Cut costs now to lower state borrowing

The government says it wants to get borrowing down. Here’s a reprise on measures they could take urgently to reduce the excess spending.

1 Strengthen the law and admin actions to stop illegal migrants

2. Move migrants out of hotels into better value accommodation

3 Speed up decisions on migrants so those who are asylum seekers who can stay can get jobs and get on with their lives

4 Stop paying farmers to not grow food

5. Cut sending overseas aid to international bodies to spend without our control

6. Stop energy subsidies to higher income households

7. Lower subsidies to the railways by requiring improved timetables and smarter working to win more fare revenue

8. No further net increase in civil service numbers

9. Pause free smart meter roll out

10. Stop Councils buying up “investment “ property in their own areas on borrowings

175 Comments

  1. Mark B
    December 23, 2022

    Good morning.
    1. We already have enough laws to deal with this.
    2. What accommodation ? We can’t / won’t even house our own. And where are all those ‘legal immigrants going to live – half a million last year alone !
    3. So they are no asylum seekers but just another setoff [insert word of choice here] migrants ?
    4. Agreed. But it will not happen until you get rid of the loonies running DEFRA.
    5. Agreed. That would save billions.
    6. Agreed.
    7. What about making travel on the railways much cheaper to encourage more use ?
    8. We need a reduction. Before any one job is created in a department, two must be removed.
    9. Agreed.
    10. Agreed.

    Of course, none of this will ever be done.

    1. Cuibono
      December 23, 2022

      +many
      I saw somewhere that Sunak hopes to bring in 1 million per year legally.
      Where would they all go?
      I mean it is like the finance
”Oh no there won’t be inflation! We can print our way to Mars and there will be no inflation! Ooooh
.we’ve got inflation!”
      Only with immigration it will be a case of vanishing standing room.
      We are overcrowded already.

      1. Sir Joe Soap
        December 23, 2022

        Get the feeling Sunak would be surprised to see a ball roll. This guy might be “bright” in the PPE sense of talking his way out of a paper bag, but doesn’t understand the ways of the world in any sense. He has to go soon.

        1. MFD
          December 23, 2022

          Agreed Soapy, I also agree with all Sir John has listed but would add that we need rid of 30,000 managers in Nation Health England, along with all the socalled Diverstiy Officers – we already have diversity in OUR NHS ,
          We need more Good MP’s like our host and less of those who just turn up to collect their paypacket!

        2. Donna
          December 23, 2022

          When I hear him speaking I invariably think of that old Morcambe and Wise Sketch:

          “he’s saying all the right words, but not necessarily in the right order.”

          He just talks West Coast word salad.

      2. Hope
        December 23, 2022

        JR, does not mention that Hunt has made no cuts to public spending. The only proposals are after the next election! In stark contrast the tax rises happen straight away!

        462,000 increase in head count to public sector since 2018, JRM was going to cut the number by 91,000. Sunak reversed any cuts. Big state and tax is Sunak and Hunt order of the day.

        No mention of the climate reparation scam that the UK has no debt whatsoever and has absolutely no responsibility for. Sunak happy to waste and give away ÂŁ11.6 billion? If he gets away with it how often and how much more will the idiot waste?

        No mention Sunak has stopped investigating the £11.8 billion lost to school boy error fraud culminating in Lord Agnew’s resignation. Sunak should have resigned he was responsible!

        Sunak and Hunt paying Bulb directors millions after costing the taxpayer ÂŁ6 billion! Are they mad? Profits to individuals losses to taxpayer!!

        1. glen cullen
          December 23, 2022

          They Are MAD

    2. Anselm
      December 23, 2022

      Why will it never be done?

      1. Richard II
        December 23, 2022

        Why, Anselm? Because there isn’t enough support for it in the Conservative Parliamentary party. As for why that is, here’s a suggestion, which doesn’t make me any happier, but might be true. Suppose you’re a Tory MP in their late 30s or 40s as many of them are, and you’re looking forward to decades of having a political career. That depends on patronage, and it also depends on looking electable. The party bosses can give you a government job this year or next year, but they might be voted out of power at the next election. You’ve got to think about what the mood of a poorly informed and easily manipulated electorate might be in the years to come. You look at the demographics and you see that younger people, who will be middle-aged in a few years, show more support for woke causes than older voters – not surprising, as they’ve been through an educational process that rewards conformity not critical thinking, and they get most of their ideas from politically censored social media. So what do you do? You go with the flow, like so many of us do with a family and mortgage to think about. When the government adopts a globalist save-the-planet + pro-migration agenda, you go along with it.

        Perhaps I’m wrong, but look at the MPs who are not afraid to say how things are, e.g. Sir Christopher Chope (born 1947), Andrew Bridgen (born 1964) and of course our good host. Then look at the lobby fodder.

      2. Hope
        December 23, 2022

        No.
        When will Brexit be implemented? How much could we save by breaking free? Again, no mention by JR. Hunt making sure there are no benefits but in contrast timing UK to EU in Energy by inter connectors, giving away our military despite being in NATO, buying fracked US gas for Germany, giving away N.Ireland, pressuring DUP to cave in to EU demands rather than scrapping protocol changing law etc as promised, signing political declaration!! How much does remaining in ECHR cost us over immigration!

      3. Ian Wragg
        December 23, 2022

        Because the government believes in mass immigration
        It’s no good writing anything about reducing immigration I the next manifesto as we know it’s all lies.
        I fact everything they say is an outright lie.

        1. Your comment is awaiting moderation
          December 23, 2022

          They’ve squandered their 80 seat majority.

          1. glen cullen
            December 23, 2022

            They’ve squandered 12 years

        2. Lifelogic
          December 23, 2022

          Certainly seems so what a waste of an 80 seat majority.

          They got all the big things wrong other than removing Theresa May.

      4. Mark B
        December 23, 2022

        Because over the past 12 and half years bugger all has been done !

        Bit of a clue that 😉

        1. glen cullen
          December 23, 2022

          The Tories could’ve achieved more if ….they weren’t in government

      5. Timaction
        December 23, 2022

        Why will it never be done…….because it hasn’t been done for 12.5 years it ain’t going to happen. The Consocialists must go. They need punishment for their deceit.

    3. Nottingham Lad Himself
      December 23, 2022

      I, like many people, have been a victim of crimes during my life, all committed by UK people other than immigrants.

      Crime costs us upwards of 7% of GDP, and is twice the European Union pro-rata average.

      It rises under the Tories, but fell by a third under the last Labour governments.

      In view of this your fixations seem irrational and obsessive. That is, economy is the excuse, not the reason for them.

      1. Narrow Shoulders
        December 23, 2022

        Does that mean it is either or in your whataboutery world Notts chap?

        1. Nottingham Lad Himself
          December 23, 2022

          It isn’t whataboutery.

          If you’re serious about cutting costs then you focus on the really big ones.

          You seem to ignore them for some reason.

      2. a-tracy
        December 23, 2022

        Martin, were these crimes committed against you personally in Wales? Yorkshire or Nottingham?

      3. graham1946
        December 23, 2022

        You are lucky to have had your cases solved – that’s the obvious conclusion if you know the nationalities of your criminals. Most of us can’t get the police interested in anything other than so called hate crime or thought crime. What’s your secret?

      4. Mickey Taking
        December 23, 2022

        was the crime abuse?

        1. Fedupsoutherner
          December 23, 2022

          Or a punch on the nose because he seriously insulted someone?

    4. glen cullen
      December 23, 2022

      We need to ask why is SirJ the only lone voice in the party

    5. formula57
      December 23, 2022

      @ Mark B “Of course, none of this will ever be done” – true enough. At least thanks to Sir John we have a clear enunciation of what should have been done.

      Those who object to a Starmer-led government might reflect there is more chance of it doing some of the list than this present shower.

    6. Timeforaction
      December 23, 2022

      None will ever be done, fact. Because if they were going to be done, TWELVE years is time enough to do them. The Conservatives have FAILED, vote them out, evry last one of them. I sincerely hope Mr Farage puts up a candidate in my constituency, Wokingham

      1. glen cullen
        December 23, 2022

        Sad but true

  2. David Peddy
    December 23, 2022

    Cancel HS2
    Cancel Barnett formula for Scotland
    Reform Public Sector pensions

    1. Anselm
      December 23, 2022

      The Public Sector is growing to the tune of half a million increase since 2019 (TPA).

    2. Lifelogic
      December 23, 2022

      Cancel all the student loans for duff degrees and the degrees in subjects that are not in commercial demand circa 75% of them are. If people want to study these subjects let them pay, learn on line or go to night school after work.

      Scrap the insane totally irrational Nat Zero lunacy, Burn coal at Drax not imported wood far more efficient and less CO2 too if that bothers you.

      Stop blocking the roads cancel HS2

      Make work pay over life on benefits and make life on benefits impossible for healthy people who cam work.

      More learning on the job and practical apprenticeships.

      Vast deregulation is needed, far too many people doing parasitic jobs in misguided regulation, compliance and tax planning & avoidance.

      Charge for NHS appointments & tax breaks for private healthcare to lighten the load on the NHS.

      1. Hope
        December 23, 2022

        Stop foreign student families coming here!! Stop providing free university tuition to EU students.

        1. glen cullen
          December 23, 2022

          Regulate foreign students, most aren’t here to study 
they work, then overstay, then get citizenship and all their families

        2. MFD
          December 23, 2022

          +1 I fully support your suggestion Hope

      2. Bloke
        December 23, 2022

        If the Govt were sensible it wouldn’t need such advice. It would do sensible efficient things.
        But this one is daft and it doesn’t, and even if it could it wouldn’t.
        This damaging Govt needs dumping with all the other dangerous rubbish. Pronto.

      3. No Longer Anonymous
        December 23, 2022

        Moreover show us the true level of unemployed by not calling those of retirement age ‘pensioners’. If they have not paid stamp they must remain classified as unemployed for life.

        How can you be a pensioner if you’ve not paid for a pension ? Rather like NEETs and students this is a cover for true levels of low productivity in the UK.

      4. Mickey Taking
        December 23, 2022

        Agreed, except that consultants, surgeons etc provide private services instead of working within NHS – I thought you would know that!

        1. glen cullen
          December 23, 2022

          Yeah but they do their private work on NHS time, resources and premises …and government is happy with that

      5. Your comment is awaiting moderation
        December 23, 2022

        +1

    3. Sir Joe Soap
      December 23, 2022

      The final one is the elephant in the room.

    4. Ian B
      December 23, 2022

      @David Peddy +1

      The Barnett Formula has out lived its purpose. If similar has to exist it should be UK wide and direct to County Councils i.e. the money going to those that actually do the work for their communities.
      Public Sector Pensions should be seen as a contribution from income. i.e. for the most part in the Private Sector you have your gross pay that then has deductions, in the public sector pension contributions is not paid out of income – the reason for wrong comparisons on wages between the sectors. Then again all Pensions based on these being ‘Ponzi Schemes’ should be phased out.

      1. turboterrier
        December 23, 2022

        Ian B
        Really push the plunger down and make it no benefits are paid until proof of 5 years continuous employment.
        The reason I was told by an immigrant for coming He can live her on low wages to a better standard than at home and all the benefit money he receives he sends back to his family.

        1. Mickey Taking
          December 23, 2022

          many come here to have families for free, and then get schooling…

          1. glen cullen
            December 23, 2022

            Only in England

          2. Shirley M
            December 23, 2022

            I remember the Somalian who came from France under free movement with his wife and 10 kids. He was a ‘student’ in the UK but he demanded his multi bedroom house! So not only did we educate his children, provide housing and everything else, but we also provided his education too! I wonder what the total cost to the taxpayer? He obviously had high expectations of being provided with a mansion and I wonder if he ever contributed anything towards it or his families keep?

      2. Peter Parsons
        December 23, 2022

        Could you list which public sector employees have non-contributory pension schemes? I’m not aware of any. In the short time I spent working in the public sector much earlier in my career, there was most definitely a contribution (deduction) every month from my salary for a pension contribution.

        Have you confused non-contributory with unfunded?

  3. Geoffrey Berg
    December 23, 2022

    Sir John, all these measures are either good or in the case of 6) acceptable but how much of the now huge deficit would it stop and how are we going to cope with the rest of the public sector deficit?

    1. Lifelogic
      December 23, 2022

      We should not have government subsidising energy at all. Just scrap the net zero insanity, stop rigging the energy market so as to get energy costs down to sensible levels. It is almost always better anyway to let people choose how they spend their own money. Some might want more energy for heating. Others might prefer a holiday somewhere warm for the winter, to stay with parents and to just heat one rooms or to sit under an electric blanket. Other may enjoy a hot bath but then other might be happy with a tepid shower for 30secs one a week. Freedom and choice please not the government saying you will have “free” NHS healthcare (eventually), state schooling, subsidised rigged price energy (after our net zero lunacy has made it absurdly expensive), subsidised public transport but hugely over tax cars and with deliberately blocked roads, some get subsidised housing other do not and then pay extra taxes to subsidise others’ housing – why?

      Freedom of choice and no market rigging please.

    2. John Hatfield
      December 23, 2022

      It is the public sector that is running this country – to its own advantage.
      The government is helpless.

  4. Fedupsoutherner
    December 23, 2022

    I cannot open your post on inflation and the 3 piggy banks John. It says the page is unavailable when I click on the comments.

    Reply It will be released later.

    1. Cuibono
      December 23, 2022

      Ah..not me going bonkers then!
      Lol

  5. Wanderer
    December 23, 2022

    I see that Migration Watch has a report just out, that says Asylum seekers are 3 times more likely to have their applications granted in the UK, than they are in France.

    UK rates of acceptance have gone up over the past few years, while French rates have dropped. Macron seems to be getting at least one thing right, whereas we….

    1. Fedupsoutherner
      December 23, 2022

      We’re making it easy for Macron.

    2. turboterrier
      December 23, 2022

      Wanderer

      Stop the handouts you stop them coming. Rocket science it is not.
      Same for all the 5 million who find it easier to stay at home on handouts than get work.
      Stop subsidising 16 hour a week with credit top ups.
      In the words of the song “oh baby baby it’s a hard world”

      1. Mickey Taking
        December 23, 2022

        Wild World by Cat Stevens ( now Yusuf Islam)
        Now that I’ve lost everything to you
        You say you want to start something new
        And it’s breaking my heart you’re leaving
        Baby I’m grieving
        But if you want to leave take good care
        Hope you have a lot of nice things to wear
        But then a lot of nice things turn bad out there
        Oh baby baby it’s a wild world
        It’s hard to get by just upon a smile
        Oh baby baby it’s a wild world
        I’ll always remember you like a child girl
        You know I’ve seen a lot of what the world can do
        And it’s breaking my heart in two
        ‘Cause I never want to see you sad girl
        Don’t be a bad girl
        But if you want leave take good care
        Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there
        But just remember there’s a lot of bad everywhere

    3. glen cullen
      December 23, 2022

      As Farage said last night on GB News, the governments new plan is to grant everyone’s asylum upon arrival 
.problem solved

      1. graham1946
        December 23, 2022

        That seems about right – asylum problem solved, dozens of others created. Aren’t we lucky to have such talented people running our country?

        1. glen cullen
          December 23, 2022

          The best of the best of the best

    4. Shirley M
      December 23, 2022

      Why bother? Even failed asylum seekers get to stay for years and years, claim benefits, get social housing, etc.

  6. DOM
    December 23, 2022

    The all powerful, all-consuming State’s become a monster and the people are its victims. John’s party apart from John and some of his decent colleagues on the sensible wing are now has subjugated as we are

    Merry Xmas to our host and his family

  7. Anselm
    December 23, 2022

    Yesterday the Chief Commissioner of Police for Cambridgeshire sent a questionnaire round to ask if we thought it was a good idea to increase the county taxes to pay for more police. He included a long list of Police Duties and asked us to arrange them into order of priority.
    One of them was online crime. Why could not the vast bureaucracy at County Hall (or the equally large one in Fenland) do this?
    There seems to be very little idea of how dark, cold and poor we are in this increasingly third world country. Your article above, Sir John, should be pursued with urgency. We need to remember our Victorian forebears who cared about such things and slowly raised everyone to a fairly decent standard of living by very hard work and common sense, very often based on their Christian values too.

    1. Ian B
      December 23, 2022

      @Anselm online crime? At local and national level that is about spying, indoctrination and suggesting one man’s view is superior to another. Cross border crime is another thing altogether. So Police ‘virtue signalling’ as in we know how to attract attention and waste peoples money – the Political Police in action

      1. Hope
        December 23, 2022

        No more money to police they have plenty. They need to get their priorities right. Place staff in front line operation roles and get rid of all the multiple department/desk jobs. Get back to front line policing with a CID. All other squads scrapped.

    2. No Longer Anonymous
      December 23, 2022

      Anselm – The first real police officer I’ve seen in our town in ten years appeared on Tuesday morning as I was on may way to work in a highly taxed car that I have for the sole purpose of going to work (I don’t need it otherwise.)

      He was sitting in a van with a speed gun pointed at me. I was on a steep road having turned into it off another steep road .. I was just concentrating on getting the car moving, I don’t know how accurately I was sticking to 30 mph in this area of utter road carnage and zero public disorder (sarcasm.)

      So I have a bit of background anxiety about a ticket arriving… Happy Christmas from ***** Police Service !

      Gold plated pensions they are raising money for are going to become the hot topic soon. Keep pushing and revolution will come.

      1. anon
        December 23, 2022

        Simple just cap defined benefit public pensions at same rate as state pension level. Anything other contribution goes into a UK based money pension plan, which will be subject to same rules, taxes & risks as private sector. The risks are mainly fiat related due to massive uncontrolled spending mainly it seems now for non-uk core interests.

        A better view of economic policy may result.

  8. John McDonald
    December 23, 2022

    No mention of cutting the cost of the war in Ukraine. Both in terms of lives (both Ukraine and Russian) and financial. America is making a big arms profit, in
    energy too , without loss of one American life. Europe and UK may not recover as Global trade and Markets change due to the War.
    Some talk of the head of NATO becoming the chairman of the IMF.
    Not All the elites may be Billionares but you see how the West is now run above Paliments and the ordinary voter.
    But we have managed to cut the cost of our Armed Forces. Who is defending the country whilst they are driving Ambulances, putting out fires and checking passports?

    1. Ian B
      December 23, 2022

      @John McDonald So it is better to let Putin have his way. Poland next, Finland, when would he stop,,,, oh I gues thats the idea!

      1. Hope
        December 23, 2022

        Ian B,
        Do not be ridiculous. He did not have his way. He was repeatedly ignored and the west repeatedly broke its word not to March east securing former USSR countries in EU then NATO. Was there talk of UK taking over Middle East for the illegal wars in Iraq, Libya or Syria?

        Cameron was going to expand EU to the Urals! How unnecessary provocative.

        1. Wanderer
          December 23, 2022

          +1. We’re pumping money into a proxy war with Russia that we precipitated. Yet another foreign policy disaster, for which those in charge will get knighthoods or seats in the Lords (if they are not there already).

        2. Your comment is awaiting moderation
          December 23, 2022

          +1

        3. Ian B
          December 23, 2022

          I have a passing idea, the idea that a Dictator like Putin should rule just because he wants to is also nonsense. Democracy may not be perfect but it is less dangerous. Not forgetting Putin and the Russia people are in 2 different spheres and Countries in their own right.
          There is no long term history that has Russia/Moscow ruling the Ukraine

          1037 – Kievan Rus – as in Kiev/Ukraine was the Capitol that had Russia/ Moscow under its wings

          1917 – Ukraine Council Proclaims Right to ‘Order Their Own Lives’ – When the Russian Revolution breaks out

          1918 – Short-Lived Independence – the Central Rada declares full independence for Ukraine

          1922- Incorporated Into Soviet Union

          1936-38 – Great Purge Stalin either executed or shipped deserters off to Gulag labor camps if they didn’t support him

          1944 – Stalin deports the entire population(200,000) of Crimean Tatars,

          1954-Khrushchev Transfers Crimea to Ukraine

          1991 – by democratic process Ukraine Declares Independence

          2004 – 2014 at various times Putin tried to install his own President, Yanukovych

          2014 – Yanukovych, flees to Russia. Russia invades the Ukraine and annex the Crimea. Germany and France say good on you to Putin, you can keep it.

          1. Philip P.
            December 24, 2022

            Very selective, Ian. You omitted to mention that in 1917-1918 Ukraine became briefly independent only under the protection of the Kaiser’s army. You also left out the 1991 Crimea referendum in which they voted to rejoin Russia. The result was ignored by the Kiev government.

            Yanukovych was fairly elected, after the EU puppet Timoshenko was found to be so corrupt that even for Ukraine she couldn’t stay in post.

      2. John McDonald
        December 23, 2022

        So if you think it is all down to Putin I suggest you study the history behind this civil war starting before 2014. It is America getting it’s way and destroying the European Economy along the way, and not to mention countless lives in the process.

        1. Mickey Taking
          December 23, 2022

          so we’ve had the Chinese killing our competitiveness, giving us Covid, the Russians starting a war and blowing up pipelines to deny Europe fuel, and now you claim USA destroying our economy!
          The latter doesn’t need their help.

          1. Philip P.
            December 24, 2022

            A quick fact-check, MT. The war started in 2014 when the Donbas people refused to accept the new regime in Kiev. The government sent troops against them. Thousands were killed from then on, on both sides. Russia intervened in February to protect the Donbas people (but has so far failed to do so). Who blew up the Nordstream pipelines hasn’t yet been established, but your claim that the Russians blew up pipelines that guaranteed them huge profits in sales of gas to Europe doesn’t sound convincing to me.

        2. anon
          December 23, 2022

          We, the majority plebs, are all victims of elite wars, including the US .

      3. Philip P.
        December 23, 2022

        The same old tired cliches, Ian. What Putin really wanted was put on the table a year ago in mid-December 2021: a new security framework for Europe. Here is an extract from the draft treaty he proposed:
        “The Russian Federation and all the Parties that were member States of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as of 27 May 1997, respectively, shall not deploy military forces and weaponry on the territory of any of the other States in Europe in addition to the forces stationed on that territory as of 27 May 1997. With the consent of all the Parties such deployments can take place in exceptional cases to eliminate a threat to security of one or more Parties.”
        This would have tied Russia’s hands, preventing it from invading Ukraine unilaterally, and invalidating the reasons it gave for doing so.

        Unfortunately ‘the West’ chose to ignore it, and two months later the slaughter began. The only sensible way forward is to challenge Putin to show if it his security framework proposal was genuine, by the West offering something like that now. That would put him on the spot. If he refused, then I’d say you would have a good case, Ian.

    2. Mark B
      December 23, 2022

      We pay for the war, the Corporates fronted by the likes of the EU get to enjoy the spoils.

      What’s there not to like /sarc

  9. BOF
    December 23, 2022

    An excellent list Sir John. I would improve.

    1. Send the navy to turn the boats back.

    2. Send illegal migrants to Ascension Island.

    3. Stop overseas aid, except for disaster aid.

    8. Reduce CS numbers by at least one third.

    11. Stop legal aid and free health services to anyone who has entered the country illegally.

    12. Charge non UK citizens to use NHS.

    1. BOF
      December 23, 2022

      + One more. All new migrants must be self supporting and have a job. This to stop Sunak importing half the population of the Sub Continant.

      1. turboterrier
        December 23, 2022

        BOF
        Very good point it works in other countries. Proof of liquid assessment.
        No pay …..No play

      2. hefner
        December 24, 2022

        ‘Half the population of the Sub Continent’, I guess you must refer to India with a present population of 1.38 billion inhabitants. Are you really suggesting that Sunak wants to import 690 million Indians into the UK? Or are you mixing up million and billion?

    2. Ian B
      December 23, 2022

      @BOF – what navy?
      Legal aid, is and should be a UK taxpayer benefit only. If a UK Citizen gets into trouble abroad, that Country doesn’t pay, the UK Embassies(UK Taxpayer) pay

      12 the already or at least have to do that

      1. anon
        December 23, 2022

        Perhaps it should be classed as taxable benefit as well.

    3. Fedupsoutherner
      December 23, 2022

      BOF. I think your list is pretty reasonable.

      1. hefner
        December 24, 2022

        Apart from 2, Ascension Island may be, after Diego Garcia, one of the most militarised islands in the world. I am not sure that the USSF which shares the island with the RAF would be so happy to see migrants from the UK be sent to their playground.
        But it appears that Priti was not and Suella is not aware of this basic fact. Talk of politicians who talk out of their hats 


    4. glen cullen
      December 23, 2022

      The BIG question is why our friendly neighbour France will not accept the return of ‘their’ illegal immigrants 
.and why haven’t tried to just send them back

      1. graham1946
        December 23, 2022

        They don’t regard them as their immigrants, once they cross the halfway mark they become our immigrants. On the other hand all the fish we have up to 6 miles from our shore is their fish not ours. Funny arrangement that – we should offer them fish for migrants and would have done had the ‘oven ready deal’ had a scintilla of common sense in it and not pandered to the Remoaners in order to make Brexit fail.

        1. Peter Parsons
          December 23, 2022

          The “oven ready deal” was negotiated by Johnson and Frost, both Quitters. It’s about time that Quitters started owning the consequences of getting what they wanted (like the fact that the UK economy is the only one in the G7 still below its pre-pandemic level) rather than continuing to blame everyone else.

          1. Peter2
            December 23, 2022

            Oh do stop moaning Peter
            You know the EU are doing their very best to make any agrement difficult for us as possible.

          2. Peter Parsons
            December 24, 2022

            The only thing I’m moaning about is people who refuse to take responsibility for the choices they willingly made, instead blaming everyone else but the person (or people) actually responsible.

          3. graham1946
            December 24, 2022

            Johnson & co may did make the agreement, that’s what I said. The oven ready deal was a wrong un, just to get the thing over the line because the EU was not really negotiating and still isn’t. We were their major customer but let them treat us like serfs. I was not at the negotiation so do not accept responsibility for it. We were lied to about getting Brexit done, it still has not been.

  10. Richard1
    December 23, 2022

    All good ideas. A few other suggestions:-

    11. Cancel HS2
    12. Conduct a burden of proof exercise on all quangos. Those which are not furthering a sensible objective which forms part of govt policy to be closed, with all staff made redundant (not re-assigned). Others to be cut to the minimum needed to fulfil agreed objectives. All quangos to have sunset clauses so they are closed automatically unless specifically renewed.
    13. Audit of ‘woke’ managerial positions throughout the public sector. An especial spotlight to be thrown on HR departments which are the source of much uselessness and nonsense
    14. Cancellation of all public funding of ‘charities’ which engage in political activism of any kind
    15. Rigorous look at procurement. There is huge and even scandalous waste and uselessness at the MoD and in the NHS. Doubtless elsewhere in the public sector also.

    All these + Sir John’s proposals should be very popular – although will be loudly opposed by self-interested minorities. So good policies to implement over the next 2 years as we try to claw back some chance of holding off a Labour-SNP nightmare.

    1. Ian B
      December 23, 2022

      @Richard1 +1

      Taxpayer money should never find its way to those that take part in Political Indoctrination of any kind. Come to that any type of indoctrination. Taxpayer money is simply to provide the-best-of-best

      All taxpayer money spend should be fully accountable, with proper responsibility attached for purpose/out-comes/delivery, no if’s buts.

    2. BOF
      December 23, 2022

      Richard1 +1

  11. Sea_Warrior
    December 23, 2022

    Regarding (9), I am being pressured into having a smart meter – and it seems that my last, low, meter readings were ignored by my supplier. There is, I think, an over-billing scandal coming along.
    As for civil servant numbers, a ‘net zero’ isn’t ambitious enough. The hiring frenzy of the last couple of years needs REVERSING.

    1. Sir Joe Soap
      December 23, 2022

      Have noticed this. Meter readings completely ignored in the hope they can estimate at an higher level. You need to keep reducing the direct debit amounts online. They only allow so much reduction in one sitting.

      1. graham1946
        December 23, 2022

        Better still, cancel the dd and pay as you go. You can still pay in monthly if you want. I don’t think the dd discount is worth the loss of control of my account and won’t do it. Despite what they say about dd guarantee, it is worthless when they take more money than you want and have the hassle of trying to get it back. They don’t play fair and want us to finance their business. Who else do you pay like this, the supermarket, the local garage? Cancel it and manage your own affairs.

        1. Peter Parsons
          December 23, 2022

          Then maybe you should consider changing supplier. My supplier allows me complete control over the level of DD that I pay each month.

          1. graham1946
            December 24, 2022

            You’re lucky. Many people have been put in dire straits when they charge more than budgeted for especially those living on very fine margins. I don’t need to change supplier, I don’t accept it in the first place and never pay a penny more than I use, all after the event. The disgusting thing is that poorer people with prepayment meters pay well in advance and don’t get a penny discount, in fact they pay more.

        2. glen cullen
          December 23, 2022

          I’ve never understood why a fully regulated energy supplier can offer a discount for paying DD …whatever happened to a leveling playing field – a single traiff and no standing charge, …the cost of my petrol isn’t discounted nor do they include a standing charge …the energy market is rigged

    2. Ian B
      December 23, 2022

      @Sea_Warrior +1

      Politicians, need to stop inferring that expenditure by compulsion based on their personal need to indoctrinate is not tax. The not so ‘smart meters’, environmental, energy levies etc. are just more and more tax.

      The Civil Service, needs to deliver not Empire Build to protect itself. Over bloated, out of control and a Government refusing to take responsibility and manage it.

    3. Bloke
      December 23, 2022

      Sea_Warrior:
      The smart meter pressure you describe is also falsely applied by the energy cos sending emails making claims such as ‘your electricity meter has reached the end of its lifetime’! The number cogs just turn round, barely ever wearing out. Ours eventually rolled along to 00000 so is just like new!

      If prices are ever-increasing, your being overbilled via an inflated reading can be an advantage: It is cheaper to have more of your reading included before the new rate applies!

      1. glen cullen
        December 23, 2022

        It’s a national disgrace when the HoCs MPs all voted in favour of ‘smart meters’ and putting the cost on everyones bill
.a marxist law

        1. glen cullen
          December 23, 2022

          Did anyone else get the text today inviting them to get a ‘free’ smart meter

      2. graham1946
        December 23, 2022

        No its not. They estimate what they want and charge your dd. This is not a final bill, but an estimate of future use, always in their favour, of course. The actual amount payable is by actual meter reading. It is not possible to forestall future price increases in this way. Even if you get to a big credit position, it will not be applied to your account until the meter readings are in.

        1. Bloke
          December 23, 2022

          graham1946:
          I didn’t authorise a Direct Debit arrangement. I take my own readings, report them online, and pay my electricity bills quarterly by BACS. I do keep the readings accurate and take a date stamped digital image of the meter solely for my own reading record. It’s been the same for years without my being asked for proof of readings.

          1. graham1946
            December 24, 2022

            Good. That is exactly what I am advocating. We don’t finance any other business this way, simply to get a monthly payment scheme and what happened when the small ones went bust, taking customers advance payments with them? The government copped the bill, and added the loss on to our bills. People can always do a standing order if they can’t look after monthly payment themselves and settle up at the end of the quarter. Its simple enough.

    4. oldwulf
      December 23, 2022

      @Sea_Warrior and Bloke

      Yep.

      My energy supplier wants to replace my meters as they “appear” to have reached the end of the certification period. I have said that it would be more sensible (and potentially more green) to first check them to see if they are working properly … then reset or repair them if necessary and if possible. Sadly, Government provides them with public money only for meter replacement.

      In any event, if I am forced to have a smart meter, I will choose to have it in dumb mode …. and I do not want a chinese meter.

      https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11321855/Chinese-smart-meters-threat-power-supplies-Britain-critics-fear.html

  12. MPC
    December 23, 2022

    Your posts in the last two days would at one time been expected as comments and exhortations from an opposition MP to a Labour government – just imagine the word ‘Labour’ in front of ‘government’. The fact that you have to write in this way shows that this government’s sole ambition is the reactive management of decline. It also shows that it is no longer possible to argue that a Labour government could possibly be worse.

    1. Ian B
      December 23, 2022

      @MPC +1

    2. IanT
      December 23, 2022

      Things could always be worse 🙁

    3. formula57
      December 23, 2022

      + 1

  13. Ian B
    December 23, 2022

    Good morning Sir John

    Wishing you and yours a Very Happy & Merry Christmas

    Time to have a break, refresh

    1. IanT
      December 23, 2022

      My son reports that you were in fine voice a few evenings ago at the Carol Service Sir John.

      Merry Christmas to you and yours.

      Reply. Thanks. Happy Christmas and new year to you and yours

    2. Atlas
      December 23, 2022

      Agreed.

      I think Sir J. could do with a stiff drink … or three perhaps!

  14. Dave Andrews
    December 23, 2022

    Require multi-nationals operating in this country to pay Corporation Tax at the same rate as UK companies, not the 0% they currently enjoy with tax loopholes and creative accounting.

  15. Ian B
    December 23, 2022

    1. Entering the UK without authority is a Criminal Offence, therefore wrong definition just Criminal entry. Not Migrants, just Criminals. They are stealing places from legitimate asylum seekers.

    2. Housing Criminals in Hotels is above the pay grade of of the Home Office, Border Control, Police or who ever is making the decision.

    3. Sending Criminals either home or back to last departure should be instant, even at their own cost. Remembering these individuals have money they are said to be paying 10,000 – 30,000 each to traffickers.

    4.100% Agreed. Farmers are good at doing what is best

    5.Aid like all taxpayer money should be for defined purposes. Supporting those nation to get on Nuclear proliferation and Space Projects should never be on the list, if they cant spend it on their people.

    6.Stop all subsidies. At the same time stop backdoor tax, levies, mind manipulation tax etc.

    7.Bring the transport network into the 21st Century

    8.Significantly reduce civil service numbers, remove QUANG’s bring every entity funded by the taxpayer in a regime of accountability and responsibility.

    9.Nothing ‘smart’ about anything with the word smart in it, stop corrupting the English Language

    10. Borrowing to invest. More corruption, political indoctrination corruption. Investment is a project that creates a reinvestment return depleting the taxes in the long term.

    1. Fedupsoutherner
      December 23, 2022

      Ian. Yes. Where is smart applicable on motorways today?

    2. Peter Parsons
      December 23, 2022

      “Entering the UK without authority is a Criminal Offence, therefore wrong definition just Criminal entry. Not Migrants, just Criminals. They are stealing places from legitimate asylum seekers.”

      The issue here is that it is government policy to require legitimate asylum seekers to already be in the UK in order to make a claim. Therefore, a legitimate asylum seeker needs to have already gained entry without authority. As such, current government policy criminalises legitimate asylum seekers.

      The government could choose to deal with this in other ways, but they choose not to.

  16. Bryan Harris
    December 23, 2022

    That inoffensive list is but the tip of things that should be done – If HMG were to get innovative instead of looking at ever new ways to waste our taxes they would surely reduce our debt to a fraction of what it is. I still feel they are not at all interested in better economics or balanced budgets.

    HMG certainly needs better advisors – I suggest getting hold of a woman with a family, not well off, but who clearly manages her budget and knows when to make cuts in unnecessary expenditure. There are plenty of people like this who could teach the Chancellor a few lessons.

  17. Javelin
    December 23, 2022

    If you want to fly illegal immigrants back home I suggest employing freelancing Ozzy pilots. There are always lots of them chasing too few jobs. Many of them have large commercial flying licences. Just go to a site like freelanceaircrew.

  18. Rodney Atkinson
    December 23, 2022

    The last time i looked local authorities owned ÂŁ12 bn worth of high street property.
    Force their sale!
    If the overseas and programme had risen by the same as state sector pay it would be one third less. So slash by one third
    Reduce state employees by the 400,000 they have recently risen by

    1. Mickey Taking
      December 23, 2022

      With the downturn in business and footfall what are they worth?

    2. glen cullen
      December 23, 2022

      REDUCE THE STATE
      Disband all quangos and reduce the number of government departments to defence (army & coast guard), home office (police), business (roads and energy infrastructure) health (first aid provision) education (5 to 16 provision only) 
and leave everything else to market forces

  19. Narrow Shoulders
    December 23, 2022

    Re Number six and making higher income households pay for their own gas and electricity in full. Is that your means of wealth redistribution?

    As a result of government policy higher income households would have money taken away from them which lower income households would not. Sounds like communism to me. To each according to their need from each according to their means.

    Would your higher income calculation include both incomes? Or would you just screw single higher earners like you do with child benefit where two ÂŁ35K earners get to keep it while a single ÂŁ60K earner (paying more tax and NI than those two combined) loses it?

  20. Narrow Shoulders
    December 23, 2022

    11. Cut Barnett completely

    12. Cut spend on Diversity and inclusion throughout the public sector – it is already the most diverse workforce in the world.

    13. Start charging a deposit for NHS appointments.

    1. turboterrier
      December 23, 2022

      Narrow Shoulders
      Start charging all the overseas health visitors there are rules in place but no enthusiasm from the consultants and staff to implement them.
      Take the cost of the operations and after care from the Trusts budgets and their wages. No one in the NHS has charity on their forehead. No one holds a gun to their heads to work their either.

      1. Narrow Shoulders
        December 23, 2022

        @Turbo if we get the NHS used to taking money then they may have more stomach to charge those who are not supposed to be treated as a UK national.

      2. anon
        December 23, 2022

        Just allow the medics to treat overseas visitors, just ensure the medic puts in the FOC overtime. Many will. So they should be allowed that choice.

    2. Bryan Harris
      December 23, 2022

      13. Start charging a deposit for NHS appointments.


      That would be a very slippery slope – it might be introduced at a small price, but we all know how the socialist Chancellor mind takes over and before you know it, it becomes a major tax.

      12. Cut spend on Diversity and inclusion throughout the public sector – it is already the most diverse workforce in the world.

      Most definitely

  21. Robert Miller
    December 23, 2022

    Just cut subsidies which just distort the market

    1. glen cullen
      December 23, 2022

      Yes – stop all net zero green subsidies

  22. 37/6
    December 23, 2022

    Railways (item 7)

    If the fares keep going up then it’s no wonder that footfall is lower. Clue. Inflation is not being caused by the staff, who’ve had a pay freeze for nearly three years (and accepted it until recently.)

    While I’m at it. Migrants. Moving them to cheaper accommodation means moving them into communities and this is not the solution either. The hotels situation is, however highly visible and disruptive for working people planning events and taking breaks and seeing their beloved holiday destinations go down the toilet. Not good for the Tory prospects in 2024.

    Along with the death of the pubs (by tax), the death of home heating (by tax) and the death of personal transport (by tax) it is a wonder how this government is getting away with beating up public workers (not public bureaucrats, I hasten, which the Tories just won’t take on) for allegedly being the cause of inflation, whilst giving dole cheats a 10% pay rise without quibble.

    In fact scrap the whole list. Get rid of the Tories. They are a real and present danger to our civilisation.

  23. glen cullen
    December 23, 2022

    Stop employing public servants in non-jobs ie ethics adviser or diversity director

    Smart meters aren’t ‘free’ as you’ve suggested, and cancel HS2

    I agree with all your points and a true conservative government would have implemented those points in the first term

  24. a-tracy
    December 23, 2022

    1. Review all civil service positions of anyone that has been off work for more than one month and hasn’t had to have a replacement worker hired to do their work. Is the position really required? What is the impact of not having that work done? All diversity officers get out of the office and onto the wards working amongst the people they are training to be diverse to see if there are any problems at first hand.

    2. For Income Support (IS) or Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), you are classed as working full time if you do 16 hours or more paid work per week. 16 hours isn’t FULL TIME. 19 Feb 2017 — If you’re a single parent or a couple, you can get up to ÂŁ2,010 Working Tax Credit if you work 16 hours a week –What is the rate in 2022? How many people claim it?

    3. Get our money back from the fraudsters who stole from covid funds. All of them. If government has thrown their hands up over it, see if the private sector debt collectors want to do it for you 50/50. 50% is better than 0 and it sends a message.

    4. Get our graduate taxes back from EU students now working outside the UK (convert their student loans and get a company to do this even if they keep 50% of what they collect) and those English student loan people working in other countries to pay for their tuition. Why are the Tories only making sure that English students pay their own way, this is grossly unfair? Perhaps NHS doctors shouldn’t have to pay their 9% graduate tax if they work in the UK but if they go abroad they have to pay 9% of whatever the salary grade is in the country they go to.

    5. Give hospital reception duties to private companies who are only paid what a % of money they collect from all the travel insurance, EU card rebilling, rest of world reciprocal rebilling that only seems to go one way and bills to the foreign aid fund for any visitors not covered for emergencies only. British NHS covered people could have an amount allocated to them per visit to A&E. I heard drunks going to A&E were rebilled ÂŁ60 is this true? If they want more money there are avenues they just have to collect it, why is it only sitting ducks that are expected to pay up. Private clinics and hospitals never have to cover emergency care, but that initial treatment needs billing and covering. All these babies we deliver from people allowed to travel in pregnant taking up unplanned spaces and causes peaks are they rebilled?

  25. Mick
    December 23, 2022

    Stop all this net zero climate rubbish and anything associated with it because in my opinion it’s just a way of fleecing the people of there hard earned money nothing more nothing less

    1. glen cullen
      December 23, 2022

      ‘’On December 15, Australia became the first major economy worldwide to reverse itself on its renewable classification for woody biomass burned to make energy. Under the nation’s new policy, wood harvested from native forests and burned to produce energy cannot be classified as a renewable energy source
      Science has found that biomass burning releases more carbon dioxide emissions per unit of energy produced than coal’’
      https://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/

  26. Donna
    December 23, 2022

    All of the above Sir John, and the following:

    1. Scrap the Police and Crime Commissioners and their fiefdoms. No-one wanted them. They are invisible.
    2. Remove taxpayer-funding for HS2. Only vested interests want it so let them pay for it. And if they won’t, scrap it.
    3. Stop implementing the Net Zero lunacy and save all the ÂŁbillions of costs associated with it.
    4. Scrap the Barnett Formula and make the Scots raise the additional taxes themselves if they want to spend more
    5. Cut the size of the House of Frauds by 50%.
    6. Scrap legal aid for criminal migrants. And stop funding the Migrant “Charities” which are encouraging them to come here.
    7. Reduce the size of the Civil Service by 10%, with none to come from front line roles.
    8. Scrap every Equality/Diversity role in the public sector
    9. Reform Universal Credit so that it doesn’t pay to only work 16 hrs a week. Make it 20 hrs, and plan to increase it to 25 hrs.
    10. Scrap all Overseas Aid to countries which have a nuclear arsenal; space programme and an extensive military.

    The CON-Socialists won’t cut spending. There’s nothing Conservative, let alone conservative, about them. Hunt and Kaa are just Globalists who are following the WEF plan to destroy the economy and reduce our living standards.

  27. Old Albion
    December 23, 2022

    Illegal migration has been going on for decades. The numbers rising every year (bar the Covid years) 12 years of Tory Gov. has failed to cut the numbers.
    All we hear is bluster and promises. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

    1. glen cullen
      December 23, 2022

      Enough is enough …thats why its reform for me along with many tory voters and red wall voters

  28. Malcolm Dodd
    December 23, 2022

    Margaret Thatcher made one mistake in her excellent policy of selling council houses.
    All needed replacing, indeed we needed even more – and still do.
    The Bof E has been responsible for our high inflation through money printing.
    Incredible it should talk down this Country by mentioning a forecast of a large recession.
    Strangely the B of E can be the answer to resurrecting Con fortunes.
    The B of E lends at BoE bank rate to local authorities (or via Gvt).
    Local authorities build council houses.
    Tenants pay rent at level which recoups Council construction costs and interest on debt.
    Tenants are not paying the equivalent of mortgage rates at around 6% so they can save the deposit to later buy their own home.

    Reply Councils could use the net receipts from sale after repaying specific debt to build more

    1. Mickey Taking
      December 23, 2022

      selling council houses was intended for the money to be used in building more modern, appropriate homes for rental. The Councils spent it on other things.

  29. Original Richard
    December 23, 2022

    0. Cancel the economy destroying unilateral Net Zero Strategy estimated to cost in excess of £3tn, designed to drive industry off-shore and so to de-industrialise the country and bring it to third world status with expensive, meagre and intermittent energy. Net Zero wouldn’t be cancelled even if it were found that average global temperature was falling.

  30. Mark Thomas
    December 23, 2022

    Abolish the Mayor of London and the London Assembly.

    1. glen cullen
      December 23, 2022

      +1

  31. a-tracy
    December 23, 2022

    Donna
    1. Agree. Plus NLH is convinced crime has gone up since we’ve had them and crime was devolved!

  32. turboterrier
    December 23, 2022

    This link just about says it all about the thinking of about 95% of our politicians

    https://www.wsj.com/articles/coal-no-longer-shunned-keeps-europes-lights-on-through-frigid-weather-11671705322?mc_cid=99b2ce913b&mc_eid=4961da7cb1

    Well worth the read

    1. glen cullen
      December 23, 2022

      Good article but it doesn’t tell the full story of coal usage in China and the rest of the world 
net zero is only for the woke europeans

  33. Roy Grainger
    December 23, 2022

    I think (6) will happen because Hunt has said it will. The rest ? No chance. The majority of Conservative MPs told us that Sunak was absolutely the best candidate there was to be PM, the only adult in the room – when will it dawn on them, as it already has on us, that they got that hopelessly wrong ? He’s woefully inexperienced, out of touch with voters, irresolute and bad at politics. He’s acting like a management consultant rather than a PM, all talk and buzzwords and promises and hand-washing “inquiries” but no action at all. The sooner we get rid of him, and all the Conservative MPs who made such a massive blunder in electing him, the better.

    I may say their their second choice, Truss, was also useless but they are blaming the membership for her selection, even though the membership wanted neither of those two.

  34. Bert Young
    December 23, 2022

    Sir John , I agree with most of your cutting cost suggestions but one you have overlooked is the number of and cost of MPs . The system of representation today is burdensome , time consuming and out of date with the times ; devolved governments are a mistake . The science of communication has vastly changed and ought to be made more use of ; the same is true of the way the NHS operates .

  35. Christine
    December 23, 2022

    Since the lockdown the service from the public sector has been woeful. I’ve just rung our local council to be told by a recorded message that the office is closed today. Why? it’s not a bank holiday. And won’t open again until 4th January. It’s as if they don’t think they have to work anymore. This is one of the reasons productivity has declined so much and we seem to need more workers to do the same amount of work as previously carried out. Sunak has turned this country into a lazy self entitled third world country with his furlough scheme. It’s going to be very difficult, probably impossible, to turn things around.

    1. Mickey Taking
      December 23, 2022

      Service industries virtually work, AKA – stay at home, get paid…

    2. glen cullen
      December 23, 2022

      Thats you tax dollar being put to good use

  36. outsider
    December 23, 2022

    Dear Sir John, back in 2010, you suggested a blanket ban on public sector recruitment, other than for “front line” workers dealing directly with citizens. That did not happen, partly I feel because the new coalition Government was about to recruit an unprecedented army of “Spads”. Instead there were compulsory redundancies that cost more than they saved. So this time:
    1. Impose backroom non-recruitment for the next two years in all centrally funded organisations. At a guess, this would cut costs by at least 5 per cent. All vacancies to be filled internally.
    2. Impose a 25 per cent cut in spending on consultancy contracts.
    3. Defund the NHS, by which I mean making it clear that the proportion of GDP spent on the NHS has peaked and will not rise any further. It is now clear that the NHS as an organisation has become the worst kind of self-serving monopoly. Only by clear limits will its managers be forced to focus back on the functions intended by Aneurin Bevan in 1947, some of which are no longer being fulfilled.

  37. Original Richard
    December 23, 2022

    Drastically cut back Universities who are enriching themselves whilst :
    – Allowing 120,000 Chinese “students” to steal our IP
    – Landing students with unaffordable debt for worthless degrees.
    – Subjecting students to 3 years of Marxist ideology leaving them intolerant of opposing ideas, unable to think for themselves and with insufficient knowledge to know when they are being conned.
    – Underutilising talented people who should be doing worthwhile jobs instead.

    1. Your comment is awaiting moderation
      December 23, 2022

      Take 900 police officers off of thought crime patrol and task them with preventing actual crimes.

    2. glen cullen
      December 23, 2022

      Remember to wonder new material ‘Graphene’ that manchester university (which the taxpayer fully fund) gave away free to the world – well China now has over 58% of graphene patents
      Britain first my arse

  38. Original Richard
    December 23, 2022

    “6. Stop energy subsidies to higher income households”

    The same concept as loading extra taxes on working people whilst increasing the benefits for shirkers, and now I read, asylum seekers. And cancelling state pensions for the “better off”.

    When cash has been eliminated and we only have card payment, our WEF Parliament could make prices of all goods a function of each individual person’s earnings/wealth to achieve their final aim.

    1. Your comment is awaiting moderation
      December 23, 2022

      Altenatively drop the net zero nonsense and stop the constant attacks on the aspirational community.

  39. ColinB
    December 23, 2022

    1. I know of 6 companies who were profitable during the pandemic who have voluntarily repaid any furlough monies received from the Govt / tax payer. This should be made compulsory for all profitable firms during the lockdown periods.
    2. Did we ever get back the ÂŁ40 million ( 4 x ÂŁ10m furlough applications ) from the gentleman in india
    3. I believe we are subsidising a foreign ( Denmark / Netherlands ) owned train franchise on the eastern coast. Do we need to subsidise it when it is profitable. Foreign individuals have been crowing about it on social media.
    You couldn’t make it up if you tried.

  40. agricola
    December 23, 2022

    13.06 Friday 23.12.2022
    1. First end Legal Aid for immigrants. Genuine assylum seekers do not need it. All you are doing is subsidising the legal profession. If Channel weather and death does not deter them, the law is a bagatelle. Destroy the financial model. At this stage in the whole migrant fiasco I suspect those UK forces who want a never ending stream of migrants have more clout than the Home Office. If MI5, MI6, GCHQ and overseas intelligence force cannot tell government,
    A. Where the rubber boats are manufactured
    B. Where the material comes from.
    C. Where the life jackets come from.
    D. Where the engines come from.
    E. Shipping routes for the above.
    F. Details of communications to get all the above hardware to the launch point.
    G. How the money moves and to who.
    then what is their purpose.
    I suspect that all the huffing and puffing is just a smoke screen. Remember how swiftly the legitimate Liz Truss government was removed and replaced with an illigitimate bunch of remainers and ask yourselves who or what saw Truss as a threat to their interests.

  41. Bill Mayes
    December 23, 2022

    Let’s face it, the current pseudo-Tory Government are following socialist policies rather than true Conservative ones. Until they revert to plans laid out by PM Truss and her team, to concentrate more on increasing growth rather than paying down debt, this country will slide further into recession and further down the richest nations table.
    We cannot feed the world nor house them, let alone medically treat them, yet the current government practices suggest they are trying to do just that.
    Why? We do not owe the world a living but we do owe a better life for our own citizens, so why are these “conservatives” not putting this country and its citizens, ‘First’? All other Nations follow this principle, why not ours?
    To ignore the plight of British citizens in preference to foreigners is to condemn the Conservative Party to the opposition benches for decades, as few of the electorate will ever trust them again in their lifetimes.
    Will the current batch ever change? No chance, as they are too well controlled by the unelected civil servants who apparently run our lives now.
    2024 is going to initiate the annihilation of Tory MPs. Unless……

  42. agricola
    December 23, 2022

    13.20 Friday 23.12.2022
    5. Cease overseas aid until such time as we can afford it. Then only aid specific projects that help identifiable recipients. Never donate blanket sums to middlemen. Have you noticed how much some charities spend on TV advertising and then question whether they are running a charity or a business.

  43. agricola
    December 23, 2022

    13.27 Friday 23.12.2022
    6. Stop subsidising Green Energy vanity projects like wind and solar farms whose effect at best is erratic, but guarantees end users high electricity bills.

  44. No Longer Anonymous
    December 23, 2022

    When are we closing our borders to China ?

    What use is Government if it can’t protect us from the obvious ? Does Government actually give a flying toss about British people ? Why are we paying for a British Government which cares about everyone but British people ?

    (Millions are ill with a new covid variant in China.)

  45. agricola
    December 23, 2022

    13.38 Friday 23.12.2022
    Your other offers are peripheral deck chair movements on the Titanic. My judgement is that this government is an illigitimate spent force. If you want a Conservative government at end 2024 you will need to vote Reform in the way that Brexit was voted at our last EU election.

    1. glen cullen
      December 23, 2022

      good assessment

  46. Keith from Leeds
    December 23, 2022

    Hello Sir John,
    It seems no one disagrees with your suggestions except those who have the power to action them!
    Most comments suggest the cuts should go much further, which they should. But it’s Christmas, so have a nice relaxing break & continue your good work in the New year.
    I will say if you don’t make choices & take action when you have choices, you will be forced to take action you don’t want to when you have no choice. So the day will come when this government is forced to take action when it does not want to.

  47. anon
    December 23, 2022

    How do we effect policy execution in line with democratic mandate, when you do not have a functioning democracy?

  48. Robert P Bywater
    December 23, 2022

    I don’t know what the cost was to construct all those Nightingale hospitals at the height of the covid outbreak. I don’t know to what extent they were actually used. I think most of them have been demolished by now.

    This seems to me to be a huge waste of money now that we have all these (mostly wannabe) asylum seekers to provide housing for. With suitable conversion they could have been turned into dormitories.

    1. Bill Mayes
      December 23, 2022

      That was deemed a silly idea – because it made too much sense.

    2. glen cullen
      December 23, 2022

      I’ve came to the conclusion that our government just relied upon and past the decision making over to advisers 
they’ve been so use to taking orders from the EU, our leaders don’t know how to take responsibility or how to make a decision by themselves

    3. Mickey Taking
      December 23, 2022

      A monumental scam from Government intended to calm fears of every ward being infected with Covid, patients dying and nurses at extreme risk. It appeared that huge ‘solutions’ could be built in a couple of weeks – so relax everybody. All these open plan dormitories, prefabricated wall dividers, service power and tubes available….talk of drafting in staff….Servicemen manning the barrier entrances to ensure journalists and the public could only see what was portrayed as rapid success stories regionally.
      As soon as things calmed and evidence of occupation was demanded, they were ‘no longer required’ – beds removed, deconstruction happened – – nothing to see here – move on!

  49. glen cullen
    December 23, 2022

    SirJ if you have any influence with the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, please ask them to instruct all TV outlets to stopping showing ‘’last years reviews’’ 
I don’t want to be reminded of a single thing or event from last year

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