amp.theguardian.com
For those that are interested, John Majors speech today which although quite lengthy, hits all the targets he intended to hit. It is a comprehensive lament for the soul of the U.K. I found it terribly sad reading.
Here is just part of what he said;
Brexit divided England and Wales from Scotland and Northern Ireland. It divided political parties and families; the young and their elders; business and trade unions; and friend from friend. As its full impact becomes apparent in the New Year, old wounds may re-open.
There is no consensus on Brexit, and never has been. It was a bitterly divisive policy, and uncorked a populism that may be difficult to quell.
The Referendum debate was unlike any I have known before. Emotion overcame reality. And, in the search for hearts and minds and votes, fiction defeated fact and fostered a belief in a past that never was – whilst boosting enthusiasm for a future that may never be.
If that mode of politics takes root, it will kill all respect in our system of government.
In the Referendum, Britons voted to leave the European Union. I have never hidden my view, nor have I changed it. To my mind – and I am no starry-eyed European – Brexit is the worst foreign policy decision in my lifetime.
I have seen the EU from the inside and know its frustrations. But have no doubt we were better off in than we will be out.
The decision to leave will damage our future in many ways, and the reassurances we are given are unconvincing.
Brexit was sold to our electors on false premises.
Promises made will not – indeed, cannot – be kept. To leave the EU – to separate ourselves from our neighbours – was sold as “regaining sovereignty”, but it is, and will prove to be, a long and painful ball and chain on our national wellbeing.
After the Referendum, Brexiteers did not even bother to argue the merits of their case – why should they? – it was “the will of the people”.
And once “the will of the people” was asserted as a repeated mantra – and the Brexit leaders claimed to speak for all “the people” – any opposition to Brexit became illegitimate, and any contrary view was howled down.
Free speech for those who supported remaining in the EU came at a price. They were pilloried as “Remoaners”: sticking to long-held principles and policies, and warning of clear dangers ahead was depicted as “sour grapes by sore losers”.
Even Judges were denounced as “Enemies of the People” for ruling on a Point of Law. Opponents of Brexit were cowed, and free speech was curtailed. It was shameful. No democracy should find itself in such a position.
Overseas, the outcome of the Referendum delighted our enemies and dismayed our friends. As our nation voted against its history and its self-interest, a bemused world looked on, wondering why we had chosen to become poorer and less influential.
Brexit was sold to the nation as a win-win situation. It is not. We were promised we would stay in the Single Market. We have not. We were told trade with the EU would be frictionless. It will not be.
We were promised we would save billions in payments to the European Union: a bus was driven around the country telling us so. Not so: Brexit is costing billions – not saving them.
We were told that our “liberated country” could cut back on bureaucracy and regulations. We now know they will increase – and dramatically.
We were promised we would strike lucrative trade deals with America, India, China and others in quick time. Japan apart – we have not.
More recently – and for the first time in our long history – Ministers have proposed legislation giving them powers to break the law. This is a slippery slope down which no democratic Government should ever travel.
And, it was claimed, Brexit wouldn’t increase support for Scottish independence or a united Ireland. It has.
It defies logic that intelligent men and women making such extravagant promises did not know they were undeliverable – and yet they continued to make them.
It was politics. It was campaigning. It was for a cause.
It was also unforgiveable.
he goes on to talk about post Brexit trade and independence. I don’t agree with everything he says but it Is refreshing to here a grown up politician talking candidly about the issues we face as a nation.
I guess you fall into the category ‘not interested‘ then.
They did but in the main it was dismissed as project fear. He is saying what Blair has said in the past. Both yesterday’s men but that doesn’t really deflect from the sense and truth that they speak. Major provides some views on what we should be doing in the next couple of years. Sadly the silence on the subject from our current political leaders is deafening.
For those that are interested, John Majors speech today which although quite lengthy, hits all the targets he intended to hit. It is a comprehensive lament for the soul of the U.K. I found it terribly sad reading.
Here is just part of what he said;
Brexit divided England and Wales from Scotland and Northern Ireland. It divided political parties and families; the young and their elders; business and trade unions; and friend from friend. As its full impact becomes apparent in the New Year, old wounds may re-open.
There is no consensus on Brexit, and never has been. It was a bitterly divisive policy, and uncorked a populism that may be difficult to quell.
The Referendum debate was unlike any I have known before. Emotion overcame reality. And, in the search for hearts and minds and votes, fiction defeated fact and fostered a belief in a past that never was – whilst boosting enthusiasm for a future that may never be.
If that mode of politics takes root, it will kill all respect in our system of government.
In the Referendum, Britons voted to leave the European Union. I have never hidden my view, nor have I changed it. To my mind – and I am no starry-eyed European – Brexit is the worst foreign policy decision in my lifetime.
I have seen the EU from the inside and know its frustrations. But have no doubt we were better off in than we will be out.
The decision to leave will damage our future in many ways, and the reassurances we are given are unconvincing.
Brexit was sold to our electors on false premises.
Promises made will not – indeed, cannot – be kept. To leave the EU – to separate ourselves from our neighbours – was sold as “regaining sovereignty”, but it is, and will prove to be, a long and painful ball and chain on our national wellbeing.
After the Referendum, Brexiteers did not even bother to argue the merits of their case – why should they? – it was “the will of the people”.
And once “the will of the people” was asserted as a repeated mantra – and the Brexit leaders claimed to speak for all “the people” – any opposition to Brexit became illegitimate, and any contrary view was howled down.
Free speech for those who supported remaining in the EU came at a price. They were pilloried as “Remoaners”: sticking to long-held principles and policies, and warning of clear dangers ahead was depicted as “sour grapes by sore losers”.
Even Judges were denounced as “Enemies of the People” for ruling on a Point of Law. Opponents of Brexit were cowed, and free speech was curtailed. It was shameful. No democracy should find itself in such a position.
Overseas, the outcome of the Referendum delighted our enemies and dismayed our friends. As our nation voted against its history and its self-interest, a bemused world looked on, wondering why we had chosen to become poorer and less influential.
Brexit was sold to the nation as a win-win situation. It is not. We were promised we would stay in the Single Market. We have not. We were told trade with the EU would be frictionless. It will not be.
We were promised we would save billions in payments to the European Union: a bus was driven around the country telling us so. Not so: Brexit is costing billions – not saving them.
We were told that our “liberated country” could cut back on bureaucracy and regulations. We now know they will increase – and dramatically.
We were promised we would strike lucrative trade deals with America, India, China and others in quick time. Japan apart – we have not.
More recently – and for the first time in our long history – Ministers have proposed legislation giving them powers to break the law. This is a slippery slope down which no democratic Government should ever travel.
And, it was claimed, Brexit wouldn’t increase support for Scottish independence or a united Ireland. It has.
It defies logic that intelligent men and women making such extravagant promises did not know they were undeliverable – and yet they continued to make them.
It was politics. It was campaigning. It was for a cause.
It was also unforgiveable.
he goes on to talk about post Brexit trade and independence. I don’t agree with everything he says but it Is refreshing to here a grown up politician talking candidly about the issues we face as a nation.
the parallels are too close for comfort.
Plus we had an arsehole in charge of the Labour party !
We did. I’m hoping Sir Keir starts to show the vision and leadership that the country needs and provides a choice for the electorate. Although it’s early days for him, I do think he will need to significantly improve his performance. I still don’t know what his vision for a modern Labour Party is, never mind a vision for the nation.
He needs to find a way to unite not only the the pretend left but also the real/loony/hard left behind him as blair did or the vote will be split between Him, the greens and whatever momentum come up with instead.
I actually missed this gem from Liz Truss a while back...UK trade department faces race to get £80bn of trade agreements ratified
Deals to ensure UK can go on trading with non-EU countries after Brexit transition must be laid before MPs by Wednesday
Not really a brexit point, but the economics of sheep farming have always seemed odd to me. Firstly, it's the one meat in the supermarket that for a great part of the year doesn't need expensive food or housing and I'm assuming left to themselves would pretty much go up on the hills, shag and eat grass. Secondly, how has it ever been economically sensible to freeze them 12000 miles away and sell them here, and lastly why is it so expensive?I actually missed this gem from Liz Truss a while back...
Apparently it's our sheep farmers' fault that Brexit is going to be so bad for them - because they sell so much lamb to the EU, not because of Brexit of course.
Trade Secretary Liz Truss has warned it is ‘dangerous’ for the UK sheep sector to be so heavily reliant on the EU market for lamb exports.
The Minister said she thought it was important from a resilience perspective for the UK to open up new markets for British lamb.
“Currently, most of the lamb we export is exported to the EU, but we are in a position of essentially having all our eggs in one basket,” she told a ConservativeHome fringe event at Tory Party conference this week (September 4).
“I do think we need to find more alternative markets for our lamb industry."
And this week's highlight from her is "Don't worry about more lamb imports from New Zealand. They prefer selling to the market on their doorstep..."
Truss attempts to reassure Welsh sheep farmers about New Zealand trade deal
Trade Secretary Liz Truss has attempted to reassure Welsh sheep farmers about the prospect of a UK-New Zealand trade deal.www.fginsight.com
I actually missed this gem from Liz Truss a while back...
Apparently it's our sheep farmers' fault that Brexit is going to be so bad for them - because they sell so much lamb to the EU, not because of Brexit of course.
Trade Secretary Liz Truss has warned it is ‘dangerous’ for the UK sheep sector to be so heavily reliant on the EU market for lamb exports.
The Minister said she thought it was important from a resilience perspective for the UK to open up new markets for British lamb.
“Currently, most of the lamb we export is exported to the EU, but we are in a position of essentially having all our eggs in one basket,” she told a ConservativeHome fringe event at Tory Party conference this week (September 4).
“I do think we need to find more alternative markets for our lamb industry."
And this week's highlight from her is "Don't worry about more lamb imports from New Zealand. They prefer selling to the market on their doorstep..."
Truss attempts to reassure Welsh sheep farmers about New Zealand trade deal
Trade Secretary Liz Truss has attempted to reassure Welsh sheep farmers about the prospect of a UK-New Zealand trade deal.
Years ago I helped my brother in law stockman with dagging sheep (cutting shit off the ewe's rear end hair before mating) then went out by bike into the fields and got chased by a ram. I think these days a ram in the field is a rarity. Not when a ram can sell at auction for £350,000....
A bit like flowers from Africa.
Or holland tbh.
