A new session of Parliament with a new Queen’s speech

Shock horror, we are going to have the same 3 week break for party conferences we have always had. Bigger shock horror, we are going to end the longest Parliamentary session since the civil war, and have a new Queen’s speech as we used to do every year. Worse shock horror, the Remain forces who have dominated the Parliamentary agenda for three years complaining about the result of the referendum will not have many more days to repeat this. Most of the country will breathe a sigh of relief if the endless rows about Brexit are over and we can get on with a decent agenda for the UK.

The irony of Remain is they now dare to say it undemocratic to implement the referendum decision, undemocratic to have a new session of Parliament with a new agenda for a new government, and undemocratic if the majority get their way. It is they who launch the attack on democracy, by denying the result of the referendum and seeking to stop the transfer of powers of self government back to Parliament, which was the whole point of the Brexit vote.

So what should we want from the new Queen’s Speech? Certainly an end to the endless and pointless wrangling about what type of Brexit we want. We will now get the one sort available to us, Brexit without a Withdrawal Agreement. We need from the Queen’s speech a clear statement of how the powers and money we are getting back from the EU will be used to boost our economy and lift our public services. The new government has made clear its wish to spend more on schools, the NHS and the police. It needs to show how this money will be spent, so the money buys more capacity and better quality in these important areas.

The new government needs to set out its plans for better infrastructure. We know it wants to send fibre broadband and 5G to every corner of the country. Does it want a version of HS2 or will it come up with cheaper and faster plans to enhance rail capacity and service? What actions will it take to improve our road network, starved of investment for two decades?

Will it embark on a bold programme of tax reform, to raise more money by lowering rates and encouraging enterprise and investment? Will it remove VAT from green products and home energy, once we are free to do so? Will it free the homes market by cutting Stamp Duties?

There is so much a good positive post Brexit government can do. I want the government to launch all this in a Queen’s speech, so the opposition can debate and vote on it and the government can set out just how much better off we can be once Brexit is behind us.

467 Comments

  1. Pominoz
    August 29, 2019

    Sir John,

    Absolutely delighted that the Queen has agreed to Boris’s request to suspend Parliament. Of course there is the clamour from all those remainer MPs shouting the move was anti-democratic. A bit of self-reflection might not go amiss amongst that lot! It’s OK for them to thwart democracy, but an attempt to actually deliver it really gets under their skin. What hypocrisy!

    All we can do now is hope that ‘the cunning plan’ achieves the desired result of a WTO Brexit, untainted by the putrid remnants of the May WA and PD. Stand by for the vicious rantings from certain predictable contributors to your diary.

    1. Lifelogic
      August 29, 2019

      Exactly

      1. Lifelogic
        August 29, 2019

        Labour shadow ministers (Barry Gardener) and some in momentum effectively calling for civil disobedience to try to prevent Brexit. A Brexit Corbyn probably still actually wants. What a disgrace some of these people are.

    2. Peter Wood
      August 29, 2019

      Good Morning,
      Sir John has assumed BJ’s plan is to go for WTO exit; I disagree, he’s given every indication he’s going for the May Treaty without the Backstop. The Boris Stitch-up.
      We need the ERG and the indefatigable Nigel Farage even more now!

      1. Anonymous
        August 29, 2019

        Yup. But notice the harder Boris talks the more Tory poll ratings improve.

      2. Antoinetta III
        August 29, 2019

        From what I’ve read over the last three years, the EU has made preserving the Irish Backstop a core element in any Withdrawal Agreement. I think it likely that Boris senses that they have painted themselves into a corner on this issue, and can’t let it go. Therefore, Boris can offer them the rest of the atrocious May deal, minus the Backstop, knowing that they can’t give this up. Boris can then present himself as willing to compromise, and the EU as the intransigent party.

        One thing I don’t understand however, is why is the Irish Backstop of such central importance to the EU? Obviously, no one in Great Britain or Ireland wants a return to the Troubles, that preceded the Good Friday Agreement. But even if the violence of the Troubles did return, it would not take place in Europe; I can’t see the IRA or the Provos blowing up pubs in Germany or France or anywhere in the continent. So why the big deal about the Backstop for the EU?

        Antoinetta III

        1. Joy Elmes
          August 30, 2019

          The backstop is a red herring. The rest of the treaty is the dangerous part. We should dump the whole of it, pay nothing and leave cleanly.
          ‘Crashing out’ is a ridiculous expression. We are British and supposedly we can walk away from this toxic club with dignity, on our feet, not our knees.
          I, personally, voted to leave. No-deal or any deal was ever mentioned prior to the referendum, the only option was leave or stay. Having waited for over 40 years for a chance to leave, I grabbed it with both hands. Having had over three years to really come to terms with all the info available, I am even more sure that my choice was right. Leave, as soon as possible. Drop the WA Boris, for the sake of this country and its future.

          1. Edward2
            August 30, 2019

            Great post Joy.
            I agree with every word of it.

      3. rose
        August 29, 2019

        Boris hasn’t given every indication. Farage unfortunately has, because he wishes now to displace the Conservatives in Parliament and Government and his poll ratings are going down. This is very sad as he has always been a good, straight speaker without a hidden agenda, and he should be working to help Boris in getting us out, either with an FTA minus the backstop, or without an agreement.

        1. Peter Wood
          August 29, 2019

          Boris has limited his objection to the WA to only the ‘backstop’ since his meeting with Mrs Merkel.
          Farage, I agree, has his own axe to grind, but it is really his ‘threat’ that has given backbone to the Tory Brexiteers; ‘Do or Die’ is apposite.
          I agree, if the Tory Party could find an accommodation with Farage then we’d see a massive majority in the HoC, but the stubbornness of the Tory grandees prevent that for now.
          We won’t get a ‘normal’ FTA from the EU until we cross the departure bridge, when its in their interest to have one, We should stop kidding ourselves and prepare fully for WTO.

        2. graham1946
          August 29, 2019

          Nigel is still straight speaking,and is helping Boris. It is Boris who is wobbling and giving every impression that merely getting the Backstop cancelled will be enough and that he will re-heat the appalling May Treaty. Nigel is merely trying to stiffen Boris’s resolve and make sure the EU know that they will not get away with the WA which is all they want, to keep us in hock. If Boris takes us out on WTO terms as he has said he would, or if the EU come up with something more acceptable, the Brexit Party will fade away. If not, the Tories will do the fading.

        3. L Jones
          August 29, 2019

          NF seemed to make it clear (as I understood his speech at TBP conference) that he hoped for the Boris’s best but was preparing for his worst. That TBP was prepared to work with the Government. It didn’t sound to me as if he had a ‘hidden agenda’ and it certainly came across as straight talking.

      4. David Maples
        August 29, 2019

        Peter Wood.

        Dead right!!

      5. Martin in Cardiff
        August 29, 2019

        Peter, you Leave extremists have a problem. It is that you must “win” at any cost.

        However, for you, winning is not about achieving your objectives declared at the start. It is apparently about leaving your imaginary enemies utterly desolate.

        So you won your little vote in 2016, but then saw that the people who voted Remain were still much as chipper as ever, going about their largely successful lives and enjoying them.

        “This just won’t do” you perhaps thought?

        And so you’ve moved to ever sillier positions, but here we still are, with stand-up comics and humorists earning easy livings at your expense.

        Whatever will you do next?

        1. Edward2
          August 29, 2019

          Are remainers extremists?
          Or us it just leavers?
          Logically we were given a referendum choice and people democratically decided how they wanted to vote.

        2. Anonymous
          August 29, 2019

          Still in the EU after three years and one deadline. We used the ballot box peacefully and orderly and remain so.

          No acknowledgement for this. Just more piss taking as there always was.

          Oh for proper comedians.

        3. dixie
          August 30, 2019

          What a tenuous grasp on reality you have – remainers were anything but “chipper” after and since the referendum have been the extremists in Parliament, the courts and the media.

          1. Tad Davison
            August 30, 2019

            Exactly. We’ve only got to read the comments from the duty temainer trolls to see how nasty and insipid they are. Anything but chipper! Yet more meandering balls from sore losers.

            It matters not to them that the UK now has a great and autonomous independent future within its grasp, they just whinge and moan and wish to stick the UK limpet-like to an EU ship that is about to sink! So unimaginative are they, they know no other way.

        4. BJC
          August 30, 2019

          Martin

          I think you should perhaps take a small amount of time for some personal reflection. In your world, there are clearly many with ugly, selfish souls, stepping on the less fortunate on their journey to the top.

          In the rest of civilised society we delight in sharing our small successes with those around us, so they can celebrate with us.

          Mind your step as you come down from your ivory tower

        5. tim
          August 30, 2019

          Brussels! you need some!

      6. David King
        August 29, 2019

        Yes my fears too!

        Boris is not a ‘right winger’ and certainly not a dictator etc as he is insultingly being called but rather a liberal, one nation Tory whatever that may mean. His inclination, I think, will be to agree an alternative to the back stop and believe he can sell most of the rest of May’s WD agreement.

        I trust Sir John, JRM and others to make crystal clear to him that this will fail. The Leave Party will ensure that if nothing else and what an economy/democracy destroying coalition of ideologues we would finish up with.

        1. Tad Davison
          August 30, 2019

          Interesting point. Those who have hijacked the term ‘one nation Tory’ are usually pro-EU and are therefore more ‘no nation Tories’ because that is the status they seem to favour for the UK. A bit like Mugabe claiming to be a democrat.

      7. steve
        August 29, 2019

        Peter Wood

        This is why I err towards favouring Mr Farage, I have yet to see Boris sink teeth into the disrespectful Varadkar and Macron, whom it must be said are enemies of this country.

        Pains me to say it but I need to see more from Boris, however the proroguing is definitely a step in the right direction.

      8. Richard416
        August 30, 2019

        I don’t suppose anyone really wants to leave without an agreement, but a favourable or neutral agreement, not one that leaves us subservient to foreigners. However if we have to leave first and then negotiate, or not, as the case may be, then so be it. Apparently we have just had to alter all our petrol pumps because of the eu meddling.

        1. tim
          August 30, 2019

          we voted to leave the EU completely. Nothing less.

    3. Martin in Cardiff
      August 29, 2019

      It’s interesting that a growing number of MEPs are of the opinion that the UK will now likely be in breach of the terms of its European Union membership.

      That is, that all member states must be rule-of-law ones within the meanings of their own Constitutions. The UK is now in the position where its legislature can have no practical effect of whether it leaves the Union and on what terms, and so it seems likely that the European Union could decide that the UK had left unlawfully, as it would not meet that requirement.

      Now, Leavers might say “so what?”, but the European Union would be left with responsibilities towards sixty-seven million people, whom it deemed to have been deprived of their citizenship unlawfully.

      That would be a new, and very interesting matter to consider.

      Wouldn’t it?

      1. Fred H
        August 29, 2019

        ‘A growing number … evidence, when? before when? since when?

        ‘ so what!

      2. libertarian
        August 29, 2019

        Martin in Cardiff

        Ha ha ha ha

        Wibble

        Try finding out what your parliament has been discussing and voting on for the last three years

      3. Oggy
        August 29, 2019

        You’re right – so what ?

      4. Edward2
        August 29, 2019

        Twaddle
        Three years of non stop debate got us nowhere.
        And now 4 days are deducted it’s a revolution.
        You remain fans are hilarious.
        PS
        You can’t be citizen if a trading bloc.

      5. graham1946
        August 29, 2019

        Total rubbish, as usual.

        The EU has broken the Article 50 in that they were supposed to negotiate both the leaving and the future relations with the UK in one go. They decided unilaterally to impose the deal without which they will not discuss future relations.
        Parliament has had its say over 3 years and decided to trigger Article 50 which says that without deal we leave in 2 years, (which as been extended twice to try to thwart leaving). How have 67 million been deprived of citizenship? They are citizens of the UK as they have always been and as the EU is not a country but a trading block it does not bestow citizenship.

      6. NickC
        August 29, 2019

        Martin, The EU is already in breach of its own rules by removing our membership rights even though we are still a fully paid up member. As for the UK’s constitution, it is perfectly normal to prorogue Parliament between Parliaments so the EU will not be interested. Try again.

      7. Richard1
        August 29, 2019

        Of course it can. It can pass a vote if no confidence in the Govt or vote to revoke article 50. Why doesn’t it just do that?

      8. Roy Grainger
        August 29, 2019

        I knew MEPs must be doing SOMETHING over there – turns out they’re offering legal opinion on the UK constitution. MPs can easily affect how we leave the EU – win a no confidence vote against Boris in the first week in September.

      9. L Jones
        August 29, 2019

        It would. What do you think the EU would do? Kick us out?
        Or perhaps fine us? Probably in the region of ÂŁ39 billion, do you think?

      10. steve
        August 29, 2019

        Martin in Cardiff

        “The UK is now in the position where its legislature can have no practical effect of whether it leaves the Union and on what terms”

        Total rubbish.

        The 2016 referendum returned a majority result to leave the EU. Our leaving is enshrined in our law. We are leaving on Oct 31st.

    4. oldtimer
      August 29, 2019

      …and there are more shock horrors! Boris Johnson has been transformed in an instant from being, variously, “clown”, “buffoon”, “disorganised”, “liar” (by the head of C4) to “tyrant”, “tin pot dictator”, “anti-democratic” by the Marxist alliance of Corbyn-Lucas-Hammond-Swinson-Sturgeon for exercising his responsibilities as Prime Minister!

    5. Lucy
      August 29, 2019

      Shock horror – The Queen had no choice. She had to agree to Bojo’s request. Shock horror – Bojo doesn’t know the meaning of the word ‘decent’ so the likelihood of a decent agenda emerging is slim. As for hoping that the ‘cunning plan’ producing ‘the desired result’ – that’s a putrid ambition.

      1. libertarian
        August 29, 2019

        Lucy

        Seeing as no remainer ever has come up with any plan what so ever , has not come up with any reason to remain in the EU, has not come up with any plan for any kind of deal. Seeing as all remainers have done is cry, scream, call names then we can safely ignore your 12 year old behaviour

        1. Ken Pitman
          August 29, 2019

          Well said sir, summed up very succinctly, and a point that nearly everyone overlooked !!!!!

        2. Fedupsoutherner
          August 29, 2019

          +1

        3. bill brown
          August 29, 2019

          Libertarian

          You really never learn, do you ?

          1. libertarian
            August 29, 2019

            Is that you hans come to apologise for lying about me have you?

            What will you be called next week ?

          2. dixie
            August 30, 2019

            @Hans, you never learn do you.

            A strong indication that Libertarian has made a particularly telling point is when you make an ad-hominem complaint.

        4. L Jones
          August 29, 2019

          Perhaps Lucy would give us her considered opinion, then, as to why we should wish to remain with her EU – if she can indeed do it without crying, screaming and calling names.

        5. Gregory
          August 29, 2019

          It is not for remainers to come up with a plan – it is up to the government to come up a plan that satisfies the result of the referendum and gives people what they voted for. Unfortunately it is now being shown to be unable to deliver what the leave campaign promised.

          1. libertarian
            August 29, 2019

            Gregory

            Wrong. Remain campaigners voted down The Plan, 3 times, that leaves them only one option Leave on WTO terms. As they dont want that they need to have an alternative plan. We are all happy to leave on WTO

      2. Woody
        August 29, 2019

        Sad to read anyone describing a determined policy of implementing a democratic decision of the people, the largest democratic decision in UK history, as a putrid ambition.

      3. Penny
        August 29, 2019

        Oh dear, Lucy. I can hear your foot-stamping tantrum from here…

    6. agricola
      August 29, 2019

      Could not agree more. Let’s hope we get a real Bonza of a Queens Speech. The advantages of the vicious rantings is that when they put their heads above the parapet they are an identifiable target to let rip five rapid at. The next two months are pivotal times in the history of the UK. Let’s hope Boris gets it right.

    7. Tory in Cumbria
      August 29, 2019

      A WTO brexit is NOT what we voted for in 2016. A WTO brexit was EXPLICITLY ruled out by the Leave campaign, and by Johnson himself (“we won’t prepare for no deal, because we’ll get a great deal”). This is an attempt to force what was never voted for on the people of Britain. And we are going to stop it.

      1. cynic
        August 29, 2019

        It might not be what you voted for, but it is what I voted for. No doubt there are others who also did the same.

        1. Barbara
          August 29, 2019

          WTO for now may be the only option to free ourselves from any lingering links. I personally am more than happy with that.

        2. Kevin Lohse
          August 29, 2019

          Anyone who’d done any research upon the EU was aware that a WTO Brexit was the most likely exit. The question on the ballot paper was either to Remain or to Leave . The methods by which we would do either were not at issue, and are now only at issue because the Remainers are determined to prevent Brexit at any cost.

        3. L Jones
          August 29, 2019

          Cynic – yes. You, me and the majority of the 17.4 million others.

          Perhaps TinC would like to tell us how she/he would see the future unfolding if his/her dream came true that Brexit was stopped. (I know he/she will say he/she means ‘no deal’ but we all recognise the cut of her/his jib.) Could he/she suggest some punishments his/her EU masters might mete out, or some ways in which we might continue enriching this ‘project’?

        4. Joy Elmes
          August 30, 2019

          It is what I voted for, and many others too. A deal was never mentioned !

      2. Anonymous
        August 29, 2019

        The last vote I cast in a domestic election was for a party that told me no deal is better than a bad deal.

        And when they reneged on that I voted for The Brexit Party in the EU elections.

        1. Fedupsoutherner
          August 29, 2019

          Anon. Ditto

        2. Lifelogic
          August 29, 2019

          Indeed and that party then came 5th with 9% of the vote. They will do so again if Boris rats as May tried to.

      3. Alan Jutson
        August 29, 2019

        Tory in Cumbria.

        But the Eu will not give us an even reasonable deal, so what do you suggest we do, give up and be ruled By Germany and France under their terms and conditions for ever more because that is the reality.

        Remainers asked for an extension for 6 months, what has that gained us, ABSOLUTELY ZERO, not even a comma removed from the putrid surrender document, its take it or leave it !

        Time to take back control of our own destiny now, enough is enough.

        1. James1
          August 29, 2019

          Hear, hear.

        2. steve
          August 29, 2019

          Alan Jutson

          Re: Tory in Cumbria

          “But the Eu will not give us an even reasonable deal, so what do you suggest we do, give up and be ruled By Germany and France”

          That’s exactly what numpty’s like that think we should do.

          1. Tad Davison
            August 30, 2019

            Steve, could this Tory in Cumbria be Rory Stewart in disguise? The bullshit is certainly consistent.

      4. StephenJ
        August 29, 2019

        You are wrong Rory.

      5. What Tiler
        August 29, 2019

        You know, it matters not how often to spew this nonsense. It remains nonsense.

      6. Edward2
        August 29, 2019

        TiC
        As the EU will not re open the Withdrawal Agreement, which has been rejected three times by Parliament and as the EU predictably refuses to do any other deal with the UK what would you do after three years of delay?

      7. Know-Dice
        August 29, 2019

        No?

        The choice on the ballot paper in 2016 was “Remain” or “Leave” no option as to how.

      8. glen cullen
        August 29, 2019

        The two ‘leave’ campaign groups didn’t represent the views of the leave voters they only represented their own particular view of brexit, and when they proclaimed a ‘deal’ most leave voters believed they were talking about a post brexit FTA deal

        The leave voters had to rely on government publications and the referendum question itself i.e remain or leave the EU

        You put to much credence upon the mixed messages from all the campaigning groups both for leave and remain suggesting they would influence the brexit outcome…..the people who voted fully understood the question and what the result would signify. If remain won we would be fully in the EU and if leave won we would be fully out of the EU

        1. Andy
          August 30, 2019

          So what do you mean by fully out of the EU?

          Norway is out of the EU. It was an example cited by many leading Leavers (including Farage and Hannan) in the run up to the referendum and during the campaign.

          Yet AFTER the referendum the Norway model these Leavers spoke of before hand suddenly became not out enough. So what is out enough for you? By the way ‘fully out’ is not an answer because Norway is fully out of the EU.

          Reply We rejected the Norway model before the referendum and it was much criticised by Remain then.We want to take back control of our laws, our money and our borders like Australia or Canada.

          1. glen cullen
            August 30, 2019

            The government, the PM (at the time) and the referendum question itself was the true basis of what ‘fully out’ means i.e out of the single market, customs union, european court of justice and european parliament

            The campaigning groups where just lobbyists or indeed like the media projecting their own views, they weren’t a political party nor a members movement. It is therefore unwise to suggest that the voters decision and the implementation of the referendum result should mirror the campaigning groups arguments

            The voters decision and the implementation of the referendum result can only legitimately be a reflection of what the government, the PM and the referendum question itself said i.e ‘’fully out’’

          2. Newmania
            August 30, 2019

            “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”
            ― Mark Twain- You either need a better memory or to start telling the truth
            “There will continue to be free trade and access to the single market” – Boris Johnson, the Telegraph, 26 June 2016
            Boris Johnson , now whatever happened to him ?

            Daniel Hannan: “Absolutely nobody is talking about threatening our place in the single market.”

            You have numerous blog posts on which you promised to continuation of unimpeded trade
            When you have been questioned about when exactly it was you told the voters they were getting No Deal you have been reduced to claiming you made reference to it as”Meetings”.
            Similarly I have the unusual ability to become invisible when no-one is looking

            Reply I always said rightly we will still do plenty of trade with the EU when we leave, under WTO rules or through an FTA if they agree to one. That remains my position

          3. libertarian
            August 30, 2019

            Newmaniac

            “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”

            YOU told us that all the city jobs were moving to Frankfurt, Paris and Brussels , well what happened ?

          4. glen cullen
            August 30, 2019

            I heard from the office cleaner that I was getting a promotion, I asked a dept head and he agreed I could be getting a promotion….3 years later I hadn’t got a promotion

            I got a letter (government publication) from the office general manager informing me about a promotion and setting out the details, than got called in for interview (PM interview on TV) and asked to sign a new contract (referendum ballot question)….promotion confirmed (referendum result confirmed)

            All other blogs, interviews, media statements or campaigns are whitewash

            The only legitimate source for voters to decide which way to vote are (1) government publication sent to every household, (2) PM interview and (3) the referendum ballot question

            You really are clutching at straws by getting quotes from people or groups from non-legitimate sources i.e an MPs interview comments by the BBC are non-legitimate

      9. TheyWontCrushBrexit
        August 29, 2019

        “And we are going to stop it”.

        Say things enough times and you start to believe it.
        If that makes you feel better, good for you.

        Many disappointments ahead for you.
        Brexit is going to happen, despite the best efforts of the Remaniacs.
        Enjoy!

      10. J Bush
        August 29, 2019

        Article 50 states very clearly leaving can be with or WITHOUT a deal. I find it difficult to believe that you don’t think that UK law should be subservient to the law of your beloved EU?

        If the EU refuse to respect our own constitution (as the Lisbon Treaty clearly states it must do) during negotiation to a deal agreed by both sides, then the UK is left with little alternative, but to leave the EU without a WA.

        The only ‘deal’ the EU want, is an international treaty to make the UK a permanent vassal state and that has been rejected in Parliament 3 times. Probably influenced by the UK quislings who have been constantly whispering in the EU’s ear about how they can stop us leaving. Resulting in the law of unintended consequences. Tough. Reap what you sow.

        Please also remember the EU has also stated on numerous occasions it will not discuss a trade deal until we have left. So let us respect that UK MP’s overwhelmingly voted to pass this decision to the people, also the laws appertaining to leaving. They were also elected against election manifestos respecting the referendum result.

        The time has come to give democracy back to the people.

      11. Chris
        August 29, 2019

        T i C you cannot rule out WTO Brexit as legally, under EU law, that is the default position should an agreement not be reached before the Leave date. I think you need to read up on Article 50 and the relevant EU legislation?

      12. libertarian
        August 29, 2019

        Tory in Cumbria

        You missed the bit where Parliament voted for a “no deal” arrangement

        Remainers really are the dimmest people ( If I was a remainer I could have come up with a simple plan that would have got you most of what you wanted and appeased leavers the week after the 2016 vote) but no, you are all so devoid of intellect that you’ve spent 3 years whinging, crying, screaming, name calling making up stupid fear stories and then expecting people to change their minds. You are quite simply pathetic

        1. McBryde
          August 29, 2019

          I loved that , Libertarian. Shoot from the hip!

        2. bill brown
          August 30, 2019

          Libertarian,

          or is it now the lecturer

          1. libertarian
            August 30, 2019

            hans

            Hiya hows your Brexit Consultancy going? Might have to report you to advertising standards as you are wholly ignorant ( by your own admission) of what Brexit will take to make it happen

      13. rose
        August 29, 2019

        I did vote for a WTO exit.

        I wanted us to repeal the 1972 Act, pass the EU legislation into British law to be amended or repealed at leisure, and come out of the EU by writing a letter, according to our own constitutional arrangements as laid down in the Lisbon Treaty. I did not want, or vote, to get tied up in yet another oppressive treaty with the EU.

        The “deal” you and others like you are alluding to is the FTA I wanted us to offer the EU after exit which they were free either to accept or reject. They have said we cannot negotiate such an FTA with them until after exit anyway.

      14. Denis Cooper
        August 29, 2019

        Oh, do shut up with your endless anti-democratic whining.

        The ballot paper offered a simple choice:

        https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=imgres&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiJ7sLe36fkAhXBxoUKHY4UAT8QjRx6BAgBEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.express.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F638210%2FEU-referendum-ballot-paper-Brexit-vote-June-23&psig=AOvVaw2tXV0KmaDd014ae1POYdQc&ust=1567156686963108

        “Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?”

        More people put their crosses in the box next to:

        “Leave the European Union”

        than put their crosses in the box next to:

        “Remain a member of the European Union”

        and so, try to understand this, YOU LOST THE REFERENDUM.

        Moreover with the prior agreement of MPs:

        http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2019/08/28/what-is-marxism/#comment-1049459

        the government had delivered a leaflet to every household urging people to vote to remain in the EU but with the unequivocal promise:

        “This is your decision. The Government will implement what you decide.”

        If MPs whose primary loyalty is to the EU, not the UK, despite their Oath of Allegiance, manage to do what you want and stop the government fulfilling that crystal clear promise then nobody will be able to believe a word that either the UK government or the UK Parliament say about anything in the future, and that will be a far worse outcome than any that these renegades are imagining.

      15. MickN
        August 29, 2019

        It’s what I voted for. It’s funny how remoaners always think that we didn’t know what we voted for. I have yet to meet a leaver that didn’t. We voted to leave simple as that. We should have been out in March. I’m going to have to check that my wellies have no holes in them as the depth of the snowflakes tears in the coming weeks means that ordinary shoes just will not do.

        1. L Jones
          August 29, 2019

          It always seems to me that it was Leavers who did the research before the referendum, because of their desire to see a change. Remainers simply closed their eyes and ears and voted for a non-existent ‘status quo’ that they felt didn’t need to examine.

          Now they’ve seen there wasn’t one, many seem to be utterly fazed and unable to get their heads around the fact that the morphing EU isn’t what they thought. They’re still clinging on to their fantasy. Sad really.

      16. Ian Wragg
        August 29, 2019

        Give the man a chance.

      17. Richard1
        August 29, 2019

        This is not correct, there were plenty of references to leaving with no deal, although I agree the Leave side were far too hubristic about the potential for getting a deal.

        on the other hand, neither did the Remain side say we would only observe the result of the referendum and actually leave the EU if we manage to agree a deal to the EU’s liking, which appears now to be the Continuity Remain position

      18. Woody
        August 29, 2019

        No deal is better than a bad deal .. remember that statement made many many times .. and as there is no such thing as a no deal without a WTO backstop then of course if was not ruled out.

        1. Gregory
          August 29, 2019

          And the Conservatives lost their majority in 2017 as a result!
          Enough said.

          1. libertarian
            August 29, 2019

            Gregory

            And the Remain supporting parties in 2017 got a whopping 13 MP’s

          2. JoolsB
            August 29, 2019

            “And the Conservatives lost their majority in 2017 as a result!
            Enough said.”

            The Tory drubbing in 2017 was more to do with May’s pathetic proposed mug a granny dementia tax than Brexit.

          3. Robert mcdonald
            August 29, 2019

            The Tories did badly for only reason .. an inept leader called May, the most insipid campaign ever. And please recall both labour and the Tories promised in their manifestos to implement the 2016 referendum result.

      19. Fred H
        August 29, 2019

        it takes 2 sides to get ‘a great deal’. One side only offers a WA that binds us more years, more expensively, with fewer voting rights, nothing meaningful resolved… and that’s a deal?

      20. David Maples
        August 29, 2019

        The voting choice was leave or remain. What is said during a campaign is neither here nor there. Anyway, you don’t sound like a Tory me, rather more a left leaning liberal conservative.

      21. Matt Ryan
        August 29, 2019

        And any hopes of a great deal were destroyed by 5th column Remainers in government and the civil service who used back channels to Brussels to assure them they didn’t need to give us a deal.

        So harping on about what was said in the past is pointless when our own people actively worked against that.

      22. jane4brexit
        August 29, 2019

        David Cameron PMQs 15th June 2016 Question 14:
        “I am very happy to agree with my hon. Friend. “In” means we remain in a reformed EU; “out” means we come out. As the leave campaigners and others have said, “out” means out of the EU, out of the European single market, out of the Council of Ministers—out of all those things—and will then mean a process of delivering on it, which will take at least two years, and then delivering a trade deal, which could take as many as seven years. To anyone still in doubt—there are even Members in the House still thinking about how to vote—I would say: if you have not made up your mind yet, if you are still uncertain, just think about that decade…”

        The only deal on the table at the time of the referendum, was the deal Cameron had negotiated were we to vote to Remain and he said “out” meant WTO in this shortened version of the Sky audience Q&As and interview @ 1.12 minutes in “David Cameron !!28 TIMES!! “Leave Single Market” (June 2016)”:
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNnh-KhiLm0

      23. Brexitear
        August 29, 2019

        As you know Parliament voted down an agreement 3 times! So if there is no deal we leave with no deal as was mandated by MPs 3 years ago!

      24. Roy Grainger
        August 29, 2019

        By voting to invoke A50 parliament voted for WTO – there were no caveats to the effect a deal had to be made first. As you have spent three years telling us the referendum was only advisory and that Parliament is sovereign I don’t see what your problem is.

    8. Newmania
      August 29, 2019

      Why stop there if we are to be governed according to the diktat of the oldest and most conservative 150,000 people in the country, there is much to do.
      Lets shut down Parliament altogether bring back hanging and flogging, deport anyone who looks a bit different, send the gays off to be “cured” or unmarried and terrified, get women back in the kitchen, get kids off those tablets and have them enjoy the wholesome healthy fun of playing on bomb sites with malnutrition and rickets while their dads die of occupationally related conditions at 60.
      Its about time ordinary decent people took back control I say.

      Reply Silly rant as usual

      1. Anonymous
        August 29, 2019

        Thanks for posting it, John.

        It is pure gold when I show it to friends on the big screen.

      2. Newmania
        August 29, 2019

        Then publish my more considered posts which are considerably better evidenced and much politer than most of the nonsense you happily wave through.( As you would expect)

        1. Fedupsoutherner
          August 29, 2019

          Newmania, at least we get a laugh with you, Andy and his mum Margaret.

        2. Edward2
          August 29, 2019

          Then stop posting such childish ranting nonsense NM.
          It works both ways.

        3. L Jones
          August 29, 2019

          Newmania – your discourtesy is simply breathtaking. This is a personal blog. Our host doesn’t have to ‘wave through’ anything if he doesn’t wish to. That he ‘waves through’ your often ill-informed and sententious maunderings shows that he recognises there are other points of view, even from arrogant,…….people that he may as well ‘wave through’ for the sake of balance.

          If you don’t like it, perhaps it’s time to – let’s put it politely – sling your hook.

      3. Edward2
        August 29, 2019

        You are right in one aspect NM
        After 3 years of Parliamentary delay “ordinary decent people” are starting to take back control.

      4. libertarian
        August 29, 2019

        Newmania

        Ah I see what you did there, you made up a whole heap of random stuff then tried to use it to describe people that you dont agree with

        That has been a tactic used by totalitarians and vicious religions since time began

        Oh and yet you STILL cant answer a simple question

        You told us the City were all moving to the EU, you told us you insist on being able to work anywhere in the EU, you claim that you work in the city . so

        HOW COME YOUR JOB DIDNT MOVE and youre still here ?

        1. Newmania
          August 29, 2019

          Libertarian I would be unlikely to discuss my personal circumstances with you on a public forum if you struck me as an ordinary balanced human being

          As it is ……

          1. libertarian
            August 29, 2019

            Newmaniac

            YOU told US on a public forum that all the city jobs were going to Frankfurt

            I’m just concerned that you were deemed surplus to requirement and lost your job. Unless of course you are now admitting you were totally wrong

            ps Is your German insurance friend still not able to open an office here?

        2. bill brown
          August 30, 2019

          Libertarian,

          Nobody exactly know what is going to happen after Brexit, but you are so sure of your ego, that you already think you know it all

          1. libertarian
            September 2, 2019

            Hi Hans

            As someone who has repeatedly said that we will go to hell in a handcart and no one knows what Brexit will bring, I think that you and your friends starting a Brexit Strategic Consultancy taking money from people to advise on what will happen stinks to high heaven , and changing your name on forums to mask those uttering doesn’t fool anyone . I used to think you were just a harmless old buffoon , but I’m not so sure now

          2. libertarian
            September 2, 2019

            ps Hans Billy

            Ive never anywhere said I know what will happen after Brexit, what Ive repeatedly highlighted is what won’t happen, and what of the various rantings and scare stories are not based on actual facts. Youre welcome

      5. Narrow Shoulders
        August 29, 2019

        If we stay in the EU should we also shut down Parliament?

        1. Little Englander
          August 30, 2019

          NS: “…….should we also shut down Parliament?” Yes -=it (Parliament) would be superfluous as ALL decisions including the Budget would be made in Brussels by the new (authoritarians ed)(France & Germany Auf) backed up by Laws eminating from strasbourg. At least we would get rid of that minefield of worthlessness the House of Lords! and Westminster could become ‘Bercow’s – the Peoples Coffee Shop’ where ‘redundant’ MPs could swop reminiscences about the ‘Good Old Days’ and continue to talk nonsense all day. Silly? No -frightening.

      6. Richard1
        August 29, 2019

        yes and look around the world. that’s just how it is in switzerland, norway, canada australia new zealand etc. hell is outside the EU! how come the stupid plebs don’t realise it?!

      7. Matt Ryan
        August 29, 2019

        @Newmania

        Actually sounds like a proper Conservative manifesto.

      8. Penny
        August 29, 2019

        “Its about time ordinary decent people took back control I say.”

        I completely agree with you. It is about time ordinary decent people took back control and we leave the EU on time – although, imo we’re at least five months late, and more actually three years since 24 June 2016.

      9. Roy Grainger
        August 29, 2019

        Rickets was virtually eliminated from UK at the start of the 20th Century so sufferers would have had no opportunity to play on bomb sites.

    9. Mockbeggar
      August 29, 2019

      One outstanding reason for the Government to act as it has is that all these Remain MPs and the rest are giving succour to the EU who think that Johnson will never be allowed to leave without a deal and that they can therefore continue to deny any meaningful negotiation to achieve an agreed deal acceptable to the UK.

      He has to convince them that he means what he says that, if necessary, we will leave without a deal and that they need to start working hard to change completely the Withdrawal Agreement – especially with regard to the so- called Backstop.

    10. Everhopeful
      August 29, 2019

      Pominoz
      Reckon Remoaners are following Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals.
      That one about using your enemies rules/beliefs against them.
      That’s why they accuse Brexiteers of being anti democratic.
      And a lot of good people have been fooled by similar.
      Not hypocrisy when there is an agenda and usually there is!

    11. Christine
      August 29, 2019

      People on here are getting too excited about this.

      Starting a new session will allow the PM to tweak the Withdrawal Agreement and put it back to Parliament as an ultimatum between this deal or leave on WTO rules. If the revised WA is approved the public will see it as BRINO and be very angry. The Brexit Party will stand in every seat. This will split the leave vote and allow a remain coalition to gain power. The EU will allow us to re-join on similar terms to what we have now. I don’t think Boris Johnson has thought this through. We will end up back in the EU but on slightly worse terms. It’s like a horror movie.

      1. steve
        August 29, 2019

        Christine

        “……the public will see it as BRINO and be very angry. The Brexit Party will stand in every seat. This will split the leave vote….”

        Interesting hypothesis but in those circumstances I think Nigel Farage would clean up in a general election.

        The Conservatives know that BRINO will be the end of their party.

        1. margaret howard
          August 29, 2019

          steve

          ” but in those circumstances I think Nigel Farage would clean up in a general election”

          I doubt it. He failed about half a dozen times to win a seat in Westminster.

    12. Pominoz
      August 29, 2019

      “Stand by for the vicious rantings from certain predictable contributors to your diary.”

      See here and below. I wish I was as good at lottery numbers.

      But what about the ‘leaker’? These embedded traitors remain and, come the day, must be exposed and face proper justice. Real Brexit is one thing, but treachery really is inexcusable.

  2. Mark B
    August 29, 2019

    Good morning

    First let me start with yesterdays subject.

    I only posted twice, and both were placed in moderation. Neither broke any rules and one was on reply to another contributor. All it said was;“Hear hear.”

    Once again I would like to ask our kind host why my two posts, and especially the aforementioned was censored ?

    Reply I gave about 10 tv and radio interviews yesterday which is time consuming getting to studios and waiting for the usually delayed time of interview.

    So we get parliament up in arms because they cannot talk about BREXIT. Someone should tell them that the time for talking is over. What we want now, is action.

    Personally I think the EU will offer a soft compromise on the Backstop which parliament will accept.

    I sense a stich up !

    1. Narrow Shoulders
      August 29, 2019

      Correct. They have had three years to reach consensus and been given ample opportunity to come up with an alternative.

      A deal will never be good enough for one side or the other and the current government has said we are leaving on 31 October.

      No confidence motion and election or leave with or without the withdrawal agreement on 31 October.

      This will concentrate the minds of those negotiating but it most certainly is not anti democratic, the government controls the agenda.

    2. Fred H
      August 29, 2019

      Sir John…..most of us value your views and understand that some days you are just way too busy doing what we hope MPs will do. Don’t rise to the unreasonable objections.

    3. Mark B
      August 29, 2019

      Reply to reply

      I appreciate that you are busy and that you fund and manage this site yourself but, I could not help notice at that despite what you say you found time to allow long post, some off topic, and contributors you only seek to inflame others. All went up BEFORE my “Hear hear ” reply to another .

    4. L Jones
      August 29, 2019

      Mark B – yes, your posts are often interesting. But why do assume that you have a right to be ‘waved through’ by our host? No doubt, there are dozens more of us who don’t have their comments published, due to our host’s lack of time, or for any other reason he may have. It’s HIS blog, after all!

  3. Bob Dixon
    August 29, 2019

    So 40 years of implementing orders from Brussels is coming to an end. We can learn how to stand on our own two feet.
    Happy days.

    1. Mitchel
      August 29, 2019

      The two feet firmly planted on Airstrip One!

  4. Iain Gill
    August 29, 2019

    Re “so the money buys more capacity and better quality” an impossible pipe dream. Having spent the last little while inside a large government department, it is obvious to me that the culture, and the style of hiring staff from the consultancies who are ex state employees too, is beyond help. Far too many people who dont understand how broken their culture is, and who are far too close to it, with far too little outside experience, to visualise properly what is going on. Made worse by nonsense like the GDS (Government Digital Service) pumping out completely inappropriate dictats, like the naive inexperienced arrogant lot they are. Money will never buy more capacity and quality, it will just buy more overheads, unless there is real radical change.

    I suspect Boris will end up agreeing to Mrs May’s deal with the backstop removed, or very similar, and that for me will not be Brexit. It will be a sell out.

    Importantly we need to do something about the state broadcaster, filling its airwaves with remainers, while giving hardly any airtime to the decent pro Brexit majority. It is beyond parody. Break it up, stop the licence fee, let it sink or swim commercially.

  5. Lifelogic
    August 29, 2019

    Exactly right. There is however an election to be won and this must be the priority. Corbyn/Mc Donnall/SNP are the real threat. The election can almost certainly only be won with Farage and the Brexit Party largely on side.

    It was hilarious listing to all the dire irrational remainers like Bercow spluttering on their bile yesterday. Becow for example “if the reports that it is seeking to prorogue Parliament are confirmed, this move represents a constitutional outrage”. The supposedly “independent” Speaker Bercow is surely the “constitutional outrage” if anything is. Trying as he is to defeat the 17.4 million (plus those many people who voted remain but respect the vote).

    Meanwhile we have:

    Lord Kerslake, former head of the civil service suggesting that civil servants need to examine their consciences as to whether they could support the government’s actions.

    “We are reaching the point where the civil service must consider putting its stewardship of the country ahead of service to the government of the day,” he said.

    Lord Kerslake it seem has a first in Maths (admittedly from Warwick) but he really should know rather better than to encourage such an outrage. A life working in the state sector seems to make these people go totally mad. A.C Grayling another one who seem to have gone totally daft.

    1. Lifelogic
      August 29, 2019

      Gus O’Donnell (Warwick again Economics) seems to have gone daft too over proroguing it causes no serious issues for the Queen at all. It is entirely right and she is right.

      He, like most Libdim types, seems to think leaving the EU will be bad for the economy. He is wrong. After a little adjustment it will be very good. Though clearly we would not want Corbyn, SNP or the Libdims with their new nonentity leader anywhere near power.

      1. Lifelogic
        August 29, 2019

        Indeed nearly all the recent ex PPSs getting in with their remainer views.

        1. Lifelogic
          August 29, 2019

          I meant Cabinet Secretaries rather than PPSs.

  6. Mick
    August 29, 2019

    Shock horror the main media tv outlets we’re falling over themselves yesterday with a feeding frenzy of interviews with remoaners, the bbc especially showing there total bias towards the Eu loving muppets this corporation should be shut down for there love of the Eu , getting back to the Mr Johnson to prorogue Parliament he as every right to and it’s only a extra few days because of conferences taking place, it was nice to see the twisted faces of hate towards Great Britain of Corbyn Swinson Sturgeon Soubry and all the other remoaner …… being out witted by Mr Johnson, god it’s going to feel great when we leave the 31st of October then a GENERAL Election so we can kick all these undemocratic politicians out of Parliament bring it on

    1. steve
      August 29, 2019

      Mick

      ” it was nice to see the twisted faces of hate towards Great Britain of Corbyn Swinson Sturgeon Soubry and all ”

      Wasn’t it just ! They really looked like they’d been force fed a plate of wasps. In Fact I remarked to my lodger: “look at their faces” before laughing at them.

  7. Dominic
    August 29, 2019

    Leave the EU.

    Destroy Labour’s Quango construct.

    Reform and replace Labour’s client state including the unions

    Destroy the politics of identity and repeal legislation that supports that most sinister and oppressive invention

    Let’s hope the flow of Taxpayers Alliance advisers into government will have revolutionary benefits for the taxpayer while castrating Labour’s unelected power base

    1. Martin in Cardiff
      August 29, 2019

      Politics of identity? Of being white, English, you mean?

    2. steve
      August 29, 2019

      Dominic

      “while castrating Labour’s unelected power base”

      Why stop at their power base ?

      1. Fred H
        August 29, 2019

        nice one…..ha ha

  8. EarleyRiser
    August 29, 2019

    Suspending democracy in order to save democracy. The justification used by coup leaders around the world.

    1. Anonymous
      August 29, 2019

      We were meant to have left the EU on the 29th May.

      Let’s have a general election then. Purge Parliament of Remainers – they are well over represented bearing in mind Leave won a public referendum.

      1. jerry
        August 29, 2019

        @Anonymous; “We were meant to have left the EU on the 29th May.”

        Were on earth did you get that idea from, miss informations from UKIP/TBP most likely! 🙁

        On the other hand if you bother to read A50 of the Lisbon Treaty (specifically Article 50.3) you will note that 29th March was the earliest date the UK could leave [1] without explicit agreement from the EC and EU27 (plus presumably the UK parliament).

        [1] within accepted international treaty law

        1. Anonymous
          August 29, 2019

          Typo. Sorry.

        2. dixie
          August 30, 2019

          @Jerry – probably got the idea from from the Prime Minister …

          “The 50 Times Therea May said we would be leaving on March 29th, 2019” – https://www.conservativehome.com/video/2019/02/watch-50-times-may-said-were-leaving-the-eu-on-29th-march-2019.html

    2. IanT
      August 29, 2019

      Nonsense, the Remainers have used every trick in the parliamentary book to block Brexit and then have the brass neck to complain when Johnson uses convention to minimise their manoeuvring. I suspect we could get a version of the WA from Boris but frankly a no deal departure would be much cleaner – and a better platform for what needs to come afterwards.

    3. Al
      August 29, 2019

      I wouldn’t worry about democracy, the civil servants will still be running everything.

      Being pendantic, it is difficult to Mr. Johnson to be leading a coup when he is in charge, as by definition a coup is against the people in charge. Also, unlike a coup, this suspension is enscribed by procedure and had a fixed end date. I’m not happy that it went this far, but if Parliament can’t get its act together, a break might be a good idea.

    4. jerry
      August 29, 2019

      @EarleyRiser; +1

      The more I read and listen to both objections to prorogation and the usual time served parliamentary procedures the more I dislike the rational used by both the govt and our host. Yes, for sure, Boris will need to put forward his post-Brexit plans but surely he can only do that AFTER we have left, unless he has already decided that we are leaving on WTO rules “come what may”, in which case what the hell was all the smoke and mirrors about just before and during the G7…

      “Vote Brexit and reclaim democracy” our host and others said, well so far the UK govt appears no more democratic than the EC is, but without the checks and balances of a functioning parliament (the UK’s having been moribund since at least June 2017, if not before)!

    5. bigneil
      August 29, 2019

      When the so-called democracy we have had so far has been based on “telling lies and false promises to get votes” – both parties guilty – not much difference.

    6. libertarian
      August 29, 2019

      Early Riser

      No democracy has been suspended, no democratic institution and no parliamentary rule has been broken

      When parliament returns they will have time to debate before we leave

      No wonder remainers have no credibility

      1. Fred H
        August 29, 2019

        no rule been broken?
        The Speaker has on numerous occasions flexed a ‘rule’ to suit his personal view. Some unbiased role?
        The Speaker will consider:
        the standard practice of calling the official spokespeople from the Government and the Opposition to bookmark the ends of a debate.
        whether some MPs have a specific interest in the topic being debated (such as a direct constituency link or policy expertise).
        an MP’s seniority.
        whether an MP has had a previous opportunity to contribute.
        the time available for the debate.
        the need to protect the rights of parliamentary minorities. Whether minorities have had a chance to contribute can be an important consideration in deciding whether to bring a debate to an end.

        Choosing amendments:
        The Speaker has the power to decide whether, and which, amendments to bills or motions can be debated and voted on. This risks putting the Speaker in a highly political position, having to make a judgement on which amendments are worthy of debate. However, there are several principles that guide the Speakers’ decisions and seek to ensure impartiality:
        The need to protect the rights of parliamentary minorities. The Speaker will usually allow amendments tabled by the Opposition frontbench as a point of principle. However, they may also select a key backbench amendment to provide an opportunity for parliamentary minorities to air their views.
        The Speaker will generally not choose amendments that are ‘out of order’, meaning that they:
        are submitted late.
        are vague.
        are out of scope (meaning not sufficiently related to the subject matter of the bill or motion they are tabled against).
        cover issues already considered in depth during the debate.
        do not make sense or would mean part of the bill didn’t make sense (wrecking amendments).

    7. rose
      August 29, 2019

      The word “suspending” has been specially coined by the remain media for this prorogation. It wasn’t used of other prorogations and it wasn’t used of Mrs May’s unexpected and early shutting down of Parliament before Christmas.

      1. jerry
        August 29, 2019

        @rose; The reason people are using the word “suspension” is because that is what it is, neither the expected (even if slightly longer than usual) recess or a normal prorogation, the latter should need no more than two weeks.

        In fact prorogation could still be done on the first or second day back after any conference recess – but perhaps there lies the problem for Boris & Co, having got wind that the Remain majority in the HoC were intending to vote down the conference session recess, thus adding some three weeks of parliamentary time before Oct 31st.

    8. Narrow Shoulders
      August 29, 2019

      A no confidence motion can be called at any time before suspension. Democracy has not been suspended. If the government can hold the confidence of the house it controls the agenda.

      1. jerry
        August 29, 2019

        @NS; By that rational if the executive have enough MPs voting with their whip they could simply radically limit the number of days parliament sits, after all the executive controls the business of the House.

        But I bet if any other party attempted such a move you and most on this site would be complaining bitterly, calling is an abuse of democracy, which it would be…

        1. Edward2
          August 29, 2019

          The closure is prior to a Queen’s Speech following the new PM being installed to introduce a new batch of legislation.
          Which the Government decides.
          It has happened many times before.
          If the Commons finds it unacceptable then it can call a vote of no confidence.

          1. jerry
            August 30, 2019

            @Edward2; Wrong on all accounts, it does not take FIVE week to prepare for a Queens Speech! A GE and QS could be held in the time Boris say he needs between now and Oct 15th.

            Stop being so gullible to the spin doctors, otherwise you might soon be praising Mr Corbyn…

          2. Edward2
            August 30, 2019

            Three of those weeks are the normal closure due to the olitical conference season.
            So the effect is just 4 days extra closed.

            Thanks for the advice.
            You of course are not influenced by anyone else’s opinions….

        2. dixie
          August 30, 2019

          @Jerry – It’s spooky – You are very like Andy in selecting behaviours and beliefs that you don’t like, but often exhibit, and ascribing them to everyone who holds an opinion you don’t like.

          This Parliament has abused our democracy beyond acceptability and needs to be flushed down the sewers, but that is likely too much to hope for. Perhaps it is enough that they shut up for a while.

    9. Woody
      August 29, 2019

      As this is a normal practice carried out whenever the conference season is about to progress then you must consider we have an annual coup.

    10. David Maples
      August 29, 2019

      A general election in 1939/40 was postponed until the war was over. Was Churchill a coup leader?

  9. jerry
    August 29, 2019

    With an emergency budget this week, that will require debating, thus taking up much of the parliamentary time before prorogation (or indeed just the party conference recess), on its return in mid Oct there will know be a Queens speech, that will also need debating as is usual, leaving little or no time for any other meaningful business. Great Plan Mr Cummings! 😆

    Except this makes a NC vote and GE more likely, if so, will that not likely cause the EC to ‘stop the clock’ in Brussels, so even if the GE was to take place on or after Thursday 31st Oct. should a europhile govt take office on the following Friday morning the EC would have little problem in accepting either the UK revoking of A50 or indicating acceptance of the WA?

    I fear Boris might have just played Russian roulette with a remain parliament – and lost… 😥

    1. Narrow Shoulders
      August 29, 2019

      But if he is forced into a general election he will be able to say “I tried, most of my party accepted my direction but the opposition did not. Vote Farage, get Corbyn”

      He can then say the general election is the people’s vote and look what else I have planned for afterwards.

      The bullet could yet get stuck in the chamber.

  10. Lifelogic
    August 29, 2019

    Farage on LBC yesterday suggests he still does not trust Boris (this even after his proroguing actions) yesterday. He still thinks Boris will push for a slightly revised version of May’s putrid Vassal State/Withdrawal Act Treaty. Let us hope Farage is wrong but he is usually right.

    1. Chris
      August 29, 2019

      Yes, LL, I too fear a stitch up.

    2. rose
      August 29, 2019

      He is very often right but I fear on the subject of Boris his judgement is clouded by his own ambitions. A great pity.

    3. Jan Gray
      August 29, 2019

      Yep Nigel does talk sense and I’m not so sure we will get what we voted for, but we need out now although Boris did say he wanted out and negotiate after let’s hope he sticks to his word, although these days it means nothing and they change the goal posts on a whim.

    4. David Maples
      August 29, 2019

      I like Boris very much, only I don’t trust him, but I’ll reserve final judgment.

    5. Lifelogic
      August 29, 2019

      Ruth Davidson has finally gone (in part anyway) thank goodness. She clearly still wants Theresa May’s appalling & putrid non Brexit W/A. Why on earth did the party choose a LibDim as leader of the Scottish Conservative. Under Cameron’s leadership I assume?

      Interesting that she says that starting a family is one of the main reasons for the resignation. Illustrating once again that the reason for the rather small gender pay gap (when it exists at all) is the work life balance (and career choices) that the two genders (can one still say two genders?) take – especially when they begin a family. It is not (as the foolish Theresa May, Harriet Harman, BBC & Woman’s Hour types would have it) due to ‘discrimination’ at all. Just personal choices.

    6. BR
      August 29, 2019

      I don’t trust any politician – Farage may be an exception but he’s really an ordinary bloke taking time out of his life to deal with a major problem on behalf of decent democratic people.

      His party will hang around to ensure that Boris delivers or be a pain in the Conservative Party’s behind in the next GE.

      His original intent was beyond Brexit, aiming to fix the broken politics we have today. Perhaps he’ll stay around to do that in a watching mode.

      If Boris tries to foist a watered-down version of the WA on us people may vote BXP. However, a key point is that without the backstop much of the WA is strictly time-limited. There are a number of other measures which are not time-limited that need to be addressed in the WA though.

      Let’s hope for WTO – it has the beauty of simplicity and the strongest possible negotiating position.

  11. Mick
    August 29, 2019

    I see that the petition to stop prorogue Parliament as hit over 1million very suspicious, and all these muppets in London demonstrating with there stupid blue flags , I’ll tell you what muppets if you don’t want to live a free country then bugger off and go live in your beloved Europe total betrayal of Great Britain etc ed

    1. Know-Dice
      August 29, 2019

      For a quick look at where those votes are coming from:

      Search the HTML source for 269157.json then drop the output in a text editor…

    2. Everhopeful
      August 29, 2019

      I bet they get paid.
      And also MSM prob exaggerates the numbers.
      They don’t even cover demos and petitions that go against the narrative.

    3. dennisambler
      August 29, 2019

      I get the 38 degrees and change.org petitons all the time, because I once signed one that I agreed with. I let them keep coming out of interest and occasionally reply with a few facts.

    4. Fred H
      August 29, 2019

      It probably allows multiple email addresses like it did before. One one of them, I forget which, I proved I could register 4 entries. They have a right to register a vote against, but the actual count is not valid.

    5. David Maples
      August 29, 2019

      Well said Mick ✔️.

  12. Stred
    August 29, 2019

    Let’s hope that this leads to s general election and a chance to expose and get rid of these undemocratic MPs who cannot understand what they were elected and voted for. Some have been working with the other side or collaborating in other words. They should not only be deselected but prosecuted.

    1. JoolsB
      August 29, 2019

      Parliament would be a pretty empty place if that happened Stred but I agree, we need to have the chance to rid ourselves of all those EU loving, anti-democratic, MPs who refuse to accept the instructions they have been given by the British people.

      The only problem I can see at the moment is the Brexit party vote would split the Tory vote and allow the Marxists and remoaners to come up through the middle. Boris’s actions are very impressive at the moment but he is still saying he wants a deal which worryingly at this stage would mean May’s surrender treaty but without the backstop. He needs to go one step further and declare the only option now is no deal and then form a pact with the Brexit party. They would win by a landslide.

  13. Fedupsoutherner
    August 29, 2019

    Best news we’ve had in the last 3 years! Just do it Boris!!

    1. Lifelogic
      August 29, 2019

      Me too.

      Great fun listening to all the anger from dire remainers (& many traitors preventing us getting any sensible trade only deal before we leave). Bercow, Grieve, Hammond, Soubry, Sandbatch types might well self destruct it seems.

  14. Kenneth
    August 29, 2019

    Completely irresponsible for the BBC to broadcast blanket propaganda expressing “outrage” at a routine suspension of parliament.

    Some people I have spoken to have assumed the BBC is reporting impartially and believe it really IS an outrage.

    Something must be done to stop the politically active BBC management from mis-using money, facilities transmitters etc provided by the public to push propaganda.

    1. jerry
      August 29, 2019

      @Kenneth; Nothing “routine” about this, credos to the BBC and others for calling it out.

      Prorogation before a new session needs no more than two weeks, one could hold a snap GE in the time parliament will be suspended. The original date for the prorogation (10th sept) is about running down the parliamentary clock, the govt being scared that MPs would vote against having a conference recess, if a Queens speech is really necessary on the 15th Oct then parliament could easily have been prorogued after any conference recess.

      1. Edward2
        August 29, 2019

        But three weeks are the time Parliament is not working due to the conference season.
        So we are back to just 4 or 5 days extra.
        After 3 years of debates.
        If the opposition parties want to call for a vote of no confidence then get on and do it.

        1. jerry
          August 29, 2019

          @Edward2; Except, as I pointed out, the (usual three week) conference recess is not a given, having to be voted through by MPs.

          1. Edward2
            August 29, 2019

            Well that would be a unique alteration of the usual Parliamentary timetable.
            For decades Parliament adjourns to allow party conference time.
            Had parties wanted to cancel all their annual conferences they could have raised that desire many weeks ago.
            But they did not.

          2. graham1946
            August 29, 2019

            When did they last not have a conference season?

          3. jerry
            August 30, 2019

            @Edward2; Did parliament hold a party conference recess in 1939, was parliament recalled during the 2001 conference recess?

            Just wondering…

          4. Edward2
            August 30, 2019

            Hilarious back to 1939 now.
            You should argue for a living.

          5. libertarian
            September 2, 2019

            Jerry

            Hansard – 1939 August 3rd

            Parliament to rise till October – 1939
            In a division last night which the Prime Minister declared to involve the question of confidence in the Government, the House of Commons carried by 245 votes to 129 a resolution that Parliament should adjourn from tomorrow until Oct. 3. About 30 Government supporters abstained.

    2. rose
      August 29, 2019

      Not just the BBC, but Sky and LBC, openly inciting insurrection by telling the snowflakes and Momentum something has happened which has never happened before, namely that Parliament has been shut down. Many of these snowflakes and an alarming number of foreigners appear to think this means Parliament has been shut down for good. They are, they say, in shock. This is part two of the Project Fear about pills and food running out.

    3. David Maples
      August 29, 2019

      Do what the CPSU always did…place political commissars on all their editorial committees!

    4. jane4brexit
      August 29, 2019

      Perhaps a petition could be started for the BBC to have to move to Europe after Brexit, after all they told us most companies would do so!

      1. jane4brexit
        August 29, 2019

        To the EU I should have said!

      2. dixie
        August 29, 2019

        … without their back-catalogue, assets and pension fund.

    5. tim
      August 29, 2019

      The British Brainwashing Corporation are doing what the rich people who run the world tell them.

  15. Lifelogic
    August 29, 2019

    Will the government cut the huge burdens from government:- the highest tax rates for 50 years, the masses of pointless & damaging red tape, the making tax digital, the expensive unreliable energy policy, the pension and landlord mugging, finally honour the ÂŁ1m IHT threshold each promise, go for easy hire and fire, give people freedom and choice in health care and education, go for some quality controls and sensible limits on immigration, kill HS2, cull all the endless government waste, the idiotic renewable susbidies and all those worthless degrees funded by soft loans (that put millions of young people in to ÂŁ50K of debt, costs them three plus years loss of earnings and learning on the job).

    In short undo all the economic damage done by economic illiterates G Brown, P Hammond and G Osborne. Hammond showing his true anti-democratic, anti-Conservative colours to the full yesterday.

  16. wes
    August 29, 2019

    Well said Pominoz, 100% behind this action.

    The remainder lobbies have only theirselves to blame for forcing this upon them.

  17. A.Sedgwick
    August 29, 2019

    The Queen’s speech is a piece of theatre, an unnecessary PR exercise, which is a main reason the HoL exists, a part of the pantomine.

    BJ was the only option for the CP but his EU approach is much as many expected, a road to a withdrawal agreement that still massively favours the EU.

    The option of brazening a no deal out with an election called for early November, ignoring the EU politburo meeting October 17-19, was the real deal. If BJ obtained a decent majority then the FTA could be accomplished. Now with this unnecessary furore and Ms Davidson offside a chaotic election seems probable.

    As to the brave new economy it just looks like same old to me.

  18. Lifelogic
    August 29, 2019

    Philip Hammond yesterday:-

    “It would be a constitutional outrage if Parliament were prevented from holding the government to account at a time of national crisis. Profoundly undemocratic.”

    Who Mr Hammond (together with the dire Therea May) was mainly responsible for creating this national crisis (and damaging the economy masively too with his idiotic taxes)? Who took the Conservatives down to 9% support in the recent EU elections, four seats and in fifth place?

    1. Denis Cooper
      August 29, 2019

      If Philip Hammond really believed that a no deal Brexit would be a catastrophe as he claims now then he should have insisted on all possible safeguards against that potential outcome being built into the Act for triggering Article 50.

      Instead of waiting until now to suggest that the law should be amended to compel the Prime Minister to seek an extension he would have insisted on that being put into the law when it was originally being debated in February 2017:

      http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2019/07/22/chiming-our-independence/#comment-1039139

      Over three years since the referendum, and MPs have had many opportunities not only to debate these issues but to vote on them; they could easily have insisted on it being put into the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017 that if it proved impossible to agree terms for our withdrawal then the Prime Minister must seek an Article 50 extension, or must seek to rescind the Article 50 notice.

  19. bill brown
    August 29, 2019

    Sir JR,
    This is not normal procedure and your explanation does not wash, This is a government either running scared or preparing for an election and this move by the government just underlines that we need a written constitution.

    The Conservative Party will most likely find themselves in the wilderness after the next election.

    1. libertarian
      August 29, 2019

      bill brown

      WRONG again Hans , parliament is suspended roughly every 12 months. Its been nearly 3 years since it was last suspended . Sorry mate but your analytical, research and awareness skills are in tatters

      Really as each day goes by Ultra remainers get wilder and wilder in their ranting. Yet not one of you has ever come up with a plan, an alternative a deal that you want or anything other than making up wild scare stories and calling people names . You are genuinely all pathetic

      What needs to happen once this fiasco is over is a complete review of the lack of talent, honesty, ability and trust of our politicians. We need to scrap the House of Lords and revisit our so called democracy. We need to drive on from throwing out unelected central politicians from “Brussels” and also throw out most of the centralised politicians from the UK too .

      Brexit has been a breath of fresh air exposing the establishment for the rancid cesspit that it is , of course like every major change and step forward lots of luddites ( remainers) scream, riot and fear change but change happens and things go on getting generally better

      ps hans have you changed your name by deed poll?

      1. bill brown
        August 30, 2019

        Libertarian,

        Consider you do not remember what you forecasted two or three years ago and then deny it , makes your analytical capabilities rather hypothetical and immature

        1. libertarian
          September 2, 2019

          bill brown

          You better show me a link to what I posted that hasn’t happened as your reading skills are dire .

          Talking of immature what do you think of someone who changes their name to post?

    2. Jiminyjim
      August 29, 2019

      From your comments, Bill B, I’m beginning to think that you are not British? Either that or you are quite astonishingly badly informed. If the Conservative party does NOT deliver Brexit, they are toast. Delivering Brexit using normal parliamentary procedures will gain them colossal support.

      1. bill brown
        August 29, 2019

        Jiminyjim

        Yes, I am British and neither you nor I know what sort of Brexit the Conservatives will deliver, but no matter what they will most likely still be toast. And they do not deserve anything else

        1. libertarian
          August 29, 2019

          Hmm

          Hans Christen Iversen aka Bill Brown was born in Denmark, I’m sure you are right that youre a British citizen and very welcome you are here too, but why hide your birthright , Danes are fabulous people and Denmark is a wonderful country and youre a nice chap

          Interesting that you say you have no idea what Brexit will be delivered but then take money from companies advising them on how to cope with Brexit …..

          1. dixie
            August 30, 2019

            … while working for a Republic of Ireland company

          2. bill brown
            August 30, 2019

            Libertarian/Lecturer

            Because we all as businesses have to plan for things that might happen

          3. libertarian
            August 30, 2019

            hans

            Indeed we do, but you have repeatedly stated on here that you have no idea what will happen, so your advice and strategic planning must be wondrous to behold

    3. David Maples
      August 29, 2019

      The last thing we need is a written constitution; just look at the continual arguments around the Second Amendment to the US constitution!

      1. bill brown
        August 29, 2019

        David maples,

        And I can mention seven or eight European countries who have a written constitution, who are more democratic that we are according to the EIU, who have had less of constitutional crisis then we in the past ten years.

        1. libertarian
          August 30, 2019

          billy iversen

          Like Belguim maybe, you know Belgium the country that prorogued its parliament to force through the Maastricht Treaty , or maybe Italy when they prorogued their parliament to APPOINT Mario Monti PM a person never elected by anyone ever anywhere . Is that what you mean ?

          1. bill brown
            August 30, 2019

            Libertarian,

            these were actually not the countries I referred to but with your knowledge of Europe I am not surprised.

          2. libertarian
            September 2, 2019

            Billy Iversen

            Seeing as you didn’t name ANY countries I just asked if it was either Italy or Belgium ( both have written constitutions) that you were referring too.

            So maybe you meant Denmark ? They have a written constitution. You know your country where the voters were made to vote again on Maastricht to ensure they got it right the second time

            But with your knowledge analysis and research I’m not surprised you didn’t know

    4. dixie
      August 29, 2019

      Inappropriate comment Hans.

  20. Leaver
    August 29, 2019

    I never voted for this. It sets a precedent that the PM can suspend parliament and you know it. And it’s not just remainers who are outraged. It’s anyone who believes in parliament and democracy.

    This is truly a dark day and I will have no truck with this.

    I’m sure when Jeremy Corbyn also suspends parliament to implement his Marxist agenda you will be equally relaxed about it.

    1. Anonymous
      August 29, 2019

      Prorogation generally happens every year and Boris is not the first PM to use it. Remainer John Major did it in 1997.

      1. Doug Powell
        August 29, 2019

        Is this the same John Major who’s main claim to fame is modelling grey Y-fronts?

    2. Edward2
      August 29, 2019

      You should have voted remain.
      The referendum ballot had a binary choice.
      Did you not think it through?
      Three years of endless debate about Brexit by Parliament has got us nowhere yet now losing just 4 more days of Parliamentary debate time is a revolution.

      All this stuff about hard and soft brexit and withdrawal agreements are just devices, to first delay us leaving and then eventually stop us leaving the EU.
      PS
      The Withdrawal Agreement is not a deal.
      Any trade deals start being negotiated after we leave.
      Corbyn would find it difficult to pass legislation if he closed Parliament.

    3. glen cullen
      August 29, 2019

      Its been 3 long dark years awaiting for the referendum result to implemented

    4. Richard
      August 29, 2019

      How would JC suspend parliament to implement anything?

      During the suspension Boris will implement nothing, that’s the point. Parliament has already passed the laws that mean we will leave.

    5. libertarian
      August 29, 2019

      Leaver

      Er you might want to read a history book or do some research , oh and why lie about being a leaver? Youre not and never have been

      1. Leaver
        August 29, 2019

        No libertarian. I want to leave the E.U because I believe it has become too large to function properly, and it is moving beyond its remit as a trade body. I’m just not a diehard leaver like you. I wanted May’s deal, still do.

        I expected this to be handled smoothly and professionally, with an interim deal and a long-term deal. Whereas it seems to have become a farce … except nobody’s laughing now.

        1. libertarian
          August 29, 2019

          “Leaver”

          Mays deal that was rejected 3 times isn’t a leaving deal its a staying in deal

          We are still on track to leave, thats all that matters. Once we’ve left then we can negotiate a deal with who ever we want

      2. Fedupsoutherner
        August 29, 2019

        Libertarian. ‘Leaver’ might be a primary school leaver?

    6. Ian!
      August 29, 2019

      The Queens speech is already at least 12 months over due. This session of parliament has lasted longer than tradition dictates. There is always a break before it takes place and of course the ‘egos’ want their conference break! They also need a holiday which they have just enjoyed. So you could say they did not consider anything else important enough to interfere.

      So when government does what it should naturally i.e. announcing direction, asperations, you are outraged.

      Democracy is when Parliament adheres to the laws it passes – which this parliament has refused to do. Democracy is when Parliament serves its people – which it has refused to do.

      You have in this rotten cabal of a Parliament that prefers to fight its People.

      There are of course a few exceptions that struggle to get heard in the MSM, that take the job of MP as that of servant of the People, your host being one of them

    7. Narrow Shoulders
      August 29, 2019

      If the government commands the confidence of the House it controls the agenda.

      There is plenty of time for a no confidence debate so democracy is served.

      Mr Corbyn is not supported by many of his own MPs so the scenario you paint is unlikely. Just as Mr Johnson could be brought down by his own MPs. He really has gone all in.

      Unfortunately Mr Johnson seems to be pursuing a withdrawal agreement with a time limited backstop.

    8. eeyore
      August 29, 2019

      Prorogation is an ancient Prerogative right, exercised by the monarch on the advice of Ministers. It far predates political parties, universal suffrage, Prime Ministers, Loyal Oppositions and representative democracy itself. It is in constant use and is a perfectly normal and accepted part of the governmental toolkit.

      The ignorance of many about our Constitution has been on daily display for the last three years and is is really quite dispiriting. I hope the new government, with its emphasis on education, will do something about it.

    9. dennisambler
      August 29, 2019

      It is not the first time, Parliament was prorogued in 1948 by Attlee, in 1997 by John Major, who is now complaining about its use.

    10. sm
      August 29, 2019

      Leaver, as has been pointed out repeatedly, the precedent has already been set.

      And even were that not true, as our non-impartial Speaker pointed out recently, in order to set a precedent someone has to do something for the first time!

      1. Martin in Cardiff
        August 29, 2019

        The Speaker is not meant to be impartial between the Executive and Parliament. He is properly on the side of Parliament and the Constitution.

        1. Edward2
          August 29, 2019

          Wrong
          The Speaker is meant to be impartial.

        2. Fred H
          August 29, 2019

          maybe you should explain that to him.

        3. libertarian
          August 29, 2019

          Martin in Cardiff

          WRONG ( goodness this is tedious ) Look Marty I did the research for you this time

          From Parliament Website

          “The Speaker of the House of Commons chairs debates in the Commons Chamber and the holder of this office is an MP who has been elected by other MPs.

          The Speaker is the chief officer and highest authority of the House of Commons and must remain politically impartial at all times. ”

          Please research before you post it stops you looking a wally

          1. Martin in Cardiff
            August 30, 2019

            Politically impartial means between the parties in Parliament. It does not relate to the relationship between Parliament as a whole and entities outside it such as the Executive, or the Campaign For Real Ale, or Accrington Stanley FC come to that.

            You need to understand the meaning of a simple sentence.

          2. bill brown
            August 30, 2019

            Libertarian

            Wally just like you

          3. libertarian
            September 2, 2019

            Martin Cardiff

            Dont be ridiculous , YOU said and I quote

            The Speaker is not meant to be impartial between the Executive and Parliament.

            Please highlight whether CAMRA and Accrington Stanley are part of the Executive or Parliament

          4. libertarian
            September 2, 2019

            Dear Hans Christian Brown

            talking of Wallys have you apologised yet for telling porkies and spreading fake news?

        4. Robert mcdonald
          August 29, 2019

          The speaker should not be driven by personal whims, and as the obnoxious man is happy to be driven in a car with Bollocks to Brexit posters displayed and is on the record as saying he will do whatever he can to block the leave choice of the referendum then he is clearly not acting on the side of parliament, which voted massively for the referendum and for implementing article 50.

    11. Neil Turrell
      August 29, 2019

      Methinks thou protests too much. The actual time lost, when taking out the party conferences, is 3 sitting days, not very different to what traditionally happens at this time of year, and entirely appropriate for a new government to set out its programme in a Queen’s Speech. There are many issues beyond brexit that require the urgent attention of HMG.

    12. David Maples
      August 29, 2019

      Nonsense! He’s just played the game according to the rules, only you don’t like the outcome.

    13. Leaver
      August 29, 2019

      I’ll be specific about what my problem is.

      This is establishing the precedent that one person, embodying the will of the people (through a general election or referendum), has the right to silence parliament.

      For me that is a red line, as it offers future prime ministers to silence parliament on the grounds that they represent the will of the people and parliament does not.

      1. Anonymous
        August 29, 2019

        What Boris is saying (to the EU) is “Don’t listen to them. Listen to me.”

  21. Bernard from Bucks.
    August 29, 2019

    This has only knocked a few days off parliamentary time surely? MPs will still be sitting in the run-up to Brexit day won’t they? ‘Much ado about nothing’.

    1. Woody
      August 29, 2019

      It does put pressure on the remoan tacticians whose main policy has been to kick the can down the road for ever .. now Johnson has made them have to act instead of talk . and that is something they are not good at.

    2. David Maples
      August 29, 2019

      Yes, but the government will control the timetable after Oct 14, and remainers will have no opportunities to ‘throw a spanner in the works’.

  22. Alan Jutson
    August 29, 2019

    Good post today John.

    The remainers have dictated the narrative for the past 3 years because we have had a weak and pathetic Prime Minister, with a majority remain chosen Cabinet.

    For 3 years the EU has run rings around us, because the previous Prime Minister danced to their tune.

    At last we now seem to have a Prime Minister who actually believes in our Country, our future, and is forward thinking, with a positive vision and determination to match.
    Let us hope Boris does not fall at the last hurdle, and capitulates by simply offering the original Withdrawal Agreement, without the backstop.

    I see John Major and many other politicians seem to have selective amnesia when it comes remembering like decisions on similar past Parliamentary procedure.
    They should remember that they represent us, the people, not themselves.

    We now need to drain the swamp of some of these self serving members.

    Time for local association selection, and the right of recall !

    1. Denis Cooper
      August 29, 2019

      Perhaps the Brexit Party will cleanse the Augean Stables. It might be that some of their candidates would themselves prove to be less than perfect as MPs but at least they could sweep out some of the contemptible rubbish MPs we have at present, the rubbish MPs who have been installed by their rubbish political parties.

      I will always support our Parliament as an institution, the central institution of our national democracy, but that does not mean I support those shysters who are now defiling our Parliament with their presence. The opposite, I want them out.

  23. Dominic
    August 29, 2019

    Oh, and why we’re at it Johnson needs to repeal May’s hate crime fascism legislation. It’s designed to silence legitimate debate not deter violence

    Even now on my television I am having to tolerate this hate-crime tosh being leveled at Leave supporters by some Remain MP grotesque. The fact that they can level this at 18 million Leave voters they have never met is beyond me.

    I don’t see why as a taxpayer I have to tolerate this daily barrage of slander designed to demonise directed at me and those that I know.

    1. David Maples
      August 29, 2019

      Well said Dominic!

  24. Martin in Cardiff
    August 29, 2019

    You’re taking the same line as Jacob Rees-Mogg, John, with his claim that this is “an entirely normal procedure”, then, John.

    Yes, as I say, it’s “entirely normal” to nip to the golf club for a round and for a few drinks with your chums too, but not when your expectant wife has just gone into labour with a breech presentation and has been rushed into hospital.

    You make yourself look frankly rather silly with the tone of this piece, I think.

    1. Fedupsoutherner
      August 29, 2019

      Martin, not as silly as your comparison.

      1. Fred H
        August 29, 2019

        indeed.

    2. Edward2
      August 29, 2019

      What exactly would remain supporters have done in those 4 days now lost, which they didn’t have time to do in the last 3 years of Parliamentary time?

    3. jerry
      August 29, 2019

      @MiC; “You’re taking the same line as Jacob Rees-Mogg, John”

      +1, on stilts!

      Brexiteers all signing from the same No.19. strategy beefing notes I guess…

      Has any HoC online petition ever reached the 100,000 signature trigger point in less than 24hrs before, and judging by the rate of new signatories it might even reach 2,000,000 within the first 48hrs…

      1. Robert mcdonald
        August 29, 2019

        And at around 1 million signatures only 24,000 came from people residing in the UK.

      2. Sir Joe Soap
        August 29, 2019

        It might reach 16 million but still means nothing if a larger number are in favour of the prorogation.

        1. jerry
          August 29, 2019

          @SJS; By that logic the true result of the 2016 referendum must have been Remain then, due to the combined numbers of those who voted Remain and those who cast no vote and were thus obviously happy with the status quo. Duh!…

          1. Edward2
            August 29, 2019

            How do you know that?
            For all you know they might all be leave supporters.

          2. jerry
            August 30, 2019

            @Edward2; Tell me, what is it that you do not understands about the Latin phrase “status quo”!…

            Surely had they all been Brexiteers they would all have voted to change the status quo -No?

          3. Edward2
            August 30, 2019

            Well we will never know Jerry.
            That’s why your claim that Remain won the referendum after you added all that didn’t vote onto their side is so ridiculous.
            Your status quo argument is silly.
            They might be bored, or have no opinion, or be all secret remainers or secret leavers.
            But they didn’t vote so we you never know.
            Take part or be ignored.

      3. Fred H
        August 29, 2019

        an impressive waste of time, but then I suspect a lot of you have time to waste? Schools still out.

    4. Pominoz
      August 29, 2019

      “Yes, as I say, it’s “entirely normal” to nip to the golf club for a round and for a few drinks with your chums too, but not when your expectant wife has just gone into labour with a breech presentation and has been rushed into hospital.”

      I think you used this line yesterday, MiC. Please come up with something new.

    5. libertarian
      August 29, 2019

      Martin in Cardiff

      Your analogies are hysterical in ever sense of the word

      Why not try using you know actual facts…. Ah, see your problem there

      1. Martin in Cardiff
        August 29, 2019

        Millions of people around the country appear to share my view, judging by the rate of signing the petition.

        1. Edward2
          August 29, 2019

          What does that prove
          One million out of 16 million that originally voted to remain and a site that allows votes from outside the UK and multiple votes from one voter.

        2. Fred H
          August 29, 2019

          M in C……shame a few of the millions didn’t vote that way back in 2016.

        3. libertarian
          August 29, 2019

          Martin in Cardiff

          Er look at the signatories most of them aren’t even in the UK . Mr M Mouse seems to feature a lot as does that nice Mr Hitler

          1. libertarian
            August 30, 2019

            Marty

            Update on your petition

            Boris Johnson has signed it 300 times

            The people of Chad seem particularly concerned about proroguing parliament

            29,000 Germans have signed it

            Elvis has come back from driving a bus on the moon to register his displeasure more than 1,000 times

            Even Shergar & Lord Lucan put in an appearance

        4. Robert mcdonald
          August 30, 2019

          With many of millions who don’t live in this country it is clear.

      2. bill brown
        August 30, 2019

        Libertarian

        Do these sort of sentences make you feel better?

        1. libertarian
          September 2, 2019

          billy boy

          Stating easily researchable facts when people post nonsense always makes me feel better

    6. Jiminyjim
      August 29, 2019

      Your analogy, M in C, is hysterical. Why are you extreme hard left Remainers so fond of such ridiculous analogies? Here’s one for you; have you seen ‘Bridge on the River Kwai’? You are all behaving like the Alec Guinness character, just before it hits him what he’s been doing for so long. If you’re lucky (and I’m not holding my breath) you’ll realise how deluded you’ve been before it’s too late.

    7. David Maples
      August 29, 2019

      You’ve been living in Wales too long methinks; time you gave birth to political reality!

      1. Fred H
        August 29, 2019

        Wales voted to Leave!

    8. steve
      August 29, 2019

      Martin in Cardiff

      No it is you who looks silly, democratic procedure has been exercised and you don’t like it. Just as you didn’t like the result of the referendum.

      TOUGH!

  25. Shirley
    August 29, 2019

    I too am delighted that firm steps are being taken to ensure democracy, and Brexit, is delivered. The hypocrisy of Remainers has to be seen to be believed. They have used every dirty trick in the book, including outright lies that they would support the result of the referendum, in order to get re-elected. They obtained their seats via fraud.

    My one fear is that the WA can be represented under a new session of Parliament. I have absolutely no doubt that the Remainers would now support it, warts and all, and we would continue to be ruled from Brussels.

  26. Loman
    August 29, 2019

    A disgraceful posting. We are in the most important moment this country has faced since 1945, and Parliament is to be shut down for most of the time between now and October 31, to silence MPs. I voted Leave, because I cherish our country’s instititions – most of all Parliament. Now I find that the extremists who have hijacked Brexit do not intend to restore powers lost to the EU to Parliament, they instead intend to rule by decree, just like King Charles I. Well, the scales have fallen from my eyes. As of today my money and my support goes to the campaign for a People’s Vote.

    Reply This Parliament has endlessly debated Brexit and has more opportunity to do so before Oct 31

    1. Sir Joe Soap
      August 29, 2019

      So what happens when your People’s Vote throws up a Leave vote again? 3 more years’ dithering? This makes no sense. This government was elected on a no deal is better than a bad deal basis and this government is finally, after years of dithering Maybe, implementing. Clever people at the helm at last in place of idiots.

  27. Garland
    August 29, 2019

    I am all in favour of implementing the referendum decision, if only I knew what it was. Was it the exact same benefits of trade that we have now? (D Davis). Was it a free trade area stretching from Iceland to Turkey? (Gove). Was it the single market which only a madman would leave? (Paterson). The only thing it wasn’t was leaving with no deal because, as Johnson said, we’ll get a great deal. Where is it? It is an utter scandal that Parliament is being shut down when we need to debate these issues, but there is one good thing coming out of this – anyone supporting Johnson’s coup will never again be entitled to call themselves a democrat

    Reply The vote was to Leave! Take back control of our money, our laws and our borders. Nothing about staying in the single market.

    1. Edward2
      August 29, 2019

      Three years of debate has got us nowhere Garland
      Four more days in Parliament will not change the impasse.
      Did you not read the leaflet nice Mr Cameron sent you?
      PS
      The thrice rejected Withdrawal Agreement is not a deal.
      Any negotiations towards a trade deal only begin after we leave.

    2. Garland
      August 29, 2019

      The same borders that in Ireland you now want to leave wide open and unguarded! You’re making up this nonsense on the hoof and the British people are seeing through the Brexit fantasies

      1. Sir Joe Soap
        August 29, 2019

        Get with the real situation.
        The Irish border was open before the EU existed and will still be open when it ceases to exist any more. It was take BACK control of our borders per pre-EU days, not close borders which were open pre-EU.

      2. libertarian
        August 30, 2019

        Garland

        The Irish border has been open and unguarded since 1923 .

        Why are remainers always so ignorant of easily checked facts?

    3. SecretPeople
      August 29, 2019

      Control over borders not being mentioned in the Queen’s speech, as forecast.

    4. Andy
      August 29, 2019

      And yet – during the referendum and its lead up – Farage, Hannan and others talked about being like Norway. Which is out of the EU.

      The problem you have had all along Mr Redwood is that ‘just leave’ is not a policy. It is a temper tantrum. Okay – you don’t want to be in the EU. We get that. You’ve played the same record for 30 plus years – and it’s been broken for most of those years. We don’t need to know what you don’t want. We need to know what you do want.

      I assume you accept we need to have some sort of relationship with the EU. They live next door after all. So on that basic assumption – which surely all but the most swivel eyed Brexiteers must accept – what should that relationship be. How do you envisaged it? And how about some detail please.

      If I want to travel to Italy – what will that look like? Will I need a visa? If I want to export to France – how will that work? Do I need paperwork? If I sell to Germany using a free trade deal you’ve negotiated and the Germans break the terms of the deal whose jurisdiction is that? Come on – these are the basics.

      REPLY All set out many times in great detail

      1. Edward2
        August 29, 2019

        Farage isn’t a member of the Government neither is Hannon.
        Read the leaflet.
        Listen to what the PM said
        Remain had large numbers of different voices with different opinions about what remaining meant.
        The EU have refused to start trade deal talks until after we have left.
        Blame them.

      2. Fred H
        August 29, 2019

        ANDY ….I’m sorry it worries you so much, I really don’t care about trade with Germany or France. I don’t buy anything from them in full knowledge. I certainly have visited many cities etc there over the years. As time has gone on the need and liking has diminished. There is a great big world out there where people are glad for our visits and spending.

    5. jerry
      August 29, 2019

      JR reply; “Nothing about staying in the single market.”

      There was at least one campaign group, out of the 28 Leave groups, whose Brexit manifesto advocated doing just that, so prominent was the idea behind the manifesto it was regularly promoted, mentioned and debated within the comment sections on this very site!

      The referendum result was to Leave, that is all; Flexcit is still leaving, and Norway is not in the European Union but is a member of the EEA, as are other European countries. If you want to claim a mandate for your ideal Brexit, best you have a word with Boris and hold a referendum to ask that How-to question…. Even then we could remain full members until 2099, if parliament wish, as the British people have not been asked the When question either….

      The How and When decisions still reside with the parliament the people elected, not executive.

      1. Sir Joe Soap
        August 29, 2019

        “This is your decision. The Government will implement what
        you decide. ” Not Parliament.

        1. jerry
          August 29, 2019

          @SJS; Except the question was;

          Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?

          If Brexiteers start playing legalistic games of chance do not be surprised if Remain do like wise…

          Yes parliament has been instructed that the UK should Leave the “European Union”, that is all.

          The wording on the ballot paper had an exact legal meaning, what ever the result it did not give cant-blanch for the Executive to do as they please in the days, weeks and years following. For example a Remain result would not have been an excuses for europhile Executive to unilaterally take the UK into the Euro zone against the wishes of UK parliament.

          1. Edward2
            August 29, 2019

            Parliament passed into law a bill which means we leave on the 31st of October.
            Only the Government can introduce new bills.
            With or without a deal we therefore leave on that date.

          2. jerry
            August 30, 2019

            @Edward2; The argument is not about Leaving, we will Leave (even many LDs are gradually accepting that), the issue is How (and When) the UK leaves -there is no referendum mandate for How, so the decision resides with parliament, not the executive.

          3. Edward2
            August 30, 2019

            Wrong the Lib Dems and other remainer MPs in Parliament simply want to stop us leaving.
            How ?
            By remaining in the EU by blocking any deal that effectively is remaining in the EU
            When?
            Delay leaving for as long as is possible.

      2. Edward2
        August 29, 2019

        Well if one group out of 28 said that Jerry then it must be a crucial moment in the referendum debate.
        I would crowdfund and go to court if I was you like the lovely Gina and make your case.

        1. jerry
          August 29, 2019

          @Edward2; Your crowd funded court case would have to show (prove) how many of the 17,410,742 votes where cast in favour of each Leave manifesto, I have asked many times for that sorts of voting figure data (NOT opinion polling).

          I’m sure if the electoral commission haf been able to collate such data from the simple binary choice on the ballot paper it would have been placed in the public domain in the last 3 years…

          Tell me Eddie, had Remain won, would you accept an arch europhile group demanding that the result was a clear acceptance by the people for the UK to join the EZ, I bet you wouldn’t -and nor would our host!

          1. Edward2
            August 29, 2019

            It would not be my crowd funded court case, it would be yours.
            Tell me jezza, how many different reasons did remain voters have when they placed their vote?
            The remain campaign gave dozens of different visions of the future of our membership of the EU.
            And how many remain voters were in favour of joining the Euro or in favour of an EU army or in favour of common taxation?
            Do you know?

          2. jerry
            August 30, 2019

            No Eddie it would be your court case, you are the one objecting to the will of the UK parliament, not me!

            As for your second rant, you prove MY point, thanks…

          3. Edward2
            August 30, 2019

            Carefully avoiding actually answering my question as usual, by falling back on the “rant” excuse.
            I’m surprised you didnt add “duh” as you often do jezza.

            PS
            The referendum was our decision to leave.
            Parliament is trying to get us to remain.
            It isn’t even putting forward any alternatives to the Withdrawal Agreement it has three times refused to pass.
            Maybe you should go to Parliament before it closes and tell them all the different ideas you have to leave the EU and then travel to Brussels and get them to accept your proposals.
            Job done

    6. GilesB
      August 29, 2019

      May’s Withdrawal Agreement says nothing about the future relationship with the UK, so your questions about Free Trade Area, or Single Market membership, or the same benefits of trade are totally misplaced.

      You clearly have not read the Withdrawal Agreement, why don’t you come back when you have.

      Of course, as stipulated in Art. 50 itself, a Withdrawal Agreement needs to ‘take into account the future relationship’. Only after the future relationship is agreed, can we talk about a Withdrawal Agreement.

      Talking about the Withdrawal Agreement now is like arguing about how much the groom is going to pay for the wedding before he has even met the bride, never mind approved of her.

    7. Denis Cooper
      August 29, 2019
  28. Simeon
    August 29, 2019

    Prorogation changes nothing substantially. This outrage is embarrassingly confected. The remainers and anti no-dealers still have every chance to stop or delay Brexit.

    What should concern us all, and should certainly concern you Sir John, is BJ’s apparent willingness, and even enthusiasm, to resurrect the WA with the backstop modified somehow, some way.

    Either there will be a cote of no confidence in the government, or the WA will be resurrected, with broad Tory support, and the necessary number of Labour votes. Will the opposition and Tory rebels save the government from its own folly? Or are we to have a classic stitch up served up by BJ?

    Sir John, I won’t insult you to ask if you will vote for a revised WA. But I will ask if you could support a government that sought to implement it?

    Reply I have made my opposition to various features of the WA going well beyond the backstop clear in my words and votes.

    1. Simeon
      August 30, 2019

      Thank you for your reply

  29. Newmania
    August 29, 2019

    I feel oddly chipper today. If we are going to have Brexit, and I have, for a long time thought it inevitable, then this is the best kind. It is of a kind for which there is no shred of a mandate, by a PM with no personal mandate, against the wishes of Parliament and by a misuse of a Constitutional procedure every bit as ennobling as laughing at cripples in the street.( I know you lot admire that sort of thing but still … )
    Better still, just when you had lost all faith in politicians, Ruth Davidson summons the residual self-respect to decline to parrot Boris Johnson’s lies in Scotland another day.
    Myself I see little to choose any available Brexit, they are all bad economically culturall , in terms of security and for any sense of hope in the future.

    The dull misery is replaced by bright fury , the forces that hate Brexit gather , the future is to be fought for

    1. libertarian
      August 29, 2019

      Newmaniac

      Westminster voting intention:

      CON: 34% (+1)
      LAB: 22% (+1)
      LDEM: 17% (-2)
      BREX: 13% (-1)
      GRN: 8% (+1)

      via
      @YouGov

      Sat there in your bedsit with your can of cold baked beans cackling about your beloved EU meanwhile the real world passes you by

      1. Martin in Cardiff
        August 30, 2019

        Do you remember what they were before the last GE?

        “Twenty-six point lead” anyone?

        1. libertarian
          September 2, 2019

          Marty

          Yup and with the worst PM in history , a god awful manifesto ( taking Andy’s advice and trying to damage pensioners ) and a wooden campaign that was charisma free….. they still won

    2. Fred H
      August 29, 2019

      new Man iac……you’ve thought it inevitable? really? Not like most of your Remain chums/chumesses who bitch on about it on a daily basis. If only you had voted to Leave you wouldn’t be having all this stress.

    3. Edward2
      August 29, 2019

      ..no shred of a mandate…err well, apart from a national referendum where the Prime Minister of this nation in a leaflet delivered to every home said “this is your decision, we will implement what you decide”
      And speeches by him warning leave meant leaving both the customs union and the single market.

    4. Alan Joyce
      August 29, 2019

      Dear Mr. Redwood,

      @Newmania,

      I was reading your post and came to the last paragraph. It’s rather melodramatic isn’t it, a bit well you know, exaggerated or histrionic. Is it unfinished on purpose?

      May I suggest ‘cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war!’

    5. margaret howard
      August 29, 2019

      Newmania

      I hope you are right.

    6. L Jones
      August 29, 2019

      NM
      The word ”maundering” springs to mind again.

  30. Richard1
    August 29, 2019

    It’s very odd. Not one of the ‘constitutional experts’ I’ve heard interviewed on the BBC , not of course the procession of remain politicians, has mentioned that there is a three week break every year for party conferences and a 1-3 week break at the end of any parliamentary session. Any pretence at informed or balanced reporting on Brexit has gone out of the window at the BBC and replaced by tendentious continuity remain agitation.

    1. David Maples
      August 29, 2019

      So true Richard!

    2. libertarian
      August 29, 2019

      To be fair there was this

      @UKSupremeCourt Justice Sumption on @BBCNewsnight:
      KirstyWark: “What are the prospects of success for a judicial review of what BorisJohnson has done?”.
      Sumption: “Very limited”.
      KW: “Is what BorisJohnson did lawful?”.
      Sumption: “Yes”.

      Not much more to add really

  31. BW
    August 29, 2019

    It’s fantastic. I only hope he has done enough. It is extraordinary beyond comprehension that those who owe their seats to supporting pro Brexit manifestos, those that have switched parties without submitting themselves for a by election, those that conspired just last week to take over the government, those that support the most biased speaker in history, those that have defied the referendum result by every mean possible or three years, now scream about democracy. It really makes me want to vomit just listening to them. We now need to hold our nerve whilst the great undemocratic mob incited by Labour and encouraged by the BBC descend on London. etc ed.

  32. Roy Grainger
    August 29, 2019

    “We will now get the one sort available to us, Brexit without a Withdrawal Agreement.”

    You think ? You don’t think Boris will turn up at the EU Summit on October 17th asking them only to remove the backstop from May’s WA and if they agree he’ll present it to Parliament again before October 31st ?

    Let’s see.

    1. Anonymous
      August 29, 2019

      +1

      1. dixie
        August 29, 2019

        +2

  33. Richard1
    August 29, 2019

    I assume the reason continuity remain are so furious is they had been planning to get rid of the conference recess so parliament would sit continually. And Boris has stolen a march on them. But what would parliament debate? It’s been debating Brexit for three years. We know most MPs don’t like it, but they did vote for it to happen and don’t seem to have the guts to just vote to cancel article 50. They are against ‘no deal’ but also voted against the only deal which the EU (which in the eyes of most of them can do no wrong) said was possible.

    Parliament can still vote out Boris and it can still vote to cancel article 50. What else are they going to debate?

  34. Fred H
    August 29, 2019

    Well done Boris. The country deserves to be told how the PM and Cabinet will plan, implement and finance much needed and awaited infrastructure and social changes.

  35. Leslie Singleton
    August 29, 2019

    Dear Sir John–I am bemused that MP’s seem to want to bring down the Government but either cannot or will not even attempt a confidence vote. What a useless unrepresentative rabble. With any luck half of them will be thrown out soon. No wonder we have had a dreadful three years with the likes of Hammnd as Chancellor. How that in itself can have been the case equally bemuses me. It’s as if there never was a Referendum.

    1. Denis Cooper
      August 29, 2019

      “It’s as if there never was a Referendum.”

      Spot on.

      We voted on the Thursday, by Friday morning it was clear that the EU side had lost the vote, and the first application for judicial review to try to overturn the result went in when the courts opened on Monday:

      http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2016/11/05/the-government-has-a-plan-why-do-labour-claim-parliament-is-not-allowed-to-debate-brexit/#comment-840777

      There is this pretence that the problem is only a “no deal Brexit”, but the history shows that for these people the problem is any kind of Brexit.

  36. […] “Shock horror, we are going to have the same 3 week break for party conferences we have always had. Bigger shock horror, we are going to end the longest Parliamentary session since the civil war, and have a new Queen’s speech as we used to do every year. Worse shock horror, the Remain forces who have dominated the Parliamentary agenda for three years complaining about the result of the referendum will not have many more days to repeat this.” (link) […]

  37. steadyeddie
    August 29, 2019

    Time will tell what is better for the UK: a WTO exit, a WA or revoke A50. Interesting times.

    1. Richard1
      August 29, 2019

      surely the 2 sensible choices are WTO and revoke. the WA is a nonsense.

  38. Julie Williams
    August 29, 2019

    Don’t think remainers do irony, only “Do as I say, not as I do”.

  39. Ian Wilson
    August 29, 2019

    The howls of protest over supposedly curtailing Brexit debate contrast with the zero carbon legislation being pushed through in a derisory 90 minutes.

    Whatever costs may arise, if any, from no deal will be dwarfed by the extra energy costs from zero carbon, the resulting closure of what’s left of our manufacturing and catastrophic damage to our economy.

    Our economy would receive a huge boost if the Queen’s Speech included repeal of the Climate Change Act and the zero carbon legislation, but there isn’t the slightest chance of it happening.

  40. margaret
    August 29, 2019

    Are they serious when they say that much more debate about Brexit will allow everything to be heard. We have heard enough . All the MP’s will go into the house having made their decision and I cannot think that those who still sit on the fence will have any dramatic mind changing views by procrastination.

  41. Bryan Harris
    August 29, 2019

    Constitutional Crisis they cry…. because they fear the remoaners are losing the upper hand…

    NEVER BEFORE in the history of democracy have so many who should know better, been SO wrong, and acted against the British people with such venom… They will not be forgiven

    What a disgusting state of affairs that our pathetic Common’s Speaker comes out to attack the PM – Showing his loyalties rest with a foreign state – HOW DARE HE…!

    1. Andy
      August 29, 2019

      Calm down. You’ll give yourself a heart attack.

      And, thanks to your Brexit, the NHS will run short of drugs and many of the European nurses have gone home.

      Still – dying outraged on a hospital trolley is Conservative thing to do I guess.

      1. Edward2
        August 29, 2019

        So you are saying companies currently supplying medicines from outside the UK will refuse to sell to us after 31st October or our own customs staff at ports of entry will refuse to allow such goods in.
        Really this is what you think?

        Regarding NHS staff from the EU
        You are completely wrong.

        There were 58,698 EU staff in the NHS in June 2016
        There were 65,073 EU staff in the NHS in March 2019.

        (Source House of Commons Library article)

      2. libertarian
        August 29, 2019

        Andy

        Thats just a lie perpetrated by Dr Rachel from Oxford and other simpletons

        The NHS staffing website shows an INCREASE of 4,600 EU nationals working in the NHS since June 2016

        Awaiting your apology for spreading fake news

      3. Fred H
        August 29, 2019

        I would have thought you would be in favour of us dying of a heart attack?

  42. StephenJ
    August 29, 2019

    As a sworn leaver and an eminent and senior backbench member of the ruling party Sir John, do the recent utterances of our new leader not concern you?

    There is no way that I could vote for that WA, as you yourself have pointed out it is chock full of bad stuff. It will require a majority to defeat it and IT NEEDS defeating.

    This is not a time to worry about the Brexit Party, or Nigel Farage. This is not a time to worry about that 72 year old Islington student or his marxist chums.

    This is a time for bold action, and that WA should be “brown bread”!

    1. L Jones
      August 29, 2019

      As pledged by BJ and 45 others on the website: standup4brexit.com

      ”In June 2019 we started a fresh pledge, which, in addition, asks MPs to commit to leaving the EU on 31st October and abandoning Theresa May’s Withdrawal Agreement as dead.”

  43. Peter
    August 29, 2019

    “We will now get the one sort available to us, Brexit without a Withdrawal Agreement.”

    I hope you are correct. There has been speculation that the end game is to drop the backstop but keep the bulk of of the old Withdrawal/Surrender Agreement.

  44. Lifelogic
    August 29, 2019

    Allister Heath today in the Telegraph:-

    “This is Boris’s Falklands War, and he will do all he can to win it
    No 10 genuinely believes that this is a ‘do or die’ moment, and not solely for the Brexit project”

    Let us hope he wins it and without anything ramming anything remotely related to May’s appalling W/A through (that he disgracefully voted for on the last occasion).

    1. jerry
      August 29, 2019

      @LL; This could turn out not to be Boris’s Falklands War but his “Norway Debate”, an appropriate but unintended pun…

  45. Noneoftheabove
    August 29, 2019

    Well stated Sir John, all of the above.

    The worst is now behind us as we successfully claw our way off the lee shore into calmer waters and better visibility. I believe that I can now relax more than I have in years.

  46. Everhopeful
    August 29, 2019

    What bliss to wake up on Nov 1st…no longer in the EU.
    ( Although probably we are really out anyway? But that is another example of remoaner cheating).
    All hail the brilliant band of uber intelligent men who are thwarting the anti democratic forces!!
    Sky interviewer unusually respectful yesterday I thought…sensing defeat maybe?
    Did not get away with usual bombast and silencing tactics.
    Fingers crossed all continues well.

    1. Denis Cooper
      August 29, 2019

      Why wait?

      The EU Council Decision:

      https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/794750/Council_Decision.pdf

      names October 31st as the LATEST date for the extension to end:

      “Such an extension should last as long as necessary and, in any event, no longer than 31 October 2019.”

      Once it had become clear that the EU would do nothing to make their proposed terms of our withdrawal acceptable to a majority in the House of Commons then what would be the point of hanging on, and so allowing renegade MPs the chance to do what they really want to do, which is to block Brexit altogether?

      That is, apart from completing some of the preparations for a no deal withdrawal which should have been completed long ago under Theresa May.

      1. L Jones
        August 29, 2019

        Well said, Mr Cooper. BJ and his team tell us we’re ready for so-called ”no deal” so let’s go!

  47. David Potter
    August 29, 2019

    I would like to see the Government commit to spending 3% of GDP on defence. It would, obviously, take a little time to get to that figure but a start should be made. All branches of the armed forces need more resources be it ships, drones or whatever. This increase in spending could be used to support businesses all over the UK. The Government should also pursue agreements to build equipment under licence in this country.

    1. Anonymous
      August 29, 2019

      Not if they continue recruiting PC softies. Have you listened to army recruiting adds on radio recently ?

      We will end up with an armed Political Enforcement Squad.

    2. Andy
      August 29, 2019

      Who do you want to defend us from?

      1. Fred H
        August 29, 2019

        The Russian bear, the new EU army(ha ha) , the flotilla I expect trying to cross the Channel after we cut the tow rope to France.

      2. L Jones
        August 29, 2019

        Perhaps your EU masters could answer that, Andy. They’re working on their own army, after all. Or are you still in denial about that too?

  48. BCL
    August 29, 2019

    I too am very pleased with the PM’s decision to end this session. While I accept it isn’t the reason for doing so, I hope the action, as a side benefit, will prevent the remainers from thwarting brexit. How they can complain about the reduction in time available after the years they’ve wasted not deciding what they will agree to is beyond me. They’ve had more than enough time to settle on whatever deal they want. Having failed over all this time to agree what they do like, they’ll have to put up with something they don’t like but which many of us are greatly looking forward to.

    1. Anonymous
      August 29, 2019

      Bearing in mind they managed to stop us leaving on the 29th March. The length of this session shouldn’t even be an issue.

    2. StephenJ
      August 29, 2019

      Yes BCL, indeed I seem to remember not long ago that they took over parliament for a little while and held votes on the nature of an acceptable deal. They discovered that according to them, there wasn’t one.

      Ergo, clean break, which they did vote for, is the only logical choice Sherlock.

  49. formula57
    August 29, 2019

    ” It is they who launch the attack on democracy,..” – indeed they have and it is only right that the UnBrexit Activities Committee awaits all those parliamentary quislings.

    1. Andy
      August 29, 2019

      The thoughts of a genuine Brexit supporter. And why normal folk fear for democracy.

      1. L Jones
        August 29, 2019

        We fear for democracy because of people such as you and those you support. God help us if our country were filled with hate-filled, narrow-minded flat earthlings who believe the world begins and ends within the borders of the EU.

        Andy – do try looking outward to the big wide world. You make yourself sound like a ”little Englander” who hates the idea of what you see as ”foreigners” (ie those from non-European countries) actually trading with us without the undemocratic say-so of your unelected EU masters.

  50. Anonymous
    August 29, 2019

    Boris needed to signal to the EU “I am in charge. Not them.” and now Remainers are calling even louder for a second referendum.

    No. Don’t let them get away with that – a no risk to themselves strategy. (What if we end up with another leave result and another majority Remain Parliament ?)

    I say a general election instead. Put their jobs on the line. The whole problem has been that Parliament is not representative of our population and it would be made up of around 50% Eurosceptics if it were.

    The harder Boris talks the more his poll ratings soar and the Tory membership knew when they voted for him that he was the man to stop the party facing destruction because they knew that the people want Brexit and they want our leader to drive a hard bargain.

    The 63% who did not vote in the EU elections is significant. They stayed at home in the knowledge that we were leaving the EU on a set date. Most of those are up for Boris grabs – well, they certainly weren’t *for* the EU !

    Has everyone forgotten that we weren’t even meant to be in the EU now let alone arguing about it ? 29th March is long gone but the BBC hasn’t bothered to mention it.

  51. Lifelogic
    August 29, 2019

    The governments chief environment scientist warns that people must use less transport, eat less red meat and buy fewer clothes if the UK is to virtually halt greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Prof Sir Ian Boyd said the public had little idea of the scale of the challenge from the Net Zero 2050 emissions target.

    He could have added have no pets, no jets private or other, no holidays, no Greta Thunberg racing yachts, no houses larger than a small flat, certainly no royal family and palaces, fewer children, all live off porridge, cabbage and gruel ……

    He is quite right too, that is why it is vital for the Government to abandon this absurd target and the climate change act and get real. May’s idiotic 2050 target is totally absurd just like her.

    As are all the brainwashed Greta Thunberg types.

    1. Lifelogic
      August 29, 2019

      Absurd discussion on the BBC between Rain Newton-Smith (CBI) and that nice …… Lucas green MP. Not a scientific brain cell between them as is usual with greens and religious figures.

      They seem to like trains, electric cars and ‘renewables’ perhaps they should get real and do some real sums on the costs and Carbon output of building (and maintaining) these things and get real for a change. Needless to say the BBC had no sensible climate realists, scientists, engineers to bring any reality to the discussion.

    2. Chris
      August 29, 2019

      It’s all part of the UN 2030 agenda. Frightening, and, in my view, totally contrived. Just a means of controlling everyone.

      1. Lifelogic
        August 29, 2019

        Exactly

  52. David Paine
    August 29, 2019

    Support Boris 100% on this. We need a fresh agenda with a positive sense of purpose. A general election to drain the parliamentary swamp would be a good idea too.

  53. Sir Joe Soap
    August 29, 2019

    Should have happened 3 years ago. People who have deliberately wasted time since June 2016 now trying to waste more time. Why oh why did your party let May get away with that?

  54. Peter van LEEUWEN
    August 29, 2019

    Very interesting developments indeed . . . in Italy. 🙂

    As far as the UK is concerned, I won’t comment on your internal drama, even though I’ve had strong opinions about national UK “democracy” for many years already.

    A Brexit on 31-10-2019 would mean no longer an EU platform for the Brexit Party which would be a good development for those who want to get on with the EU.

    1. Sir Joe Soap
      August 29, 2019

      Yet remainers here want to keep the Brexit Party MEPs in place there. Another irony in their stance.

    2. libertarian
      August 29, 2019

      PvL

      Exactly , please feel free to continue to let the Netherlands be absorbed into a Federal EU Country. Its your choice, as is the Italian government is the choice of the Italian people ( except when the EU decide its not and impose a new leader) .

      Our democracy needs a radical overhaul. We’ve made a start by kicking out the EU , we now need to start on parliament

    3. Martin in Cardiff
      August 29, 2019

      Yes, excellent news from Italy, Peter, especially Salvini’s collapse in the ratings.

      The problem with the UK’s “democracy” is its subversion by the massive, eleven-billion-a-year misinformation industry, its press, which has operated for generations, unhindered by the BBC, which remains silent on the fact, the biggest news story of all.

      If not for that then there would perhaps not have been a Tory government since 1922.

      I look forward to seeing Farage and his cynical shower get their helpful shove between the shoulders at the top of the EU Parliament steps on 31/10/19 too – only metaphorically, of course.

      1. margaret howard
        August 29, 2019

        Martin

        You are right that our democracy has been subverted for a long time by a mostly foreign owned press. The Tories foisting Johnson on us as PM has just been the latest proof of that.

        However I think that the EU parliament will miss the antics of clown Farage especially now after he has been joined by the dignified figure of Anne Widdecombe attempting a return to politics now her recent success in show business seems to have hit the buffers.

      2. Peter van LEEUWEN
        August 30, 2019

        @Martin in Cardiff:
        The term “misinformation industry” is an interesting one indeed. Of course there are tabloids in various EU countries, but only in the UK a list of EU-myths debunked was necessary. A list with almost 700 examples of misinformation about the EU, mainly in the UK press, from the period 1992 – 2017.
        Who can blame the British public when they have been so poorly informed over time?

        1. Edward2
          August 30, 2019

          Bit unfair on the Guardian and the Independent Peter.
          They try their best.

    4. Fred H
      August 29, 2019

      you usually do comment, why stop now? Given up?

    5. graham1946
      August 29, 2019

      We keep trying, don’t want to be here after 3 years, but keep getting dragged back by EU fanatics. As for ‘democracy’, forget what goes on in the UK and concern yourself with the EU where your time would be better spent. Our democracy is none of your business.

      1. bill brown
        August 30, 2019

        Graham1946

        Actually I think our democracy is his business as well, if it is under attack, which it is from all sides

    6. steve
      August 29, 2019

      PvL

      “I’ve had strong opinions about national UK “democracy” for many years already.”

      Except that we don’t live in a democracy in the strict sense….we live in a constitutional Monarchy.

  55. Wilfrid Whattam
    August 29, 2019

    The gossip is that Boris is after passing the Withdrawal Agreement minus only the Irish Backstop. I do hope that you are right John, and we get a ‘no deal’ Brexit – and I guess that I am far to the left of you and probably most of your commenters. The Labour Party has committed electoral suicide, but given all our committment to democracy (excluding Remainers at this juncture), I am feeling positive about what the (possibly a little too distant) future holds.

  56. wab
    August 29, 2019

    Shock horror, Redwood and the rest of the hard right Brexiters are trying to pretend this is all very normal. Nothing to see, little people, move on. Shock horror, Redwood fails to mention that a large fraction of the (existing) cabinet opposed this move not long ago. Redwood is presumably going to get his No Deal. Shock horror, three years ago Redwood kept insisting, along with the rest of the hard right Brexiters, that a free trade deal would easily be achieved, not only with the EU but with the rest of the world. One of the many fantasies and lies espoused over and over again.

    When is Redwood going to apologise for the damage he and his fellow Trumpian fifth columnists have caused the UK?

    1. Edward2
      August 29, 2019

      The EU will not give us a deal.
      So wab after 3 years of trying what you going to do about that?
      The Withdrawal Agreement is not a deal.
      Any negotiations towards a trade deal will start only after we have left.
      PS
      The hard right smear is a pathetic tactic, which doesn’t work.
      17 million people are not hard right.

    2. libertarian
      August 29, 2019

      Wab

      @UKSupremeCourt Justice Sumption on @BBCNewsnight:
      KirstyWark: “What are the prospects of success for a judicial review of what BorisJohnson has done?”.
      Sumption: “Very limited”.
      KW: “Is what BorisJohnson did lawful?”.
      Sumption: “Yes”.

      You might want to check and see how many deals have already been arranged and those that are in the pipeline . You won’t because you dont do facts you just do crying

    3. L Jones
      August 29, 2019

      And there we are again.
      Remainer = never a comment without an insult.

      And still they don’t tell us why they wish us to remain in the EU.

  57. TomTomTom
    August 29, 2019

    Apparently a large number of MPs want to stop no-deal at all costs.

    But it’s a bit odd then that the same body of MPs voted to leave the EU on a given date. Starting a process that would end with either a deal or no-deal situation.

    And even stranger then that when the PM TM presented them with a deal, they voted against it in large numbers. 3 Times.

    Can’t quite understand their complaints now.

    They had a chance at a deal. They choose to reject it. 3 times.

    1. libertarian
      August 29, 2019

      TTT

      EXACTLY

  58. ChrissyG
    August 29, 2019

    Go Boris! He’s saying all the right things. Will he let us down by embracing the WA simply minus the backstop? That would surely finish off the Conservative Party! And rightly so! Right now my loyalties are torn. We owe so much to The Brexit Party & Nigel Farages unwavering & highly principled determination to save Britain from the grasp of an undemocratic EU. What a waste it would be for a man with such vision & grit to disappear into the sunset. My dream, if I’m honest, would be to see Johnson & Farage stand shoulder to shoulder. I’d know then that this wonderful country of ours was in the safest of hands and that “country” really did come before “party” – which is all we voters ask for.

    1. L Jones
      August 29, 2019

      Yes, Chrissy. And in NF’s speech he used the words ”country before party”. Let’s hope others can embrace this idea.

  59. AndyC
    August 29, 2019

    Good for Boris! I wholeheartedly approve of his approach so far.

    There is still the fear that he will try to serve up a reheated withdrawal agreement after October 17th. I do hope he doesn’t do that. Brussels will probably do what they did to Cameron and offer a few meaningless cosmetic changes in order to pull the wool over people’s eyes. My reading so far is that the PM is clever and historically aware enough not to go down that road. Were he to try, he and the Conservative Party will go down in flames. He will want to use this Queen’s speech as a manifesto for a general election sooner rather than later. But he can’t call that in the expectation of winning unless the Brexit Party tanks are off the lawn; hence the likely disaster of trying to bring back a modified WA.

  60. William Long
    August 29, 2019

    Presumably the Remain caucus will do all it can to derail the short prorogation in the days before 14 September. What odds would you give on their being able to do so?

    1. Fred H
      August 29, 2019

      I hope the Brexit party sympathisers, and leaver Conservatives take up as much debate time as possible, but with Speaker preening himself that might be curtailed.

      1. steve
        August 29, 2019

        Fred H

        “…….but with Speaker preening himself that might be curtailed.”

        I think it’s about time someone went to the Queen and suggests Bercow gets the sack. His pro EU bias makes him an absolute disgrace to our country.

  61. Gareth Warren
    August 29, 2019

    I too look forward to a new queens speech and finally getting shot of the EU.

    Like Mr Farage I do fear a reheated version of the WA coming back, something that will cost us greatly in taxes for years and prevent new trade deals. All I can hope is that fiddling with this document is a ruse to count the clock down.

    A better approach will be to be generous and offer a simpler FTA that does not involve expensive oversight and control from the EU. If this is refused then it is the EU’s choice.

    What would really focus minds would be talk of GATT 24 on other treaties on the 1st of November.

    But, in the meantime I am enjoying the temper tantrum from remainers in the media, I can’t imagine what they would do on the 1st November with a WTO brexit delivered.

  62. bigneil
    August 29, 2019

    On BBC Radio Sheffield this morning – the “presenter” said that the only rule the BBC give their presenters on the topic of Brexit is – -Remain 100% impartial. That – from the one who called Brexit voters SHEEP. Do they even know what impartial means?

  63. Ian!
    August 29, 2019

    We still have a Parliament fighting its People, a GE and a clear out is desperately needed.

    1. jerry
      August 29, 2019

      @Ian!; No, we have the executive fighting the people and their parliament, the people voted to Leave, that is all, they left the How and When up to Parliament and their elected representatives (MPs) – why, because the executive have never asked for any instruction as to How nor When.

      There was no need for an GE, although that is probably what we will now get, all it needed was a supplementary referendum asking the How and When questions – but Brexiteers and the ERG were so scared to ask the people…

      1. Edward2
        August 29, 2019

        Well one thing we currently know is that after three years the Withdrawal Agreement has been rejected three times by Parliament.
        So unless the EU decide to enter new negotiations with the UK and alter that deal so it is acceptable to Parliament then the law states that we leave on 31st October.
        There currently seems to be little chance the EU is prepared to do that.
        If deadlocked they could pass a vote of no confidence in the Government but it seems at the moment they don’t want to do that.
        PS
        It would be a big ballot paper to get all the information you need written on it.

        1. Sir Joe Soap
          August 29, 2019

          To put it simply
          We voted to leave
          The EU hasn’t offered a good enough deal in 3 weeks
          Reasonable then to leave without

          1. jerry
            August 31, 2019

            @SJS; To put it simply…you are wrong.

            Tell me, when did the people have a say about How or When the UK should Leave, the only say they have had is in a GE, when they returned as Brexit-sceptic parliament.

        2. jerry
          August 31, 2019

          @Edward2; “the law states that we leave on 31st October.”

          The law states what ever Parliament, not the executive, has written into law, come a given date. That is of course the nib of the current problem for No.10…

          “It would be a big ballot paper to get all the information you need written on it.”

          Is that the best you can come up with, that a ballot paper might be the size of a A4 or even A3 sheet of paper, big problem, we just need larger or more ballot boxes!..

  64. Andy
    August 29, 2019

    So – question for you all.

    On October 31 you get the no deal Brexit you now claim you all voted for (even though you didn’t).

    What then?

    How do you unite the country?

    Let me help you out. You won’t.

    1. David Maples
      August 29, 2019

      None of the people I know who voted leave, wanted any kind of deal.

      1. Ian!
        August 29, 2019

        You are talking to a brick wall there, cant hear a thing

      2. Martin in Cardiff
        August 29, 2019

        I doubt that any of them had a clue about anything else either.

    2. Edward2
      August 29, 2019

      When has the country ever been united?
      Most general elections result over decades show a wide difference of voter preferences.

    3. Fred H
      August 29, 2019

      I certainly won’t lose sleep over the sort of people you represent on here. Unite? Who cares. Go follow freedom of movement – make it quick.

    4. margaret howard
      August 29, 2019

      Andy

      “How do you unite the country?

      Let me help you out. You won’t.”

      The nearly 17m Remain voters will be as resistant to Brexit as the leavers would have been had the referendum gone their way. The country cannot be reunited.

      Ireland and Scotland will leave as well and our rump England will be an unpleasant little corner of Europe full of resentment and of little importance to the rest of the world.

      1. Chris
        August 29, 2019

        Life must be pretty miserable with such a warped outlook. (Just a teaser for you, bear in mind also that c 85% of the population of the UK is in England).

      2. Edward2
        August 29, 2019

        You love the phrase rump England and you repeat it regularly even though it makes you look very silly.
        First there is no majority for independence in either nation
        Secondly you keep missing off Wales.
        Do you not like them?
        Thirdly England would be very well off as an independent nation because it would still be a top 7 world economic power and it has 85% of the population, GDP and tax revenues of the UK
        Careful what you wish for Margaret.

      3. Fedupsoutherner
        August 29, 2019

        Margaret, it must be sad to have no pride in your country and no faith.

        1. Jiminyjim
          August 30, 2019

          Pride and faith, of course are missing. What’s much sadder is the total pessimism. Frankly, if I felt as negatively about the future of the UK as MH and Andy and others do, I would have left the UK already. How awful to view the future in such a pessimistic, negative way and yet feel unable to do anything except complain and insult!

    5. formula57
      August 29, 2019

      The country will heal if not unite, though that will require Remoaners to exhibit a degree of responsibility alien to some and a government determined to claim for the U.K. the prizes Brexit makes possible. The Continuity Remoaners types are often identifiable at present and they are likely to end up as figures of ridicule and pity, of harm to themselves rather than the country.

      Uniting would of course follow easily from the demise of the Evil Empire. It may be said it is doing much to facilitate its own downfall but I would see good reason for British foreign policy aims to provide assistance where we can and where the cost and effort is slight.

      Of course, new causes will arise to furnish fresh reasons for disunity and as they do, current obsessions will recede into memory as past obsessions have done.

    6. The Prangwizard
      August 29, 2019

      What then? The sky will not fall, the sun will rise as it always does, even for you. I and millions more will be happy but not of course you. You will be even ssdder than you are today.

      But you and your kind will get no sympathy from me, especially etc ed

      1. Andy
        August 30, 2019

        Why will I be sad? A no deal Brexit is the best kind. We can overturn Brexit faster this way. We can permanently kill off the Tory party within a decade and it will guarantee that many of those Tory MPs I dislike end up in prison. Why would this make me sad?

    7. L Jones
      August 29, 2019

      Andy
      ”You all” – again? YOU’re a fine one to speak about ”uniting the country”. The country will never be ”united” while there are bigoted people like you around. Sadly, we’ll never be free of you. It’s a human condition of the small-minded.

      How many more times have leavers got to tell you – we did NOT vote for any kind of ‘deal’? Perhaps you’re too young to have voted in the referendum – but the choices on the ballot paper were unqualified and unequivocal: Leave/Remain – get it now?

      (Sigh. You can always tell a remainer, but you can’t tell ’em much.)

    8. Anonymous
      August 29, 2019

      Say you get Remain.

      United ?

      What a force for unity the EU has been !

    9. ELMES Joy
      August 31, 2019

      No deal. – IDEAL

  65. Peter
    August 29, 2019

    Ah, so this is what restoring parliamentary sovereignty looks like. Glad that that’s been cleared up.

    This establishes a dangerous precedent, and if the roles were reversed (ie the default was “revoke” instead of “no deal”, and a remain-supporting party was in the driving seat) then you would be telling a very different story.

    Boris Johnson has changed direction repeatedly in the month since he became Prime Minister. He’s done things which 3 days earlier he said he wouldn’t, and vice versa. Which is annoying, but I feel much more comfortable with people who change their viewpoint when new evidence comes to light, than those who don’t. However, it does grate that in all this turbulence, we’re still holding up the result of a referendum from 3 years ago as “the will of the people”, when so much has changed in the meantime, when the Leave campaign has been proven to have been dishonest, and when the promise was for leaving the EU with a deal.

    John, I know that you and your supporters will just see this as another comment from one of those bonkers remainers who is a bit soft in the head and just wants to sabotage Brexit. But that isn’t true. I am one of your constituents who just wants what is best for this country. If I thought that Brexit was going to be best for us, then I’d support it, but no-one has yet made a convincing argument why I should. I read your blog daily, not because I enjoy arguing, but because I genuinely want to try to understand your viewpoint and prevent myself from becoming entrenched in an echo chamber. I beg of you that you try to do the same too. Please stop viewing Remain supporters as the enemy. Please view them as people who have valid opinions and concerns, who share this country with you, many of whom your job is to represent. Please challenge your own prejudices and assumptions – instead of assuming that your stance is right and seeking confirmation, try seeking out evidence that proves you wrong, and see if your statements still hold up.

    Reply I never condemn or dismiss constituents and explain how I think we will be better off out. I am keen to demonstrate Project Fear is wrong and things will work well for us once out.

  66. Bryan Harris
    August 29, 2019

    Just a question…
    WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN IF THE EU COME BACK WITH A NEW DEAL BEFORE OCTOBER-31 THAT EXCLUDES THE BACKSTOP …?

    1. Caterpillar
      August 29, 2019

      Bryan Harris,

      Presumably it will be put to the HoC and MPs will back it. It does seem something to worry about presuming the PM hasn’t agreed red lines with Conservative MPs. Given the Brexit Secretary has not changed I think it is reasonable to worry.

      1. Martin in Cardiff
        August 29, 2019

        They’d back it even with the backstop now, because Labour would probably vote for rather than against it this time.

        Let’s see, shall we?

    2. formula57
      August 29, 2019

      Poor Leo Ah Huh Huh Varadkar would be beside himself with outrage that the Evil Empire had thrown his country under a bus and his tendency towards megaphone diplomacy would know no restraint at all.

  67. majorfrustration
    August 29, 2019

    With a possible GE in the offing I do hope that CCO are alive to “stich up” selection meetings behind closed doors. Do we really want the likes of Hammond and others coming back to Westminster?

    1. Ian!
      August 29, 2019

      Hammond is up for reselection in the next week

      1. Fred H
        August 29, 2019

        s/be up for deselection.

    2. Fred H
      August 29, 2019

      just who are the people in CCO who might propose candidates, or refuse deselection by local group (who should know better than CCO)?
      Surely they are under pressure to ensure the rebel MPs are not continuing to damage the party by their dreadful behaviour and views?
      Else the party might soon be back as long term loser.

  68. margaret howard
    August 29, 2019

    JR

    “There is so much a good positive post Brexit government can do.”

    Is anybody stopping you doing all those things NOW? Post Brexit, what excuses will your party use when none of these promises are kept?

    Reply Yes the EU stops us spending our contributions on our own priorities here at home, stops us reducing VAT, stops us signing FTAs with non EU, stops us having fishing and farming policies that work for us etc

    1. margaret howard
      August 29, 2019

      Reply to reply

      The usual Brexiteer spurious claims. To clear up just one:

      “2019 European Union VAT rates

      The EU sets the broad VAT rules through European VAT Directives, and has set the minimum standard VAT rate at 15%. The 28 member states are otherwise free to set their standard VAT rates. The EU also permits a maximum of two reduced rates, the lowest of which must be 5% or above. Some countries have variations on this, including a third, reduced VAT rate, which they had in place prior to their accession to the EU.

      Member states have now agreed that they will be free to set the reduced rates on most goods and services, including: e-books; domestic fuel; clothing; and female hygiene products.”

      1. Edward2
        August 29, 2019

        Why should 28 independent nations be told what rules there are on their own taxes.
        Recently you boldly told us the EU had little powers over us and was just a trading bloc.

    2. Fred H
      August 29, 2019

      so there!

    3. Martin in Cardiff
      August 29, 2019

      John, other European Union countries show us that there are far fewer restrictions generally than Leave claim, and that the benefits which you describe are dwarfed by those which come from membership, such as the trade deals around the world through the EU.

      But you know all that perfectly well.

      Don’t you?

      1. Sir Joe Soap
        August 29, 2019

        Such a good deal for the UK that the EU is paying us to leave? Somehow not. They want to keep hold of our money AND our markets.

  69. bobdixon
    August 29, 2019

    Where is the push back from the majority for getting out on the 31/10/2019?

    Where are the marchers and banners celebrating?

    What ever I read or listen too is all against a no deal!.

    Whats going on?

    1. Oggy
      August 29, 2019

      You are watching too much of the ‘s BBC ‘impartial’ reporting that’s what is going on – and if you hadn’t noticed we haven’t left the EUSSR yet, so not yet anything to celebrate about.

    2. Martin in Cardiff
      August 29, 2019

      They are not a majority. They are only about a quarter of the sixty-seven million in this country. They are also mainly quite old. They often don’t get out much.

      1. Fred H
        August 29, 2019

        running out of pathetic snide remarks?

      2. Edward2
        August 29, 2019

        There was only a few hundred lefty remain extremists near Parliament yesterday.
        Hardly a big protest.

      3. Oggy
        August 29, 2019

        Certainly not to Cardiff.

      4. Sir Joe Soap
        August 29, 2019

        So they should be disenfranchised. Only the young and people “getting out” should be able to vote? Strange world you inhabit.

      5. graham1946
        August 29, 2019

        Is that the 67 million who will no longer be citizens of anywhere?

  70. BillM
    August 29, 2019

    It doth seem that you, SJ, should be in the new Government policy team as your ideas do reflect the needs of the general public.
    I do not know if the Ministers concerned actually ask for any constituency feedback from their MPs but it certainly would be a great idea to adopt. Over the past decades, the electorate have been ignored, producing a succession of Governments who are ‘out of touch’ with their “Bosses”, in our supposed democracy. Is it any wonder the people voted for change in both the National Referendum and in the latest EU Elections?
    All Boris and Co have to do, is listen more to the people and act on their aspirations BUT NEVER ignore them.
    Let HMS Great Britain now proceed, full- steam ahead into a much brighter future for OUR country.

  71. James Barr
    August 29, 2019

    Excellent post. This sets out precisely what the country needs. By embracing these sort of policies the UK can look forward to a bright future. European politicians have chose another route. I wish them well, but wouldn’t it be nice if they consulted their electorates about their federalizing faux pas.

  72. ukretired123
    August 29, 2019

    The Remainers Parliament MPs and “impartial” joke of a Speaker have painted themselves into a very uncomfortable corner of their own tunnel vision making and it has been enjoyable to behold these pumped up ego tripping grandstanding pompous arrogant entities who lack brainpower and what is left of it is focused on ME, ME, and Me not on MP!

    Regardez-moi at front, back and sides s’il vous plaĂŽt, Merci!
    If they focused on who they represent – but see themselves as celebs with social media likes not their forgotten voters.
    They all know Boris has put them on notice whatever happens and has landed the bubble boil now ousing with false inverted democratic indignation.
    Just hope Boris does not bottle the big prize of True Brit Brexit!

  73. Axel Below
    August 29, 2019

    I am amazed about seemingly serious and educated persons consistently referring to the 2016-referendum as democratic. The noble, honorable Edmund Burke would have had the courage to admit that this referendum had been won by thr Brexiteers with allegations that had been documented in court as false. Hardly democratic.
    Mr.Redwood keeps referring to the democratic verdict of that Referendum.
    This is discouraging.

    1. Sir Joe Soap
      August 29, 2019

      Where are you with votes cast or parties promising to leave the EU in 2017?

  74. Ian!
    August 29, 2019

    From Iain Dales Diary

    This is a tweet from SDP member @Liberdade80…

    ” Every time I hear a Remainer call for democracy to be respected, I remember these are the same people who wanted to overturn a democratic vote because they disagreed with it.”

    This is when Parliament hasn’t sat over the last three years.
    •2016 – 15th Sept to 10th Oct
    •2017 – 14th Sept to 9th Oct
    •2018 – 13th Sept to 9th Oct
    •2019 – 9th Sept to 14th Oct

    So for 2019 it is just 5 days to prepare for the Queens speach

    All the time the Remain brigade are conveniently forgetting the Labour Party wants time off to go to Brighton to stroke their ‘egos’

    The Lib Dems prefer Bournemouth for the extra time off, with the Conservatives(including the remain in the EU slaves) are going to Manchester.

    Parliamentary time is greatly reduced by the need to desert the HoC for a chat to the same people they would have talked to if they had stayed. Yes you the tax-payer pays for this break.

    1. Ian!
      August 30, 2019

      Correcting myself, it is just three days of Parliamentary time 8, 9 and 10 of October that is of the Governments choice to suspend Parliament.

      The rest is the MP’s in the HoC being absent through their own personal choice.

  75. Denis Cooper
    August 29, 2019

    Looking for something else in my files I chanced on notes about Philip Hammond moving the Second Reading of the European Referendum Bill on June 9 2015:

    https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2015-06-09/debates/15060939000001/EuropeanUnionReferendumBill

    Then he said the Bill had:

    “… one clear purpose: to deliver on our promise to give the British people the final say on our EU membership in an in/out referendum by the end of 2017.”

    But now he says that he, and other MPs, should have that “final say”.

    Then he spoke about:

    “… the consent of the British people to our future membership …”

    But now he treats it as irrelevant that the British people denied that consent.

    Then he referred to:

    “… an absolute commitment to allow the British people to have the final say on this issue in an in/out referendum.”

    But now he refuses to accept the decision of the British people in that referendum.

    Then he proclaimed:

    “… whether we favour Britain being in or out, we surely should all be able to agree on the simple principle that the decision about our membership should be taken by the British people, not by Whitehall bureaucrats, certainly not by Brussels Eurocrats; not even by Government Ministers or parliamentarians in this Chamber.”

    Now he claims the opposite, that even though parliamentarians voted to give the decision about our EU membership to the British people they should now steal that decision back so that he and his fellow renegades can prevent us leaving.

    What a hypocrite, unfit for any public office even at the lowest level.

    1. Denis Cooper
      August 29, 2019

      Oh, and then look at how Hilary Benn opened his response for Labour:

      “This Bill will set before the British people a clear and simple question: should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union? It is 11 words, but the answer will have profound consequences for the future of our country, as the people of the United Kingdom make the most important decision on our place in the world for 40 years.”

      But now he thinks that the people of the United Kingdom gave the “wrong” answer to that “clear and simple question” and he does not want to accept it.

      And then:

      “We support the Bill and its passage through Parliament”

      Likewise, not fit to hold any public office.

      1. Oggy
        August 29, 2019

        Hypocrites and shysters the lot of them. A plague on all their houses.

  76. Edwardm
    August 29, 2019

    The response by Remoaners to Boris Johnson’s constitutional move to end this session of parliament prior to a new session and Queen’s speech, shows what bad people they are. Remoaner MPs wish to frustrate Brexit by constitutional innovations, and they have no problem with that, yet they rage when anything gets in their way of undermining the democratic decision to leave the EU.

    It is strange that so many people try so hard to remain as pawns of a foreign oligarchy.

  77. forthurst
    August 29, 2019

    A suggested programme of legislation for the New Parliament.

    A Representation of the Peoples Act:
    – Replace FPTP with Proportional Representation based on multi member constituencies.
    – Remove the right to a Postal Ballot except for those whose disability or location prevents attendance at a polling station.

    A Freedom of Speech Act
    – the total removal of all laws inhibiting free speech except for threatening a specific act of violence or an incitement to commit a specific an act of violence.

    A Property Act
    – Landlords required to be British citizens whose beneficial ownership is under English law or English registered companies.
    – A foreign national to have the right of beneficial ownership of one residential property only.

    Broadcasting Act
    – The removal of the right to promote foreign propaganda except where the vehicle admits its allegiance to a foreign power.

    -The removal of the right to promote culturally damaging propaganda such as miscegenation, multiculturalism, mass immigration, normalising abnormal sexual behaviour and family structures.
    – TV licence to be abolished.

    Education Act
    -The teaching of human sexual behaviour restricted to secondary schools. The representation of non-procreational sexual behaviour as abnormal but natural for a minority. The identity of groups most at risk of STI revealed.

    1. Fred H
      August 29, 2019

      not a bad starter for 10.

  78. Alan Joyce
    August 29, 2019

    Dear Mr. Redwood,

    A very good post today full of optimism, expectation and hope for the future of Great Britain outside the EU. Fully outside. No treaties, withdrawal agreements or deep and special partnerships with our ‘friends and neighbours’. They have on occasions shown themselves to be anything but friendly and seem only to want to keep the UK ‘subjugated’ and under EU control. Just trade and mutual co-operation where it is in both our interests.

    You have mentioned fishing and farming before where great opportunities will exist post- Brexit. What can the Government do for the City so that it maintains and enhances its status as one of the largest financial institutions in the world? There should be mention of the need for increased defence spending where recent events have shown gaps in our armed forces capabilities. What does Mr. Johnson see as the UK’s new role in a post-Brexit world? What will he use our new-found freedoms and independent voice for? He must also focus on those areas of the UK that were left behind and who voted for Brexit.

    I too am looking forward to the Queen’s Speech. Perhaps it may also be the conservative party manifesto and the starting gun for an early general election. With a majority of only one in the House, it would not be realistic to expect a packed programme of government to pass very easily.

  79. Edward2
    August 29, 2019

    The latest polls show Conservatives 34% Labour 22%
    Not that you would know, with the continuous anti Boris anti leave hysteria on TV and radio.

  80. Jacqui
    August 29, 2019

    The hypocrisy coming from remain MPs about democracy is staggering what about the democracy of the 17+ million people who won a democratic vote to leave the EU! Where is our democracy? We may not close down bridges and streets, that will just enrage the electorate and change nothing. This Country is not under mob rule yet! They should however be aware that we the electorate are very angry. I believe there is an old adage ‘beware the quiet ones, because these undemocratic MPs are destroying this Country and democracy itself. Good way to go to make the electorate furious at their antics before a election where we will show them in no uncertain terms what we think of them! They had better be prepared to lose their seats! Perhaps they can say why we should remain, including why they think closer union, common tax and pension rules, paying billion and yes and our children conscripted into an EU army , they said would never happen. It unbelievable the Labour Party, Lib Dum, SNP etc screech every week about no money for the NHS, Police,Schools etc while happy to give the EU billions, why not leave and use that money on our own. This Parliament isn’t for the people it’s for themselves and are anti-Brutish!. Shocking, what little trust there was in Parliament has been ground into the dust by these undemocratic MPs. We are now in a dictatorship of the many by the few. RIP
    As for the unelected HOL they should be abolished and a smaller elected house needed. It is now without a doubt war of the people V Parliament but on the leave side.

    1. Fedupsoutherner
      August 29, 2019

      What a good post Jacqui. I think you speak for most of us. Angry doesn’t even cover it.

  81. mancunius
    August 29, 2019

    Ruth Davidson’s parting advice to the House of Commons (of which she is not a member) is to signal to the EU that MPs would vote for ‘a deal’ with the EU if the new PM presents it, which she thinks would induce the EU to renegotiate the WA.
    My advice would be that MPs should ignore her advice and do no such thing, as any such placatory signals – far from inducing the EU to a radical about-face – would simply encourage Brussels to offer only the barest cosmetic alteration to the WA. It would, I hope, not pass the HoC. And it would wipe out the Tories electorally.
    If – as often alleged – Ruth Davidson has influenced the increase of the Scottish Tory vote, one wonders what Scottish Tory voters believe the Conservative Party now is? A slightly less leftwing (but still europhile, eco-fanatical and redistributionist) kind of LibDem party, perhaps? That was certainly the direction in which Cameron and May led.

  82. BR
    August 29, 2019

    According to the Express the HoL are planning an all-weekend session to push through a Bill to prevent no-deal.

    My understanding is that they cannot do this without the consent of the PBL, as detailed here:
    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/legislative-process-taking-a-bill-through-parliament

    No-one else reporting this so it may be more Express click-bait.

  83. Peter Parsons
    August 29, 2019

    Ben Wallace hss let the cat out of the bag, it seems.

    1. Martin in Cardiff
      August 30, 2019

      Yes, funny, that.

  84. Stephen Reay
    August 29, 2019

    Ken Clark and Dominic Grieve will vote against the Government, just heard Ken say he will. But surely he knows Boris would call an election after the we’ve left. He said he knows his career would be over but he’s not bothered now anyway. I think Boris will get a deal, but those voting against no deal don’t know he won’t, all part of Boris’s game plan. The more he appears to prepare for no deal the greater the chance of a new deal.

    Can voting against the government stop Brexit?

  85. Ian Pennell
    August 29, 2019

    Dear Sir John Redwood

    I am delighted the Prime Minister has taken the initiative and asked Her Majesty The Queen to Prorogue Parliament from the second week in September until 14th October. If the Courts uphold Boris Johnson’s decision that should limit scope of Remainers to up-end Brexit.

    However, does Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings have a fall- back Plan should the Courts (Court of Session, Edinburgh and -later- other Courts) rule Prorogation “unlawful” and imposes Injunctions upon the Government stopping Prorogation of Parliament or (in extremis) mandating that “No Deal” has to be voted upon and passed by both Houses of Parliament before it can happen (or making it a legal requirement for Boris Johnson to ask for a delay to Brexit for another six months (unless a deal is passed))?

    Just how will Boris Johnson and his Government ensure Brexit happens by 31st October if that happens? I would venture to suggest that a General Election – to get that crucial Brexit- supporting Majority- will be needed by around 18th October. To succeed he will need to offer fiscally popular policies and give Nigel Farage a clear run at Brexity Seats that the Conservatives have no chance of winning (i.e. Bury South and Newcastle East).

    If Boris Johnson thinks that is a bit drastic and is forced- by the Courts- to keep Parliament open every working day until 31st October- he could ask the Queen to refuse Royal Assent to any Brexit- blocking Bills. He could also stuff the House of Lords with 300 new Brexit- supporting Peers (Conservative and Brexit Party) so that they throw out Brexit- Blocking Bills and Amendments.

    Of course, if the Courts insist on MPs voting for “No Deal” it will have to be a snap Election (which Labour will happily go for given that Mr Corbyn would think he could pull off another 2017- style upset). It depends what the Courts do- but do greatly impress upon Boris Johnson the need for an Election if Remainers (and the Courts) stymie him!

    1. steve
      August 29, 2019

      Ian Pennell

      “However, does Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings have a fall- back Plan should the Courts (Court of Session, Edinburgh and -later- other Courts) rule Prorogation unlawful”

      I don’t see what, if any, jurisdiction the Scottish courts have over the Government in Westminster.

      They would also have to be ruling the Queen as acting unlawfully. Never going to happen.

      Moreover the Queen is no fool when it comes to politics, she might not intervene in politics but she knows the law, the constitution and her subjects better than anyone else in the land. She is razor sharp when it comes to these things, and is advised by the most knowledgeable legal bods there are.

      If the Queen deems the proroguing of this Parliament lawful……you can bet your life it is.

      In fact I do wonder if the likes of Ms Sturgeon et al could be prosecuted for sedition –

      ‘Sedition: conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.’

      Looks pretty clear to me.

  86. gregory martin
    August 29, 2019

    Its time to look forward and move on. With the current trade imbalance, and the prospect of negotiating a Free Trade agreement, we need to start educating the Eu about our requirements of satisfaction of British Standards for all merchandise they would like to sell us. In many fields British Standards were relaxed into Harmonisation to EN STANDARDS. We produce our exports to meet and exceed their Standards and can continue to do so. However our market supplies can justifiably revert to the higher British Standards, and we can surely require them to produce to our Standards, if they expect to sell their output here. Clearly we can require this of ALL nations, as World Trade requires equal treatment of all.
    For example, the EU standards were not met by Volkswagen Audi, who cheated. We can now require that VW meet our newly revived emission standards, as surely ours will already be above EU dictat ? It could take 10-15 years for this to be achieved- by them , a ‘Head start’ we must use.
    We have apparently voted to impose ‘ever higher standards’ to achieve our Carbon zero targets.

  87. Ian terry
    August 29, 2019

    Sir John.

    It is hard to comprehend hoe this onece great country has been dragged down to what we see today. Bought about by 500 odd MPs not really fit for purpose and nothing more than lying, deceitful, two faced , self centred individuals only concerned with themselves and their own secret dreams and aspirations.

    They lied to the electorate at the time of selection agreeing to honour the referendum vote and have done nothing in the last three years but try and destroy the country leaving the EU. Deceitful in the way they voted for Article 50 with no intention of implementing it. Two faced in that at every opportunity declaring to the media that albeit have voted to remain they were now committed to leaving the EU . They are now on their high horses screaming about democracy. What do they not get? We the electorate don’t trust them anymore. Any one in the private sector acting in this way would have been shown the door not be fortunate enough tospin the time out until the next GE to ensure they get their golden handshake or a very over generous pension.

    This behaviour has highlighted the dire selection and management of the MPs by each and every parties central offices. We have a Lib Dem leader still shouting from the roof tops about never accepting Brexit even if it was voted for again by the electorate. Why are they tolerated, a speaker who more than a tad biased and the list trolls on and on .

    What makes it even more sadder is that there is not one person in the whole of this country knows exactly what will happen with a no deal exit. It is all personal perceptions and fuelled by the BBC , other media outlets and these 500 odd two faced politicians allowing millionaires to take the government to court and stand back and do nothing.,. Head down below the parapet and let someone else do the dirty work , just the same way they have operated in dealing with the EU for the past 40 years.

    If we are believed to be liable for a divorce payment of ÂŁ39bn for being part of the EU for 40years how much will this country expect as a divorce payment from the Scots sjhould they decide to go it alone and join Europe? I do hope our negotiators have learnt from the EU how to deal properly with such situations. IE GIVE THEM NOTHING AND TAKE EVERY THING IN RETURN,

  88. steve
    August 29, 2019

    JR

    I was delighted to see you on the news this morning. I have to say I found Ms Layla Moran to be tiresomely ‘yappy’ and interruptive when it was not her turn to speak. I applaud you for keeping dignified composure under those circumstances.

    I also applaud Jacob Rees Mogg, who showed comparable composure when being interviewed by a biased BBC Journalist. JRM referred to Jeremy Corbyn as Billy no – mates, which I found highly amusing.

    I really do hope we are now seeing the Conservatives coming out with guns blazing.

  89. Nearside Forehand
    August 30, 2019

    Sir John – Great article.

    I think the following points would also reinforce the utter absurdity of the No-No-Deal crowd (i.e. Remainers).

    A deal requires two sides to agree to it. To leave subject to a deal therefore means to leave if and only if the European Union allows you to leave. This was simply not on the ballot paper, and I can’t imagine that a single leave voter in the entire UK voted leave on the condition that the European Union would have the final say in allowing the UK to leave. How would that have been compatible with the following statements made by the Government (emphases added)?

    “The referendum on Thursday, 23rd June is your chance to decide if we should remain in or leave the European Union.” – i.e. not subject to the EU’s approval.

    “This is your decision. The Government will implement what you decide.” – i.e. not subject to the EU’s approval.

    “If you’re aged 18 or over by 23rd June and are entitled to vote, this is your chance to decide.” – i.e. not subject to the EU’s approval.

    If Brexit was to be subject to the EU’s approval (as insistence on a deal would make it), the Government’s statements above would be meaningless. The decision would not, in fact, have resided with the British electorate but would, in fact, have resided with the EU.

    The only way to effect Brexit is to be ready, willing and able to leave without a deal, because that is, in fact, the only way that the UK can unilaterally leave, and that is what was promised in the referendum.

  90. Dioclese
    August 30, 2019

    Brilliant strategy!
    First announce an end to the parliamentary session.
    Second let the remoaners whinge and moan about it
    Then announce that it’s a lot off fuss about nothing because with the time out for the conferences, the difference is only a measly four days anyway

    Finally announce to all the people moaning about no deal that we’re sending negotiators to Brussels twice a week to push the talks ahead.

    Cummings is a genius!!!! Blows the remoaners right out of the water…

    1. Martin in Cardiff
      August 30, 2019

      Don’t you remember, that Johnson said that there would be no discussions unless the Backstop was dropped?

      It has not been dropped.

      Discussions are happening.

      What happened there then?

      1. Edward2
        August 31, 2019

        The EU are slowly realising the UK will be leaving on October 31st unless they reopen negotiations.

      2. Fred H
        August 31, 2019

        I think the only discussions from the UK are ‘can you send us some more champagne, we are sold out with people stocking up for Nov 1st?’

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