Yesterday in France the Prime Minister lost an important vote and had to resign. It will be another blow to the idea that the French deficit can be reined in by a mixture of spending cuts and tax rises, with Parliament attacking the government from both right and left. The President drifts above the government with the right to stay in office but not in power until 2027. The French split constitution has given the elected President a Parliament where he lacks a majority and where right and left both think they can get what they want by holding out against compromise.
Today in the UK a Prime Minister with a large majority acts as if he too cannot command the Parliament. Two bungled attempts at modest but obviously unpopular public spending reductions were thrown out by his own party despite the apparent huge majority. Since then the PM and Chancellor have failed to come back with more sensible spending reductions, though there are many obvious ones they could select. We have free spending Ministers and runaway commitments like that to illegal migrants and to unemployed who say mental illness prevents them seeking work. So the deficit soars and there are no government answers on how to cut it.
Clearly the French problems should be much worse than the UK ones. In the UK there is a government that can govern, and it should be relatively easy for it to find the cuts needed and get them through. It is bizarre they find it so difficult. They are not even willing to require the Bank of England to stop losing tens of billions of pounds each year on needless bond sales. Judging by the markets, they currently see the problems in the UK as worse than the problems in Paris, as the UK is having to pay more to borrow than France. Both countries are facing much higher rates than Germany or the other leading advanced countries with better spending control.
In both countries democracy is on trial. I am an enthusiast for democracy. Technocracy is arrogant and often wrong. Dictatorship is often violent and repressive. The best thing about democracy is we the people can get rid of bad governments in elections, and can influence between elections as they usually want to stay elected. Democracies also require the political parties that lead them to be good judges of the public mood. It is best if they listen to us about the problems , lead with the solutions and deliver.
The current UK government has let people down over tax, growth and migration. The current French government has failed to persuade the left and the right to compromise in the national interest. Both the French and UK governments are wallowing at very low levels in the opinion polls. Where in France the government also lacks the Parliamentary votes to change course and win back support it is doomed. In the UK with the votes the government should be able to pull through, but seems paralysed by rebel backbenchers from doing anything on tax, spend and migration that might make it more popular. The likelihood of a major disagreement over who to have as a Deputy Leader of Labour creates more opportunity for public exposure of the big rifts over policy and philosophy between the government wrestling with excessive debt and the left who want more taxes and borrowing which would damage growth and endanger the finances further.
September 9, 2025
Good morning.
This is how democracy dies. By allowing people who take more out of the (welfare) system than what is put in to vote. People, and by extension politicians and political parties promises ever more ‘free stuff’, buying the masses with the money from future generations.
We need, and probably will have a reset.
September 9, 2025
We need some real more direct democracy rather than just the pointless superficial veneer that we have in the UK and indeed in all of the EU with powerless MEPs.
JR says “In both countries democracy is on trial. I am an enthusiast for democracy” well so am, so perhaps we should try it. It rather relies on MPs and government delivering or at least attempting to deliver what they promised before they were elected.
September 9, 2025
Quite, ‘veneer’ is the correct adjective for our democracy these days. It cannot last.
The political government in office gets elected by the people but that is only half the job, they then have to obtain the approval and support of the Civil Service to actually bring into effect any promises made to the former. Objectives and methods need to be far better thought through and approved as part of the electoral process, somehow.
Vague, ‘feelgood’ political promises are no longer sufficient.
September 9, 2025
The people we elected do not even attempt to deliver what they promised, let alone actually deliver it. Just read the last few manifestos for proof of this!
September 9, 2025
So in direct democracy who votes? All the people who don’t pay in? Or is there a qualified franchise? How do you agree that? If those who don’t pay in vote they will carry the majority in Scotland for example. It will be interesting to see where else the6 carry the majority.
If all those who live off the State block vote – from the PM down to the asylum seeker, they may well already be in the majority.
They will vote for more spending.
September 9, 2025
This is indeed a problem. Perhaps votes only for people who have paid in over £200k in taxes over the years – after all you are voting to say how this cash will be spent or wasted!
September 9, 2025
Not easy to see how such a system would ever be voted in though!
September 9, 2025
There should be number of ways to qualify. Cecil John Rhodes defined a number for his Qualified Franchise in South Africa, which was not based on race.
The Afrikaaners ditched it.
September 10, 2025
Lynn, the simple one is those who pay direct taxes, income tax for example.
September 9, 2025
But you also get religious hypocrites or Pharisees. And non-religious people who act with religious-like values from conscience (but these people tend not to be anti-religious just non-religious – although not always, St Paul at one time, before his conversion, was strongly anti Christian).
September 9, 2025
You mean Saul.
He was always really Saul. Like all narcs he rebranded when he saw an opportunity.
You can be religious without being Christian.
September 9, 2025
I might be an enthusiast for a democracy, but I don’t recall living in one! The UK is often lauded for being one, yet on a single day voting a Party and a Leader are granted enormous powers. However bad it turns out a dictatorship rules for anything from a couple of dozen days to 5 years.
History of the UK governments shows how bad many became, and it took years to unseat them.
Be careful what you wish for, yet the public continue to trust dodgy secondhand car salesmen as Government.
September 9, 2025
It would be a very good idea, for a start, not to import hundreds of thousands of people every year who need, and get, welfare from the minute they land.
Even if they are working, if they get Child Benefit, social housing or other taxpayer-funded benefits they are in receipt of welfare. They should get none until they have paid into the system for a minimum of 5 years.
I wonder if DWP has done an audit yet of the number of EU citizens who have returned home but are still claiming UK Child Benefit? Since the Government has no idea who is living here and who isn’t, I very much doubt it.
September 11, 2025
+1
September 9, 2025
An inherent problem with democracy is that a majority, who take more out than they put it, can always vote for MPs to rob the richer minority (who put more in than they take out) and redistribute the loot to them. This gives you a doom loop disaster and certainly does not help even the poorer majority. We now have this in the UK and have had for some time. More than 50% in the UK now take more out directly than is put in. So most put nothing in for defence, police, jails, general government overheads…
September 9, 2025
Ha! I have just read and this after commenting on your previous comment above.
We agree that the problem is that because of the huge numbers of people voting who do not contribute, the real problem is one of lacking a qualified franchise.
September 9, 2025
Mark, there are other factors that lead to the death of democracy. How much power and influence does the unelected judiciary, quango oversight bodies and civil service get before they constrain elected politicians?
September 9, 2025
Indeed another huge problem too many snouts in the trough and vested interest in ever more red tape and regulation to suit regulators or certain businesses who provided (migrant accommodation for example).
Ex Labour deputy Baroness Harman says deputy leader ‘needs to be a woman’ so much for equality then! In the running we seem to have have patrioti white van many hater Emily Thornberry, lets destroy education Bridget Phillipson, Lucy Powell, Alison McGovern, Sarah Owen, Richard Burgon & Stella Creasy.
God help us! Lucy Powell better than the other but not much what an appalling pool.
September 9, 2025
Sarah Owen is Chairman of the “Women and Equalities Committee” – so which is it dear “Women” or “Equality”? It cannot logically be both can it?
A bit like zealot Ed Miliband – Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. You get Net Zero (and no energy security and rip off energy costs too) – or you get energy security, cheap reliable on demand energy and lots of CO2 plant, crop and tree food to grean the planet too! Your choice Ed!
September 9, 2025
This is what happens when governments contract out their responsibilities to outside agencies
France to Brussels and the UK to the WEF and UN.
Neither is able to control immigration because they don’t have control of the borders.
Human rights now together with net stupid are the limiting factor to government action again because of various treaties signed against our wishes.
Until we get a government in that sweeps away all the dross , instigated mass deportations and makes welfare a.means of last resort, nothing will change
There will be a great reset but not in the way the likes of Bliar and Starmergeddon envisage.
September 9, 2025
Off topic but very interesting
It appears that landowners are being paid inflated rents to install windmills and mirrors. Much higher than it would cost to buy the land.
It appears the windmill and mirror owners are making no provisions to decommission these monstrosities so at the end of life they can declare bankruptcy and leave the land owners with the problem of removing hundreds of tonnes of concrete and contaminated soil
September 9, 2025
😂🤣 The King in big trouble then!
September 9, 2025
The problem is who is doing the ‘reset’. Germany got Hitler, Russia – Stalin, China – Mao. In a world without religion, today, so often the dictator / autocrat turns himself, metaphorically, into a god, with disastrous consequences (Germany will be haunted by Hitler and his Holocaust and war for a 1000 years – millions dead and so many of its beautiful towns and cities left in tatters). This is what happens to a godless nation (well whose leaders are godless and think they are gods, metaphorcally-speaking).
So you’re right about the disaster of free stuff and socialism but even more scary are people trying to reset that and who think they are gods.
September 9, 2025
Kemi Badenoch certainly has her critics but this morning she spoke the uncomfortable truth that we have been living well above our means for a long time now. Whether this is a strategy that will win her votes, I don’t know but hard choices are certainly required.
Hopefully she (and the rest of her Party) will have the courage to keep to this line of argument. Much as I agree with many of Reform’s policies, I do not see a viable government in their ranks at this time – nor have I heard a sensible plan to sort out our financial woes (quite the reverse). Our economic problems are going to be very much more severe (if we continue as we are) before we can rid ourselves of the amateurs that we’ve let into power via the back door.
Kemi doesn’t have Farages ‘stage charisma’ I’m afraid but talks sense if you take time to listen. I’m willing to listen some more and hopefully she can build a set of policies (and candidates of course!) that we can support once again…
Reply Yes telling people the truth about the financial situation is important. Reform is also interested in finding spending reductions but needs to do more homework to produce a credible package. Steel nationalisation, possible water nationalisation and some of their welfare proposals could prove expensive.
September 9, 2025
Farage got some good ideas. But what on earth was he doing cosying up to Donald Trump so recently?
This is such bad PR / branding for Reform and a real self-grenade if things begin to snowball with Trump as they appear quite likely to do now (but also for Clinton, as well – and things not looking pretty for Mandelson either – and what an earth is he doing recently lauding Trump – suspicious behaviour – and this could be a real headache for Starmer / Labour to deal with as well as Reform with Farage’s close ties to Trump).
September 9, 2025
reply to reply…..in the short term true, but maybe a point for discussion in the longer term?
September 9, 2025
We are NOT living above our means. Our means is not intended to fund 7 million aliens to the standard we have created and for which we have worked, for ourselves.
THEY are living above THEIR means on our pocketbook.
September 10, 2025
Lynn, Correct, I have not got myself or the Country into debt, politicians of all party’s have done that over decades.
September 9, 2025
‘we have been living well above our means for a long time now’ – I agree.
Everything you write here seems like a sensible approach to me.
September 9, 2025
‘stage charisma’
– Jane Austen’s novels are full of the dangers of too much ‘charisma’!
A bit of charismas (mixed with humour – like Elizabeth in P&P) is good and often necessary. But look what happens when E.’s sister Lydia falls for the charisma of Wickham. Chaos breaks out.
I love Jane Austen. For me she represents the best what it is to be British and Conservative (her background (family and herself etc) was: gentry class / merchant class / the clergy / armed forces / the arts (and she was a moderate in politics who was haunted by the French Revolution).
Good old Jane Austen. I bet she would definitely be a Conservative if alive now!
September 9, 2025
Tube strike yesterday. Overground was fine to and from Waterloo. I looked at the bus stop. There were massive queues and no sign of a bus. So I walked my old backstreet route to Blackfriars Bridge.
Lots of abandoned green rental bikes. Space on bridge for pedestrians severely hampered with bollards, bike lanes etc. Cut through Temple Avenue past and old office and a new building to replace The Sun /News of the World HQ
Wagons carrying big rolls of newsprint long gone too.
It took a pal three and a half hours to get to Holborn from Hammersmith but he foolishly attempted it by bus all the way.
Same today. Train to Waterloo but a 188 bus to Bermondsey. Might leave a bit earlier.
Train staff want a 32 hour week with no pay reduction. A monopoly and a strong union give them more clout than other workers.
September 9, 2025
Isn’t it strange.
France has a WEF Young Global Leader as President … and the French economy is disintegrating before our eyes, along with everything else.
The UK has a Labour WEF Puppetician as Prime Minister, replacing the rejected “Conservative” one …. and the British economy is disintegrating before our eyes, along with everything else.
Italy, the former economic basket case of the EU, has a conservative Leader who was not a WEF Young Global Leader and is not closely associated with the WEF ….. and Italy is remarkably stable and its economy is doing quite well, despite the shackles of the Euro.
Seems to be a lesson there.
September 9, 2025
Also, a bit odd. Starmer apparently tried to sack Milliband, but he refused to go. Surely, there should be no option?
Was Starmer just weak, or did some shadowy character have a quiet word? Either way, Milliband stays.
September 9, 2025
I guess Red Ed has some pretty useful “leverage” over Two-Tier.
September 9, 2025
Boris should never be allowed anywhere near the People’s revolt
Reflections on a rumour that will not die.
MATT GOODWIN blog.
Indeed Boris and Sunak wasted £400 billion (of borrowed money) on net harm vaccines and net harm lockdowns and even more than this on the net zero lunacy of which he and his Theatre Studies wife are both big fans? Plus more £billions on open door low skilled immigration legal and illegal. No thanks Nadine Dorries!
September 9, 2025
I would far sooner Dorries had not been “welcomed” into Reform. She’s a Johnson Loyalist, not a Reform one.
September 9, 2025
Plus she was a fan of the dire online harms (censorship of free speech) bill! Her book is quite interesting though!
September 10, 2025
Lifelogic, reading Boris book at the moment, also interesting.
September 9, 2025
She has had a mixed up muddled up past in politics. As LL says her Boris book The Plot, was a good overview and left us in no doubt about his belief in Net Zero being a good thing. That revelation alone makes it worth reading as we had all thought he was simply trying to please Carrie, for what ever reason…. 🙂
I hope Nadine is given the chance to show she has reflected on her political beliefs and now sees more clearly what must be done to save the Nation. I use the term Nation purposely. We are in danger of succumbing to the globalists dream of one world government and the end of Nation status. That is the road to complete chaos but is being progressed here by the dilution of national identity through unending immigration. The Marxists have taken over the institutions globally and that must be changed.
September 9, 2025
It all goes back to Boris in feeble weak minded state ( some might say whats new) due to Covid, and was brainwashed, probably not very difficult.
September 9, 2025
He’s just lazy. He wanted the title and accoutrements but not the work.
He shut us down for the first time in our history so he could laze at Chequers for months on end.
He also likes giving orders and seeing them obeyed. It proves to himself that he exists.
September 9, 2025
She needs to be clear where she now stands on lockdowns and online censorship. A declaration that she would now be against both can’t come soon enough.
I’m not sure that her limited ministerial experience as a junior at health and as minister at DCMS really gives much useful insight into how to manage the blob. Jacob Rees Mogg’s recent interview offered much more insight: he would abolish DCMS anyway, which disposes of the value of having a former minister. His offer to assist in negotiating the complexities of the government machine and his acknowledged constitutional and parliamentary procedure expertise have real value.
Not sure that JRM was at BEIS long enough to understand how best to dismantle net zero policy. Reform would do well to catch up on the more structured thinking by Coutinho and her team. A cross party consensus on how to do that to replace the net zero consensus would be more powerful in both senses of the word. Reform need to abandon the idea of unaffordable nationalisations as part of their general policy reset, and need to prioritise how to unpack net zero while keeping the lights on.
September 9, 2025
The two parliaments are wrestling with very different problems both in seemingly impossible situations.
Whilst the level of national debts seen in France and the UK are of similar proportions to GDP the similarities end there.
Britain is still fiscally independent and able to command its own money supply through the BoE. That brings its own challenges vis bond sale management as John reminds us on a regular basis and rightly. France is not in control of its own currency though it behaves as if it commands the Euro even insisting on having a French head of the ECB in Christine Lagarde. She was hopeless when she was a French finance minister and ( prosecuted for negligence ed)Her political posting as head of the ECB persists not because of her brilliance but because it suits the German Bundesbank to have her there. They instruct on what needs to be done. She is very well suited to the thrashing about below the surface while above water, in public view, all looks calm and serene, I put that down to her training as an Olympic synchronised swimmer which she was good at.
France is close to political melt down having closed ranks on the Left to block the clearly popular and needed reset advocated by the Right. From that perspective, France and the UK are in the same bind. The Left or Uniparty as they are now known in Westminster, are working in concert to block the much needed reset demanded by the Right.
The good news is, that Left wing barrier to effective and needed policy changes is coming to an end.
September 9, 2025
In France the President stood aside from the voting people and interfered halfway through their ridiculous multiple voting election to gerrymander the vote.
In the U.K. FPTP will save our bacon again. The people will get what they want even if it is Farage.
All those Farage supporters who demanded the right to gerrymander the vote when Reform came second in so many seats may now change their mind. They should think about how sensible it is to declare the Green/Labour/Conservative/DUP/Independents as having beaten Reform after the next election. Can we seriously say that the combined losers should always defeat the most popular choice and form a seriously unstable government after months of wrangling?
Is that really what you want?
September 9, 2025
I believe the supporters of proportional representation have reflected on their position and have concluded FPTP is the least worst option. Even the LibDumbs have reflected, well for this moment anyway. They secured virtually the same number of seats as a proportional representation would have awarded them, so now they think FPTP is OK. Now all they need to do is join the real world and ditch their love affair with everything they like to call Green.
September 9, 2025
The French situation is now on a knife edge. I read a detailed analysis of the most recent 《sondage legislatives》from a few days ago. RN clearly lead the polls on 33% (up on the election result last time of 29% but below the pre-election polling at 35%) with the left bloc next on about 25%. With the French runoff system the issue once again becomes to what degree voters would hold their noses and vote for alternatives where their first preference vote was elsewhere to keep RN out, and in how many three cornered second round fights either the extreme left or moderates drop out to reduce the chance of an RN win.
After much chewing of the cud the article concluded that it was possible that RN might to well enough to gain power if a fresh election is called, but there are no foregone conclusions.
September 9, 2025
A small point about France’s finacial problems that is rarely commented on. They cannot devalue their currency as they are inside the Eurozone. I’m not sure that would it would too much difference to their current trevails but it certainly narrows their options.
Meanwhile gold climbed again this morning, as did the FTSE 100. The gold surge is a sign of concerns about FIAT currencies generally and also money deserting the dollar. Meanwhile the FTSE seems to be looking better value to overseas investors from a p/e (and dividend) perspective, as well as exchange rate factors – vis a vis their currencies vs the pound. Both signs that Sterlng’s (relative) purchasing power is fading I’m afraid
September 9, 2025
“that it would make too much difference to their current trevails…”
Mmmnn – typing faster than my (pre-coffee) brain can keep up with and not checking it before hitting the go button… Just as well I’m retired these days.
September 9, 2025
I gather the ONS now count overseas production by UK owned firms in the pharma sector as part of UK gross DOMESTIC production. If they applied the logic to foreign owned firms in the UK most of our GDP would vanish, instead of just the interest, profits and dividends paid abroad. It’s clear the ONS are no longer fit for purpose and have as much relevance as Soviet tractor production statistics.
September 9, 2025
France has the look of being ungovernable such that there is no benefit to some poor soul being appointed replacement prime minister to Mr Bayrou.
The E.U.’s Excessive Debt Proceeding against France (Debt-to-GDP ratio at 113% v. target 60%, Budget Deficit ratio at 5.8% v. target 3%) leaves one to wonder if Christine Lagarde’s ECB can eventually do whatever it takes to cope with the excessive debt the political class ignores.
With comparable figures for the U.K. of Debt-to-GDP ratio at 95.8% and Budget Deficit ratio at 5.3% will not the Remoaners be in tears at the divergence from the Maastricht targets? Clearly, the markets will be conscious that Wrecker Reeves cannot look for help from the ECB.
September 9, 2025
But looking at bond interest rates for the UK and the Euro countries the markets clearly regard the UK as a rather higher risk! A governed by morons for at least (nearly) 4 more years premium perhaps?
September 9, 2025
We have only morons on the ballot paper.
In four years we will still have only morons on the ballot paper unless we start selecting and voting for our preferred candidates. People we KNOW locally who don’t need money or a job, people who are super talented.
September 9, 2025
agreed.
September 9, 2025
Perhaps the markets price France by relying upon the dual backstop of the ECB and the German taxpayer? Bless!
Reply Markets need to take extra borrowing risk of Euro more seriously. France now has an extra debt burden of her share of the EU s extra 800 bn. Ee gave avoided that excess.
September 9, 2025
Greece etc. better rated too!
September 9, 2025
Given that Lagarde was found guilty of €400m negligence in 《l’affaire Tapie》I think we can guess.
September 9, 2025
Lagarde’s efforts were directed at sorting out the mess of the Tapie affair: the trial and verdict were a farce.
September 9, 2025
I do not recognise a Right in French politics, the parties are all different variations of left. National Rally is an overtly socialist party which doesn’t like foreigners so is deemed to be right wing. Lefties can also not like foreigners (see SNP, Plaid, CCP).
I do not understand why Marine Le Penn does not vote these savings through. An incoming government will need to reduce spending at some point as revenue is not going to materialise out of nowhere (although National Rally now like the EU as they need the support).
Politicians of all colours need to realise that they can’t just keep spending money, they have to raise it from ordinary people as the rich will find ways to pay less. Stop giving it away to those who have not paid in. There should be a current account of what everyone has had spent on them vs what they have contributed. Without seeing the debits and credits of various demographics changes do not become apparent.
September 9, 2025
Indeed.
September 9, 2025
I agree with you regarding National Rally. They are an alternative Left. We also have the alternative Left in this country – like the Jeremy Corbyn eurosceptic.
Marine Le Penn won’t vote through the changes, as she feels she has more to gain in bringing down the government to precipitate another election, where she hopes to capitalise.
France is more constrained than the UK in its borrowing, as the government here can oblige the BoE to print more money for the government to borrow via financial institutions. France can’t instruct the ECB.
September 9, 2025
Not liking foreigners and not liking foreigners ruling you are two very separate things.
September 9, 2025
Or people of all sorts of nationalities living off you back on benefits and services that you paid in for and they did not!
September 9, 2025
From my perspective several governments have failed on tax, growth and migration, failed on putting our interests first with far too much energy and attention spent on being nice to everyone else, especially the EU.
It hasn’t been a question of competence, neither this nor the previous government even wanted to curb immigration, no measures to dissuade or block illegal and unwanted migration were or have been taken.
Policy and action have demonstrated the opposite, a desire to increase unwanted and illegal migration.
September 9, 2025
Democracy in Britain is on it’s deathbed. You need only look at two-tier Keir’s actions since gaining power. As every day goes by, he looks more and more like a Marxist dictator.
We need a General election now, but will be denied it for another four years. That’s democracy apparently.
September 9, 2025
The electorate has made its bed, now it’s time to lie in it. Twice as many as voted Labour didn’t vote at all last year. We got the government we deserve.
September 9, 2025
The only real alternative was the Con Socialists under Sunak! They had little choice!
September 9, 2025
Precisely why Labour became the default. If you want to blame look no further.
September 9, 2025
I think you have that the wrong way up. Some 19.3m didn’t vote, while only 9.7m voted for Labour.
September 9, 2025
That is democracy. He has four years if he can hold his parliamentary party together then we will sack him.
No Dictator is ever in that position.
September 9, 2025
We don’t have enough balconies or hotel rooms left to fall off!
September 9, 2025
The outgoing French PM has warned the French Parliament not to let France become like high tax UK and drive out rich entrepreneurs. Remarkable what a terrible position even a short period of left wing govt can leave a country.
September 9, 2025
Sir John
“The best thing about democracy is we the people can get rid of bad governments in elections” But even this becomes corrupting when power is stolen for 5 year terms inflicting maximum damage to the structures, society and economy that even another alterative 5 years would find it hard to repair. The major free Democracies ensure the people get to effectively approve or disapprove every 2 years. Putting the electorate in control is what democracy is about, Government for the People by the People
Another ConSocialist Party imposition imposed without thinking the consequences through. Personal ‘Ego’ getting in the way of good Government
September 9, 2025
Let’s look at how the French government got into this massive state debt position. It isn’t just spending on pensions, as the media would have us believe. Under Macron, state debt has increased by about €1 trillion since 2017. The French government said it allocated €420 billion spending on its Covid response 2020-2022. It has increased the military budget by €33 billion now, compared with 2017. So that’s nearly half of the debt increase accounted for just by those two policy decisions. Then there’s the increased cost of servicing the ballooning debt, in large part inflated by these questionable policies.
Macron is reported to have pressurised Boris Johnson to introduce lockdowns in Britain in March 2020. If he’s forced to resign now, in part thanks to his own financial profligacy, serve him right in my view.
September 9, 2025
Patriotism is a virtue (not one of the top ones but still a virtue. Everyone has a moral obligation to be a patriot. But patriotism should be enjoyable too not just a duty).
So often in the past, we had leaders who were fake patriots. So many of the medieval kings. Were using their power so often for their own glory. Manipulating the meaning of patriotism. Queen Elizabeth I was the opposite. She wasn’t perfect but was certainly a genuine patriot. But in democracy we are not slaves to the whims of a dictator / autocrat. We get to choose even if we make mistakes or not.
September 9, 2025
Notice also how Elizabeth I was genuinely religious. Not a saint. But with many important virtues. She took being servant of the people seriously. That’s a Christian virtue (similar to ‘with power comes responsibility’). But in the so often non-religious age we live in today, dictatorship / autocracy throws up Hitlers and Stalins and Chairman Maos. Power just goes to their heads (the medieval kings were often selfish but at least they were checked to a degree by the religious milieu in which they lived including being influenced to a degree by religion themselves).
September 9, 2025
The people of Germany were faced with the leading parties, left and right, moving together on a lockstep, denying choice at elections.
As a result they could only reject what was on offer by voting for the little Corporal.
Is this sad story ringing bells?
September 11, 2025
Millions fell for the promises of superiority and blame pointing. The good times are waiting for us to claim……cost? Millions of lives.
September 9, 2025
“Clearly the French problems should be much worse than the UK ones” between the 2 its hard to see why. The French Government controls and profits from the UK energy market. The French Government supplies all the vital equipment for UK Defence, the steel for submarines and ships, the electronics the command and control for the same. The missiles for the defence of the Country are French Government owned, the much talked about ‘Storm Shadow’ French made alone. Who allowed the UK to have 2 White Elephants called aircraft carries, the French Government. Even the UKAUS Submarines wont happen unless the French Government approves them. The last Government ensured the UK Defence Industry was sold and brought under control of the whims of the French Government. Now the French Government is taking UK taxpayer money to help them with the daily invasion of the UK.
I am not blaming the French, or their Government, they did what they could to make profit, create wealth for their People. You have to look at the quality, the lack of ability, expertise, the personal ego of destruction that has permeated every corner of the UK State, what it calls a Parliament and the Government to see the weakness.
So Sir John I see the opposite “Clearly the French problems should be much worse than the UK ones” by design the UK cant function unless by the whims of the French Government.
September 9, 2025
The refusal, the denial by the UK’s Parliament and its Government to allow, and it is, just those that are denying/allowing the UK, its People the right to be safe and secure, to be resilient and self-reliant. They seem to be to wound up with ‘self’, personal ideology and ego to even care. They are the wreaking ball of the countries furture.
September 9, 2025
An MsM quote, “France could become like Britain if MPs tax the rich to solve its debt crisis, the French prime minister said in a parting shot before being ousted by MPs.”
September 9, 2025
The French should know, it’s what they did not long ago and the French rich moved to the U.K.
Pity they are so small that even in their death throes they sling mud at Britain.
September 9, 2025
The hypocrisy of the UK Parliament, the ego of of them and us.
‘Receipts show that in February, Mr Miliband claimed £121.18 for gas and £47.73 for electricity – all from the taxpayer.’
So those that ban the minions from the energy market, force them to buy things that don’t work and cost a small fortune to run (heat pumps) do themselves stick with traditional gas boilers, accept they get the Taxpayer to fund the absorbent prices imposed on every one else..
September 9, 2025
Clearly he wasn’t burning the midnight oil.
September 9, 2025
nor ‘Solar free’ electricity?
September 9, 2025
I have no knowledge about France but here in the UK our problem is that Parliament no longer has control and is not even representative of the people when the governing party has just 20% of the eligible vote. Furthermore, Parliament’s power has been given away to the Civil Service, quangos, regulators, “ofs”, academia and the judiciary, none of whom are elected or removable and who have all been infiltrated by the Far Left. For this reason any new incoming administration, even with a big majority, not aligned with the Far Left will have severe difficulties to govern and implement the policies needed and wanted. The only way to overcome this unelected and un-removable quagmire is through referendums, starting for instance on the ECHR/mass illegal and legal immigration and Net Zero, as they do in Switzerland. It worked to remove ourselves from the undemocratic EU. Plus of course making the necessary changes to and abolishing the quagmire.
September 9, 2025
Ironically, Starmer and Reeves may be better off by calling for support from the Opposition rather than pandering to the Far Left on their own benches.
It would certainly be better for the country and reflective of the last 28 years of Blairite Government.
September 9, 2025
The problem is that both the UK and France have carelessly run up debt because neither has had a leader and Government prepared to tell the truth. The last two French PMs have tried, but their MPs refuse to face reality.
Our problem is that we have, like France, MPs who refuse to face the problem and duck any responsibility for the the UK’s debts.
But a day of reckoning is coming. If you don’t make tough decisions when you have the freedom to do so, much tougher decisions will be forced on you whewnn you have no choice.
September 9, 2025
Fully agree. Indeed Macron did, when first elected, promise to make some necessary changes. Like most similar French ideas they didn’t survive the first major protests.
West Europe, some countries more than others, don’t seem to understand you cannot spend and tax your way to growth, you instead need to improve productivity and earn your way to growth.
I have direct experience of living in and working in 4 west Europe countries (UK, France, Belgium, Germany). Just very narrowly looking at public services as a user then I would say the only country that seems to do a fairly decent job is Germany. UK has patches where things are done well. Yes taxation is higher in Germany but at least I have an impression in the public services of getting reasonable value for money
September 9, 2025
Starmer is in a great deal more trouble than voters yet realise.
It made very little impact when we heard that he tried and failed to move Miliband to take over the housing brief from Rayner when he refused !
Instead of sacking him, as he should have done, he must have thought he was not in a strong enough position to remove the most popular person in the cabinet amongst Labour backbenchers. Following on from his failure to get even £5bn of welfare cuts through cabinet, we now have the lamest of lame ducks in charge.
McFadden is supposedly going to attempt to bring in another version of the benefit cuts that resulted in the demotion of Liz Kendall. By then, a new deputy Leader will be in place who will almost certainly be from the left of the party and will work with Rayner to thwart that happening.
September 9, 2025
Anyone unsure of the existence of a UniParty should take note of what the factions leaders have now come up with – or are they in fear of ‘Reform’ controlling the agenda?
Today’s MsM offering. “Badenoch tells Starmer: Let’s work together to cut welfare bill. Put aside party politics and find solutions ‘in the national interest’.”
The united Socialist ‘left’ frightened of the centre ground? The Country, I mean Parliament, has continued the same policies through out this Century and they still don’t get it. Each faction of the UniParty with a mandate that allowed change, being able to stop the rot, has stuck with their WEF Master agenda what they see as the continuity of Socialisum.
Reply Not so. Reform wants to spend more on welfare, proposing abolishing the 2 child cap which Conservatives brought in. Reform and Conservatives opposed pensioner fuel and disability cuts with Labour backbenchers. The Conservatives back a substantial programme of benefit reform as set out by the Centre for Social Justice. It is based around getting people off long term illness benefit where they can work, and helping more people into work. It entails transferring some disabled people onto UC with help into jobs without cutting their present benefits. When Iain Duncan Smith did this with his UC reforms we got unemployment well down and saved £31 bn as many more were working. Labour should take up the CSJ proposals.
September 9, 2025
‘It is based around getting people off long term illness benefit where they can work, and helping more people into work.’
That old wonderful slogan that has never delivered?
September 9, 2025
Indeed, how often have we heard, ad nauseam, Tory ministers tell us of this intention, and always retreated because they could not a) persuade Cabinet or b) whip their MPs to vote for it.
September 9, 2025
“They are not even willing to require the Bank of England to stop losing tens of billions of pounds each year on needless bond sales.”
I’ve read that the loss could amount to £150bn – £200bn. But I presume that at some point there will be no further bonds to sell and consequently there will eventually be an end? This does not apply unfortunately to Net Zero which is endless if we are to “save the planet” from all anthropogenic emissions of CO2 whatever the source. Renewables are already costing £25bn/year and the Clean Power (well, 95%) 2030 project is costed by NESO at “over £40bn annually”. And plans exist for simply extracting CO2 from the atmosphere. This of course is not including the costs of de-industrialisation, impoverishment and lost tax revenue. If Mrs. May’s Net Zero 2050 legislation is not repealed we are done for.
Reply OBR forecast total losses of £257 bn from Q3 2022 to final disposal.
September 9, 2025
Sir JR :
Thanks for letting me know. I didn’t know the figure was so high. But still far less than Net Zero will cost as here we’re talking £trillions. The CCC 7th Carbon Budget calculate their costings based on fixed offshore wind dropping from £49/MWhr to £35MWh by 2040. Well the Administrative Strike Price for AR7 for fixed offshore wind ihas risen to £113/MWhr and floating (needed says the CEO of GBE because we are running out of shallow water) ito £271/MWhr. According to Professor Gordon Hughes of the Renewable Energy Foundation we have already spent £200bn on renewable subsidies since 2002 and is currently running at £26bn/year. NESO have costed the Clean Power 2030 project as “over £40bn annually”. And this is just the start as it will cost over £400bn to upgrade both the national and local grids for renewables and electrification. Plus the costs of transitioning to heat pumps and evs….
September 9, 2025
Goodness me, things look really bad in France! We’ll be taking refugees from there soon. Oh wait, we are already (only they’re not French).
September 9, 2025
But we pay for their coastal police force to help them make ends meet.
September 9, 2025
“The best thing about democracy is we the people can get rid of bad governments in elections, and can influence between elections as they usually want to stay elected. Democracies also require the political parties that lead them to be good judges of the public mood. It is best if they listen to us about the problems , lead with the solutions and deliver.”
I’m not convinced this applies anymore. We are ruled by the Civil Service, quangos, regulators and the judiciary, none of whom are elected or removable. For some time the major policies haven’t changed whoever calls themselves “the government”. It is also curious that although we have over a long period of time seen the troubles in Africa and the Middle East and closer to home in the Balkans, Cyprus and Northern Ireland that our rulers, particularly since PM Blair, have decided that mass immigration and multiculturalism is beneficial to our country.
I read the Lib Dems wish to extend the voting rights to migrants.
September 9, 2025
“The Sisters of Failure” are flexing their muscles for even more workers rights unaware of the existential doom loop crisis imminent as CEO s and businesses pull out of investing in Britain.
Lessons from the last crisis by Labour are not their concern but other folks and all taxpayers regardless who they always believe need fleecing.
Meanwhile, Nicola Ferguson Sturgeon thinks Angela Rayner was unfairly treated …..
Tells us why we are up the Swaney.
September 9, 2025
To update Dickens: ‘It was the worst of times. Yes, it really was, beyond any doubt, the very worst of times.’
September 10, 2025
“Technocracy is arrogant and often wrong. Dictatorship is often violent and repressive. The best thing about democracy is we the people can get rid of bad governments in elections, and can influence between elections as they usually want to stay elected. ”
Neat summary. Starmer acts like a lawyer – ie a technocrat. He is also a Trotskyite. He lacks warmth. He is also autocratic and repressive. So he is bad on two of your three counts. Is he democratic? He can’t be:
a) Starmer does not believe in the sovereign nation state, without which democracy cannot exist
b) he believes UK should be a member of the EU which is profoundly anti-democratic
c) his reset makes UK subordinate to the EU and specifically the ECJ
d) he believes the rules made by supranational unaccountable bodies have priority over national laws made by nationally elected politicians
As for the possibility of UK electing a government to replace Starmer’s Gang, I would not bet on it. It is only convention that there should be a general election. Before the FTPA there was no statute law determing when parliament would dissolve. As far as I can see, there is nothing in the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022 repealing the FTPA, to force the Government to hold a general election. The Act automatically dissolves parliament at the end of its five year term (2029) but leaves the government in office. Whilst there is a strong constitutional convention that UK must have an elected parliament from which the government is drawn, there is no legal mecahnism by which Starmer’s Gang could be forced to submit to the electorate. Starmer’s Gang would find it easy to confect a crisis – it has many to choose from – necessitating postponing the disruption of a general election and there is nothing the public could do to force an election.
Reply There will be an election in less than 4 years time.