5 months out of the EU single market – progress so far

I have had a couple of emails from Remain voters asking what benefits we have seen from our exit from the EU, as they are still unhappy about the decision taken in a referendum and reinforced by two General elections.  After five and a half  months it is still early days but so far it looks as if we will have a good first year out.

The main benefit of Brexit is we are now a self governing country that can make our own decisions, change our own laws, and run our own budgets. If in the future government did badly we can rid of it at the next election and change the laws and policies which were wrong. A General election here could not change a single EU law, tax or budget decision when we were members.

We have already seen early evidence of the advantage in our decision not to join the EU vaccine policy but to pioneer a new vaccine here in the UK with government support and orders to back it.  This resulted in an earlier roll out of vaccinations for all here and the offer of a crucial low cost treatment to the rest of the world. We are busily creating a new and enlarged vaccine production capability in the UK.  Spending on the NHS has gone up by more than £350 m a week.  We will now start to save larger sums on EU levies  as we are no longer liable for new contributions to the EU growing budgets.

The UK has as promised rolled over the trade agreements we shared with the EU with a  number of other countries, and is now well advanced on a new round of trade deals with countries that do not have such arrangements with the EU. This year will be our first outside the EU and its single market. According to international bodies the UK should see its fastest growth rate for many years at 7%, ahead of the EU average. Contrary to Remain predictions sterling has been strengthening since we left, house prices have been rising and employment is still at high levels despite the pandemic damage. It is a matter of regret that the EU wishes to damage its exports to us by placing barriers in the way of trade. Fortunately many other countries see this as an opportunity and are keen to sell to us and understand that means they should also be willing to buy more from us. One of the big gains from Brexit will be growing and making more for ourselves, to cut the food miles and create more better paid jobs at home.The latest trade figures show a welcome cut in our trade deficit with the EU thanks to a fall in imports to the UK. We are buying home produced or cheaper and better from the rest of the world.

We live in an age of governments wishing to pursue national resilience. The USA has awoken to the way China has used free access to western markets whilst continuing to protect and control its own to gain a stronghold over crucial technologies, essential raw materials and important manufactures. The USA has embarked on a crash course of regaining the initiative in technology, onshoring more production and securing its position in a range of things from rare earths to semiconductors and from batteries to 5G communications. The UK too can now do something similar. Our industrial and agricultural  base in many crucial areas like steel, electricity production, shipbuilding and temperate foodstuffs was hollowed out by EU competition. In control of our own state aids, public procurement and competition policies we can now set about rebuilding.

 

267 Comments

  1. Mark B
    June 13, 2021

    Good morning.

    The main benefit of Brexit is we are now a self governing country that can make our own decisions, change our own laws, and run our own budgets.

    Not so fast ! I thought we were restrained by the WA preventing us from lowering our taxes to more competitive levels and the so called ‘Level Playing Field’. Which is a means of them preventing us from getting an advantage over us on just about anything.

    And what of Northern Ireland ? I’d think they would take issue with the above statement of yours, Sir John.

    Spending on the NHS has gone up by more than ÂŁ350 m a week.

    Such is the price of failure.

    /sarc

    To Remainers – We spent some +40 years in your EEC / EU and, because it was so pants we decided to LEAVE. Can I ask you to give it say, 40 years to see if the UK, at least nominally, can make it out of the EU before we try and rejoin ?

    1. Lifelogic
      June 13, 2021

      Indeed we should have left on WTO terms and gone for a larger Singapore. Cheap reliable energy, easy hire and fire, a bonfire of red tape, halve taxes and half the state sector. We should still move in this direction as soon as possible. Boris clearly has the same duff 180 degree out compass as Major, Blair, Brown, Cameron & May,

      More money for the communist, anti-competitive and appallingly run NHS that kills so many and fails million every month is not what was needed.

      1. Lifelogic
        June 13, 2021

        Boris wants to “build back better” in a “feminine” but “equal” way. Women who work in construction represent about 10% of the work force and on the front line of construction much lower still. In STEM subjects at university they represent about 1 in 4. Building skills trainees at FE college lower still.

        To build anything better we perhaps need women to become more masculine in their subject choices. But little sign they actually want to do this.

        1. Paul Cuthbertson
          June 13, 2021

          Any reference to Build Back Better is Globalist World Economic Forum speak. Just look at the farcical G7 gathering, full of Globalists.

      2. DavidJ
        June 13, 2021

        +1

    2. jerry
      June 13, 2021

      @Mark B; Cutting taxes might create personal wealth but does not make us more competitive, many of our more successful competitors have far higher taxes than the UK does, but then they also have the State provided/subsidised infrastructure that allows commercial companies to succeed.

      Heck even Mr D. Trump argued this point in 2016, in his own way, hence his (unfulfilled, second term?) pledge to “Rebuild America”. Were to do you think the private electric & railroad companies or the Fed and State level highway depts were going to get the money to rebuild their infrastructures, not from operating profits that’s for sure!

      1. Lifelogic
        June 13, 2021

        @Jerry “Cutting taxes might create personal wealth but does not make us more competitive, many of our more successful competitors have far higher taxes than the UK does”

        It certainly does as the private sector and individuals are on average far more efficient and better directed than the state sector. Much of the state sector does no good and much positive harm on top of the harm through taxation. The state should stick to the rather few things they can do better – law and order, defence, property rights and not much more. Certainly not education or healthcare (other than as a basic safety net for a tiny few perhaps).

        1. jerry
          June 14, 2021

          @LL; “It certainly does as the private sector and individuals are on average far more efficient and better directed than the state sector.”

          That Mr Life is an assertion not a fact! Strange how the British Leyland Motor Corp. failed – you might need to think about that one. ‘Capitalists’ hate the State sector, just as they hate the not-for-profit companies, as they reduce the ability of the investors to make money.

          The State sector, here in the UK, failed due to political meddling, not because those employed within were any less efficient or less directed. When in BLMC was failing as a private company (due to management failings) one of their main European competitors was thriving as a State owned -at least in part- company, with both fresh products and technological innovation, who was this company, VW, the year, 1975…

          1. a-tracy
            June 16, 2021

            A capitalist is a person that has invested in a business Jerry? I don’t hate the State sector nor does my husband so that is a big brush you’re wielding, I know plenty of business people that don’t hate the State sector or not-for-profit. We’re just realistic that there are plenty of individuals making a lot of money in the State and nfp sector without any skin in the game or personal risk and there is a lot of inequality on pension and benefits that cannot be obtained by the private sector. There is many a company right now whose Underfunded pension funds will force them into bankruptcy because interest returns have dropped through floor.

            Hmmm not sure it is all political meddling. I have seen the records from a couple of Housing associations, one has 1000 less homes, lack of the promised investment, they didn’t buy back ex-council properties when they became available, more staff than they had before the loss of homes, falling apart shops, run down garages and estates. I’m sorry the staff may all award themselves certificates and say they’re the best employer around but they’re not the best for their customers or local people. Who holds them to account, the ex-council tenants?

      2. Paul Cuthbertson
        June 13, 2021

        Jerry – Re your second paragraph – Nothing can stop what is coming, Nothing.

        1. jerry
          June 14, 2021

          @Paul Cuthbertson; I agree, Trump lost, Binden won. Four years is a long time in politics, few saw Trump as a candidate in 2014, there will be new Rep. blood by 2024.

        2. MiC
          June 14, 2021

          I’ve tried to help before Paul.

          Try Immodium.

    3. Andy
      June 13, 2021

      It’ll probably be 20 years til we rejoin – by which stage most of the elderly Brexitists will be worm food anyway.

      But it is worth sticking with Brexit for a while anyway – just because it is so monumentally funny watching what an absolute mess you are making of it all. Every time you think Brexit has reached peak levels of ridiculousness the Brexitists surpass themselves with something even sillier.

      When remain voters get together at parties or barbecues- like we will this afternoon – we genuinely do all laugh at you all. When we rejoin we’ll miss such jolly jests.

      1. No Longer Anonymous
        June 13, 2021

        Enjoy your burnt cheese, Andy.

        Nowt so funny as an environmentally strict vegetarian at a barbecue. What a joy you must be !!!

        Anyway.

        Back to the boycott.

        1. No Longer Anonymous
          June 13, 2021

          Andy

          This from Dan Hodges this morning after you lot said we would become a backwater, plague island with nukes after Brexit:

          “The success of the vaccine rollout meant it was Cornwall that was able to provide the stage for the first major international meeting since the start of the crisis.

          History will record that the process of building back a better world began not in the corridors of the UN or the White House, but at the reception desk of the Carbis Bay Hotel, just off the B3306.

          And that wasn’t part of the script. Once we left the EU, our European partners were meant to turn their backs on us. Yet there they were – Merkel, Macron and von der Leyen – munching on Portscatho mackerel and Newlyn lobster.”

          And the photo op is great. Our PM foremost.

          Enjoy your BBQ. I sincerely hope you’re cooking electric and that there’s no meat involved. Wouldn’t want you to choke on your own hypocrisy, would we !

          Anyway. Back to my boycott.

      2. Richard1
        June 13, 2021

        It is of course impossible to know what the future holds. The best comparable cases are Norway and Switzerland. Both held referenda in the early 90s, Norway on EU membership, Switzerland on EEA. In both, as in the U.K., more or less the whole political, business and administrative class and most of the media were lined up behind the EU/EEA option. Public opinion divided roughly 50-50, and as in the U.K. the eurosceptic vote won by a narrow margin.

        30 years later you don’t meet a Swiss or Norwegian business person advocating EU membership. There are few if any politicians calling for it. In both countries support for EU membership is now down to c. 10%.

        Most likely it’ll be the same in the U.K.

      3. William Long
        June 13, 2021

        So you think that the EU will still be there in 20 years time?

      4. NickC
        June 13, 2021

        Yet, Andy, you have never managed to come up with an explanation why the UK being independent of the EU is so silly, but for the 165 states in the rest of the world it isn’t silly. Neither has Remain.

        All you’ve managed is a set of ever more implausible predictions, none of which has come true. In 20 years time a new generation growing up without being shackled to the EU empire will wonder who the bitter old man in the corner is, as you whine on about the EU in your dotage.

        1. bill brown
          June 13, 2021

          NickC

          there were never any shackles nor any empire, but you are a very slow learner

          1. NickC
            June 14, 2021

            Bill Brown, Declaration 17 (Lisbon) states that EU law has “primacy” over the EU’s subject states. That together with the dictionary definition makes the EU an empire. It is you who never learns. And you still can’t say why the UK uniquely among 165 other countries must not be independent of your EU empire.

          2. MiC
            June 14, 2021

            No, it doesn’t at all, because the scope of European Union law is very limited, defined by treaty, and not in areas properly reserved to sovereign countries.

            Any country may leave at any time by the mere sending of a letter, as did the UK too.

            Now, as for the British Empire and the others, well that was quite another matter.

          3. Peter2
            June 14, 2021

            MiC
            The EU operates through imposing new regulations and directives and modifications to existing laws.

      5. Roy Grainger
        June 13, 2021

        11,000 lives saved due to Brexit and counting Andy.

        1. MiC
          June 14, 2021

          That’s only if you forget a fair proportion of the 150,000 lost due to Tory incompetence or lassitude.

        2. hefner
          June 14, 2021

          RG, saved lives are rather difficult to count, the 127,904 lost lives as of 13/06/2020 are unfortunately much easier to tally.

      6. jerry
        June 13, 2021

        @Andy; Every time Brexiteers think Brexit has reached peak levels of ridiculousness the Eurocrats surprise us and the EU27 even further with something even sillier.

        Who in their right minds would threaten a trade war with a country who a/. imports far more from the EU than it exports to the EU27, b/. who is now free to choose from which countries to buy such goods and/or enter FTAs with, and c/. a country that Eire relies upon as a ‘land-bridge’!

      7. Blake
        June 13, 2021

        No chance Andy – too much damage has been done – we’ll never be allowed to rejoin – the names of Farage and Widdecombe will ring through for generations to come alongside that of the ERG wastrel crowd most of whom have since gone to ground. I have no doubt that history will not be kind to the ringleaders of this debacle

        1. jerry
          June 14, 2021

          @Blake; Nonsense, the EU would have the UK back in a flash, on their terms though, they would see it the ultimate victory!

          1. MiC
            June 14, 2021

            Readmission would require unanimity amongst the twenty seven.

            More than one have said that they would veto that.

          2. jerry
            June 14, 2021

            @MiC; I think you might find that was said back in 2014, about any membership application from a newly independent Scotland, there being two member countries who suggested (overtly or implied) they would use their veto, Spain & the UK…

          3. Peter2
            June 14, 2021

            Better tell your pal andy MiC

      8. John Hatfield
        June 13, 2021

        Perhaps it should be pointed out again Andy that any ‘mess’ perceived by yourself was created by europhile negotiators, not by those who voted to leave who would have preferred to leave on WTO rules.

      9. Paul Cuthbertson
        June 13, 2021

        Andy – I am absolutely positive you are a paid Globalist Troll. The EU is not far off of total collapse.

        1. MiC
          June 14, 2021

          “The euro will be dead and buried by Christmas 2012” as I remember Nigel Farage saying.

      10. Lester
        June 13, 2021

        Andy

        I wouldn’t be quite so confident if I were you!

        Presumably you’re not going to age and become worm food eventually?’

        Why don’t you move to the EU if you’re so keen on it and leave us alone?

        1. bill brown
          June 13, 2021

          Lester,

          Why, don’t you use real arguments instead of arguments under the belt. SHAME

          1. NickC
            June 14, 2021

            Bill Brown, What exactly is so “unreal” about Lester’s arguments? You don’t say. Or can’t.

      11. jon livesey
        June 13, 2021

        “When remain voters get together at parties or barbecues- like we will this afternoon”

        That’s very revealing. You make it sound as if Remainers are really just a bunch of joiners – people who can’t think for themselves, and who seek out the company of like-minded souls.

        You paint a picture of a group of people who are pro-EU as a form of identity, clubbing together and reassuring one another that they are all so much cleverer than other people. Patting one another on the back and imagining their superiority to others.

        Rejoin sounds a bit like a Pound Store Mensa. I wonder, do some of you also favour Esperanto?

    4. a-tracy
      June 13, 2021

      I’m sorry, can you run that by me again Mark. The WA has given the EU control over our taxation setting? Which taxes?
      What did he gain for the UK for this concession?

        1. a-tracy
          June 14, 2021

          I can only see three paragraphs relating to tax implications within the article. The 1st para. Says the UK no longer has access to EU directives leading to additional taxation on ‘certain transactions’. I wonder what those transactions are and have we applied the same or has Boris done us down yet again.
          2nd para. Social security co-ordination for UK nationals working, travelling or living in the EU and visa versa – fair enough isn’t it? It will retain entitlements to ‘some benefits’ – what benefits?
          3rd para. A broad range of legislation and treaty law ceases to apply where there are provisions governing EU established entities.
          So I can’t see that they do control our taxes, our politicians are screwing up on that one all by themselves. All they need to do is start applying this agreement both ways. I wondered why they’re so concerned about soil on products to NI, then I visited our local garden centre this weekend and it is full of EU bedding plants and other plants so it is to protect their market. Boris needs to end this we can do without flowers until we sort this NI problem out. They’re never going to sort it out whilst Boris gives them no restrictions to our market END OF>

      1. glen cullen
        June 13, 2021

        Isn’t VAT in NI set by the EU and its common alignment, which maybe different to the rest of the UK

      2. hefner
        June 14, 2021

        The KPMG document does not say anything different from the 24/12/2020 TPA. The most recent information appears to be on the gov.uk website:
        – ‘Changes to VAT treatment of overseas goods sold to customers from 1 January 2021’
        – ‘Goods moved between Great Britain and the EU from 1 January 2021’
        – ‘Accounting for VAT on services between the UK and EU member states from 1 January 2021’
        the last two updated 29 January 2021.

    5. Bryan Harris
      June 13, 2021

      Well said Mark B

    6. MFD
      June 13, 2021

      +1
      I agree with that suggestion as by then I will be dead, that will save me from hearing the trash spoken by Verhof what you might call him ever again.

      PS May I congratulate the gentleman who slapped little frog around the jaw- many of would have liked to do that but have no opportunity

  2. David in Kent
    June 13, 2021

    I see that EDF, the state owned French electricity company which runs Dungeness has decided to close it down, thus depriving us of a significant chunk of base-load power. Apparently there were problems with the boiler.
    When making this decision I’m sure it never crossed their minds that we are now more likely to buy more power over the interconnector from EDF in France.
    We need to progress self-sufficiency in power and the Rolls Royce mini reactor in particular.

    1. Lifelogic
      June 13, 2021

      Rolls Royce must have plenty of excess capacity currently, given the position of aviation due to government over reaction to Covid. Share price now about 30% of what it was in 2018.

    2. jerry
      June 13, 2021

      @DIK; To be fair there are non economic issues at play with both Dungerness “B” and “C” power stations, safety issues that might be able to be solved but not at the commercial open market level, neither reactors are at end of life (unlike “A”) so perhaps EDF could be asked (due national security reasons) to hand the keys back to a revived CEGB -assuming our ‘green’ govt actually wants to invest in nuclear power- rather than being allowed to start the decommissioning of the site.

      1. NickC
        June 13, 2021

        Jerry, To be fair to the dear unlamented CEGB the frequent power cuts back then were mainly due to strikes. But that’s what we got with monopoly state provision – militant trades unions, a take-it-or-leave-it contempt for the customer, and a cost plus mentality.

        Of course you are right in one sense: the government actually still does run the electricity industry with its appalling (claimed to be) green policies over-riding technical and common sense. So reviving the CEGB would at least be honest of Boris. There, you may get your 1950s Butskellism after all.

        1. jerry
          June 14, 2021

          @NickC; That appears to be the usual tired rant at the State sector, yet EDF Energy is a subsidiary of EDF, who is owned by the French State – how many power cuts does France suffer due to strikes?

          It is not the ownership of an entity that causes strike, nor their duration….

    3. RichardP
      June 13, 2021

      +1

    4. acorn
      June 13, 2021

      David, Boris does not agree with you. National Grid is trying to connect, by 2030, 16 GW of battery storage and 33 GW of interconnectors to our EU/EEA neighbours. Who needs domestic generation when you can import it cheaper with global UK trade agreements; just like JR says we are going to get 40 % of our food from. Except in the electric instance, the EU has us by the short and curlies on one side; and on the other, the US and the rest of the world in natural gas / LNG supplies.

      But, celebrate the fact that at 12:00 GMT today the UK was 27% supplied by Solar Panel electric! Surely time for you “leave” voters to fit some solar panels to your Cave dwellings. 🙂

      Reply I have said no such thing. Stop the lies.

      1. NickC
        June 14, 2021

        Acorn, By claiming “16GW of battery storage” you reveal that you don’t know what you’re talking about. That’s a power claim, when you need to quote an energy claim.

        And the issue is not whether Solar and Wind can supply electricity under ideal conditions, but what back-ups are there when the conditions are not. Like at night for Solar (16 hours a day in winter); and too low or too high wind speed (frequently, variable, for days at a time).

    5. glen cullen
      June 13, 2021

      Interesting BBC reporting today – ‘Switzerland’s policy on fighting climate change has been thrown into doubt after voters rejected key measures in a referendum vote’. They reject the government’s plans for a car fuel levy and a tax on air tickets.
      One sensible country in Europe

  3. BW
    June 13, 2021

    In 1939 we managed to stop the entire German army crossing the channel. But now we can’t stop a single dingy. I thought Brexit was to take control of our borders. I hear the Home office say that other councils must do their bit in taking on child migrants. Whit I want is the border force to do their bit. The other question. How does a child have the money for trafficking or could it be the parents are on the boat but it is easier for the British tax payer to bring them up. Or could it be they will claim their parents once established in a lovely dwelling in leafy Wokingham which will soon be asking for city status.

    1. Lifelogic
      June 13, 2021

      It seems to me the people doing the trafficking are very often the same people as those being trafficked. The often artificial spit is useful mainly for politicians. They can then condemn “evil, vile traffickers” and talk about the poor “victims” of them. But they at the very least found & funded them and got on the boats.

      Just as drug users find and fund drug dealers

      1. Original Richard
        June 13, 2021

        The illegal immigrants are not “victims” for they are paying the misleadingly called “traffickers” to get into the UK, often all the way from their home town or village.

        It is just a term which our government uses as an excuse to not take action to send these people back home.

    2. jerry
      June 13, 2021

      @BW; Yawn… You must have missed the fact that German spies, even the German Deputy FĂŒhrer (Hess), did managed to land in the UK during WW2!

      1. formula57
        June 13, 2021

        @ jerry – and you missed the fact they were all soon apprehended. Hess of course was returned to Germany at the earliest opportunity.

        1. jerry
          June 14, 2021

          @formula57; How do we know that we caught all those WW2 German Spies, by definition you only ever know about those who are caught, never those who remain at large, and we had to win WW2 first before we could return Hess. Your point was what?

      2. Martyn G
        June 13, 2021

        What a strange reaction – all who did so were quickly caught and dealt with – including in one case being turned into spying for the UK and feeding duff information back to the Germans, who took it hook, line and sinker as gospel.

      3. glen cullen
        June 13, 2021

        Didn’t we actually send them back to Europe

      4. John Hatfield
        June 13, 2021

        Not sure that any of the current spate of illegals do a parachute landing

      5. Dennis
        June 13, 2021

        @jerry – wow, I didn’t realise that the German Army consisted of a few spies and one man, Hess.

      6. Lester
        June 13, 2021

        Jerry

        Hess flew to Britain in the hope of brokering peace and any German agents who did manage to land didn’t achieve anything significant, see the final result

    3. No Longer Anonymous
      June 13, 2021

      It’s often the case that a token single child is taken on a boat illegally to be held aloft in sight of cameras and rescue boats. It is strikingly obvious that 0ver 90% of crossers are blokes of military age.

    4. MWB
      June 13, 2021

      I wonder if Witney council or Maidenhead council will be taking any immigrants.

    5. Stred
      June 13, 2021

      My small car has a 998cc petrol engine and, because of its low consumption, it has a zero licence fee. Normally it does 56mpg all round and up to 60mpg on a long trip. After filling up with E5 two weeks ago the consumption increased to 43mpg on the same trip with no unusual weather or traffic and mechanically the same. I read that the Shapps wonder is keen to move to E10 petrol with 10% ethanol from American corn, described in Sustainable Energy WTHA by MacKay as the least efficient crop after processing is taken into account. The government expects petrol producers to convert earlier and, as the EU already uses E10, this could already be happening. Motor magazines found that small engine cars lost 10%+ economy with E10, in which case no CO2 is saved but the government takes 10% more tax and the fuel producers sell 10% more product.
      This week I put the premium high octane petrol in to make half of the tank ethanol free and on the same trip this fuel economy went back to 60mpg. But the cost was 20 pence per litre more. The government plans to sell E5 for cars which can’t use E10, but charge a premium for this.
      Why is the Ministry of Transport so keen to follow EU policy, put up motoring costs and only pretend to save CO2 emissions?

    6. Ian Wragg
      June 13, 2021

      The government has no intention of stopping the boat people.
      They despise the English and are happy to import people who may harm us.
      The NIP will not be rejected because Boris doesn’t have the bottle.
      Build BCk Better means depriving us of motor vehicles and the ability to keep warm with international travel for the Alpha cohort only. Brave New World is worth a read.

    7. Rosbin en France
      June 13, 2021

      Did the German army make an attempt to cross the channel? They talked about it but never actually tried it, unless there is a whole chunk of history I’ve never heard of.

    8. agricola
      June 13, 2021

      The Border Force does precisely what it is instructed to do. It is not some rogue agency, it has rules of engagement.

      The real question is what does the Home Office do with these illegal immigrants after they have been safely landed. What is our immigration policy and what structure do we have in place to carry it out. Has the legal feeding fest by our legal profession been terminated.

      1. glen cullen
        June 13, 2021

        Good question which needs an answer

    9. MiC
      June 13, 2021

      “We” managed to stop…

      Hilarious!!!

      1. None of the Above
        June 13, 2021

        Actually it was the Royal Air Force.
        Operation ‘Sea Lion’ was Hitler’s plan to invade Britain from the north coast of France. He needed to destroy the RAF before he could give the command to go. ‘Adler Tag’ was the code name for the launch of the air campaign but it failed and Hitler through in the towel on operation Sea Lion and the Wehrmacht through the life jackets back on the pile.

        Some of you people need a history lesson.

        1. None of the Above
          June 13, 2021

          *threw*

      2. BW
        June 15, 2021

        We as a nation, not individuals. Not suggesting I stopped them.

        1. MiC
          June 15, 2021

          Yes, like football fans say “we’ve scored”.

  4. Shirley M
    June 13, 2021

    I was prepared to suffer short term hardship in exchange for the long term benefits, but so far, so good. I hope UK importers/exporters start exploring our new trade deals and expand their horizons. It isn’t good to be reliant upon a single market (pun intended).

    I expected resistance and obstacles from the EU, although I did not expect the outright hostility we are seeing today. This can only drive a bigger wedge between us and direct trade away from the EU more quickly. As an ex business owner (now retired) I cannot see the logic in treating a good customer so badly. Do the EU want our trade, or not? It seems not, but others do.

    1. Peter
      June 13, 2021

      Shirley M,

      ‘Do the EU want our trade, or not? ’

      It’s not just about trade for the EU organisation. There is also the political aspect, strengthening the organisation and discouraging those who may consider leaving it.

      The nomenklatura are not business people anyway. Obstruction seems an appealing policy and businesses within the organisation are just one of a number of voices. Mollifying the top politicians in the various nations is probably the first aim.

    2. bill brown
      June 13, 2021

      Shirley M,

      There is no hostility from the EU, but when Boris is not able to adhere to the deals he has signed on NI himself, even after a 6 month grace period, the idea of A Global Brittain tha cannot even be trusted is a bitofa joke.

      1. a-tracy
        June 14, 2021

        Bill, every day we read in our newspapers about hostility from the EU. We know that you are an EU fan, but your blinkers need to come off. Boris needs to level the playing field we are on with the EU. NO EU imports of EU soil until we can export UK products to NI. NO chilled meat from the EU until we can send chilled meat to NI. If you don’t see that this clause is unreasonable then you are not British.

      2. NickC
        June 14, 2021

        Bill Brown, There is continuing hostility from the EU – gloating that they had made the UK a “colony” of the EU being one example. Annexing Northern Ireland another. Invoking Art16 of the NIP. Halting PPE exports. Stealing our fish. Threatening Oxford covid vax intellectual property. The list goes on and on.

    3. Andy
      June 13, 2021

      We don’t have any new trade deals. We have old trade deals – many of which have been renegotiated on worse terms.

      1. NickC
        June 13, 2021

        Which you said we wouldn’t get, Andy. And you’re comparing 6 months of UK efforts with 48 years (1973-2021) of EU efforts. Bit of a disparity, don’t you think?

        1. bill brown
          June 13, 2021

          NickC

          the overwhelming majority are copies so your argument does no stand the test of time again

          1. Peter2
            June 13, 2021

            Which you previously claimed would not happen.
            Now they have happened you move to claiming they are not as good.
            Give up bill.
            All your Project Fear predictions have failed.

          2. NickC
            June 14, 2021

            But you and Andy, and other Remains, said we wouldn’t get trade deals at all. Remember? – other countries wouldn’t give us trade deals because of fear of displeasing the EU, or the EU was the big boy on the block, or some such nonsense.

        2. hefner
          June 14, 2021

          NickC, so do you think as JR-M that we might have to wait till 2069 to see the benefits of Brexit? Maybe VAT on funeral expenses will decrease and a number of our inheritance beneficiaries will be able to thank Brexit for it.

      2. agricola
        June 13, 2021

        Nice to know you are there alongside Ms Truss gaining those snippets of information that keep us all so well informed. Tell it to the marines sunshine.

    4. Paul Cuthbertson
      June 13, 2021

      Like Hilary Clinton, they never thought she would lose. Similar with the referendum, the EU pumped in so much money they never thought they would lose. The EU are fighting for their survial and will do anything to survive. The EU does not care about the individual, it is Power and Control of the peole which their ultimate aim. Thankfully the people are waking up and Nothing can stop what is coming, Nothing.

      1. hefner
        June 14, 2021

        Like DJT, the Qs never thought he would lose. Similar with the last US elections, the Elephants pumped in so much money they never thought they would lose. The Trumpists and Qs are fighting for their survival and will do anything to survive. They do not care about the individual, it is Power and Control of the little people that is their ultimate aim. Thankfully the US people has woken up and Nothing could stop what came. Nothing.

  5. Sea_Warrior
    June 13, 2021

    Lots of progress – but not enough. I want to see a quickening pace.
    P.S. ‘… house prices have been rising.’ This is not good news. The out-of-control population growth must be ended.

    1. a-tracy
      June 13, 2021

      Sea Warrior, our migration policy doesn’t help. Private sector retirement savings plans are very poor, £100,000 will only buy you an annual income of £3500 to £4000 depending on your age and whether you want spousal transfer on death. So some people are buying up the lowest grade housing under £100,000 to rent out at approx £6000 to £8000 pa (the houses young people used to buy and spend three years doing up bit by bit and then that area would improve and the prices rise) now those areas grow less quickly. All the asylum seekers are put in these shabby private rental housing, easy money, the benefits package is huge when you consider the housing and council tax alone. Labour councils and Labour councillors are more willing to take AS so places like Bradford and Glasgow are filling up and taking far more than Kent does. Many people that work and rent and pay local council bills are only left with what asylum seekers consider low levels of pocket money. We’re all getting sneaky local tax changes like now having to pay for garden waste (which used to be our alternate week waste collection anyway) paying more getting less. They need this to prop up all the houses locally that no longer pay council tax.

    2. Lifelogic
      June 13, 2021

      What is needed is more supply of houses. Relaxation of planning laws, more construction workers and fewer OTT, green wash, building regs. Electric, Water and gas connections too expensive too.

      1. Lifelogic
        June 13, 2021

        and kill stamp duty to encourage transactions.

      2. a-tracy
        June 14, 2021

        Lifelogic, no they need to restrict smaller new homes on new estates where the schools need new pupils and doctors lists are falling to under 40’s with no other home but rentals (or even those older who have rented and not owned a home). Otherwise buy to let vultures hoover up five to ten small houses at a time to let out and stop the youngsters getting on the first rung of the ladder.

    3. Everhopeful
      June 13, 2021

      Yes and re house building

      Every single living thing in this country has had to / will pay for the greedy, inept, inhuman policies of those who have grabbed control.

    4. Mark
      June 13, 2021

      I doubt we have seen much population growth during the pandemic. The surging house prices are due to the SDLT holiday and mortgages at 5% LTV up to ÂŁ600,000, coupled with people choosing to move from big cities to more relaxed surroundings. The commentary on the May Nationwide House Price Index had an interesting report of a survey on this.

  6. agricola
    June 13, 2021

    I still want to know precisely what we agreed to pay the EU, for what and for how long. Finance being your forte Sir John, please lay it out for us. Government would seem to be avoiding any clarity here.

    We appear to still be dependant on EU power sources. Very bad tactically to allow a malicious EU any leverage. Poor strategically too. Why not give the Channel islands the benefit of one of Rolls Royces minature atomic power units to put an end to France’s bullying.

    I for one of many will not give my vote to any party that fails to put an end to the pedantic i dotting t crossing attitude of the EU to Northern Ireland. Out here we know it is designed by the EU to divide the UK and has nothing whatsoever to do with maintaining the GFA. I would make it clear to them that should they persist there are a number of possibilities.
    1. A total cessation of trade between Ireland and the UK in either direction.
    2. The invoking of Art 16 as the EU’s demands threaten the sovereignty of the UK.
    3. Complete ending of the EU/UK agreement and reversion to WTO rules.

    Boris needs to realise that the continuing indulgence in this playground spat will lose him the post vaccine political advantage he has built, making the next election victory less certain. I sense that many contributors to this diary would not vote for a known alternative, they would not vote. So despite your honey coated positive piece this morning there is still much to do before we can claim to be truely sovereign.

    reply We are paying the EU too much. I think I was the only MP who said we owed them nothing from the day we left and wanted a much earlier departure date.

    1. Sharon
      June 13, 2021

      Agricola, Facts4EU publish lots of info on their website, also Brexit Watch


      1. agricola
        June 13, 2021

        Sharon, all tend to be propaganda outlets. What I want are the government to come clean and give us the spreadsheet.

    2. majorfrustration
      June 13, 2021

      Fine but what are we paying them? Why is it so difficult to get a straight answer?

    3. steve
      June 13, 2021

      Aricola

      “Boris needs to realise that the continuing indulgence in this playground spat will lose him the post vaccine political advantage he has built, making the next election victory less certain. ”

      Makes no difference Agricola. Johnson’s betrayed our sovereignty, and betrayed just about everyone who voted conservative.

      Plenty of us warned time and time again Johnson would bring the end of the party, we were not bluffing.

    4. steve
      June 13, 2021

      JR

      Reply by JR – “We are paying the EU too much.”

      Strange, I could have sworn you just said we were self governing in financial matters.

    5. turboterrier
      June 13, 2021

      Reply to reply
      Yes Sir John, but you are sadly one of a few lone voices. The rest of the members are showing quite clearly how gutless they are, especially in areas of concern to so many of the inhabitants of these islands. They were elected to make decisions good or bad and like the proverbial kipper are now showing their true ilk not only gutless but two faced over the comments they make. This country deserves better. May your like minded band of brothers attract more concerts to your way of thinking.

      1. turboterrier
        June 13, 2021

        Converts not concerts.

    6. acorn
      June 13, 2021
      1. glen cullen
        June 13, 2021

        That’s embarrassing

    7. agricola
      June 13, 2021

      Agree totally with your reply, I certainly don’t hold you responsible for what we are paying the EU. All I want to see is the spreadsheet on payments.

    8. Lifelogic
      June 13, 2021

      The Channel Islands have diesel generators for back up already lest the cable breaks or the price charged is too high.

    9. Mark
      June 13, 2021

      An SMR is not really suitable for meeting Channel Islands power needs. It’s actually too big, so they would need to export surplus power, yet it’s too far across the Channel to make that economic to do so to England. So that leaves persuading the French. Better would be a gas fired generator supplied with LNG, but the difficulty is shipping in the LNG. The huge tidal range means that oil is shipped in in small flat bottomed tankers that arrive and depart at high tide, but sit on the mud in the dock at low tide while discharging. It would need a special ship, or an offshore discharge buoy, which is not yet a proven technology for LNG – and difficult with cargo at minus 160 Centigrade.

      Note to reply: I read Article 50 the same way- we leave, and c’est terminĂ©, unless we agree otherwise on specific items under the agreement negotiated, and if we left under the guillotine before agreement is reached the obligation to reach agreement remains with the EU.

    10. SecretPeople
      June 13, 2021

      Whatever we are paying them, we should deduct whatever each illegal migrant who lands here costs us. Carrot doesn’t work; time to try stick.

    11. bill brown
      June 13, 2021

      Agricola,

      “I designed by the EU to split the UK”
      This is a deal we designed and articulated with teh EU and now the EU is out to split teh UK up, what a load of emotional nonsense, with no facts to support it

      1. NickC
        June 14, 2021

        The facts that support it, Bill, are the provisions in the NIP. Which, with other hostile restrictions, were imposed on the UK by the EU and by the Remain Parliaments 2016 – 2019, to prevent Leave happening.

    12. Denis Cooper
      June 13, 2021

      It’s a bit more than a “playground spat”.

      Don’t be taken in Boris Johnson’s feigned indignation at the comment from President Macron that Northern Ireland is not part of the UK, if indeed he did say that.

      On the one hand the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is one of the parties to the agreements with the EU including the protocol:

      https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/agreements-reached-between-the-united-kingdom-of-great-britain-and-northern-ireland-and-the-european-union

      But on the other hand as explained in this Times letter from Professor Vernon Bogdanor:

      https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/times-letters-eu-and-the-northern-ireland-trade-impasse-lgg6mlcl3

      “Northern Ireland has become a condominium, jointly ruled by Britain and the EU.”

      by virtue of the protocol to which it is itself committed as part of the United Kingdom.

      Constitutional lawyers may debate about whether Northern Ireland is still part of the United Kingdom or it now has some other status in which it still subject to the Queen but separate from the United Kingdom, but now only partially subject to the Queen and at the same time partially subject to the EU, but what is certain is that this new constitutional status has been imposed on its citizens without their consent having even been sought let alone given.

      Professor Bogdanor argues:

      “Northern Ireland has a right not to be subjected to so significant a constitutional change without its consent.”

      and surely that right must flow from the Good Friday Agreement even if from no other source.

    13. MFD
      June 13, 2021

      How ever Sir John, you may have been the only MP but you are not on your own, most people I associate with now want to cut the eu tentacles and trade under WTO rules if they want to trade. I personally will never buy any eu goods or produce ever again, they made a rule that all produce had to have country of origin, that now fortunately work to their detriment

    14. Dennis
      June 13, 2021

      reply to reply – if we are paying too much why? Why were you the only one to disagree? You don’t give information or links – why don’t you like informing us?

    15. DavidJ
      June 13, 2021

      +1

  7. Peter
    June 13, 2021

    ‘National resilience’ is important if a country wishes to maintain independence. The UK has always had a vulnerability with imported foodstuffs. You can now add electricity supply as another vulnerability.

    That is without even mentioning the vulnerability of having ‘sold off the family silver’, as Harold MacMillan described allowing the public utilities to fall under foreign ownership.

    Boris Johnson needs to jettison the ridiculous NI protocol. Action is needed not strong words.

    1. steve
      June 13, 2021

      “Boris Johnson needs to jettison the ridiculous NI protocol.”

      Why not just jettison him ? problem solved.

      1. Paul Cuthbertson
        June 13, 2021

        Steve – the problem with jettonising Boris is that the system is rigged and we will end up with the same or worse. Just look at who is waitng their chance to jump in. We the people are irrelevant. Where are our leaders? Whether you liked Margaret Thatcher or not she was a leader.
        Look at the G7 misfits, there are no leaders there, just a bunch of phoneys.

        1. steve
          June 13, 2021

          Paul Cuthbertson

          Agreed the system is rigged. But for me and many others it’s now all about revenge. We know the tories will pull the same stunt and select yet another gutless wet traitor, we also know Labour would’nt be better. But Johnson / May and their party have deceived, betrayed and humiliated the nation. It is not acceptable and they must be made to pay the ultimate electoral price for their treason.

          The country cannot be fixed and made strong, it’s damaged beyond repair so the least that can be done is to kick the culprits out of politics forever.

          1. dixie
            June 14, 2021

            Revenge? How exactly?
            Boris has achieved his goal of being PM and will no doubt live very comfortably on after dinner speeches and consultation to exploit the pandemic.
            If your revenge results in the same or worse quality of government then your revenge has been on the victims not the perpetrators.
            So who will you have in place of Boris and the pseudo conservatives? Yet more journalists, lawyers or academics?
            You have 2 years to prepare an alternative – there are 5 new constituencies in the South East, fresh ground for fresh blood. Good luck.

        2. MiC
          June 14, 2021

          Enoch Powell, when asked whether Margaret Thatcher had shown outstanding leadership, replied “No – I think that the Conservative Party rather has demonstrated remarkable followership” or words close to that. He then went on to explain that the verb “to lead” is transitive, requires an object, and the implications of that.

          I think that he had a point, which is particularly relevant today.

      2. Lifelogic
        June 13, 2021

        How exactly would that solve the NI problem, and who do you think would replace Boris?

      3. Lester
        June 13, 2021

        Steve

        Excellent point

        Surely he cannot hang on for much longer given his excruciatingly embarrassing performance at the G7?

      4. DavidJ
        June 13, 2021

        Better still both.

  8. MiC
    June 13, 2021

    Why would you expect someone who had had a leg amputated ever to be “happy” about the fact, John?

    I see that the G7 meeting, instead of working out an agreed position on China, Russia etc. ended up being sidetracked into all-about-us discussions around Little Englanders. And sausages.

    Understandably the proper people at the meeting were not impressed by the wasted opportunities.

    Reply The EU behaved badly at the summit, presumably to avoid commitments on the bigger issues

    1. None of the above
      June 13, 2021

      Why was the EU even there?
      They are not a nation, they are a trading block!

      1. Paul Cuthbertson
        June 13, 2021

        The Globalist UK Establishment ensured the EU attended.

    2. Micky Taking
      June 13, 2021

      People who have gangrene are happy to have a leg amputated. Can you not see the point here?

      1. MiC
        June 13, 2021

        Ah, yes, that is how the good folk of the European Union perhaps feel about Tory Britain.

        Thanks.

        1. Micky Taking
          June 13, 2021

          Suits all of us except you it seems.

          1. MiC
            June 14, 2021

            I read that of the seventeen million who voted Leave, about fifteen million are still alive today, estimated.

            Out of sixty-seven million that is hardly “all of us”.

    3. a-tracy
      June 13, 2021

      How do you know this Martin? Were you there?

    4. MiC
      June 13, 2021

      Yes, North Korea is a “self-governing country” – par excellence.

      1. Micky Taking
        June 13, 2021

        himself governs everybody else.

    5. NickC
      June 13, 2021

      Really “someone who had had a leg amputated”??! What on earth are you talking about, Martin? Which someone? What leg? Did Biden fall down the stairs this time?

    6. Mark
      June 13, 2021

      As I understand it, the proposal was to fund Chinese made solar panels with Western money while China continues to develop the mines and oil and gas fields for its own use, with some development provided for the local economy on condition that the country becomes subservient to China. Build useless renewables is not a compelling policy, except to greens.

      The military threat posed by China is now quite beyond any EU capability to counter. Indeed, it is doubtful whether even the US has either the capacity or the will to counter it. Hence the cowering behind other issues. Raab’s statement that on balance the virus probably did simply jump from animals to humans is more evidence of a policy vacuum. Or simply, appeasement. Just like buying Chinese solar panels for the aid programme.

  9. oldtimer
    June 13, 2021

    If the UK is to rebuild hollowed out industries it will require the government, its civil service and MPs alike to change their mindset to one that values the contribution they make and restructures the over complex tax and regulatory systems that seek to strangle them at every turn. The gaps that exist in UK industrial skills and capabilities is shocking. They will not be overcome by bluff, bluster or blinkered preoccupation with a misplaced green agenda.

    1. turboterrier
      June 13, 2021

      Oldtimer

      +1

    2. J Bush
      June 13, 2021

      +1
      “bluff, bluster or blinkered preoccupation with a misplaced green agenda” and I would add deviance and downright lies.

      When Johnson started prating about “global Britain” and “build back better” I knew, like others have said, he is not a conservative by any stretch of the imagination.

    3. NickC
      June 13, 2021

      Oldtimer, If we are to rebuild basic industries in the UK like aluminium smelting, we’re going to need a lot more electricity, a lot cheaper, and a lot faster than the government is planning. Because it’s not even at the planning stage. Unless we use Andy’s low power toasters, of course.

    4. DavidJ
      June 13, 2021

      +1

  10. Nig l
    June 13, 2021

    So apart from vaccines not much really, long on rhetoric short on measurable benefits indeed with fishing, NI, no progress on borders and the losses of business in the City which look like continuing, the ledger looks red to me. Are you sure the Brexit agreement gives us total freedom on state subsidy?

    In any event we are witnessing the death of the Tory party with Sunak giving control of tax away and Boris signing every woke policy from Biden so the actuality is real divergence from the EU is an illusion so was Brexit worth all bother?

    I feel sorry for Starmer because Boris is the real leader of New Labour.

    1. Peter Parsons
      June 13, 2021

      Not even the vaccines. Nothing about how the UK has gone about its vaccination program would have been prevented by being a member of the EU.

      Meanwhile the trade deals signed are less good and the ones the UK walked aware from (ask the Norwegian Prime Minister) and the UK is showing itself to be an unreliable partner by threatening to tear up an agreement it willingly and freely signed up to.

      1. jon livesey
        June 14, 2021

        “Nothing about how the UK has gone about its vaccination program would have been prevented by being a member of the EU.”

        Are you for real? Have you forgotten already that the EU actually *banned* the delivery of vaccines to NI, and only a public outcry persuaded them to think again.

      2. NickC
        June 14, 2021

        Peter P, Talk about re-writing history! Clearly your claim is untrue. The UK vaccine roll-out would have been much delayed, when every day counted, if we had been part of the EU directed vaccine plan. Were you asleep when the the EU was so piqued by the UK’s success? Even to the extent of invoking Art16 NIP? The UK could not have subsidised the Oxford/AZ vaccine development as successfully under EU control, either.

  11. The Prangwizard
    June 13, 2021

    We need statements from ‘Boris’ that he is determined to move in this direction urgently, particularly as far as I am concerned in self determination, and to rebuild industrial production by companies in our ownership. And stop prostituting ourselves. No more appeasing talk of compromise.

  12. jerry
    June 13, 2021

    “house prices have been rising”

    Surely that is a down side, meaning even more of our younger generations unable to get on the property ladder, a ladder that at times must appear more like climbing a greasy pole. “Real Tories”, as they like to call themselves, would never accept the rate of inflation seen in house prices if it was any other product, they would demand policies be put in place to cool the economy!

    “The UK too can now do something similar [the USA]. Our industrial and agricultural base in many crucial areas like steel, electricity production, shipbuilding and temperate foodstuffs was hollowed out by EU competition.

    But will we, can we? The USA has realised their mistakes in economic policies over the last few decades but she never went so far as the UK did by way of the Single European Act, the UK being quite literally the architect of its own demise, sending whole production lines to the EU (or partners such as Turkey) because EU laws forced us, razing the old factories to the ground in the process to appease those who only want new housing in brown field sites. The UK’s entire economic policy for 40 years now has involved being shacked up with other countries who “Produce” whilst the UK earns a crust or two, but no security, from offering “Services” to those who (still) have the means of production.

    After 40+ years we need to roll our sleeves and actually get our hands dirty up again, but has this govt the guts to tell us some home-truths…

  13. Everhopeful
    June 13, 2021

    Frolic in the Cornish sun,
    Isn’t it alright for some?
    Wear a posh frock, meet the Queen,
    While WE rot here,
    Its just obscene!

    1. Everhopeful
      June 13, 2021

      That wretched “you’ve already posted that” thing!
      Sorry.

      1. Lester
        June 13, 2021

        EVERHOPEFUL

        I keep getting the same message!

        1. Everhopeful
          June 13, 2021

          So annoying.
          And you don’t know if you’ve actually posted it.
          And then it posts twice!!
          đŸ€Ź

  14. None of the above
    June 13, 2021

    I welcome your analysis Sir John but my view remains. Unless the EU makes a complete u-turn we must give notice to withdraw from TACA, invoke Art.16, and prepare a Bill to repeal the WA Act.
    If the PM, as he said yesterday, insists the Government will protect the integity of The UK, then he had better get on with it.
    If he doesn’t, your Party will not get my vote at the next GE.

    1. J Bush
      June 13, 2021

      The ‘conservatives’ did not get my vote in 2019 when starting quoting Johnson WEF mantra. I had no option but to spoil my ballot paper.

  15. Newmania
    June 13, 2021

    To mis-quote Black Adder, “Just one tiny problem with this 
the words”. The consensus view of Economic forecasters, including the OBR the Bank of England and the Treasury – that hard Brexit, will lower growth, significantly, is unaltered. Sir John`s own Government accepts it as the basis of decision making.
    The UK had the competence to run its vaccine programme within the EU, and it is inconceivable that it would have chosen not to. The EU behaved badly, but the UK has never enjoyed a monopoly in dim witted parochialism. Inside the EU there could have been no threat to vaccine supply.
    Any additional spending, at a terrifying 100% of GDP in debt, is our money. Not some magic Brexit money tree advertised on a bus
    Too early, perhaps, to read much into the 12 % fall in trade, but with, pig meat rotting in Rotterdam European markets closed to UK shellfish; poultry, dairy and pet food all suffering the signs are ominous.
    Services are battling a No Deal Brexit. Amsterdam supplanted London as the Europe’s top share-trading hub while Banks and Insurers are exporting functions. Lloyds has been stung by vast costs embroiled in disputes with the Belgian authorities. If Sir John Redwood has any comprehension of these consequences at all, it is a well-kept secret
    We have reignited the N Ireland troubles pushed Scotland towards the exit door, and made ourselves the most isolated friendless country in the developed world . We face a trade war in which we are powerless
    Thanks for acquiring deals we already had, Australia will contribute about 0.02% to our growth set against a long term loss of 7% (Treasury figure )-

    1. Micky Taking
      June 14, 2021

      ‘We face a trade war in which we are powerless’.
      Only if we continue to buy from the oppressors. The way to acquire power is to turn our backs on the unfair trader and try to replace the goods from internal sources, or elsewhere.

  16. Lester
    June 13, 2021

    Off topic

    Is Boris Johnson for real, what a toe-curlingly embarrassing interview, everything is going to be more ‘feminine’ Vladimir Putin must be quaking in his boots!

    Sir John, are you happy to be associated with that remark?

    1. Everhopeful
      June 13, 2021

      It was bizarre in the extreme.
      “What’s gone wrong with this pandemic, what risks being a lasting scar, is the inequalities that have been entrenched. We need to make sure that as we recover, we level up across our societies – we need to build back better.”
      Blah, blah, blah
.
      “They want to be sure that we’re beating the pandemic together and discussing how to never have a repeat of what we’ve seen. But also that we’re building back better together. And building back greener. And building back fairer. And building back more equal. Maybe in a more gender neutral, a more feminine, way. So those are some of the objectives we have before us today. Thank you all very, very much”.

      EH??

    2. beresford
      June 13, 2021

      Emily Thornberry was asked on Sky News if she agreed with Boris’s statement, and said she didn’t understand it. A rare win for Labour.

      Seriously JR, aren’t Conservative MPs at all concerned when Cabinet ministers spout this guff? ‘Build back’ from what, none of us were sked whether we wanted the status quo destroyed?

  17. GilesB
    June 13, 2021

    Good start.

    Need to speed up. For example:
    – repeal of EU’s detailed regulations, particularly those that were introduced automatically without any scrutiny by Westminster
    – development of regional and industrial policy appropriate for an independent U.K.
    – revision of competition and monopoly policy and regulations

  18. Everhopeful
    June 13, 2021

    Brexit Freedom
elite preserve.

    Frolic in the Cornish sun,
    Isn’t it alright for some?
    Wear a posh frock, meet the Queen,
    While WE rot here,
    Its just obscene!

    1. beresford
      June 13, 2021

      Dominic Raab was challenged on Sky News on the lack of facemasks and social distancing when compared to the rules for a wedding, and he claimed that the rules have always been different for political gatherings. What this tells you is that the Leaders know that most of the measures are nonsense and intended only to intimidate the sheep into their pen while the Big Boys carry out their ‘Great Reset’.

      1. Everhopeful
        June 13, 2021

        Absolutely!
        Why would they have no fear?
        +1

  19. Nig l
    June 13, 2021

    Conveniently forgetting/ not saying that every one of these so called independent trade deals that Liz Truss is crowing about has to be comparable with the EU. The more that emerges the more I feel we were sold down the river first be May and then Johnson desperate to sign anything whilst dissembling yet again to the voters to further his own career supported by Tory MPs like Rees Mogg who was bought off and others only interested in their own electoral success.

    With a very few honourable exceptions the ERG with a voting rump big enough to make a difference again dissembled about how it now met their objections and went into the Ayes lobby like lapdogs.

    1. NickC
      June 13, 2021

      Yes, Nig1, we have BINO, not Leave. Northern Ireland has got what Remains like Andy, Martin, etc, wanted – it remains in the EU’s single market. And it’s rubbish.

    2. Paul Cuthbertson
      June 13, 2021

      Nig1 – Boris and the MPs do not run the show. They told what to do by the globalist UK Establishment. The sytem is rigged and has been for decades. Remember WE are ALL subjects of HM.

      1. glen cullen
        June 13, 2021

        Agree

  20. Sir Joe Soap
    June 13, 2021

    Sadly progress is at a snail’s pace. The problem of starting 20 yards behind from T May shenanigans in a 100 metre race doesn’t help, but the answer to this would normally be to push your way to the front, not be towed along by those ahead of you.
    Vaccines could be seen as a lucky break; we had the R & D and personnel already in place but Johnson at least had the wit and luck to turn on the tap quickly.
    Apart from that, it’s all dither and delay. The WA could never work. It was signed under duress, so there’s a strong argument that it’s invalid anyway. The fact that we can’t move goods within our sovereign territory is a legal paradox in itself.
    Ditch the WA. Ditch furlough which is making many lazy and work-shy. Use the vaccine advantage to open up and speed up.

  21. bill brown
    June 13, 2021

    Sir JR,

    The EU does not wish to damage thair exports to us. But there is a problem with NI, where we ahve digned deals taht we are not living up to.
    The idea of a Global Britain all sunds great, but it becomes difficult to believe in a government that does not even adhere to the deals they have signed and have come up with in the first place.
    Our exports to teh EU have unfortunately suffered as well.

    1. jon livesey
      June 13, 2021

      The agreements we signed over NI committed both sides to find practical solutions. The EU interpret that as them imposing unilateral regulation. That’s not what we signed up to.

      1. glen cullen
        June 13, 2021

        Boris would have signed anything to get the WA over the line, he knew what the implication were
and signed anyway – he isn’t going to reverse that decision anytime soon, he’ll do a lot of shouting and flag waving but not much else

        1. jon livesey
          June 14, 2021

          That’s a non-sequitur. The point today is to get the NIP implemented as written. As written, there isn’t a lot wrong with it, but now we find that the EU seem to have had the idea that NI was not part of the UK and therefore theirs for the taking.

          The EU will have little luck trying to persuade the rest of the World that NI is a one-off. If you use trade as a kind of soft territorial aggression, then everyone takes note.

          1. glen cullen
            June 14, 2021

            Non-sequitur – are you calling me out as a politician

    2. Peter2
      June 13, 2021

      Oh dear
      How sad
      Never mind.

      1. Peter2
        June 14, 2021

        My response was to bil brown’s nonsense.
        He knows the real situation on the NIP but spins a fake news version.

        I fully agree with everything Jon wrote.

  22. Sakara Gold
    June 13, 2021

    I ended up supporting Brexit because I was swayed by the sovereignty argument. But it is now obvious that in Johnson’s desperate dash to “sort Brexit” the negotiators for the EU outmaneuvered him and Michael xxxxx Govey, particularly over the Ulster issue.

    The EU and now the Americans have correctly identified the Irish border issue as our Achilles heel, as has been demonstrated by the sustained bullying that the PM has had to endure at the G7 this weekend. The appaling Macron – shortly to be voted out – and Merkel – also on the way out – have demonstrated that the EU has no real interest in remaining friends and trading partners with us.

    We should take no further insults from Ursula von Leyden, the European Commission chief, who did her level best to prevent our AstraZeneca vaccine from being exported to us from production sites in Belgium – thus demonstrating to the citizens of the EU her incompetence in failing to properly organise the EU’s vaccination campaign. We are definately better off out of the EU and standing on our own two feet again

  23. bill brown
    June 13, 2021

    Sir JR,

    So the EU according to your twitter comments are blocking the NI-GB trade.

    This is an interesting perspective but rather one-sided considering, we as a nation are not even living up to the agreements on NI that we have signed.

    I think you should have another look and then re-write the twitter?

    1. NickC
      June 13, 2021

      Bill Brown, The EU is not respecting the integrity of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. As the EU pledged to do. Are you okay with that?

    2. jon livesey
      June 13, 2021

      Stop parroting EU propaganda. The agreements we signed over NI committed both sides to find practical solutions. The EU interpret that as them imposing unilateral regulation. That’s not what we signed up to.

    3. Peter2
      June 13, 2021

      Is that you Guy?

  24. steve
    June 13, 2021

    JR

    I think you need to ask the people of NI about progress, when their Prime Minister is a catholic and is facilitating the surrender of the province to the RoI.

    AND….we are not a self governing sovereign nation. If we were, then no EU law would be enshrined into UK law. What we have is BRINO everyone knows it.

    Anyway I’m not sure it’s a good idea to be seen giving appraisal to this government and especially Boris Johnson, as most people these days loathe the guy.

  25. Richard1
    June 13, 2021

    Allow me to play Devil’s advocate in case one of those rabid continuity remain leftists doesn’t show up today.

    Indeed project fear has been shown to be a load of tosh in all significant respects. The sky has not fallen in and the U.K., far from being a laggard looks like being the standout economy in Europe over the next couple of years.

    Liz Truss has done a great job rolling over the trade deals – this was one of the main points of debate in the referendum – Remain said it would be impossible.

    But So far of course all that does it replicate what we had in the EU. There are signs of incremental FTAs which we wouldn’t have had in the EU, but there needs to be a lot more progress in this area for Brexit to show tangible benefits.

    But what about the rest? It seems the govt, far from planning a liberal, free market, free trading outpost at the edge of the sclerotic EU, are rather planning more layers of social democracy, big govt, high tax, over-regulation etc.

    Perhaps it is a political calculation aimed at holding on to the red wall. I think it is a misjudgment – I don’t think the red wall will be any more impressed than the rest of us. For Brexit to be judged a success, once we are through Covid, much more needs to be done to make the U.K. the most competitive economy at least in Europe for investment, innovation and entrepreneurship. Otherwise we may as well at least have signed up for an EEA / EFTA style deal and avoided much of the current drama.

    The clock is ticking.

    1. MiC
      June 14, 2021

      A highly competitive economy means hammering the workforce.

      Mind you, some of them appear to thank those who have hammered them so far so who knows?

  26. Bob Duxon
    June 13, 2021

    It took 40 years of taking orders from the EU for us to wake up and leave.

    What I want is to see is a plan of the U.K. being self sufficient.Here’s a few projects for investment.
    Fast Broadband for all.
    Clean power generation.
    Major improvements in our Road system,
    Education.
    The Health Service.
    Defence.
    Home Land Security.
    Agriculture.
    Fishing

    1. Andy
      June 13, 2021

      All admirable goals.

      Being in the EU never stopped us investing in any of these areas. What stop the investment was Tory governments – who prefer giving tax breaks to their tax dodging billionaire friends than they do investing in things to make our country better.

      PS: do you vote Conservative? In which case you’re in the minority.

      1. Peter2
        June 13, 2021

        Who are still 10 points ahead in all polls.
        Even further ahead than at the last election.
        Even at mid term.
        With Sir Kneel Starmer behind “dont know” in polls asking who is the best leader of the opposition.

    2. hefner
      June 13, 2021

      About fishing, have you seen the Kirkella story today on the Guardian/Observer website. The latest Kirkella (a huge fishing/processing boat; there have been many Kirkellas over the years) was built in 2018 for ÂŁ58m by the UK Fisheries company to go and fish cods and haddocks on 3-month long journeys in the waters of Faroe, Greenland and Norway. First surprise is UK Fisheries is in fact a Dutch and Icelandic-owned company. Second the fish appears to have moved northward but because proper agreements (giving the UK the same rights as before when it was in the EU) have not (yet?) been signed the Kirkella these last two years has mainly been confined to the British North Sea waters because the UK has forfeited its rights to some of the fishing quotas negotiated on behalf of EU member states with Greenland, Faroe and Norway.

      Fortunately the fishers in Grimsby, Hull and the whole of Humberside have in Sir John the defender of all things fishy, so sunny high tides are on the horizon, not yet but soon 


    3. jon livesey
      June 13, 2021

      I would say don’t worry. All of that will happen, and more. And in fact you will hear plenty of arguments over which deserves more priority at given points of time.

      The main thing, of course, is that the arguments will be between British politicians answerable to British voters, instead of investments being made to make the UK economy more convenient as a market for the EU.

  27. BJC
    June 13, 2021

    The electorate only created the potential for opportunities with Brexit; we look to the government to have the ability and confidence to take advantage of them. The decision to develop the vaccine in-house was absolutely right, but as we move further from its introduction, it stands alone as a “needs must” success in a sea of coulds and shoulds.

    Sadly, the government don’t appear to possess the skills or qualities needed for dynamic leadership and are still fearful of stepping off the EU’s grinding mousewheel. They seem to be deliberately aligning with the failed and sclerotic EU, while the EU continues to believe that snuffing out our candle is going to make theirs shine brighter.

    To place a (unconscious?) brake on progress the government is concentrating its energies on future unproven ideologies and actively seeking out excuses to prevent us from taking advantage of our immunity; neither of which will translate to successful outcomes in the here and now. The vaccine either works and we get our freedoms and lives back to fully exploit Brexit, or we’ve been conned and need a new dynamic from a change of leadership.

  28. Andy
    June 13, 2021

    Apparently, at the G7, President Von Der Leyen said “The Brexit agreement was written in English so they (the Brexitists) could understand it.”

    She made the mistake of assuming they would read it.

    Out of interest to the nearest round number – which will be zero – how many of you have actually read the withdrawal agreement? Any of you?

    I read it. I knew it was rubbish.

    1. Know-Dice
      June 13, 2021

      I read the WA from beginning to end and it is rubbish for the UK. We should of just left under WTO rules, but Remainders in Parliament wouldn’t allow that.

      And in 20 years the EU will either be United. States of Europe or will back off to be the Common Market that it was before Maastric and Lisbon.

    2. None of the Above
      June 13, 2021

      Good Morning Andy,
      I know others on here will regret that I am replying to you because they will probably feel that I am just encouraging you but I must reply to your plea for information.
      Yes, I read the Withdrawal Agreement and The Belfast Agreement and The NI Protocol and the Withdrawal Act.
      The only one that I had no major concerns with was The Belfast Agreement and I told my MP what I thought.
      I always considered that we would be far better off cooperating under WTO Rules.
      Events have not altered my opinion.

      I hope you have had a good weekend.

    3. Roy Grainger
      June 13, 2021

      Only British sausages for your BBQ today I hope Andy !

    4. MFD
      June 13, 2021

      Your right Andy about us not reading the guff, we are not interested in anything eu. I personally will be overjoyed when it implodes.
      Dont bother replying, as I dont care for your attitude

    5. steve
      June 13, 2021

      Andy

      I think you should pray that history will not repeat itself.

    6. Lester
      June 13, 2021

      Andy

      Of course you WOULD know that it was rubbish!

  29. Bryan Harris
    June 13, 2021

    While there have certainly been good points from leaving, as above, and our potential has skyrocketed, there are still areas where we stick too closely with the EU.
    Please explain to Boris that we don’t have to be nice to them any more – they are certainly not nice to us, plotting away to punish us, destroying the lives of many in Spain who went there to retire. Macon’s attacks on the UK should have been answered in kind, but we let him get away with his bully boy tactics especially over fishing.

    So when are we going to stop being the diplomatic clown and stand up to the EU bullies?

    Did that bonfire of EU regulations happen? Maybe I missed it with so much other ‘news’ being pushed in our faces.

    I personally have not seen too many benefits from being out of the EU, except for the resilience of our stocks, and a huge feeling of relief – but there is still more to be done, and we really must insist the EU stop their games.
    In the event of a trade war the UK would easily win by putting a high tarif on French/German cars, cheese and wines.

    Our next action should be to stop any slide back towards the EU by removing those in our establishment that still work against the best interests of the UK.

  30. a-tracy
    June 13, 2021

    John, Perhaps you should find a group of like minded MPs and concentrate on wins you can achieve and force Boris to change. For example, just what is so difficult for a British chilled meat producer to get a certificate of export into the EU including Northern Ireland now? Simplify.

    British flower growers we are told can’t export to Northern Ireland with British soil. Is this just a wind up? Again why can’t we certificate it for export to the whole of the EU including Northern Ireland? Simplify.

    If it is impossible to certificate then make it impossible for the EU to export said items to us.

    1. J Bush
      June 13, 2021

      It would be better if Johnson & Co ‘grew a set’ and gave notice to the EU that we are repealing all their garbage and moving to WTO, because they will respect the result of the 2016 referendum.

    2. steve
      June 13, 2021

      a-tracey

      The situation with NI has nothing to do with sausages or soil etc……..it’s the RoI hiding behind EU and now sympathiser Biden’s coat tails like the cowards they are, attempting to make a grab for NI. The strategy is to prevent NI importing food thereby being starving the province into submission.

      They’ll probably succeed, since we have a catholic PM who does’nt agree with British sovereignty.

    3. steve
      June 13, 2021

      a-tracey

      “force Boris to change.”

      Even if he did, not good enough & too late. Most traditional conservative voters want him and his party humilliated & betrayed like they did to us.

      It’s about revenge now, even if it means a Labour government. We warned them not to fudge it with BRINO, we meant it, we were not bluffing.

      1. a-tracy
        June 13, 2021

        Come on Steve, Boris is frustrating the life out of me. I do know how you feel, but six months in and at the tail end of a pandemic give the guy a bit of rope, if he hangs himself (Metaphorically), so be it. He knows how important N Ireland is, the EU pulled a good trick on him there can’t be any way he realised we’d not be able to trade within the United Kingdom, I just can’t believe he is that stupid for all his bull and bluster he is very intelligent man. However, if he has misled us and he’s about to EEA us and Brino then he’ll be out by years end.

        1. steve
          June 13, 2021

          a-tracy

          On this occasion I must respectfully disagree with you.

          I accord Johnson no sympathy concerning the pandemic, especially when account is taken of the fact that he did not stop flights from Wuhan, and more recently was caught red handed allowing the Indian variant in.

          The only explanation here is 1) He lacks the guts to confront the whinging elements of big business, or 2) He has SAGE whispering in his ear telling him to let the virus in so they can study herd immunity. Take your pick, but this individual has been playing a very dangerous game with people’s lives. No electoral privilege provides such a right.

          Then as you point out there’s NI. Johnson is a remainer at heart and of Belgian ancestry, he’s a catholic just like sympathiser Biden,……do you seriously think he’s going to stand up to the EU ?

          Our sovereignty is of no value whatsoever to him. Expect NI to be sold down the river, probably followed by the Falklands.

          1. Micky Taking
            June 14, 2021

            a pretty damning report card on Johnson.

          2. a-tracy
            June 14, 2021

            Steve, I agree with you about Boris’ team Hancock, and ‘Sage’ not so sage about letting the Indian variant run a muck, these returnees from India should have been forced into hotels even if they were British (as Australia and New Zealand would do). WHY didn’t they? now that is the question. They have held back the recovery for over 60 million people for this decision. They will ruin thousands of weddings and businesses. These experts are so good they can predict the escalation now but they thought it was ok to allow this varient into the Country without restriction, why weren’t they that bothered when they gave them an extra week on top of a week’s notice. This act is unforgivable and he should be ashamed that he is putting us all on hold to allow foreign travel from highly infected regions. Sorry John, but this is going to blow up. What they are doing now doesn’t balance. We see the wealthy enjoying their exotic holidays and meetings together patting each other on the back, enjoying their bbq and meals. Our controllers are taking the p***.

  31. glen cullen
    June 13, 2021

    If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, 9 times out of 10, it’s a duck

    It acts and feels like a brino
..it’s a brino – we all know this isn’t brexit, our half in half out situation will bring little benefit; apart from lossing NI from the Union I see little no change

    1. Andy
      June 13, 2021

      What change did you expect to see?

      Tell us 3 things which you thought would change for the better as a result of us leaving the EU. Presumably you voted leave because you thought it would make some things better – so what are they?

      Incidentally, I voted Remain not because I think the EU is perfect – it isn’t- but because I knew, correctly as it turned out, that leaving would make things worse. Which it has.

      Sausage?

      1. glen cullen
        June 13, 2021

        To name three (things which I believed would change for the better but didn’t)
        1.VAT reform
        2.Fisheries territories enforced
        3.State Aid and Industry subsidy reform
        There are many more

        1. a-tracy
          June 14, 2021

          Glen, our politicians need to get the gumption to start to apply the same rules the EU apply to us.

          1. More manufacturing and working class jobs back in the UK, there is some movement on this read Jefferson Mfg for a bit of good news and relocation of factories.
          2. More of our taxes to spend in the UK on our hospitals, schools, social care in all regions not just pupil premiums in London. Once and for all we need to end poor quality results from schools. We need apprenticeships, technical colleges, more local sourcing for our needs, more energy control, more industry that gives us self-reliance on electricity.
          3. I do not want to pay the EU billions in tax for untaxed activities in the UK such as drugs and prostitution, I do not want to pay foreign benefits at a rate so high it builds homes, keeps the foreign mother so she doesn’t have to work at all and spills too much money out of our Country from hard earned taxes.
          I could go on.

          1. a-tracy
            June 14, 2021

            By the way Boris needs to apply our controls now instead of dithering around.

          2. glen cullen
            June 14, 2021

            +1

      2. NickC
        June 14, 2021

        Andy, That’s too easy! Here’s three to start with:
        Not being forced to be in the EU army;
        Not being forced to adopt the Euro;
        Being able to elect and dismiss our highest tier of government.

        1. glen cullen
          June 14, 2021

          Agree

        2. MiC
          June 14, 2021

          You wouldn’t be wanted in anyone’s army, so why the wailing?

          1. Peter2
            June 14, 2021

            Silly MiC
            It was quite obvious what Nick meant.

    2. Peter
      June 13, 2021

      Glen Cullen,

      Agreed.

    3. J Bush
      June 13, 2021

      And Johnson’s purported vaccine ‘success’, when you take into account the damage his totalitarian diktats have done, will not save him from the accusations of ignoring the democratic referendum result.

    4. Everhopeful
      June 13, 2021

      +1

    5. steve
      June 13, 2021

      glen cullen

      +1

      And yes, Johnson is facilitating the surrender of NI and yes what we have is BRINO…..we were betrayed.

    6. Lester
      June 13, 2021

      Glen Cullen

      Exactly right, BRINO

  32. Alan Jutson
    June 13, 2021

    I see it is being widely reported that Mr Macron has said, and does not believe that Norther Ireland is part of the UK.
    Well he is right on that score as far as Trade is concerned in the way the EU is trying to implement matters.

    As far as I am concerned Boris should call his bluff, and if he then wants to put taxes/tariffs on our exports to the EU then we can do the same with all EU goods to us, let the trade war start now and let’s be clear about it if thats what they want.
    Perhaps after a few weeks both sides will realise that playing politics with Northern Ireland is a silly game that does no one any good and we shall get back to a more common sense arrangement.

    Sometimes you have to go backwards before you can move forward.

  33. a-tracy
    June 13, 2021

    “Brexit offers a great opportunity and, crucially, the levers and tools to restore this power, dignity and respect. We need a politics, an economic system and a culture that moves working people from the periphery to the centre.” David Skelton in the Mail on Sunday today online. Please read this article John.

    In Britain in my personal experience you can only rise so far through merit alone. The odd one or two percent slip through but it should be so many more. It is difficult to be seen. If the people selecting the incumbents only select from a very small pool of ‘identified’ individuals through connections then we won’t get the growth we need in all the regions. It won’t change with Boris because his background is from the selected criteria his own Father is a commensurate networker, in-fact I wish I had a quarter of his father’s connections. I wish I had Skelton’s optimism – people are not going to change a system that has directly benefited themselves or make it easier for people coming up behind them so sadly I don’t think anything will progress.

  34. forthurst
    June 13, 2021

    If the Tory Party did badly we coukl replace them with the Labour Party (Old or New). If the
    Labour Party did badly we could replace them with Tory Party and so on ad infinitum or until the country has degenerated into third world status with a largely third world population where law and order has broken down in many places, all of our industries have been sold off to foreigners, and green lunacy has replaced the CoE as the state religion. I have a better idea: why not replace the FPTP electoral system with a system in which every vote counts and the liblabcon is consigned to the history books where it belonged. Being in or out of the EU makes no difference when the majority of politicians are either troughers or traitors.

  35. Original Richard
    June 13, 2021

    I find it worrying that the EU consider the movement of chilled meats from the UK into another part of the UK, N.I., to be a more serious issue than than illegal immigration, but there we are.

    Perhaps a possible solution is that the UK and the EU could agree upon initiating new and really severe legislation for the smuggling of chilled meats into the EU which goes above and beyond the usual smuggling (and trafficking) penalties to ensure that no UK chilled meats cross the Irish border or are indeed smuggled into the EU elsewhere?

    1. a-tracy
      June 14, 2021

      Original Richard, that is far too sensible. The EU aren’t bothered about transfer of goods from N Ireland to S Ireland we all get that now. As you say just say to anyone in N Ireland transfer this to Southern Ireland and you will go to prison for one year and pay enormous fines.

  36. Bryan Harris
    June 13, 2021

    Be interesting to dig a little deeper into what else came out of the G7 meeting – the details behind the headlines?

    We hear that ÂŁ8million was spent extending the runway at Newquay airport so that US President’s Air Force One jet could use it!
    What an atrocious waste of our tax money.

    What I would like to ask is; How do these leaders justify a jollie to Cornwall when they are supposedly so worried about CV and prevent us travelling. Did Biden have his health passport checked? Then there is the issue over alleged MMCC. How dare they contribute to Co2 use when the trips were totally unnecessary, and lecture us at every possibility?
    They could have achieved more with a video call?
    How dare they ignore their own messages, and treat us with so much disdain!

    Just what was so important for Boris to see Biden in the flesh?

  37. Roy Grainger
    June 13, 2021

    The Times reported yesterday that UK exports to EU are almost back to pre-Brexit levels but EU exports to UK are still substantially reduced. This is excellent news and the government should publicise this more widely. An economic “win” right there !

  38. Roy Grainger
    June 13, 2021

    We need to play the long game. In the WA, this piece of international law we have to follow to the letter, the NI Assembly have a vote where they can ditch the protocol entirely in 2024 I think (?). Given the EU’s current antics it’s more and more likely they’ll do exactly that. Is that what the EU want ? How will they protect their vital internal sausage market then without checks on the Irish border ?

  39. multi again
    June 13, 2021

    And now you say we can get rid of governments at the next election if we so wish-
    but I thought that was the way politics in this country was always conducted. So then what’s new? what happens if at some time in the future we get a succession of bad governnents? – for instance governments that have gone off the boil a bit like Turkey or Hungary or Trumps America – who is going to save us then? because It won’t be the parliamentarians and don’t think it couldn’t happen here

  40. Mark Thomas
    June 13, 2021

    Sir John,
    The German chancellor had her former defence minister “elected” to the presidency of the EU commission. Now they are both at the G7, along with the Belgian president of the EU council, a former ECB president now Italian prime minister, and the vocal president of France. That makes five out of nine. As you said the EU is over-represented.
    Meanwhile the German foreign minister wants to replace the veto with qualified majority voting. Whether he manages to achieve this or not the direction of travel is becoming increasingly clear.
    I can’t help but think of the comment made by Nicholas Ridley all those years ago.
    Thank goodness we left when we did.

  41. X-Tory
    June 13, 2021

    The doom-laden fantasies of the Britain-hating Remoaners were always a stupid joke. First they forecast economic disaster just from voting Leave; then when that didn’t happen they said “we haven’t left yet” and that disaster would strike when we officially left; then when we left and there was no disaster they said that doomsday would occur after the transition period; and now that we have left, and the transition is over, guess what: there is still no economic disaster!

    So now the EU’s fifth-columnists have switched tack and are asking for proof of economic benefits. Obviously their tiny brains can’t grasp that Brexit was never primarily an economic project, but was about independence, freedom and sovereignty. On that front, Boris’s betrayal of Northern Ireland is a huge black mark, as our sovereignty there is severely compromised.

    As for economics, I do believe tht in the long run Brexit will benefit us, as it allows us to invet in our own industries thrrough state aid that woul be illegal within the EU. It also allows us to invest in new sciences and technologies, like CRISPR, which again are banned in the EU. But it will take a few years – 3 to 5 – before these benefits become evident.

  42. Derek
    June 13, 2021

    Surely the burden should be on those Remainers who still cannot see the Brexit light?
    Why don’t they explain why they would prefer to be ruled by an unelected and unaccountable cabal of foreigners, based in a foreign country, rather than be governed by those selected British citizens, elected to carry out those duties on behalf of the British people from Westminster, London, England?
    National sovereignty trumps every other principle, and that is evident across the Rest of the World – exactly where we want to be.

    1. bill brown
      June 13, 2021

      Derek,

      Great ideals and good song but the national sovereignty , you are talking about is a historical fact taht no longer exists in an interdependent world , but keep dreaming.

      1. Peter2
        June 13, 2021

        Tell that to the 160 independent nations on the planet bill.
        Does Canada allow America to impose laws on it?
        Does New Zealand allow Australia to impose laws on it?

      2. Derek
        June 14, 2021

        Oh dear what a sad fellow you are. Of course it exists, just take off the morbid blinkers and see the REAL world outside.
        It is ONLY the EU that destroys National sovereignty. The EU model is one a a kind across the globe and for good reason, it does not work. As it has failed its people, it too will go the same way as all dictatorships.

  43. Rosbif en France
    June 13, 2021

    ‘cut food miles’ in one sentence, then contradicts himself in the next ‘buying cheaper or better from the rest of the world’…which by definition must mean further away than the EU. Duh!

    1. graham1946
      June 14, 2021

      What he should say is ‘cut food miles costs’. The CAP and Common Tariff keep food prices artificially up (even though the EU is nearer in miles) to subsidise EU producers at the cost of the consumer. If we can get good food, fairly produced (not subsidised like the EU) with good animal welfare standards, then why not? We can now choose. I choose not to buy EU food or drink wherever possible.

  44. Hanky Park
    June 13, 2021

    The Government should trigger Article 16 of the Protocol and put an end to all the nonsense.

    1. glen cullen
      June 13, 2021

      Article 16 of the Protocol only brings that single element of dispute to a resolution in the joint committee; it doesn’t revoke the NI protocol, which remains in force.
      To revoke the whole protocol you’d have to amend the Withdrawal Agreement and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement

      1. jon livesey
        June 14, 2021

        Sure, but you don’t have to revoke the entire NIP. You just have to persuade the EU to use their powers in good faith,

        Actually, “you” don’t have to do that, becasue circumstance will. Can you imagine the EU being asked by future trade partners “I can see what’s written, but will you apply that in good faith?”

  45. glen cullen
    June 13, 2021

    Bottom up policy making by the people = democracy
    Top down policy making by the G7 & EU = autocracy

  46. anon
    June 13, 2021

    Why does a 3rd country trade deal need 15 year implementation periods? We are constrained in the ways your party agreed to. As we can see we are not a sovereign democracy. Signing treaties and agreeing to pay monies where non is due for zero to little benefit Why?

    Perhaps the next manifesto they might make a promise to make manifesto’s pledges more difficult to just ignore. Perhaps any failures in manifesto pledges should lead to a reduction in the election cycle or a rerun of the election!

  47. dixie
    June 13, 2021

    “In control of our own state aids, public procurement and competition policies we can now set about rebuilding.”
    All fine and dandy, but you also must ensure any concerns built from our effort and investment don’t get given to some passing foreign interest by the spivs in the City, Whitehall and Westminster. .. again.
    Otherwise what was the point?

  48. JoolsB
    June 13, 2021

    “ If in the future government did badly we can rid of it at the next election and change the laws and policies which were wrong. “

    Great in principle but impossible in practise when the only two parties that can ever become Government thanks to the FPTP system they’ve got stitched up between them are both big state, high tax and spend, green crap nanny state socialists. Tell me John, who can Conservatives like me vote for who want none of the above and when there is no longer a Conservative party to vote for?

  49. mancunius
    June 13, 2021

    “Spending on the NHS has gone up by more than ÂŁ350 m a week. ”
    How generous of…remind me, who pays for this now invisible ‘health service’?
    Perhaps our local GPs have taken all the money absconded to Costa Rica. They certainly haven’t been seeing any patients.
    A *real* Brexit improvement would be to move to a tiered insurance system, have an absolute ban on health tourism, and inculcate the notion of self-responsibility for one’s own health. A lifetime of drinking, smoking, over-eating, and indulging in sugary sweets does not deserve the taxpayer’s support.

    1. a-tracy
      June 14, 2021

      Yes mancunius.
      If covid is affecting obese people as we are told, then they should be told they have to shield or take the risk knowing they are taking the risk of going to large scale sports venues or allowing the people they live with to do this.
      The government needs to explain just what is ‘obese’ in regard to covid. Would a 5ft 10” man weighing 16 stone be considered obese? Would a 5ft woman weighing more than 10 stone be obese?
      Who are the people going into hospital now, those that have had two vaccines? What else is making them susceptible. The government can’t keep everyone down without giving us the facts this time, it has gone on too long treating us like mushrooms and giving us inflated facts. We want the truth.

  50. glen cullen
    June 13, 2021

    This government lockdown mission was to save lives
    Deaths this past week – 1, 13, 6, 7, 17, 12, 8
    So why is this government now considering further extensions

    1. Micky Taking
      June 14, 2021

      The restrictions continue due to the Indian variant taking hold in many places, and the result being increasing infection rates and a proportion of hospital admissions follow. It has been reported that the hospital cases are of those who did not take up the vaccine. Surge testing and other measures (to encourage the vaccine refusers to agree )are required to slow and eliminate this variant.

      1. glen cullen
        June 14, 2021

        But non of that has resulted in further deaths….and the goal of lockdown was to save lives – and we have

        Someone is now moving the goal posts

        1. Micky Taking
          June 14, 2021

          there are so many holes in the pitch where previous posts stood, it is becoming difficult to erect them.

  51. Will in Hampshire
    June 13, 2021

    I think our host is being rather selective in the examples he offers today. Certainly I doubt that many people in the business of trading Euro-denominated securities would agree that “we will have a good first year out”: their business has gone to Amsterdam, and nothing new has been secured to replace it.

    1. graham1946
      June 14, 2021

      Well, perhaps over time we can replace it (if indeed it is true) by proper manufacturing and trading of goods which we have lost over the last 40 years, rather than gambling.

      1. Will in Hampshire
        June 14, 2021

        Oh, so we have “proper” industries now, and I suppose by extension we have improper ones. Who is to impose and police this moral hierarchy of economic activity, I wonder? And if you class buying and selling securities as gambling, perhaps you should ask your pension provider how they generate the income streams to pay your pension – you might be in for an unwelcome surprise.

        1. graham1946
          June 14, 2021

          Is it gambling or is it not? As a matter of fact I used to trade currencies, so I do know a little about it. As to the rest of your post, total rubbish but obviously touched a nerve.

  52. Original Richard
    June 13, 2021

    The big advantage Brexit brings to us is that being in control we now have the possibility to stop the EU fleecing us.

    Not only were we paying money into the EU budget (ÂŁ20bn/year gross, ÂŁ10bn/year net after rebate which was about to end) to subsidise competitors’ infrastructure and corporates to move their factories out of the UK but the Single Market rules coupled with rampant non-compliance led to our ÂŁ100bn/YEAR trading deficit with the EU.

  53. jon livesey
    June 13, 2021

    It’s just funny to watch so many people arguing about something that they can’t affect and which is going on without them.

    The agreements have been signed, and since they are a lot less specific than most people think, they will be adjusted over time, not by us but by trade negotiators who have done this sort of job before.

    Meanwhile, Governments don’t trade, companies do. All that Brexit and the agreements has really changed is the low-level economics of trade. The EU is doing all it can to make trade more expensive, from what I read out of motives of revenge, but all they will achieve is to make trade with the rest of the World less expensive compared to trade with the EU. and so our trade will drift away from the EU; in fact China has already replaced Germany as our top trade partner.

    The EU trolls here keep banging on about how offended the EU is over all this, but the EU’s reaction is becoming one big error as they add costs to trade that are unnecessary, and alienate a nation they ought to see as a partner.

    In fact, I think that the EU’s biggest errors have already been made, and the next five to ten years will see those errors leading to more EU decline, unemployment and lack of growth.

  54. Dennis
    June 13, 2021

    Off topic but, Any country complying with US sanctions against China will now themselves be sanctioned by China. I wondered how long they would take to do that.

  55. MiC
    June 13, 2021

    “Progress so far”

    Well, it looks like Rees-Mogg might have been on the money, when he said that it might be fifty years before there was any discernible benefit, and by then it would be impossible to compare with any guess as to what would have happened had the UK remained anyway.

    So it was no more than an oily way of saying “There. Is. No. Benefit.”

    1. mancunius
      June 13, 2021

      What Jacon Rees-Mogg said in response to the ‘have-you-stopped-beating-your-wife question of C4’s Guru-Murthy in Jult 2018, was: “We won’t know the full economic consequences for a very long time, we really won’t. The overwhelming opportunity for Brexit is over the next 50 years.”
      You made up the words ‘any discernible’. The rest is your own lurid invention.

      1. MiC
        June 14, 2021

        It’s called paraphrasing. I was not quoting.

        1. Micky Taking
          June 14, 2021

          then quote and get it right.

  56. a pleb
    June 13, 2021

    Theresa May could become the heroine of the UK if she stays on the back benches and speaks as she just did recently ie what she really thinks rather than what she is told to say. To head Nato she would be told what to say. I remember feeling sorry for her being made to get on the plane at night to the EU.
    Be a heroine Theresa.

  57. villaking
    June 14, 2021

    Hmmm. I want to find some benefits but I think you are clutching at straws here. Most of what you list are speculative future benefits. The independent vaccine procurement program was never banned by EU laws; exchange rates, your favourite economic indicator it seems, are influenced by many different things; roll over trade agreements are exactly that, a continuation of the status quo. The single actual benefit you correctly list is the saving on EU budget contributions, after the divorce bill is settled. I think we need to see an awful lot more before you are able to talk about the benefits of leaving the single market.

  58. Freeborn John
    June 14, 2021

    Boris Johnson really needs to hold firm on extending the current “grace” period. Any Macron promise to reset U.K./EU relations in the future if he caves in now will go the same way as the promise the EU made to Tony Blair to review the CAP. They only respect strength so it is important the U.K. is robust is asserting its territorial integrity.

  59. Pauline Baxter
    June 14, 2021

    ‘We can now set about rebuilding’. Well yes we COULD Sir John. But how can we rebuild our own industrial base while your leader kow tows to the ‘CO2 is causing global warming’ SCAM?
    The U.K. needs reliable energy. The electricity grid can not be maintained by sun and wind alone. We should continue to use fossil fuels, nuclear power and anything else that suits US.
    As for the U.S.A. Has it escaped your notice that the States with the fewest Covid Lockdowns have generally done far better than the States with strict lockdowns. The same applies to Sweden if you search out the genuine figures.

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