Set the people free

This recording from February 1948 became Churchill‘s theme at the two subsequent general elections and of the 1951 administration that followed. Rationing, that Labour had actually tightened at the conclusion of the War, was finally abolished and identity cards withdrawn, following a prosecution the previous year. Quite right too, as both measures had been implemented in view of the wartime scenario that had prevailed. It was time to return to relying on the common sense of the British people.

Once again, it is time to return to relying on the common sense of the British people. In peacetime, no Government of the United Kingdom has any business controlling its citizens’ behaviour for longer than necessary. In the medium term, a face mask just isn’t as important as a safety belt in saving lives. 

Up to the end of February, it was possible to predict, with some accuracy from the number of daily Covid cases, the number admitted to hospital two weeks later and the number of deaths four weeks later. This seemingly inexorable statistical relationship no longer applies and the first reason for this is the vaccination programme. Seven eighths of all adults have now been vaccinated once and two thirds twice, but there are other advances such as various drugs that have been shown to prevent death among hospital patients. Furthermore, most of those admitted to hospital are now younger people yet to be vaccinated, These advances will allow the NHS to return to normal, reducing the waiting lists that have mounted during the pandemic, just as our economy is already rebounding rapidly from the associated artificial shock.

The “road map” announced in February has proceeded step-by-step with positive results and one slight delay. So, seventy years after the Churchill administration set the people free from the restrictions of identity cards and rationing, another Conservative government has announced that it will do the same from Monday, because Conservatives believe in trusting the people to be cautious and sensible.

If Labour believed the same, when they say that Monday 19th July is too early to relax almost all restrictions, they would have an alternative date – however, many suspect that they would object to any Liberation Day proposed. Perhaps their leader, who criticised the number of spectators invited to the Euro 2020 final stages, should have refused to attend the final as a result?

Why (almost) everyone wants a No Deal Brexit

Some readers may disagree with this, but it is in almost everyone’s interests for a “no deal Brexit”. Whilst I disagree in the phrase “no deal” since the UK government is preparing for trading on WTO terms and European governments and the EU are doing the same. So in other words, contingency measures will kick in on 1st November regardless, hardly the cliff-edge crisis that Remoaners and the BBC are trying to scare people with. It’s not as if the islands of Great Britain with the northern half of the island of Ireland are going to pull up anchor and move to the South Pacific. That’s the suggestion that ant-Brexiteers such as the LibDems, SNP,  Kier Starmer, Dominic Grieve and Anna Soubry are trying to terrify the British people with, suggesting that the country will be doomed to oblivion.

The Withdrawal Agreement as written by Mr Barnier and deceitfully imposed without question by Theresa May’s terrible “negotiator” Ollie Robbins, ties the UK into endless ECJ jurisdiction and precedence for years to come beyond any implementation period, and ties us into EU rules in respect of a level playing field on environmental, employment, taxation and state aid.

So the first big question for Mr Corbyn and his Labour supporters is why would they (as good dedicated socialists who want to nationalise all of UK industry) be willing to accept the withdrawal agreement? Of course they do not want it. They should accept “no deal” as the best solution to enable them to re-nationalise British Coal, British Leyland and good old BR again, in the extremely unlikely event of them getting into government at some future time. With the “deal” as it stands, they simply cannot do any of this without seeking permission from their EU masters.

For Conservatives, we should want “no deal” in order to be the most competitive country in Europe and the best nation to start a business with low taxation, light touch regulation and the ability to trade with the whole world, and be in control of our destiny.

Local councillors should want “no deal” to enable them to put local contracts out to local businesses rather then being forced to advertise them to the whole of the EU.

So who does not want “no deal”? Only those who want to try to block Brexit entirely such as the LibDems, SNP,  Kier Starmer, Dominic Grieve and Anna Soubry.

For 45 years too long, the anaesthetic of the outdated post-war consensus European project has flowed through the veins of the British establishment, decimating our ambition, national pride and desire to stand up for our values of freedom and democracy.

We are now finally ejecting this poison from our national life as we move ahead to the post Brexit world. In all of history, I would imagine never has there been so much despair and defeatism amongst vast parts of the population of countries under colonial control (such as India and many African nations) that were about to embark on their journey of freedom, sovereignty and independence, whereby they felt it would be impossible to throw off the shackles of their colonial masters in Paris, London or Madrid, as we see presently amongst the remaining vestiges of remainer die-hards. They did it. So can we. Bring it on !