An independent defence policy

Some have expressed worries that the UK will not be free to run its own defence policy once out of the EU fully owing to alleged commitments to a Common European Defence and Security Policy.

The Agreements entered in to make clear this is not the case. The UK has the option to participate in CSDP missions on a case by case basis, but only if the EU offers and the UK agrees. The Agreement is express is saying “without prejudice to decision making autonomy of the UK or of the sovereignty of the UK”. “The UK will maintain the right to determine how it would respond to any invitation or option to participate in operations or missions”

It will also be important to reinforce these freedoms that the UK organises its defence procurement in a way which allows it freedom to pursue its own policy. There is no binding requirement to go for European weapons systems and supplies. Each procurement can be arranged in a way which protects UK independence. It is important that the UK controls the necessary technologies and intellectual property and has potential capacity to make the weapons it might need.

199 Comments

  1. Mark B
    September 24, 2020

    Good morning

    But Sir John, this leaves the UK’s foot in the door for when we slide back into full EU membership sometime in the future.

    And why do we need to be a member of this EU military thing when we have both NATO an the UN ?

    1. Martin in Cardiff
      September 24, 2020

      My understanding is that the most significant military co-operation between European Union member – and ex-member or non-member – states happens outside of the Lisbon Treaty, not within its institutions, and on an at-will basis. Also that there is more commitment to this among them than to any other idea.

      It is therefore not closely connected with trade or other negotiations with the European Union.

      What is you problem with this?

      1. Andy
        September 24, 2020

        Foreigners.

        His problem is with foreigners.

        When we boil Brexit down to its core this is all it is about.

        1. a-tracy
          September 24, 2020

          NO
          Its about losing control to a ruling elite in Brussels who tax us more whenever we do well by suddenly applying fees, fines, tolls and taxes to everything they can from prostitution to drugs that aren’t taxed in this Country! To forcing us to pay for children that aren’t even in this Country. To forcing us to give homes to any homeless person that arrives here rather than them claim back in your beloved EU. France so poor (as stated by the UN not me) at looking after refugees its easier to give them access to rather large dingies to ship Frances problems over here pronto. When Italy and Malta are ignored for forcing people to return off their shores. That is just for starters.

        2. Edward2
          September 24, 2020

          Easy to play your race card daily Andy.
          Your common slur on here.
          But Brexit was about independence.
          Not that you will ever understand.

      2. Hope
        September 24, 2020

        We read only last week diversity, inclusivity and political clap trap center to be set up at a cost of Ā£500,000 being established to brainwash military personnel who are meant to be lethal in battle or combat? Oh please get rid of this useless govt.

      3. a-tracy
        September 24, 2020

        Who are you Martin that you think you know everything about the EU? I think you should tell us if you’re on the payroll.

        Even when people on here regularly give evidence opposite to your statements you simply move on to another post.

        1. Fred H
          September 24, 2020

          he knows everything about China too – and quite well versed in NZ politics.

      4. rose
        September 24, 2020

        My problem with this is that the EU mafia take it for granted they can shelter behind us, but don’t want to trade freely with us.

      5. jerry
        September 24, 2020

        @MiC; Your question is surely the wrong way around, why does the EU need a “defence policy” when many of the EU27 have been members of NATO since well before even the treaty that established the ECSC, never mind either the EEC or the EU.

    2. Ross Towes
      September 24, 2020

      There will come a time (we might arguably already be in it) when NATO is not interested enough in a European security issue to do something about it, because the Americans are shifting their focus elsewhere. The whole situation surrounding the Black Sea is a good example. In such cases, European members must have the capability to do something about it for ourselves – whether under the aegis of NATO or some other security agreement.

    3. jerry
      September 24, 2020

      @Mark B; “this leaves the UKā€™s foot in the door for when we slide back into full EU membership sometime in the future.”

      As does our cooperation within NATO, even more so should the current POTUS be re-elected and carry out his threat to withdraw the USA from the European theatre of NATO operations…

      But why might we slide back into the EU, the electorate voted to leave, or are you worried the electorate might change their minds, oh how you must hate democracy unless the majority vote for what you want!

      1. jerry
        September 24, 2020

        @czerwonadupa; Indeed, but my comment was made with reference to the part of @Mark B’s comment I quoted.

        Should the current POTUS carry through with his threat where does that leave the UK, and NATO for that matter, far more likely to become politically entwined with the EU, by hook or by crook, rather than a candidate status unincorporated territory of the USA…

      2. jerry
        September 25, 2020

        @UKQanon; “they have an additional agenda”

        As does the Qanon movement, so stay well away from their ‘advice’ too…

      3. jerry
        September 26, 2020

        @UKQanon: I do my research, Unlike you who appears to just find conspiracy theory and scapegoats instead of any hard facts… šŸ™

  2. Iain Gill
    September 24, 2020

    Hard to have an independent defence approach when vast majority of planes on your carrier are US marines and not British, is a bit of a joke.

    1. Caterpillar
      September 24, 2020

      I’d agree with point and add the concern how much U.K. kit is operable and supportable without the USA?

      We have had plenty of indications of the Democrats’ attitude to the U.K. and this should be taken as a warning. Indept policy is somewhat ltd without indept capability.

      1. Hope
        September 24, 2020

        F35 US planes bought at hundreds of millions of pounds at taxpayers expens. Harrier jump jets sold to US for about Ā£1 each! Don’t you love those Fake Tories.

        I got a new three word strap line, they are crap.

        1. glen cullen
          September 24, 2020

          +1……its not even a good part exchange deal

        2. Caterpillar
          September 24, 2020

          Three word summary, TAC, is correct. Usually though I have a small hope that the country can recover from a bad period of Govt. In this case, with the political precedents that have been set, values restructuring that is taking place and the socio-economic immobility locked-in, I have zero hope that recovery is possible.

        3. czerwonadupa
          September 24, 2020

          Off set by the sales to other countries in the Middle East which you & Glen along with Labour, Lib-Dims & Greens no doubt deeply deplore with the usual wailing & gnashing of teeth.

          1. glen cullen
            September 24, 2020

            Incorrect – I believe we should be able to sell our arms equipment worldwide for top dollar….we gave away the harrier jump jet

      2. a-tracy
        September 24, 2020

        The Democrats attitude to the UK has been an unpleasant surprise to me. To think after November as you say we could be defence equipment reliant on Pelosi and Biden shudder.

  3. Proudfoot
    September 24, 2020

    So no change from when we were in the EU, when we had a full veto over all military activities. I suppose you are trying to invent some fictional benefit of Brexit here to distract our attention from reality, which is that Brexit is delivering not only a border between GB and NI but also another one round Kent. This is not what I voted for, and you certainly never mentioned any of this back in 2016. What exactly is this government up to?

    1. Martin in Cardiff
      September 24, 2020

      You do not know at all for what you voted – if you voted Leave, that is.

      You were not asked what measures the Government should take to deal with the problems created by the UK’s leaving the European Union.

      That might be utterly different from what Leave voters wanted and imagined might happen, but that is another matter.

      They should face reality. Just because there is a safety-in-numbers crowd, all chanting the same nonsense and fantasy does not make it real.

      1. Edward2
        September 24, 2020

        Same applies to you remain voters.

      2. Jiminyjim
        September 24, 2020

        We know at least as much about what we voted to leave, as you did for what you were voting to remain in. In a year or two, the EU will be unrecognisable in ways you can’t imagine, MiC

      3. Martin in Cardiff
        September 24, 2020

        But you had it all along.

        That is how the UK is able to leave by merely sending a letter.

        1. Edward2
          September 25, 2020

          It has taken nearly 5 years of battling and still we haven’t left.

    2. Lynn Atkinson
      September 24, 2020

      Mr Gove is a here-today-gone-tomorrow politician. Ignore the worst of his ravings. What point putting a border around Kent – then the feared-but-never-will-be lorry park will be in South London!
      Same logic as CV19. Maybe the whole Cabinet has had it and are all cognitively impaired?

    3. Sir Joe Soap
      September 24, 2020

      It’s not what we voted for and it won’t happen.

      The minute we get stopped transporting perfectly legitimate goods around and within the territorial UK is the minute unrest begins. It just won’t happen without democratic mandate to split off Kent, NI, Scotland etc. which will take longer than next January to materialise, if ever.

    4. Leslie Singleton
      September 24, 2020

      Dear Proudfoot–You missed out the bit about the border being a hard one with high granite wall, machine gun posts, pillboxes, watchtowers, drones–True, the Government has had difficulties amid the plethora of ghastly decisions it has had to grapple with but would have thought it plain in spades what it is up to. Mind how you go in your never ending search for stuff to be negative about.

    5. a-tracy
      September 24, 2020

      Vetos in the EU don’t stand up Proudfoot, there is always a way to negate them, just watch over corporation tax alignment.

      We were supposed to have vetos on UK Benefits and Independent control over tax yet we still got rather large bills for taxation on items we don’t tax such as prostitution and drugs so the many got punished for the few using them.

  4. Len Peel
    September 24, 2020

    Permits to enter Kent! Hey John, has Mr Gove joined the Project Fear gang? Or are you Leavers getting twitchy as what Brexit REALLY means is revealed to the British people? You are going to be held to account, you know

    1. beresford
      September 24, 2020

      Has anyone told the dinghy migrants that they’re going to need permits?

    2. Martin in Cardiff
      September 24, 2020

      I note that John seems to be processing relatively few comments just now, so I assume that he is rather busy.

      I wonder what is taking up his time just now if so?

      Perhaps there is a rather large meeting going on amongst the ERG etc. as to how they might best explain away this latest and rather salient fiasco?

      1. Fred H
        September 24, 2020

        Perhaps Sir John is doing the sort of work required in his role as MP – who thinks moderating this diary is one of them?

    3. Leslie Singleton
      September 24, 2020

      Dear Len–Let me guess whether you are yet another loser Remainer. Nobody said it would easy.

      1. Len Peel
        September 24, 2020

        Actually leslie they all – Davis, Gove, Redwood, Hannan, Fox – said it would be VERY easy. We hold all the cards! Easiest deal in human history! No downside! Remember now?

        1. Leslie Singleton
          September 25, 2020

          Dear Len–Can’t say as I remember the “VERY”, certainly not about the initial mechanical adjustments obviously to be needed in our becoming a normal independent country, especially as the EU has excelled itself even more than we thought it would in being positively inimical. Never did see why, indeed how, the Canada deal was what they said they wanted (too easy?) then, when we agreed to it, it somehow wasn’t–how were we supposed to predict that 180 deg turn on a sixpence (and why did they do it–nobody seems to know?)?

    4. a-tracy
      September 24, 2020

      Len, how many of those Lorries that go back into the EU are from the UK with UK drivers do you know? How many returning are empty after dropping off imports? How many are backloads after dropping of imports to keep the EU truck operations profitable? How will EU providers feel if their lorries are backed up in Calais and their transport companies can’t get their workers back? Isn’t this just shooting themselves in the foot?

    5. Know-Dice
      September 24, 2020

      The only reason that there will lorries queuing in Kent is because the French fishermen are blocking Calais.

      1. Know-Dice
        September 24, 2020

        And apparently the Belgian’s have had their chips… 33% of Belgium’s frozen chips end up in the UK and will have a 14% tariff applied under WTO…so that 14% could be used to help finance potato production in the UK…or something more heathy…

      2. glen cullen
        September 24, 2020

        +1

  5. Adam
    September 24, 2020

    Defence often involves aggression. We need to be free to choose for ourselves how best to act or not react.

    Intervening the feuds of others is something we might choose in pursuit of preventing suffering or loss of freedom. The freedom of that choice should always be ours.

    1. Martin in Cardiff
      September 24, 2020

      What you mean is that the capacity for aggression is generally placed under the euphemism of “defence”.

      It appears that you want to live in a generally aggressive country, however.

      1. David L
        September 24, 2020

        I recently saw an “updated” description of Holst’s Planets Suite where Mars was described as ” The God of Defence”!

      2. dixie
        September 24, 2020

        Warfare is aggression with weapons – the EU practices aggression with economics, migration, resource stripping, protectionism, regulations … more or less any and all means to impose it’s will on countries and people.

        I wish to leave the EU empire of aggression.

      3. Fred H
        September 24, 2020

        How would you describe the streets in Cardiff late on a Saturday night?

        1. Martin in Cardiff
          September 24, 2020

          Generally very jolly and friendly, compared with many places.

      4. Adam
        September 24, 2020

        Martin:

        What appears to you differs from what is.
        The subject was choice.
        You chose a heavy false assumption, based on a foundation like custard.

  6. formula57
    September 24, 2020

    The wording of the Agreements might be a comfort with regard to avoiding bad entanglements but the options in fact selected by our political masters are unlikely to be.

    There is every prospect of the UK pulling the Evil Empire’s chestnuts out of the fire and that would be as damaging as it is disgraceful. Let us hope the current trouble in the Eastern Mediterranean does not provide an early example.

  7. DOMINIC
    September 24, 2020

    An irrelevant issue compared to the destruction of our freedoms and your party’s embrace of Labour’s racially infused Marxist agenda and their desire to create a nation in which social husbandry becomes the norm

    Even Chartwell now has a disclaimer on its website about Churchill’s references to his views on race.

    When are we likely to see politicised British soldiers harassing old women going to the shop against their better instincts of course

    It is my belief that our Army is the final line of defence against out of control politicians who have now lost all sense of reason and morality. By publicly declaring they will be used in a social setting is an attempt to politicise our armed forces. This is a vile tactic

    You must take great pride from belonging to a party whose leaders behave like Marxist Labour poison

    1. agricola
      September 24, 2020

      I believe the thought was that our military might be asked to guard essential installations like power stations and GCHQ for instance. In so doing ease the load on our police force. I do not belive there was any intention to use them on the high street against ravers or political demos. The latter is a leap of thought to denigrate a government under pressure. A government some do not like.

      1. Everhopeful
        September 24, 2020

        Keep on thinking that.
        Perhaps your ā€œmagickā€ will change reality?

      2. Hope
        September 24, 2020

        I understand councils are asking staff if they wish to temporarily become Covid marshalls! What services will be sacrificed?

      3. Mark B
        September 24, 2020

        There is an excellent article on CW. It covers the limitation of using armed forces.

    2. Lifelogic
      September 24, 2020

      Much truth in this alas.

      Meanwhile Boris is going to waffle on about action against Climate Change and the pointless war against plant food. It must not to become another victim of Covid he will say. It would be a very good thing if he ditched all the subsidies for renewables and electric cars and all the energy market rigging.

      We should certainly abolish the climate change act, reject the Paris Accord and the net zero targets. We cannot afford them, there are far better ways to spend the money and they will do nothing for the climate anyway – even if all the countries did as they have promised – and they clearly wonā€™t.

    3. Gramp
      September 24, 2020

      Your view seems nonsensical to me.

      1. Caterpillar
        September 24, 2020

        Dominic’s summary makes sense.

        List what Johnson, Hancock and Sunak have done and continue to do; Dominic’s position is well-supported by the evidence.

    4. agricola
      September 24, 2020

      Dominic your premis that uk governments have lost their way in terms of PC, to the extent that MPs have to attend courses to guide how they think is absolutely correct. It has already infected the police and would the armed forces via rules of engagement, don’t fire until fired upon. Health and safety have become a means of control of the most mundane of activities. These last fifty years have been a form of creeping anaethetism of a previosly get up and go nation. A visit to the pub would confirm that the majority of people do not think like governments. Therin lies our strength.

    5. Sea Warrior
      September 24, 2020

      Are our police forces making enough use of their ‘special constables’, I wonder. Perhaps they should. And maybe it’s time that specials were paid while on duty, in the same way that armed forces’ reservists are.

      1. 'None of the above'.
        September 24, 2020

        It’s a reasonable point that you make but a better question is, I think, “are the Police Forces making enough use of all their powers”?

        As for the rest of you, I think you should all calm down.
        Our MOD has three priorities; 1) defend the UK, 2) support NATO and 3) help anyone else who requests it that we think is appropriate.
        Importantly, one does not require any International Agreement to observe that list of priorities.

      2. glen cullen
        September 24, 2020

        Agree – call and pay them as a Police Reserve

      3. Leslie Singleton
        September 24, 2020

        Dear Warrior–I puzzle that special constables best I (don’t) understand do not have the power of arrest but again best I (don’t) understand ordinary citizens have such a power, or at least I believe used to have. Education welcome.

      4. forthurst
        September 24, 2020

        What about diverting police now fully engaged in detecting English thoughtcrime on social media to keeping our streets safe and unpolluted by mass demonstrations of English hatred? Just a thought.

        1. czerwonadupa
          September 24, 2020

          They can’t defend the public while they’re on their knees.

    6. Everhopeful
      September 24, 2020

      +1
      Surely they are one and the same? As in Liblabcon? And all signed up to the very far, extreme left (morphing into fascism?).
      That seems to get more and more likely.
      Will the army be armed on the streets? Will they hesitate to fire?

    7. Iain Moore
      September 24, 2020

      The woke make over of our military has only just got underway, I believe Covid has come a bit too early for the state to count on the military’s support, though I find it dispiriting to see how much it has been taken up by the officer class.

      The National Trust’s error strewn document denouncing properties under their management is another to be added to the long list of institutions which have succumbed to the Marxist, critical race theory, woke, political correctness, call it what you will, basically the British hating agenda, and yet again the Conservative Government remains silent.

      The properties the NT have were given to the nation, the NT is supposed to be Trust, there to manage the properties on behalf of the nation, not there to push the woke politics of the board. If they can’t fulfil the role given them then they should be sacked , and until these people find a cost to their politicisation of institutions then they will continue their long march through them.

    8. Anonymous
      September 24, 2020

      They must not be armed. Otherwise we’ll have the ridiculous situation of soldiers shooting people to death so that they don’t die of CV19.

      1. Everhopeful
        September 24, 2020

        If they donā€™t get us one way…..

    9. DavidJ
      September 24, 2020

      My worry too…

      1. Everhopeful
        September 24, 2020

        +1

  8. agricola
    September 24, 2020

    Our principal alliance is within NATO containing some European countries and that is where it should remain. I would prefer that we shrank back from a roll as a World policeman, except where our interests, NATO’s, or the UN’s coincide. I do not wish us to be dragged in to support EU ambitions to expand their influence, or to support internal wrangles within the EU. In terms of equipment and intellectual property we should look from within. I say this because the nature of warefare is constantly changing and we have been fighting WW3 in terms of a cyber war for quite some time.

    Terroism is yet another form of WW3. I hope that freedom from the EU & ECHR allow us to deport the talked of 2000 UK targets of MI5. Why waste their talents sleuthing terrorists we can get rid of. Better they concentrate on the theft of intellectual property at our universities and from within industry. Neither organisations being capable or at times interested in guarding their own.

    1. Ian Wragg
      September 24, 2020

      The first test will come when you place the order for new support ships with UK shipyards.
      I’m not holding my breath.

      1. glen cullen
        September 24, 2020

        I really can’t understand any MP not supporting a bill to build supply/suppport ship in the UK

  9. Sea Warrior
    September 24, 2020

    When will the government take action against Spain’s routine infringements of Gibraltarian territorial waters? Why hasn’t the EU issued a sharp rebuff to Madrid? The nature of the EU is crystal clear. The UK should now concentrate on being a ‘best in class’ NATO member. The inevitable requests from the EU, for Defence capabilities that EU members can’t be bothered to pay for, should be declined.
    P.S. Your post doesn’t mention command arrangements. I presume that UK forces, on an EU mission, would always be under the command (probably, ‘Operational Control’) of an EU commander, irrespective of the relative size of national contingents.

    1. glen cullen
      September 24, 2020

      We should stick to the defence of the UK and its overseas territories

      Joint exercises good

      Military cooperation & treaties bad

      1. Mark B
        September 24, 2020

        Agreed.

  10. Andy
    September 24, 2020

    I congratulate the Brexiteers on the establishment of their new hard border.

    Though, should have put it on the otherwise of Kent. You know, the one with the water – not the one which joins on to London and Sussex.

    But you get at least two out of ten for trying.

    Still at least in 2016 you all knew that you were voting for the garden of England to become a car park and for lorries to require permits to drive into it.

    1. Sea Warrior
      September 24, 2020

      It will be a temporary reminder to us of how the EU is unable to co-exist peacefully with former members who refuse to submit to the will of Brussels. I’m prepared to pay the price.
      P.S. I was listening to the BBC on the radio this morning. It was quite obvious that many ‘managers’ of UK businesses aren’t up to the job. The government’s communications regarding Brexit have been, in contrast to those relating to COVID, very good.

      1. Martin in Cardiff
        September 24, 2020

        Why ever should sovereign countries such as France admit whatever traffic from the UK without proper checks?

        Do you expect the UK to allow anyone just to drive in a truck, unchecked, from France, from Belgium or from the Netherlands?

        As for UK businesses, for those proprietors who can afford it, and who like many are ruined by brexit, I wouldn’t blame them one bit for selling their assets, closing, retiring, and letting this silly, Leave-voting country deal with the unemployment of their staff.

        1. Fred H
          September 24, 2020

          ever stopped to think –
          ‘Why ever should sovereign countries such as UK admit whatever traffic from the EU without proper checks?’

          If the fruit/veg goes off we simply reject it.

      2. Lynn Atkinson
        September 24, 2020

        The EU is unable to … exist peacefully. Low level warfare all over the Continent.

      3. Tabulazero
        September 24, 2020

        When you were told that it would be “the easiest deal in human history”, you are old enough to have known better.

        Please stop blaming others for the consequence of what you voted for.

        You got what you wanted and should be happy about it.

    2. Everhopeful
      September 24, 2020

      The EU effectively ripped up the garden element of Kent.

      1. Alan Jutson
        September 24, 2020

        Everhopeful

        Yes, with France assisting in the planting of illegal entrants to the UK, which we then feed and water, thus they then grow in ever larger numbers.

        1. Everhopeful
          September 24, 2020

          Very true.
          Lol.

        2. glen cullen
          September 24, 2020

          +1 the pull factor is working – there’s actually more arriving in Kent than believed to be in Calais

      2. Martin in Cardiff
        September 24, 2020

        How?

        1. Everhopeful
          September 24, 2020

          With bulldozers and the aim to destroy UK fruit production.

          1. Martin in Cardiff
            September 24, 2020

            All the bulldozers that I see seem to have Union Jacks on them.

    3. Ian Turner
      September 24, 2020

      Listening to the BBC/Sky, one could be forgiven for thinking that the problem lays purely with UK trucking companies being unprepared – but of course at least 50% of those lorries coming through Dover every day are not British…

      1. glen cullen
        September 24, 2020

        4.5 years to organise and train office staff to complete 2 bits of paper online……I believe the road haulage association and the freight transport association are at odds and looking for headlines

    4. Fred H
      September 24, 2020

      it is really sad that all those EU drivers and vehicles wanting to return home after a drop-off in the UK must join a 2 day queue to return.

      1. glen cullen
        September 24, 2020

        +1

    5. ukretired123
      September 24, 2020

      Andy, how’s the Labour Party and SNP coping these days and what are their plans?
      Which one are you backing of are you still lost in France or becalmed on your lilo?

    6. No Longer Anonymous
      September 24, 2020

      Glad you come here and waste your time every day.

      I draw my energy from you and use it as a battery for training.

      This morning I broke my personal best for running over undulating terrain. 1.5 miles in 10 min 20s – enough to get me on a Royal Marines Commando course. Yay !!!

      I did it thinking of you Andy (I’m over ten years older.)

      Thanks.

      1. glen cullen
        September 24, 2020

        Good time, well done that man

        It would also get you in the royal artillery as a recce officer ā€“ not running though, using a short wheel-based landrover

    7. Original Richard
      September 24, 2020

      Kent has been a park for lorries numerous times whilst we were members of the EU with the French regularly breaking the EU treaties by allowing their striking workers to prevent the free flow of goods and people across the French/UK border.

      There is even a French industrial strike at the moment in Calais causing lorries to be held up in Kent before being diverted to the Dover/Dunkirk route.

      Membership of the EU gave us no protection against striking French workers, whatever the treaties may say.

      Leaving the EU may in fact make actually improve the situation by either reducing the number of crossings or hauliers speading their businesss over a larger number of ports.

  11. Dave Andrews
    September 24, 2020

    The last time UK armed forces were used for defence is the Falklands War. Since then, they have just been used for political campaigns of sometimes dubious value.

    1. Martin in Cardiff
      September 24, 2020

      For attack rather than for defence, you mean.

      Yes, probably.

      1. Original Richard
        September 24, 2020

        No, for the defence of the Falklands to remain a British Overseas Territory as they overwhelmingly voted for in a referendum and not become a colony of Argentina taken by force.

        It needs to be remembered that the Falklands are 300 miles from the Argentine coast and South Georgia, another British Overseas Territory invaded by Argentina, is about another 1000 miles east of the Falklands.

        Neither could be described in any way as being in or near Argentinian territorial waters.

        1. glen cullen
          September 24, 2020

          Well said

        2. Mike Wilson
          September 25, 2020

          Whereas they are just off our coast.

  12. DOMINIC
    September 24, 2020

    We need the Army to protect us from psychotic politicians who are now out of control and have become utterly unresponsive to the protection of our nation’s most basic, fundamental freedoms

    The BLM revolution has exposed all politicians and forced them to publicly declare their allegiance one way or another. Unfortunately, not one of these persons expressed loyalty to the UK and its majority population

    Expect more authoritarian oppression in the years ahead from the party that died in 1990.

    Labour died in 1979
    Tory party died in 1990

    And now the voter vote’s for two parties that no longer exist. A generational deceit that has brought us to this most fearful nadir

    1. glen cullen
      September 24, 2020

      Agree with every word – this continued status quo is ruinous

  13. Stred
    September 24, 2020

    The UK’s energy policy as accepted and in the technical report of the Climate Change Committee leaves the country defenceless if attacked by an enemy with undersea drones. Half of the electricity supply will be from offshore windfarms connected by cables on the seabed. The back up and other supply for heating, transport and industry will be from natural gas converted at great expense to hydrogen and with the CO2 liquefied and pumped under the sea into old oilfields. The gas will arrive by undersea pipeline and tanker. Both will be highly vulnerable. Only two nuclear power stations are planned at present. Energy storage is only possible for hours, not even a week.

  14. Everhopeful
    September 24, 2020

    That sounds good…unlike some reports I have read regarding EUFOR and the UK sending troops to take part, sporting EU badges on their berets. ( Possibly, I know bogus/misrepresentations).
    Still..we get the truth on this blog. So great news regarding no EU obligations! Just a matter of UK choice?
    But…now the govt. is ready to set our forces against us!!

  15. Steven
    September 24, 2020

    Presumably a large part of this independent defence policy will be to use the military against the people of Britain as promised by Chairman Boris and the current leadership of the military who so obviously distanced themselves from him will be replaced with more compliant officers that are willing to attack their own people.

    1. Martin in Cardiff
      September 24, 2020

      I’ve generally found that those on the Right have no problem at all with militaries attacking their own people, as long as those whom they attack happen to hold left-wing views.

      Are you perhaps simply worried that this qualification might not apply in this particular instance?

      1. Fred H
        September 24, 2020

        I should take steps to change the sort of people you mix with.
        And if you refer to any of us on here – you could always stop reading/posting.

      2. Martin in Cardiff
        September 24, 2020

        I was thinking along the lines of Thatcher re Pinochet, and Reagan re other Latin American despots, etc.

        1. Fred H
          September 24, 2020

          well you did need to elaborate…

      3. Original Richard
        September 25, 2020

        MiC : “Iā€™ve generally found that those on the Right have no problem at all with militaries attacking their own people, as long as those whom they attack happen to hold left-wing views.”

        With regard to “attacking their own people” this is even more so from those on the left such as Stalin, Mao Zedong and Pol Pot all of whom believed, as the left often does, that the ends justifies the means.

        And Adolf Hitler was a socialist.

    2. Lynn Atkinson
      September 24, 2020

      German ones you mean?

    3. DavidJ
      September 24, 2020

      That is a concern but I hope we can depend on our friends and relatives in the military to support the people of this country against an increasingly authoritarian government.

  16. Nigl
    September 24, 2020

    An important point politically albeit I guess too nuanced for some. I seem to recall correspondents back in Mays time alleging she signed up ā€˜secretlyā€™ to far more integration and since then our soldiers in joint ops not U.K. badged, as I donā€™t think you refuted it at the time, I still wonder whether there is ā€˜more to itā€™?

    Anyway prove our independence by on shoring the building of the new navy supply vessels.

    Off topic, good to see the COVID traffic light system, it needs ā€˜smallerā€™ areas to rifle shot the approach not the current shot gun spray. Anyone from business would identify this approach to risk, why wasnā€™t it done umpteen weeks ago.

    Get ready for a blizzard of negativity about the new contact app around the phones it wonā€™t work with. Get your comms guys to announce this morning the percentage it has been proven to work with, hopefully in the 90s. Good it allegedly works with Android. To date the local contact apps, pubs etc I have tried to use, donā€™t.

  17. No Longer Anonymous
    September 24, 2020

    Defence of what exactly, John ?

    Our borders are porous, those crossing them become better protected by law than us and you have surrendered to cultural Marxism despite a huge mandate to reject it.

    Who knows. We might even end up muzzled under some tyranny with old ladies watched over by troops as they shop.

    The first thing Boris Johnson said on election was “I have a duty to respect the ideals of those who *lent* us their votes” (to that effect) and not to believe that those voters had become Tories in the confident and arrogant way that Blair fervently believed that everyone had become Blairists.

    The Left never gives ground like this and as soon as I heard Boris say it I thought, here we go again. Yet more Conservatism lite (Blairism.)

    The first thing you do (John) on election is say “I have to consider the people who didn’t vote for me.”

    Are you going to accept your Political Correction course on racism awareness ? If you do you must surely realise that you’re caving into the Gramscian movement.

    So defence of what ?

    It certainly isn’t defence of democracy or freedom.

    1. glen cullen
      September 24, 2020

      Fair point

  18. Everhopeful
    September 24, 2020

    ā€œWhat we will do is continue to put our arms around the people of this country going through a very tough time and come up with the appropriate creative and imaginative schemes to keep them in work and keep the economy moving,ā€

    Boris Johnson talking about ending ā€œFurloughā€.

    His arms feel more like an Iron Maidenā€™s embrace and he ( on whose orders?) has created the ā€œvery tough timeā€.
    Just stop with the imagination Boris…you have caused enough suffering.

  19. Lifelogic
    September 24, 2020

    So are the student back at university to get infected and develop herd immunity? If not why as nearly all could easily work from home?

    But if the former why lock the infected ones down and imprison them in their tiny student rooms for 14 days?

    Not very joined up thinking and what happens at Christmas? Plus most uk degrees are not really worth the money anyway.

    1. glen cullen
      September 24, 2020

      But young people 18-23yrs only get very very mild symptoms if any at all

      Let them all get it

    2. a-tracy
      September 25, 2020

      I know the Murano student village there will be no locking down and imprisoned in a tiny room for a start tens of students share each a kitchen and the showers are shared in blocks. They might as well all mingle like with other childhood infections chicken pox etc and keep it contained in the student halls for the next three weeks and keep an eye on those with worse symptoms and TREAT the ill teens, one type of antibiotic per unit.

  20. Alan Paul Joyce
    September 24, 2020

    Dear Mr. Redwood,

    The problem is ‘mission-creep’.

    In the EU, things start off as seemingly innocuous, innocent agreements and mutate over time into binding commitments. It is the way in which things are done so that ‘le grand projet’ continues to progress with decisions made ‘in secret dark debates’ involving just mere ‘tidying-up exercises’ and of course, ‘no loss of sovereignty’.

    1. Martin in Cardiff
      September 24, 2020

      Well, the UK has now left, and has no representation, no veto, and no influence, so the European Union is freed from that shackle to pursue its people’s ambitions.

      1. Original Richard
        September 25, 2020

        “Yes”, the UK will no longer have any representation or veto in the EU.

        The representation was 1 in 28, soon to become 1 in 35 or more had we remained, with net budget recipients now able to outvote the net contributors through QMV.

        And the plan is for all vetos to be eliminated.

        I am expecting the UK to have more influence from outside the EU than as a member forced to follow all the EU’s rules and regulations made either by unelected and unremovable bureaucrats or through QMV.

      2. Ian Turner
        September 25, 2020

        I think there are many in Europe who regret our departure Martin. Many saw us as a brake on the EUs continual push for further integration.

        And of course we should correct your statement that “the European Union is freed from that shackle to pursue its peoples ambitions” – by simply removing the word “peoples” – the EUs ambitions are entirely its own.

  21. Ian @Barkham
    September 24, 2020

    Successive Governments have failed on defence. Because it is basically an insurance policy it is not budgeted for, instead seen as an area for perpetual cost cutting. This mean when it is needed it isn’t there any more. If your house burns down and you didn’t have insurance – then what.

    All defence should be based on being independent. If a government expects or relies on external alliances it weakens its position and capability. Just as having a broad spectrum of capability. Equipment and expertise isn’t something that can be turned on in hours of need. The UK today and I mean today is in urgent needs of proper warships, best bet supplies are some 5 years a way. Expertise in the armed forces while very good yet is so sparse as to have no affect. To pass the knowledge on needs constant recruitment. So again to respond to just the basic challenge is years away.

    Boris’ in his latest claim to get the Army involved in policing the Covidiots made me smile especially when a chief of police comes on to our TV screens and saying it wont work. His theory was that although they might be able to act as security guards on public buildings to release proper policemen, they don’t have the firearm’s training so cant be used elsewhere. An Army unable to fire a weapon?

  22. Mike Wilson
    September 24, 2020

    You canā€™t stop people coming across the channel to this country so how on earth can you defend the country?

    1. glen cullen
      September 24, 2020

      Agree

  23. Mike Stallard
    September 24, 2020

    Aircraft carrier(s) without planes. Planes with concrete instead of armaments. A tiny stock of armaments for us and an army less than the numbers on NYPD.

    The EU has an awful history of international failure. From Yugoslavia where the Dutch stood by to allow a massacre, through Africa, to betrayal of Ukraine and Belarus. They cannot even control a flow of immigrants. Sweden (Spectator) is now faced with no go areas where immigrants barricade the roads! And just letting the UK walk out was a disaster as the head of AfD noticed – alone.

    I think the EU is a bit like Poland in the 18th century: looks strong but falls to pieces at a touch.

    1. margaret howard
      September 24, 2020

      Mike Stallard

      The EU is a trading bloc of nations not a military one. The Dutch were in Yugoslavia as part of the UN peacekeeping force, not EU.

      As for Africa, Ukraine Belarus – we should all have learned our lessons by now and not interfere in other countries’ affairs. We didn’t like it when American politicians interfered in Ireland or raised money for the IRA.

      As for you comparing the EU to 18th century Poland – I shouldn’t be at all surprised if our own union with Scotland will become the first victim of your disastrous Brexit vote. With Ireland to follow leaving just a rump England.

      1. Fred H
        September 24, 2020

        ‘part of the UN peacekeeping force’

        That went well, didn’t it!

      2. Edward2
        September 24, 2020

        Ah the rump England theme again Margaret.
        Some rump.
        85% of the population and tax revenues.
        On its own England would still be a top 10 world economy.
        Time for you reassess your incorrect opinions.

      3. dixie
        September 25, 2020

        Prior to signing the Aachen Treaty last year the French President, German Chancellor and EU Commission President produced a joint declaration on future intentions for the EU ā€“ ā€œthree visions, one directionā€.

        A large chunk of that treaty concerns a Common Defence Union with an EU Defence Fund, military integration with common weapon systems and a “civil protection force”

        You may pretend the EU is simply a “trading block” but in reality it is a political union with adherents establishing a federal government and military.

        1. Original Richard
          September 25, 2020

          “Yes” and a military designed not for defence but for the control of EU nations/nationals for it was at this Aachen Treaty that Mrs. Merkel said :

          “Germanyā€™s new pact with France will act as a bulwark against the rising forces of populism and nationalism that are threatening to tip Europe back into an era of chaosā€

          BTW, Mrs. Merkel at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Berlin 21/11/2018 said :

          ā€œSovereign nation states must not listen to the will of their citizens when it comes to questions of immigration, borders, or even sovereignty.ā€

      4. a-tracy
        September 25, 2020

        “The EU is a trading block not a military one”
        So why do people like you and Martin suggest the EU would stop the UKs planes flying over the EU, purposefully stalling trucks returning to the EU after trading with the UK, wars in the sea and all sorts of other ‘punishments’?

  24. Mike Wilson
    September 24, 2020

    Let trade stop on January 1st. I canā€™t think of a single thing I need regularly that comes from the EU. I will struggle by without tasteless Dutch tomatoes.

    1. Martin in Cardiff
      September 24, 2020

      Your NHS needs the taxes, that come from around four hundred billion pounds in revenues from commercial ties with the European Union, whatever your silly personal boycott though.

      Have you never needed to fly through its airspace either?

      1. Original Richard
        September 25, 2020

        Not only did we make a net contribution to the EU of Ā£10bn/YEAR (Ā£20bn gross, Ā£15bn losss of control) but we also have a Ā£100bn/YEAR trading deficit with the EU.

        Plus the EU had a disproportionate share of the fish in our territorial waters.

        So the EU did/does (?) quite well from us.

        And BTW, EU planes fly over the UK airspace.

        And Ireland relies upon RAF planes to guard its airspace.

  25. BJC
    September 24, 2020

    Call me an old cynic, but everything with the EU connects to a treaty clause that they can invoke at their convenience. No doubt there’s something in the dire WA that they can use to their advantage to override this agreement.

    1. Ian @Barkham
      September 24, 2020

      They also break their own clauses as regularly as they make them up. The WA is the EU breaking the recent Lisbon Treaty. on leaving the EU all future trade and severance agreements according to the EU can only be made simultaneously. As in the whole package together not separate. It didn’t take long for them to break that.

  26. Everhopeful
    September 24, 2020

    The criminalisation of our veterans for following orders has been a terrible cruelty.
    The wonderful MP Richard Drax not only seeks to stop this persecution but he is also questioning the Govtā€™s new draconian virus measures.
    Thumbs up to him!!

  27. Caterpillar
    September 24, 2020

    Aside (more cathartic writing):

    During P.M.Q.s Mr Johnson confirmed the Govt strategy as suppressing the virus until a vaccine and treatments become available.

    The P.M. should be reminded that

    (i) Protecting care homes, elderly and the vulnerable is a known and specified problem with interventions that hopefully have been considered during the summer.
    (ii) A vaccine does not yet exist, and certainly a vaccine that has lower risk to the younger population than the virus itself does not yet exist. The risk of the virus to young, healthy people is known (though little officially publicised).
    (iii) Though recovered patients have not yet been intentionally challenged (ā€˜scienceā€™) with reinfection it is likely that infection with the virus itself offers significant immunity (observational study). Globally it can be inferred that hundreds of millions have been infected with the virus, yet there are only a few reports of reinfection. Moreover T-cell mediated immunity to SARS-COV1 has been reported at over a decade, if this is the same in CV19 then the benchmark for a vaccineā€™s required performance is very high.

    The risk-return of a vaccine needs to better than that of the virus itself.

    (iv) The health, educational, social and economic costs of extreme suppression are high in both the short and long run. These are knowns.
    (v) Having stable and sustainable norms of behaviour and recovered patients (therefore some level of immunity) in the community helps suppress the virus.

  28. Mike Wilson
    September 24, 2020

    The government appears to be utterly useless. Why are they dancing to the EUā€™s tune? They should have insisted on a deal by last Easter or walk away and give the country 8 months to prepare. As it is we are 100 days away and we STILL DONā€™T KNOW what is going to happen.

    1. Martin in Cardiff
      September 24, 2020

      They are exactly as we warned you that they would be should you vote for them, but you did.

      Own it.

      1. Ian Turner
        September 25, 2020

        Quite happy to do so but we have bigger problems than Brexit right now and that doesn’t seem to be penetrating your thinking at the moment.

  29. fedupsoutherner
    September 24, 2020

    We could make a start by defending our shores from illegal immigrants coming over the English Channel.
    Yes, Kent is no longer the garden of Eden but rather a holding center for not only lorries but illegal immigrants too.

  30. Lifelogic
    September 24, 2020

    Alister Heath is spot on yet again today in the Telegraph.

    ā€œAfter being in denial since the Forties, the British ought to have finally understood that the NHS isnā€™t the right vehicle to deliver quality, universal healthcare. Its failures, and the closely related ones of Public Health England and the social care system, are a central reason for our elevated death toll. ā€œ

    It is one of the worse systems in the world for a similarly developed nation. ā€œFreeā€ at the point of rationing and incompetence. Thus killing nearly all competition in the market. The education system if fairly dire too for similar reasons.

  31. Lifelogic
    September 24, 2020

    So Harry and Megan now want people to reject hate speech and to vote against Trump (they almost say).

    Hate crimes like saying:- ā€œI cannot stand hypocrites who fly on helicopters, first class or on private jets and living in many huge houses while lecturing others on their carbon output.ā€ Perhaps?

    I do hope Trump wins if only for his sensible stance on energy and CO2 and to annoy the dire BBC.

    1. a-tracy
      September 24, 2020

      Who cares what Harry and Megan says? The papers should do as this couple wishes and leave them alone, leave them out of the headlines and stop reporting on them. Give them the privacy they desired and get out of her life. The Daily Express almost daily 2-3 articles who even clicks on them and why are they there?

      1. Fred H
        September 24, 2020

        The media has to keep bringing Diana back.

    2. Ian @Barkham
      September 24, 2020

      You mustn’t forget you have to renounce hate, because not doing so makes you someone that hates.

      I don’t get it either. I suppose you could call it trying to guilt trip others from your own hatred of the World.

      Did you know that being a vegan means you also want to reduce CO2. The more CO2 you reduce the less plant life there is so veganism dies out. Believe it or not that is paraphrasing a scientific report created by the BBC

      1. Original Chris
        September 24, 2020

        Re your first 2 paras, Ian, President Trump has signed another Executive Order extending the ban on the indoctrination by the far Left of US institutions (we could do with that here) using Critical Race Theory. Also what has been going on under our noses in schools, government institutions, and elsewhere, is frightening as it is straight out of the Marxist handbook. This report from The Hill sums up the significance of P Trump’s action:

        “The White House released an executive order that outlaws the teaching of “divisive concepts,” such as the idea that one race or sex is superior, that the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist, that any individual should feel “discomfort, guilt, anguish” or physiological distress because of their race or sex or that an individual bears responsibility for past actions by others of the same race or sex.

        “Training like that discussed above perpetuates racial stereotypes and division and can use subtle coercive pressure to ensure conformity of viewpoint,” the order states. “Such ideas may be fashionable in the academy, but they have no place in programs and activities supported by Federal taxpayer dollars.”

        The order applies to executive departments and agencies, the U.S. military, federal contractors and federal grant recipients…”

    3. Original Chris
      September 24, 2020

      I think P Trump is likely to win with a landslide, Lifelogic. The Left are planning violence on a large scale, reportedly funded by that usual trouble maker with billions to put into an anti America pot. I also believe that when P Trump wins, he will be this country’s saviour too, and the globalists (Marxist in all but name) will have their plans shattered. That is why they are resisting him so ferociously, as they know their demise is in sight.

      We will be freed from global money making and laundering scams which apparently have such an iron grip on our country’s policy makers, with our money diverted into enriching the elite few through supposedly reputable causes , charities and Foundations. The fearmongering of the doomsters will be shown to be a sham.

      One of the greatest achievements from the Trump administration will be the crippling of the global human and children sex trafficking rings which use “reputable” organisations as a cover to launder the huge proceeds. I heard P Trump say that all that he is doing is ultimately “for the children”, and I believe him.

      There is something very evil that has been going on at the heart of America, and globally, and P Trump is putting a stop to it. That is why the opposition to him from the radical Left Democrats and the media is so fierce, focused and relentless. The criminals are fighting to stop being exposed and sent to jail for traitorous acts and crimes against humanity (and maybe Guantanamo, for those who have committed treason).

  32. The Prangwizard
    September 24, 2020

    All very well on paper, but all depends on our leadership.

    Have they the courage or the beliefs to refuse invitations to join in? NO.

    We see almost daily examples of giving in to pressure or excuses that we can’t resist this or that.

  33. Fred H
    September 24, 2020

    Covid effect on cancer patients.
    https://patient.info/news-and-features/how-has-covid-19-impacted-cancer-patients?
    Distributed by my GP practice.
    do read it!

    1. Ian @Barkham
      September 24, 2020

      What is a GP?

      But it does sound like you have somewhere were they are practising.

      1. Fred H
        September 24, 2020

        GP practise not GPs — possibly a lovely lady who emails things out – possibly from her home?

      2. Margaret Brandreth-
        September 26, 2020

        A GP in your context is a General Practitioner. A General Practitioner can be a Nurse or a Doctor although due to financial worries for the Registered medical practitioners ; they find it hard to accept. A Nurse can be far more qualified both academically , medically and theoretically , but those who lean towards big payments and salaries and private intervention couldn’t risk the loss of their income so perceptions are changed .
        I personally work in a Medical practice every day and see patients directly if I think that their cause is sufficient enough to warrant a potential spread of Covid-19 . The rest of my consultations are under very trying circumstances by telephone . The patient describes their condition so if they are not accurate enough or cannot speak English one can see how difficult a job it is.
        This is where the lead GP who can speak Urdu can come in , however by reputation and the European private standing of Drs; patients automatically want to speak to him for the odd pimple or slight backache or family discussion. Snob value rules. So superficial!

        Language in medicine is very important : it is the way disease is described . A patient said I am sorry I have been looking on the internet and my symptoms match exactly what is wrong with me are you annoyed. I said no what have you discovered . I have perioral dermatitis I said yes that is what you have , however what is more important is what caused the condition as the words simply describe.
        Peri+ around Oral = the mouth Derma + relating to the skin itis = inflammation.
        So much for those who don’t think communication and arts aren’t needed!

  34. Tabulazero
    September 24, 2020

    The UK need its own sattelite positioning system

    1. glen cullen
      September 24, 2020

      But it doesn’t have to be funded by the taxpayer

      Only a few RN ships use GPS, the Army & RAF don’t (maybe a few aircraft)

    2. Blazes
      September 24, 2020

      What do we need a sattelite positioning system for- havn’t we got sextants and other nautical knowhow- so let’s just get on with it

      1. Fred H
        September 24, 2020

        oh dear. Sun, Moon and Stars plus Lighthouses will do just fine.

  35. Pub Landlord
    September 24, 2020

    “Tory incompetence killed your pubs” The Labour election slogan will go.

    Yup.

    The Luftwaffe didn’t manage that. Margaret Thatcher didn’t manage that.

    What British institutions are our military trying to defend, exactly ?

    1. Ian @Barkham
      September 24, 2020

      The Corvidiot Children killed the Pub, they thought they were immune so the Headmaster has to punish us all. That last bit is the bit I don’t understand

      1. Martin in Cardiff
        September 24, 2020

        Many pubs are just safe spaces for bigoted loudmouths to shout down anyone with any fair-mindedness.

        We might miss some, but not those.

        Good riddance, and to your copies of the Daily Express Daily Mail, and Sun lying around.

  36. The Great Reset
    September 24, 2020

    We need the army to overthrow the current political class so we can have a Great Reset of democracy.

    1. Ian @Barkham
      September 24, 2020

      +1 Oh please bring it on….

  37. Anonymous
    September 24, 2020

    If anyone has friends of high rank in the army, make sure they know this is a foreign globalist coup disguised as a virus.

    1. margaret howard
      September 24, 2020

      Anonymous

      If it’s global it can’t be foreign. And who is supposed to be behind it and to what end?

  38. DOMINIC
    September 24, 2020

    What are we now witnessing with this dreadful government? The TUC and the CBI holding hands with a
    faux-Tory Chancellor

    Your party is a slimey, deceitful and grotesque abhorrence who will ditch any principle and climb into bed with any enemy for any easy political life

    Johnson and his party pander to BLM, XR, Marxist thugs and Len McCluskey’s crew

    It absolutely breaks my heart to see what your party and that virus in opposition working together to obliterate this nation for party political gain

    Vomit inducing, utterly vomit inducing

    Your party should apologise to those who vote Conservative because that party died decades ago. It is shamelessly deceiving voters and arrogantly taking advantage of their loyalty

    Frances O’Grady. Let that sink in. On the steps of No.10 with a Tory Chancellor. Pathetic and without shame

  39. Sakara Gold
    September 24, 2020

    It’s at least 60 years since we last had an independent defence policy – to the Suez crisis in 1956.

    Some would argue that subsequently we have become the 51st state of the USA, as America and the UK walk hand in hand in so many areas of foreign and defence policy.

    Unless we can pay down the national debt and achieve elimination of the twin deficits, nothing will change.

  40. No Longer Anonymous
    September 24, 2020

    So.

    Globalism.

    How do we all think that’s going then ? (Please keep your mask on and social distance when you respond)

  41. Iago
    September 24, 2020

    Why any agreement at all? Your article does not reassure me in the slightest. We voted to leave the European Union, to become an independent nation.

  42. Iain Gill
    September 24, 2020

    Well what a disgrace the chancellor is. The big picture being a massive transfer of wealth from freelancers to permanent employees, and from private sector workers to public sector workers (& long term unemployed), massive wealth redistribution as undeclared social engineering as we know the chancellor does not like freelancers (as demonstrated by IR35, and his lack of understanding of those issues too).
    Freelancers regularly swap between different umbrella companies, and between umbrella and personal service companies, or even between short term PAYE employment direct with employers and back to umbrella or personal service company. Often with large gaps between engagements. Any of these styles of working are getting completely no help whatsoever, just spend your savings until you qualify for universal credit, leaving your kids in poverty, no swimming lessons for them and all the rest of it.
    While at the same time perm staff are being bailed out massively regardless of their savings (many far richer than average freelancers), many public sector workers are on full pay sat at home doing nothing, and the long term unemployed have had financial increases.
    Conservatives seem to hate micro-biz, hate freelancers, hate entrepreneurs, hate people with the balls to take a chance. They love the public sector, they love mega-corporations and they love the drones who work for them, farmed for tax.
    Freelancers are just being left to spend their savings until they qualify for universal credit, many suicides will come from this. Conservatives and civil service (and big consultancies and CBI advising them) clearly donā€™t understand how freelancing really works.
    In the same way that the Conservatives have helped the big outsourcers flood the country with cheap foreign labour to undercut and displace freelancers (and perm staff) this is not looking pretty. The freelancer message boards are alive with disgust.
    This is no small matter as freelancers are core Conservative vote, and are being left to starve, this is not going to end well for the Conservative party.
    Freelancers are a massive % of Conservatives core vote, to display yet again how comprehensively Conservatives donā€™t understand freelancing and completely unfair lack of help compared to other parts of the workforce is a massive mistake.
    The political class, and especially the Conservatives in parliament, are really in trouble now. Who exactly are they expecting to ever vote for them again? As our friends are made into the new underclass forced to live on universal credit having been the most productive part of the economyā€¦ its not going to end well for the Conservative party.

  43. Everhopeful
    September 24, 2020

    And what about the UK going along with the EU suggestion (command?) of merging army with police?
    Nobody voted for that!
    Yet Boris is easing us into it..getting the army to ā€œhelpā€ the police indeed.
    BRINO

    1. Martin in Cardiff
      September 24, 2020

      Didn’t that happen – allegedly – during the Miners’ Strike?

  44. DavidJ
    September 24, 2020

    I would much prefer to sever all ties with the EU and become completely independent in all circumstances. That requires the rebuilding of our defence industries to suit our own needs.

    Use of US equipment might be OK in the short term provided that Trump gets re-elected but we must consider the possibility of the so-called Democrats gaining power and messing up as they clearly intend.

    1. Pierre
      September 24, 2020

      Great idea to sever all ties with the EU. So all flights from UK airports will need to go North. Itā€™ll add a lot of time and money to give up the agreements that let you fly over Ireland, France, Holland etc, but yeah, sever all ties, see how it works. Migrants, refugees, the EU will just send them all to the UK by boat, you canā€™t send them back, youā€™ve severed all ties. Take back control! Do it all on your own

      1. Fred H
        September 24, 2020

        stuff and nonsense.

      2. ChrisS
        September 25, 2020

        Flights across Europe are not governed by the EU ( thank goodness ).
        The European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation is not an EU organisation and has 41 member countries.

        The EU therefore cannot interfere with flights across Europe to and from the UK.

    2. Ian @Barkham
      September 24, 2020

      Self reliance and independence may not make us rich but we will surely be all the better people for it.

      Just as in business inward foreign investment sounds good, they cream of the things the don’t have themselves and then when things get tough in their home markets, they close down their extremities and rush back home. Then we have to pick up the pieces and start all over. As you intimate the EU is about itself or more correctly its rulers. We needed, they needed a GPS system, we had one. The EU bought it moved it to France and we have to start over 0 taxpayer money down the drain once more. Its an endless list of rape and pillage permitted by endless weak governments.

  45. ukretired123
    September 24, 2020

    We need an independent defence against “The Awkward Squad” both here and abroad.

    1. Ian @Barkham
      September 24, 2020

      +1

  46. acorn
    September 24, 2020

    The UK will be missed from CSDP and PESCO. The UK accounts for 20 percent of EU armed forces. The EU would seriously have to up its game to compensate for the loss of the UK. France is the only member state with similar capabilities.

    PESCO is designed to enhance EU military capability up to a level that would please NATO. Indeed, NATO supports both CSDP and PESCO, and does not consider it a duplication of NATO in Europe like the UK does.

    Also, the UK provides over a third of the European military industrial production capacity. But, UK exclusion from European projects under PESCO will be a loser for high-end technology employment and research. As will exclusion from the Galileo satellite system because of the military cyber / encryption technologies involved which would not be shared with ā€œthird countriesā€.

    BTW. Donā€™t be surprised if the UKā€™s seat at the UN Security Council comes under some pressure post Brexit.

    1. a-tracy
      September 24, 2020

      “Donā€™t be surprised if the UKā€™s seat at the UN Security Council comes under some pressure post Brexit.”

      Who are you acorn to speak of such a thing, who are you speaking for? Brussels HQ? the UN, who is your source for this sort of threatening statement of intent?

      1. acorn
        September 25, 2020

        New York| India has been elected as a temporary member of the United Nations Security Council for the 8th time in 8 years. 193 countries of the General Assembly took part in the voting on Wednesday. 184 countries supported India. The US welcomed Indiaā€™s temporary membership of the Security Council. It said, ā€œIndia and America will work together on important issues like peace and security in the world.ā€ https://hwnews.in/international/india-elected-as-temporary-member-at-united-nations-security-council-us-congratulates/139393

        1. a-tracy
          September 26, 2020

          Thanks for this information but can you explain what youā€™re getting at?

          The UN Security Council is composed of 15 members, 5 are permanent members: China, France, Russia, UK, USA. Then 10 none permanent members who are elected for a two year term.
          So who exactly is going to put pressure on our seat at the UN Security Council and why?

          1. acorn
            September 27, 2020

            a-tracy. It is the same UN caucus that did the following. Google: How UK lost International Court of Justice place to India
            James Landale

    2. Fred H
      September 24, 2020

      We should leave UN anyway – a paper tiger.

    3. Original Richard
      September 25, 2020

      “BTW. Donā€™t be surprised if the UKā€™s seat at the UN Security Council comes under some pressure post Brexit.”

      Our permanent seat at the UN SC is more secure as a result of leaving the EU as the EU was pushing for the UK and France to hand over our seats to to the EU.

      Now the EU can just ask France for their’s.
      We’ll see how well that goes with the French.

  47. Jason
    September 24, 2020

    What do we need all of this armed defence for? How is it that Sweden Denmark and Norway can get along ok without making such a huw haw! about everything..will we ever grow up?

    1. Martin in Cardiff
      September 24, 2020

      Tory governments are elected owing to very carefully-engineered hoo-hahs, Jason, and have been for decades.

      Johnson’s is no exception.

    2. margaret howard
      September 24, 2020

      Jason

      There are two reasons for that. One that our governments can’t help sticking their noses in other countries’ affairs and the second that we like to hang on America’s coat tails to make us feel we are still a big noise in the world.

      On the other side of the coin it is in our interest to keep the world on a war like footing as we are among the top arms exporters and make billions out of this loathsome industry.

      Just think if the whole world followed the biblical advice and turned swords to ploughshares. …..

      1. Stuart
        September 27, 2020

        “Just think if the whole world followed the biblical advice and turned swords to ploughshares. ā€¦..”

        Aside from being idealistic, utopian nonsense.

        Those that turn their swords into ploughshares.

        Usually end up being ruled by those that didn’t!

  48. Len
    September 24, 2020

    Defence policy Independent or not?- No we don’t need any of this anymore- we voted to leave and that means all military association with them including NATO- it means we paddle our own canoe as regards security from now on but only keep the type of security we need to mind matters at home. We don’t need to be with the Europeans in intelligence gathering either- we have the five eyes and thaf’s it- so close off the Dover Calais route put everything we need to export into containers send to felixstowe and that’s it

    1. Edward2
      September 25, 2020

      NATO has nothing to do with the EU

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