L’Empereur! Vive l’Empereur!”

    Hollande: “I will raise up a new Grande Armee to destroy the hated Merkel’s Fourth Reich and the despised Spanish Second Inquisition!”

    Crowd: “Vive L’Empereur! Vive l’Empereur!”

    Hollande: “And it’s all Britain’s fault for leaving the EU!”

    Personally, my money is on Greece or the new Roman Empire. Those guys have form!

    But seriously, I can’t help wondering if Cameron’s post-PM career will be in stand up comedy. I think he may have a gift.

    1. John Wood
      May 10, 2016

      You mean it beat the one that said that the planet was doomed if we left?

      1. Elliot Kane
        May 10, 2016

        I thought the ‘planet doomed’ one was satirical, not a real Remain argument. Though it is increasingly hard to tell which is which.

  46. Stu Saint
    May 10, 2016

    Just keep repeating we are safer out than in.

    Leave.

  47. The PrangWizard
    May 10, 2016

    But who is saying this? Why not say?

    Would it be your own party leader, your Prime Minister? It has be as clear as day that this man has lost touch not only with the true facts of history, but reality. Is he still a fit and proper person to hold his office? The strain of distorting and spinning has finally pushed him over the edge.

    It’s commendable to be loyal, but a line must be drawn somewhere. At least I can hope that when the Leave vote wins he will not remain.

  48. Denis Cooper
    May 10, 2016

    Staggered to read a Telegraph article by a retired army officer which said at one point:

    “The UK is, of course, part of another military alliance – NATO.”

    So that’s it then – thanks to successive governments, our primary military alliance is now one we joined in 1972 when it was said to be just about trade, but we are also in NATO.

    I wonder where we will be in another 44 years if we stay in the EU and our government is allowed to take us further along the eurofederalist path it so obviously prefers.

  49. John Bracewell
    May 10, 2016

    It was rumoured that a debate about the use of taxpayers money for sending out the government’s pamphlet about the EU was to take place at 16.30 9th May.
    Did the debate take place? I can find no report of it on the internet.
    Why has no report about it been made public?
    If it took place, what happened?
    It would seem not only has my tax money been used against my wishes by this arrogant PM but nobody cares enough about it to tell us the result of the petition many of us signed.

    Reply Yes we had a robust debate criticising the government for the leaflet, its contents, its cost and its funding. I am posting my speech for tomorrow’s blog.

  50. Beecee
    May 10, 2016

    Mr Cameron is now spouting such rubbish we have to fear for his sanity.

    Unless of course he thinks this is the EU or Albania or North Korea where the Leaders word is sacrosanct and not to be disobeyed.

    Cam Ron Un perhaps?

  51. zorro
    May 10, 2016

    This is the sort of direct, clear communication which will resonate with voters. It clearly highlights the ludicrous, contradictory nature of comments by so called policy makers. I fail to see how anyone could possibly vote IN in this referendum in the light of what has been supposedly negotiated, even if they favoured the EU membership. The PM is clearly a busted flush either way now. He will have no credibility to influence any future decision making within the EU, and will be completely compromised….. Something you could potentially even agree with Ken Clarke on….. He wouldn’t last 30 seconds in the event of an OUT vote…..

    zorro

  52. Original Richard
    May 10, 2016

    Off Topic :

    I have read in the online version of the Radio Times :

    “The BBC Director General, Tony Hall, is expected to deliver a wholesale reform of the entire organisation…

    Under Mr. Hall’s current plans the BBC departments will be reorganised down genre lines by abolishing the broadcaster’s radio and television channel divisions and implementing a genre-based commissioning structure.

    As it stands, there will be three massive ‘super-departments’, BBC Entertain, BBC Inform and BBC Educate.”

    If the BBC finds there is a problem differentiating between “inform” and “educate” perhaps they should merge these two departments into one called “BBC Truth” ?

  53. DaveM
    May 10, 2016

    Mr R,

    I saw DC’s whole speech on CNN. He has fired every weapon in his armoury.

    If I was a “don’t know” voter, I would want to hear someone stand up straight and dismantle every single one of his arguments/points. I know it can be done because you do it here every day. I would also want to see someone follow up the ‘right to reply’ with a positive vision of the UK’s future outside the EU.

    Now is the time to sieze the initiative. It’s a once in a lifetime chance and it HAS to be done soon and with full commitment from a united front of Outers. For sake of our country and the future of our children and grandchildren.

  54. Dave Lonsdale
    May 10, 2016

    I’ll be wearing a white ARP helmet for casting my vote!

  55. Handbags
    May 10, 2016

    ‘Project fear’ can work both ways though can’t it?

    For instance, when we are finally out, what are we going to do with all the traitors?

    Do they think they can carry on living in Britain?

    Do they think that they can carry on as normal after trying to sell us down the river?

    The referendum is a game changer – win or lose Britain will never be the same again – but I don’t think they fully understand the consequences of it yet.

    ‘Patriot or Traitor?’ – that’s the real question on the ballot paper.

    1. Denis Cooper
      May 10, 2016

      Perhaps Parliament would be well-advised to pass another “Act of Free and Generall Pardon Indempnity and Oblivion”, as it did in 1660:

      http://www.british-history.ac.uk/statutes-realm/vol5/pp226-234

      XXXIV excluded the regicides from the pardon, including some who were already dead, so Parliament could follow that pattern with the new Act.

      Sometimes clemency is better policy than retribution.

  56. jeffery
    May 10, 2016

    Just happened to find academic study which may account for the increasingly bizarre behaviour of Cameron and the western elite in general:

    “Staw, Sandelands, and Dutton’s Threat Rigidity Effect theory (1981),
    which explains the tendency of management groups to stick rigidly
    to tried and tested techniques at times of threat and challenge,
    thereby increasing the risk of organizational failure among incumbents
    at times of secular change.”

  57. Trevor Butler
    May 10, 2016

    Dr Redwood – Today My wife and I discovered, much to our delight, that we could still vote in the referendum even though we no longer live in the blessed borough of Winnersh having fled the UK for Hong Kong – Two leave votes will be wending their way to Wokingham as soon as we receive the postal ballots…All the best…

  58. Glenn Vaughan
    May 10, 2016

    Who do you think you’re kidding Mr Cameron
    If you think we’re on the run?
    We are the ones who will stop your little game.
    We are the ones who will make you think again.
    So who do you think you’re kidding Mr Cameron
    If you think Great Britain’s done?

  59. Paul
    May 10, 2016

    JR, even if Cameron wins this referendum the Conservative party needs to launch a leadership challenge immediately after. He’s become an absolute joke and I cannot see how Conservative MPs who want to leave the EU can carry on supporting him after June 23rd.

  60. Boudicca
    May 10, 2016

    If the First Lord of the Treasury and Little Lord Fauntleroy next door deliberately try to talk down Sterling, they will be committing Malfeasance in Public Office. I do hope someone in the Conservative Party will have the guts to point that out to them.

  61. Graham Wood
    May 10, 2016

    On the 16th April I wrote to my MP asserting that the PM and the “Minster for Europe” David Lidington had misled parliament concerning the government’s propaganda booklet sent out at taxpayer’s expense.
    JR I know you will be aware of the Commons debate and details but some of your readers may not be so well informed about a truly shocking deception of the British people.
    Mr Lidington stated:
    ” The government is not a campaign. It is not the government’s job to supplant the role of the lead campaign organisations during the referendum campaign, and it is certainly not our intention to act in this way” (Hansard 16.6.2015)

    Lidington again: “Let me repeat we have no intention of legislating to allow the government to do such things as mailshots, paid advertising, or leaflets (Hansard 7.9. 2015)
    Both the spirit and the letter of these statements have been clearly breached and I asked my MP to confirm whether this disgraceful pair have misled parliament, and equally the British people. Still not heard a thing!

  62. Chris
    May 10, 2016

    Very encouraging to see some rigorous scrutiny by o f the Chancellor’s claims about the cost of Brexit:

    http://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/668967/Treasury-BLASTED-by-top-economist-for-flawed-Brexit-report-that-treats-us-like-fools
    Treasury BLASTED by top economist for ‘flawed’ Brexit report that ‘treats us like fools’

    THE Treasury’s report on the financial impact of leaving the Brexit is dishonest, condescending and designed to terrify people into voting to stay, according to one of the country’s top economists.

    Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Professor Patrick Minford blasted the Treasury’s “flawed” report, which essentially assumes Brexit would be reverse and erode all the economic progress made since joining the European Union in the 1970s.

    The Professor of Economics at Cardiff University said: “[The Treasury has] argued that when we joined the EU there was more trade and Foreign Direct Investment and that means it was due to being in the EU, and we’d lose it if we left the EU.

    “And that’s obviously nonsense because the situation today is quite different from the historical statistics that they have for the past.”……….

  63. Jerry
    May 10, 2016

    Talking of ludicrous scare stories, I see that UKIP are peddling one entitled “Leave the EU or lose the NHS says UKIP health spokesman Louise Bours”, who needs enemies when the Brexit side have ‘friends’ like them…

    1. Chris
      May 10, 2016

      There is real truth in what she says. A detailed analysis of the TTIP agreement has shown that there is the possibility/likelihood that this could happen. You are presumably aware that Cameron has not asked for an opt out for the NHS, as some other EU countries have done, in order to protect their health services from aggressive US private health care providers?

      1. Jerry
        May 11, 2016

        @Chris; Is that a fact or (party political) opinion about what the current UK governbment have requested, the europhiles in the Labour party (from their own dealings with TTIP prior to 2010) and the LibDems certainly appear to be under the impression that there is an opt-out within TTIP for the NHS.

        The biggest problem with TTIP is the secrecy, there is thus far to much here-say and not enough hard-facts for anyone to make a judgement call. If we ‘Remain’ then TTIP will be a separate battle to win, and there is every chance for those against it to win (there is growing disquiet in Germany with regards TTIP for example), but it will need to be done across party divides and as a pan-EU campaign.

        1. Chris
          May 11, 2016

          In some circles, it is thought that if “reservations” are reuqested by Member States to protect certain aspects of their health services, then the “threats” could be neutralised. Howevwer, the UK govt has not requested the necessary “reservations” to the TTIP document that many other Member States have done. Why it hasn’t, I do not know.
          I quote from a lengthy article (which in turn is commenting on Unite and their fears about TTIP):
          etc ed

  64. Peter Davies
    May 10, 2016

    Let’s just hope enough people are smart enough to see through all this. I got a dual Welsh English propaganda leaflet from the government yesterday. Who do I send it back to with corrections?

  65. Androcles
    May 10, 2016

    If only Japan had been in the EU it would have stopped all the wars they have caused over the last 70years!

  66. fedupsoutherner
    May 10, 2016

    I see Cameron has embarrassed himself and the country by making public remarks about Nigeria and Afghanistan being corrupt. All this in front of the Queen!! Why didn’t he just add the EU to that list and make it more credible and truthful? Cameron really should go and I agree with others on this site in that he looks as though he is losing the plot.

    1. stred
      May 11, 2016

      This remark was made after the new honest president of Nigeria had made a speech telling certain Nigerians to stop giving the country a bad name by dishonest actions and that the EU should not accept ‘Nigerians claiming to be refugees. What a kick in the teeth- and in front of the Queen. he must be losing his marbles.

  67. turbo terrier
    May 10, 2016

    Ludicrous Scares?

    John you are trying to say it as it is but when our PM opens his mouth about corruption to HM The Queen and the camera’s are rolling just begs belief.

    The man has lost the plot completely and he is losing his credibility that is if he had any in the first place.

    The man has got to step down or the party do something about it.

    How much longer has our country have to be embarrassed in the way?

    It may be true about the corruption but you do not talk about it you DO something about it.

  68. CS
    May 11, 2016

    Sorry for sort of being the Devils’ advocate (I do support Brexit!), but why “really” does Cameron want to remain?
    His arguments are not convincing; so why really?

    Did he lose his (usually sound) mind?
    Is it a simple fear from change? Or laziness to cope with the consequences of leaving?
    Is he being pressured by other countries’ leaders?
    Any other reason?

Comments are closed.