Now it’s full steam ahead, please, BoJo
Why Brussels wanted Boris True patriots
PERHAPS strange at first but logical when you think about it, the pre-election preference right across the EU was for Boris Johnson to win with a clear and viable majority.
Once it was clear Brexit could no longer be subverted or reversed, the interest of Brussels was definitely to have a friendly, cooperative (albeit no longer subordinate) Western neighbour rather than a nation writhing in chaos or Marxism.
And a friendly neighbour is exactly what the EU will now have. The wailers go on that the 27-nation single market is a gigantic market for our goods and services but overlook that our purchasing power is crucial to the continent’s prosperity.
So let us now cooperate to the full, but regain our sovereignty and national control of our farms, fisheries, laws, courts and borders and never let control of them pass into non-British hands again.
BUBBLES usually burst if you wait long enough. There are periods when all political parties seem to collapse into collective madness. This happened to the Tories after the departure of David Cameron and it lasted three-and-a-half years.
But it is now over. Labour also went crazy after Ed Miliband and was literally hijacked by a clique of ultras so extreme that not even the brief reign of the Trots under Michael Foot can compare. And that is not over.
Eight days ago teeming ranks of traditional Labour voters said loud and clear that Marxism/Leninism was not their creed. They took a “holiday” from their lifelong loyalty to the party of Attlee and Gaitskell and rebelled. These were and remain damn good people, even though I disagree with them on socialist economics – which have provably never worked. But their hearts still beat for Britain.
David Cameron
AS he feeds his puppy a few thoughtful snacks, Boris Johnson can reflect on what a dog’s breakfast his opponents have made of just about everything. Up in Scotland LibDem leader Jo Swinson has gone – defeated by just 150 votes by the Scots Nats candidate. So the Lib-Dem leadership is again in abeyance and I for one have forgotten how many they have had since the last full moon. Leading the Lib-Dems is a bit like a fairground ride: as one leaps off another jumps on.
The one non-Tory party leader jubilating wildly is Nicola Sturgeon as her SNP swept Scotland. But closer to home she is assailed by lowering clouds of dissent. Under her overlordship the five things that affect people most closely, and which they care about most deeply – police, schools, health, employment and elderly care – have slid steadily downwards. But for the enormous subsidies from the Sassenachs south of the border (from whom she wishes Scotland to split), her position would be truly dire.
On a daily basis she clamours for a second so-called “independence” referendum (meaning secession). But the 2014 referendum was lost by a convincing 10 per cent margin. That was under her predecessor Alex Salmond, now facing a raft of sex charges in January. It was widely accepted to be a “once in a generation” test of Scottish opinion and she did not dispute that – back then.
But the UK Parliament would have to grant it and BoJo now
THE voting results that were finally announced to us last Friday morning were simply too late for this column to have anything to say and be in your Daily Express in time, so permit me a few thoughts after a week of reflection and some phoning of contacts. controls that House with a full five-year mandate and a commanding lead. Another pipedream the Prime Minister need not lose sleep over. So what is truly pressing for the denizen of Downing Street? Well, finally polishing off Brexit will remain up front, but not for long.
With a now 100 per cent loyal party behind him, he will get the formalities through by the end of January. After that the professional negotiators move in to secure a comprehensive new trading concordat with Brussels – at least a year, maybe more. So what needs doing that he now has the power to do? Well, there are a bundle of reforms on the back burner – delayed for years under Cameron and May.
A good start is going to be the
■ total re-vamp of the Five-Year SO much for the pollsters. Up to
voting day they were wailing Fixed Parliament Act which kept
that it would be right down to the us all in limbo when Corbyn
wire with the possibility of a Corbyn/ refused to let us have a snap
Swinson regime summoned to election. And a full six-week Buckingham Palace after a hung campaign before such an election parliament. Having gambled on a is far more than enough, thank December vote in freezing rain BoJo you. Then Commons reform – trounced the lot of them. So who reduction from 650 MPs to 600 pours money into the pockets of the and the re-drawing of our vastly pollsters to be told what turns out to out-of-date constituency borders. be rubbish? Surely a donation to a
Reform of the Lords screams for good cause – the old, cold, hungryat-Christmas debate and action. For years PM and homeless – plus a after PM has stuffed the Lords flip of the coin would be a better way with party jobsworths in order to to spend all those fat fees. get legislation through both
Houses. Result? Several tippertrucks
■
ON a final note, good news. of dross, the largest upper
Hardly have we tidied up the house in the democratic world. halls, schools and sheds where we Time for a root-and-branch voted eight days ago than the re-think. markets are roaring back after four
That’s February years in the doldrums. (With the more? Ask me later. months of tumult leading up to the referendum, it really is that long.)
The depressed pound is surging back up, leaving the euro in its wake and heading for a rate against the dollar not seen for years. That means cheaper imports and lower prices as Christmas moves in. The reason is partly the end of indecision at last and partly relief that our Marxist-Leninist official opposition has been trounced, probably for two parliaments.
As the carol puts it: “God rest ye, merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay.” And a merry Christmas from this column to all of you. sorted.
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