Dear Mrs Merkel
I read that your visit to the UK is to improve relations between our two countries. You will find the UK willing to be a good friend and ally. You will also discover that many UK people feel the EU has behaved badly, petulantly and against its own interests over Northern Ireland, fishing, vaccines and other matters which it has decided to turn into disputes. All the time the EU does not grasp that we have taken back control and intend to make our own laws and decisions there will be pointless friction.
The EU’s attempt to control and prevent trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland is particularly provocative given the acceptance by both sides to the Protocol that the integrity of the UK internal market was as important as the integrity of the EU single market. Our substantial trade between GB and NI is no threat to trade between NI and the EU, as it is properly controlled and regulated to be internal trade only. The continuing wish to treat UK fish as if it were still a common EU resource is also an unfortunate aggression. The permanent pressure to get the UK to conform with all EU rules and regulations is a silly attempt to thwart one of the aims of Brexit.
You will have noted that the UK has seen a sharp improvement in its balance of trade since we left, as we do not need to rely so heavily on imports as we came to do during our period in the EU. The UK will have more options both to make and grow more for ourselves and to source imports from outside the EU as we open better trade deals with non EU countries and regions. The UK has been much more the customer than the supplier in our trade with the EU, so we expect to be treated well to keep our custom. The EU’s wish instead to treat us some naughty errant colony is a good way to hasten the search for substitutes for EU food and goods.
The EU is no longer able to control us through its Treaties and law codes, and we no longer answer to the European Court of Justice. Our two countries still have disagreements about the withdrawal details, where neither side can claim it is uniquely right in its own interpretation given the vagueness and contradictions in the texts. The truth is anything that requires enforcement and compliance in the EU is clearly under EU control, and anything needing it in the UK including Northern Ireland is under UK control. I trust you will understand the realities and wish to heal a bruised relationship. If Germany and the EU understand our intent to govern ourselves there is plenty of scope for trade, friendship and joint venture.
Yours sincerely
John Redwood
July 1, 2021
Good morning.
Not quite correct. The EU still has influence over us through various programmes we engage in. We also have agreeds to follow EU working rules and rules on the environment. They also have the Trojan Horse that is Northern Ireland. Through that they can further extend their control by making life for those in the Province difficult unless we acquiesce to their rules. It is either, we surrender Ulster or, the whole of the UK to the EU.
Which begs the question : What idiots signed us up to this ??
July 1, 2021
If my memory serves me correctly, the rogue Parliament prevented the UK leaving the EU without a deal (the WA). The EU was fully aware of this and used it against the UK. Boris had a choice of placing the whole of the UK in the Customs Union, or NI alone, or delaying Brexit despite his promise to ‘get Brexit done’. The blame lies wholly with the Remainers in Parliament.
July 1, 2021
Extension to Nai protocol over chilled meats agreed on the premise of followingmEU rules! Extension to fish around,Jersey for French fishermen allowed without licences. Some taking back control!! ECHR applies therefore no control over immigration, asylum seekers or illegal immigration.
Buy British food and all other products wherever possible from UK or outside EU. Incrementally stop buying from EU, especially RoI agriculture food products. The lever is on our pockets we cannot trust a Johnson or the useless Fake Tory party. They are betraying Brexit. It does not wash JR.
July 1, 2021
Hope
Indeed !
The EU attempts to starve sovereign British territory into submission? It’s disgusting especially when you think of the sacrifices this country made to liberate Europe from nazi tyranny, and also remember the Berlin Airlift which kept Merkel’s countrymen fed.
In my opinion we should respond with an absolute 100% boycott of EU produce and goods. Hit the ungrateful buggers where it hurts.
“….especially RoI agriculture food products. The lever is on our pockets we cannot trust a Johnson or the useless Fake Tory party. They are betraying Brexit. It does not wash JR. ”
Absolutely correct…….indeed it does’nt wash. Everyone now knows the conservative led establishment had every intention of delivering BRINO right from the moment of referendum result, probably even before. What they conned us into was their plan B.
Consumer power – just don’t buy any EU or Irish stuff.
July 2, 2021
“Irish Stuff” is EU stuff…..
July 1, 2021
+1
July 3, 2021
Extension to NI protocol over chilled meats because we have to co-operate with our neighbours. Extension to fish around Jersey because we have to co-operate with our neighbours. ECHR applies because we have to co-operate with our neighbours. You were told we’d take back control. All lies. Every country in the world has to co-operate with its neighbours. When we were in the EU we did as as an equal, now we do it as a weaker party from the outside and get a bad deal. You’re right to be angry Hope, but direct your anger at the Brexiters who fed you a fairy story
July 3, 2021
No, I am fed up with the likes of JR pretending something is happening to reality. JR was present and aware of the failings during debates, votes etc. He knows what he writes is not true ie ECJ does apply in many areas, it does apply.
Brexiteers wanted a fair trade deal nothing more. If not possible WHO. Johnson is incrementally caving in on every issue and allowing UK to be bound and tied to EU ie more electric lines from EU to hold our nation to ransom while he makes utterly unaffordable green shit claims. JR should be well on the road to ousting him. But no. He is spinning rot for the govt. even though he knows what he writes is not correct. He could view his previous blogs to correct himself.
Reply My blogs on NI are to get a change of government stance, not a defence of where we are which I have always criticised. The UK legislation I supported asserted our sovereignty which means ECJ need not rule here.
July 1, 2021
The “idiots” were those who endorsed Mr Johnson’s proposals, Parliament and, of course, the House of Lords, i.e. the very people who tell us they exist to scrutinise proposed legislation and prevent problematic laws. All those lawyers, yet they still couldn’t come up with something that didn’t undermine the Act of Union!
July 1, 2021
No, the idiots were the MPs and peers who passed the illegitimate Surrender Bill, thus preventing the PM from disentangling us completely from the May mess.
July 1, 2021
Mark B, The new defence and security pact between the UK and Germany (the dominant EU state) is part of the process of folding us back into the EU empire. The UK establishment will not let go. They sold us out before, and they will do so again.
July 1, 2021
NickC
this is just an emotional statement with no real factual basis, it is fake news
July 1, 2021
I would say it is an opinion bill.
People are entitled to state their opinions.
July 2, 2021
Peter 2
Yes I believe you are as well.
July 2, 2021
Bill Brown, The factual basis is that Germany is the dominant state within the EU. Are you arguing with that fact? Therefore any agreement with Germany is an agreement with the EU. After all, Remains on here and elsewhere keep telling us the EU is one for all, and all for one. Disagree? – you’ve not previously. That makes this defence and security pact an agreement with the EU.
July 2, 2021
Germany does not make all the decisions for the EU this is why each country also has a veto power ,so an agreement with Germany on defense outside NATO does not imply that this is a decision with the EU. So, yes I do disagree as most defense collaboration outside NATO is done on a country by conty basis, like Denmark UK collaboration in the past in Iraq, Bosnia and Afghanistan in Helmand province
July 2, 2021
Well there is a new agreement? And the global cabal elite and vested interests in government have form in driving the actuality over the spin. We are not a proper functioning democracy and are still hog tied to the EU. Just wait until elections facts from the US surface from the censorship blockade.
July 1, 2021
The same idiots that signed the Trade & Cooperation Agreement (TCA) which ties us to the EU ālevel playing fieldā ā the clause which means nothing and everythingā¦.we just have to follow their rules and standards for compliance to the TCA
Remember that Ā£38bn divorce bill that Boris said weād never payā¦well we have and we continue to send UK taxpayers money to the EU ā maybe someone could ask Merkel for some of our money back and a truly free āFTAā
July 1, 2021
We’re not going to get a FTA from thwm not the cherry picking one ee want.. better look to Tanzania or Laos
July 1, 2021
Indeed. But Boris was left in a dire position by Cameron, Appeaser May, Bercow, Tory and other remoaners and the appalling Benn Act. Traitors.
How long must we put our children through a pointless Covid charade?
Gavin Williamson seems determined to keep schools on a war footing until the end of time
Allister Heath today spot on today as usual.
What is wrong with Gavin Williamson? Is he the Secretary of State for Education, in charge of the schooling of our children, or merely a useful stooge for the zero-Covid fanatics, willing to sacrifice childrenās well-being on the altar of a doomed quest to eradicate an endemic disease?
July 1, 2021
The second. He needs to go in the next reshuffle
July 1, 2021
What about the energy department? Kwasi Kwarteng is pleasant enough but knows nothing about energy engineering, Anne Marie Trevelyan is even more daft & ignorant. They things they and the Comittee for Climate Change are pushing are vastly expensive and do not even work in CO2 terms really. Which sound and profitable businesses will be taxed to subsidise this Giga Battery plant and why? Sunderland is rather unlikely to be the best place to locate such a plant. Doubtless why it needs other tax payers to pay it to go there. At least 3 jobs lost for every green job surely?
It seems they want to make washing machines etc. last longer reported today, fine I am against build in redundancy and shoddy throw away goods, so why are they forcing people to scrap perfectly fine older cars and replace with new Ā£30k+ electric ones that will in fact increase CO2 output not reduce it? Where in the low Carbon Electric coming from? Not the CO2 is an issue a net positive in fact in greening the planet.
July 1, 2021
the premise is if they don’t its the end of the world. once you believe that the requirement for rational debate, evidence and data goes out of the window.
July 1, 2021
I’m sorry I have to keep repeating this – the government is not building the extra generating capacity required to fuel battery cars and electric homes.
So Boris Johnson’s ‘run everything on electricity’ mantra is just complete waffle. Unless of course he believes Andy’s low powered toasters will do the trick.
July 1, 2021
lifelogic
Do not forget they want us to throwaway a highly efficient gas boiler as well !
Then to purchase an expensive and inefficient heat pump with the need to also increase all the pipe and rad sizes in the house and destroy all the floors in the process !
July 1, 2021
You can’t repair an electric car or heat pump you can only replace them….don’t worry about the 4,782,o0o+ employed as car mechanics and parts people – they’ll get ‘green’ jobs in a future green sector
July 1, 2021
And when all the children are vaccinated they’ll start wanting all the pets vaccinating… the BBC are on to this today.
July 1, 2021
Lifelogic, The peer reviewed study “The Safety of COVID-19 Vaccinations – We Should Rethink the Policy”, by Walach et al, states “Currently, we see 16 serious side effects per 100,000 vaccinations, and the number of fatal side effects is at 4.11/100,000 vaccinations. For three deaths prevented by vaccination we have to accept two inflicted by vaccination.” This is the same order of magnitude for all people. But children and younger people are rarely afflicted by SARS-CoV2 so the vaccine side effects could be worse for them. The government has lost all sense of proportion.
July 1, 2021
+1
July 1, 2021
LL
“But Boris was left in a dire position by Cameron, Appeaser May, Bercow, Tory and other remoaners and the appalling Benn Act. Traitors. ”
Interestng, LL.
Actually I used to hold that sentiment, but no longer do so because of Johnson’s many acts of betrayal against our sovereignty. I no longer believe a word the bloke says. He could have ripped up May’s WA, but didn’t. He could send migrants back to France, but doesn’t. He could have refused to give the EU Ā£38bn of our money, but gave it anyway and doesn’t want to talk about that.
May & Johnson traitors both.
May frequently jetted off to sneaky meetings with Varadkar, but the real agenda was’nt made public. We now know of course those meetings were to assist the eventual hand over of NI.
You say Johnson was lumbered with the consequences of May’s treason. Well I have to inform you he’s in on the act and just as guilty.
My guess is that there will be revolt in NI, and Johnson will have resigned just before the kick off, thus leaving the mess for someone else.
July 1, 2021
Indeed Steve; traitors to a man (or woman).
July 1, 2021
Spot On Steve…..and I fear your last sentence may become true
July 2, 2021
I totally believe everything you have said Steve and I also believe we will lose everything we fought for in Brexit because Boris is another appeaser and Liar and I do not believe a word that comes out of his or Priti s mouth they tell you what to believe knowing full well they have no intention of doing the job they were employed by us the British voters to do
Sir John Redwood would have made a better job is serving our country that any of the current government
July 1, 2021
“Which begs the question : What idiots signed us up to this ?? ”
Theresa May and Boris Johnson, but then they would, would’nt they. Research them in depth.
July 2, 2021
steve, Today I literally tweaked my curtains to check that it wasn’t Boris arm in arm with Frau Merkel, swanning up my drive, possibly to have her introduced to a typical Brexitist as I have become known.
I feared Sir John might have taken revenge on my oft-removed contributions, wanting me to face the two most damaging politicians I’ve been aware of for many a long year!
July 2, 2021
It was never possible for the UK to leave the EU without either agreement to follow all the EU rules or by putting a border down the Irish Sea. If you voted for Brexit without realising this, that can only because the Leave campaign did not have a clue about how to deal with Northern Ireland after Brexit and failed to answer obvious questions about how their āeasiest deal in human historyā was never ever possible.
Which begs the question. Which idiots campaigned for Brexit?
July 1, 2021
I agree with every word. I cannot understand the self destructive manner in which the EU is behaving, and I have to query their long term motives, if they have any beyond punishment of the UK. Do they believe they can bring the UK ‘to heel’. The sooner we lose our reliance upon the EU, the better. The EU reap what they sow.
If I were in government I would be sorely tempted to rip up the WA and the trade deal. I know this would cause short term pain, but better than endless fighting to retain our sovereignty. The shock of losing UK trade, cooperation AND fishing may just make the EU realise what they are deliberately throwing away in their anger and lust for control over the UK.
July 1, 2021
Shirley M,
āIf I were in government I would be sorely tempted to rip up the WA and the trade deal. ā
Agreed. However, a letter would be better directed to Boris Johnson requesting him to do just that.
The fact he is unwilling to do so emboldens the EU organisation.
July 1, 2021
We will eventually have to tear up the WA and FCA because pressure will become intolerable.
The EU is a hostile power and will be the architect of its own destruction.
July 1, 2021
Ian Wragg
this is an interesting statement “the Eu is a hostile power and will be the architect of its own destruction” This is just an illusion which has no facts or factual basis.
July 2, 2021
Bill Brown, The EU is a centralised dirigiste bureaucratic power – Remains on here boast about those aspects of the EU – witness Andy’s EU low power toasters imposed EU wide. So the EU is a great power (source: Remains). It is hostile to the UK. We both know that even if you are reluctant to admit it. For example EU apparatchiks gloated they had finally made the UK an EU colony. Such a rigid centralised power structure is friable, as history shows. You cite no reasons why Ian Wragg’s comment has – supposedly – no factual basis.
July 2, 2021
Yes, the European Union is very hostile to intolerance, bigotry, violence, criminality, obscurantism and to all other evils.
It is the most advanced, enlightened, civilised project that the world has ever seen, being unique – unprecedented.
Sadly there are some in this country who actually revel in those aforesaid ills, it seems.
July 1, 2021
Shirley M and Peter
I agree with both of you. Iād tear up the WA and write to Boris.
Itās said though that Boris has moved on from Brexit. So we are stuck with this mess until either some else rips it up, or holds Boris to account on the matter. Meanwhile, he continues with his plans to rip apart the country with his green nonsense.
July 1, 2021
+1
July 1, 2021
Indeed and he is also moronically still locking down pushing Mayās counterproductive, poimtless and vastly expensive net zero Carbon lunacy.
July 1, 2021
I agree with both your and Sir Johns opinions and aims. We the public have only one weapon in this fight , MONEY! So I urge every body to boycott all eu goods and farm produce to use this positively in the fight for our freedom from the tyrant.
July 1, 2021
+1
July 1, 2021
Shirley, The EU is not being self-destructive except in the short term. The EU’s aim is to keep up a constant barrage of vitriol and hostility to wear us down. That is combined with occasional enticements to cooperate such as the new security and defence pact with “Germany” (ie, the EU).
It’s standard ‘good cop – bad cop’ tactics. And of course vain personalities like Boris Johnson (and much of our Remain establishment) fall for it every time. As the first Elizabethans did, we should turn our backs on political Europe. That’s the only way we will survive independently.
July 1, 2021
NickC
We have a very close collaboration across Europe through NATO and many other individual traties, like Denmark adn UK working together in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq for years and through NATO, so your focus on a del with Germany just does not stack up by facts and history.
July 2, 2021
Bill Brown, I’m arguing that the UK should not have “close collaboration across Europe”. Perhaps that’s where you’re going wrong?
July 2, 2021
Nick C
we do ahve a close collaboration across Europe in many field including defense as outlined above, so no I am not wrong
July 1, 2021
What ever is the inducement, now that the UK has left the European Union, for Mrs. Merkel – a very busy woman indeed – to spend her time reading such a letter?
July 1, 2021
Shirley M .. we are the ones who left.. any downside is for our account.. in any case they have gone on hols they are not listening..
July 1, 2021
Generous letter but you miss the point, the EU are out to punish us for having the temerity to leave. Look at the banality of this sausage fight. Three months discussion without resolution is insane. I read next it will be lawn mowers. Does our lawnmower trade with the EU flow through NI. Such utter nonesense is impeding trade within the UK and the answer is starring you in the face. Art 16 makes provision for just such a situation, so use it. The EU have already used it out of context so get on with it and use it legally. Bullies have to be stopped dramatically before they back down.
July 1, 2021
+1
July 1, 2021
Agricola, Well said. But this will be a thirty year battle with the EU. Our Remain establishment has no shame and will readily capitulate if we let them. Only by constantly monitoring and reminding MPs will we keep our independence.
July 1, 2021
They won’t let us leave the EU, they won’t let us cut Foreign Aid, and they won’t let us stop illegal immigration. All these things are to them matters of pride, their own, and what others like them in the world will think of them. They have no care for their country.
July 1, 2021
Spot on Agricola. Why is our government letting the EU interfere with OUR trade? Perhaps they are concerned about the bully boy threats the EU are slinging our way. Friends? I don’t think so.
July 1, 2021
Agricola
+1
July 1, 2021
AGRICOLA,
i an really sorry your emotions are carrying you away again and by the way the sausages have been sorted out today, so keep up
July 2, 2021
Bill Brown, I am really sorry your emotions are carrying you away again – you will have to get over your automatic ‘EU right – UK wrong’ spasms. And “the sausages” have not been “sorted out” because the sticking point is EU control over Northern Ireland, not the sausages.
July 2, 2021
NickC
he was referring to the sausages wake up
July 1, 2021
Good Moring,
What is Mrs Merkel up to? For so long she has played the pupetmaster behind the EU puppets; pre-approving all their ‘initiatives’ and working to increase it’s power over the nations of Europe. Now, it appears, in her last days as Chancellor, she has broken cover and started to publicly take on the role of leader of the EU. She even refered to the EU as ‘sovereign’ recently. She want’s the EU to close its borders to the UK, she want’s the EU to give respect to Putin. This is strange behaviour; something is afoot.
As ever Sir J. you seek the reasonable response; you will not get it. Merkel,and Germany, are so invested in the EU that they cannot take any risk. To be ‘reasonable’ to the UK will provide oxygen to all the anti-EU voices in the many nations of Europe who are now seeing the truth; that the EU will subsume their nation into a United States of Europe, with Germany as its master.
July 1, 2021
Apparently she and Jabber Johnson will be discussing a ādeeperā relationship between their countries and the global response to the plague.
Sounds very ominous!
July 1, 2021
Peter Wood, True. Any deeper relationship with Germany is a deeper relationship with the EU. What part of Leave don’t the UK establishment understand?
July 1, 2021
Peter Wood,
this is a very interesting hypothesis but Merkel knws that Putin lies through his teeth, but believes dialogue is better than no dialogue. But that does not seem to have any consequences for your conclusions on Merkel?
July 1, 2021
I don’t know what she’s up to; I HOPE she’s going to suggest to Bunter that we bury the hatchet, stop the negotiating by Tweet and work out, quietly, all the necessary compromises so we can move on.
Merkel’s suggestio to ban Brits from Europe and publicly welcome Putin seems tin-eared in the extreme. A most unusual antagonistic suggstion from an experienced politician with a reputation for finding compromise. Extreme hubris or….
July 2, 2021
Germany’s future lies East with China’s enormous market and a re-industrialising Russia not West with a de-industrialised USA.German business will determine that more than Mrs Merkel whatever she really thinks.
Interesting that Biden cancelled Trump’s move of US troops from Germany to Poland and “Camp Trump”even though the Poles(ie the EU) were going to pay for it’s construction.I think I might have heard that the US is sending 500 additional troops to Germany which is still clearly under US occupation.
“Camp Trump”!You have to hand it to the Poles-400 years on the wrong side of history and still no sign of any change!
July 2, 2021
Bill Brown, It’s not the “dialogue” it’s the dependency on Russian gas. Duh . . .
July 2, 2021
NickC
The German import of gas from Russia is less than 30% of thier energy consumption, keep up my dear chap, that might of course change later
July 2, 2021
The other 70% being made up of immigrants pedalling on treadmills to generate electricity?
July 1, 2021
A very nice and undeservedly polite letter.
Maybe, however, she will smirk when she reflects on our āescapeā from the EU and the āfreedomā Johnson has imposed on us? Although, certainly she would approve considering all her āWir schaffen dasā, never minding any democratic consultation.
Sheās not scared of catching the variant of the day then?
Theyāll probably all go into hiding!
July 1, 2021
Germany is the dominate member of the EU despite what other leaders say.
The German people are now beginning to see just how much they will be expected to pay for our leaving and more poorer countries joining the EU.
Mrs Merkal is not the power house she once was and like all time serving leaders want to leave a legacy to be remembered by. The peasants are rising up and her time is running out and EU will miss her but be better off.
Germany has to accept change, but the people see it otherwise. Too many disasters. Green Energy programme, immigration being the biggest two.
All sounds familiar.
July 1, 2021
Turboterrier, You never know – perhaps the plan is to replace the gaffe-prone von der Leyen with Merkel to soothe the German peasants before robbing them? Though frankly I doubt that Target2 will ever be repaid.
July 1, 2021
I would favour Father Jack’s approach. The EU will only begin to behave after a prolonged period of non-cooperation by Whitehall. Our working assumption should be that we will go our own way rather than participate in EU projects. And we should also establish a benchmark for assessing if we are being exploited. If we aren’t being offered a better deal than, say, Australia, then we should decline the deal. The benchmark nation should be one broadly similar to the UK, on a number of dimensions, but which hasn’t contributed hundreds of billions of pounds to Brussels.
July 1, 2021
Spot on, Sea Warrior.
July 1, 2021
Now that I have finished wiping up my sprayed tea, thanks for that again, SW.
July 1, 2021
Dear Mr Redwood,
Thank you for your letter. Germans will always be friends with Britons. We were genuinely saddened you decided to leave the EU but have always respected your decision.
Many people across the EU feel the UK has behaved badly, petulantly and against its own interests – particularly with regard to Northern Ireland, fishing, vaccines and citizens rights. We find your threats to break international law brazen – and are concerned at how quickly you want to disown a legally binding treaty you negotiated and signed.
We also find it odd that having wanted Brexit for so long you personally seem very uncomfortable with the consequences of Brexit. Maybe Chesham is a bit close to home?
It seems to us that Brexitists wanted to ātake back controlā of their borders without any apparent comprehension of what a border is. A border is a barrier. It exists to create friction for whatever is crossing it – whether it is a person, a lorry, a live bivalve mollusc or a sausage.
EU regulations exist to remove these frictions but Brexitists either didnāt understand this or have refused to be honest about it. It is you, not us, that have made trade harder, more bureaucratic and more costly. This is harmful to Germans but worse for Britain as it affects a small percentage of our trade and a much bigger percentage of yours.
We note also that Brexitists have refused to be honest about the huge loss of personal freedoms – whether it is for touring musicians, expats, hauliers, young people. If Brexitists were so confident in their project they would have no problems admitting that Britons now had fewer rights and would face masses more bureaucracy – just to go on holiday, let alone live or work in Europe.
As a friend we look on Brexit Britain with sadness. The elderly xenophobes may think they have won but, in truth, everybody lost. Maybe one day even you Brexitists will develop the awareness to admit this.
Ever yours,
Angela
(Europeās greatest post war leader and probably the best female leader ever).
Reply One sided nonsense. Brexiteers understand what a border is and want a good UK border, not EU disruption of the UK single market.
July 1, 2021
Oh! Dear! Andy your a deluded moron. Blinded by the propaganda of your masters, driven through blind abeyance to the Project.
I as an old man have witnessed many poor treaties but non so blatantly invasive.
Good bye and good luck- you will need it
July 2, 2021
MFD
Very dramatic and some of the words you are using to describe somebody ho does not agree with you are not very appropriate.
July 1, 2021
Eu regulations exist to protect the EU from competition, called protecting the market hence why it so behind in key areas like technology communications etc and of course your inefficient French farmers.
Incidentally I see that your beloved France, being wealthy enough to own a second home there thus your contempt for ordinary people on state pensions, came bottom or nearly bottom of a poll on how easy it is to start up a business.
Protectionist, bureaucratic, language problems, slow to react all cited as issues. Itās well known the difficulty of getting employment over there despite open movement. So a protected market is ideal for them. No need for competition.
Bearing in mind you live in the U.K. so I guess you are happy to enjoy its benefits, you earn zero respect. When you put your actions where your mouth is and move to France, that will change.
July 1, 2021
UK’s stance on vaccines was against our own interests ? Tell that to the 11,000 people still alive in UK as a result of our world-beating programme and the millions who have received the UK AZ vaccine at cost and the poor countries benefitting from the UK’s COVAX funding which is bigger than that of the EU.
July 1, 2021
…
Ever yours,
Angela
(Europeās greatest post war leader and probably the best female leader ever).
P.S. Which bit of the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, Article 19 Annex 2, did you not understand?
July 1, 2021
So you now identify as “Angela”? Well so far, so fashionable, “Andy”. But at least you finally admit that Merkel is “Europe’s” leader. Think about that slip of the tongue.
However you still haven’t admitted that your various fantastic assertions – such as 55,000 extra HMRC staff, 20 mile lorry queues, medicine shortages, etc – were entirely fake. Just like your fake claim that the UK, unique amongst the other 165 nations on the planet, cannot live perfectly well free of the EU empire.
Nor have you admitted that your gloating about the deaths of the “elderly xenophobes” was the sick consequence of your apparent Brexit Derangement Syndrome. And you are evidently still unable to comprehend that the vast bulk of UK GDP (nearly 90%, and rising) is not dependent on exports to the EU, so that trade friction is, or will be, reduced overall.
July 2, 2021
NickC
Does these so -called personal attacks make you feel better. The so-called Ā£ 350 million extra per week to the NHS and 80 million Turks on the border works the other way. Your empire nonsense has no end. I actully feel a real dialogue with you might help your emotions about Europe and collaboration acorss frontiers
July 1, 2021
Reply to reply
Who makes single-use rubber boats that big ??? Who are the manufacturers ? What are they made for in reality other than come-and-get-me ‘rescue’ in order for Tories to be able to deceive Tory voters ?
Yes. The Tories know full well what a border means but now we have all the inconvenience of one without having the protection of it.
July 1, 2021
Andy the ostrich, as ever.
July 1, 2021
Andy,
If many people across the EU feel the UK has behaved badlyā¦particularly with regard to Northern Ireland, fishing, vaccines and citizens rightsā¦.ā then this is clearly because they have not been told the truth, which is hardly surprising.
I fully appreciate that a border is a barrier and this is precisely why I voted for Brexit. Membership of the EU was not working for us.
We were a net contributor to the EU budget, over which we had no control and we had a Ā£100bn/YEAR trading deficit over which we had no control.
In addition, Freedom of Movement meant we had millions of EU nationals coming mainly to England a country which is probably the most populated major country in the EU.
I say āprobablyā because we have no idea how many people reside in the UK unlike countries such as Germany, France, Italy etc. who have ID cards.
For instance, we were told to expect 3m EU citizens to apply for settled status, the figure is already over 5m.
Further expansion of the EU eastwards as intended would increase our population again and put further strain on our housing, schools, health and social care, environment and infrastructure.
With regard to āpersonal freedomsā I am more than willing to accept difficulties the EU may wish to impose for ātouring musicians, expats, hauliers, young peopleā¦.and holiday makersā in order to be able to retain the ability to elect and remove the people who make our laws and policies.
For example, I would not want my laws and policies to be made by Mrs. Merkel, formerly a senior member of the Russian Agitprop organisation when she was living in East Germany.
July 1, 2021
As to the silly bit in parenthesis, it is a relative observation that says more about all the others than it does about Mrs Merkel. I am pleased you left the UK’s leadership out of it.
If the NI Protocol is part of a legal treaty which you declare it to be, then I agree with you. It contains a legal clause called Art 16. This allows any party to it that finds its national interests under threat to make use of it to correct matters. The EU have already confirmed this by using it over the distribution of Covid vaccines. Having established its legality, no illegal breaking of treaties, we should use it to put an end to the EU’s interference in the internal operation of the UK, an independant skvereign state over where Sainsbury sell thei sausages or Qualcast their lawnmowers.
Sorry to be so pedantic but I am trying to explain for the benefit of a two year old intellect who insists on croissants for every breakfast.
July 2, 2021
Art 16 of the Protocol does not allow any party to it that finds its national interests under threat to make use of it to correct matters. Please go and read it before you come out with such nonsense, sir.
July 2, 2021
Agricola,
MOre personal atacks on Andy, you should really know better, but do you ?
July 1, 2021
Bravo
July 1, 2021
A political nobody compared to real giants like Thatcher. Merkel is grossly over-rated in any event as is increasingly recognised.
July 1, 2021
Europe’s greatest post-war leader was also the greatest female leader that the civilised world has ever seen :
One Margaret Hilda Thatcher.
July 1, 2021
Sir JR,
I am sorry to have to say that it is not more one sided nonsense than your generally very emotional twitter comments on the Eu
July 1, 2021
Excellent letter. Many really good and informative comments yesterday on China and already this morning. Our Dutch friend does not seem to comment these days, too much uninformed jingoism for him maybe but I would like to hear from him or someone actually who knows German politics, maybe from living in Germany what Merkelās political agenda truly is and more importantly how her successor will (have to ?) flex/change her approach.
Surely her upbringing in the old Eastern part which if contributors had never visited was utterly desolate has played a major part, just like the influence of WW2 on the leaders of the fledgling EU.
So letās look forward, a similar letter to her expected successor. In the meantime ensure Boris doesnāt spaff anymore away when he meets her.
July 1, 2021
JR, You are far more optimistic than I am about the German dominated EU empire. It is our enemy because it has chosen to be. And I realised that would be the case nearly a decade ago, writing on blogs and to newspapers to say so.
The EU is unstable. It must continually add more rules and more colonies in a sleight of hand just to survive. The reason is not hard to find – the EU ideology is hollow, it has no basis as a nation. Of course the EU can invent an artificial “EU patriotism” and has done so. But a fake patriotism won’t do. When the going gets tough, as Stalin found, real patriotism beats political ideologies.
July 1, 2021
+1
July 1, 2021
NickC
EU patriotism, does your nonsense never stop , and as usual without no proof or facts
July 2, 2021
See Andy’s and Martin’s oft repeated boasts that they are EU citizens, and love the EU above the UK, Bill.
July 2, 2021
NIck C
What has that goe to do with me?
July 1, 2021
Well done Sir John for not mentioning the Target 2 balances. I did once but I think I got away with it.
July 1, 2021
All the while we signal our intention to compromise through endless circular discussions, the EU will dig in to see what else they can extract from us. When are we going to have the confidence to claim our independence and territory and state how we’re going to smooth our internal trade, regardless of the EU’s sabre-rattling?
July 1, 2021
And in other news Global Britain, what a vacuous description that is, the alleged leader of free trade goes straight to protectionist mode on steel, saving us from cheap imports.
So beef from Australia is ok then. As ever under Johnson, ādishonestlyā facing both ways.
July 1, 2021
This is Merkel’s farewell tour, she’s stepping down in a few months time, for that reason nothing at all of value can be agreed with her during this visit. We’ll have to wait and see what her successor does – – of course most of our professed EU enthusiasts won’t even know who that could be so uninterested are they in the EU. Maybe Boris should raise Germany’s very poor record of climate change, still burning coal and pushing ahead with a massive new gas pipeline from Russia.
July 1, 2021
No point in writing to Mrs merle unless she is going to be taking a very prominent role with the EU.
No Point in writing to Macron either until he is re-elected.
Afraid the EU only understand actions not words.
We have played games now with NI for 6 months, and clearly it is not working, time now to do our own thing, trade as we have before with NI, stop all checks and paperwork within our own internal market, and only act as agreed if goods are going to the Republic from anywhere within GB.
The present situation is a farce.
July 1, 2021
A great headline in the U.K. the Hancock affair has done us a favour by exposing Westminsterās rancid double standards.
Quite I have never known people so angry and a normally level headed friend told me he feels this country is now ripe for a ārevolutionā
And in another sign that we are in the pockets of the EU and football, I hear on good authority, plugs have been changed at Wembley to accommodate UEFA officials.
With 7 million wasted on extending an airport in Cornwall to save an old bloke driving from Heathrow we truly are at ordure level.
July 1, 2021
I’d rather she was our leader than Boris.
Her people have more freedom than ours.
He is presiding over chaos while telling us it is a careful strategy and that he is working hard to get us out of lockdown.
July 1, 2021
I wouldn’t expect more than a ‘Nay Ya’ from Merkel should she ever get to see these words. She doesn’t respond to rationality, for she has her own agenda.
Merkel is not just a bully. she is a true believer in a consolidated world run by unelected bureaucrats, so for her BREXIT was the greatest crime ever.
Merkel’s influence over the EU has meant that others followed her lead, and I’m convinced she hasn’t given up on trying to punish the UK for leaving her enclave.
July 1, 2021
Others follow her lead because she has always made a very convincing, logic and evidence based case for her policies, and has also been straightforward as to any uncertainties involved.
People of good sense have recognised this.
She is a Conservative, incidentally, considerably to the Right of my politics.
July 2, 2021
Some conservative — Like so many allegedly of the right she has drifted left, but considering her background in East Germany she didn’t have far to go.
Since you Mic are so supportive of Merkel that tells us all we need to know about her.
As for her good logic — She has betrayed Germany in far too many ways, and she is not yet done.
July 2, 2021
‘to the right of my politics’.
I think we all are – but it would be clearer if you would explain your politics.
July 1, 2021
How likely is it that, under pressure from the voters of the Republic of Ireland, the Taoiseach will start thinking about leaving the EU? That would solve this silly spat over sausages. The EU has no business interfering with trade between Great Britain and the other member of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland.
July 3, 2021
I hope you realise that the only reason the EU is interfering with trade between Great Britain and the other member of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland is because Boris Johnson agreed an international treaty which says the EU has reason to interfere with trade between Great Britain and the other member of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland. And Parliament voted for it
July 1, 2021
A sensible and courteous letter, but the history of conversations with the EU and the heads of its leading member states, indicate that good manners are automatically taken as a sign of weakness.
As so often, the crux of the matter lies in your final sentence: will the EU and Germany ever understand our wish to govern ourselves, or believe in it?
July 1, 2021
Don’t know why we are still talking about Germany and the EU – we have left and should now be concentrating on these new trade deals with countries far away that we were promised by Liz Truss Fox and IDS- or better still we should go by WTO rules and have no trade deals with anyone – it might suit us better.
July 1, 2021
Jacob, We have not left. The EU still controls Northern Ireland and our fish. It would be nice to concentrate on the rest of world instead, as you say, but our establishment will creep us back into the EU if they can. With ongoing EU control (less than before but still present), and ongoing capitulation by our establishment (the new security pact with “Germany” – ie, the EU), we must continue to be aware of EU encroachment, and make MPs aware we know what’s happening.
July 1, 2021
NickC why do you persist in using language like this.. the EU does not control territory anywhere it is an economic bloc made up of 27 countries.. maybe 26 if Hungary doesn’t behave.. then there is a question mark over fish worth one billion to us pa but if you compare that to the 120 billion that we are losing cause our entertainment pop music stars etc cannot access freely move in EU countries anymore.. well then what’s it about.. so let’s get real.. then look at NI less than 2 million people costing us 15 billion pa block grant etc etc.. all mostly coming from the english tax payer etc etc??
July 1, 2021
Garret, so are you saying that the pop music stars etc cannot access freely move in EU Countries anymore costing the government Ā£120 billion in a single year in what taxes (or the pop starts themselves?) because of Brexit not Covid restrictions, just Brexit?
July 1, 2021
So you agree that the EU still controls Northern Ireland and our fish?
July 2, 2021
Ah…Hungary who decided to buy vaccines to stop their people dying while the other 26 were content with the Commission unable to ‘stop their people dying’.
July 2, 2021
Maybe it does have a degree of influence, Glen.
But hang on, isn’t that twig on your neighbour’s cherry tree overhanging your garden by a few mm?
Your life is ruined!
July 2, 2021
Garret, The UK music industry derives Ā£1.4bn from exports (source: UK Music). But that is to the entire world, not just the EU. So music exports to the EU are unlikely to be more than about Ā£0.6bn per year. Where on earth did you get your Ā£120bn figure from? And what do you gain by basing your views on fake statistics?
July 1, 2021
The reality is that Northern Ireland is in the EU Single Market. Therefore rather than focussing on the unique position of NI insofar as it is also Sovereign territory, it might be better to work out a trade agreement with the EU that encourages rather than inhibits trade, generally.. I have not noticed a reduction in the range
of EU food on supermarket shelves since we left the EU; if the EU suddenly has a problem with our sausages, could we not also have sudden misgivings about their produce? I have certainly consumed EU produce that did not impress as fit for human consumption such as Irish meat pies and Spanish sausages. There is no reason that food going into NI should not be labelled as not being for sale in the EU.
July 1, 2021
Sovereign territory only until the next insurrection
July 2, 2021
I absolutely agree forthurst. Northern Ireland still have their EU passports, full trade into the UK, full common travel areas, they can export freely to us, they kept their open border with Southern Ireland, they grow the banned products in Northern Ireland it is one of their biggest market, this chilled meat thing is a red herring.
What we need to do is sanction the EU on exactly the same products we are banned from exporting quid pro quo, if they don’t facilitate free trade on these products.
July 1, 2021
where is the emergency action to deal with the massive backlog of cancer, cardio vascular, and other patients?
are they somehow less worthy than covid patients?
please tell?
July 1, 2021
Iain Gill, Yes, that’s the question I asked my Tory MP. He had no answer. He excused the useless untargeted national lockdowns by saying the NHS was being filled up with covid patients. When I asked was the NHS overwhelmed, he said “No”! I then asked what about all the non-covid patients being denied treatment. He refused to accept that was so, even though he’d admitted that beds were occupied by covid patients! What can you do with a delusional MP?
July 1, 2021
Nick C
“What can you do with a delusional MP? ”
Either acquire yourself a lump of 4 x 2…….or simply vote him out.
July 1, 2021
Off topic
For those interested in British research from the University of Cambridge, seeking therapeutic agents that are effective against any variant of the Chinese plague virus, the following report from the excellent MedicalXpress.com website will be of interest
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-06-scientists-drugs-repurposed-covid-.html
British research gave the world Dexamethasone, which has saved many lives. Cambridge scientists using a combination of computational biology and machine learning have identified another ~200 already approved compounds that are worth investigating further. Outstanding!
July 1, 2021
Now we are out of the EU we are able to beat the Germans at football.
What ever next.
July 1, 2021
The skys the limit….we might even send some illegal immigrants back to France sometime in the future
July 2, 2021
now come on – be more realistic!
July 1, 2021
On N Ireland the Government agreed and signed the protocol took the wins and knew precisely what it entailed evidence of which exists in writing and I have previously quoted. This was the UK`s choice and the people who did it own it. No good stamping your tiny foot like Rumpelstiltskin now, its just funny
The behaviour of the EU over vaccines was , in my view, poor , and surveys showed a dip in remain support at that time .
A sharp improvement in the Balance trade is a bad thing – it means that instead of being able to source the products we like and can afford we are being forced to buy expensive ones we don`t like.
The EU controls who it trades with and under what circumstances, that’s all , John Redwood , might I remind every one on man occasions told us we would be just fine with no agreement whatsoever – why is he suddenly so desperate to beg for special treatment ?
Its all so embarrassing .
July 1, 2021
Nowt so embarrassing as a middle class, middle-aged old man hiding away at home while working class people bring him stuff.
Wouldn’t want you beside me in a food fight, let alone a war.
July 1, 2021
Newmania, The Northern Ireland Protocol is the consequence of an agreement, not the consequence of no agreement! Yes we would be fine with no agreement – then Northern Ireland would not be under EU control, and the UK could trade within its own borders (c70% UK GDP, about 7 times UK GDP exports to the EU). Far more important. It’s not that difficult to understand.
July 1, 2021
Yup And then there would be rock hard Border on land and the troubles we have now would be twice as bad . The fact that even this Government were wiling to break up the UK rather than have no deal should give you some idea how realistic that is .
Like your demo of economic gravity by the way , probably why the trade deal with Australia virtually worthless
July 2, 2021
Newmania, It is the EU which demands a hard border, as Remains on here constantly remind us, by boasting of the EU’s rigid universal rules.
July 1, 2021
Well said, SJ but I wonder what our PM had to say to her.
July 1, 2021
Unprincipled fraud meets dyed-in-the-wool communist.
July 1, 2021
Each has no interest in his country.
July 2, 2021
+1
July 1, 2021
O/T: I see the announcement about Nissanās gigafactory to produce 100,000 batteries per year for its new electric cars. It appears that the UK will contribute Ā£100m to help the development of this Ā£1bn endeavour. Ā£80m will come from Sunderland county council, and ā¦ Ā£450m will from Envision AESC (a Chinese company).
I suddenly started to wonder whether there could possibly be a link with Sunakās āmeasured and balanced relationship with Chinaā this morning in his Mansion House speech?
July 1, 2021
And Nissan is of course foreign owned – Renault I think has about 40%. Our Tories have sold us and prostituted our country.
‘Boris’ is making a tour but note he’s dressed up in their livery. Just shows he and we are rated second class in the eyes of other nations and their corporates.
July 1, 2021
PW
“Our Tories have sold us and prostituted our country. ”
To be fair that has been going on for many decades, regardless of whether Tory or Labour governments.
July 1, 2021
Taxpayer subsidy again !!!
July 1, 2021
Good attempt to negatively spin the Nissan good news hef.
But it still is the complete opposite of what leading remainers told us would happen in their Project Fear predictions.
July 2, 2021
Peter 2
Are you thinking of Project Fear whach has turned into Project Fact as outlined earlier
July 2, 2021
Nearly every Project Fear prediction has not come true.
Recession
High unemployment, half a million job losses
Huge chaos and queues at Channel ports
Nissan leaving the UK
Need for a punishment budget in the UK
Currency chaos with a run on the pound
Lower growth than the EU
Food shortages.
Households Ā£4300 worse off
Share prices would crash
House prices would crash
No trade deals
Just a few of a long list of failed predictions
July 2, 2021
Peter 2
the list is very long on the other side as well
80 million Turks
NHS Ā£350 miillion a wek more
to 3 million more Bulgarians and Romanians
MOre EU workers will mean no lodgings for UK citizens
the NHS will be on its knees with EU immigration
and so on
July 2, 2021
Turkey will one day join the EU
Then with the freedom of movement you support all their people will be free to move from Turkey if they wish.
The NHS has has far more than an extra Ā£350 million since we voted to leave the EU.
Don’t understand your last claim
Please rewrite.
July 2, 2021
P2, a bit of an ostrich, are you? Thatās the problem with your kind, unable to judge a situation based on more than one factor.
The gigafactory (GF) in Sunderland is planned for 9 GWh and 100,000 vehicles a year in 2024 to be possibly enhanced to 25 GWh in 2030.
Yes, but look also at the Northvolt GF in Sweden already planning to provide 300,000 cars a year (contract with Volkswagen and Tesla) with 20 GWh in 2024 and 40 to 60 GWh in 2030. Look at Douai in France with a production of 16 GWh in 2024, 50 GWh in 2030 (thedriven.io āRenault signs partnership deals for two battery gigafactories in Europeā).
Look at āLi-on batteries gigafactories in Europe (January 2021)ā (orovel.net)
From this map about 30 so-called gigafactories will have become operational by 2030.
Doesnāt this type of news take a bit of a shine off from the Sunderland announcement and our clownish PM in yet another outfit?
July 2, 2021
Ostrich….?
How eccentric a personal comment is that hefty?
My kind…isn’t that very non PC?
One simple fact for you hefty.
All you lefty remainers predicted Nissan would close and leave after Brexit.
And the very opposite happened.
Hilarious
Truly Hilarious.
July 3, 2021
Ah the lefty remainer, everything has been said, and there is no need to address the actual point: rather weak.
And beware, one might die of a prolonged bout of hilarity.
July 3, 2021
Well you are a lefty and you are a remainer hefty.
Be proud
Sing it out loud.
July 3, 2021
P2, so I am a lefty remoaner. OK fine. You certainly are someone who never address the points made, in this instance the actual importance of the Sunderland gigafactory within the European landscape, its sources of financing, and what that might mean for the British e-car industry in the coming ten years.
So what were you saying on that?
July 1, 2021
If anyone is hoping to become a Civil Service employee, perhaps in the FO and would like to know how to pen weak and grovelling letters in their future duties study Sir John’s style.
July 1, 2021
Trust me, the real FCO is vastly more weak and grovelling to the EU, Prangwizard.
July 1, 2021
I am a strong advocate of equal opportunities but do we really need a full days debate in parliament for āpride month 2021ā, with so many pressing political matters both domestic and foreign couldnāt both houses just produce a statement of support?
July 1, 2021
Well, we certainly lack pride in our own country. Some more than others.
July 1, 2021
glen cullen
“…do we really need a full days debate in parliament for āpride month 2021ā, ”
They obviously feel it is important, as to they reason why…….go figure.
July 1, 2021
JR say’s “You will find the UK willing to be a good friend and ally” – not true – looking back at the past behaviour of our MPs and MEPs when we were part of the EU it wasn’t true then so no point in pretending.
The point about thd EU not understanding that we have taken back control is pointless – we don’t have to deal with them anymore if we don’t want to – am sure the only thing on Merkels mind at this time is to get away on her hols ‘ what she’s about by coming here is just a farewell courtesy visit – it will be all change in Berlin by the Autumn.
Lastly the tirade against the EU again is a complete waste of time – nobody over there is listening and we have left – and that’s all – we are only obliged now to abide by whatever treaty and agreements we have made and no more
July 1, 2021
Blake, That depends on the interpretation of those treaties. And I only wish we had really left – even you couldn’t claim that the EU remaining in control of Northern Ireland and our fish is Leave. Or if you did, you’d be laughed out of court – by the EU itself.
July 1, 2021
Well, some of our MEPs and MPs – we know which ones.
July 1, 2021
āExtra precautionsā after July 19th !!
How can you MPs put up with this?
Constant lies and U turns.
Despicable beyond anything ever seen!
In the name of Godā¦
Do something!!
July 1, 2021
Beyond the pale
July 1, 2021
+1
July 1, 2021
or even in the name of the Electorate.
July 1, 2021
Yes absolutely!
July 1, 2021
Sinister.
July 1, 2021
+1
July 1, 2021
The Conservative party is officially the Conservative and Unionist party, so have enough of its MPs ever cared enough about the Union to form a pressure group to defend it against attack? Or are they all prepared to take their lead from a Prime Minister who very clearly does not care two hoots about the Union?
July 1, 2021
It hasn’t been a ‘Conservative and Unionist Party’ since Boris signed the NI protocal
July 1, 2021
glen cullen
I think Johnson should have to go and live in Northern Ireland…….see what happens.
July 1, 2021
With the high court judge’s rejecting the DUP and others action, does this mean there is no Act of Union for NI? I take it that also means they have no obligation to pay taxes to Westminster.
July 1, 2021
Dear Sir John,
Frau Merkel may well reply that yesterday a judge in Northern Ireland ruled that the NI Protocol and WA impliedly and lawfully repealed the Act of Union, and that (regardless of the evasions the PM and other hapless ministers may think fit to give in the House of Commons), the government and its lawyers have openly avowed that the Bill did knowingly breach and repeal the Act of Union.
Accordingly Northern Ireland has been legally placed under the supervision of the EU by an Act of Parliament framed by your government and passed by yourselves as parliamentarians, and Brussels is determined to eternally exact its pound of flesh – or rather to ensure that no flesh is imported into NI from mainland Britain. And yes, they will now feel free to use the word ‘import’.
There is no point in Tory MPs peering round the House to seek a culprit. They need a mirror instead.
July 1, 2021
Mancunius, Indeed, Boris has given us BINO by selling out Northern Ireland and our fish. And jeopardised the integrity of the entire country.
July 1, 2021
mancunius
“There is no point in Tory MPs peering round the House to seek a culprit. They need a mirror instead.”
There are two principal culprits: Theresa May and Boris Johnson. Both of whom best described as ‘sympathisers’…..if you do proper research it is obvious why they would side with the EU and RoI.
MP John Redwood is not one of those responsible for the betrayal of NI and I wish people would stop having a pop at him.
July 2, 2021
I second that Steve.
July 2, 2021
+1
July 2, 2021
Well put, Mancunius! The judge in Northern Ireland clearly explained that it was obvious that the UK Act last year implementing the Withdrawal Agreement intended to repeal the Act of Union and instead put a border between GB and NI, and that every MP voting in favour of it must have understood that. So all questions about the break-up of the UK need to be directed at the Conservtaive MPs who in January 2020 voted for the Act – which is all of them
July 1, 2021
Dear Sir JR
There is no real surprise in your rather emotional letter to MRs Merkel talking about aggression and naughty errant boy , it is like lots of your writtne material on the EU more emotional then filled with facts and figures.
The truth is tarde has fallen both ways by about 20% but we have also lost about Ā£ 110 billion in lost service contracts in the past four years according to the ONS.
So both sides have lost in this unfortunate period, we need to negotiate among friends and not use emotional fake news as the best way forward. Actually I think you are doing yourself a disfavour writing the letter.
July 1, 2021
Actually, Bill Brown, I think you are doing yourself a disfavour writing in that way. There is no real surprise in your rather emotional comment. You do not know how to quote figures correctly, because you do not give accurate dates, timings, percentages, or references. Where does the ONS state that the UK has “lost” Ā£110bn in services sales to the EU over the last 4 years (when the UK was still in the EU)? “Lost” compared to what?
July 1, 2021
The “Ā£110bn in services sales to the E” was a nonsense figure dreamed up by some think-tank. It consisted of inventing a fantasy number and subtracting the real number from it. Attributing this to the ONS is just Bill “helping” things along.
July 2, 2021
Thank you, Jon. It is notable that Bill Brown could not supply a source even when directly asked.
July 2, 2021
NickC
Nick, most of us know we had a referendum foru years ago, so it is from teh referendum, happy to send you more information and daa if, you need it anytime , at least I sue it as oppose to you ?
July 1, 2021
bill brown
“…..it is like lots of your writtne material on the EU more emotional then filled with facts and figures.”
Being very highly experienced and qualified on the subject, our host knows more about how the EU operates than you will ever know in a lifetime.
July 1, 2021
Steve,
I am so happy to be kept informed also by you thank you
July 1, 2021
Angela Merkel has no incentive to be more frendly towards the UK when Boris – in his usual stupid and treacherous way – is happy to roll over and give Germany (and indeed, the rest of the Britain-hating EU) what they want. He has just signed a security cooperation agreement with Germany (see here: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jun/30/uk-and-germany-sign-post-brexit-defence-and-foreign-policy-declaration). Why has he done so? Why doesn’t he say that the EU is now our enemy and that we will have nothing to do with them in terms of security? He is utterly pathetic and encourages EU contempt towards us.
July 1, 2021
Incidentally (off-topic but relevant to many previous posts) I had to laugh when I read that Addenbrook hospital have finally got round to confirming what I have been saying for over a year: that proper masks FFP3 ones – not the cretinous ones everyone is wearing – prevent ANY spread of Covid. (See here: https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-addenbrookes-hospital-upgraded-covid-staffs-face-masks-and-saw-cases-fall-by-almost-100-12344508). This proves that we never needed any lockdown. All that was required was for those who were vulnerable (the elderly, those with other conditions, etc) to wear these proper masks if they wanted to go out and about.
All the money spent on furlough and business support, all the destruction of our economy, all the disruption to the lives of the rest of us – it was all completely avoidable. It is frankly mind-boggling that the government, and all their moronic SAGE advisers, could not see what was so obvious to me. They all deserve nothing but contempt and a P45.
July 1, 2021
As usual, self-inflicted nightmares. We are out of the EU. Total separation will take a few months and in the meantime some people, including the EU will behave as if they have jurisdiction over the UK, out of mental habit.
But things are changing. The EU is realising that it can’t have jurisdiction that it cannot enforce, and that what *appears* to be jurisdiction is actually just whatever the UK will voluntarily put up with, out of self-interest, and that if push comes to shove the UK can’t exercise jurisdiction within the EU, and vice versa.
We should be relieved that the EU is motivated by spite, bad for their souls though that might be, because spite isn’t a very long-lived phenomenon, and the EU is soon going to have serious problems of its own – Hungary, Putin, the Italian economy and soon Spain. Compared to those, not much energy will be left for victimising NI.
There are serious debates still to be had, but they are debates over what we should do *voluntarily* to keep a good relationship. The idea that the EU looms over us as a tyrant are just silly. Out really does mean out.
July 1, 2021
Jon Livesey
“The EU is realising that it canāt have jurisdiction that it cannot enforce ”
It manages that via quisling governments. Ours is no exception, BRINO and NI betrayal demonstrate this perfectly.
July 1, 2021
Jon Livesey
“…spite isnāt a very long-lived phenomenon ”
Not without exception, Jon.
Knowing she was finished and being told in no uncertain terms the British people did not want her franco-german Withdrawal Agreement , Theresa May defied the essence of the 2016 referendum by enshrining EU law into UK law – just to screw the country over. SPITEFULNESS by any definition. And childish for that matter.
What she failed to realise is that most of us go about our daily lives totally ignoring these EU – origin laws anyway. The true English laws are the ones we abide by.
July 2, 2021
Yes, you can pat yourself on the back for taking the family swimming where there are no blue flags, and for drinking from taps labelled “Not drinking water”, you crafty hero you.
July 2, 2021
MiC
In Europe the EU is taking France Italy and Hungary to Court over repeated failures to meet environmental rules.
Ireland was fined for similar problems.
And Cyprus Portugal and Germany Greece are also on the EUs naughty step.
Mind where you go.
July 1, 2021
JR
Very good letter.
However simply grinning and saying ‘2-0’ would have done it.
July 1, 2021
Steve,
Germany is an ally a friend and close trading , economic and political partner, so your enemy picture is just not .very helpful nor very useful
July 1, 2021
bill brown
Friends and allies stick by you.
July 2, 2021
Steve,
Like the Danes, the Swedes and Norwegians and Dutch have always done for the UK, you are mixing apples with pears here.
July 2, 2021
I seem to remember UK stood by those countries in their time of need? All they have done since is given us ‘nil points’. Oh and a Christmas Tree too big to fit anywhere else.
July 1, 2021
Gosh bill
How many posts is it now?
Are you a professional or just semi pro?
July 2, 2021
Peter 2
you don;t liek facts , you are very active all the time and unfortuantely you still don’t get it, but we will keep educating you , don’t worry it is never too late
July 2, 2021
start with a better command of our language, spelling could be better – and read back what you write – correct poor typing.
July 2, 2021
Must be nice to post for a living bill
I am just an amateur.
PS
I like facts especially when they are correct.
I find when you eventually give us facts they often are not correct.
July 2, 2021
It is sort of 3-0 now !
July 2, 2021
I reckon it’s 29 posts by billy .
How much has that cost the EU?
July 3, 2021
Peter 2
much lss than it has cost our dearl country
July 1, 2021
I like it Sir John. Will it actually be sent to Mrs Merkel?
July 1, 2021
Sir John Redwood ā twitter
āāIt would be a good idea for the government to time any future ban of new diesel and petrol cars for a date when it is clear everyone wants to buy electric cars and we can make enough of them hereāā.
THATāS THE MOST SENSIBLE SUGGESTION IāVE HEARD IN YEARS ā but reversal of the ban would be betterā¦let the market & consumer decide
July 1, 2021
Thanks Merkel
Sefton Council Merseyside has published a consultation for another cycle lane and plans to use EU European Regional Development Funding ā on their website
āā The scheme is being funded through the Liverpool City Regionās European Union Sustainable Urban Development funds and is a key part of a wider programme across Sefton.āāā¦..and everything will have to have the EU flag on it !
THOUGHT WEāD LEFT
July 1, 2021
Well said. However, I suspect the answer will be “Nein”.
July 1, 2021
JR say’s “You will find the UK willing to be a good friend and ally” – not true – looking back at the past behaviour of our MPs and MEPs when we were part of the EU it wasn’t true then so no point in pretending.
The point about the EU not understanding that we have taken back control is pointless – we don’t have to deal with them anymore if we don’t want to – am sure the only thing on Merkels mind at this time is to get away on her hols ‘ what she’s about by coming here is just a farewell courtesy visit – it will be all change in Berlin by the Autumn.
Lastly the tirade against the EU again is a complete waste of time – nobody over there is listening and we have left – and that’s all – we are only obliged now to abide by whatever treaty agreements we have made and no more
July 2, 2021
Why has the U.K. signed a treaty with Germany in which we agree to support them becoming a permanent member of the UN Security Council and support the build up of the EU defence within NATO. It is madness for the U.K. to support these things and will only be perceived as weakness in Germany, a country I know well having lived there.
The Germans play hardball with the U.K. while we meekly give them everything they ask for, which only encourages them to make more demands. Enough of this naivety from Boris and Raab. Germany is playing the role of a strategic competitor and the U.K. has to recognise that only saying No to them and actively working against their interests in the UN and elsewhere will work. The U.K. should not be offering a defence guarantee to this country because we get nothing back from them.
It is politically impossible for U.K. blood to ever be spilt for a country that is openly threatening a trade war unless we let them run Northern Ireland in a way that costs them nothing but deliberately creates frictions within the U.K. which Berlin & Brussels then use to extract political concessions from London.
July 3, 2021
Freeborn John
the defence gaurantee works through NATO already,so what are you talking about?
July 2, 2021
Why has the government seemed to agree Ā£5.8bn pa payments this year and in the future to the EU. When none was legally due.
Why has a UK court confirmed that the Act of Union was revoked in part when the government claims otherwise? This is surely a breach of the GFA by both the EU, Ireland and the UK?
Time to revoke the above above and not to impose by dictat things opposite to what was mandated in the referendum.
July 3, 2021
Sir JR,
What I blieve we should fear the most for the moment is Germanand EU inddifference to the UK as the EU has much bigger challenges on their hands
Reply If only. They cannot leave us alone as they are obviously damaged and unhappy about Brexit, thanks to their own folly
July 3, 2021
Sir JR,
Interesting answer but does not correspond much with the total lack of interest in the subject on the Contnent and in the public press
July 3, 2021
Hopefully you are right bill.
But it seems the leaders of the EU speak about the UK many times a day.