The 1st Duke of Wellington
Why this image of the 1st Duke of Wellington, you may well ask! It’s because his strategy to beat the French ought to apply to our own Brexit Battle, as I’ll explain below.
Today is the official start of the GE campaign. Parliament was dissolved at 00.01am, the manifestos are being written, the polls are being polled, the MSM are ‘oven-ready’, to borrow Johnson’s latest Brexit-phrase, and while nowadays a day is a very long time in politics and predictions are impossible, the battle lines can be discerned.
Don’t believe for a moment that this will be about Brexit if we let the establishment Parties and their allies in the MSM set the agenda! This morning’s headlines show how the MSM will play this. In one corner we have the Tories who are still struggling about how to ‘get Brexit’ into their manifesto – more on that below. In the other corner we have Labour whose policies are already attracting criticism from across the board. In the yellow corner are the Libdems whose Leader firmly believes she can become PM and in the last corner we have TBP and Nigel Farage, the devil incarnate whose sole existence means Brexit will be scuppered.
Yes, that’s right: it’s not the Remainers’ policies of obstruction since the EU referendum which have been wrecking Brexit for over three years, it’s not Labour with their rejection of ‘a Tory Brexit’, and the pledge to do better: three months negotiations and then six months for a 2nd referendum even if their leader is still not sure what he’ll do. Above all, it’s not Johnson with his ‘oven-ready Deal’ who is the wrecker – it’s Farage, having shown the traps in Johnson’s deal, who is the official Brexit wrecker.
Predictably, RemainCentral is coyly avoiding dealing with Johnson’s ‘oven-ready deal’ while taking some serious swipes at Labour in their leading article:
“The most basic law of economics is that things add up. Labour’s programme shows scant awareness of this fact. It promises revenues that will not materialise, productivity gains that are speculative, taxes that will be paid by business rather than employees, and an industrial renaissance due to a weaker pound. All of this is a fantasy that will depress living standards and cause a flight of capital. Labour’s economic policies are, even so, less deluded and dangerous than the party’s approach to national security, which we detail today. If, as is perfectly conceivable, Jeremy Corbyn enters Downing Street next month, he will be the first postwar prime minister of either party to believe that the defence on which Britain’s national security depends is a provocation rather than a guarantor of peace and freedom.” (link, paywalled)
It’s worth noting in an aside that the Whitehall chief Sir Mark Sedwill has blocked the Treasury’s publishing a report detailing the costs of Labour’s economic policies (link). Our unbiased Civil service bites again … ! The problem of national security under Labour is reinforced in another article in the Times:
“The intelligence services and Foreign Office fear that national security would be put at risk if Jeremy Corbyn became prime minister […]. Senior Whitehall insiders say that the flow of information that Britain receives from the “Five Eyes” alliance, which includes the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, would dry up because of a lack of trust in the Labour leader.” (paywalled link)
That’s a bit more serious than the plaintive Remain cries that we’d be cut off from EUROPOL in case of Brexit! Finally, here’s what may well become normal occurrences should Labour win:
“The Rail Maritime and Transport Union announced [yesterday] the unprecedented 27 day walkout as part of a long-running dispute over guards on trains. […] It comes amid threats from Britain’s most powerful unions to paralyse airports, universities and the postal network before the election on December 12. […] Tory MPs likened the disruption to the notorious ‘Winter of Discontent’ in 1978/79 and accused union leaders of coordinating a plot to boost Jeremy Corbyn’s chances of victory. The latest strike will involve South Western Railway workers walking out for 27 days between December 2 and New Year’s Day. Conductors will only return to work on election day and for Christmas Day and Boxing Day – when there are no trains running anyway.” (paywalled link)
How that is supposed to ‘help Corbyn’ I confess I do not understand. At least so far the Labour Party isn’t overtly ‘split’, unlike the LibDems where Mr Umunna aims to form an alliance with the Party he left, Labour. Non-paywalled reports are here and here while their leader is going to sue ITV for being sexist pigs and not including her in their planned leadership debate between Johnson and Corbyn (here).
Amazingly, the Tories are also split! The ERG demands that ‘No Deal’ not be taken ‘off the table’ in their forthcoming manifesto. It’s really quite delicious:
“According to a senior Tory source: “Key ERG members have been lobbying Boris but Downing Street wants the focus to be on the wonders of the Prime Minister’s deal – they don’t want to be distracted or drawn into the previous arguments about deal or no deal. They want to say that the Conservative Party is completely lined up behind the deal, which has won the approval of Brexiteers and Remainers. But the very simple point being made to Boris is that he will be asked the question during the election campaign: ‘If you don’t get a trade deal with the EU during the two year transition period, will you leave on WTO terms?’ Some people in Number 10 are worried including no deal in the manifesto will put off soft Tories who voted remain and are tempted by Labour and the Lib Dems. The leavers are saying that a commitment to no deal could help to entice voters back from the Brexit Party.” (paywalled link)
There you have the evidence that Brexit is just a counter in the Establishment parties’ game to win the GE! We’ve noticed that many fair-weather Brexiteers have swallowed the Johnson lie about that oven-ready deal uncritically, demanding Farage fall into line.
No matter – it’s the ‘split’ in TBP which is important. Lookit here: candidates of TBP are leaving! 20 of them! And another one left yesterday! (link, paywalled). The reason? Farage is mean to the Tories and must change. So say Express readers (here). Meanwhile, Tory candidates are allegedly pleading with Farage to please not put up a candidate standing against them (paywalled link) while Nigel reiterates that he’s open to talks. While this report of a surge of TPB in a poll is interesting, the main battle slogan of the Establishment – Parties and MSM in concert – is that voting for TBP will split the Leave vote.
They overlook that we out here have learned a few things since 2016: Party manifestos are not worth the paper they’re written on while Brexit has been wrecked by the Remain Establishment. We do not trust that lot one inch! Expect to be patronised, expect to be vilified, expect to see more Project Fear ‘news’. The Establishment is fighting for their lives: they know it, we know it, and we should act accordingly.
As I mentioned above, we Leave voters should recall a famous war – which we won – and a famous General who won it: the 1st Duke of Wellington. During the battle at Waterloo he said “Hard pounding this, gentlemen; let’s see who will pound longest.” That should be our motto: to pound hardest and longest.
Never forget that this election is about Leave and Remain, nothing else matters. And let’s remind ourselves of this answer by the Great Duke when he was asked how he beat the French: “They came on in the same old way and we saw them off in the same old way”. He referred to the French columns getting beaten by the British lines, again and again.
The ‘Line’ of us Leavers will have to beat the Establishment Columns. That’s all there is to it. Moreover, just as Wellington’s Army was made up of contingents from different, allied nations, so must we fight this war for our country with our Leave allies from all parties.
Evoking Waterloo and the Peninsular War is not far fetched. By now anyone who’s read about how the EU works has learned why our and their continental system are fundamentally incompatible. That’s why we must fight this battle against those who’d sell us out into Napoleonic bondage. The battle lines are drawn, and we will
KBO!
Although I am late again to comment and the train is leaving the platform for another day and more brilliant analysis, but I must commend (yet again) this article, and the comments.
The next few weeks will be a battle. I picture the Armies coming over the hill tops banners flapping in the wind, trumpets, drums and riders darting this way and that, issuing orders and keeping the massed troops in their discipline formations.
But hang on! Three large armies are coming from the East. They are communicating, they are ‘in association’.
Whereas the ground to the West is covered in a mass of less well equipped, less organised, some may call a Rabble, of disparate groups, arguing and spitting at each other. They are the defenders.
Battle commences, artillery fire opening barrages. The big guns that have the greatest range sound off first. Great fiery balls of ‘confidence tricks’ come in from the armies in the east slaughtering scores of troops at every hit and churning the ground they stand on. Then the barrage of ‘exposures’ is fired from the Rabble. Smaller pieces of artillery come into play as the hordes get closer. The ‘lies’ have a devastating effect on the Rabble ripping through what semblance of order there was and creating confusion. Then the ‘revelations’ fired off. Both Armies have this type of weapon as technology has moved on a long way. It is difficult to know who is winning.
Hand guns are now firing ‘paper bullets’ zipping this way and that. Some are losing their minds in the hullabaloo and leaving the battle or sinking to their knees.
Two things are emerging. First the rabble are not what they seem when it comes to fighting at close quarters they are well armed with uniforms of ‘naivety’ and shields of ‘common sense’. Second an amazing thing is happening some of the officers from the Armies of the East are changing sides!! But that is not all many of the regular troops are also now fighting alongside the Rabble.
The only explanation is that the Rabble have some kind of secret weapon. After the carnage is over those that are left will identify that deciding factor and call it ‘The Truth’.
Funny that I thought it was Russia defeated Napoleon. 1812 overture and all that. And only today I read how France is rejoicing at the discovery and repatriation of the remains of one of Napoleon’s favourite Generals found near Moscow.
Now there is a moral there I’m sure – something about even history telling lies or history being written by the victors.
I’m almost joking actually.
If I was a cartoonist here’s what I’d draw:
A group of runners pounding up a hill, near the top at a fork in the road there’s Boris, resplendent with friendly grin, white teeth sparkling in the sun and blond mop, artfully dishevelled. Oh look, he’s holding a sign! It has a finger on it pointing to the left. Written in large letters it says “Keep going, Brexit almost done, Finish this way”. Below it in smaller lettering: “Genuine EU/Tory Deal” “Trust me I’m a Tory”. “Don’t worry they’ll let us keep some of our fish, I think. Yes it binds the next parliament but you wanted ‘Brexit’ don’t bother you little head worrying about democracy, uncle Boris knows best, don’t worry about Junker and the boys, they’re my mates …“
Behind Boris is another sign, somewhat obscured from view by you know who, pointing straight on, it says in large letters:
“This way to LEAVE the EU for GOOD.”
Beyond the fork the path continues onwards and upwards to a plateau where green rolling fields stretch out as far as the eye can see.
Smaller signs along the path say Freedom to keep ALL our fish, freedom to trade with the US and the rest of the world, freedom to make ALL our own laws in our own parliament, keep our nukes, our armed forces, our seat at the UN and freedom to conduct foreign policy as we see fit. Freedom to oppose the EU should we need to.
Well said, Mr Keal! Great picture!
And we must be prepared for all the bamboozlement and mirrors and smoke and vilifications the establishment can think up to prevent our supporting the Brexit Party and Mr Farage. The more of this we get, the more it will strengthen my belief that I am right to believe in the BP.
Who will wreck Brexit ………. Leavers?
“That should be our motto: to pound hardest and longest.”
But sad to say people don’t like change and grow weary and tired. So it is not the Remainers who will wreck Brexit. We know what they are like ….. a motley crew with nothing to offer…………. Jo Swinson is a good example with the notion that she could become Prime Minister.
The carrying of the referendum to leave the EU was a once off. What is needed now is a catalyst that would make Brexit an imperative. But the opposite has happened. Leavers have sunk into complacency and even worse they see what is on offer as not worth the effort.
There is be no gain without pain ……… ?
I’m trying to be clear headed as possible whilest guaging the reactions of all people to the cross currents of different supporters of different things. My conclusion ( Not so far being noticed ) is that another destabilising factor is needed. Or rather, a hitherto stabilising factor hitherto ( or frightened of ) not introduced. The opportunities are everywhere. How thick are our leaders.
There are good example in past. Just look at what both parties aren’t talking about. Stable doors everywhere..
“the flow of information that Britain receives from the “Five Eyes” alliance, which includes the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, would dry up because of a lack of trust in the Labour leader.”
But The Times is clearly not exercised by the prospect of it drying up ‘because of a lack of trust’ (and much more) should UK military and intelligence be subsumed into PESCO and the EU military. Odd that! Oh, I forgot the MSM rule: never present or discuss the small print in Boris’s deal, because it doesn’t exist does it! It is a figment of Nigel’s imagination.
On the doorstep and in leaflets (even if we need to make our own) we should be targeting ‘the deal’. We need a selection of talking points designed for different voters (con lab lib etc) and questions to ask to determine what to focus on. If you’re going solo I suggest letting https://independencedaily.co.uk/the-revised-withdrawal-agreement-and-political-declaration-a-briefing-note/ and the comments below be your guide.
As I see it, in this election ‘the deal’ is the enemy. All those that are pushing it, especially the Tories are acting against our country and for the enemy.
There IS no retreat. Stand and deliver!
Agree 1000%
I suggest to you that ‘the deal’ is the distraction. The enemy is the party system.
The election is about much more than Brexit. I want to see Momentum-Labour interrogated on foreign policy and defence, especially with regard to their anti – Trump and anti – Jewish fetishism which infests the very fabric of their party.
I want to see the Tories interrogated on migration and housing. Just why didn’t they build those 200,000 affordable homes promised and accounted for in 2015? Just why is net migration at absurd and unsustainably high levels ?
I want to know exactly how the SNP plans to leave the Union and what they want ? Do they want a hard border ? Do they want to lose the protection of the RAF and Royal Navy ? Exactly what do they propose. I keep hearing rhetoric, but no detail.
Just HOW will the Libs / Greens/ and Labour get rid of internal combustion engines by 2025 ? Given that Southwark, in central London, has only 13 charging points despite being slap bang in the middle of the ULEZ Zone. How will Britain get the fantasy ‘carbon neutral’ power without building 20 more nuclear reactors in 6 years ??
Who is going to fit all the insulation and ‘green upgrades’ to 27 million homes in the UK by 2025- a Labour promise. WHERE will the £60 billion to do this , and the people to fit it, actually come from ?
To the Brexit Party I ask where is your manifesto at all ? All I hear are rants about fishing and the WTO, but with no detail. Where is the party machine ? Where is the dialogue with your non-members? Why should anyone be in a ‘party’ which is in reality just a vehicle for Farage, a man either too scared to fight a seat or too comfortable with the income he makes if he doesn’t have one and the restrictions it brings?
We need to get some form of government we deserve. Ask questions of these clowns everywhere, and close the bastards down when they change the subject or spew out the same old party lines.
Yes, a good post………but in the final analysis? Who do you vote for………????????? Reading your post……..I am more confused than when I started (although I realise your intentions are genuine!)
That “much more” will be irrelevant if we don’t get a clean exit from the EU.
Don’ forget the 40 Hospitals ……..They have promises like poxy Pie Crust
“Party manifestos are not worth the paper they’re written on while Brexit has been wrecked by the Remain Establishment. We do not trust that lot one inch! Expect to be patronised, expect to be vilified, expect to see more Project Fear ‘news’. The Establishment is fighting for their lives: they know it, we know it, and we should act accordingly”
You hit the nail right on the head Viv. The only way we can counter their duplicity, treachery and cowardic is to get four square behind TBP.
“predictions are impossible”.
Well, in all my long political life, we have had either a Tory PM or a Labour PM and I forecast that this will be no different.
In fact, I’ll stick my neck out and predict a Tory PM. As for the majority – who knows?
‘The impossible I do at once, miracles take a little longer’. Ask me on Dec.13. 😉
My Google fu has deserted me so the details are sketchy, but I recall a US Civil War general who received a request from one of his columns. ‘Have enemy forces to front, enemy forces to left, enemy forces to the right. What shall I do?
The semi-illiterate general sent one word of advice:
FITEM
JF
The Narrative that TBP is obstructing Boris’ s deal has traction. People are so fed up with the chaos they are grasping at straws.
Quote[The Narrative that TBP is obstructing Boris’ s deal has traction. People are so fed up with the chaos they are grasping at straws.]Unquote.
There is no truth here.
Farage has offered a deal and Boris has refused. So it’s Boris jeopardising Brexit. It seems to me the Tories are only pretend Leavers.
Boris is a Maybot, his deal is little different to her’s.
https://www.thebrexitparty.org/read-this/#compare
Harry Again? RIGHT AGAIN! Abso-bloomin-lootely BANG ON! I sometimes wonder where these Farage bashers have been in the last twenty-five years. They have certainly not been following politics, they have certainly not read the Manifestos (blatant lies!) that the current trough-feeders have spewed out. I suspect you have heard most of Cameron’s lies of the past, “We will reduce immigration from the hundreds of thousands to tens of thousands” (Pratt!) “If YOU vote to leave we will implement the decision you make. (Pratt!) Do you imagine he is any different from his other Eton/Harrow pals? For ‘politician’ READ ‘Pratt’.
I have never come across a political promise Farage has made, which has not been true. Does THAT tell you something, doubters?
Boris is showing his true colours. That “deal” is only acceptable to a remainer who hopes it will lead to continued membership of the EU.