The Folly of Blaming the EU For Everything - as Told by Bojo

[T00ts]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10052646/Quitting-the-EU-wont-solve-our-problems-says-Boris-Johnson.html

Bojo's column from 2013:

Quitting the EU won't solve our problems, says Boris Johnson
Britain's economic problems would not be solved by simply leaving the European Union, Boris Johnson warns.

By Robert Winnett ; Boris Johnson and Robertwinnett
12 May 2013 • 22:00 pm
Boris Johnson is known for his oratory skills.

This country's workers are plagued by "sloth" and under-perform compared with their foreign rivals, says the London Mayor.

Writing for The Daily Telegraph, he says that if Britain left the EU, "we would have to recognise that most of our problems are not caused" by Brussels.

Mr Johnson's intervention comes after Michael Gove and Philip Hammond today became the first two Cabinet ministers openly to support leaving the EU unless there is significant reform.

However, the London Mayor claims the "question of EU membership is no longer of key importance to the destiny of this country". The political row risks overshadowing more important weaknesses in the economy.

He suggests that the British workforce suffers from "sloth" and that there is a "culture of easy gratification and under-investment" from firms.

David Cameron pledged earlier this year that he would hold a referendum by 2018 if he is re-elected as Prime Minister in 2015. However, many Conservative MPs want the Prime Minister to go further and now write the pledge into law – a proposal being blocked by the Liberal Democrats.

More than 100 Conservative MPs are set to support a Parliamentary amendment which effectively criticises the Queen's Speech for failing to legislate for the referendum. A key vote on the amendment is expected to be held this week.

Last week, Downing Street insisted Mr Cameron was "relaxed" about the amendment but ministers have now been ordered to abstain from any vote.

In his article today, Mr Johnson says that he supports legislation backing a referendum – but warns that Britain's problems will not be solved by simply leaving the EU as many of his Conservative colleagues apparently believe.

"If we left the EU, we would end this sterile debate, and we would have to recognise that most of our problems are not caused by "Bwussels", but by chronic British short-termism, inadequate management, sloth, low skills, a culture of easy gratification and underinvestment in both human and physical capital and infrastructure," the London Mayor says.

"Why are we still, person for person, so much less productive than the Germans? That is now a question more than a century old, and the answer is nothing to do with the EU. In or out of the EU, we must have a clear vision of how we are going to be competitive in a global economy."

Mr Johnson sets out four reasons to stay in the EU and four reasons to leave but welcomes Mr Cameron's pledge to renegotiate the country's relationship. He says that he has asked his economic adviser to "blow away the froth and give people the facts" on the pros and cons of membership.

However, he concludes his article by saying: "This renegotiation can only work if we understand clearly what we want to achieve: a pared down relationship based on free trade and cooperation. And our partners will only take us seriously if they think we will invoke Article 50, and pull out, if we fail to get what we want."

The Government is currently reviewing policy in different Whitehall departments to separate EU-derived legislation from that originating in this country. It is understood that the "balance of competencies review" has already discovered that many rules and regulations blamed on Brussels are actually a result of "gold plating" by Whitehall mandarins.

Isn't that what we are saying - that Whitehall needs serious overhaul? That over the years what is viewed as success within the EU has left us diminished in National terms? Isn't that still BJ's view now?

Sure. But where's the proof that Cummings is improving things, show me what you think has improved?

And have they stopped blaming loads of things on the EU? Nah.

This is the most important part for me:

"question of EU membership is no longer of key importance to the destiny of this country". The political row risks overshadowing more important weaknesses in the economy.

That's the truth ^ it was a diversionary issue and an easy election winner by using a well established scapegoat with which one can easily win elections; folks are heavily Eurosceptic in this country. That's all it was ever about - that and making cash for rich speculators.

The original Eurosceptics were ideological nationalists like Enoch Powell who didn't care about the money argument (I don't like him of course) and mainly Old Labourites who love the idea of Chavez's Venezuela; they were never business types.

Brexit for the establishment Tories became viable when they saw an avenue to consolidate their power/majority by explpiting the EU as a good scapegoat while making large amounts of cash by flogging off the NHS et al to America post hard Brexit; and with speculative trading against the economy when sterling went down.

I do think that sometimes we see things too much in black and white. If we could eradicate profiteering, greed and everything else ghastly that we find in society and government and replace it with the integrity that we all dream of then your argument might hold some sway, but we can only work with what we have.

Has Cummings made improvements? I don't think he has had a chance to yet. Covid has allowed those entrenched to stay put for now. The chaos that is current is an example of just how bad I think it is. I have been calling for a Whitehall makeover for years. BJ has only been properly in charge this year and the virus has thrown the whole of government.

However we can't blame just this government or previous ones. We are in a time of change that demands swift action and the ability to think on our feet. Too often we are slow to recognise both possibilities as well as risks. I don't think the EU is anything like a salutary example of greatness in those departments either. 

My hope is that at some point this country will start to wake up to the true capabilities that we have. Given a freedom to develop as long as successive Governments don't go into the game of control and restriction. If Cummings or anyone else manages to unshackle Whitehall and government from the paralysis at it's core then WHOOPEE! However change doesn't just start at the top. We have to change in society too. We are too complacent and we need to change the national attitude into a 'can do' frame of mind right across the board.

[Borg Refinery]

Isn't that what we are saying - that Whitehall needs serious overhaul? That over the years what is viewed as success within the EU has left us diminished in National terms? Isn't that still BJ's view now?

That article has the stench of Dominic (Rasputin,) Cummings.

It's probably your own.

The article is from 2013 and was written by Bojo, now can you take your stilletto's and go and troll another thread FFS.

[papasmurf]

Isn't that what we are saying - that Whitehall needs serious overhaul? That over the years what is viewed as success within the EU has left us diminished in National terms? Isn't that still BJ's view now?

That article has the stench of Dominic (Rasputin,) Cummings.

[Borg Refinery]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10052646/Quitting-the-EU-wont-solve-our-problems-says-Boris-Johnson.html

Bojo's column from 2013:

Quitting the EU won't solve our problems, says Boris Johnson
Britain's economic problems would not be solved by simply leaving the European Union, Boris Johnson warns.

By Robert Winnett ; Boris Johnson and Robertwinnett
12 May 2013 • 22:00 pm
Boris Johnson is known for his oratory skills.

This country's workers are plagued by "sloth" and under-perform compared with their foreign rivals, says the London Mayor.

Writing for The Daily Telegraph, he says that if Britain left the EU, "we would have to recognise that most of our problems are not caused" by Brussels.

Mr Johnson's intervention comes after Michael Gove and Philip Hammond today became the first two Cabinet ministers openly to support leaving the EU unless there is significant reform.

However, the London Mayor claims the "question of EU membership is no longer of key importance to the destiny of this country". The political row risks overshadowing more important weaknesses in the economy.

He suggests that the British workforce suffers from "sloth" and that there is a "culture of easy gratification and under-investment" from firms.

David Cameron pledged earlier this year that he would hold a referendum by 2018 if he is re-elected as Prime Minister in 2015. However, many Conservative MPs want the Prime Minister to go further and now write the pledge into law – a proposal being blocked by the Liberal Democrats.

More than 100 Conservative MPs are set to support a Parliamentary amendment which effectively criticises the Queen's Speech for failing to legislate for the referendum. A key vote on the amendment is expected to be held this week.

Last week, Downing Street insisted Mr Cameron was "relaxed" about the amendment but ministers have now been ordered to abstain from any vote.

In his article today, Mr Johnson says that he supports legislation backing a referendum – but warns that Britain's problems will not be solved by simply leaving the EU as many of his Conservative colleagues apparently believe.

"If we left the EU, we would end this sterile debate, and we would have to recognise that most of our problems are not caused by "Bwussels", but by chronic British short-termism, inadequate management, sloth, low skills, a culture of easy gratification and underinvestment in both human and physical capital and infrastructure," the London Mayor says.

"Why are we still, person for person, so much less productive than the Germans? That is now a question more than a century old, and the answer is nothing to do with the EU. In or out of the EU, we must have a clear vision of how we are going to be competitive in a global economy."

Mr Johnson sets out four reasons to stay in the EU and four reasons to leave but welcomes Mr Cameron's pledge to renegotiate the country's relationship. He says that he has asked his economic adviser to "blow away the froth and give people the facts" on the pros and cons of membership.

However, he concludes his article by saying: "This renegotiation can only work if we understand clearly what we want to achieve: a pared down relationship based on free trade and cooperation. And our partners will only take us seriously if they think we will invoke Article 50, and pull out, if we fail to get what we want."

The Government is currently reviewing policy in different Whitehall departments to separate EU-derived legislation from that originating in this country. It is understood that the "balance of competencies review" has already discovered that many rules and regulations blamed on Brussels are actually a result of "gold plating" by Whitehall mandarins.

Isn't that what we are saying - that Whitehall needs serious overhaul? That over the years what is viewed as success within the EU has left us diminished in National terms? Isn't that still BJ's view now?

Sure. But where's the proof that Cummings is improving things, show me what you think has improved?

And have they stopped blaming loads of things on the EU? Nah.

This is the most important part for me:

"question of EU membership is no longer of key importance to the destiny of this country". The political row risks overshadowing more important weaknesses in the economy.

That's the truth ^ it was a diversionary issue and an easy election winner by using a well established scapegoat with which one can easily win elections; folks are heavily Eurosceptic in this country. That's all it was ever about - that and making cash for rich speculators.

The original Eurosceptics were ideological nationalists like Enoch Powell who didn't care about the money argument (I don't like him of course) and mainly Old Labourites who love the idea of Chavez's Venezuela; they were never business types.

Brexit for the establishment Tories became viable when they saw an avenue to consolidate their power/majority by explpiting the EU as a good scapegoat while making large amounts of cash by flogging off the NHS et al to America post hard Brexit; and with speculative trading against the economy when sterling went down.

[T00ts]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10052646/Quitting-the-EU-wont-solve-our-problems-says-Boris-Johnson.html

Bojo's column from 2013:

Quitting the EU won't solve our problems, says Boris Johnson
Britain's economic problems would not be solved by simply leaving the European Union, Boris Johnson warns.

By Robert Winnett ; Boris Johnson and Robertwinnett
12 May 2013 • 22:00 pm
Boris Johnson is known for his oratory skills.

This country's workers are plagued by "sloth" and under-perform compared with their foreign rivals, says the London Mayor.

Writing for The Daily Telegraph, he says that if Britain left the EU, "we would have to recognise that most of our problems are not caused" by Brussels.

Mr Johnson's intervention comes after Michael Gove and Philip Hammond today became the first two Cabinet ministers openly to support leaving the EU unless there is significant reform.

However, the London Mayor claims the "question of EU membership is no longer of key importance to the destiny of this country". The political row risks overshadowing more important weaknesses in the economy.

He suggests that the British workforce suffers from "sloth" and that there is a "culture of easy gratification and under-investment" from firms.

David Cameron pledged earlier this year that he would hold a referendum by 2018 if he is re-elected as Prime Minister in 2015. However, many Conservative MPs want the Prime Minister to go further and now write the pledge into law – a proposal being blocked by the Liberal Democrats.

More than 100 Conservative MPs are set to support a Parliamentary amendment which effectively criticises the Queen's Speech for failing to legislate for the referendum. A key vote on the amendment is expected to be held this week.

Last week, Downing Street insisted Mr Cameron was "relaxed" about the amendment but ministers have now been ordered to abstain from any vote.

In his article today, Mr Johnson says that he supports legislation backing a referendum – but warns that Britain's problems will not be solved by simply leaving the EU as many of his Conservative colleagues apparently believe.

"If we left the EU, we would end this sterile debate, and we would have to recognise that most of our problems are not caused by "Bwussels", but by chronic British short-termism, inadequate management, sloth, low skills, a culture of easy gratification and underinvestment in both human and physical capital and infrastructure," the London Mayor says.

"Why are we still, person for person, so much less productive than the Germans? That is now a question more than a century old, and the answer is nothing to do with the EU. In or out of the EU, we must have a clear vision of how we are going to be competitive in a global economy."

Mr Johnson sets out four reasons to stay in the EU and four reasons to leave but welcomes Mr Cameron's pledge to renegotiate the country's relationship. He says that he has asked his economic adviser to "blow away the froth and give people the facts" on the pros and cons of membership.

However, he concludes his article by saying: "This renegotiation can only work if we understand clearly what we want to achieve: a pared down relationship based on free trade and cooperation. And our partners will only take us seriously if they think we will invoke Article 50, and pull out, if we fail to get what we want."

The Government is currently reviewing policy in different Whitehall departments to separate EU-derived legislation from that originating in this country. It is understood that the "balance of competencies review" has already discovered that many rules and regulations blamed on Brussels are actually a result of "gold plating" by Whitehall mandarins.

Isn't that what we are saying - that Whitehall needs serious overhaul? That over the years what is viewed as success within the EU has left us diminished in National terms? Isn't that still BJ's view now?

[Borg Refinery]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10052646/Quitting-the-EU-wont-solve-our-problems-says-Boris-Johnson.html

Bojo's column from 2013:

Quitting the EU won't solve our problems, says Boris Johnson
Britain's economic problems would not be solved by simply leaving the European Union, Boris Johnson warns.

By Robert Winnett ; Boris Johnson and Robertwinnett
12 May 2013 • 22:00 pm
Boris Johnson is known for his oratory skills.

This country's workers are plagued by "sloth" and under-perform compared with their foreign rivals, says the London Mayor.

Writing for The Daily Telegraph, he says that if Britain left the EU, "we would have to recognise that most of our problems are not caused" by Brussels.

Mr Johnson's intervention comes after Michael Gove and Philip Hammond today became the first two Cabinet ministers openly to support leaving the EU unless there is significant reform.

However, the London Mayor claims the "question of EU membership is no longer of key importance to the destiny of this country". The political row risks overshadowing more important weaknesses in the economy.

He suggests that the British workforce suffers from "sloth" and that there is a "culture of easy gratification and under-investment" from firms.

David Cameron pledged earlier this year that he would hold a referendum by 2018 if he is re-elected as Prime Minister in 2015. However, many Conservative MPs want the Prime Minister to go further and now write the pledge into law – a proposal being blocked by the Liberal Democrats.

More than 100 Conservative MPs are set to support a Parliamentary amendment which effectively criticises the Queen's Speech for failing to legislate for the referendum. A key vote on the amendment is expected to be held this week.

Last week, Downing Street insisted Mr Cameron was "relaxed" about the amendment but ministers have now been ordered to abstain from any vote.

In his article today, Mr Johnson says that he supports legislation backing a referendum – but warns that Britain's problems will not be solved by simply leaving the EU as many of his Conservative colleagues apparently believe.

"If we left the EU, we would end this sterile debate, and we would have to recognise that most of our problems are not caused by "Bwussels", but by chronic British short-termism, inadequate management, sloth, low skills, a culture of easy gratification and underinvestment in both human and physical capital and infrastructure," the London Mayor says.

"Why are we still, person for person, so much less productive than the Germans? That is now a question more than a century old, and the answer is nothing to do with the EU. In or out of the EU, we must have a clear vision of how we are going to be competitive in a global economy."

Mr Johnson sets out four reasons to stay in the EU and four reasons to leave but welcomes Mr Cameron's pledge to renegotiate the country's relationship. He says that he has asked his economic adviser to "blow away the froth and give people the facts" on the pros and cons of membership.

However, he concludes his article by saying: "This renegotiation can only work if we understand clearly what we want to achieve: a pared down relationship based on free trade and cooperation. And our partners will only take us seriously if they think we will invoke Article 50, and pull out, if we fail to get what we want."

The Government is currently reviewing policy in different Whitehall departments to separate EU-derived legislation from that originating in this country. It is understood that the "balance of competencies review" has already discovered that many rules and regulations blamed on Brussels are actually a result of "gold plating" by Whitehall mandarins.