Conservative voters and the Brexit party

I read that members of the Conservative party are being warned not to vote for the Brexit party and not to recommend others to vote for it. It is curious the party leadership feel they have to brief out this statement and only apply it to one particular possible choice of an alternative vote. It implies they do think a lot of former Conservative voters and Conservative party members are thinking of voting Brexit. I trust they are also against party members wandering off to vote Labour or Green.

My advice to the leadership is to tackle the reason why they have this fear. I would love to see the Conservative party take action to stop the Brexit party advance. The solution is easy. The Prime Minister should this week announce the cancellation of the Euro elections. She has always said she does not want to hold them, so abandon them. In accordance with the extension Agreement with the EU we can then leave the EU around the time of the Euro elections, with or without an Agreement. That would be a great announcement. The Brexit party would have to stand down its candidates and loses it purpose in life. The EU might then make us a better offer, faced with the reality we will leave anyway. The Conservatives would shoot up in the polls.We would fulfil our promise to leave by the end of May and put behind us the unfortunate and unwelcome delay.

If the PM and Cabinet remain wedded to holding Euro elections the way to get Former Conservative voters back who have said they will now vote Brexit is to have a clear and credible European Manifesto statement of how we are going to get out soon. This has to handle the case of Parliament not signing the Withdrawal Agreement , three times rejected, as well as the government’ s preferred case.

340 Comments

  1. Pominoz
    April 29, 2019

    Sir John,

    The PM and her cabinet have clearly become so enamoured with the EU way of doing things -i.e. you should only do as we tell you – that they have decided to follow suit. However, they should not be too surprised when, like the referendum leave voters, the Euro election voters, Conservatives amongst them, do not act quite as hoped.

    Your solution to the problem is so blindingly obvious to those of sound mind that, unfortunately, it is unlikely that Mrs May will take your advice. It is, however, one way she could actually attain some recognition in history. We can live in hope.

    1. Mike Stallard
      April 29, 2019

      Limp wristed government weak and being pushed around by the EU…

      1. Hope
        April 29, 2019

        Barmier thinks she will cave for Labour’s softer Brexit in days this week. Totally opposite of JR’s view.

        1. Tad Davison
          April 29, 2019

          By trying hard to win over the ‘green’ vote, Labour seem to acknowledge their ‘new’ softer position on the EU has little resonance with the people (including lots of leave Labour voters) and could lose them support, so they want to Hoover up the bits and pieces from the minor parties.

          Labour could yet be in a political mess with all manner of internal strife amd tensions going on if they lose ground on Thursday. Time will tell, but it would be an interesting spectacle to see how Corbyn will handle it, and let’s not forget, Tom Watson is already the de facto leader.

          1. Hope
            April 29, 2019

            A vote for Tory this week is a vote against democracy. It supports May in office.

        2. Hope
          April 29, 2019

          JR, could write to Lewis to ask why it is okay for Tory ministers and MPs to vote with and collude with Marxist Labour against the whip but not to vote with a conservative Brexit party?

          May is legitimising Corbyn today by continuing talks with him! Yet Rees-Mogg thinks no one should vote for the Brexit Party as it will get Corbyn in No. 10! Is there any loyalty to voters, supporters activists etc Your party message through Lewis and Rees- Mogg appears to be it is okay to legitimise, vote and collude with Marxist Labour but not vote for a genuinely consertive party called Brexit! Quite alarming.

          1. Hope
            April 30, 2019

            Stewart Jackson asks: What exactly is the point of this Cabinet? Getting into bed with a Marxist catastrophist like Jeremy Corbyn? Presiding over the abandonment of Ministerial collective responsibility? Repudiating solemn manifesto pledges? Ignoring the defeat – thrice – of your flagship political project in the Commons? Reducing Her Majesty’s Government – a Conservative Government no less – into a virtue signalling Blair tribute act bereft of ideas, principles or basic competence?

            Good question that deserves to be answered. Perhaps we could ask Blaire rather than the left wing imitation of him?

        3. NickC
          April 29, 2019

          Hope, Mrs May will only agree after the locals to save as many Tory councillors as possible. So Friday for the Lab-Con coalition announcement, or possibly next Monday. Cynical, moi?

    2. James1
      April 29, 2019

      Unless she comes to her senses and reverses course very quickly, Mrs May will go down in history as a prime example of how foolish it is for politicians to betray their electorates.

      1. JoolsB
        April 29, 2019

        Didn’t you know James1 that it is everyone else’s fault except Mays that Brexit hasn’t happened yet because they won’t agree to her WA (surrender treaty to you and me). She is so obsessed by it that she’s blinkered to the anger out there towards politicians and John and his Brexiteer colleagues won’t act to remove her so she’s here to stay for the foreseeable future as she obviously hasn’t got a shred of dignity or honour else she would resign. Either that or she is mentally deranged and I am of the opinion it’s the latter.

      2. NickC
        April 29, 2019

        James1, She is in her senses, such as they are. This is what she wants – to lock us back into the EU, whilst calling it “Brexit”. Even she can’t call it leaving.

      3. L Jones
        April 29, 2019

        If she gets her ”treaty” through then it won’t matter whom she has betrayed in the UK – she will be a hero to the EU. We can be angry, but then she would have the last laugh.
        What a way to treat your own country.

    3. Julie Dyson
      April 29, 2019

      Very perceptive, Pominoz — there’s a definite and rather distasteful EU vibe in the way in which this government (and indeed, CCHQ) has been comporting itself of late. They have both become unhealthily tainted by association, infected by the authoritarian disease. What used to be “we know best, so pay attention” has become “you must do what we say, or else“.

      Mrs May following Sir John’s wise advice today is the absolute last chance the Conservative Party has of taking at least some of the wind from The Brexit Party’s sails and at least making the next GE a three-horse-race. If she persists with her reckless stupidity and stubbornness, however, it will be a two-horse race and the Conservative Party won’t even make it out of the starting gate, being by then only fit for the knacker’s yard.

    4. Lifelogic
      April 29, 2019

      Indeed blindingly obvious to go this way but May get everything wrong as we know. Another broken compass PM a socialist PC dope pretending to be a Conservative. Wrong on everything. We have had more than enough of them. Heath, Major, Cameron and now the worst one of all. Even Thatcher made basic and predictable mistakes like the poll tax, appointing John Major, signing damaging EU treaties, not cutting taxes and the state sector sufficiently, not sorting out the NHS …. 9 million operations and consultant appointment cancelled in a year it seems. Many senior doctors retiring and not doing overtime – due to idiotic pension tax rules form out tax to death Chancellor. More tax in the form of National Insurance now proposed it seems.

      1. Lifelogic
        April 29, 2019

        Jeremy Hunt said the other day his “highest priority was the safely of British Citizens overseas”. Fine, but he was totally unable to protect the safely of thousands of people while being treated, even bumped of quite often, or very often not treated by the often dire NHS during his long period as Minister of Health.

        He was, I though quite good at endlessly saying sorry but not much else. PPE yet again. He identifies as a “one-nation conservative” for which read “No Nation Conservative”.

        Damian Green hopeless on Nick Farrari today. Good JR article in the Telegraph today. The leader of the most supported party in the EU election Farage say the BBC never invite him on. The BBC bias is massive over the EU. Even if they get a Brexit or UKIP supporter on they just endlessly attack them over what a few of their sillier members might, or might not, have said.

    5. oldtimer
      April 29, 2019

      Hoping that May will change her mind is neither sensible nor practical. She is incapable of original thought. She will continue to push for the EU WA as long as she remains in office or succeeds in revoking Article 50. As the Conservative party is unwilling (MPs) or unable (members) to remove her from office the only practical non-violent solution is to seek her electoral oblivion. That is the aim of the Brexit party. It evidently enjoys the support of many Conservative party members and past voters. I expect the Brexit party to do well in the European elections. Whether the Conservative party will survive as the force it once was must be an open question. May once described it as the nasty party. Perhaps she has concluded she must be the nasty person to destroy it from within. So far she has displayed the necessary qualities for the job.

    6. Hope
      April 29, 2019

      Day 25. May still in office with her remain conspirators, including civil service. Your views are for the birds. By now the most dimmest Tory MP must realise Traitor May has no intention of properly, cleanly, openly and honestly leaving the EU.

      Anyone voting Tory at any election must be mad. It implies Support for the biggest betrayal in democracy our country has ever seen.

      Lewis supported MPs, over associations who wanted to oust them, who publicly advocated to destroy your part for leaving the EU! Suggest all supporters, activists and voters think about that.

      There is a battle from CCHQ to stop their serfs from uprising.

      1. Peter Wood
        April 29, 2019

        I think you’ve got it right; one could use many adjectives, arrogance, out of touch, hubris etc, but what it boils down to is we, the electorate, don’t much like being lied to and condescended to. You, the elected, are going to be removed.

        1. Timaction
          April 29, 2019

          Exactly. The legacies in Parliament have betrayed the people and must go.

        2. Lifelogic
          April 29, 2019

          Indeed, but alas likely to be replaced by even worse.

    7. Tad Davison
      April 29, 2019

      Whilst it might seem unfair that local Conservative councillors are predicted to carry the can for the failings of the deplorable and dishonest Theresa May, we need to remind ourselves they are the ones who supported and excused this weak and failing government in the first place.

      Following Theresa May’s backtracking on her Lancaster House speech, I had countless arguments with her supporters and warned they could lose out, but they wouldn’t listen. They were blinded by misplaced loyalty. They completely missed the point. They now say they should be judged on local issues and not on the government’s mishandling of Brexit. But these councillors are part of the same rancid machinery.

      I have never been one for party loyalty, especially blind party loyalty. My preference is to be loyal to a set of principles. Maybe a good compromise in the forthcoming local elections is to see whether candidates have the ‘right stuff’ and there’s a good metric – an acid test of character. Should any candidate show allegiance to the EU, then in my view, they are not fit to be a political representative at ANY level.

      1. Hope
        April 29, 2019

        You are correct their loyalty to May should be punished. They could have sent her a message over the last 3 years but declined to do so. All have blindly enacted EU regs and directives without a murmer.

      2. Alan Jutson
        April 29, 2019

        Tad

        “Should any (local Candidate) show any allegiance to the EU….”

        Just had that from the local LibDem in Wokingham, encouraging all EU Citizens to fill in an application form so they can vote in the EU elections.

        No surprise it was a LibDem, but surprised they do not understand how that will go down with voters.

        1. Dennis Zoff
          April 29, 2019

          Alan Jutson

          European Union (EU) Citizens – European Parliment Voter Registration Form (GB Region)

          Our local authority (LA) has sent a #EU Citizens # voting application form – hoping no doubt it will reflect an EU stance? It is a Remain LA.

          Yes indeed. My German wife has received hers but she had assumed she was a German citizen. The form is clearly an EU driven directive – pushed through by its UK proxy!

          Good news really, as she is staunchly anti-EU (as are her family and friends in Germany), very pro-British/European and decidedly anti-Westminster skulduggery…with a little anti-Merkel thrown in for good measure! She has an increasing view the EU is only fit for the history books, alongside the DDR and the other failed communist regimes!

          Perhaps interestingly, how would she be seen in a Brexit context: She studied medicine, so reasonably well educated (Remoaners don’t like educated Brexiteers that can think); obviously not a Remain supporter as she has adult children, which classes her as one of the deplorable aged and believes in a real democracy, not some form of DDR follow-on!

    8. ukretired123
      April 29, 2019

      Indeed following Einstein’s philosophy of keep it simple when problem solving but often the solution is under one’s nose but cannot see it. Miracles sometimes happen.

    9. rose
      April 29, 2019

      It is the deferred St George’s Day today (deferred because of Easter Week), and it could still be the day she announces our Deferred Independence Day.

      Actually, the DWA has been rejected four times if you count the days of debate in December when the rejection was estimated to be so large that she chickened out of holding the final vote.

  2. Ian wragg
    April 29, 2019

    But she won’t will she. She has promised Merkel that she can get the surrender document signed as an apology for being beastly towards Germany last century.

    1. Ian wragg
      April 29, 2019

      So the latest betrayal is to have 3 navy support ships built overseas. Can you name one other advanced economy that would allow this to happen.
      You really do deserve to be out of government for generations.

      1. Hope
        April 29, 2019

        A plea from Boris Johnson today to vote Tory not take it out on local councillors! Does he realise May is their leader and she and CCHQ have recently ignored them and local associations!

        Why vote for a party that has betrayed democracy and cannot be believed on anything! To vote Tory implies support for Traitor May.

        1. rose
          April 29, 2019

          But he and Jacob are right that saddling themselves with Labour councils is not the answer.

          1. Stred
            April 29, 2019

            Conservative councillors should put up as Conservative Independent of the mad Prime Minister.

          2. Hope
            April 29, 2019

            It will make little difference for a few years. It would be far worse to signal that the public support Traitor May in any possible way.

            Both JRM and Johnson have discredited themselves by caving for May’s servitude plan. If this is the extent of their backbone they need to resign as we need people with moral fortitude to face down traitors like May.

            What was the point of Johnson resigning fas on cabinet to later vote for her servitude plan! After reading his book on Churchill one would have thought he would have been inspired to act better than he has. To quote himself he appears to be acting like a polished turd.

            I shall vote for the person likely to cause the most damage to the Tory candidate whatever party that might be.

        2. Caterpillar
          April 29, 2019

          Hope,

          You are correct, support cannot be implied.

      2. Mitchel
        April 29, 2019

        Interesting figures just out from SIPRI on global defence spending for 2018.Top Five (accounting for c60% of total) are USA,China,Saudi Arabia,India,France.Russia has dropped to no 6-having completed major modernisation programmes.We appear to be no higher than 7.

    2. Iain Moore
      April 29, 2019

      Veterans For Britain say that May is signing up to EU rules which will send billion-pound UK support ship contracts to foreign shipyards.

      1. Hope
        April 29, 2019

        EU procurement rules that would not apply if the UK left theEU on 29/03/2019!

        Ask yourself who would put foreign jobs above your own citizens when about to negotiate a trade deal. A trade deal May failed to get in three years and not even discussed despite being told one would be signed a nanny second after we left ie 29/03/2019. May is the most dishonest PM in history. May substituted the trade deal we were told would be negotiated for her servitude plan as the deal. This deceitful act was to get phase two of her servitude plan signed for the vast amount of billions handed to the EU for nothing. That in itself was dishonest.

  3. formula57
    April 29, 2019

    Indeed, cancelling the Euro elections would mean “The Brexit party would have to stand down its candidates and loses it purpose in life”.

    Holding those elections may well signal that the Conservative Party loses its purpose in life, at least so far as the voters are concerned. It is staggering that we cannot predict T. May’s preference.

    O/T – I note with dismay that two weeks have passed since your 15 April letter to Attorney General Cox and we have seen no reply from him. His apparent conduct takes on a very poor appearance.

    1. Richard416
      April 29, 2019

      I hear that it is now impossible to cancel the elections. The best they can hope for is to prevent the elected candidates from taking office. By then we shall know who they are.

    2. NickC
      April 29, 2019

      Formula57 said: “It is staggering that we cannot predict T. May’s preference.”

      Oh, but we can. She wants to lock us back into the EU. She will kick the can further, whilst making fresh (and stale) false promises.

  4. Dame Rita Webb
    April 29, 2019

    It appears Mr Farage is trying to build an ’80s style Conservative party. Why would anyone who considers themselves to be remotely right wing want to support the May/Cameron Conservative party? This is not a protest vote about Mrs May’s handling of BREXIT, once thats finished, the alienation from her economic and social policies will continue. The Conservative party will soon be as relevant to British politics as the Liberal Democrats are today.

    1. Richard416
      April 29, 2019

      But that isn’t the Conservative Party. It is the parliamentary party letting everyone down. (Not you Sir John.)

    2. Timaction
      April 29, 2019

      …………..or any other extinct creature!

    3. Richard1
      April 29, 2019

      because voting for Farage’s part at least in a GE will let in corbyn and the marxists

      1. Kevindavies14
        April 29, 2019

        not necessarily!

        1. Hope
          April 29, 2019

          Richard, it might have escaped you May could not beat him in 2017 before her betrayal. Tories should have sacked her then for her personalised dementia tax manifesto.

          Last week the MPs decided to keep her in post!

          1. Richard1
            April 29, 2019

            I agree she is v unsatis and needs to go but I would rather have the Tories even with May than Corbyn.

          2. Hope
            April 29, 2019

            May has introduced fifteen Labour policies. She told Miliband that she would build on his energy policy! Remember the one Cameron and Osborne tried to frighten us by calling him Red Ed! He is more conservative than May.

      2. Dame Rita Webb
        April 29, 2019

        Why are you frightened of him? Mrs May thinks he is perfectly legitimate politician of whom she can do business with.

      3. ReefKnot
        April 29, 2019

        That’s not important. The important thing is to destroy the Conservative Party as retribution for their deliberate failure to deliver Brexit. If Labour get in that is just collateral damage.
        I speak as someone who has faithfully voted Conservative for the last 40 years. Never again will I allow myself to be fooled.

        1. Steve
          April 29, 2019

          reefknot

          I agree, the annihilation of the Conservative Party is what matters. Followed by a total purge of the civil service and BBC to return them to political neutrality.

          However I don’t think Labour will get in either. Brexit has lifted the lid and now everyone is far more informed about how scheming lying shysters have been taking electors for mugs over decades.

          Times are changing, and their like are finished. Labour will go down with the tories.

      4. Al
        April 29, 2019

        Don’t assume that the alternative for voting for the Brexit party is voting for May. For many voters, the other option is to not to vote at all, which would equally ‘let in Mr Corbyn’ as you put it.

        Policies like those announced today – paying for social care by making it more expensive to employ older workers through N.I., and increasing the number of over-fifties in fuel poverty – alienating the voters mere days before an election, do not help.

      5. libertarian
        April 29, 2019

        Richard1

        No it won’t because most main stream Labour voters are as sick of Corbyns Labour as we are sick of May’s Conservatives. The old two party system is now dead in the water . Lots more new parties will arise to take the place.We are in for some very interesting results .

        Meanwhile my imbecile MP Damian ( 3 million jobs will go in Brexit) Green now wants to tax people for being over 50. If we hadn’t have given out old age pension to the government but had instead invested it in a private pension we would be nine times better off already , rather than now having to pay a third government pension tax .

        The Tories really are bigger socialists than the socialists

        1. Fedupsoutherner
          April 29, 2019

          Libertarian, well, they’ve got to get the money for the EU from somewhere.

    4. Jim
      April 29, 2019

      Precisely.

      The current Tory Party when in government enacts policies that would be totally at home in the Blair government of 1997-2007. We have ministers left right and centre proposing to ban things, and control people’s freedoms, and trying to find ways to tax them more without them noticing. We have them allowing the police force to become an actual Thought Police. We have immigration running at exactly the same levels as under Blair. We have zero action on taking on the entrenched liberal forces of the quangos, indeed whenever they have attempted to put a Tory into one they have immediately backed down to the mud slung at those candidates by the Left (Toby Young and Roger Scruton). They have even appointed former Labour ministers to head quangos, and the current fiasco at Natural England over the General Licences to shoot pest birds is being overseen by its head who used to run Friends of the Earth. He’s really going to be objective in a dispute between animal rights activists and countryside dwellers who want to shoot pests isn’t he?

      Voting Tory nowadays gets you New Labour. Maybe not our host here, who is an old school Tory of freedom, low tax and a small State, but he’s a minority in the party nowadays, as we have seen over Brexit, the majority of the Tory party are nasty little reactionary authoritarians who think the voters are too stupid to make an informed decision and need controlling by their betters, ie Tory MPs.

      I’m a lifelong Tory voter, and its over. The brexit fiasco has opened my eyes as to what the Tory party has become, and its nothing that represents my interests as a small business owner who would like his country to be free of the EU and also not to be changed into something entirely different by mass immigration.

      1. Lifelogic
        April 29, 2019

        Indeed its nothing that represents my interests as a small business owner either. To the Conservative Party under socialist dope Theresa May, business owners (and indeed landords) are to be taxes to death, regulated to death, employment regulated to death, mugged, suffer laws interferring with free contracts, greencrapped to death, wage controlled to death and abused at every single opportunity. Who will rid us of this appalling and idiotic woman and he appalling PPE, highest taxes for 70 years chancellor.

        They they complain about the productivity problem!

      2. Sir Joe Soap
        April 29, 2019

        Blair 97 to 2006 far more supportive than this lot. A day, income tax, VAT all lower than now. Remember 17.5pc VAT?

      3. NickC
        April 29, 2019

        Jim, Very well said.

        1. M Davis
          April 29, 2019

          I second that!

      4. Stred
        April 29, 2019

        Agree 100%.

        1. Stred
          April 29, 2019

          Today I talked to a tenant and landlord who is horrified by the new Tory policy on revoking the rights to get your rental property back. Like most of my friends, he’s a Labour voter and is about to sell up.

  5. J Bush
    April 29, 2019

    Good morning

    I agree with you to a point, in so far as to cancel the EU elections and leave no deal is the best option, as it upholds the Law nearly 500 MP’s voted for. Something many of these MP’s are now choosing to ignore!

    However, May stating there is “a clear and credible European Manifesto statement of how we are going to get out soon”, after her mountain of lies who would believe her?

    1. Timaction
      April 29, 2019

      …………..indeed. We’re leaving on the 29th March, no deal is better than a bad deal……..TAKE A LOOK AT THE GERMAN WITHDRAWAL TREATY!!

      1. Andy
        April 29, 2019

        I’ve read the so called ‘Withdrawal Agreement’ penned in the Reich Chancellery and I am at a loss to understand much less explain how any Prime Minister of the United Kingdom could have even contemplated agreeing to such a document.

    2. Doug Powell
      April 29, 2019

      Exactly! You can always tell when the PM is lying – she opens her mouth!

    3. Leslie Singleton
      April 29, 2019

      Dear J–Was going to write myself saying just that–clear maybe but snowball in Hell’s chance of credible.

  6. Newmania
    April 29, 2019

    Perhaps a No Deal disaster is the only way to cure the stupid country of magical thinking? It is no worse than the May Deal ,( although a choice of the rack or the hot poker is hardly a choice )
    The daily whine of excuses, as the country slides driven into irrelevant poverty by might bring about an appetite for reality, as did the decline into economic stagflation of the 60s and 70s. The great problem is the ancient dysfunctional fptp system

    1. Dame Rita Webb
      April 29, 2019

      “irrelevant poverty” in the UK? For the past few years the UK has had the wherewithal to provide around 600,000 people p.a., from around the world, housing, a job/benefits, access to schools and the NHS etc. Thats apart from the 0.7% of GDP going out as foreign aid too.

      1. Newmania
        April 29, 2019

        You know that immigration is a net benefit to the exchequer right ?
        You know EU FOM is a large benefit to the exchequer obviously ?

        1. Edward2
          April 29, 2019

          Depends how it is defined.
          Pension costs NHS costs Housing costs Education costs?

          Ask yourself why has GDP per Capita not risen?

          1. Newmania
            April 30, 2019

            It does not depend how it is defined .
            The average EU migrant form Eastern Europe is more highly qualified than the average UK worker and obviously much much younger and much more likely to be working
            Average migrant overall puts the UK to shame in terms of economic fitness., This is leaving aside the large proportion of EU workers absolutely no-one things we can do without to keep our Services vital and central . Bankers Scientists educators ,
            These industries can all be taken away

            Use some common sense fcs the West is stagnating and a large factor is its aging demographic of course a lot of young working educated people is a good thing
            Do you seriously think we can get by with a load of bungalow dwelling illiterate idlers in their third decade of sponging voting for the rest of us to be parasitized ?

            You can invent some kind of argument for any old nonsense but it does get tedious after a while trying explain why the obviously dim witted is obviously dim witted

          2. Edward2
            April 30, 2019

            Carefully avoiding my point on definition.
            The current simplistic definition leaves out most of the costs of being a citizen from the calculations.
            Which is why an income of £30,000 pa is now the minimum required.

            And resorting to childish abuse just confirms you have no real counter to this simple point.

          3. NickC
            April 30, 2019

            Newmania, Of course it depends how it’s defined. You, presumably intentionally, leave out two vital factors. One is the sheer numbers – we are fed up of a vast flow of migrants making England the most overcrowded nation in Europe. And that’s not counting how English culture is being decimated. Second is that GDP/head is more important than total GDP for quality of life (which is not just monetary anyway).

          4. libertarian
            April 30, 2019

            Dear Dim witted Newmania

            If Eastern Europeans are all so smart, well qualified , thrusting young geniuses how come most of them work in low paid jobs in hospitality? How are they a net benefit to the exchequer when most of them are still only earning at the tax threshold?

            Go on big boy provide some evidence for the number of East European bankers there are . I know you dont know much but I guess someone needs to educate you, the older generation in the UK are the ones who have invented the technology that is replacing said grunt work.

            Oh and my dim uninformed friend more over 60’s work full time in the UK than most other Eastern European countries .

            Heres a thing called facts and data

            https://data.oecd.org/emp/employment-rate-by-age-group.htm

        2. Ginty
          April 29, 2019

          Not everything regards open borders is counted, so we don’t know.

          Things like extra security services and anti terror. No-one calculates what that costs us at all.

        3. APL
          April 29, 2019

          Newmainiac: “You know that immigration is a net benefit to the exchequer right ?”

          Go on them, make the case for immigration benefiting the economy. This is going to be good.

    2. Ginty
      April 29, 2019

      Doubtless the irrelevant poverty of the coming Thunberg austerity will be blamed on Brexit.

      No Deal was what we thought we were voting for.

      No Deal was what was outlined in the government leaflet prior to the referendum ! It warned that we were leaving the single market.

      If you had told us you intended to squeam and squeam and squeam until you made everyone sick we would not have voted in the first place !

      1. Newmania
        April 29, 2019

        Can you explain why the vast majority of people in poll after poll strongly oppose No Deal ?
        Did they forget what they voted for ?

        1. Edward2
          April 29, 2019

          Is that so?
          Opinium’s poll 23rd April 46% leave no deal 38% against leaving with no deal.
          And other previous polls by them in April and March were similar.
          Other polls show close results, some marginally for the WA others marginally in favour of just leaving.
          So your claim of a “vast majority” is not correct NM.

        2. Ginty
          April 29, 2019

          The government of 2016 – in the only poll that counted – was explicit that Leave meant leaving with No Deal. It was in the leaflet. Did you forget that ?

        3. L Jones
          April 29, 2019

          So which polls are YOU reading, Newmania? Some links might be instructive to those of us who have no idea what you are on about.

        4. libertarian
          April 30, 2019

          Newmania

          They are NOT. Just making up data seems to be a hallmark of EU types. Who needs facts when you can just make it up eh.

    3. Richard1
      April 29, 2019

      a revealing insight into the continuity remain mentality – the country is just ‘stupid’. nothing wrong with the EU, nothing to worry about – 30-50% youth unemployment in southern countries, fascists and communists resurgent in increasingly powerless eurozone parliaments, a massive potential crisis brewing with the euro, an absurd attempt to create a competing defence organisation to NATO – without spending the money. Maybe you should think about whether there might be some points of substance to debate?

      1. Newmania
        April 29, 2019

        fascists and communists resurgent

        …is this the UK or Europe you are alluding to ?

    4. NickC
      April 29, 2019

      Newmania, In apparent news for you the rest of the world does not exist in Never-never-land. It is neither “magical” nor a “disaster” for New Zealand, or India, to be independent of the EU. You have failed to provide rational reasons why you think the UK uniquely would be incapable of joining them. You appear infatuated with a sclerotic oligarchy as nothing more than an emotional bulwark. There is no reason for the EU to even exist, never mind the UK being subject to it.

      1. Dennis Zoff
        April 30, 2019

        NickC

        Quite correct.

        Other than to coerce the European populace into a neo-soviet style hegemony; their self-indulgent aggrandising, and retched Global self-promotion, what does the EU bring to the party…anyone?

        In real terms, the EU is simply an order of magnitude more recklessly extravagant and wasteful in the use of resources compared to Westminster.

        It serves no tangible purpose, other than providing monetary bribes to those countries that are desperate for “free” money, whilst enforcing political subjugation/alignment on those countries, who in turn lose their independent sovereign nation status into the bargain, for the benefit of the European Union project, aka Tower of Babel.

    5. Jagman84
      April 29, 2019

      The great problem is the dysfunctional EU. While they lord it over us, our electoral method is irrelevant. That’s the crux of Brexit. The democratic deficit, not your false prophecies of financial deficits.

    6. Tad Davison
      April 29, 2019

      I wonder what it will take to make doubters see the benefits of leaving the EU and trading on WTO rules as does the rest of the world?

      Nicholaus Copernicus faced a similar dilemma. He was treated as a heretic and scorned by people who had not the intellectual wherewithal to appreciate the strength of his discoveries, so he top was ridiculed by those with closed minds and vested interests. Yet now, it is his detractors who are ridiculed. That I venture, will happen with Brexit – once we get it!

      1. Henry Carter
        April 29, 2019

        No one trades on WTO rules. No one.

        1. Know-Dice
          April 29, 2019

          Not true, not true…

          Of 135 non-EU members of the World Trade Organisation, 58 currently trade with the EU under negotiated trade terms. The rest (77) trade under WTO terms.

        2. NickC
          April 29, 2019

          Henry Carter, False. Almost all global trade is under WTO rules. The WTO framework consists of 16 multilateral treaties and covers 98% of international trade (WTO website). The RTAs and MRAs (all must comply with WTO rules, and be registered at the WTO) modify only the rules – tariff barriers and NTBs – set up by individual states, not the WTO rules.

        3. Tad Davison
          April 29, 2019

          Oh dear, Henry is stamping his foot and having a grump! I guess that doesn’t quite fit your brainwashed narrative.

        4. Fred H
          April 29, 2019

          Then how do non-EU countries trade?

        5. acorn
          April 29, 2019

          Henry, you are wasting your time trying to explain WTO rules/terms on this site. The UK filed its goods schedule (GATT) last July and its services schedule (GATS) last December. The goods schedule is a cut and paste of the current EU schedule, with UK-EU agreed TRQ splits; the services bit needs, er … further explanation.

          The no-deal-no-pay-zero import tariffs type brexit, promoted by the Swivel-eyed Loons, has backtracked somewhat. Downing Street is saying at least 13% by value of imports will be subject to protectionist tariffs (for major vote losing sectors of the economy).

          BTW. The 1% of the UK economy that involves fish; and, the one in five thousand persons who can be described as a commercial fisherman, will have little to gain from brexit. The EU common fisheries policy is basically the UN global fisheries policy that will still be applicable after brexit.

          1. Edward2
            April 29, 2019

            acorn
            Why cant you make a post without resorting to abuse?

          2. Stred
            April 29, 2019

            People like me couldn’t give a stuff whether we bought another BMW or Dutch product again. Or whether a Japanese car firm sold any more cars to countries selling much more to us. You just don’t get it.

          3. L Jones
            April 29, 2019

            Ah! And here we are again! A remainer! Never a comment without an insult! Well done you, Acorn, staying true to form.

            At least we can rely on the ill-informed and narrow-minded to stay on their well-worn track.

          4. acorn
            April 30, 2019

            ABUSE you say! This site daily abuses Mrs May; MPs; Remainers; climate science; the EU etc etc.

            Set these pages on TTS (text to speech) and just listen to yourselves. It makes LBC sound like Women’s Hour.

          5. Dennis Zoff
            April 30, 2019

            acorn

            …and you are here daily to set the record straight with your erudite research…which purports to point out the error in our arguments?

            This site, unlike many others, is filled with highly knowledgeable fellows from all walks of life that bring insight to the Brexit question based on their intelligent personal experience.

            Your lack of fundamentals time and time again, as shown by your last canted comment, demonstrates a myopic view of all things EU, without any meaningful due diligence, which could help in the defense of your argument?

            For once, would it be possible for you to identify the tangible EU benefits of membership without resorting to sophistry?…and please don’t mention International Roaming Charges, which happens to be an area of my own personal expertise!

          6. NickC
            April 30, 2019

            Acorn, You Remains started the abuse on day one after the Referendum result (you remember? thick, flat-earthers, racist, uneducated, didn’t know what we were voting for, etc). You dish it out but can’t take it. Hypocrite.

  7. Peter
    April 29, 2019

    Yes, but May is not going to do that. She will cling to power and – step by step – try to undermine or cancel Brexit. The Conservative party will be complicit in allowing her to do so.

    1. Lifelogic
      April 29, 2019

      She must be stopped from putting per putrid W/A straight jacket on the country and the next PM/Government.

  8. Dominic
    April 29, 2019

    Don’t you understand John? This isn’t simply about May’s betrayal of the EU referendum result. This is about her conspiring with the EU, with Marxist Labour and other entities to circumvent democracy. It is also about her embrace of liberal left, identity politics, socialist attacks on the private sector, attacking freedom of speech, increasing controls of the media, refusal to rein in the BBC, her refusal to confront Marxism…I could go on

    She and your party are BETRAYING the nation, all Tory voters and every principle since this party came into being

    As with Labour, the Tory party we see today is not the Tory party. It’s become infected by a alien creed

    Your leader has embraced a form of politics that is more at home with your average Guardian reader. She is not a Tory. She is a liberal left bigot obsessed with race, gender, feminism and sexuality.

    She’s also embraced cultural Marxism.

    Again, this is not simply about the EU. The Parliamentary Tory party lives in a bubble. If you refuse to confront the threat of the liberal left, refuse to expose Labour’s anti-semitic bigotry, refuse to expose their plans to use immigration for political and electoral purposes, refuse to expose their plans to crush the private sector and to demonise those they hate then you deserve to fail

    We are sick to the back teeth of phoney, managed politics. Stop pandering to Labour’s tune. Stop playing by their rules. Confront BBC bias

    I want the party I voted for to stand up and confront a form of politics that is designed to completely reshape our nation and demonise millions of people

    1. Fedupsoutherner
      April 29, 2019

      Well said Dominic. We are all sick of our scheming politicians today. Drain the swamp.

    2. Everhopeful
      April 29, 2019

      Yes,yes,yes!!
      Brilliantly put.

    3. Timaction
      April 29, 2019

      +1

    4. Sharon Jagger
      April 29, 2019

      Dominic

      Very well put. I agree wholeheartedly! The Conservative party are left wing cultural Marxists now, and have been increasingly so, for a number of years. May and her cabal behave too much like the EU now too, bullying and expecting people to do as they’re told.

      The British don’t respond well to that kind of treatment as was stated in FCO30 1408 all those years ago. Despite the best efforts of successive governments, both Labour and Conservative, we are (on the whole) still a strong nation of independent people .

      Having decided to leave the EU, that’s what the country wants – not Mrs May’s surrender document which is the opposite of leaving! The corruption won’t end until Mrs May and her cabal are gone, and that is what Joe Public hopes to achieve by not voting for Conservative in anything. And I say that as a life long supporter of the Conservative party.

    5. JoolsB
      April 29, 2019

      You are absolutely spot on in everything you say Dominic. This has gone way beyond Brexit and if May in her duplicitous way cancels the EU elections, it won’t be because she has suddenly had some Damascene conversion but because she wants to stop Nigel Farage at all costs. Her spiteful and self serving actions might deprive us of voting for the Brexit party but will only encourage us to vote for them in the General Election whenever that may come. They are now the party for anyone who wants to vote for a true Tory party instead of the current lefty bunch of incumbents masquerading as Tory but which are anything but.

    6. bigneil
      April 29, 2019

      Unfortunately Dominic, the party you voted for only wanted your vote. It doesn’t want your opinions or thoughts. It promised to do certain things in it’s Manifesto – it lied. It will continue to lie to get what IT wants – not what we voted for.

      1. Gary C
        April 29, 2019

        How very true.

    7. Wessexboy
      April 29, 2019

      Yes, that is the party I want to vote for too!

    8. Bob
      April 29, 2019

      @Dominic

      Very well said.

      I stop buying TV Licences many years ago because I refuse to support the subversion and demoralisation of the British people.

      I stopped voting for the legacy parties for the same reason.

    9. L Jones
      April 29, 2019

      You probably speak for most of us here, Dominic.
      We’d no doubt prefer to say the intention of many of us to take our support away from the Conservatives is ”more in sadness than in anger” – except that it isn’t. It’s in very real anger.

      1. Fred H
        April 29, 2019

        anger in spades…

    10. Lifelogic
      April 29, 2019

      Exactly May and Hammond are wrong on almost everything. Just Corbyn light they even want to thieve of landlords now and thus destroy the private rental market.

      They pretend they want to get fracking, but kill it with absurd laws on “earth quakes” as the green loons call them. Or minor noises and vibrations as most would call it.

  9. Adam
    April 29, 2019

    Many of us normally-loyal Conservatives have joined the Brexit Party & donated, as have numerous friends. Making a further £100 contribution to protect our country assists campaign funds, & is better than paying the same & more to license errant BBC propaganda.

    The purpose of the Brexit Party is probably temporary, as was UKIP, which was founded solely to free the UK from the EU. At its inception, UKIP announced that the party would cease immediately its objective was achieved. The same may apply to the Brexit Party, but until proper Brexit is accomplished, substantive numbers of Conservatives will switch & support it. The Brexit Party has the prospect of reaching a tipping point: suddenly dominating, then becoming a long term destination for folk who value their country.

    Supporting Conservative MPs whose leader wanders backwards remains folly.

    1. Fedupsoutherner
      April 29, 2019

      Agree Adam. Their values and policies are more Conservative and so more attractive to me. I have worked with Farage ( all be it for a short time) and found him to be a down to earth, common sense kind of guy with the kind of ideas and thoughts more akin to a Conservative party of long ago. Bring it on.

    2. Amanda
      April 29, 2019

      Me too. I will be campaigning for them, and am already spreading the word with friends, family and neighbours. It is good to feel positive again and do something; rather than have to sit back and watch ‘mayhem’ at work in Parliament. The attraction of the Brexit Party is that it is about restoring democracy and getting people actively involved – leaving the EU now or eventually is only a start.

      The behaviour of the Conservative Party is astounding. From the cowards of the 1922 group who watch the party fall apart, to the one sided threats, to the lies that May’s deal is leaving, to the willingness to cowtow to Twitter mobs over Roger Scruton, to endangering our National Security, the high tax bill, the useless police, the bias of the BBC, and on and on and on with non-conservative words and actions. There is no Conservative Leader who could turn this around from inside the Party.

      1. Geoffrey Berg
        April 29, 2019

        No, Boris Johnson (or possibly even others, though nobody sensible would look beyond Boris Johnson as he alone can back up such a claim by his track record in London) could turn this around for the Conservative Party. It is incomprehensible that most Conservative M.Ps won’t kick out May and get somebody who can turn it around. If they don’t act soon it won’t just be May but they too who could be out of a job and we could end up with either Corbyn or Farage as Prime Minister. Impossible for an outsider to wreck the existing longstanding political parties? – just look at Greece, Italy, France and now Ukraine!

  10. Peter VAN LEEUWEN
    April 29, 2019

    IMHO:
    – Very very unlikely the EU would make you a better offer.
    – Many of the issues in the WA, including the financial ones won’t go away in case of “just leaving the EU without any deal”
    – It won’t be as bad as some of the most negative crashing out predictions, but it will show that your “the UK holding most the the cards in any negotiation” was plainly wrong.

    1. Dave Andrews
      April 29, 2019

      If the UK leave the EU without the withdrawal agreement signed, then presumably you would like UK-Dutch trade to continue on mutually convenient terms. After all, if my experience is anything to go by, the British and Dutch get on really well. We don’t need to leave with no deal, just not the WA apology for a deal.
      I expect you do, so tell your leaders that’s what you want.
      I doubt they will listen though.

      1. Jaap
        April 29, 2019

        Absolutely not. All Dutch people expect our government to continue as a member of the EU club, playing by the rules and enjoying the benefits (trade, free movement, peace, etc). You Brits want to leave? Go ahead. But expect no favours. Your choice to leave, you will not get any special deal from the Dutch or from anyone else. It’s a cold world on your own, as you are finding out – pushed around by the Irish over the backstop, who would have thought it. Your choice, you chose powerlessness and humiliation

        1. Fred H
          April 29, 2019

          Jaap….playing by the (Merkel) rules? When did Brits expect favours? Pushed around by the Irish? If you don’t recognise the stupid things our PM has done without a majority you don’t see your own country dictated to by Germany/France. Powerlessness/humiliation? Whoaa…history tells me that happened in spades a few decades ago in Europe. As for the nonsense of ‘all Dutch people want to continue in the EU club’ – where on earth did you get that idea?

          1. Peter VAN LEEUWEN
            April 29, 2019

            @Fred H: Actually, broadly speaking, Jaap is correct. There are enough statistis available on internet to support his claims.

        2. Dame Rita Webb
          April 29, 2019

          Just wait until your economy goes down the drain and see how much you can rely on the Germans to come to your aid. Next time they will want more than your bikes

          1. Peter VAN LEEUWEN
            April 29, 2019

            @Dame Rita Webb: Still living in the last century? Dutch German cooparation is really of another order than you perceive.

        3. rose
          April 29, 2019

          I don’t know how old you are but there was a time when British people went without food so Dutch people could eat. They were glad to do it. They didn’t talk of powerlessness and humiliation.

          1. rose
            April 29, 2019

            In case you don’t remember, it was in 1944-5 and again in 1947.

          2. Peter VAN LEEUWEN
            April 29, 2019

            @Rose: Such last century comments don’s befit you Rose.

          3. margaret howard
            April 29, 2019

            “If Britain had not stood firm in 1939, the Europe of today would not exist”

            You can play that game with endless variations.

            If the Spanish hadn’t defeated the Moors Europe would be muslim

            If the Confederates had won the civil war the US wouldn’t exist

            If Napoleon had won Russia we would all be speaking French

            And if Russia and the US hadn’t defeated Germany….

          4. rose
            April 29, 2019

            Not last century, Peter, but enduring civilized values which rise above Protectionism.

          5. David Price
            April 30, 2019

            @PvL – Maybe last century but closer in generational memory as it was my parents, uncles, aunts and grand-sires who made that sacrifice on your countrymen’s behalf.

            It was not done because payment or quid pro quo was expected. But then the spiteful anti-British behaviour of the pro-EU was not expected either. This has been a clear lesson for many of us that no good deed goes unpunished and we should be very wary indeed of who and how we help in the future.

        4. Nigl
          April 29, 2019

          What a load of Bols. I seem to remember the Dutch voting in a referendum and the EU ignoring you or rather the Germans who control you economically deciding you were too small to matter.

          I accept your geographical position gives you little choice but please do not tell me the Dutch people are happy to meekly salute the EU flag as you seem to be.

          As for a cold world, record inward investment, continuing growth, continuing high and growing further, levels of employment. If that’s cold just look at what your wonderful politicians have done to countries like Greece, Portugal, Spain, Italy and the misery they have created.

          All to allow Germany’s continuing massive surpluses, which they use to control other countries economies, often against the democratic wishes if the people.

          All based on a ‘weak’ Euro or certainly not an appreciating one as happened with the DMark and to bale out Frances inefficient manufacturing, agriculture and support their overblown social security system.

          Finally your nonsense about peace. It was NATO, especially the Americans with Thatcher and Reagan who finally convinced Gorbachev to come to the negotiating table, in direct contrast to the EUs ridiculous posturing in the Ukraine which is making the world more dangerous again let alone their total lack of leadership during the Balkans conflicts.

        5. Jon Reade
          April 29, 2019

          I am sure you will be happy to lose your £20 billion pa trade surplus with the UK. Very sensible.

          1. Peter VAN LEEUWEN
            April 29, 2019

            @Jon Reade: Not happy but quite prepared to, in order not to lose our much larger benefits as foundig members of the EU, the single market, etc.

        6. Nigl
          April 29, 2019

          Ps I see last year our inward investment was the largest in Europe, more than Spain, Germany and Poland combined. Where did you say was cold?

        7. NickC
          April 29, 2019

          Jaap, It is the Dutch who are powerless in the EU. Why? Because EU laws have primacy over Dutch laws. And when the EU gives you a kicking, you won’t be able to do anything about it. Trade for sovereignty? – that’s a fools bargain. Don’t expect us to save you this time from the latest incarnation of the (Un)holy Roman Empire.

        8. Tad Davison
          April 29, 2019

          That is down to the lamentably poor standard of leadership of the British people by their so-called ‘elected representatives’!

          If you think we British couldn’t be successful out of the EU, you are sadly mistaken.

          We are decidedly uncomfortable by the way Theresa May and her cohorts have laid down in the mud for people like the Irish government in such a humiliating way. It has caused much resentment and makes us even more determined to go our own way. When the British people recall these times and veer away from the purchase of southern Irish goods, I hope the Irish people tap Varadkar on the shoulder and tell him why!

          As the world’s 5th biggest economy, we will buy from our friends who show us good will. The converse is also true. That goes for everyone – including the Dutch. You want to sell to us, behave yourself and show us some respect!

        9. Stred
          April 29, 2019

          Your choice. Dutch flower growers and cheese makers will not be pleased with your blinkered stupidity.

        10. L Jones
          April 29, 2019

          ”We are taunted—by the French, by the Italians, by the Spaniards (?: and the Dutch?)—for refusing to worship at the shrine of a common government superimposed upon them all… where were the European unity merchants in 1940? …… They were either writhing under a hideous oppression or they were aiding and abetting that oppression. Lucky for Europe that Britain was alone in 1940…”

      2. Steve
        April 29, 2019

        Dave Andrews

        “After all, if my experience is anything to go by, the British and Dutch get on really well.”

        That’s what I would have said, until a certain poster with a dutch name came on here doing his best to belittle our country and insult our people.

        Since that’s what the Dutch think of us, fine….they and their crap country can go to hell, we don’t need them one bit.

    2. Andy
      April 29, 2019

      A no deal Brexit will be terrible but those who expect a thunderclap of badness on day one are wrong.

      Brexit is not an instantaneous fatal crash. It is a serious accident followed by years of decline. Death is slow. This is why – two years after a no deal – some will ask what the fuss was about.

      It is only 20 years after a no deal when your grandchildren are 20% poorer than German, French and Dutch kids they the damage will be clear.

      1. agricola
        April 29, 2019

        Your oracle is being fed the wrong offal. Start with a half full pint and think positive.

      2. Edward2
        April 29, 2019

        Your baseless prediction of being 20% poorer is over ten times the official Treasury prediction.
        And that prediction has been seen to be a very pessimistic guess.

      3. Steve
        April 29, 2019

        “It is only 20 years after a no deal when your grandchildren are 20% poorer than German, French and Dutch kids they the damage will be clear”

        Scaremongery won’t work. Besides, without England the EU will have collapsed within 20 years anyway.

      4. NickC
        April 29, 2019

        Andy, Many of the “kids” in the EU continue to be poorer than UK kids. Even France has over 20% youth unemployment whilst Greece has been up to nearly 60% youth unemployment. When the EZ banking crash comes on top of the current recession in the EU, kids in the EU will be even poorer on average. But that’s what you Remains want for UK youth.

        1. Fred H
          April 29, 2019

          Why do you think the EU want us to continue unchecked travel and possible employment over here? Several countries face horrendous cost if their younger people return home. Think of the unemployment rates, the benefits to be paid, the French gilets jaunes (yellow vests) riots in other countries. It rather suits them to have us providing jobs/benefits.

      5. APL
        April 29, 2019

        Andy: “It is only 20 years after a no deal when your grandchildren are 20% poorer than German, French and Dutch kids they the damage will be clear.”

        I’ve got news for you. The British governments policy is to make you poorer by 3% each year. According to the Bank of England’s inflation calculator to get the same purchasing value of one hundred 1998 pounds you have to spend £172.86 today.

        So in fact, over the last twenty years under the auspices of the EU controlled British government you are nearly 3/4 worse off.

        https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy/inflation/inflation-calculator

        That horse had bolted. The EU did nothing for us during that time.

    3. Roy Grainger
      April 29, 2019

      The House of Lords say the financial charitable contribution to the EU in the WA is not a legal requirement. Still, I suppose you know better. The “hold all the cards” comment was based on leaving on WTO terms and then negotiating a trade deal, that plainly gives UK leverage, for example all access by EU fishing boats to UK waters would be terminated immediately in the absence of the EU agreeing a deal.

    4. Woody
      April 29, 2019

      But the EU hasn’t made anything that could be called an offer. It’s “offered” a straight jacket in legal terms that is even worse than the current EU control arrangement, and that is teh issue with May’s (the Civil Service’s) so called withdrawal agreement.
      Of course there won’t be a “crash out”. No deal would have little impact upon our lives in the long or short term and the EU will be talking free trade arrangements within days of us leaving as their export to UK businesses will be desperately making demands for one.
      It should not have been a matter of who held the cards. A genuine partner, as the EU purported to be, would have accepted the decision of the UK people and worked together to set in place a post partnership arrangement …instead they threatened us and tried to bully us and then subverted our bureaucrats to conspire to produce the “Withdrawal Agreement” … i.e. capitulate.

    5. Lifelogic
      April 29, 2019

      Well the putrid WA is clearly worse than just leaving.

      1. Fred H
        April 29, 2019

        and appears worse than just staying. Try exit again later with a party and PM who plays honestly.

    6. Timaction
      April 29, 2019

      ……………….how much is the current trade deficit annually? Who is the second largest contributor to this POLITICAL project? How do the majority of Nations outside the political project survive without all the EU regulations and rules? What added value does the EU provide us? Answers on a post card!

      1. margaret howard
        April 29, 2019

        Timeaction

        ” Who is the second largest contributor to this POLITICAL project?”

        Not that old chestnut again. We are NOT the second biggest contributors.

        We are the sixth highest contributors per capita according to the European Commission

        And our contributions are the lowest of all EU countries when measured as % of GDP (Peston BBC 2014)

        1. Timaction
          April 30, 2019

          Second largest Margaret……………because we are the second largest! The rest you state is just spin. Do you have Stockholm syndrome, incapable of wanting independent sovereignty returned to those who we can elect and remove?

        2. APL
          April 30, 2019

          Margaret Howard: “We are the sixth highest contributors per capita according to the European Commission .. ”

          But is the UK a net contributor, or as you have repeatedly misleadingly stated several times, do we get back much much more than we contribute?

          If so, it shouldn’t be too hard for you to lay your hands on some facts and figures to corroborate your currently unfounded assertion.

    7. Sir Joe Soap
      April 29, 2019

      We could, and would, end up breaking up your organisation if you were so doggedly intransigent towards us but where we had a sensible but determined leader in place. I think we can name a person who is ready and willing.

      There is absolutely no way we should be signing up to your “pay us what we tell you to” terms. Any leader of any party who signs up to these will find themselves and their party consigned to the dustbin of history, and any EU which thinks they can impose the same risks our ire for many years to come.

    8. Wessexboy
      April 29, 2019

      Peter, they haven’t ‘offered’ us anything yet! All we could do with is a sensible (for both sides) agreement to trade without tariffs. It looks as though that cannot happen until, and unless we leave.

      1. Peter VAN LEEUWEN
        April 29, 2019

        @Wessexboy: kindly re-read Mr Redwood’s text: “The EU might then make us a better offer . . . “

    9. Beecee
      April 29, 2019

      There is no point in holding good cards if they are never played!

    10. Jagman84
      April 29, 2019

      The EU is no different to any other parasitic entity. It cares little of the host(s) that it feeds off. That’s why they are so intransigent in the so-called negotiations. It’s not the EU machine that will suffer the consequences of their actions.

    11. Dominic Johnson
      April 29, 2019

      @Peter
      Please do provide treaty and paragraph that asserts there is an “exit fee”

    12. NickC
      April 29, 2019

      PvL, No better offer on what, though? We haven’t got to a trade deal yet. As usual your comment is disingenuous. The point about holding all the cards was indeed silly, but it was about trade only – because you sell more to us than we sell to you.

      As for any “withdrawal deal”, I did warn on here and elsewhere that we should not invoke TEU Article 50 as it puts the balance of power in the hands of the EU. I said the UK should give 12 months diplomatic notice that we would abrogate the EU treaties. The EU and the UK could then sign up on multiple minor agreements ranging from double taxation to driving licences to cope with the separation, just as we would (and do) with any other foreign country.

      1. Peter VAN LEEUWEN
        April 29, 2019

        @NickC: As a percntage of GDP you sell us more than we (EU27) sell you. Can’t you see that is a determining factor in holding negotiation cards, not the absolute figure.

        1. Edward2
          April 30, 2019

          You can’t spend percentages of GDP.

        2. NickC
          April 30, 2019

          PvL, Even you can’t bank percentages. Cash is king. Percentages only have any significance if the EU is at economic war with the UK. Which is itself an enlightening thought. You should be more careful what you reveal.

    13. Andy
      April 29, 2019

      Peter VL,
      You talk of ‘Many of the issues in the WA, including the financial ones won’t go away in case of “just leaving the EU without any deal”’
      Kindly explain the ‘Financial issues’ to all of us with reference to the exact Articles in the Treaties. I have searched and searched and searched and I can find no reference to any ‘exit fee’ nor to any financial liability other than those set out in the Treaties. You obviously know differently, so explain.

      1. Tad Davison
        April 29, 2019

        We either have a Jekyll and Hyde character amongst us, or this Andy is so much more eloquent than the ‘other’ Andy. One is a pleasure to read. The other – how could I put it and still get past the moderator?

        1. L Jones
          April 29, 2019

          Is the word pl*nker the one for which you are groping, Tad?

          Perhaps we could ask the Andy With Brains to identify him/herself with some sort of alternative ID!

          1. Andy
            April 30, 2019

            With due respect I have been posting here for many years, as I am sure Sir John would confirm. It is only of late that someone else has come along and used the name ‘Andy’. Our contributions are so radically different it is not difficult to tell which from which, but perhaps the other Andy should alter his ID as he is the later poster. I noted on another thread that he demanded, with all the arrogance of a Remainiac, that I change my name !!

      2. Peter VAN LEEUWEN
        April 29, 2019

        @Andy: Your negotiation team had it explained to them almost on day one and the list of UK commitments was published on internet by the EU. Maybe you should have searched a bit better. I’m not going to repeat all that.

        1. Andy
          April 29, 2019

          PVL, Please read what I said. I quite clearly said with ‘reference to any ‘exit fee’ nor to any financial liability other than those set out in the Treaties’. You should be very able to quote the relevant Articles from the Treaties.

          Bariner has been unable to do so, and continues to be unable to do so, but you assert that the UK has ‘commitments’, which must be based in Law and the only Law there is happens to be the Treaties. So explain the Legal basis (referencing the Treaties) for any claimed exist bill. Also could you explain, as there cannot be liabilities without assets, what share of the assets of the EU have been allocated to the UK in view of the fact that we have always been one of the principle paymasters of said EU.

        2. APL
          April 29, 2019

          PvL: “Your negotiation team had it explained to them almost on day one and the list of UK commitments was published on internet by the EU.”

          But where in the treaties is it established that a country leaving the EU would have obligations to the EU upon leaving the EU?

          Cite relevant clauses in the Treaty of Rome, the Maastricht treaty, the treaty of Lisbon etc.

          Since the treaties until Lisbon only envisaged ‘ever closer union’ it’s my bet you won’t be able to fund such.

    14. Lindsay McDougall
      April 30, 2019

      It’s not about economics; it’s about sovereignty.

      If you want a second referendum, try this question:

      “Do you want the four nations of the United Kingdom to become provinces of a Federal European SuperState?” Yes/No.

      PVL, what do you think the “Yes” percentage would be in answer to that question?

  11. eeyore
    April 29, 2019

    Isn’t it more likely that a last-minute fix emerges from the joint HMG-EU fudgeworks so that we neither need hold an election nor leave next month?

    The EU never minds bending the rules in its own interest, and democracy is now just an embarrassment to this government.

  12. DaveM
    April 29, 2019

    But no one will believe that manifesto. Certainly not with May at the helm.

    Acta non verba.

    1. MickN
      April 29, 2019

      Trust is lost quicker than it is earned and I for one will never believe a word Mrs May says so many times has she lied to us. I don’t like putting my trust in someone and being made to look a fool. I am not going to be doing it again any time soon. That would make me really stupid and I don’t believe that I am.

    2. sm
      April 29, 2019

      Dave – exactly. Mrs May explicitly stated her intended actions (Lancaster House) and then betrayed herself and her Government, etc, etc. I have nothing but contempt for her, her Cabinet and her advisors.

  13. Edwardm
    April 29, 2019

    JR states the obvious course for those Conservative MPs who wish to save their party.
    Will such common sense persuade the parliamentary party to change course?

    A news article today reminds us that the government want foreign shipyards to tender for RN auxiliary ships, after purchasing steel for Trident subs from France. Plus Huawei. They really want to reinforce the point they are not on side.
    Yet they want our votes – how un-joined-up is that.

    1. Andy
      April 29, 2019

      I am sure in your next post you will be whining about how much tax you pay. And here the government is trying to help you pay less by asking for cheaper tenders from abroad.

      Remember your lovely blue passport (which is less useful than your burgundy one) will be made in France. Treasure the thought that your desire for cheapness and blueness put British workers out of work. You can think about it during the pointlessly long queues you’ll have at airports after Brexit.

      1. NickC
        April 29, 2019

        Andy, Remain has been whining ever since we won the Referendum, now only a step away from destroying our democracy. As for cheaper prices from the EU – pull the other one. A cheaper nominal purchase price does not equate to either a cheaper ownership price, nor a lower cost taking into account UK jobs and taxes. Moreover the passport decision was made by this Remain government – your Remain government.

        1. Simon
          April 29, 2019

          Hilarious trying to blame Remainers.

          1. Edward2
            April 29, 2019

            Why so Simon?
            Parliament is remain supporting as is the Government.
            They are in charge.

          2. NickC
            April 30, 2019

            Simon, Then why hasn’t Parliament voted for the (wrongly named) “No deal” option (ie Leave)? Answer: because a majority of MPs want the UK to remain attached to the EU. Hence it is a Remain government, in a Remain Parliament. It’s so simple, Simon, even you can understand it.

      2. Ginty
        April 29, 2019

        Other countries see the sense in not putting their own workers out of work.

        Outsourced work ends up with higher tax anyway. Payment of dole to people whose skills have been lost. A totally false economy.

        1. Ginty
          April 29, 2019

          Plus Andy wants us to outsource our work… and then import people to compete for the jobs left !

    2. Richard416
      April 29, 2019

      I think it is a very sad state of affairs when our own government does not support British industry.

    3. Sir Joe Soap
      April 29, 2019

      Many of us are kicking ourselves for being lied to less than 2 years ago, when there are 3 more years before we can right that wrong. Let’s use that time to build the new and be ready to despatch the old and stale!

  14. Caterpillar
    April 29, 2019

    I think there is an inevitable message being sent to support the Brexit Party as the only party wanting Brexit. If the reports are true that Rory Stewart would quit if Boris Johnson became leader and campaigned for ‘hard Brexit’ due to its associations with the hard right, then it is 100% clear that the Conservatives do not understand what democracy is, they don’t understand what leaving is, they don’t understand what the hard right is. As a voter I know the result of the referendum, I know it is possible to hold another vote where clean leave is an option, and I know that the Brexit Party is a leave party that is not hard right – Farage left UKIP because of where UKIP was going. If the only support for a clean Brexit in the Conservatives is hard right as supposedly implied by Rory Stewart then supporting the Brexit Party is more than reasonable – clean leave and clean politics.

    1. Timaction
      April 29, 2019

      His description of hard right confirms all our views on the centre of gravity in the current Conservative Parliamentary party is hard left socialists.

  15. agricola
    April 29, 2019

    For the conservative party and particularly it’s management, the very existense of the Brexit Party is a self inflicted wound. The Brexit Party would not exist but for the total dishonesty of T May, her civil service advisors, and the opportunist cabinet she has managed in a very fractured way to gather about herslf. There are an additional two hundred or so conservative MPs who share the blame, some so blatantly dishonest and opportunist to be way beyond the pale.

    In castigating conservative members , threatening them and telling them how to vote it is irony beyond satire. This from a self same leadership that chooses to consort with a Marxist led opposition to get it’s toxic WA through the Commons against the wishes of it’s own party and the country at large. A country that clearly told government what to do in June 2016. A leadership that clearly and repeatedly said what it was doing until Chequers when we discovered they had been lying to us for two years. Additionally a leadership that would sell us out to the Chinese government over G5, and at the same time to starve us and our industry of home grown low toxicity fracked fuel, putting us in hock to the EU and others for power.

    As you imply the honest solution is at hand. Leave on WTO terms before the EU elections and survive as a political party. Fail to do so and face humiliation at the EU election and brace yourself for disintegration at the next GE. The ones I feel sorrow for are all those good Conservative Councillors who face humiliation at the local elections through no fault of their own. Like the first wave over the top at the Somme, sacrificed by an incompetent leadership.

  16. Mark B
    April 29, 2019

    Good morning

    The enduring memory of this government and this PM from the time it took over, will be rank incompetence.

    From a GE that was never needed. Policies that no one knew in the partymanifesto, as stated here by our kind host. To attacking its own supporters and members.

    The Conservative Party will rue the day that they allowed Teresa May MP the oppotunity of preferred treatment of a woman’s only short list, and her less than stella rise to high office. A price we will all pay for a long time to come.

  17. Lindsay McDougall
    April 29, 2019

    Not enough. The Withdrawal Agreement must be withdrawn.

    As long as the Withdrawal Agreement and Mrs May linger, the Conservative Party is unelectable.

  18. Mike Stallard
    April 29, 2019

    I have been, Sir John, on this blog for several years now as you know.
    In the past, it was a place where Conservatism was taken completely for granted and the comments were witty, urbane and very mild – which is why I got moderated out very early on!
    Now I read the comments and see burning anger and – yes – disbelief that anyone could support a Conservative Prime Minister who seems to have gone native in Brussels.
    Nigel Farage is running rings round the party in which I have been brought up.
    Get a grip!

    1. Fred H
      April 29, 2019

      Mike S .. a large majority of Con MPs appear to suffer from some sort of misguided loyalty to their PM. Doesn’t matter how incompetent she’s proving to be, how many lies she’s told, how self-centred she is. They will watch and follow as she proves to be the leader lemming, jumping over the cliff while saying ‘its alright so far’.

      1. APL
        April 29, 2019

        Fred H: “Doesn’t matter how incompetent she’s proving to be, ..”

        It’s my opinion that she was an incompetent Home Secretary, her one redeeming characteristic is that she is also an incompetent Prime Minister.

        It’s also my opinion, that her ‘right on liberal’ AKA Marxist policies while home secretary are in large part to blame for the rise in knife crime in our Metropolitan cities.

        1. Timaction
          April 30, 2019

          I suppose cutting 20,000 Police, 1000,s of Prison Officers, Probation and all support agencies to take people out of crime may also have something to do with it. Also being rude to those public servants may take a while to restore their faith in the former Conservative Party, once the party of law and order!

  19. Richard1
    April 29, 2019

    That clearly isn’t going to happen. Brexiteers need a plan B – on which they can unite. Otherwise I assume we drift towards October and them have another round of ‘cliff edge’ drama at that point. The longer it is left the easier it becomes for those wanting a 2nd referendum. This must be the continuity remain strategy.

    I’d suggest starting by getting rid of Mrs May.

  20. Julie Williams
    April 29, 2019

    Unfortunately, you are talking “common sense” and that is a language which the Tory hierarchy has well and truly abandoned .
    The simple truth is that without May and remainer tories actions during the last two years there would be no Brexit Party.
    Both the Tory and Labour Party need to split into parties with clear aims and manifests, not some awful mishmash of ideals which currently exist.
    To paraphrase Orwell badly, “When the voters looked at the Tory and Labour “moderates”, they could see no differece”.

  21. rick hamilton
    April 29, 2019

    Does the Conservative party have a special desk where the wishes of its supporters are sought on every issue and then the PM is instructed to do the exact opposite ?

    1. Lifelogic
      April 29, 2019

      Seems so.

    2. David Price
      April 30, 2019

      The only time I even got any acknowledgement from CCHQ to any correspondence on any matter was to confirm my resignation of membership. I assume everything else went straight into the bin. The local association is far more responsive but unfortunately, they are not in the driving seat.

  22. javelin
    April 29, 2019

    Why are the Conservatives not making an argument for voting for them ?

    The argument appears to be that the core vote need to keep voting for them.

    From all (100%) the comments in the Telegraph nobody want to give a vote to a party that no longer represents their view point and does what ever it wants. Many other reasons are given. One being the Conservatives are the party of mass immigration, foreign aid, high taxes and corporate lobbying. The voters no longer appear in their plans.

  23. Andy
    April 29, 2019

    One thing is certain. The Conservative Party is dying.

    Brexit is killing it.

    Sure, the Tories may stay on life support for a few more decades but the end do near.

    Ironically it will not be the tin pot dictator Farage which kills them off.

    It will be the overwhelmingly pro-EU next generation.

    1. agricola
      April 29, 2019

      The Tory party is committing suicide by being dishonest to the electorate and failing to carry out their instructions on Brexit.

      Nigel is the only honest one pointing out their failings. By the time your saviour generation can vote it is more than likely the EU will have imploded.

      1. mancunius
        April 29, 2019

        Andy’s ‘saviour generation’ will never be able to tear themselves away from Netflix for long enough to work out how use their satnav in order to find their way to the ballot box to vote about an issue they don’t understand.

        It’s the entitled middle-aged plutocrats like Andy who do all the shouting.

        1. Tad Davison
          April 29, 2019

          Good one!

      2. Alastair McIntyre
        April 29, 2019

        I agree… Nigel is an honest patriot whereas most MP’s are not. I can’t understand why so many MP’s don’t have faith in the British people nor British business.

        BUT I don’t see any way to leave with a “No Deal” as it would appear the British Parliament won’t allow that to happen. So the only way to make it happen would be a huge vote for the Brexit Party.

        John wants to leave on a “No Deal” BUT how would this happen John? Leavers are not in the majority in Parliament so just wishing for a “No Deal” won’t bring that about… so please tell is how this can happen.

    2. NickC
      April 29, 2019

      Andy, Emotional EU propaganda, as you peddle, does sway the immature, but most grow up. That’s why the age swing point is in the early 40s – 25 years before retirement – when people have discovered the Remain lies for themselves.

  24. Nigl
    April 29, 2019

    Yes, a silly threat allegedly based on the votes of Labours diehard Remainers conveniently forgetting/overlooking the Labour leave vote which is also turning to the Brexit party.

    More evidence of the desperation, isolation and out of touch nature of the Government’s centre.

    Ps re yesterday I see that one of your health ministers has suddenly had a lightbulb moment that buying in bulk can reduce the NHS’ costs. Wow. If only the rest of us had known that!

  25. Alan Jutson
    April 29, 2019

    Not so sure the solution is in Mrs Mays hands any more, as she has absolutely pissed off so many people, politicians included, few would follow her anywhere now.
    The solution however is in Parliaments hands.

    Simply leave on WTO terms as the legislation stands, get back control immediately, or all three traditional Parties will suffer a massive loss of support and votes for playing political games with our future.

  26. Iain Gill
    April 29, 2019

    Announcing likely new taxes on over 50’s in the few days before an election, the conservatives have a death wish. Especially as many over 50’s have financial responsibility for infants. Just absolutely nonsense policy from an out of touch political class.

  27. Kevin
    April 29, 2019

    “The Conservatives would shoot up in the polls.”

    That may be true, but I am not sure that they deserve such a boost. Labour’s perceived abandonment of the working class is being targeted at the moment. If they can be supplanted as the default opposition, we would see how popular the Conservative Party is in itself.

  28. agricola
    April 29, 2019

    The credibility of the conservative party has moved beyond manifestos. They are not worth the paper they are written on. To suggest otherwise is to insult the intelligence of the electorate by implying that we are all gullible fools.

    It is naive to think that not holding EU elections would negate the purpose of the Brexit Party. It might stop immediate humiliation, but there is so much wrong with UK politics that a clearing of the swamp would have great appeal to an electorate starved of a breath of fresh thinking. My verdict/prediction is that, on the performance of UK politicians of all colours over the past three years, you have exceeded the tipping point and there is no way back to the cosy status quo you have enjoyed over the last century. Either open your minds to the new reality or be consigned to the dust of history.

    1. NickC
      April 29, 2019

      Agricola, The Tory party will be humiliated at the locals. It will probably just slide off T(eflon) May, since she has no self-awareness. I don’t know whether the Tory hierarchy are aware of the contempt in which they are held, but their public denials of the problem only make them look even more out of touch.

      1. Alastair McIntyre
        April 29, 2019

        I really think that blaming local councillors is the wrong way to take this. Many local councillors are doing a great job and are really not to blame for the woes of the Party at Westminster. In my view it would be a grave mistake to blame them for the mess our MP’s have created.

        It is the MP’s that need to be held to account and not the local councillors.

        1. Original Richard
          April 29, 2019

          Many local councillors are just MPs in waiting and there are many pro EU Conservative councillors who still continue to support Mrs. May and her false and damaging WA.

          For leavers to continue to vote for the EU supporting Conservative/Labour/Lib Dem/Green/CHUK parties and expecting a different result is the very definition of insanity and this includes voting in the local as well as the MEP or GE elections.

          Mr. Cable has already made it clear that a vote for them at the local elections this week is a vote to remain in the |EU.

          Sovereignty is more important than bin collections and the whole swamp needs draining.

          1. Alison M
            April 30, 2019

            It was one of our local councillors and the chairman of our local Conservative association that persuaded our local members not to send a damning message to May at our AGM.
            They will be paying the price for not sending the message.
            The meeting at the EGM is too late for the local elections and the euros. But they had better send a strong message to the limpet in number 10 then or the party will be toast.
            The time for being polite and giving her a chance went when she published Chequers.

  29. Alan Jutson
    April 29, 2019

    This is a free Country, we will vote for who we want, when we want it, as that is our democratic right.

    Who do these people think they are telling us what to do.

    Perhaps that is where the real problem is, Politicians thinking they can order the people about because they think they know better !

    No chance.

  30. matthu
    April 29, 2019

    The trouble is that a significant number of Conservative MPs believe that without shackling the country to EU subservience in perpetuity the party would be bereft of moral principle.

    One minister puts it this way “The important thing is to have moral principles and for me the red line is campaigning for a No Deal” and this apparently explains why several ministers and MPs would quit the party if Boris Johnson became leader. Not that many voters would perceive this as being a great loss.

    The real issue is that the Conservative Part has for too long been too timid to nail its colours to the mast on too many issues for fear of losing electoral support: they would prefer to hide behind the skirts of the EU.

    Leaving the EU (without TM’s awful withdrawal treaty) would force the Conservative Party to re-examine what it stands for, something hardly anyone knows any more, so it is no wonder at all that it can barely attract voters.

    If they vote for the Conservative Party they no longer have any idea what sort of animal they are getting. Any future manifesto would be worthless after this government.

  31. Simon
    April 29, 2019

    I wonder if Theresa May is still wed to Francis Maude’s strategy of “lose 25% to win 50%”.

    In light of 498 MPs having voted for Deal or No Deal Brexit on 29 March, she might like to invert the numbers, and some.

  32. John Sheridan
    April 29, 2019

    Sound advice John, but Mrs May is too deeply entrenched in her mental bunker to act upon it. It seems she believes that the low poll ratings are a temporary blip which will dissipate once her WA/PD is passed.

    She wants to have a legacy to her premiership and she will have one; irreparable damage to the Conservative Party brand.

  33. ian
    April 29, 2019

    The only announcement Mrs May wants to make this week is that labour has made a deal with her to vote through the WA for the EU. HAPPY DAYS.

  34. Alison
    April 29, 2019

    Even if Mrs May pulls the European elections, the Brexit Party will still have a purpose in life – assuming Mrs May stays as PM until December 2020, it is surely certain that she, her cohorts, colleagues will act to nullify or damage Brexit. The role and purpose of the Brexit Party will be to try to make good those actions, over the next years, decades.
    The 1922 Committee did the Conservative Party no favours last week.

  35. Bryan Harris
    April 29, 2019

    You say: “The Brexit party would have to stand down its candidates and loses it purpose in life”…Well, possibly, but most are not taking into account the depth of feeling that May’s shenanigans have stirred up.
    A lot of big names might just desert the Brexit party if a WTO exit is achieved, but there is still UKIP. The odds are though that UKIP and some remnants of Brexit party would continue to fight the Tory party for the issues over Brexit… fundamentally, they would be looking to break the conspiracy between the two party system that has lied to us about the EU, and so much more, for so long, and then tried to relegate ‘our decision’ to the dustbin of history. None of this will be over until we have at least two major right of centre parties in Parliament, with one possibly being the Tories if they can reestablish themselves.

  36. William1995
    April 29, 2019

    I long for a morning where I wake up, check my phone notifications and see a BBC rant article about Boris Johnson signing yet another trade deal.

    Fingers crossed :,)

    1. Alastair McIntyre
      April 29, 2019

      We really must hold the BBC to account in every way we can for being anti-Brexit. They have gotten off the hook for too long and for that I blame everyone, our MP’s included. If you are for Brexit then please make as many posts as possible showing how the BBC is totally biased in their reporting.

    2. Penny
      April 29, 2019

      Oh William – if only!

  37. Oggy
    April 29, 2019

    I was under the impression that people in the UK were free to vote which ever way they choose.
    I will be voting for the Brexit party, I don’t care what The Tory leadership thinks, they don’t deserve my or anyone else’s vote for betraying their own nation and democracy.

    As for the the local council elections this Thursday, I have the choice of Tory, Labour, Green or Libdums, I will write on the ballot ‘none of the above’ as they are all left wing choices.

    1. Fred H
      April 29, 2019

      We will cross out the Cons candidate, replace with Farage, and replace Party with BREXIT. More spoiled papers – what other protest does anything? This morning we got our European election voting cards. May 23rd can’t come soon enough.

  38. ian
    April 29, 2019

    Con party voters have already switched and are not coming back, it the lies, not Brexit.

  39. Grahame ASH
    April 29, 2019

    John you are absolutely correct. The leadership have every opportunity to discourage the Tories to vote for the Brexit Party.
    Had your government the honesty and democratic integrity to leave on WTO rules, which the majority voted for at the Referendum, there never would have been a Brexit Party in the first place. So your party’s leadership, aided by the majority of its MPs must take responsibility for the creation and growth of the Brexit Party.
    Yes, cancel the EU elections, by all means, but your suggestion that the UK leaves “with or without an Agreement” is wrong. Yes leave under WTO rules, but saying leave with an agreement means what. Do you mean leaving with Mrs May’s WA which still binds the UK into the EU still. This is not leaving. Or do you mean a new type of agreement. John, it is a bit late for that now, particularly as we should have left last month. Your Party in govt was given two years to accomplish that and has failed. Totally failed!
    Your leadership should be congratulated for giving birth to the Brexit Party. Saying that the Tory leadership doesn’t want their members to support the Brexit Party is like shutting the door after the horse has bolted.

    Reply Yes, I mean leaving with Agreements we all accept as being Brexit, not the Withdrawal Agreement which I have often criticised.

  40. ferdinand
    April 29, 2019

    Spot on. We have been suggesting that idea for a couple of weeks to other Conservatives.

  41. BOF
    April 29, 2019

    It would be good sense to take that approach, John. Personally, having watched the Conservative Party from John Major on, I came to the conclusion that the best thing to do was resign from the party.

    I have now joined the Brexit Party and I think that even if Mrs May were to take up your excellent idea, (pigs might fly) it will not be the salvation of your party which has now changed from a conservative to a liberal/socialist party and above all, all trust has been lost.

    After Brexit (when it happens) I believe that the Brexit Party will morph into a proper Conservative Party with genuine conservative policies to re balance politics in the UK, something millions like me are crying out for.

  42. Everhopeful
    April 29, 2019

    I have read that taking part in the elections ….far from Leave parties giving Brussels and the Tories a bloody nose…will actually lock us into the EU for another five years.
    Meanwhile furious paddling beneath the surface will see covert Acts etc quietly passed to further tether us to the EU.
    Given the lies and sleights of hand already seen …isn’t this quite a likely scenario?
    The govt really, really does not intend to leave. They would rather fall on their swords, destroy the party than be the ones to release UK from EU!

  43. Peter Miller
    April 29, 2019

    I admit to being scared how Theresa May seems to have stumbled from one wrong decision to another, the rise in probate, the Hauwei decision, her EU Withdrawal deal and now to go ahead with EU elections.

    This could really mean the demise of the Tory Party, especially as I now know of anyone who supports the PM anymore.

    You are right, cancelling the elections is the only solution. If Parliament ‘takes control’ of the process, she must announce the Tories will not contest the election, the inevitable result of a Brexit landslide would send a unarguable message to the Remainer cliques that dominate Parliament exactly what the people want.

  44. Steve Reay
    April 29, 2019

    You and I know that the PM said she wanted to be closely aligned to the the E.U right from the beginning. It looks like a deal has been struck with Labour and if so the withdrawl agreement will go through. A true Bexit is now lost and we’ll get BINO.

  45. Christine
    April 29, 2019

    Why would we believe anything the Conservatives put in a manifesto? We have been lied to too many times. It’s too late now for the main two parties. We have seen them for what they are. The Brexit Party is set to break the two party system and nothing will stop them fighting the next General Election. They certainly have my vote and the same applies to all my family and friends.

  46. martinC
    April 29, 2019

    “The EU might then make us a better offer” – yes, but first of all we didn’t vote for a better offer, secondly we have only just negotiated a WA with them – looking for a better offer? – whatever that means? and in lieu of ratification of what is already on the table is all pie in the sky.

    The WA is a take it or leave it agreement and in case of leaving without agreeing we have been told that its terms will still have to be met before any future discussion can take place so why continue on with same old tripe

    1. NickC
      April 29, 2019

      MartinC, Not only did 17.4m people vote to leave the EU treaties without the condition of a deal attached, it would be by far the best outcome. Given the lies from our Remain establishment, and the WA surrender document from the EU, do not be surprised when the majority of British people turn their backs on the EU.

  47. Fred H
    April 29, 2019

    Mmmm. sounds like a reasonable suggestion. However, I think those who were likely to vote Tory at the time of the Leave result, are now so heavily offended by the Government on numerous issues, that they will not vote, or will vote in protest. The outcome of this week’s local elections are certain to be a large loss in seats all over the country. Sadly I don’t think Mrs May will change the course she has set, further condemning her party to defeat whenever a GE is called. Perhaps a coalition will be required, or prove impossible to assemble a government? What does the future hold for Conservatives? It is difficult to see a recovery for many years to come. the only saving grace might be significant numbers of the existing MPs to resign, abandon politics, or be hounded verbally out.

  48. Arthur Wrightiss
    April 29, 2019

    So the Conservative Party have threatened their supporters with expulsion from the party if they have the temerity to even hint at support for the Brexit party. 50 years of Tory support and that’s what I get is it. The most useless PM in the party’s history, devious anti democratic MPs by the dozen , but it’s the past loyal supporters who are the bad guys.
    If the Tory party was a animal the vet would be called in to put it out of its misery , it would be laid to rest 6 feet under with a suitable RIP headstone.
    I have just been encouraged to send another 100 quid to Farage.

  49. The PrangWizard
    April 29, 2019

    Meanwhile the eco-fanatics, much fawned over by Tory Gove and others in the party, willingly hand Marxist Labour a perfect opportunity to bring about their revolution.

    While May in her own traitorous way attempts to subvert our democratic way of life and sovereignty, Labour announce their plans to declare a ‘climate emergency’, a perfect smokescreen to bring about authoritarian control of industry and our personal lives. Nothing will be immune, and many will deny that anything like it could possibly happen, but it will.

    But don’t imagine we are safe with the Tories, being paralysed, weak and cowardly. Expect copycat policies from them. All Tories must go down, good and bad, because loyalty to a rotting ideology and leadership should provide no protection.

    It’s the Brexit party for me, and I hope for millions of others.

  50. NigelE
    April 29, 2019

    I think that even if Mrs May made the announcement you suggest, the Brexit Party would still have a role because no one would believe her.

    As as for warning people how to vote! They’ll be threatening next. All to no avail.

  51. A.Sedgwick
    April 29, 2019

    The whole Cabinet has a death wish for the Conservative Party.

    1. NickC
      April 29, 2019

      Yes, it’s incredible. The Tory party leadership unerringly opts for every possible move that could alienate their natural supporters.

    2. Fred H
      April 29, 2019

      A.Sedgwick….they finally have something in common with the Electorate!. Phoenix required to arise from the ashes.

  52. Original Richard
    April 29, 2019

    The reason the Conservative Party have warned members to not vote for the Brexit Party but no others is because they are happy if their members vote for EU supporting parties.

    Mrs. May’s brief is to ensure we remain in the EU (or even better, by signing the WA, accepting EU laws, taxes, fines and policies but without representation and with no lawful means of exit).

  53. GilesB
    April 29, 2019

    There is a tide in the affairs of men.
    Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
    Omitted, all the voyage of their life
    Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
    On such a full sea are we now afloat,
    And we must take the current when it serves,
    Or lose our ventures.

    The Conservative Party has failed to take the flood tide of patriotism and anti-globalisation.
    And cannot be reformed while the Cabinet, Party Board, and CCHQ are in complete denial.

    It is extremely unlikely that there will be a Conservative majority government ever again. Well, for a decade at least.

    Better now to build the Brexit party for not just leaving the EU, but to support enterprise, freedom of speech, and all the other one nation values that the Conservative Party has abandoned.

    The rump of the party may take a long time to die. Or it may merge with the LibDems.

    The only way for a Conservative MP to avoid a life in opposition is to resign from the party. Trigger a by-election and stand as an independent. Or for the Brexit Party.

    Obviously an MP with an excellent local reputation and a strong personal following will find this easier than a party hack with no respect or support from the local constituency.

  54. Shieldsman
    April 29, 2019

    The old phrase ‘Once bitten twice shy’ applies to the Brexit Conservative voter. Many saw UKIP as the way to leave the EU, but it did not gain the necessary traction in the 2017 Elections.
    These voters, myself included accepted the fine speeches and promises by Theresa May to leave the EU completely. That ‘No deal is better than a bad deal’ was ditched last November with Mays acceptance of the WA.
    With the majority of MP’s and the Lords pro-EU set against a majority of the Electorate, there is a constitutional crisis. For the governing Conservative Party the crisis is greatest, large majorities of the membership and voter are in favour of a ‘NO deal Brexit’.
    Can the EU elections be cancelled?
    Melanie Onn the Labour MP for Great Grimsby wrote: –
    “Unless something truly ground-breaking happens – say, a second sun emerges, there’s a plague of locusts or Parliament finally succumbs to the Victorian sewage system and seeps into the Thames – it is likely that the UK will be having European elections ‪on 23 May.‬ This will not be by design, by preference, nor with much enthusiasm. So little enthusiasm, in fact, that Conservative association members in the Midlands have withdrawn their labour and refuse to campaign for the party’s MEPs.
    A test of the country’s antipathy or zeal towards it (EU), a reflection of the current Brexit mess and likely to bring about extremes in opinion – a clear divide, exactly like the 2016 referendum, between the cities, the student regions, towns and coastal areas.
    But views in the towns and coastal regions really haven’t changed all that much since 2016, and in some cases have hardened towards a preference of a no-deal exit from the EU”.
    Labour MP’s are struggling to respect the vote of their constituents.
    The newly formed Brexit Party like UKIP are not represented in our Parliament, but with the mood in the Country it could change at the next GE.
    In the meantime with a different voting system they could sweep the board as UKIP did in 2014.

  55. Gareth Warren
    April 29, 2019

    I agree the simple solution is the only one that would save the conservative party, leaving the EU on WTO terms. It would prevent the validation of the brexit party in the EU polls leaving them to a much tougher task of making their breakthrough in the next GE. With a real brexit delivered that would likely be awful for them.

    I do not agree with your second assertion, or at least any hope for its success, that the conservatives can make a credible manifesto for the EU elections. No one would rightly believe it.

    One matter that hasn’t been discussed here was the positive aspect for the conservative party of letting the 29th of March deadline slip. While most leave voters felt betrayed and expressed this in the opinion polls, surely most remainers would have felt good about it and expressed their intention to vote conservative?

    If they did then it is clear there are far more leavers leaving the conservative party then remainers returning. Note too this includes remainers who accepted the referendum, likely people not pro-EU but who voted to remain because it was no change. The polls have been very clear, the public want brexit,a WTO brexit at that, they also warn how insane going against the electorate on this will be.

  56. Simon Hodges
    April 29, 2019

    Labour = Remain Party
    Conservatives = Remain Party
    Lib-Dems/Change UK = Remain Parties

    Brexit Party = Brexit Party

    We only have one obvious electoral choice now

    1. Bob
      April 29, 2019

      “We only have one obvious electoral choice now”

      There is another party whose raison d’être is UK independence but the MSM in cahoots with the Establishment are doing a great job of writing them out of history, because unlike the BP they are actually a threat to the Tories, not just a cardboard cutout spoof to allow disgruntled Tory members to let off some steam.

      1. Mark
        April 29, 2019

        You mean the SDP?

  57. nshgp
    April 29, 2019

    No. She needs to abandon the WA.

    The votes for the Brexit party are because of the WA and the lack of respect for the democratic vote.

    The EU elections, since we are still in the EU are part of that democratic vote.

    What May is really saying is yet again, to the plebs, you are plebs you will do as you are told. We are your masters.

    The plebs as a consequence are revolting

  58. forthurst
    April 29, 2019

    The Conservative Party would shoot up in the polls? I would hope my fellow countrymen would not be so stupid otherwise, sadly, we as a people do not deserve to survive; the Tory Party has always been run by an elite who have been prepared to inflict misery on their fellow countrymen in order to continue to receive large donations and to avoid awkward confrontations with the left because they thought that they could insulate themselves from the consequences of their actions and non-actions whilst the Labour Party and the English-haters within their party, rewarded undeservedly with high office, used their positions to promote policies hostile to the English.

    There is battle now for the soul of Europe and for Western civilisation both here and on the continent and we the people must win and parties like the Tories are an impediment to achieving that.

    1. Chris
      April 29, 2019

      Absolutely right, forthurst. The Brexit Party is now framing up to the battle for the soul of Europe, and I believe it is capitalising on the same issues of the neglected electorate versus the global political elite which President Trump is so successfully tackling.

  59. Nigl
    April 29, 2019

    Ps. We now read the Queens speech is likely to be delayed. May hanging on for the sake of………. just hanging on. If she can’t get her legislation through it is government in name only. The MCC, mays cowardly cabinet still sitting on their hands, big salaries, job titles doing ‘nothing’

    Don’t you think we deserve better?

  60. Leslie Singleton
    April 29, 2019

    Dear Sir John–Have you ever written about the women complaining about the uplift in their state pension age? (If so where find please?)

    Reply Not on this site. I have handled various constituency cases and written individually to women affected by it.

    1. Sir Joe Soap
      April 29, 2019

      Including a T May one hopes

    2. Leslie Singleton
      April 29, 2019

      OK & Thx anyway

  61. Kevindavies14
    April 29, 2019

    Sir John, It pains me as Conservative voter for over 50 years, to say your party is infested with MPs AND a leader who have no intention of allowing us to leave the EU. Sorry Sir John, but it is Nigel and Brexit for me.
    Best of luck with your treacherous leader and Remainer supporters in the HoC

    1. Alastair McIntyre
      April 29, 2019

      Perhaps Sir John should consider running for the Brexit Party?

  62. william long
    April 29, 2019

    If I receive any such warning from the current Conservative leadership, it will make me more likely to vote for the Brexit party rather than less. In the past I have always voted UKIP in EU elections because they field the only candidate in our local list that I regard as remotely competent. I shall be interested to see who the Brexit party offers.
    In my experience EU election candidates are a pretty poor lot; many of them are people who have failed to achieve selection as Parliamentary candidates. I live in a Eurosceptic constituency and have found it very interesting that while most candidates for selection here have portrayed themselves as strong eurosceptics, a number of those not selected have gone on to be MEPs or have found parliamentary seats elsewhere and emerged as strong Remainers.

    1. Fred H
      April 29, 2019

      william….why would failing selection by the local group, or failing selection at CCHQ count against them? Innocent until proven guilty.

  63. Chris
    April 29, 2019

    I believe there are problems with some of your suggestions/assumptions in the article above.
    Firstly, you suggest cancelling the European elections. That in itself will, I believe, cause huge anger at May and the Conservatives as it will be seen (rightly) as denying the voters a chance to really express their anger with May and her Party. Thus, that suggestion is likely to backfire and cause even greater resentment against you.

    Secondly, you suggest that the Brexit Party would lose its purpose in life if the European elections were cancelled. This surprises me as the Brexit Party have made clear that they are developing into a Party which will aim to break the stranglehold of two Party politics and right and left, and instead fight for the people of this country against an out of touch political global elite, of which many of our current politicians subscribe to. The Brexit Party’s fight has only just begun, but their aim is to field candidates in a general election, so they are not considering folding up as you suggest.

    Thirdly, your assumption that the Cons would “shoot up in the polls” if the EU made us a better offer and we left by the end of May, is unlikely. Things have gone far too far, and I believe that the only way that the Cons could salvage something would be if they replaced May with a Brexiter leader and team, and if they made clear that the WA was ditched, and that we would leave by end of May with No Deal and operate under WTO rules. If the Cons do what you suggest, there is a chance for the Conservatives, but only a slim one now. It is all far too late.

    Fourthly, and most importantly, any European Manifesto statement issued from Downing Street is not going to be believed. The PM seems incapable of telling the truth. Words are useless now. Swift action is what is required, and even although that action may save the country, I doubt the Cons Party as we know it will survive. The damage is too great.

    Additionally, if Boris thinks his pleading with the electorate not to damage local hardworking Tory councillors this Thursday is going to have any effect, he should think again. I found it arrogant in the extreme asking us, the electorate, to make up for the shortfallings of the PM and Tory MPs/Tory Party in the Brexit saga. He must think we are stupid and lacking in intelligence, and that in itself illustrates a contempt for ordinary people. To put it bluntly, Boris, we have been “had” one too many times, and we are not going to let it happen again.

    1. Chris
      April 29, 2019

      The Brexit Party would not simply fold if the European elections were cancelled. See my comments above, but also the videoclip by Farage in this link below. I think his message chimes greatly with so many voters. The 2 Party system needs changing and there needs to be a clearout at Westminster. The work of the B Party is only just beginning, so there is no way that they would fold if the E election were cancelled. That action would merely serve to energise the Brexit Party followers even more:
      https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1120246/brexit-latest-news-theresa-may-boris-johnson-local-elections-tory

  64. Kenneth
    April 29, 2019

    Sir John, it’s too late with the current leadership.

    No-one will believe anything Mrs May says. She is finished.

    The only hope for the Conservatives is to replace the Prime Minister with someone the People will believe.

    Only then would any Conservative statements be taken seriously.

  65. BillM
    April 29, 2019

    Since when did Mrs May and her Remainer- filled Cabinet ever listen to the advice of the wise, the experienced and the knowledgable back benchers of the Party?
    Mrs May has now won the International ‘infamy’ award for saying one thing and doing the opposite. Regularly. She has become totally unreliable – even unstable!
    This woman PM has made our country the laughing stock of the world. Especially in the eyes of our close allies who now have to wonder if they can even continue to provide intelligence data to us under the agreed “Special intel arrangements”.
    Everything she has touched has turned bad. Everyone knows this, which beggars the question, “Why did the 1922 Committee, against the wishes of the local activists and their major donors, still support her”? Without local support and those donors the Party is doomed. Do they not realise this?
    What is it the 1922 group do not understand about Armageddon for the Conservative Part y, IF she remains their leader? Why do they still persist with such a disastrous CONSERVATIVE PM?
    Alas , these ambivalent people are promoting Political suicide for this once proud institution and that is certainly nothing to be proud of, in the same way as Britain is no longer a country to be proud of.
    All thanks to a Prime Minister who does not have the competence to lead yet still refuses to step down. These are bad days for Britain. Very bad.

  66. mickc
    April 29, 2019

    You are assuming that the Brexit betrayal is the decisive factor. It is not. There have been a large number of betrayals of Conservative values by the Not Conservative Party; Inheritance Tax, Buy to Let, punitive taxation, knife crime as a disease….the list goes on. Furthermore the Not Conservative Party has been more than happy to sing along with the MSM song that Conservative values are “far right “, racist or whatever pejorative term is current.
    In short, for many Conservative voters the Brexit betrayal is the straw that broke this camel’s back. To remove that straw will not unbreak the back.
    A long period in opposition, and time for reflection on the catastrophic policies pursued is very much in order. If that entails a Corbyn government so be it; at least he is a Socialist and pretends nothing else.

    1. Fred H
      April 29, 2019

      mickc….all that seems about right. However your last statement might prove to be way short of the mark. Indeed a Corbyn government might be the opposite of what we have now. Corbyn puppet on a string, May ‘do it my way, hobson’s choice’.

    2. Chris
      April 29, 2019

      I think many people feel that, micke, and even so called Brexiter MPs such as Boris Johnson do not realise it. His very recent Telegraph article illustrates all too clearly that he has little idea of the true scale of anger amongst voters, nor does he seem to comprehend that the voters are very angry indeed about the statist, cultural Marxist policies endorsed and effected by May, and Cameron before her. Progressive Conservatives are nothing of the sort. They are neither Conservative nor progressive, but rather they are big statist, high taxation and illiberal/intolerant, with curbs on free speech and state interventions worthy of a Marxist country.

  67. Merlin
    April 29, 2019

    Edward2. Just replying to your earlier point about there being no benefit to the withdrawal agreement.

    You say other arrangements are in place if there is no deal. Indeed that No deal is a misnomer. I disagree. And it seems the only way we can actually settle this argument is by leaving with no withdrawal agreement.

    All of which is fair enough. But if I’m wrong, we can change course. If you’re wrong, we can’t get back in. In short, what do we do if leaving with no withdrawal agreement goes horribly wrong? What’s the plan B? I don’t see one.

    1. matthu
      April 29, 2019

      “But if I’m wrong, we can change course.”

      Greater legal minds than yours (I apologise if I am making an incorrect assumption here) have indicated otherwise. There is no unilateral means of changing course once we enter the withdrawal agreement.

    2. Edward2
      April 29, 2019

      This is not what I said.
      First the WA is just a treaty it is not a deal.
      The negotiations towards this wonderful deal comes afterwards.
      So what is the point of the WA?
      If you read its main points are negatives as far as the UK is concerned which create and cause us restrictions and difficulties in any future negotiations.

      In your last paragraph you display a fear of any change.
      I cannot accurately predict the future success of my nation nor the future success of the EU and neither can you, but as a nation we voted to leave the EU and so we should do so.
      In short, we should leave the EU and negotiate a deal after we have left.
      We should have done that years ago.
      In my opinion the uncertainty created by this delay is far more economically damaging that actually anything you may imagine.

    3. agricola
      April 29, 2019

      Merlin, we do not need a plan “B” in the event of leaving minus a WA. We enter that same world that 60% of our exports are already in and balanced in our favour. We become a sovereign nation once more. We will need to change our parliament via a GE as the current incumbents have proved themselves totally unfit for purpose. They are not up to it intellectually, morally or in any way you would judge people as fit to govern.

      For purely practical reasons the EU will want to cooperate with us in many fields. If not and they have a hissy fit, the World is a big place in which we can operate profitably. All we need is a government that understands this and backs our entrepreneurs. It may be tough initially but hang in there and go for it.

    4. John Hatfield
      April 29, 2019

      Merlin, the EU is dependent upon the UK, not the other way round. Britain does not have to be an EU member in order to trade with Europe.

  68. graham1946
    April 29, 2019

    A very good reason (should one be required) for never joining the Tory Party. If they cannot accept that their supporters may on occasion wish to vote for other than Tories for many reasons, tactical, philosophical etc., none of their business anyway, they deserve no members.

    I don’t agree with you that cancelling the elections will save the Party – only a proper Brexit will do that and May will only cancel to get her surrender document through. We never wanted to be in this position, but to cancel the elections at this stage through cowardice and to put through the EU deal would make matters worse. You mention leaving ‘with or without a deal’ – this seems to me a weakening of your position. I hope not.
    Don’t be so sure that the Brexit party won’t become a mainstream political party to take on politics at Westminster if they don’t get to Brussels this time and change the rotten corrupt system we have. The die is cast and the two party racket may well becoming to an end.

  69. Alan Joyce
    April 29, 2019

    Dear Mr. Redwood,

    Commentators, including Boris Johnson in the Daily Telegraph, make the point that voters should not punish good Conservative local election candidates for the incompetent way in which Brexit has been handled at a national level. It is hard to disagree with this.

    However, one can imagine what the reaction would be from Conservative Party bigwigs if their vote holds up. They would take to the airwaves en masse claiming this was proof of support for an incompetent Prime Minister, her equally useless Government and the Brexit fiasco.

    It is more than disappointing if hardworking Conservative councillors lose their seats but if they do they should direct their anger to where it belongs and not at the voters.

    1. Mike Wilson
      April 29, 2019

      Commentators, including Boris Johnson in the Daily Telegraph, make the point that voters should not punish good Conservative local election candidates for the incompetent way in which Brexit has been handled at a national level. It is hard to disagree with this.

      If we don’t punish ‘good Conservative local election candidates’ the leaders of the Conservative Party will not get the message.

  70. Ginty
    April 29, 2019

    Tell you what.

    Let’s scrap Parliament and replace it with a sixteen-year-old girl. Pay her in sweeties and clothes vouchers.

    1. Mike Wilson
      April 29, 2019

      Pay her in sweeties and clothes vouchers.

      Why the snotty, patronising remark? The 16 year old you are referring to is talking more sense than the so-called 650 adults in our malfunctioning and pointless parliament.

      1. Fred H
        April 29, 2019

        I missed her galvanising speech, which had several MPs and ex-MPs agog, as I understand it. From the few words summarised to me, it seems she said UK was doing a terrible job on climate matters, thought we/The World had got things wrong? Riveting stuff. How come she hasn’t been invited to address the USA President /nay-sayers, or the reasonably aware techies in the Met Office?
        Perhaps it was all rather ‘bleedin’ obvious?

      2. Ginty
        April 29, 2019

        Our energy policy is now run by David Attenborough, Extinction Rebellion and Greta Thunberg – not one of them elected.

        Please grant me my snottiness. I am in despair.

        This Tory Government is beyond appalling. Truly appalling.

    2. mancunius
      April 29, 2019

      That proverbial ‘school-leaver with a sharp pencil’ would probably do a far better job than the current HoC.

  71. a-tracy
    April 29, 2019

    Mrs May needs to come out TODAY and make clear that local elections are on local issues not a vote on Brexit or her Government. Labour are in flux over Brexit too and what does a Lib Dem vote do – it will be taken that you want to remain – because that is how it will be spun.

    She needs to plead with people not to punish good, hardworking local councillors, who are fiscally clever, don’t spend and waste millions outsourcing Council’s work and haven’t put Council tax up 20% + in the last period in office.

    This is the first time in my life that I’m struggling to decide who to vote for.

    1. Fred H
      April 29, 2019

      a-tracy….I’m amazed you might vote for any party, unless Brexit sneaked in quietly and registered to campaign in your area. The only way to get May/Government/lethargic MPs to sit up and take notice is to have the lowest turnout ever, or my preference, highest spoiled papers ever.

  72. Simeon
    April 29, 2019

    Sir John,

    I think there is zero chance of the Euro elections being cancelled without the WA being ratified. (I suspect you aare well aware of this.) But if they were, the Conservative party would, quite rightly, be seen to have performed a cowardly climbdown. The Conservative party would accrue zero credit for making policy in this manner. Farage, and to some degree UKIP, would take the spoils. Who, seriously, is going to vote for a party devoid of either principles or courage?

    The time has long since passed for the Conservative party to be seen as one that stands for British sovereignty and the national interest. It is to be hoped that well – meaning folk in the party, such as yourself, recognise this and begin working towards creating a new vehicle for political reformation and sensible, small, government. (Apologies if this is already indeed the case.)

  73. A different Simon
    April 29, 2019

    Quote “We would fulfil our promise to leave by the end of May and put behind us the unfortunate and unwelcome delay.”

    A lot of us have been looking forward to the end of May .

    Authoritarian home secretary and worst PM in the countries history .

  74. Marcus
    April 29, 2019

    It was very interesting today listening to Pascal Lamy on Politics Live. Lamy a former director of the WTO for 8 years, he speaks a lot of sense- IDS was waffling on, but was well out of his depth-

    So it all depends now on how much we want to diverge away?

  75. NickW
    April 29, 2019

    I had to replace our kettle today.

    One of the main requirements was that the replacement was not made in Germany; the same would apply to anything else from fridges to cars. (Regrtetfully, I might add; we have a Miele fridge, an AEG hob, a Siemens oven and a Siemens dishwasher; they have performed well, but replacement is due in the foreseeable future due to their age.)

    German industrialists need to understand that their customer is not the British Government, it is the British people , and the British people are mighty annoyed with the way that the EU has handled Brexit, supported by German Industrialists, determined to make an enemy of the British.

    We want to be friends, please treat us accordingly.

    1. Penny
      April 29, 2019

      Nicely put.

  76. ian
    April 29, 2019

    It’s just history repeating itself from the 1920s when the libs disappeared from parliament after their first world war with Europe. That time has come again. England people are on the move and they want satisfaction and an all-out win at the next GE for FREEDOM from the EU and two-faced politicians.

  77. Paul Cohen
    April 29, 2019

    Time for a reality check! Here we are drifting toward the next EU deadline, with little or nothing coming from No 10 – it seems more important to find the thief who stole Mo Farah’s Tag Heuer (who cares).

    Brandon Lewis was unimpressive on Marr yesterday, lacks presence and is no comparison to Nigel Farage who is full of vigour and knows how to motivate an audience.

    Be interesting if any of the press take up JR’s advice

  78. Charles Crane
    April 29, 2019

    With respect I sincerely doubt that members will be returning any time soon, certainly not whilst May is in post.

    She has painted herself into the corner of the room. Cancel the Euros and leave goes against the instruction to disallow no deal. But if she goes ahead, the Brexit Party is going to massacre the Tories at the polls.

    Perhaps it’s time for the ERG to split away? May is going nowhere and nor is the party she’s pretending to lead. I’ve already voted no suitable candidate in the locals and will be voting Brexit on May 23rd. I’m still a card carrying Conservative member so kick me out of you like Mr Lewis and much good may it do you. Nobody likes being threatened by a bully boy.

  79. Simon
    April 29, 2019

    Sir John,
    You are nothing more than a casino gambler putting the whole country on black with no understanding of the consequences. To see an educated man reduced to promulgating such drivel has been pitiful.

    1. Edward2
      April 29, 2019

      Ridiculous hyperbole Simon.

    2. margaret howard
      April 29, 2019

      Simon

      I quite agree with you. I’m surprised though you haven’t been deleted.

      1. Edward2
        April 30, 2019

        If you look at the major nations of the world you can see quite plainly their success and the way standards of living is improving for their inhabitants.
        They are democratic and use WTO rules as the basis on which they trade with others.
        They are flourishing whilst the EUs share of world trade, despite adding new member nations, is falling.

        So to say “there is no understanding of the consequences” is ridiculous because you can observe nations not in the EU doing very well as independent free nations.
        You both show an irrational fear of change.

    3. NickC
      April 30, 2019

      Simon, The rest of the world does not agree with you.

  80. Remington Norman
    April 29, 2019

    John,

    You don’t understand, do you? The Tories made two seminal promises: first, to abide by the referendum result and second, in the general election, to take the UK out of the EU. You failed to deliver on either. Trust is now broken and the party deserves all the opprobium and electoral defeat that is coming to it. It’s not about the WA, trade deals, or economic speculation; its about keeping faith with the electorate. Is there something about this that Mrs May, Philip Hammond and the rest of the governing mediocrity don’t understand?

  81. Ian Pennell
    April 29, 2019

    Dear Sir John Redwood,

    This Conservative Voter (myself) is in despair! Brexit has not happened, we have a majority of MPs who would prevent a proper Brexit, despite what a majority voted for in 2016 and there is no way you seem to have to get rid of Theresa May before it is too late.

    The incompetence of Theresa May’s government- and her weakness- has led to this impasse. Voters are now furious with the Conservatives, even if most Conservative MPs respect the result of the 2016 Referendum: The fact that Brexit has not happened on the watch of a Conservative Government means Conservatives get blamed. It does not matter that Labour and SNP MPs are even more against Brexit- ironically it will be Labour and the Liberal Democrats who will benefit from Voters protesting against Conservatives in next week’s local council elections. This riles me because if Labour had not voted to stop “No Deal” Brexit Theresa May could (conceivably) have got a better deal which may have passed Parliament by now.

    The issue must now be- for you Sir along with those of your colleagues staunchly in support of Brexit- of how to ensure that there is a Parliament that makes Brexit happen whilst stopping Jeremy Corbyn grab the levers of power after the next Election. You must either get rid of Theresa May and replace her with a pro Brexit (and strong) leader and go to the country on a WTO “No Deal” Platform OR you defect en masse to the Brexit Party to give it legitimacy, elect a Westminster Brexit Party leader, bring down the government and go for an Election.

    It doesn’t matter if it is a Brexit-supporting Conservative Party with 310 plus Seats (plus the DUP) or the Brexit Party wiping out the Conservatives (as in 1993 Canada) and getting well over 300 Seats. Both outcomes would keep Jeremy Corbyn out of power and help to ensure that Brexit happens. Thus you either need to get the Conservatives back above Labour in the polls or (if you can’t do what’s needed to make this happen) endorse Nigel Farage’s new Party so that it leads the polls before the next Election: The path you take depends on getting rid of Theresa May soon enough!

    You and your colleagues need a bold Strategy: Tell Theresa May that she Must Resign by 1st June or else you all Defect to the Brexit Party: Make very clear to her that you and your colleagues mean it. This should suffice to make her to resign. Then you can get a proper Brexit leader in charge of the Conservatives who will (if need be) Prorogue Parliament to ensure a No Deal Brexit happens. If a Remainer Parliament gets in the way- call for a General Election- being clear to voters the reason Brexit did not happen was because of left-wing MPs. This,with a popular platform in the Election of tax- cuts, infrastructure investment and more money for the Police and NHS- should result in a Conservative Government.

    Ian Pennell

  82. James Matthews
    April 29, 2019

    ” the way to get Former Conservative voters back who have said they will now vote Brexit is to have a clear and credible European Manifesto statement of how we are going to get out soon.”

    I can see how a clear statement could be made. However, given Mrs May’s track record and the willingness of so many Remainer Conservative MPs to ignore the pledges they made at the last general election, credibility does not look like a serious possibility.

  83. Pat
    April 29, 2019

    It may be too late. If it is necessary to form a new party in order to get the Conservative party to adhere to its stated policy, then the new party is the one to trust.
    Bear in mind that UKIP lost considerable support after Mrs. May promised to deliver Brexit and that “Vote Leave” shut up shop, it has become obvious that without an on going campaign to hold the Conservative party to its promises the promises won’t be kept.
    And it’s no use blaming this on May, unsuitable for office as she has.proven to be. The Parliamentary party chose her, backed her after the disastrous election campaign (which she had repeatedly promised wouldn’t happen), stood aside after Chequers, and supported her again after the record defeat of the first edition of the WA. It is the fault of the Parliamentary party that she gained office and that she continues to hold it

  84. Ian Heath
    April 29, 2019

    One slight problem with cancelling the EU election, wouldn’t we have to get that past Parliament?

  85. Chris
    April 29, 2019

    Two very significant tweets by Andrew Lilico (also in his D Tel article). I think Lilico is absolutely right, but the “unwoke” Tory MPs (who are in the majority) still do not seem to register this.

    “They’re still talking abt these elections as “a chance to kick the govt”. No. These local elections may well be the highest national % share the Tories ever achieve again. This is the highwater mark, not the low”.

    “The Tories are on 23% in the General Election polls & 13% in the Euro election polls & their support is only going in one direction. And that polling collapse will accelerate into capitulation as the public grasps we’re not going to Leave at all under the Tories”.

  86. Original Richard
    April 29, 2019

    Neither Mrs. May, nor the EU, nor the majority of MPs who are EU supporters, want to see the EU MEP elections take place.

    So once Mrs. May and the EU see that the threat of holding the EU elections is not going to force Parliament to pass the surrender WA I expect the EU will agree to Mrs. May’s request to cancel these elections for the UK.

    A fudge will be found to prevent the Brexit Party winning and thus gaining further publicity and support.

  87. Mick
    April 29, 2019

    Sorry Sir John but Mr Farage’s party is going to wipe the floor with conservatives/labour/Lib Dem’s at the European elections and General Election when it comes , the Brexit Party is akin to a mighty sea going juggernaut and all you’ve got is a small sailing dingy with Mrs May at the helm admit it you don’t stand a chance

  88. Mike Wilson
    April 29, 2019

    Well Mr. Redwood – I have always thought of you as a pragmatic and realistic sort of chap. Reading your words today I have to say it sounds as though you are becoming detached from reality.

    You seriously think that May abandoning the EU elections and leaving, with or without an agreement, would ‘fix’ the way your party is currently viewed – by many of your own party members (never mind the general public).

    The damage is done for a generation. Maybe, given the unpopularity of Tories with younger people – maybe your party is finished.

    A couple of chaps knocked on my door the other day canvassing for the Tory Party in the forthcoming local elections. I politely gave it to them with both barrels. They sort of winced, said they agreed with me and said it was all they were hearing on the doorsteps.

    Your article today has actually got me laughing out loud. Are you out knocking on doors to support your local Tory councillors? What are you hearing? Don’t tell me – people are not that bothered about Brexit and the Brexit Party and are still going to vote Tory.

    I can’t wait for the EU elections. What a nice ring it has to it … ‘The Brexit Party’. I wonder what they stand for.

    Could it be ‘implementing what we decide’ and I wonder if they think that ‘no deal is better than a bad deal’.

    Seriously, get real.

  89. John Hatfield
    April 29, 2019

    Farage is looking past leaving the EU to the next General Election John. I believe that many people feel so let down that they would not vote for the Tories again. Yes, I am one of them.

    1. Fedupsoutherner
      April 29, 2019

      So am I john. JR, I really don’t think you understand the depth of hatred there is towards your party now. I hope both Conservatives and Labour get crushed under the boots of the people. The Tory party is scum.

  90. mancunius
    April 29, 2019

    Sir John,

    Could you perhaps find a way during PMQs or some other occasion when the PM is present in the Commons of listing the benefits that could be bought with the £100 million of taxpayers’ money she’s frittered away on the European MEP elections – which are only being fought at all because she covertly struck a disgraceful and unacceptable agreement with the EU, and refuses to take the honest course and resign.

  91. Clemo
    April 29, 2019

    I still believe we left the EU on the 29th March as May’s unilateral extension was ultra vires. I thought there was a legal challenge running on that. Our only hope is that the dear captain remains on board as the good ship Conservatism sinks below the waves.

  92. G Wilson
    April 29, 2019

    Too late for the Conservative party to save itself, I’d say.

    Given the sheer volume of broken promises and false statements, how can we possibly believe another word that’s published in a Conservative manifesto?

    It looks like the Brexit Party has a purpose beyond next month’s election – the creation of a new conservative party to replace the discredited and dishonourable Tories.

    You should join it, Sir John.

  93. Andy Pandy
    April 29, 2019

    Sky News , another beauty, are more or less advising people this morning to pick up cheap holidays in “safe and secure” places such as Tunisia and Turkey and the latter is a much better deal since Brexit currency-wise.
    I didn’t know Brexit had started consistently declining the Turkish Lira from 2010. I thought it might be 2016 on the day after 23rd June 2016.
    We should all watch Sky News. It’s handy.

  94. BR
    April 29, 2019

    If councillors don’t want to suffer when the Conservative party is being punished at the polls, then they shouldn’t have stood as Conservative candidates in the first place. What their party does is done in their name – they get the rough with the smooth.

    And, of course, they could always stand as independents (or defect to TBP).

    I have realised one thing: the major parties think they can ignore the voters’ little protest in the EU and council elections and expects them to return ‘to their senses’ in a GE. So I have realised that I cannot do that – I must vote against the (currently) major parties at ALL elections.

    The Tory party has become a centre-left party anyway, constantly playing to the gallery with policies that act against their core voters. The idea of social care being funded by property, while others have ‘free’ care (free as in paid for by someone else’s money) is an absolute joke. Increasing self-employed NI while cutting corporation tax and increasing IR35 coverage while paying SM contributions to the EU (effectively the taxpayer paying tariffs for big business)…

    This is not the party I supported for many years. I hope many current Tory MPs will consider a switch for the sake of democracy.

  95. mancunius
    April 29, 2019

    Btw, Sir John – you may be interested in the latest OECD figures, showing that the UK once again has the highest Foreign Direct Investment in Europe – globally, only the US and China have more. The UK’s inward investment total was $1.89 trillion by the end of 2018 – more than twice Germany’s total of $920 billion.
    The UK’s FDI is more than the combined total of Germany, Spain and Poland.

  96. Ian
    April 29, 2019

    Sadly Sir John still thinks the PM can change.

    The Brexit Party is the New Tory Party?
    I stagger to believe how anyone can believe that this current Government will change.
    They are all Remainers, and seem quite content to continue to fiddle with deck chairs, unaware that the cold water is half way up there legs ?

    The damn lot should all go down with the ship, there is no coming back for them.

    The Brexit Party came Into being because The Tories have been totaly useless since Mrs Thatcher

    They are beyond help or advise, we are watching a ship wreak.

    Let’s face it Nigel Farage was not and still is not an MP, he has worked for the good of this Nation for 25 years, he has had this Country’s best interest in mind all the time,un like this Government.

    Well we have joined him, he has done the job that should never need to have been done, had The Tories been true Brits, instead they have and still show themselves , totally out of touch with the mood of this Nation.

    Well let’s bring on the New Tories, let’s get this Nation back , let’s also give incouragment to all those in the EU who also want there Countries back.

    Nothing what ever is going to change with out Change.

    I now think it would be a big mistake if Dear Boris became PM.

    Simply because his party is too deep in the Establishment, he would not be able to do anything ,he would be surrounded by the same fools that are there now.

    Bring it on Brexit Party.

    Thank God for Farage, fortunately he will no trouble from this Government, they are like rabbits in headlights

    1. Chris
      April 29, 2019

      Ian, you write:
      I now think it would be a big mistake if Dear Boris became PM.

      I quite agree. Boris has had his chance and under pressure, or due to pure opportunism, he buckled to May and supported the WA. That is is not good for a leader and thank goodness we have found that out now and not later. We can do far better, and we will do far better.

      Boris has for too long been part of the Establishment and thought he could continue to play games and appear clever. The problem is that voters want someone who is straight talking, who is honest, who is principled, bold and does not buckle under pressure. Boris does not meet those requirements in many people’s minds. In my view, he abandoned principles and thereby missed his chance.

  97. Der Robin
    April 29, 2019

    The Media are hell bent on promoting EU Remain when all the signs show EU nations turning to the their Extreme Far Right in sufficient and significant proportion to effectively foist Extreme Far Right EU policies on the UK irrespective of our own internal politics.

    Yet the media actually expects such Far Right victories. Well it’s commonsense and with an eye to history it is what will happen. Unfortunately, the EU nations Far Right by and large are real Far Right and not workshy Labour MP silly accusations to our born and bred far right who are quite normal people and the few left mentally stable in our land.
    What will poor Cock Robin do then poor thing? No way out of the EU!

  98. Steve
    April 29, 2019

    JR

    On reading your article am I to assume the government is making threats to conservative party members should they consider voting for brexit party ?

    Also, you suggest government comes up with a clear and credible EU manifesto. The trouble is; people just won’t believe a word of any manifesto coming from this government, after their last one turned out to be a sheer pack of lies.

    Only a fool would trust what the conservative party says.

  99. Ray Catlin
    April 29, 2019

    Sir John, given your record, values and hard work as a genuine Conservative MP, may I ask why you do not join with other such MPs to form a real conservative party which reflects what the average conservative minded voter wants ? Frankly everyone has had enough of the hypocrisy of the present set-up which Brexit has highlighted and brought to a head. The drastic measures now needed to restore confidence in the existing Conservative party are well overdue and highly unlikely to arrive, certainly not in time. It’s the end of the line; we need a radical realignment on the Right to reflect what voters want, and to oust the oligarchy. The Tory party is sleepwalking into a well earned oblivion. Please do something – the Brexit party is a one man ego trip which can do nothing to solve this problem, and will only split the vote to allow a Corbyn government.

  100. Elli Ron
    April 29, 2019

    Calamity Theresa is a glutton for getting a drubbing.
    She obviously loved losing our parliamentary majority following her “brilliant” performance in the run-up to the 2017 elections, so we got what constitutes a “victory” – translation – this was not a complete rout, with the help of the DUP.
    Calamity then went about the business of alienating the DUP and was successful, they now sit with the opposition and vote regularly with the “rebels” and against the government.
    The month of May will be “good” for Calamity, in a few days we will see the next drubbing take place with losing 400-800 Conservative councilors.
    And then the expected drubbing in the EU elections and with it the first serious challenge to the continuing Conservative government. It is likely that the Brexit party, in gaining the lion share of voters, will then become a legitimate and serious challenge in the GE.

    Without the DUP, which Calamity lost during the disastrous “negotiations” producing the WA, the lifetime of her government will be measured in weeks and months, which will lead to a GE.
    Will the Conservative MP’s allow that to be a drubbing as well?

  101. Philip Brandon
    April 29, 2019

    John, when you mention the end of May, are you saying the end of the month or the end of useless May, or both?

  102. Alastair McIntyre
    April 29, 2019

    I am greatly encouraged that the Brexit Party has been formed and I look forward to the time that they replace the Tory party and it’s not beyond the possibility that they will win the next GE.

    Too many lies coming out of the Tory party. You simply can’t trust May as she’s a proven liar and the same for Philip Halmond who keeps on publishing false views on Financial matters. Every forecast his Treasury has put out has been way of the mark when the actual results are published.

    Of course Labour are much the same so the Brexit party is the only real hope we have left if we wish to see Great Britain great again.

    Time for Sir John and Boris to leave the Tory Party and join the Brexit Party don’t you think? And why not Jacob Reece Mogg joining his sister in the Brexit Party as well? That would send a strong signal to the voters that the Brexit Party is a credible party to lead the country.

    1. Caterpillar
      April 29, 2019

      Alastair McIntyre,
      The Govt needs to be brought down to get a General Election. Devolved govt elections aren’t until 2021, whilst 2022 i s currently the next GE. However ethically right the Brexit Party is, and however ethically wrong others are, it is a big ask to maintain momentum and relevance if May stitches up the UK into her abhorrent WA. Sadly when May’s WA goes through democracy and the UK will be lost. If Brexit supporting Conservatives cannot guarantee no deal, they need to be fighting for a referendum with no deal on the ballot, even if remain is on the ballot. If Remain wins the UK is represented in EU and has Brexit Party MEPs to continue the fight, if no deal wins a second vote then it will get over the line. At the moment it looks like the May WA + BRINO + Marxism is going to win. Brexit supporting MPs need to push for a referendum with no deal on the table if they are not 100% sure that the WA will be canned…they were out manoeuvred on 29 March, it is happening again.

  103. Dave
    April 29, 2019

    Why should I take any notice of the Tory pleas not to vote for the Brexit party?

    They didn’t take any notice of us when we voted to leave- so why should take any notice of them.

    They are history. We will not forget their treachery (with one or two honourable exceptions of course)

  104. Penny
    April 29, 2019

    Very sensible, Sir John – which means, of course, that the PM will never do it.

  105. Peter Lavington
    April 29, 2019

    Years ago I used to live in Wokingham and you always got my vote. Much as I admire you, if I were back there now, you would not get my vote. The Conservative party is pro EU and basically not much different from the LibDems. Can you explain why you choose to stay in a party that is not Conservative and goes completely against your principles? The only way we can escape from the EU is by removing the Conservative party. Surely you can see this? You cannot change things by sticking to the party but you and many Conservative MP’s who are pro Brexit can kill off the Conservative party by joining Farage in the Brexit party. Do it!

    1. Sir Joe Soap
      April 29, 2019

      This has been a ticking time bomb over many years and is now due to explode. You’re right – our host and others which haven’t voted for WA would surely be wise to jump clear before the bomb goes off rather than be left in the debris. The WA folk can be safely left in the rubble to feed on scraps.

  106. oneminutemoneymag...
    April 29, 2019

    I will vote for my local Conservative councillors and could still support the right Conservative MP, but the European Parliament system involves voting for one party as a whole. Sorry, but I have now joined and will vote for the Brexit Party.

  107. Iain Gill
    April 29, 2019

    got to be said the comments on this blog should be required reading for any MP

  108. Sir Joe Soap
    April 29, 2019

    Lilico in the Telegraph has it correct:
    “The local elections may look like a catastrophe for the Conservatives. But it is only the beginning. The beginning of their end.”

  109. Mick
    April 29, 2019

    https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1112507/brexit-date-delay-legal-legally-binding-has-uk-left-eu
    Have we or haven’t left the dreaded Eu on March 29th , you have been asked this various times, nows the time to come clean, Sir Bill Cash seems to think we’ve left so what’s the problem to answer the question have we or haven’t we left , after all you or your dependents don’t want to look plonkers in 30years time

  110. mancunius
    April 29, 2019

    Bang on cue, two days before the local elections Damian Green announces that older people should be hit with extra-supplementary NIC charges, and David Willetts goes on again about younger people being ‘poorer’ than older people, and how this balance should be redressed with fiscal redistribution from the old to the young.

    Two days before the local elections. Truly, JR, your party has the death wish.

  111. anon
    April 29, 2019

    The EU are complicit in subverting the directly expressed will of the UK as expressed in the referendum.
    ?

    This is now reverberating throughout the UK and the world

    It will only get worse until we exit, with a trade arrangements only.

  112. High flyer
    April 29, 2019

    Good news! Boeing has an update.
    We all have a laptop so we know what that means.
    If we could crawl through the screens of our laptops, sit in a virtual flying passenger seat and strap up we would with glee press “run….. ”
    wouldn’t we.

  113. javelin
    April 30, 2019

    I like to think my method of reviewing comments on news and social media is the most accurate predictor of elections. Last week I predicted the Conservatives would fall below the Greens. The Greens are on 10%, Conservatives on 13%. So I think that prediction is still on.

    My current prediction has now dropped from 10% to about 6% of the votes because the voters position is hardening.

    I’ve just done a review of comments made to you in the DT and twitter. The reason being that you are probably the most trusted and liked Brexit politican.

    The summary is that 100% (and I mean 100%) of people say they will not vote Conservative.

    The tone in 40% of comments is that the Conservative Party will never be trusted again, in about 40% of votes they are not trusted until a hard brexit is delivered. In 20% of votes that if May went they would vote for the Conservatives.

    So the problem now is if the voters position seems to be hardening then you risk losing the small amount of voters you have left because of the first past the post system. The FPTP used to work in your favour, but you are in fact in a “catastrophic” system. By that I mean catastrophe theory. In otherwords once you reach a threshold the system will flip suddenly into a new state.

  114. BR
    April 30, 2019

    Many of your blogs say what could/should be done, as though you believe that there may come a time when May will suddenly change tack to leave on WTO terms.

    I’m not sure if that’s the impression you intend to convey, perhaps because as a Tory MP you cannot say what others can say, but surely it is now clear to all that May is a die-hard remainer who has connived to take office under false pretences and is determined to see her awful WA pass before retiring from the HoC, mission accomplished?

    I am disappointed that Mogg/Boris cannot see that voting against it in all its forms is essential. For now, holding firm to that while getting rid of May is the key objective. Their statements that they would vote for the WA or ‘Brexit would be lost’ don’t hold water – because the WA is worse than all other options and they seem to have lost sight of that.

    But please see May for what she is (if you haven’t already). She is a 5th columnist (in terms of both Brexit and conservative values) and must be treated as such.

    P.S. The 1922 committee has a lot to answer for.

  115. javelin
    May 1, 2019

    The problem the Conservatives really have is they have drifted so far to the left they have left the majority of Conservative voters without a Party. In a first past the post system this then creates an opportunity for a new right wing party to claim a vote for the drifting party is a vote for the opposition. The logic of extinction is entrenched in the FPTP system.

    The cry goes out, a vote for the old centrist party is a vote for the opposition.

    The law is that if a party in a FPTP system loses the majority it’s supporters then a new party will replace it.

  116. Anthony
    May 2, 2019

    While I always enjoy your columns, especially those containing that redolent phrase ‘the end of May’, I do wonder at what point you are going to accept the Conservative party cannot, and perhaps should not, be saved?

Comments are closed.