Tomorrow I will debate my book with three others at the Politeia event at lunch time. I will stress just how damaging to our democracy and to the credibility of the media the endless repetition of stupid scare stories has become. Those who invented the great Remain untruths in the first place have rested or ignored the good refutations provided. We are stillĀ lectured Ā to believe Calais/Dover will seize up as a trade route when both ends have made clear it will work fine. We are still told we need to stockpile drugs though no-one has pointed to any major continental Ā drug supplier of the NHS who intends to break contract and refuse to send more supplies. We areĀ not told so 0ften the planes willĀ not fly any more.
So called serious journalists on the BBC use “fall off a cliff” and “cataclysm” as descriptors of a so called No deal without asking how or why, and without cross questioning the advocates of this shrill and stupid language. They decline to report the many agreements and arrangements put in place onĀ both sides of the Channel to ease our exit without the Withdrawal Agreement. Ā There is a marked reluctance to interview people with a more measured and sensible view of how we will trade once we have left. Indeed, we are not even invited on to explain how the present complex Irish border works for Excise, VAT and currency frictions or differences. The BBC seems to think the computer has not been invented, and never talks about electronic manifests and away from the border settlement of tax bills which happens today.
I wish to speak about what happens when a populist party orĀ movement becomes the government, as in the USA, Italy and elsewhere and inĀ the UK with the case of the Brexit policy the public has voted for. The governing institutions that attack populism have to adjust to the will of the people as reflected at the ballot box. There has to be a working together of the establishment and the challengers for the betterment of the voters. Establishments always used to accept democratic verdicts in the UK and USA. They have to show on both sides of the Atlantic that they respect the votes of the people, and can contribute genuine expertise to the task of carrying out the people’s wishes. They should not try to dream up false storiesĀ or abuse or twistĀ powers to block the popular will.
The latest updated version of “We don’t believe you” about populism, is available through Amazon
July 1, 2019
Sir John,
Good luck with your debate tomorrow. You are so right that there is far too much pessimism about our exit from the EU – no doubt continually stressed by Remainers in the hope that they can keep us in. They would do well to read the route to a sensible WTO exit which is nicely charted in a good article by Professor David Blake on Brexitcentral.com today. There is a link to a devastating criticism of Mayās WA by Martin Howe QC, Chairman of Lawyers for Britain, and others, which is worth reading by those who want plenty of detail.
I see that Jeremy Hunt is building his āBrexitā team around a New Zealander and a number of Canadians. Hope the latter are not of the same mind as Carney! Anyway, I would rather rely on British nationals who may have our exclusive interests to the fore. No problem about seeking guidance from anyone experienced enough, but the team should not be led by a āforeignerā.
What is more, Hunt says he will retain the Ā£39 billion and will not pay anything not legally due in the event of āno dealā. This surely implies that he is prepared to pay the EU for a deal. What a crazy thought. Trade deals are not bought. If money is paid it is bribery. Surely illegal. Deals should be entered into because there are benefits to each party. I am not impressed.
Hope we get Boris and that he can see the wood for the trees. Olly Robbinsā arrogant offer to remain until the new PM is installed, in order to effect a āhand-overā to his successor, should be absolutely ruled out. In fact, he should be āmarched outā right now, under escort.
July 1, 2019
Six thousand people attended Brexit party event in Birmingham at the weekend. The formation of their policies look good, a good mixture of people from across the spectrum as candidates for MPs. Compare against the likes of May, Greive, Gauke, Clarke x2, Rudd, Soubry, Woolaston, Allen, Sandbach, Bebb, Greening, Vazey, Letwin.
The indicative votes were revealing, the betrayal of the public will very clear, disloyalty to govt, party and members obvious. Associations need to wake up fast. Act like serfs or provide change in your party. Withdraw support immediately.
July 1, 2019
You certainly list many of the people acting to usurp the democratic vote of the people. Grieve and that elderly Labour woman who likes caravanning trying currently to amend a funding bill to put a spanner in the works. Let us hope the speaker behaves sensibly on this for once and tells them to get lost.
July 1, 2019
Basically the whole of Cameron’s old cabinet! Remember him the alleged Eurosceptic! Add in a few more europhiles of Morgan, Hunt and the lib dumbs and you might wonder how they lost the rigged vote!
You could not make it up. Now you might ask who are the swivel eyed loons?
July 2, 2019
Indeed. He claimed he was “a low tax a heart Conservative” too but did the compete opposite.
July 1, 2019
The current UK debt is Ā£2.2 trillion. Interest of Ā£54 billion per annum and rising Ā£5,175 per second.
You might recall Osborn claimed to balance the structural deficit four years ago and then start paying down our debt! Nine years in office this Not been achieved. Taxes at fifty year high!
JR, Mayhab last week added a trillion without debate, scrutiny or a vote! Needs to be reversed ASAP. Suggest you keep the Mayhab’s reckless spending spree under control. We cannot afford your govts illiterate finances and economics. Suggest new PM bring conservative principles to the country’s finances. Before we never speak of Mayhab again except investigation for dishonest Kitkat policy.
July 1, 2019
UK debt Ā£2.2 trillion, Ā£54 billion interest per annum, increases Ā£5,175 per second. Your govt was going to balance the deficit by 2015 and start to pay down the debt. Hammond no longer even trying, Mayhab gone rogue in last final hours adding Ā£1 trillion unfounded green crap without vote, debate or scrutiny! Highest taxes in fifty years, worse than previous Labour govts!
When can we expect a reverse of your govts reckless economics?
You might recall Mayhab claiming Corbyn would add Ā£500 million to our debt, she did worse by unnecessarily adding a trillion!
July 1, 2019
Hilarious photo of Mrs May on the Russian Embassy’s twitter feed re the G20;the photo they have chosen,at random(not!),has her stooped forward shaking hands with President Putin,making it look as if she is bowing to him!
They also have a provocative short survey:”What is the best way to prove liberalism is a alive?”:-
#Leave the EU.
#Remain in the EU.
#Liberalism is dead.
Ooooh those Rrrrussians!
July 1, 2019
I enjoyed your little bookāļø10/10
I expect you’ve read David Goodhart’s book, ‘The Road To Somewhere’, but if you haven’t, I would highly recommend it to you and all your correspondents.
July 1, 2019
Exactly right as usual.
“So called serious journalists on the BBC”? The only serious journalist I have noticed working for the BBC is Andrew Neil. He is fair, honest, middle of the road politically, fairly bright & competent. All the rest are lefty, absurdly pro EU and with very odd beliefs in magic money tree economics, ever higher taxes & regulation also a mad belief in the climate alarmist religion & ‘renewables’. He seem to be being sidelined now too.
July 1, 2019
Adam Fleming crept into Politics Live last week to demonstrate how it can be done.
July 1, 2019
Also appallingly PC and full of identity politics. All BBC staff seem to think there is a gender pay gap due to “discrimination” when all the statistics show (very clearly indeed) that it is due to the jobs and work life balance choices the two genders make.
July 1, 2019
Can you still say “two genders” or is it against the law now?
July 2, 2019
Lifelogic: “Also appallingly PC and full of identity politics. ”
Identity politics is the vanguard of cultural Marxism, you really surprised the BBC peddles it non stop?
The Tory party which has been completely compromised, does nothing about the BBC after how many years in government?
July 1, 2019
Still no comment from Theresa May or indeed Jeremy Hunt on the Hong Kong situation or have I missed it?
July 1, 2019
We are “honour bound to stand up for the people in Hong Kong” says Lord Patton on the today programme just now – perhaps the first time I have agreed with him on anything. Not that we can do very much but make a noise about it.
Needless to day he brought Brexit into the discussion (show we are not a serious nation he thinks)! Surely better than having no nation and becoming subservient broken up un-democratic regions of the EU as he clearly wants?
July 1, 2019
There were 2m HK “associate”British Passport holders who could very easily been offered full UK residency in Patton’s reign and made a massive contribution here. They weren’t, Blair, Major & Co decided others were more deserving in the great EU crusade.
It is a bit late for Patton to bleat about the inevitable now happening in HK – it was never going to be any different, just a question of when Tibetisation took place.
July 1, 2019
I fear you might well be right. May, Patton and the rest of the EUphiles seem to support the (clearly racist) EU good – everyone else bad immigration system that EU law enforces.
Most sensible people just want the best people to come and the bad or liability ones not to come – regardless of race or origin. A sensible points based system (that Theresa May idiotically ruled out – but never said why).
July 1, 2019
Ironic that nobody blinked when Britain removed the attributes of British citizenship from millions of native British people who lived in the Dominions (by inventing British citizenship and leaving us as British subjects) and did not even tell us! Some of my family left in Africa now canāt ācome homeā and are easily identified at 150 paces by every African as alien.
The Hong Kong Chinese are genetically Chinese and Hong Kong was always a Chinese city, which we leased for a period.
July 2, 2019
If Patton is concerned with honour he should fall on his sword.
@Lynn – we leased Kowloon and mainland territory but not HK, the problem for HK was that it depended on the mainland for water and power so not sustainable.
The abandonment of family, friends and subjects in HK and Commonwealth to embrace our new “cousins” in Europe is why I always have and always will say no to EU membership and entanglement.
July 1, 2019
‘Fairly bright…’! Are you kidding, he could wipe the floor with most people? He’s an ex editor of the Economist, has a [spectrum]breadth of knowledge in British and in world political economy, and is blessed with a forensic mind dreaded by woolly minded sophists and pseuds.
July 1, 2019
He is bright I agree, he has some gaps in his science, transport & engineering understanding and on climate change when discussing these subjects. Failing to take people to task when they make scientifically absurd claims as they usually do in these areas.
But we cannot expect him to know everything. The BBC seem to be sidelining him anyway.
July 1, 2019
Not forgetting the tiresome fixation about “mental health issues” and womens football.
July 1, 2019
They just call it the World Cup with no mention of The Women’s World Cup!
Still quite fun to watch now I find. It reminds me of a good school under 16’s team but they are very much better than a few years back when a good 12 year old boys team would have beaten them.
July 1, 2019
Those of us who dislike football (men’s and women’s) are now going to have to see twice as much of it on the BBC.
July 1, 2019
Why “have to” you can turn over or even switch off?
July 1, 2019
Hammond is still going on about his “fiscal fire power” needed for a messy Brexit. I assume this is fire power (money) he has due to him taking far too much tax off people with his highest taxes for 50 years. Thus damaging business and people’s ability to invest and grow the economy and damaging tax receipts for next year. Killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.
Well done remoaner Hammond. Have he started packing yet?
July 1, 2019
Journalists have indeed declined to report the “many agreements” put in place on both sides of the Channel to ease our exit without the Withdrawal Agreement – because there are no such agreements. Not even one. There are unilateral measures put in place by the EU to protect the EU’s interests, but the UK has no say at all in their making or on how long they will last. They are certainly not “agreements”. And, contrary to your false claim, you have been “invited on to explain how the present complex Irish border works for Excise, VAT and currency frictions or differences” – the problem is that you seem unable to recognise that it works right now because both the UK and Ireland are members of the EU’s customs union and single market, and it will not work when the UK walks away. Leave the club, lose the benefits. There is only one person round here dreaming up false stories, and that is you, Mr John Redwood.
July 1, 2019
Well it works with US, Japanese, Korean and all other WTO trade we conduct. So what is so special about WTO trading with the EU apart from their ,to date, intransigence.
July 1, 2019
Assuming you are correct in your assessment, don’t you think it would be of help if the media allowed pre-leave interviewees to make their points about why they think it would be better to leave? Rather than constantly interrupting them before they have said anything. Their points could then be examined carefully.
Furthermore, wouldn’t it be better if when they interview pro-remain interviewees, they would actually challenge them on their claims of the damage leaving would cause? Rather than letting them talk on without querying their position.
The interviewers may well have their own views, but shouldn’t they put them to one side when conducting interviews?
July 1, 2019
Dave, “the media allowed pre [pro] – leave interviewees to make their points”.
They don’t have any points to make! That’s why they get squashed by the likes of Marr; Peston and Neil. They have no idea what will happen post a no-deal Brexit on the 31st Oct; or, what to do to control whatever happens. They will be totally dependent on the Civil Service to dig them out of the shit.
For instance, what is the policy for the currency? If the Pound dives, is government policy that the BoE will boost interest rates to support it; or, just let the pound find its own level in the market? Will foreign central banks buy up the Pound to keep its value up so their exports are still affordable for UK citizens?
A BoE interest boost would wipe out the housing mortgage market in weeks. Letting the Pound float down will mean we will be importing a lot of inflation, because of our large current account deficit.
If you want a killer question for our next Prime Minister, just ask what level of budget deficit will he entertain to stop the UK economy continueing to slide into recession.
July 1, 2019
Somehow I doubt the EU will halt all trade to and its associated agreement with the UK when we leave with no deal.
However, if you are correct, the EU will have to explain to the remaining 27 why their businesses must lose much of their current trade, why the RoI must find a different route to the UK land bridge and why after all their efforts Calais port can effectively close. Meanwhile, after the expected initial sour -grapes glitch, the UK will enact the trade agreements with the RoW.
July 1, 2019
So you still believe they need us more than we need them, and that the German carmakers will come riding to our rescue. 3 years since the referendum, and you still don’t grasp reality. Sir Ivan Rogers got it right when he said the Brexiter zealots have forgotten nothing, and learned nothing. I find it very sad
July 1, 2019
You consider those who voted to leave the EU because they want their sovereignty and right to self determination back, sad?
I think your comment says more about you than you perhaps realise.
July 2, 2019
3 years, and you still haven’t grasped what self-determination means in the modern world? We’re getting pushed around by the Irish, for pete’s sake. And that is because they have done deals – the deal they have with the EU – whereas we have tried to go it on our own. Self-determination? Self-harm and isolationism, more like
July 2, 2019
Canister Jon, No other state (or foreign industry) is going to come riding to our rescue. That’s precisely the point. Only Remains think Jonny Foreigner is there to hold our hand. We Leaves believe we should, and can, stand on our own two feet without EU support.
July 1, 2019
While they are at it, they can explain why the French and Spanish housing markets have collapsed and why the Portugese tourist business in trouble; to say nothing of French wine, German cars, Danish food and Dutch cut flowers. Should keep them busy.
July 1, 2019
This so called irish border works now, as JR has pointed out many times, becasue there is no real problem … different currencies and differing taxes are not symptomatic of the “benefits ” of the so called single market, yet there is no current border problem. I am waiting for someone from the losing side to explain the benefits of remaining. We have lost industry, agriculture and manufacturing to eu and even non eu countries somehow funded by the eu with OUR MONEY. I cannot understand how these superior intelligent remainers cannot see that we currently buy many products from non eu suppliers at competitive prices yet they still see this so called collapse the moment we leave officially …cars from SK, USA, fruit from Chile, Australia, SA, goods from china, thailand, india et al … even meat and cheese and milk and good goods from the UK indeed. We were the 3rd largest economy in the world in 1975 when we were joined with lies, we are now 6th … thanks eu ..for nothing.
July 1, 2019
The Northern Ireland (NI) Select Committee report implied there might be an electronic invisible frictionless border system eventually; but, nobody has yet invented it, let alone deployed it, anywhere on the planet.
The EU has already 41 land borders with non-EU countries, NI will be number 42. The EU knows every bandit trick to falsify; disguise and evade goods regulations crossing borders. For example, all the East European bandit “moonshine” that attempts to get across the Sweden – Norway border.
Irish Vets are saying that nobody has invented a device that can spot hormones in Beef from outside a shipping container. Likewise it can’t spot Horsemeat consigned as Beef. Expect a lot of East European bandits turning up in Ireland, particularly if “away from border” inspections system is introduced.
The 10.000 trucks a day that cross the channel currently take an average of 2 minutes to process. The techies at Dover – Calais reckon they can keep that from going over 10 minutes per truck post Brexit.
Operation Brock, is intended to tackle queues created by the extra 8 minute delays at the border. One side of the M20 will be used only by HGVs heading to Dover, with all other traffic restricted to a contraflow system on the opposite carriageway. Now shut down till October.
Alas, to leave voting simpletons, this all is a mere bagatelle.
July 1, 2019
We simpletons can predict that a 10 minute delay will require a bit of pre planning … each load will be 10 minutes later. We’ll manage.
July 1, 2019
Has anyone ever explained to you (if you’re incapable of deducing it for yourself) that Brexit is about far more than trade?
July 2, 2019
It has been reported on a number of occasions that Her Majesty has taken to asking guests at lunch or dinner to give three benefits of European Union membership. Frequently answers have come there none. Like Her Majesty I have been asking the same question of Remainiac guests with the same result.
July 1, 2019
We will just have to live without all these EU imports then!
Follow the money.
July 1, 2019
Only in homogenous societies can democracy work. There canāt be any āminority groupā with special influence sufficient to overturn that majority will. Many of the ānew Britonsā donāt understand this, they think that obtaining the ābalance of powerā in Parliament with a critical minority is what democracy is all about. When I tell them that the objective of democracy is to ensure that the majority have their way, they are surprised. If we allow democracy āpopularismā to be subverted from this we are in very deep water because then itās a battle for physical power. The Italians solve that with the mafia, the Irish free state with the IRA, Africa I need not mention. We donāt want to go even one step down that road.
July 1, 2019
42% voted Tory at the last general election. That makes you a minority group.
July 1, 2019
Before a vote was cast the majority agreed that we would hold an election and the winner will take all. That is a huge contract. It requires a homogenous nation because all of us will, at some point be on the losing side.
You are small minded Andy – thatās you problem and itās revealed in every comment you make.
July 1, 2019
It also makes Labour (at 40%) a minority group.
And it makes the other parties (at about 16%) a teeny-weeny miniscule group.
July 1, 2019
We don’t form governments in the UK on percentages Andy.
We vote for candidates in constituency areas.
The person who gets the most votes becomes the member for Parliament.
The party with the most MPs that can command a majority becomes the government.
That is how it works and has done for centuries.
July 2, 2019
No it hasn’t Edward2. The current system has only existed as it is since the middle of the 20th century. Before then, the system included multi-member constitiencies which elected using STV (the best form of PR).
Two and three member constituencies have also existed, the Limited Vote system (where multiple MPs were elected and voters had fewer votes to cast than seats available) and the Cumulative Vote system (where voters had multiple votes and could allocate more than one vote to a candidate if they wished) have both also been used in the past.
July 2, 2019
Well it has this century and in most of the last one so the plural “centuries” is correct Peter.
You completely miss the point of my reply to Andy in your PR enthusiastic haste:-
We don’t form governments on percentages.
July 3, 2019
The current system came into being in 1950, less than seventy years ago. No amount of effort to reinterpret the English language makes that “for centuries”.
July 3, 2019
Edward 2
When you look at the income distribution in a country , you have to look at the entire population not just the top ten percentile. This is why the UN, EU, World Bank, IMF and other official insitutions use the GINI index, even you will be able to see that?
July 1, 2019
And just 9% thanks to May very recently!
July 1, 2019
A minority that was considerably larger than any other party’s minority. If you believe that any of these other disparate minorities were more worthy of power then you are in cloud cuckoo land, but then we have already realised that.
July 1, 2019
Quite high e.g. Labour 37% in 2005. Roll on PR. The only democratic element to the EU is the parliamentary election, it has no authority but the voting method is sane.
July 1, 2019
Andy please tell us which party polled more than 42%.
July 1, 2019
The last two single party governments in the UK had vote shares of 36.9% and 35.2% respectively. No single party government in my lifetime has polled a majority of the votes.
If you believe that democracy is about the majority having their way, then the UK system needs to change so that government is representative of the majority, and that means getting rid of the FPTP system.
July 1, 2019
āWe donāt believe youā ā the public is getting ever more frustrated with the MPs who say it is too difficult to just leave the EU
Too bloody right weāre getting frustrated to put it politely, these politicians who are small in numbers compared to the millions who want to leave there beloved Eu , we can only take so much before we snap, the fuse got lit in 2016 and itās a short fuse so betray us at your peril
July 1, 2019
Why is the BBC embracing Marxism and portraying its ideas and prescriptions as valid? Is this the influence of Labour and Milne?
Surely, the Tories can now see that this organisation is at the heart of all that is now rancid, pernicious and malignant in Britain today
It needs total reform and partial privatisation keeping sport and other non-political aspects under voluntary subscription
You either crush this Labour owned, leftist mouthpiece into the dirt or you stop whining about it
Too much talk, not enough action and most of us are tired of TALK
July 1, 2019
Before I turned the BBC off in discuss, I listened to that Steven Nolan pontificate on why we must pay. He kept on about, that if we agreed the 7 year budget, we had to honour it. He also said he knew all this because he had researched and read up about it.
Well he did not mention the Lords report on this that said we have no legal requirement to pay. The AG at the dispatch box said there is no EU law that says we have to pay. So we end up with Nolan making out he is an expert, but is spouting false information to thousands of the public, who might believe his rantings.
July 1, 2019
I tend to agree, the BBC pushes the political centre way to the left with their endless magic money tree and green crap lunatics. They discuss Mc Donnall’s insane economic plans as if they were actually sensible. They should be complaining at the Tories for giving us the highest taxes for 50 odd years and dire services too. But they always want the Tories to waste even more money.
July 1, 2019
I see Lifelogic, that somebody was fleshing out their domestic policies to include cancelling HS2. That ought to please you (and me).
July 1, 2019
Lifelogic
You might also notice how BBC news always refers to the Welsh political establishment as; the Welsh Government, which of course it isn’t, it’s an assembly not a government.
Even in the case of Scotland they never say ‘devolved’ Scottish Government.
This is because they relish any opportunity to put England down, and believe if they nudge the concept long enough people will be dumb enough to accept it as the norm.
The BBC, and to be fair other left wing broadcasters frequently use ‘nudge’ tactics for other leftist causes as well. An example being the brazen way in which they disregard the watershed with some of the non conformist rights issues.
If the BBC don’t get disbanded and replaced with a decent unbiased state broadcaster within the next year, my TV is going. I’ve had enough of them and their subversive political correctness and playing host to minorities with ‘issues’ and using my money to do it.
July 2, 2019
Good points.
July 1, 2019
Not so much the influence of Seumas Milne- more the influence of his father Alisdair. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alasdair_Milne
July 1, 2019
Interestingly I read that Ollie Robbins, co conspirator with May, has jumped ship before the next PM found a plank.
The BBC must be returned to it’s original Reithian principals once the dust has settled on Brexit. The cull of the propagandists must start at the very top and filter down through the news and current affairs department to include the principal dispensers on air. Alternatively just sell it off to the commercial sector. The creeping disease the BBC suffers is even begining to show in it’s drama and so called comedy departments, so time for a new direction is of an essence.
July 1, 2019
āOff the airwavesā obv.
July 1, 2019
I would say especially in the comedy and drama departments! But then almost all actors, comedians and artists seem to be lefties.
Like Emma Thompson – very concerned about carbon dioxide but flies around first class for no good reason.
July 1, 2019
Agricola
I don’t think it’s possible to cleanse the BBC…just shutting it down and chucking the lot of them out of employment (minus pensions) is probably the best way to sort it.
July 2, 2019
Steve:”I donāt think itās possible to cleanse the BBC ..”
Yes.
Steve: ” .. just shutting it down and chucking the lot of them out of ’employment ..”
Yes.
July 1, 2019
What I don’t understand is when the BBC presenters start their remain nonsense why no politician responds by saying something along the lines of:
I appreciate the reason you are so pro-EU is because of the prerequisite attached to the funding they receive from them. I would also like to question, why you accept this funding when you know it contravenes your own Charter?
Get it out there in the open.
It’s time to hit back and see if they can take, as good as they give.
July 1, 2019
When you do not like the message your strategy is to attack the messenger.
Brexiteers are now facing something that Mr Redwood and his Europhobe chums never faced in their 30+year anti-EU campaign: Scrutiny.
And it is telling that they can not answer the questions. This should ring your alarms bells. It is staggering that it does not.
Last week Mark Francois was involved in a TV debate with a trade expert. The trade expert explained what a WTO Brexit meant and why it would mean jobs would go. Mr Francois could not answer the point. His response about jobs going is that at least it is our decision that they go.
These people are ill informed clowns. Worse, they donāt even try to make themselves better informed.
You think you will thank them for Brexit. I can assure you that, in the end, you really wonāt.
July 1, 2019
thats often the BBC way though – get on a Remain expert and a Leave buffoon. What they won’t do is get on a Leave expert so its a fair discussion – and a more interesting one. there are plenty of Leave trade experts who favour WTO brexit for well-argued reasons. but we don’t hear them on the BBC.
July 1, 2019
Richard1
Please, look below about your facts on income distribution, which you unfortunately got wrong.
July 1, 2019
Only because you have used a different statistical method hans.
The rather odd Gini coefficient.
Use the Palma method and you would get a different view again.
July 3, 2019
Edward2, agreed, but the best is still to consider the whole (or at least by deciles) distribution of both income AND wealth.
July 1, 2019
And how much scrutiny do the remain guests get? Little or none. Comments below the line constantly point this out.
If the current crop of ‘politicians’ fail to uphold democracy, there is another party waiting in the wings. Both of which can be voted in or out. Which is more than can be said for the EU Presidents and its red tape creating commissioners.
Contrary to your beliefs about what I think. I have no fear about leaving the EU, but then that is perhaps because I believe in Sovereignty and the Right to Self Determination and if that takes a bit of patience to achieve, then so be it. I fail to see the need to be tied to the EU apron strings.
July 1, 2019
We have been fighting this membership of the EU since the early 1960s! Sir Piers Debenhams stood against the Conservatives in Dorset on the issue then. We have face nothing but scrutiny – you should have heard Norris and Ross McWhirter go into minute details – and they famously never got details wrong! Hundreds of riveting speeches from both sides of politics defending Democracy – membership of the EU IS THE ANTITHISIS OF COURSE.
Make the case for the opposite Andy – who is electing or appointing the new EU oligarch? You really must find out a few facts before you make such a public fool of yourself – read some books for heavens sake!
July 1, 2019
Plenty of jobs have gone whilst in the EU. The requirement has been for us to allow lots of new people in to compete for the ones left.
July 1, 2019
Andy ….you say ‘ When you do not like the message your strategy is to attack the messenger.’
That seems to be exactly what YOU have droned on about for weeks. Our message is we want out, the majority agree, but you keep attacking us!
July 2, 2019
Andy, Fred is right. You can see this site is made up primarily of Leavers and yet you keep shooting the messenger on this site. Most of us ready your posts with a smirk on our face and we certainly don’t place much importance on your rants about pensioners but merely point out that as on most things you are completely wrong.
July 1, 2019
I think the reason they don’t hit back at the BBC in this way (the most obvious way) is that they are in danger of not being invited back.
Having no media profile is fatal to a politician who wants to make a difference.
The one politician who could AND SHOULD call out BBC bias is the prime minister. Mr Trump did it in the U.S. and I believe it has opened many eyes.
July 1, 2019
I agree no media coverage is an issue. However, at present the BBC are not allowing a positive profile, if the politicians don’t endorse its opinion. I think Johnson may have copied a bit of a leaf out of Trumps’ book, by refusing to discuss his private life, despite the negative coverage of late. That said, he has never done so before and good on him for holding the baying ghouls at arms length now.
I also agree the PM should call out the BBC, but no hope with cultural marxist May. Perhaps the next PM (provided it isn’t Hunt as he also likes gutter politics) will do so and also call upon the politicians to question the BBC partiality, should they refuse to treat politicians of all persuasions the same.
July 1, 2019
J Bush
“I appreciate the reason you are so pro-EU is because of the prerequisite attached to the funding they receive from them.”
Do a little research before spouting such arrant DExpress/Mail copied nonsense.
Reality Check: Does the BBC get European Union funding?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36149789
=====
(Not that it will make a blind bid of difference)
July 1, 2019
Margaret
The BBC has admitted receiving EU ‘grants’ and a ‘loan’ from the EIB as far back as 2003.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/9055183/BBC-admits-receiving-millions-in-grants-from-EU-and-councils.html
So who is spouting arrant nonsense?
July 1, 2019
MH
“Reality Check: Does the BBC get European Union funding?”
I heard that it does, not sure how and what for though. Maybe something to do with World Service?
July 1, 2019
And you quote a BBC news article! Priceless!! Is the BBC ‘charity’ a bit of offshoring? The sort of behaviour that they decry in other organisations?
July 1, 2019
J Bush
…..and if anyone did try to get the facts out in the open you can be assured the BBC would play the racism / populism card.
July 1, 2019
A recent example is Andrew Marr telling Jeremy Hunt entrepreneurs will lose their companies in the event of No Deal Brexit.
Nigel Farage would have eaten him for Brexit …
July 1, 2019
eaten Marr for breakfast.
July 1, 2019
I preferred the first āeaten him for Bexit-feastā maybe?
July 1, 2019
I doubt he would taste very nice.
July 1, 2019
No, it was Hunt who told Marr (correctly) that entrepreneurs will lose their companies in the event of no deal Brexit, and Hunt made clear he was content with that. And we know Johnson’s four-letter word summary of his view of “business”. The Conservative Party used to have a reputation for sound economic management. It is now (honourable exceptions such as Hammond and Gaulk aside) a wild-eyed cult.
July 1, 2019
I was reading your comment with respectful skepticism … until I noted that you considered Hammond and Gaulk as honourable.
July 1, 2019
Jeremy Hunt reminds me very much of Sir Ed Davey (but perhaps not quite so dire). Both are essentially climate alarmists, tax and regulate to death, big government knows best remainers & Libdims. So I looked them up on wiki. Both public school, both head boys, both firsts in Oxford PPE!
Anyone who voted for May’s putrid deal three times and presided over the dire death causing NHS for five year (while doing almost nothing to fix it) is quite unsuitable for public office.
July 1, 2019
Sir Ed says Robbins is an excellent civil servant serving his country. Well, if it’s the country he was thinking of moving to and you want to reverse the referendum, then he’s been absolutely marvellous.
July 2, 2019
Robbins was PPE too.
July 1, 2019
UK entrepreneurs, just want it done. None will loose their companies
July 1, 2019
Even Ferrari on LBC accepted that firms and sheep farmers would go bust and not Tim of Wetherspoon’s view. Don’t these journalists realize that we set the tariffs and will be able to subsidize small farmers? Having been refused insurance on my house in France recently while in the EU, I couldn’t care less if these ceased to trade.
July 1, 2019
Facts 4eu has an article on the tariff schedule for WTO announced last year. Agriculture is to be protected by tariffs and finished cars by 10%. It seems like a copy of EU rates.
However, this will not apply to NI where tariffs will be zero rated. NI will be able to import Argie beef and NZ lamb at far less cost than the rest of the country. How the hell is this going to work and how is letting off Irish products going to encourage the EU to agree a quick trade deal? It looks like May has left another timed limpet mine for the new government ship when it eventually sails.
July 1, 2019
Last night I watched the recent programme about Windrush:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00068sk/the-unwanted-the-secret-windrush-files
and I have to say that:
a) I was shocked at the unspeakable stupidity of it all, from the start in 1948 right up to Theresa May’s tenure of the Home Office when people who were plainly Londoners of long standing were brutally declared to be illegal immigrants;
b) She could easily have done the same thing with the EU citizens who had similarly been granted the automatic legal right to come and love and work and start families here, also with minimum formalities, and in very much larger numbers.
However one point which struck me in passing was this, from the summary:
“Harold Wilson rushed through the 1968 Immigration Act, in just three days … ”
Perhaps somebody could remind Jeremy Hunt of this the next time he paints his false picture of the legislation for an orderly Brexit going through Parliament at the end of October but needing just a few more days to pass … then a few more, of course … if necessary, a Bill could be rushed through all its stages in both Houses and given Royal Assent within less than a day, there would be no excuse for further delay.
I have been over this before, only three months ago
http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2019/04/04/an-evenly-split-commons/#comment-1010261
“I observe that a short Act to delay Brexit can be rushed through in just two days … ”
And before that in February:
http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2019/02/01/working-throughout-february/#comment-992716
“I am quite sure that if it was really necessary and Theresa May really wanted it to happen then the hordes of government lawyers could come up with special, and legitimate albeit generally undesirable, legal devices to tide us over.
That is, if it was even necessary to go beyond provisions already available in statute law, including in Section 22 of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 … ”
And then before that, a year ago:
http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2018/06/27/improving-public-services/#comment-943110
“Back in 2011 Theresa May had an emergency Bill passed in a week after a court came up with an unexpected decision about police bail periods:
https://services.parliament.uk/Bills/2010-12/policedetentionandbail/stages.html
but I guess that it could be done in a day, two at most.”
July 1, 2019
That should have been “live”, in general, not just “love”.
July 1, 2019
It has long been clear that the BBC is first and foremost a propaganda organisation. It is led and staffed with that objective in mind. As such it has become a self selecting oligarchy; anyone who disagrees will either not be hired or will fail to progress. Many of its staff appear to have little comprehension of the challenges involved in running a business. Indeed last week the lady on WATO admitted as much when confronted by a spokesman for business.
Yesterday Marr expressed shock horror that businesses would be affected by a “no deal” Brexit. He should pay more attention. Businesses are always affected by decisions of government be they laws, regulations, taxes or policy announcements – and usually to their disadvantage and cost. The BBC can be relied on to cheerlead anti business measures, comfortable in the knowledge that it can rely on an assured TV licence income buttressed by the law of the land.
July 1, 2019
There is too much competition everywhere John and I know you are a believer in competition but journalists want scare stories, they look for hype, competitors who don’t want what others do and cannot rise to a healthy challenge because they themselves cannot perform would rather look to bring others down. This is where competition has got us.
Those kids who excel in TV programmes such as genius will find out that life is not how good or clever you are or how you can manage a situation , it has become how you can gain control , how you can get more money, how you can use and abuse others talent and get paid for their hard work. I could rant on : society has become deplorable and nasty but won’t
July 1, 2019
All this talk about people winning arguments in the media.. rubbish and rot , no argument is won .. it is an opinion and whether others give opposition support or not there is not a win or lose situation . There is no such thing as wiping the floor with someone or eating them for breakfast or crap climate change. Such judgemental pompous comments.
July 1, 2019
Good morning.
I have raised this point before but, it clearly needs resaying.
When our former colonies wanted their independence, did they do so with the loud cries in their ears that it would be too difficult ? Well of course not ! Remember, they had to recreate a new country which they had to run themselves. No way do we have such a task before us. That is no way to say there will not be challenges, but I hardly see any reason that we could not Leave the EU. After all, they said themselves that they were ready for a so called ‘no deal BREXIT’
I think that it those in charge that are running frit.
July 1, 2019
Quite often the elites of subject nations get too cosy with their imperial masters-you saw it with the Greeks and Romanians in the Ottoman Empire for instance-there is a Marxist-Leninist term for it-comprador bourgeoisie.
July 1, 2019
Some of those colonies actually said they were not ready for independence yet, can’t remember names.
It was Labour under Wilson that forced them into independence, for idealogical reasons only, without regard to my first point above.
July 1, 2019
Mark B
“Remember, they had to recreate a new country which they had to run themselves”
Tell us, Mark, how did those countries run themselves before we invaded them?
After all our empire rarely lasted longer than 100 years, in the case of Africa only from the 1880s to past WW2. So they must have had gained some experience during those millenia when they ran their own affairs.
July 1, 2019
Oh Margaret…..have you been dreaming you read a book about when UK invaded Tangiers and fought and suppressed every country all the way to Capetown.?
July 1, 2019
Many of those countries werenāt countries before colonisation. The colonial authority prevented the genocidal warfare and slave-trading endemic in the lands and introduced the populations to the concept of democratic government by agreement and consent. Tribes which had spent aeons in conflict learned the value of tolerance. Many of those lands continued in that vein after independence, others, not so much.
July 1, 2019
“They decline to report the many agreements and arrangements put in place on both sides of the Channel to ease our exit without the Withdrawal Agreement.” Would you please be so kind and tell us bit more details about these agreements etc?
July 1, 2019
Exactly why is it so difficult to exit the EU? Maybe it is because our politicians have allowed the EU to create a monopoly on everything? They have delegated their responsibility to the EU (which has never been approved by the electorate). What is democracy for, if not to choose who governs us?
Imagine this … someone employs a person (an MP) and then the employee tells the employer (the voting electorate) they have decided to delegate much of the responsibility to someone else (the EU), while still taking the pay, and expecting the employer to pay the delegate also? In addition, the delegate (the EU) can dictate what job they will do, to the employer. This is effectively what UK politicians have done to us, the taxpayers.
July 1, 2019
Its difficult because we were promised we could leave yet keep all benefits of membership. Come back to us once youve worked out how to leave the EU but keep frictionless trade with it, trade deals with the rest of the world and, of course, 350 mill for the NHS. Or call it off
July 1, 2019
It’s my understanding that we had an open border with the Irish Republic as a result of the Common Travel Area agreed in 1923, except for the times of emergency in WW2 and the 1970s terrorism. Also that Ireland is not considered to be a foreign country in UK law (Ireland Act 1949) and that Irish citizens could freely live, work and vote in the UK and vice versa.
If that is correct, we had a perfectly workable open border long before the EU was ever thought of. The border problem is manufactured by the EU as they regard it as their external border. In practice the real EU border is at the ports on the continent where goods and people are checked on arrival from our island fastnesses, both British and Irish.
Maybe someone can clarify what the situation actually was pre 1973. I cannot see why they are worried about non-complying goods entering Ireland from the North. If they do not comply with EU rules and can’t be sold legally why would anybody import them?
July 1, 2019
This has been shown to have arrissen as a result of Mrs May and Ollie Robins attemping to create barriers for our leaving, in hope that down the line the delay would be long enough so as all interested parties would wish to give up and stay.
There is no real reason for barriers anywhere other than to assert a political will on others
July 1, 2019
rick hamilton
“In practice the real EU border is at the ports on the continent where goods and people are checked on arrival from our island fastnesses, both British and Irish.”
How do you come to that conclusion seeing that we have been EU members for nearly 50 years?
July 1, 2019
By observing that there is no passport check when you cross from NI into the south, but there is a check on arrival when you fly to other EU countries.
That’s a border.
July 1, 2019
I believe strongly in Brexit.
But.
This is about power.
The EU has taken over the Common Market as the EEA. Anyone not in the EU (or Efta actually) is outside their EEA and therefore their trade has to be restricted (jargon: Third Country). It is no good just assuming that everything will be all right on the night.
Me, I want to trade with the rest of the world p especially to take up Mr Trump’s generous offer. He is a businessman and we ought to rise to the challenge.
July 1, 2019
Of course it is hard to leave the EU; they, the EU make it so. Why do politicians go on drivelling on about out ‘European Friends’, they are not. It is a protectionist community and you are either; in or out. If out then it depends how far you are away, if a long distance then a FTA can be made. If close and do not want to be a vassal state, then watch out. Because your example might put the idea into other countries that this incarnation of an EU is not a good idea.
July 1, 2019
Sir JR,
Interesting but rather past considerations that nobody from any camp (as you call them) believe anymore.
I can only once again kindly ask you to start please to really start looking at the real problems we have as a society. Schools, Social services, infrastructure, NHS and many other much more serious problems than the repetitions of political arguments about Brexit
thank you
Reply I do just that
July 1, 2019
Could I correct a falsehood put up the other day by Hans Christian in response to a post of mine? HC said it is untrue that Scandinavia is more unequal than the UK, as I had asserted. Here are the data for wealth of the top 1% & 10% for 2017 (Credit Suisse Global Wealth Outlook, the best survey of its kind):-
Sweden – 42% /78%
Norway – 31% /63%
Denmark – 33% / 68%
UK – 24% /57%
(Germany – 32% /65%, US 38% /77%)
So the UK has greater wealth equality than any Scandinavian country (or Germany). I don’t say whether this is a good or bad thing, i simply point out that what Polly Toynbee said on Any Questions (that the opposite is the case) is untrue.
I recommend people check their facts before posting, it makes for a more interesting and informative discussion. of course the same should apply to participants like Ms Toynbee on BBC programmes.
July 1, 2019
I was trying to tell you it was more equal and that social mobility is much easier not the other way around,
July 1, 2019
Richard 1
I am rally sorry you are getting your facts confused again.
The right way to measure income distribution is done by the World Bank and the CIA, and they look at the income distribution for the whole population, also called the GINI Index and the country that comes close to zero has the most equal income distribution
UK 32.4
Denmark 29.0
Finland 27.2
Sweden 24.9
So, now my facts and figures were not wrong , your sample does not represent the whole population and this is how these figure are compiled.
Thank you for drawing it to my attention, very nice of you .
July 1, 2019
No you are wrong. The discussion was about wealth distribution and I have drawn attention to the fact that the Scandinavian counties – and Germany – have higher levels of wealth inequality than the UK. That was the point at issue.
July 2, 2019
Richard 1
If you cannot acknowledge the official way of measuring wealth distribution, I am afraid I cannot help you
July 2, 2019
There are many different measures of wealth distribution and income equality hans.
July 1, 2019
Perhaps I can also kindly ask you again, Hans, to explain why I can’t buy a house in Denmark but you are allowed to in the UK. You carefully sidestepped that question. Doesn’t exactly fit with your beloved and inviolable ‘Four Freedoms’, Hans, does it?
And perhaps I can also repeat what others have told you before, that once we stop paying ridiculous sums to the EU, we’ll be able to start to address the other issues you mention
July 1, 2019
Jimmyjim
I repeat if you as a British citizen live in Denmark permanently you are allowed to buy a house in your name.
Is that what you wanted to know?
July 1, 2019
Another disingenuous answer, Hans, designed to mislead. You can buy property here whether you live here or not. I can’t do the same in Denmark. It’s the indivisible and inviolable ‘Four Freedoms’ argument. Why not just admit that some EU citizens are more equal than others?
July 2, 2019
Silence from Hans. How lovely.
July 1, 2019
Yes, these are the very serious problem areas associated with the Tory party importing six hundred thousand unassimilable aliens per annum. It is not clear as yet whether their vision for post-Brexit Britain is a third world country in Africa or Asia or somewhere in-between.
July 1, 2019
Government and liberals should recognise that the rise of “populism” (hate that word) shows that they are out of step…not the people, but they don’t, they just get hurt and nasty.
We live in an age of rights, not responsibilities: of a belief that democracy means “What I want”. An age where Labour protests if Civil Servants call their hero “frail” but would happily tweet it if it had been a Tory maligned because they do not see the act as wrong, just the target and where “celebrities” preach the environment while knocking up air miles.Even worse, we live in an age of “no platforming” the ideas of anyone who doesn’t follow the common mantras, where the “oppressed” have become the bullies.
We might have become “Alice” but this is more Orwell than Carroll and we’ve got to get out of the rabbit-hole.
July 1, 2019
Yes , I heard Mr Hunts stunning refutation when he was asked what he would say to a company and its employees facing no deal tariffs, and hence disaster. He said that he felt that Company would agree that it was the global reputation of the UK as a democracy that mattered more than them making a living
I must say I went away from that happy convinced and ready to get behind Brexit.
July 1, 2019
From democracy all good flows. Tell me why you think the EU running our military and our currency will be best for us. That’s the way the EU is headed.
July 2, 2019
Newmania, The world is a much bigger place than your EU.
July 1, 2019
British trucks face being turned away at Dover under French ‘no deal’ Brexit plans.
Thats the headline in carried in the MSM.
Almost a subtext then lower down states, trucks will not be able to board ships in Dover if they do not have the correct customs paperwork.
A headline from Project Fear, with a clarification almost in small print that it only refers to trucks entering a foreign land with out having created their paperwork.
A situation that just like any one else who left thier passport at home would expect. In other words it is as it is now and before any clean-break
July 1, 2019
Yes, I saw this headline. Typical Daily Express putting the fear of God into people’s minds and then when you read it the explanation is reasonable. Of course you can’t import if you don’t have customs clearance. Idiots!!
July 1, 2019
Ian….any PM supporting our Minister for Trade will agree we will match whatever is done on the other side. No British trucks allowed over there, no EU trucks over here. That will sort out our trade imbalance pretty quickly.
July 1, 2019
Business section in todays Telegraph “Trucks face block at Dover in French no deal plan.”
Reading the article it says that trucks will have to show correct paperwork to board ferries. I wouldn’t for one minute think they would try to board without it.
Does that mean the continental trucks will be waved through regardless.
All that perishable food being binned because the lorries are blockaded, I don’t think so.
Just scaremongering
July 1, 2019
So Boris want a pay rise for state sector workers! Last time I looked they were (with pensions included) about 50% better off than average private sector workers.
I hope Boris is not going to govern for the 20% who work for the state (quite often producing very little of value and often of clear negative value) – rather than the 80% who do not. It is a rather easy trap for PMs and ministers to fall into as they are surrounded by these state sector workers.
July 1, 2019
“You’re a xenophobe” = “I can ignore your vote”
And so they are. Easy peasy to justify dehumanising voters when not a single politician defends the 52% on this slur.
I did not vote for a ‘populist’ party. I rejected the NF then the BNP and then UKIP. (It is easy to quantify how few the xenophobes are in this country – they number a handful.)
I did also reject an UNpopular party. The Conservatives who would be better renaming themselves The Liberal Party since May utterly destroyed the brand.
July 1, 2019
Terrifying story today: lorries which show up in Dover without the right paperwork, an EU import- export license, won’t be allowed to board ships.
Let me add another: anyone anywhere in the world who shows up at an airport to board an international flight without the right paperwork (a passport or in some cases other ID) + a valid boarding pass, won’t be allowed to board a plane.
July 1, 2019
My thoughts exactly.
July 1, 2019
We have always had to show passports at airports. No change there. Having to show documentation at Dover is new, massively costly, and a clear proof that Brexit is costly stupidity, making us all poorer. Get the difference?
July 1, 2019
The point is nonsense. It is a trivial issue which doubtless can be automated.
July 2, 2019
There’s not a single border in the whole world where it is automated. Except inside the EU. free trade – that is what Brexit is throwing away.
July 2, 2019
Canister Jon, What on earth do you mean by an “automated” border? That is a strawman. Richard1 was pointing out that documentation can be automated.
July 2, 2019
We have always had to show passports to French customs and be searched by security at Dover when leaving. Same st Calais by British customs.
July 2, 2019
I don’t think there is enough checking of vehicles coming from France. Look at all the illegal immigrants coming over in the backs of lorries Too many.
July 1, 2019
The EUās trade war on Switzerland has kicked in this am with a ban on trading EU shares on Swiss exchanges. Odd that there is so much focus on Trumpās tariffs on China, which are after all only aimed at creating a level playing field between the US and China, but none on the EUās attempt to get greater economic control over Switzerland through the use of this and perhaps other trade warfare.
The Swiss have responded robustly and banned EU banks and exchanges from trading Swiss shares. So the Swiss have jumped off their own cliff edge (that is by declining to cave in to EU bullying). Swiss shares are up 1% as I write this. Itās not a huge issue, but I suggest our 2 PM candidates declare that from Nov 1 there will be mutual reciprocity for share trading between the UK and Switzerland.
Everyone is of course the loser from these regulatory shenanigans – the regulation equivalent of tariffs, they drive up trading costs and reduce liquidity. The EU has made the world a poorer place this am. Letās ācall them outā to use the modish left wing expression.
July 1, 2019
There is a very insidious element to the idea of an entrenched establishment
overthrowing democracy. A reason often given for dropping the goal of one
man, one vote, is the alleged superior learning of the “elite”. Surely, one of the
main benefits of voting is the ability to ensure that education is available for
yourself and your children, and not just for the members of a privileged class.
July 1, 2019
I’m just gonna sit back and let it play out- it’s like having ringside seats- Nov 1st is D day- all will be revealed.
July 1, 2019
Countryfile full of unquestioned comment about renewables etc – the switch to zero carbon. The BBC on about fire station closures (lots of them) in our area. So that’s not only less fire cover but fewer jobs for people to be able to do.
Andy will blame *your* Brexit but no mention of the population explosion still ongoing.
It is clear that we are in an emergency. They even call it the ‘climate emergency’ – so why is mass immigration increasing unabated if we are really in an emergency situation ?
The people smell a rat.
July 1, 2019
Anon, I switched off as soon as I heard the words climate change and zero carbon emissions. I just knew it would be full of biased rubbish. Why do I feel like everything I listen to on the BBc lately is preaching either climate stuff or renewables? Countryfile is not what it used to be. Watching a load of hippies living their ‘natural’ lives does not equate for the whole population of the UK. It would be impossible. Give it a rest.
July 1, 2019
Sir John
Serious journalists on the BBC?
You are having a laugh there is no such animal and the semi half reasonable ones you can count on the fingers of one hand.
When the swamp gets drained the BBC must also be included in the process. The country cannot go on in its present format. Policy being dictated by our so called unbiased broadcaster and politicians too scared to open up against them on areas that if left unchecked will ultimately destroy our manufacturing base.
Thank God we have you and another 100 odd sensible real politicians who believe in listening to the people and not it’s national broadcaster.
Real change has got to come and in the sooner the better.
July 1, 2019
Totally agree Turbo.
July 1, 2019
It is not hard to leave the EU.
What is hard is to leave the EU while retaining most – if not all – of the benefits of EU membership. And this is what Brexiteers want.
All you need to do Mr Redwood is to tell us where you will put the Irish border, to accept there will be significant extra barriers to trade, that there will be more bureaucracy and that we will all be poorer. Then we can leave.
The reason neither you nor any leading Brexiteer will do this is because it is the exact opposite of what you promised Brexit will be in 2016.
July 1, 2019
What benefits? Paying billions for trade that others get for free (really and truly free and indeed, get paid for doing so).
Nothing else the EU offers can be considered to be a benefit.
July 1, 2019
There are no benefits afforded to any free society by membership of the EU. As its people are not free to make or amend the laws and rules that lead to a fulfilling and aspirational way of life.
If the EU wants to create walls around their inward looking totalitarian control of its people that should be their problem to solve.
Your wonderful EU has its unelected Over Lords in the EU Commission deciding if you are allowed to breathe, they confer on their citizens rights that in a free society were never taken away.
Never forget everything in the EU is illegal unless the EU Commission permits it, in a free democratic society everything is legal unless the people make it illegal – even then the people can amend, change or remove a law.
July 1, 2019
Total tosh as usual Andy. Are you seriously telling us you are working???
July 2, 2019
Andy, You are wrong (again), Leave did not advocate retaining “most – if not all – of the benefits of EU” because Leave argued that the supposed benefits of the EU were non-existent, or illusory. You Remains promised the status quo and no EU army to Remain voters. And Ā£10 back for every Ā£1 we put in. Where’s that now, Andy, eh?
July 1, 2019
Having read that BJ and JH are making “promises” what they’ll do if they get to be PM, haven’t they realised that it is the fact that both main parties have been making fake promises for decades and now people are fed up of them being made ( to get votes ) then instantly disregarded. Nobody trusts you anymore – yet you still carry on the same. Total disregard for the people whose interest you are supposed to be looking after. In about 30 years time people of my colour will be an ethnic minority in the land their families have worked and paid taxes for to build up. The people coming don’t have history of this island – all they want is to get a better life for nothing. This country and nation WILL be wiped out. Glad i’ll be history.
July 1, 2019
It’s not the voters JH and BJ are campaigning for with promises.
It’s the bl**dy MSM so they will get presumably nice writeups..
July 3, 2019
Firstly, so what? What on Earth has colour got to do with identity as British? Nothing. You fearful idiot. Secondly, political discourse is broken because we the people think we know better. When of course we know bugger all. We should listen to people when they say things may hurt and appreciate they may know a thing or two.
July 1, 2019
There are just two factions. Leavers who wish to leave the EU, and all the rest, who, despite their protestations want to stay, and will and do and say ANYTHING, to remain, even if it undemocratic. The sooner Nigel Farage becomes PM the sooner we can drain the swamp of dictatorship MP’s unelected HoL, and barefaced mendacity.
July 1, 2019
The media attempts to balance Undemocratic against the Democratic. Also they have to listen to childish and silly “Take No Deal off the Table” when no one in their right mind has so much as negotiated selling a bag of marbles, a toy car, and a dolls house
since they reached the age of five with that wisdom.
Politicians of Remain have a mental age of three. Let the media show them on TV. People enjoy listening to the kids programmes. It reminds them of times when Santa looked remarkably like dad
July 1, 2019
“The governing institutions that attack populism have to adjust to the will of the people as reflected at the ballot box.”
That is the traditional, honourable viewpoint, SJ, however, the governing institutions have another option, which they appear to intent on inflicting on the Nation.
Namely, ‘In fear of the Will of the People, the governing institutions will DESTROY Democracy!’
For example, the MPs in the ‘Porky Pie Alliance’, who despite fighting the last GE on honouring Brexit, are engaged in performing intellectual contortions, in order to bamboozle the people into accepting that they are honourable, and killing Brexit is patriotic! I rest my case!
July 1, 2019
Are you taling about the Brexit Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that gives for you guys an easy time over the Irish border. The BBC always fail to drill down into the detail or challenge assumptions.
Why don’t you ask the ordinary people of Northern ireland about the border and not just the renewable heating party.
July 1, 2019
“Labour-supporting Momentum launches campaign to oust UK PM frontrunner Johnson”
If that happens the Brexit Campaign should make plans to build a wall around London to stop hooligans from getting out in to the UK.
Build That Wall should be the People’s chant
July 1, 2019
LOL!!
Excellent Yorkie..
July 1, 2019
There is already a wall – it’s called the M25. The Islington and London centric chattering classes never get beyond it in case they might meet an ‘ordinary people’. They despise this country and all it stands for. Labour now thinks it can ignore 5 million of its core Leave voters in the north and become a Remain party. We’ve already got at least 2 of those so why do we need another?
July 1, 2019
Sir John;
Even by your standards you have surpassed yourself in a post full of evasions and outright misinformation. In your minestrone of nonsense I choose but one example – the Dover Calais situation.
Do you really think that the present almost frictionless arrangements for the operation of the North European Ports, the tunnel and the airports do NOT in fact depend on our being party to the EU treaties and our being members of the SM & CU and being party to all the relevant customs code?
Do you not admit that as we exit the EU that all that is lost with incalculable consequences.
You need to be called out for what you are. A complete charlatan offering snake oil.
Reply Dover Calais will work fine once we have left.Ask those running the ports.
July 1, 2019
People running the ports are hardly likely to invite custom to make alternative arrangements. If that is your only point to make then you are relying on crossed fingers and the tinkerbell effect…
By the way you criticism of the EU for being insufficiently hard on Putin beggars belief given your consistent stance as Putin apologist and happy alliance with |Putin as a fellow opponent of Western European Liberalism.
July 2, 2019
Newmania, The EU is a totalitarian ideology, the very antithesis of liberalism.
July 1, 2019
Personal attacks are always made by the snakes not those selling their oils.
July 1, 2019
You obviously are not a regular user of the exit points. EU treaties are there to inhibit trade even amongst its members. 40 Years on and there is still no agreement on how much FREE trade there should be with in the EU.
July 1, 2019
The EU is the biggest free trade zone in human history
July 2, 2019
Truman, Not for services it isn’t. And goods trade within the EU is not free – the EU charges an extortionate amount to trade in the EU’s single market.
July 4, 2019
This is nonsense. The EU does not charge any money for EU MS to trade in the SM at all. Far less extortionate amounts. Our net annual cash subs to the EU for the administrative overheads and EU projects are well under 2% of our Government expenditure.
July 1, 2019
Typical remainer.
Never a post without a personal insult.
Why do you need to be so rude Simon?
July 1, 2019
People who simply refuse to engage with the truth and furthermore treat their own readers as idiots while leading the nation into perdition deserve everything they get and more.
People have been polite for over two years and still these absurd nostrums are still being peddled by people who should know better. I notice my latest comment has received no substantive reply.
Trade runs smoothly Dover – Calais BECAUSE we are in the EU, SM & CU. The idea in another comment the EU inhibits trade is just the raving of a madman.
July 1, 2019
No amount of self justification by you alters the fact that you are insulting and rude to those who hold a different view to you simon.
You are just making predictions of doom eg Dover Calais.
These are not facts just predictions.
You talk of truth which is just code for your opinion.
There have been many instances of chaos at channel port crossings over the years of our membership of the EU due to bad weather road accidents regular strikes riots and so on.
But life just went on.
July 2, 2019
Simon, you are right. It is frequently said that Leavers have no idea how the EU works, or why, and had no clue what they were voting for. they were just old, cross and ignorant. The comments on this site prove it.
July 2, 2019
It is only “frequently said” by remain fans who generally make insulting personal comments rather than address the issues.
July 2, 2019
Lorries and cars have to arrive at the ports 1-2 hours before sailing. In that time, documents are checked and searches take place for security and illegals. There will be time to inspect export forms and to check loads, as happens already.
July 1, 2019
He has no valid arguments so takes out his frustrations on others. Rather like a petulant child, I’d imagine. ‘Andy’ and Newmania are anti-democrats, are full of hate and beyond redemption. Some of their offerings border on libellous. I admire our host’s restraint, patience and openness to free speech.
July 1, 2019
yep…the present almost frictionless arrangements……when the French blockade the ports and motorways?
July 1, 2019
Calais/ dover is only suited to Ro-ro..and after Brexit we will be obliged to switch to containers for goods which means extra through Felixstowe Southampton etc. Truck drivers will not be permitted to drive heavy goods vehicles through Europe..Europeans will not br allowed drive through Uk..no agreements will be in place..to think otherwise would be to think the same as thousands of third country Chinese drivers driving heavy goods vehicles all over..I can’t see it
July 1, 2019
Simon, why don’t you say what you really mean?
July 1, 2019
The latest scare is the theoretical Prorogation of Parliament which the media are obsessed with. This morning John Humphrys had evidently been told not to allow this subject to wriggle away in the conversation. Hancock should have just told him prorogation takes place at regular intervals and is no big deal, then gone on to make his point about the vote won by HMG against the latest attempt to subvert the referendum. He should also point out “no deal” and “prorogation” are just bogies conjured up in the public mind to thwart Brexit itself.
July 1, 2019
The BBC is focussed on sensationalism and ratings and sees itself as the lead story teller to the world competing with CNN 3rd for “The Next Big Thing” so the BBC becomes the story so the world revolves around Planet Beeb!
Many BBC employees are brainwashed into thinking this has materialised already as they follow sanitised BBC well-established repeated plausible political scripts rehearsed beforehand.
It is so obvious that they are beholden to their government privilege protected status they side with anyone not challenging sadly. They used to be our National broadcaster but Donald Trump called them out with CNN for pumping out Fake News to further their own erroneous and corrosive agenda several years unlike Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn who feast on its propaganda scripts.
July 1, 2019
I consider what the BBC and the die-hard remainers are doing, is a crime. and the crime is to murder British National Sovereignty.
As with any crime it carries the standard methodology, MMO. The BBC have the Means – A National TV and Radio Broadcaster funded by Ā£3,5 Billions of Licence Fees, paying their presenters outrageously high salaries to peddle their false stories and promote disinformation. They also have the Opportunity – Hourly on Radio or on TV to spread their poisonous influences across the country.
However, the problem comes when we seek their Motives for doing so.
We know they receive Ā£Millions from Brussels in “Research” funding but surely a few Ā£Millions set against the Ā£3.5 Billions provided by the British citizens does not seem enough a ‘bribe’ sorry, sum, to switch their allegiance from their British benefactors to the unelected and unaccountable foreign cabal based in Brussels?
So what is their real motive for wanting to surrender the political control of this country to foreigners?
July 1, 2019
The BBC get ever more desperate. On Radio Sheffield’s Breakfast show this morning, “presenter” ( I use the term loosely), Toby Foster, said that there was nobody at Glastonbury rapping how good Brexit was.
July 1, 2019
Dear Mr. Redwood,
There are still far too many MP’s of all parties but especially conservatives, who think that as soon as Brexit is over and done then the voters will come flocking back, the old status-quo can be restored and they can settle back into their comfortable lifestyles and old ways. That time has gone. The way in which some MP’s have approached Brexit has been very revealing and voters don’t like what they have seen.
Conservative voters may not return. Indeed, as the Brexit Party develops, they may even prefer a new option to an old, tired Tory Party. One that puts the British people first instead of seemingly being anxious to please everybody else in the world especially our European ‘partners and friends’.
The Conservative Party and its MP’s are on probation. Voters are waiting to see how Brexit is delivered. They will not forgive more parliamentary shenanigans from the likes of Grieve & Co.
There is a large element of ‘we don’t believe you’ out there. Accompanied by a sizeable ‘we don’t trust you’.
July 1, 2019
Absolutely, AJ.
July 1, 2019
Oh too true Alan
July 1, 2019
Literally months after slamming preparations for a no deal more than once he suddenly is demanding that they be ramped up. A massive U turn. I wonder why? Nothing to do with wanting to be Mays best friend in cabinet and now as she is moving on, sucking up to the Tory party members.
Well I have news for him. We donāt believe you.
July 1, 2019
Sorry meant Jeremy Hunt
July 1, 2019
not a lot of difference.
July 1, 2019
In a few weeks time, they won’t even admit to having ever known her. The entire Cabinet must be cleared- at least that is one part of the swamp which is easily drained. Only then will we be able to believe continuity May will be purged. If Hunt wins it will be business as usual. Boris also worries me at the moment. He seems to be headed for a change to the backstop and then a resurrection of the WA. Haven’t heard him say different and he did vote for it on the last occasion.
July 1, 2019
The UK left the EU on 29th March although Parliament are in denial about it.
The Robin Tilbrook’s case was originally dismissed by a Judge [whose name I will not mention as it may result in my comment being deleted again].
Mr Tilbrook has lodged an appeal.
July 1, 2019
Sir
One point that stands out in this whole debate is the utter incompetence of the remain side. The arguments they used during the referendum have proved false. The arguments brought up since should have been brought up before- it’s not as though anything has changed, and they had plenty of time and the resources of the civil service to prepare.
Even if they are spinning (to use the euphemism) they are spectacularly incompetent at that.
I guess they’ve never in their life had to defend their position except by sneering.
July 1, 2019
Off-piste:
Facts4EU comment – Finally, what is Theresa doing there?
“Each time we see Theresa May – in Osaka for the G20 summit on Friday/Saturday, at the emergency EU summit yesterday – we wonder what on earth this failed, lame duck
Prime Minister is doing. When she also imposes radical and expensive new decisions for the British people we are even more appalled. A case in point is the Ā£1 TRILLION ‘zero emissions’ policy she imposed by statutory instrument last week. No debate, no detailed cost/benefit analysis, just a desperate attempt by the worst Prime Minister in living memory to deliver ‘a legacy’.
In our view she has already inflicted enough damage on the United Kingdom and her hands should now be firmly tied.”
Any comment John regarding May’s current deplorable antics?
July 1, 2019
Off-piste:
Facts4EU comment ā Finally, what is Theresa doing there?
āEach time we see Theresa May ā in Osaka for the G20 summit on Friday/Saturday, at the emergency EU summit yesterday ā we wonder what on earth this failed, lame duck
Prime Minister is doing. When she also imposes radical and expensive new decisions for the British people we are even more appalled.
A case in point is the Ā£1 TRILLION āzero emissionsā policy she imposed by statutory instrument last week. No debate, no detailed cost/benefit analysis, just a desperate attempt by the worst Prime Minister in living memory to deliver āa legacyā.
In our view she has already inflicted enough damage on the United Kingdom and her hands should now be firmly tied.ā
Any comment John regarding Mayās current deplorable antics?
July 1, 2019
It makes me laugh when Conservative and Labour parties call other parties ‘populists’.
Labour proposing to introduce a lifetime gift tax = pandering to the green-eyed form of populism, whipping up envy in the have-nots. This has been the drive of their so-called ‘policy’ for decades. A party that achieved all its aims by 1950 became a party determined to gain power at all costs with give-aways to the poor (and to have poor people vote for you in sufficient numbers, you have to keep a lot of people poor).
The Conservatives have been infiltrated by liberals, virtue signalling their climate change policies and moving increasingly leftwards. Most recent Conservative policies would have been described as socialism not many years ago.
And the term ‘populist’… policies that are designed to juxtapose the people (who feel ignored) against a perceived ‘elite’… well, they are being ignored. The only difference between populist and popular is the (perceived) ignoring… and what is wrong with popular policies in a democracy?
July 1, 2019
Remainer MPs are the Cameroon Women’s football team ranged against our mighty women warriors. Cry, cry, cry . Losers!
July 1, 2019
This RTE article by Tony Connelly is worth reading:
https://www.rte.ie/news/analysis-and-comment/2019/0628/1059105-brexit-deal-border/
“Brexit: The return of no-deal and the Irish border”
The EU and the other member states, especially Ireland, are having a lot of conversations, but in line with what was said to the Commons select committee:
http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2019/06/28/the-chilling-silence-about-our-money/#comment-1033153
they are not talking to the UK:
“On Monday the Alternative Arrangements Commissions (AAC) published its 200-page interim report on preventing the backstop through the use of existing technology and exemptions.
The EU, and Dublin, have declined to respond publicly to the report as it is not an official UK government paper.
However, officials from member states meeting in Brussels on Thursday gave it a cool reception when briefed on its contents by the European Commission.”
And:
“In a foretaste of the challenges facing either Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt, when they come to Brussels seeking “a better deal”, the European Commission has set five tests that alternative arrangements will have to meet, whether the freelance options by the AAC or the UK governmentās own official ideas, which can only be worked up jointly with the Commission once the Withdrawal Agreement is ratified.
These are that they must ensure no hard border; they must comply with both the Union Customs Code and WTO rules; they must treat all member states equally (ie, Ireland cannot become a semi-detached member through some joint SPS-zone with the UK); and finally, they must comply with the objectives of the all-island economy.”
I recall this part of Theresa May’s Mansion House speech of March 2nd 2018:
http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2019/01/30/the-commons-votes/#comment-992274
āWe have been clear all along that we donāt want to go back to a hard border in Ireland. We have ruled out any physical infrastructure at the border, or any related checks and controls.
But it is not good enough to say, āWe wonāt introduce a hard border; if the EU forces Ireland to do it, thatās down to themā. We chose to leave; we have a responsibility to help find a solution.ā
Which actually meant that she would allow the EU to dictate what would happen.
July 3, 2019
Pity this has been missed for moderation.
July 1, 2019
I feel emotionally humbled at the sight of pro-democracy, pro-freedom activists in Hong Kong as they raise the flag of the once UK protectorate. The Union Jack a symbol of freedom, democracy, prosperity and liberty
How these brave Hong Kong citizens could teach Remain bigots a thing or two of the importance of sovereignty and independence
These poor people we abandoned to their fate at the hands of Marxist barbarism and totalitarian oppression. They and their families pay a heavy price for their courage.
Meanwhile, in the UK we have members of Her Majesty’s Parliament conspiring to erode the very things people in HK would die for.
MPs have turned this nation into a sewer
July 1, 2019
Dominic, I agree it is humbling.
‘Returning’ HK. Island and Kowloon Peninsula (ceded in perpetuity) without issuing automatic residency rights in the UK was and remains appalling. After all there are about 4 million EU nationals in the UK now who will be able to claim residency, so the scale is similar.
About a decade ago I met some ex-HKers whilst in Toronto, they dreamed that they would return when the Union flag flew in HK again, the situation is tragic, meanwhile, as you indicate, democracy and freedom are thrown away here.
July 1, 2019
Talking of not believing politicians, this hypocrisy is astounding –
‘Hammond says the future PM must be honest about spending’
First class I’d say.
July 1, 2019
You say- both ends of Dover/Calais have made it clear that it will work fine- but who exactly is making this claim- is this the word of the two harbour masters, which means ships will arrive and then go to anchor because of port congestion. The reason for port congestion being that the rest of the ports officials including the Customs, immigration, port health, vets and quarantine etc won’t have the foggiest about how to deal with it. But you’re right about the two harbour masters, for them everything will work fine so long as there is enough room in the anchorages and that the winter gales don’t blow too soon. Idiocy
July 2, 2019
Have you ever run a trading company or imported or exported goods Liam?
Harbour Masters?
Claiming everyone involved who is currently involved at these ports wont have a foggiest what to do.
Remainers are obsessed with Dover Calais just one of dozens of ports in the UK
Hilarious stuff.
July 1, 2019
I think you should see this, Sir John – at least a dozen people recommending that you be made Chancellor in the next cabinet: https://order-order.com/2019/07/01/runners-riders-will-next-chancellor/#disqus_thread
July 1, 2019
It is a heck of a lot more than a dozen, and then add the hundreds of approvals.
July 1, 2019
The rats are deserting the ship- listening to Damian Green tonight- stupido
Reading JR’s piece here as well, again stupido, if you think the EU chief’s give two hoots about Tory leadership posturing and tough talk. They know that only a good spell in the wilderness is going to bring about realism now, so better brace yourselves. All as I see it from the Eu side- November 1st is crunch time
Reply Becoming independent and global in out look is no wilderness.
July 1, 2019
I have long wanted to cut the Cabinet down by half. If the report in the DT is true, this must mean Boris wants to bring back Cabinet government. The present size is unwieldy.
July 2, 2019
Sir John
Instead of bland generalisations maybe you could do an article on the aviation regulations for third countries wishing to operate in and out of the EU, how that differs from what we have now and which certifications will / will not remain valid. And a link to anyone who ever said “planes will not fly” and another link to the EU Notification to Stakeholders on Aviation for a No Deal situation.
July 2, 2019
Simon, you want detail! No, that is not what Brexit is about. Brexit is about blind faith, fingers in ears, la la la i cant hear you. Brexit is a cult. Ask them how WTO rules differ from EU rules. They have no clue.
July 2, 2019
Complete nonsense both of you.
Detail is everywhere it is just that when you rarely bother to look for it you then refuse to believe it.
Even the EU have said planes will not be disrupted but you refuse even that statement.
July 6, 2019
The Department of Health has now published its advice on dealing with the medicine shortfall in a No Deal situation.
Nowhere do they suggest any “contracts” might be broken.
They do state that cross channel traffic will be slowed / reduced.
Pesky facts eh Sir John ?