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6 réflexions sur « Quand une poubelle défie Nigel Farage – La Libre p.27 »
Dear Father
Once more you are giving to the belgian and continental people a in-depth picture of the unique way the mainstream British Subjects mindset’s are working Nigel Farage and Count binface are in my view the two faces of the same coin A stern warning signal of the growing disaffection of the British for their traditional politics but when they will be confronted with decisive choice as ever l believe they will be matter of fact
May l say that it is the reason why beyond all the arguments for and against Brexit which ten years after the referendum are still going on It will remain the unwavering predicament to any form of “rapprochement “that the UK and Europe are two worlds apart for the best outcome of both JPQL
I wouldn’t read too much in the theatrics surrounding the Clacton by-election and, unlike you, I don’t see Count Binface and Nigel Farage as two faces of the same coin.
Figures like Binface add a Monty-Python- like splash of colour to the British election ritual and we miss them dearly when they fail to show up.
Having said that, on this occasion Count Binface served the useful purpose of denying Farage the genuine victory he would likely have won had he run against the traditional parties, who in a masterstroke decided not to present any candidates.
That is not to say that all is well in good old Blighty.
There is now a widespread awareness that Brexit has been nothing short of an extra-ordinary act of self-harm and, were a similar referendum to be run again today, the result would overwhelmingly support a « rejoin » ( whether the EU would welcome us with open arms is a different matter)
It is all the more baffling therefore that the « political class » is so reluctant to take this bull by the horns and at the very least work towards our integration into the Single Market and, longer term, the EU as a full member. The economic argument in favour is very powerful: Britain and its politics have suffered greatly from being outside the EU and a rapprochement would be a boost to economic growth.
So it is even more baffling that the man who has done so much to bring this misery upon us manages to to run ahead in the polls ( although his financial entanglements have tripped him up recently)
None of this is « standard British politics » that would set us as « a world apart » from continental European politics: I watch with baited breath developments in Germany where the AfD continues to make inroads, or France where the voters’ choice seems increasingly between a populist left and a populist right…
What is undoubtedly true is that British politics have become inherently unstable for two reasons: the rise of populism on both the Left and Right, and the institutional architecture of the British voting system.
The voting system whereby parliamentary elections are run on a first-past-the-post basis in each constituency (as opposed to a system of proportional voting run nationally) works well when the political landscape is dominated by two main parties such as the Tories and Labour.
It falls apart when the landscape breaks up in 4 or 5 parties of roughly similar size, such as Tories, Labour, LibDems, the Greens and Reform.
The reason is that in constituencies where all parties have comparable shares of the votes, the actual winner may well win with a comparatively small share of the votes and a tiny majority over the next one!
As it is the party with the largest number of seats in Parliament that provides the Prime Minister and forms the government….a situation where the dreadful Mr F. forms the next government, although unlikely, is not impossible.
All sorts of permutations are of course possible and I would not venture a guess as to what’s to happen next, however we all need Count Binface to keep us laughing, particularly when the French don’t get the joke!
Dear Kees
It is with great attention that l read your interesting contribution regarding the Clayton by election and my views Of course your views are as good as mine but as a matter of fairness l feel obliged so stress the following :
I am not surprised at all that the politics are so reluctant to try any sort of”rapprochement “with the EU because they know full well that if the polls are indicating that there is a steady majority of British people in favour they remember that the brexit referendum was forecasted with a remain majority when the result was a confortable majority for leave
You are certainly adamant that the British people have a exquisite politeness therefore when they suspect that you might be from the continent most will tell you so sorry they are of having left the EU
BUT when you told them that you think it was the right thing to do you get a big smile you are told often that they have voted leave and you are made felt that you are one of them
Now from a EU perpective why would you make any agreement with the labour government in the full knowledge that there’s a huge likelihood that whatever will be agreed will be cancelled in at most 3 years time
Further more all EU national will be stripped from most UK benefits and a Brexit renegotiation will take place including the North Ireland customs deal which is a stain on our sovereignty
As a matter which deserved attention the growing relationship between the Imperial Japan and the UK As a example the future multi purpose fighter will be the result of close cooperation between the two countries with a minor Italian input
Living everyday in this blessed Country l can confidently say that the continent is more faraway than ever Our futur lies to a large extent in the
Indo-pacific and the English speaking world
Jp
1. The polls reflect a solid majority in favour of a ‘rapprochement » with the EU in one form or another. The numbers vary from poll to poll, but are now consistently above the 60 percent mark.
And these are independent polls, not Kees Scholtes annoying people while waiting for their buss.
2. The 52-48 referendum result in favour of Brexit can by no means be described as « comfortable ».
In fact, the very unequal distribution of the vote across the UK makes it very Uncomfortable: England was pro-Brexit, Scotland and Northern Ireland strongly against.
So….the European issue might even be a threat to the cohesion of the United Kingdom, the status of Northern Ireland etc…
3. My guess is that international developments, such as the Russo-Ukrainian war, the future of Nato…will be, for now, the major drivers behind the UK-EU relationship.
Internal EU squabbling between France and Germany and their inability to cooperate on a euro-fighter project will pave the way for much closer UK involvement in matters of European defense and…new arrangements on international trade with the EU are likely to become a quid pro quo for our cooperation on defense.
The Germans, if anybody, would be delighted!
Thank you for your “bullet points”which make me think that we have some common ground even if obviously we have unlike hopes expectations….dream for the Country we love
May l therefore mention the following
1 you are right to say that according to polls there is a majority of the British people who would like a “rapprochement “ with the EU but it is in the questions asked that we may find what is at stake
Ever since the Royal Navy has insured free trade all over the world it has been a constant British policy to promote the freedom of exchange which have made the Country rich and powerful
When you asked the same people if they are prepared to this end to surrender some of our Sovereignty you hardly find a decisive answer My bet is that we will choose the Sovereignty
2 May l just say that a sliding of 5 to 8% is huge against the expectation
3To a large extent l shared your views Perhaps it is the best for the UK and the EU Of necessity the EU giving up his request of free movement and acceptance of its standards in a trade off for our in cutting hedge military equipment and our leadership in AI
May God blessed this plot of Land
Thank you, dear Kees and JP, for this very interesting exchange of view. 🙏🇬🇧🙏
Dear Father
Once more you are giving to the belgian and continental people a in-depth picture of the unique way the mainstream British Subjects mindset’s are working Nigel Farage and Count binface are in my view the two faces of the same coin A stern warning signal of the growing disaffection of the British for their traditional politics but when they will be confronted with decisive choice as ever l believe they will be matter of fact
May l say that it is the reason why beyond all the arguments for and against Brexit which ten years after the referendum are still going on It will remain the unwavering predicament to any form of “rapprochement “that the UK and Europe are two worlds apart for the best outcome of both JPQL
Dear JP,
I wouldn’t read too much in the theatrics surrounding the Clacton by-election and, unlike you, I don’t see Count Binface and Nigel Farage as two faces of the same coin.
Figures like Binface add a Monty-Python- like splash of colour to the British election ritual and we miss them dearly when they fail to show up.
Having said that, on this occasion Count Binface served the useful purpose of denying Farage the genuine victory he would likely have won had he run against the traditional parties, who in a masterstroke decided not to present any candidates.
That is not to say that all is well in good old Blighty.
There is now a widespread awareness that Brexit has been nothing short of an extra-ordinary act of self-harm and, were a similar referendum to be run again today, the result would overwhelmingly support a « rejoin » ( whether the EU would welcome us with open arms is a different matter)
It is all the more baffling therefore that the « political class » is so reluctant to take this bull by the horns and at the very least work towards our integration into the Single Market and, longer term, the EU as a full member. The economic argument in favour is very powerful: Britain and its politics have suffered greatly from being outside the EU and a rapprochement would be a boost to economic growth.
So it is even more baffling that the man who has done so much to bring this misery upon us manages to to run ahead in the polls ( although his financial entanglements have tripped him up recently)
None of this is « standard British politics » that would set us as « a world apart » from continental European politics: I watch with baited breath developments in Germany where the AfD continues to make inroads, or France where the voters’ choice seems increasingly between a populist left and a populist right…
What is undoubtedly true is that British politics have become inherently unstable for two reasons: the rise of populism on both the Left and Right, and the institutional architecture of the British voting system.
The voting system whereby parliamentary elections are run on a first-past-the-post basis in each constituency (as opposed to a system of proportional voting run nationally) works well when the political landscape is dominated by two main parties such as the Tories and Labour.
It falls apart when the landscape breaks up in 4 or 5 parties of roughly similar size, such as Tories, Labour, LibDems, the Greens and Reform.
The reason is that in constituencies where all parties have comparable shares of the votes, the actual winner may well win with a comparatively small share of the votes and a tiny majority over the next one!
As it is the party with the largest number of seats in Parliament that provides the Prime Minister and forms the government….a situation where the dreadful Mr F. forms the next government, although unlikely, is not impossible.
All sorts of permutations are of course possible and I would not venture a guess as to what’s to happen next, however we all need Count Binface to keep us laughing, particularly when the French don’t get the joke!
Dear Kees
It is with great attention that l read your interesting contribution regarding the Clayton by election and my views Of course your views are as good as mine but as a matter of fairness l feel obliged so stress the following :
I am not surprised at all that the politics are so reluctant to try any sort of”rapprochement “with the EU because they know full well that if the polls are indicating that there is a steady majority of British people in favour they remember that the brexit referendum was forecasted with a remain majority when the result was a confortable majority for leave
You are certainly adamant that the British people have a exquisite politeness therefore when they suspect that you might be from the continent most will tell you so sorry they are of having left the EU
BUT when you told them that you think it was the right thing to do you get a big smile you are told often that they have voted leave and you are made felt that you are one of them
Now from a EU perpective why would you make any agreement with the labour government in the full knowledge that there’s a huge likelihood that whatever will be agreed will be cancelled in at most 3 years time
Further more all EU national will be stripped from most UK benefits and a Brexit renegotiation will take place including the North Ireland customs deal which is a stain on our sovereignty
As a matter which deserved attention the growing relationship between the Imperial Japan and the UK As a example the future multi purpose fighter will be the result of close cooperation between the two countries with a minor Italian input
Living everyday in this blessed Country l can confidently say that the continent is more faraway than ever Our futur lies to a large extent in the
Indo-pacific and the English speaking world
Jp
Dear JP,
Just a few bullet points:
1. The polls reflect a solid majority in favour of a ‘rapprochement » with the EU in one form or another. The numbers vary from poll to poll, but are now consistently above the 60 percent mark.
And these are independent polls, not Kees Scholtes annoying people while waiting for their buss.
2. The 52-48 referendum result in favour of Brexit can by no means be described as « comfortable ».
In fact, the very unequal distribution of the vote across the UK makes it very Uncomfortable: England was pro-Brexit, Scotland and Northern Ireland strongly against.
So….the European issue might even be a threat to the cohesion of the United Kingdom, the status of Northern Ireland etc…
3. My guess is that international developments, such as the Russo-Ukrainian war, the future of Nato…will be, for now, the major drivers behind the UK-EU relationship.
Internal EU squabbling between France and Germany and their inability to cooperate on a euro-fighter project will pave the way for much closer UK involvement in matters of European defense and…new arrangements on international trade with the EU are likely to become a quid pro quo for our cooperation on defense.
The Germans, if anybody, would be delighted!
Dear Kees
Thank you for your “bullet points”which make me think that we have some common ground even if obviously we have unlike hopes expectations….dream for the Country we love
May l therefore mention the following
1 you are right to say that according to polls there is a majority of the British people who would like a “rapprochement “ with the EU but it is in the questions asked that we may find what is at stake
Ever since the Royal Navy has insured free trade all over the world it has been a constant British policy to promote the freedom of exchange which have made the Country rich and powerful
When you asked the same people if they are prepared to this end to surrender some of our Sovereignty you hardly find a decisive answer My bet is that we will choose the Sovereignty
2 May l just say that a sliding of 5 to 8% is huge against the expectation
3To a large extent l shared your views Perhaps it is the best for the UK and the EU Of necessity the EU giving up his request of free movement and acceptance of its standards in a trade off for our in cutting hedge military equipment and our leadership in AI
May God blessed this plot of Land
Thank you, dear Kees and JP, for this very interesting exchange of view. 🙏🇬🇧🙏