New contributor and vintage memorabilia dealer Jack Hine on “The Will of the People”
Is it the will of the people to face rising inflation, which will outstrip wage increases?
Is it the will of the people to allow commerce and industry to relocate elsewhere? Many banks are leaving for New York.
Is it the will of the people to stand alone, as in the good old days?
Is it the will of the people to suffer five years in the financial doldrums while we try to renegotiate trade deals with previous partners who may resent our departure?
It took many years of trying to become part of Europe. General de Gaulle said emphatically ‘Non!’ over and over again as he thought we were not ready. He was right and now we want to wind the clock back? Reinstate red tape restrict movement of goods and our people, remove our ability to live and work in Europe and have direct access to the richness of our European allies. Is that the will of the people?
It is blatantly obvious already that all indications so far of implementing Article 50 are negative. Please show me a few positive points.
What really riled me up was a spokesman on the news this morning. He said: “What right has a hedge fund manager to challenge the sovereign democratic system?” The reality is that all our politicians are simply not up to the job! David Cameron only suggested a referendum because he thought there would be no contest. Thank God for what Gina Miller achieved this week; let sense prevail.
The motion allowing parliament to decide what is right or wrong for the future of this country is paramount. Not individual party issues, not rich or poor, not working class or the privileged but a decision based on facts, which are now more readily available than at the time of the referendum. The majority of people who I asked why they wanted out have told me: “I don’t want to be told what to do by Brussels” and “we want more control over immigration”. They have a point but are these utopian dreams cause to bring our country down? I think not.
Regarding the EU, surely it is better to be part of a club and have a say than to be outside peering through the window and have no voice. If we were to leave and if Donald Trump (God help us all) is elected in America, who will our trading partners be? Do you think he will endorse the “special relationship” after what our politicians have said of him? We no longer have an empire to trade with and even Scotland would become a trading adversary.
Wake up Briton – We have come so far and achieved so much. Please, do not be dragged back to the dark ages!
Jack Hine is a dealer in vintage memorabilia based in Belgravia, London and Hove, East Sussex. Follow him on Twitter at @jack_p_hine.
You sound like you are a grim reaper of doom. Please cheer up.
Such histrionic and repetitious rhetoric.
De Gaulle did not veto our application because ‘he did not think we were ready’.
Where on earth did you dig up that piece of memorabilia?
De Gaulle had a visceral dislike of Britain, mainly fuelled by what he thought was disparagement by the British wartime establishment. They rightly considered him a total nuisance and a thorn in the side of the war effort.
Your little homily overlooks some rather important points.
If the EU is such an engine of prosperity explain why London hosts close to 400,000 French and why are there nearly 3 million EU citizens here? They don’t come for the clement weather or the food. No, they come because we have a ‘business welcome’ climate. I have some experience of starting a business in France and it’s torture.
Equally, you neglect to dwell upon the ultimate goal of a highly federalised European state. Is that what you really want?
No, the EU is past its sell by date. It has a one size fits all currency which is plainly incompatible with the vastly diverse member economies.
And, more dangerously, a banking system that makes ours seem benign.
Stick with the memorabilia dealing Jack: you are a bit naive!
What a load of s**t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get out of Europe before its too late!!!!!!!!!! There will be a war and that f**king currency will fail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, Rod the currency has already gone south bur there will not bad a war, the EU has kept us at peace & prosperous for over 60 years
The £, in the last decade, has been at parity with €. Currencies do move up and down. As for the old chestnut of war. What on earth makes you think the EU has prevented war? By buying peace amongst the impoverished EU fringe countries?
You cannot forge a workable, long term alliance amongst nations whose economies, social structures and political ambitions are so wildly different. Had the EU remained as pure trading area we would not be in the mess we are now in.
And, another point: if it’s such a great concept why is it the fascistic EU leaders have to threaten the EU with dire consequences for taking a democratic decision? The answer, as was that when Admiral Byng was strung up, “Pour les encourager les autres” not to try to defect.
Sounds likes the worst sort of coercion.