I have visited Clacton twice in the run up to the by-election aka proxy self-proclaimed referendum on Nigel Farage’s integrity. This election will cost £250 000, money which will not go towards the improvement of the lot of the residents. The ballot paper is also four times the cost of a normal election as it resembles an unravelling roll of toilet paper. Anyway, on with the basics. I spoke with over 100 people, mostly residents but also some interested spectators. Watch the video series here:
Headline findings
Street Research Clacton – KEY FINDINGS
I spoke with nearly 100 people, mostly Clacton residents.
I found just two people who will vote for Nigel, come what may.
I found a much larger group of people (15-20) who said that they will not vote for Nigel this time. Reasons given in priority order were 1. The election is unnecessary. 2. The election costs the earth while we have to pay for it. 3. NF never comes here. 4. His expenses scandal has opened my eyes – He’s not a man of the people.
Another large group said that they would not vote at all. Others had looked at the postal voting ballot paper and put it to one side for now. Voter suppression may be the outcome.
Relatively few people knew about Count Binface CB (a lot of Clacton residents do not use social media that much). Those that do know about CB felt that he was laughing at them … in other words the joke was on the people of Clacton rather than the absolute waste of an election. No one I spoke to was definitely going to vote for CB.
No one had heard of the serious candidate standing – John Stevens, Rejoin Party. One person confused him with Kai Stephens, who appears to think that Hitler was a bit soft …
Many people were scared to go on video. I had a long conversation with a retired Engineer over breakfast who lived in Jaywick, had voted to Remain but was surrounded by what he called imbeciles, some of them nasty.
People in Clacton claim that there is no serious candidate standing. That’s not true. See John Stevens, a former Conservative MEP who beat Farage in 2010 and who is the ONLY serious candidate standing in this farce of an election. It’s completely safe to vote for John as he is not a competitor for the comedy vote.
And finally …
Nigel loves a good laugh, so we thought we’d join in with the fun. The yolk’s on you Nigel !!
I rarely base my predictions in politics on hope. After all, I have often said, hope is not a strategy. Even Gina Miller now says it after I worked for her as her Campaign Manager before I found out that she counts Richard Tice and Isabel Oakeshott as ‘besties’! I have however been musing upon various possible political scenarios in the short term, i.e. Farage’s Fall colliding with the Burnham Bounce and Brexit decline. There are a lot of ifs in this scenario, but hear me out. With thanks to Greg Newman for the snappy title and wise inputs.
Farage’s Fall
Many moving parts are coming together in NFs faulty decision to call a referendum on his integrity via the Clacton by-election. It is feasible that NF could be badly damaged by the various parties standing against him. We are there to make sure this happens. We are the only serious party standing in Clacton and are already inflicting serious damage on the NF brand. See Bin Brexit. Regardless of this, NF will continue to face scrutiny over the £5 million “donation” and many other legal challenges in the coming months. His star appears to be receding. We know that once people lose faith, the only way is down. There have been relatively few phoenix-like rises from the ashes in politics, with Churchill, Wilson and Trump being notable exceptions.
Burnham’s Bounce
There are already signs of a Burnham Bounce and we are only a week into his premiership. If only because the Labour Party have rallied round him out of guilt over their decision to assassinate Keir Starmer before his decisions fed through to people’s lived experiences. Burnham will undoubtedly benefit from Starmer’s legacy. But we live in a world where people expect instant results on complex issues. The real questions are how big the Burnham Bounce will be and, even more importantly, how long will the Burnham Bounce last?
Andy began his premiership with a series of outlandish promises. These are unlikely to survive contact with real life, unless … He either inflicts a lot of pain on the electorate via taxation and borrowing, or confronts the elephant in the room aka Brexit. Brexit costs Britain £240 bn pa, £93 bn of which we could recover by applying to Rejoin the EU. Unlike Keir Starmer, it is unlikely that Burnham’s honeymoon period will be two years. It will more likely be measured in months. Burnham also has no mandate from the people to vary the Labour manifesto. This presents an intriguing scenario which I’ve called Crossing the Chasm or “Supersonic” – minor nod to the Gallagher brothers.
Supersonic
Let’s suppose that Farage’s star continues to fall. Let’s also suppose that Burnham calculates that his bounce will be short lived and that “peak Burnham” is probably autumn / winter 2026. He could go to the nation to call a general election using his honesty platform by saying :
“Look, I know I was not elected by the people of Britain and I promised I will do things differently. I need your mandate to go forward to fund the great changes we plan to make. Not by making your lives harder, but by seizing the opportunities for sustainable growth. I need your approval to build a better Britain in a better Europe for a better World. We’ll do this by ending our toxic relationship with Brexit, cutting the red lines that are costing us hundreds of billions every year and seizing the opportunities that can come from a Reformed relationship with Europe”. He might even channel Oasis by saying “Don’t look back in anger” 🙂
Andy would offer a simple manifesto promise to apply to Rejoin without another toxic referendum, capitalising on people’s acceptance that Brexit has been an unmitigated disaster, also avoiding people’s aversion to another national psychodrama by wrapping it into an election.
Champagne Supernova
Critics will say “Theresa May”. In fact one senior Labour member friend of mine has already said that, putting party before country. This, of course, is how we got into ths mess. My tongue in cheek reply is in green below. I could not help quoting the band “Journey” !! 🙂 I understand his point of loyalty, after all that is what parties and party members do, but without radical actions to match radical words, I fear that the Burnham Bounce will be short lived. Andy would be living the value of improving democracy by asking the nation to back him. Labour has already adopted the process we started in Somerset, for a national conversation about a better Britain. Burnham would be seen as not falling into the oft quoted trap of “They’re all the same”.
Well, it’s not April Fools’ Day, so you’ve already fallen into my trap … Nonetheless, the tomfoolery of Trump and Brexit continues in a world where its increasingly hard to know the difference between fact, fiction and fantasy. Here’s a sobering update on world events from our continuing activism. To help support our costs and further actions via lobbying MPs and so on please send us a tip via SUPPORT US.
Our work in world media
Dubai TV called for our views on Keir Starmer’s recent pivot towards Europe. Here is our video plus some out takes we made to prepare for the interview which was done at very short notice:
Credit where it’s due. Keir Starmer has FINALLY plucked up courage to face down the orange psychopath, perhaps, in part, because he no longer has people like Morgan McSweeney driving Downing Street’s agenda. That said, and it’s a VERY BIG IF, Starmer must match fine words with action and apply to Rejoin the EU FULLY as an urgent priority. It matters not how log the journey takes but we must begin NOW. I concur with the FT analysis that says that going back to Europe for yet more concessions will be met with a dull bureaucratic thud of entropy.
Extract from FT article.
Grab copies of our book on Rejoining the EU and send to MPs and influencers. Written by 60 people and recently updated to address Trump 2.0. Proven to move the dial on Brexit with movers and shakers. Also valuable in shifting minds with people who still believe that Nigel Farage has answers to Reboot Britain. Hard copies and Kindle version available direct via Amazon and other bookshops. Author discount copies available via email reboot@brexitrage.com
Acclaimed by Michael Heseltine and Lord Newby amongst others …
Our work on the street
I attended the Together Alliance March on Saturday 28 March, with the single objective of getting a copy of the book to Billy Bragg. Mission accomplished !! Please get in touch with the bard of Barking to remind him of the book which aligns with much of Billy’s own thinking on England’s septic isle, poisoned by Brexit inspired racism, but which has always been there.
There is power in a union … With the bard of Barking. The Rt Hon Billy Bragg.
Billy performed three songs at the event. One I remember from seeing him at Harlesden and at “Red Wedge” from his early work:
Another poignant piece about the recent killings of innocent citizens in Minneapolis. This is matched by my own rendition of David Bowie’s “Where are We Now?” in honour of Renee Good and Alex Pritti, murdered by Donald J(anus) Trump.
And finally, here’s Billy’s 2000 piece he produced with Wilco, based on the words of Woody Guthrie about fascism, which sadly seems more prescient than ever. They shall not pass …
Five ways to defeat Brexit inspired fascism
All of us are able to act in smaller or larger ways to defeat the rise of Brexit and now Trump inspired fascism as outlined on our webpage: Rage Against The Brexit Machine aka Reboot Britain. Please SUPPORT our continuing work. We can only do this with your help. We do not have the luxury of subscriptions like the larger enterprises, the bank of goodwill is empty, and trips to MP constituencies / Parliament and so on cost money.
ger islands within our “Indonesian structure” such as The European Movement. I am told that we achieve far more impact through the targeting of influential people, via one to many MSM communications and daily acts of “Brexorcism”. Small can be beautiful in the wake of our unwillingness to resolve the structural, leadership and OD (Organisational Development) deficit of our “17 000 islands”. Here are the five ways you can act on a daily basis to end Brexit (and Trumpian) populism:
Daily practice is necessary to defeat NF, DJT and his stormtroopers around the world …From an original New Year’s Resolution in the shower January 1st 2017.
Here’s a short roundup of recent activity and some future outlook on the movement to end Brexit, Rejoin the EU and Reboot Britain in a year where insanity was normalised in several political theatres of the absurd around the globe.
Progress 2025
I list three recent projects of note … We were interviewed by Danish journalist Rose Kodal recently on Brexit and Rejoin. She interviewed people across the Brexit spectrum. Her final piece is an interesting perspective of views on Brexit from academic to more out front pragmatic leadership on the topic. Poor old Ken the Brexiteer simply wants his daughter to forgive him for his vote to leave and value his continuing illusions about Brexit as being equivalent to facts. She won’t. Illusions are not of the same value as facts. Find Rose’s brilliant piece of journalism here. If you can help her find her career into journalism you will find her at Rose Nina Kodal Larsen on Linkedin.
We also did an online masterclass on Rejoining the EU for North Herts for Europe. The session was invaded by Reform UK types who exposed themselves on the call and filled the screens with pornography. This really sums them up. After some careful editing, we salvaged the content. The Q&A is very interesting as it plays to some of the problems we still have as a movement summed up by Qahir. There are no easy fixes to change the culture of the Remoaners as he pleads for. God knows I’ve tried and made myself extremely unpopular into the bargain.
Q&A session. A great insight into the minds of Remainers.
Keynote address. No Reform nudity thankfully …
The Brexit RIP : Reboot Britain book has had another minor update to consider the impact of demographic changes aka death, based on the illusion that Nigel Farage could re-litigate Brexit if elected in 2029. Still people are more occupied by working as NF’s unpaid marketing forrce than driving forwardson our own strategy. Then they wonder why NF prevails. Oh well, this leads me to Project 2026.
Outlook : Project 2026
I am stepping back from full time involvement in Brexit and Rejoin, having given nearly 10 years of my life, much of it full time and unpaid to do so. Instead, I will work on a project by project basis to continue the work to break Parliamentary silence, leaven the mainstream media’s grip on populism and so on, see our five goals. Projects I am willing to undertake include:
Public speaking to constituency groups and / or movements. such as I did for Labour MP Sadik Al-Hassan in 2025. This was instrumental in breaking the silence on Brexit and promoting a minor rebellion in parliament, alongside the book which we sent to 300 + MPs, risking arrest in Parliament for taking white envelopes to the House of Lords and Portcullis House.
I have been asked to tour the UK in the Bollocks to Brexit Mini on a “Cost of Living” tour, including street events, keynotes and so on. Organising the stunt is easy but ensuring that our message reaches deep into each community’s heart and so on requires work. I’d judge that the project is not currently viable, needing a social media team, press / media people, an on the ground group to organise events and fundraising to cover costs. Get in touch if you would like to help. A mini tour might tame the complexity.
I was also asked to assist with an Organisation Development (OD) approach to align the various movements who wish to bring a fairer voting system to Britain. Further to some initial analysis, I found that they are just as divided as the Remain movements over ends and means and I have declined until they are ready for such a series of interventions. It would be akin to trying to heal an alcoholic who does not believe they have a problem with alcohol. I have wasted too much of my own time on such projects and ideologues so I’m setting a higher bar for my professional services in 2026. Get in touch if you have a project that may be of value and I promise to take a look at it without prejudice.
The major shift that I have not been able to alter significantly is the “learned helplessness” of the Rejoin / Remoan movement. They are the principle internal obstacle to Rejoin. We could significantly impact the parliamentary silence on the matter if they also stopped arguing about ends and means. Here are some of the daily objections I encounter from such people. It’s seriously wearing, reinforced by mixed messaging from the larger rejoin movements and key actors. I see no possibility of building enough momentum to Rejoin EU until the movement heal themselves. I get hardly any pushback from Brexiteers. We are the obstacle.
Only the cat is a good reason to do nothing …
I’m told that Keir Starmer is toast shortly. To be honest I have mixed feelings about it as nobody seems able to tell me what comes from it. We removed Theresa May only to get Boris Johnson … Oh well. To 2026 …. !!!
It was Ken Clarke that popularised the term “the indifferent majority” … aka the vast swathe of people who couldn’t give a fcuk about politics. Farage has weaponised some of them into a loose cabal, united by swans, painting roundabouts, disinformation, shouting at hotels, attacking women and children, paedophilia and flagshagging. They are not the subject of this article however. Here I refer to the great swathe of Remainers / Rejoiners who know what they are against (Brexit and its offspring), but who are unwilling to do anything functional about it, apart from bleating about it on social media, which we all do, but is in effect it’s merely a form of therapy. It achieves very little apart from a release of angst into the ether. Worse still, the Brexiteers mostly love it, as it increases their sense of “winning”. Living as I do in Brexit Central, Reform types love nothing more than the “salty tears of Remoaners”. Nigel Farage benefits tremendously as Remoaners are, in effect, his unpaid marketing force as Reform fans are united by shared victimhood at Maslow’s sense of belonging level of his hierarachy:
Maslow’s hierarchy reframed.
Remoaners generally have no strategy. This, in part, is due to a leadership and strategy and collaboration tactics vacuum at the “top” of the movement. I have written about our structural deficit many times before and in the books. The Rejoin movement resembles Indonesia, 17000 islands, some uninhabited with a few big ones (European Brexit Movement, Best for Brexit Britain etc.), none of whom collaborate and all of whom have different ideas about the “destination and journey” (What, Why and How) of our quest. When asked about what to do about Rejoining the EU, they come up with many different objections, some of which are captured in this graphic. We’ll never achieve anything like this.
Only the cat is a valid objection …
Paul Cawthorne sums up the poverty of the “incrementalist” approach rather well …
Cherry pickers guide – TY Paul Cawthorne.
I have become tired of fighting this war on two fronts. I don’t mind dealing with Leave voters, but dealing with Remoaners who are acting to preserve the stasis sucks the very life out of me … am I beginning to sound like Liz Truss here? !! 🙂
One of my final actions before retirement was to speak about this at the recent North Herts for Europe event, where I also gave a synopsis of the Brexit RIP book. Find the masterclass below. The event was invaded by Reform UK types exposing themselves (literally), although I have removed the offensive material here.
If you like this, send copies of the book Brexit RIP to MPs and influencers. It’s far more effective than posting memes and shouting on social media to be frank. I await the hate mail and excuses from Remoaners … It’s the ideal Christmas gift for Brexiteers in remorse and Remainers in remission. QR codes are below for sharing with friends and connections. My Labour MP has a copy and is circulating it within the government, which is where we need to be if we are to be effective influencers.
Brexit is dead … but the body is still in our lounge … get rid of it.
QR codes. Also available direct from the author at a discount via e-mail reboot@brexitrage.com
I am a regular attendee of open mic jam sessions where I live in Kent and use them to keep my musical skills up. But just recently I was told of a session being organised by the alt right wing and, in particular by two characters, both of whom I’d had some previous encounters with. This article concerns a chap by the name of Kes, who told me he went to prison (for drugs I think) during which time he learned to use knives and so on. I met him a few years back. He told me his hard luck story of drugs, knives and prison, explained that he was trying to get back on his feet and offered to fix my guitars for cash.
Fast forward a few years and Kes began messaging me about the open mic jam session. He knows my views on the far right and the pathetic flagshagging that is sweeping the country at the moment. He also knows that I would not attend a session organised by the far right, as they use them to recruit young vulnerable people. Nonetheless, full marks for trying. Kes quickly became threatening. Here is the transcript in time order. It all began from my observation that he was using the union jack as the backdrop for his advert. Kes makes it very clear that he is going to share the conversation – a veiled threat that others will be “looking out for me” in the local area. It’s only fair to repay the compliment …. Transparency is the best disinfectant.
Prepare for a lengthy diatribe. The comments in pale blue are Kes and the ones in dark blue mine.
How it began
Kes rejects all forms of information save for the ones he sources himself. This is typical of the hardcore Brexit supporters. It makes them particularly unappealing candidates for informed conversations. See also Our Jools.
The obsession with rape is of course palpable. But I refuse to debate parts of a problem as it only allows them to dig deeper down a rabbit hole. It remains a fact that the vst majority of rapes are committed by white English people, and many are known to their victims.
The video above is one suggesting that Ukraine started the war with Russia !!
Now quoting Katie Hopkins as a reliable journalist …
I’m still confused as the plethora of unanswered questions that this stream of consciousness raises. Kes’ anger at his situation is palpable. The refusal to accept the work of media outlets makes it virtually impossible for me to get any further with him, as he refuses to accept facts over his feelings, exaccerbated by Tik Tok videos.
That said, the work still needs to be done. Nigel Farage preys on people like Kes and he seems to be keen to do the same.
The image of Robert Jenprick, shadow Justice Secretary at the header of this post illustrates the belief that far right flagshagging is considered a vote winner. It is not a victimless crime. See our report on the abuse of women and children by such people.
I do feel sorry for Kes given what he told me of his health conditions, none of which were apparent when I last encountered him. Given the level of threats made and one or two doubts I have regarding his story, I am not in the mood to want to help him. His abuse and dismissal of me is forgettable. As my dad used to say “Sticks and stones can break your bones, but words can never hurt you”.
I remain extremely concerned that Kes seems to be planning to be a counsellor which requires considerable moral courage and other skills. He is of course right that education is supposed to be about how to think, rather than what to think, yet I see little independent thought in this diatribe.
Above all else, this once again demonstrates the poverty of online dialogue as a means of talking people down from ingrained beliefs about Brexit, Europe, Politics and populism. See also the recent close encounter with someone obsessed with stopping the boats.
The poverty of Online Brexorcisms. Click image to read the book.
I am now taking a long break from Kes, having gathered some basic data on his life, motives, fears and fantasies. Serious mindset change cannot happen without a series of face to face encounters and, given his threats of violence and his intention to ‘dox’ me, I cannot proceed.
Off to eat a Swan in a bap for breakfast …. and to read about how Brexit was backed by Putin as part of a longer plan to destroy the west. Of course, Kes won’t believe this, as it’s on the BBC, New York Times, Guardian, Politico, yada yada.
Postscript
Kes continues to send unverified bollocks made by people who have a phone and a voice. I am no longer replying, having gathered sufficient intelligence for Kent Police who have taken an interest in the cell structure of far right agit-populism. His final assault is included for amusement and or pity, depending on your point of view. Since Kes insists on telling others in the area of my details, I should make it known that the last time a far right agitator committed criminal damage and knife crime, he had to pay £3500 for his sins. The rate has gone up since 2023 …. fill your boots …
I'm pleased to say that I took the person who did this to court after the police bungled the case (he was an ex policeman). He has been fined £3000 for malicious communications, criminal damage and the use of a knife
I was called to give some interviews for various Middle Eastern TV platforms on the reasoning for Mark Rutter’s visit to UK on Monday 9th June. The interviews are obviously not in English, so here I set out some of the arguments I made. The TV clips can be found below.
37 pence a day for 70+ years of peace in Europe
Mark Rutte visited UK to shore up support for NATO, Ukraine etc.
Starmer is desperate for friends in a post Brexit jurassic world. However, kowtowing to Trump and Farage is not the right strategy. More courage is needed from Starmer. Morgan Mc Sweeney must go.
Trump knows that Starmer is beleaguered by Brexit so he uses Britain as a bridgehead to batter Europe and the EU for his ally Putin.
Our natural partner is Europe and Britain must show unity. We have no other choice and cannot continue with “cakeist democracy”.
Sadly, the only defence strategy is to show Putin a united front.
UK is strapped for cash due to Brexit. But a 1% rise in defence spending equates to £30 billion pa. Brexit costs us £140 billion EVERY year in lost opportunity and tax receipts, so defence uplift can be afforded if Starmer will face down the Brexit elephant in the room. Read more at Rejoin the EU.
Peace is more than the absence of war. Brits paid 37 pence a day each for our EU membership. Go compare how much we paid for EU membership from your council tax bill (see below).
Whilst Starmer needs to be courteous to President Trump, he goes too far in the appeasement game. Instead, he must learn from John Bolton, Mark Carney, Chancellor Merz and President Zelenskyy.
Moving from 2.5% to 3.0% in the next Parliament is simply too little, too late. It places politics before country. Do better.
Trump 2.0 is now already in remission. The markets have faced him down. China have faced him down. Now Canada have voted decisively to stick it to the orange clown. Nearly ALL of Trump’s promises are in tatters. Here are a few whoppers.
Code RED – Trump’s lies debunked
I will end the war on Ukraine on day 1.FAILED. Instead Trump has perpetuated the war on Ukraine. He switched off the intelligence system and threatens to do it again, which will cause untold suffering. He has sided with Putin despite promising to be a mediator. Perhaps he should phone ACAS for a definition of the word mediation. Instead he set up a public humiliation of Zelenskyy live on TV, picking on his dress code rather than anything substantial. Pathetic. Here is our interview with James O’Brien on the subject of child psychology and Trump:
Click to listen to the LBC interview.
I will end the war in Gaza. FAILED. Instead Trump has sided with war criminal Netanyahu and used the distraction of a Disney styled resort in Gaza.
Trump, twinned with Putin.
I will get the price of eggs down. FAILED. Of course the price of eggs had nothing to do with Joe Biden, simply bird flu, and the price of eggs was bound to come down in time. But that’s what populists do, to ascribe the causation of random events to their opponents. Trump was NEVER able to control the price of eggs. Just another piece of egg-aggeration ….
Chicken run. Click to read more on Trump’s lies on food and energy.
I will invade Greenland and Canada. FAILED.
Earworms.
and so it continues. China has stood up to Trump, so has the EU and Canada. Only Starmer and Panama have kowtowed to Trump. Panama is a small country and has little choice whereas Britain could Rejoin the EU. But we are in a Brexit fire sale, desperate to curry favour with everyone. No wonder Reform UK are on the rise. Mass Brexorcisms and Trumpectomomies are part of an answer, but Labour show not signs of standing up to the populists.
Outlook
Trump 2.0 has now passed its Liz Truss moment. DOGE is now in failure and Elon Musk has rebelled against tariffs. Jeff Bezos had a pre-emptive strike on the tariffs as well although he appears to have backed down.
It would now be best if Trump limped on as a lame duck. Vance does not have the brand to continue with the illusions that Trump has spun and Republicans are slowly finding their voices. Meanwhile the Democrats are divided over nomenclature and muscularity, with Bernie Sanders leading the charge and other snowflakes shooting him from the side (See Remainers for the same story). We never learn.
To help things along, find ways to buy European where you can. Let’s ensure that Trump 2.0 hurts America more than the rest of the world. This is Trump’s Brexit moment. In the longer term, we may some realignment of the world’s tectonic plates with China and South East Asia.
Go European
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Trump 2.0
Postscript
I welcome the Ukraine / US deal as it provides some promise of US support to help end the war. It remains deplorable that Trump has used the killing of children as a lever for a “deal”.
It is a validation of President Zelenskyy’s leadership and unwillingness to kowtow to Trump in February.
I think he did this, to cover over his many other failures in his first 100 days.
Under the circumstances it provides some hope that the killing and abuse of Ukrainians will stop. But we must also remember that Trump is a pathological liar.
Here is our review of the Rejoin EU debate in Parliament on 24 March which found that Brexit was overwhelmingly a disaster. You can read the full transcript here.
Rage Against The Brexit Machine
There was unified Rage Against The Brexit Machine from right across the political spectrum save for the Tory party and Reform UK, who were too scared to attend. This rage even included Labour, who came as close as possible to being censured by the Labour party machine. Stella Creasy, in particular, gave an excoriating account of the damage being inflicted by Brexit, but, of course, stopped short of calling for Labour to reverse it, putting party before country. They will pay for this in support as I understand from inside sources that people are leaving Labour in droves. Is she waiting for her moment to unseat Starmer? We shall see. Here is an excerpt:
“Brexit is a disaster. It is a disaster by anybody’s metric, not least those according to whom it was purported to be a route to the promised land. The pandemic spared some of the blushes of those who still try to claim that we have got some elusive sovereignty as a result of leaving the European Union, but we can see the damage. Our constituents can see the damage.
Many Members have already cited some of the relevant figures; let me cite some more. As a result of Brexit, 1.8 million fewer jobs have been created in our economy, and that number is likely to rise to 3 million by 2035. Some 16,500 small businesses have stopped exporting to Europe all together. Those of us who were part of the parliamentary delegation last week had the pleasure of listening to Lord Frost trying to argue that up was down, but we know the truth for our constituents. We have seen the damage.
To me, the Brexiteers are like those people—we all have met them on a night out—who join the group, start a fight in the club and get everyone kicked out, but who still maintain, three hours later, as they are walking everyone around a completely empty industrial estate somewhere, that they know a great club that everyone can get into.”
Stella Creasy
Former Labour MP Rosie Duffield extinguished the notion that Labour had made an election promise NOT to reverse Brexit, by pointing out the many election promises already broken by Labour.
“The people now in charge were campaigning, with those of us who were here then, against Brexit several years ago, and I would like them to stick to that.”
Rosie Duffield
Creasy chose a particularly pathetic excuse to justify why Brexit could not be ended, by stating that it would be “difficult”. FFS, this is the job of politics and politicians, to do difficult things to make the world a better place!! Brexit was difficult, so stating the obvious as a reason to do nothing was possibly one of the ludicrous reasons to let Brexit continue that I’ve heard. This fits in with Paul Cawthorne’s list of reasons to do nothing articulated by Remoaners on an almost daily basis.
Friends Reunited
The debate was very cordial and was a model example of the kind of democratic behaviour we can return to when the Brexit nightmare has been put into a grave. It gave a united voice to the many Lib Dems who spoke, the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Independents. Impressive stuff from all. Here’s a few highlights:
“We can see from the number of Liberal Democrat contributions that this subject is very important to our party. My hon. Friend the Member for Tunbridge Wells (Mike Martin) talked about the impact on defence, and my hon. Friend the Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Manuela Perteghella) talked about higher education. My hon. Friend the Member for Lewes (James MacCleary) spoke about youth mobility and the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean convention, while my hon. Friend the Member for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe (David Chadwick) talked about the impact on farmers.
My hon. Friend the Member for Bath (Wera Hobhouse) gave a very personal reflection on her own journey, for which I am grateful, and my hon. Friend the Member for South Devon (Caroline Voaden) talked about fishing. My hon. Friend the Member for Wokingham (Clive Jones) spoke eloquently about barriers to trade. My hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Mr Kohler) gave a polemic, which I really enjoyed, and my hon. Friend the Member for Melksham and Devizes (Brian Mathew) made a particularly interesting contribution about health co-operation, for which I thank him.”
Sarah Olney
“I encourage Labour Members to pursue this issue and keep on taking it to their Government—to argue with passion and conviction that they want the UK to be back in the European Union. That is the only thing that will satisfy the petitioners, because that is what they want. As has been rightly said, the UK public are way ahead of the House on this issue; some 60% of them now want the UK to rejoin the European Union. We should look at what they want. If one of the parties—just one—were to say, “We are totally committed to full EU membership,” that would be immensely popular; it would go with the grain of public opinion throughout the United Kingdom.”
Pete Wishart
“The Government must do what is right for the British public and not just run scared of the hon. Member for Clacton and the rest of his quarrelsome rag-bag of little Englanders and cheerleaders for Trump and Putin. We are part of Europe, and I have no doubt that one day we will rejoin the EU and regain our position at its heart, just as Winston Churchill advocated. Until that day, we must work tirelessly towards fostering ever closer co-operation by breaking free of the red lines in which this Government have bound themselves so unnecessarily.” Paul Kohler
“The end of January marked five years since the UK left the EU. Although a majority of people in the UK, and indeed in Wales, voted to leave the EU at that time, the majority do not think it was a good idea any more. Polling shows that 55% of Britons now say that it was wrong for the UK to leave the EU, with just 11% seeing Brexit as more of a success than a failure. Let us also not forget that young people voted decisively to remain.”
Liz Savile-Roberts
“Speaking of the architects of the botched Brexit, where exactly is the hon. Member for Clacton (Nigel Farage)? According to Hansard, he has mentioned Brexit just twice since his election in July. Surely, if this Brexit deal was the monumental success that he and others promised, he would be reminding us no end of times. His silence speaks volumes. Even he seems aware that this supposed triumph is best quietly forgotten.”
James MacCleary
I do not think that anyone in this Chamber, or the petitioners, expects the Labour party to lead us back into the EU tomorrow. What we want to hear from this Labour Government is a commitment that that is their objective and that is what they will work towards.
Pete Wishart
“I urge the Government to move away from warm words—at the PPA, we all exchanged warm words about our new relationship—towards action and results. Otherwise, we will be talking about a reset for many decades. We need action from the Government now.”
Wera Hobhouse
“I still wholeheartedly believe in us rejoining the European Union—that is our future—and debates like this are part of that process. People need be under no illusion that this issue is going away; as the petitioners and those supporting them prove, this debate is ongoing in the country. There is also strong support, as the polling evidence shows, that the public believe that we made a mistake.”
Tim Roca
We cannot afford to wait 10 years to address some of the very real challenges that we face as a country. Practical, tangible steps can be taken to help to build a stronger and closer relationship with the EU.
James Naish
“What is it about enriching young people’s lives that frightens this Government so much?“
Liz Savile-Roberts
Several Labour MPs went further than I had expected them to go, whilst sticking to red lines, red lines made largely irrelevant and inappropriate by redneck Trump and his Russian sponsors. We have also received some gratifying replies from Labour MPs.
To absent friends …
Save for a couple of swivel headed Unionist loons talking vacuous BS about fish and democracy, the debate was devoid of the Brexit Culture Carriers. No Nigel, Tice, Johnson, Mogg, Braverman, Duncan Smith, Truss, Sunak, Patel, Redwood, Davis, Failing Grayling, Chope, Coffey, Whittingdale, Francois, Hoey, Steve (beardy wierdy) Hardman Baker, Jenkyns, Fabricate, Leadsom, Gullis, Mordaunt, Hayes and many more. When people tell me that now is not the right time to end Brexit in case we end up in a hokey cokey Brexit, they seem to forget that Brexit has no cheerleaders. Nigel F has mentioned the word just twice since taking up office in his constituency of Washington and adopted the easy lie that Brexit was in fact perfection but it was just executed extremely badly by the hard Brexit cabinet. One would have thought that if Brexit was so good, then Brexiteers would have been lining up in their thousands to extol its virtues at the event. No one came. This speaks volumes. Even the Tory Gammon MP for Fylde said that Brexit had provided many benefits, but was unable to name ANY in his summing up. And the party line offered by Labour MP for Thamesmead was lacking in substance and delivered in such a robotic style that I began to wonder if AI had arrived sooner than expected.
It ain’t over
The motion passed. Sadly that does not mean anything other than the debate was held. If we want anything to happen, we must make it so … So, the job is not finished ….
I was delighted to receive over 30 positive replies from MPs due to our mass mailing of our book Rejoin EU: Reboot Britain to MPs, the work of 60 people, including former Labour MEPs, a KC and subject experts across many fields. This nearly involved my detention in parliament due to taking 30 kg of book in a suitcase for a meeting there !!
We have about 300 Labour MPs / journalists and influencers still to mail with books and are hatching a plan to form a “coalition of the willing and able” to meet with Sir Keir Starmer directly. We will need around £4000 to undertake these tasks (£1500 for books, a meeting in London for 20 people and associated costs). If you can help, please send us some support via WISE, BACS, Go Fund Me etc.
And you can still mail your MP with our letter and a hard copy of the book – get the template here and the book on Amazon. Bulk orders at 60% author discount direct via e-mail at reboot@brexitrage.com
Debate Rejoin NOW
“The EU is a pragmatic project, but at its core it is also an idealistic one. It is a project grounded in ideals, and in the idea that the nations of central Europe should never go to war again. It succeeded in that mission, making it one of the most successful political projects ever in mankind’s history. When we are making the argument for rejoining the European Union, let us use the language of idealism, not just rationalism. Unless we build a case for the UK to rejoin the EU based on idealist language and get people to buy into the ideals on which the European Union was founded, we will not have long-term buy-in to the project among the people we need to convince.”
David Chadwick
“I fear that I am in danger of picking at the scars and wounds referred to by the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Ms Creasy)—a very learned Member—but I must reflect on these past nine years. On 23 June 2016, the people of Scotland voted to remain within the European Union by 62% to 38%. There was a majority for remain in every single one of Scotland’s local authorities. In anyone’s terms, that was decisive, and if the vote were rerun today, I suggest it would be even more decisive.”
Rachel Reeves’ financial statement aka emergency budget landed yesterday. Labour have abandoned their principles of support for those in most need in society. And yet, a simple remedy to our woes is at hand … to end Brexit and apply to Rejoin the EU immediately. Brexit is costing us £140 Million every year. Much more than the floor sweepings she is trying to hoover up from the poor, needy and vulnerable.
Trumpaction costs
Worst of all, buggered by Brexit, Labour are forced to go with a begging bowl to TrumPutin. What transaction costs will Trump require to cut Labour a bit of slack? The price will be high for sure as transactional (trumpactional) negotiation is all that Trump understands.
Will Britain allow US crap food to be dumped on our kids?
Will Britain be expected to place further distance from Europe?
Will Britain have to withdraw support partially or wholly from Ukraine?
Reeves should know that by dealing with Trump, she is dealing with Putin.
Reeves and Moartar
There are better answers than kowtowing to psychopaths … Rejoin the EU, starting NOW.
Britain cannot indulge in full-on direct trade wars as we are now weakened by Brexit as we are now about as important as Panama. We can however be more creative than that, by indulging in what are known in the trade as “assymetric actions”. The most obvious one is applying to Rejoin the EU. We must also postpone the state visit. There are many other things that Trump wants to run his MAGA America First industry. We could simply redirect these resources to other countries. We are not stronger than Trump, but we can be cleverer. At this point in time Reeves and Starmer are in the “Chamberlain position”.
Unite and Survive Trump
This is what lies ahead if Britain doesn’t stand up to Trumputin:
Labour’s Brexit Jurassic Theme Park.
Brexit Hannibal Lecter Starmer 2024.
Your poor huddled masses, let’s club ’em to death. And get it over with and just dump ’em on the boulevard. Lou Reed.
Buy us a coffee (or more) via WISE, BACS, Go Fund Me etc. if you wish to help us do more.
