Daily Archives: June 24, 2016

Opinion – Brexit: the world’s most complex divorce begins – FT.com – John Gelmini

June 24, 2016 By in Austerity, Brexit, Business Administration, David Cameron, Defense Policy, Education, Euro Crisis, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy, George Osborne, Growth, Healthcare, Immigration, Jeremy Corbyn, Nigel Ferange, People, Politics Leave a comment

There needs to be a period of calm reflection, followed by the eventual replacement of Messrs Cameron and Osborne with a new Prime Minister that is actually a proper Conservative, like Andrea Leadsom and a Chancellor who understands economics and the country’s need to sell its way out of trouble. We do not need the present incumbents “staying on”, nor an election nor silly Conservative Party infighting which creates uncertainty and we do not need another Coalition, where sandal wearing Tofu eaters and champagne socialists from the Guardian prevent the Government from undertaking much needed public sector reform and the application of the bunsen burner flame to the UK’s complacent corporate-ocracy.

We need to begin dealing with the issues that people will not bring themselves to talk about, such as very low UK worker productivity, the size of the public sector, the obesity crisis, lack of exports, the untrammelled greed of British bosses who pay themselves too much money, the poor state of state education, and the bosses who for the most part fail to deliver or set a proper example to their workforces.

It was laziness and lack of productivity which caused employers to look overseas for harder working better educated and more productive employees in the first place but those employers and the politicians failed to have the difficult conversations that were needed and need to do so now.

The country needs to look at all unnecessary costs and in that direction we need to see an example set with a slimmed down Monarchy, House of Lords abolition, and replacement with a slim Senate, composed of highly intelligent people, not tainted with corruption and the firing of the worst 459 MPs combined with boundary reform to reflect true public opinion.

The negotiations that lie ahead need to be conducted by realists and tough minded people who know how to negotiate, not people like the Prime Minister, who has led a gilded life of ease who couldn’t negotiate his way out of a paper bag and lacks the street fighting capabilities of a Margaret Thatcher, someone who originally came up the hard way.

There really cannot be a slide back into time honoured ways and “business as usual” on the part of anyone.

Opinion – Live: David Cameron resigns after EU referendum result delivers decisive win for Brexit – Mirror Online

June 24, 2016 By in Austerity, Boris Johnson, Brexit, Business Administration, David Cameron, Defense Policy, Democracy, Economics, Education, Elderly, Euro Crisis, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy, French election, Growth, Healthcare, Immigration, People, Politicians, Politics, Unemployment, US Election 3 Comments

The Mirror reports that the Prime Minister will stay on until October but a new leader should be in place for Tory party conference – and they will be responsible for invoking Article 50 and negotiating the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

Source: Live: David Cameron resigns after EU referendum result delivers decisive win for Brexit – Mirror Online

There’s a link to David Cameron’s resignation speech. Whilst I was saddened that David Cameron chose to resign rather than battle-on, I empathize with his argument. Between now and October, the country will have a seriously lame-duck Prime Minister and cabinet whilst the financial markets are in free-fall.

Cameron’s decision opens up the leadership race and no doubt the media will be looking at the potential candidates over the  coming months. Referendum supporters will be looking for a right-wing champion but this will potentially move the whole government to the right and in serious confrontation with left-wing elements in the country. Osborne proposed eye-watering austerity going forward pre-Brexit but this will need to be seriously buttressed because of the economic fallout.

It’s worth while remembering that the Conservative Party has a small majority and the referendum has highlighted widespread dissatisfaction with the political classes.

Meanwhile, the Mirror is right to signal that there could well be a fight for the leadership of the Labour Party too. Jeremy Corbyn was clearly holding his punches in the referendum campaign and one can see this morning that he is blaming the result on excessive austerity from David Cameron’s government. Personally, I was proud to see prominent Labour Party politicians campaigning with David Cameron but Corbyn was notably absent. Surely, there are questions over Corbyn’s judgement?

With the UK economy likely to be in economic free fall and a new government, it would be timely for the Labour Government to go for change too. Corbyn stuck narrowly to workers’ rights and jobs in his campaigning. But Corbyn’s inaction will trigger genuine hardship for many Labour supporting families.

Apart from reuniting the country after the election, attention needs to focus on Farage and his supporters. Right-wing nationalists champion xenophobia. There are no plans just the dogma of hate. Despite the Little Englander cries, it is questionable whether immigration can be effectively contained. There is a serious skills shortage in the UK and many foreigners are prepared to work harder, longer and will accept jobs that the indigenous population reject. This group might get a shock as a right-wing Conservative government really start slashing benefits and public services.

Expect London to resemble Athens this Summer. Populism has spoken. But there were never any serious plans from the Brexit leaders like Farage and Johnson. They now step sideways and point to the government.

What a mess!

Young people will fear for their futures like in Greece, Spain and Italy as jobs go overseas.

Do you remember Tony Blair’s first general election win? Blair had an astonishing majority and support from the people. But Blair squandered his power and Labour left the country in economic ruin by not providing for a rainy day. Well, this is not just a rainy day, it’s like a full-blown monsoon and it will probably last till the Autumn. One scenario, like in Greece when the government could not implement the required austerity, there could be an early election – loopholes can be found around the existing law or indeed change it by the will of parliament.

I respect democracy but the populists have triggered years of relative hardship for many. Worse still, they have shown the way to right-wing populists everywhere. Watch for Trump, Le Pen and their peers to leverage the Brexit vote. Of course, the Far-left, like Corbyn and his equivalents in major democracies will be ready with their road-blocks.

Thought?