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New Year 2023 - Paul (31st Dec 2022 - 12:44:39) Not sure how 2023 is going to shape up, forecasts are all pretty grim with many of you going to experience the most difficult times in living memory. The list of challenges is almost without end from resurgent Covid, household bills, jobs woes and an escalation of the Russia/Ukraine war dragging in the rest of Europe to name just a few. Not much "Happy" i'm afraid!

Re: New Year 2023 - :) (31st Dec 2022 - 15:37:24) bet you’re fun at parties

Re: New Year 2023 - (Another, but not 'that' Paul) (31st Dec 2022 - 16:07:30) @Paul - wow, what on Earth?! Are you trolling for comments, or are you really that miserable?

Re: New Year 2023 - Sam (31st Dec 2022 - 16:41:42) You forgot to mention Brexit and how every family in the UK is £8000 worse of per year purely because of it, yes the problems are all over the world but we are doing the worst of many

Re: New Year 2023 - er (31st Dec 2022 - 21:37:36) Will be tough for sure, unless you're very wealthy, but for every loser there's a winner, good luck, life is an opprtunity!

Re: New Year 2023 - Happy (1st Jan 2023 - 11:54:15) Paul and Sam at it again hope we don’t have to put up with their drivel in 2023 . I for one think this year will be a good one we can get on and run our country our way . As for hard times look at history we have had it much worse in the past it’s just that people can’t cope when the going gets tough. Money not that tight just look at people coming out of supermarket’s loaded with goodies most quite unnecessary. Pubs bursting with people, people spending money all over the place. Air ports doing a good trade with people jetting of on holidays. Yes I think now we are free of the EU we can forge ahead things are DEFINITELY getting better HAPPY NEW YEAR .

Re: New Year 2023 - Ian (1st Jan 2023 - 13:23:43) @ Happy, nice bit of ‘bunker’ mentality. Brexit is proving to be a disaster for the UK despite the delusional BS coming out from diehard Brexiteers who will be happy to go down with the sinking ship

Re: New Year 2023 - Happy (1st Jan 2023 - 13:56:31) Poor old Ian the boot is on the other foot it’s the remain people that can’t except we are much better of out . They keep banging on about how bad it is blaming it all on coming out of the EU load of Bol?? you are in the minority as you were in the election. Never mind you and Sam can go and live in your beloved EU nothing stopping you have a lovely life in France.

Re: New Year 2023 - Ian (1st Jan 2023 - 15:54:47) Oh Happy, you come across as a right lovely. Keep playing the fiddle!

Re: New Year 2023 - passfield resident (1st Jan 2023 - 16:46:37) Happy-your views are the kind of ignorant, small-minded drivel that make me wish I did live in France. Have you ever been there?Or anywhere much that would open your mind to an idea or two?

Re: New Year 2023 - Pensioner (1st Jan 2023 - 17:21:51) First of all happy new year to everyone. Just thought I would have a look to see what’s going on in Liphook. As we are in a new year thought this thread would be interesting. Quite surprised at the negative posting’s about the new year. I’m old but haven’t lost my marbles and having lived through some tough time’s I’m at a loss as to why so much negativity. I had a very interesting chat with a man the husband of my daughters friend. He travels the world in his job and he said he was amazed how highly this country was held by all the people he dealt with, it seems we are regarded as solid and reliable and the way we deal with a multi race society is out standing. He said so many countries like dealing with us now we are free to negotiate ourselves. But the main thing we are still highly regarded throughout the world. Made me proud to be British. He was far more educated than me but it was a very interesting conversation. So perhaps we CAN go forward this year and become good again we have done it before two world wars and we are still here so take hart and roll our sleeves up we are not beaten by a long chalk (old saying) . I love my country and I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I think we are much better out of the EU to make our own mistakes and then put them right. Anyway happy new year.

Re: New Year 2023 - Ian2 (1st Jan 2023 - 18:20:32) Typical Brexit pensioner response and attitude. Oblivious to the consequences of their selfish decisions that look increasingly likely that our children and grandchildren will become adults in a less prosperous and more politically unsettled country and continent compared to the comparative peace and prosperity in Western Europe the older generations have enjoyed since the 1950’s. Definitely NOT a happy new year!

Re: New Year 2023 - Happy (1st Jan 2023 - 19:02:45) Passfield Resident been all over the world. And every where I’ve been this country is.very highly regarded and 100 % says we have done the right thing in leaving the EU . So very sorry you are so upset but the vote by everyone was out it wasn’t just old people a great. many young as well but you have your. view’s as many other’s do but it doesn’t change the fact we are out and things ARE getting better with being able to make our own rules and not being controlled by Brussels. But in any society everyone has different views not all correct.

Re: New Year 2023 - Ian (1st Jan 2023 - 19:56:56) Happy, other than our blue passports, less skilled European immigrants and Johnny Foreigner no longer setting rules (that generally we have kept and also could have vetoed) exactly what benefits are you seeing in the UK at the moment

Re: New Year 2023 - Joe (1st Jan 2023 - 21:45:12) happy- everyone did not vote brexit - i believe there was only 4 per cent more of those voters who actually voted ie it was 52 per cent of voters against 48 per cent of those who voted not the whole population.

Re: New Year 2023 - passfield resident (1st Jan 2023 - 23:05:46) Even Brexiteer politicians are saying that things will/could/should get better in the future-only the loons are claiming that we are economically better off right now, because all the evidence is saying the exact opposite. Of course, in these matters actual facts don't matter to lots of people because their prejudices are unshakeable. The fact is that Brexit wouldn't have happened without the immigration issue, and the public was lied to about this issue by people who were using lies to futher their own agendas.This current government has shown conclusively that immigration is a much more complicated issue than we were led to believe during the Brexit campaign.I believe that some powers returning to Parliament from Brussels as a result of Brexit is a healthy thing for our democracy, but many people who voted for Brexit weren't much bothered about this.

Re: New Year 2023 - AF (2nd Jan 2023 - 04:01:11) Ian Perhaps i can help. No more European court Judgments British issues settled in British Courts by British Judges. No longer giving bucket loads of cash to a corrupt European parliament, do people know they had two European parliament buildings. British Money being spent in Britain. In the event of a conflict battles being fought by British Soldiers, the best in the world not some European Hodge podge of units. We can keep the British Pound. If the EU had stayed as intended as a free trade block fine, but the majority of British people who vote did not want to be part of a bloated corrupt euro super state. And for those who have trouble with Math's 52 is larger than 48. As for you Remainers you lost get over it, move on or move out.

Re: New Year 2023 - Amazing (2nd Jan 2023 - 10:28:21) Amazing only two days into the new year and the debate over coming out of the EU rages. This should be a time for rejoicing the new year looking forward for a good year. Why are the remain people so vicious and rude if the result had gone the other way I’m sure the out people would have excepted it with grace. It was a vote by the people of our country which included many thousands of people that have settled here for a better life. So let’s ALL work for our lovely country we have a great future the British people have a tradition of fighting for our country we don’t like being ruled by another country. We originally signed up for a trade deal which was a good thing NOT to be ruled by another country the EU has blown up into a uncontrollable mess arguing among themselves wasting money left right and centre it’s going to blow up. As another poster has said it’s become much easer to trade around the world so let’s get on and trade as we have done in the past we are so good at it .Let the EU carry on bickering between themselves while we look to the world.

Re: New Year 2023 - Ian (2nd Jan 2023 - 12:44:44) Amazing, it seems to me the Brexit supporters are the ones being rude and also overtly defensive. Quite often on this forum you see them telling fellow UK citizens to go and live elsewhere!!! In all probability the majority of the UK would prefer not to have the type of Brexit we are lumbered with and if there was another vote then the result would be different. But of course Brexit diehards will never concede that we are not now better off.

Re: New Year 2023 - paul (2nd Jan 2023 - 12:57:07) Hi, Happy New Year. The Brexit vote in 2016 (close, 51.9% leave, 48.1% remain) has been a disaster, that the U.K. Politicians don't like to admit, but they know. I hope for a future generation sakes we have another referendum and vote to re-join, which if a vote now would win. Speak to any business person importing or exporting to the E.U. and it has been a very costly, and bureaucratic process, that does not end. It is ironic that one of the main drivers of the leave vote was to "reclaim our borders from foreigners". That has not happened, with more boat refugees crossing the perilous Channel in Winter, and other ports of entry. Migration across the globe is an international problem now, and in the distant future to come. Wars, famine, climate change, persecution by dictators etc continue. We need a world governments strategy for our future generations, not individual countries trying to have a plan for now.. Humanity needs to think a way forward, for their existence on planet Earth.

Re: New Year 2023 - er (2nd Jan 2023 - 18:08:56) paul, you described global migration as a worldwide 'problem', I find it an interesting word to choose, your description not any earlier posters. Forced migration is of course very sad as is rich countries 'stealing' the youth, energy and brains of struggling peoples (often due to our bullying, closed shop trade policies!) We all know by now that most remainers consider themselves more welcoming to migrants and they see Brexit supporters as anti immigration and racist. But in fact speak to any Brexit voter and they will deny this, after all they voted to do business with the whole world equally, whereas Remainers voted only to do business and have free movement of people from within the largely 'white' EU club! Since we introduced open borders with the EU, England became more white once more, before that and since, the balance has rapidly switched again, so by that logic Remainers voted for white immigration and Brexiteers voted for worldwide immigration! When you look at how the EU is tearing itself apart with so many disagreements, it's a miracle they get anything done, if we'd been still in the EU, I wonder if we'd have even been able to support Ukraine the way we did, Germany and France dragged their heels big time, many ex Eastern EU nations put their own interests first or outright supported Russia, Italy and Spain sat on the fence etc etc, but we were free once more to go our way and throw our weight behind the fight I think the UK is fairing far better than most countries globally, it's not all about Brexit anyway, the war and the virus all contributed to a perfect storm it remains to be seen how we fare this year, if everyone pulls together we have a chance, but if the EU continues blackmailing sovereign nations with demands and threats, bans and vetos, who knows, then god help us all, the EU Empire is a confused, so last century bickering caucasian dream, a last hurrah and its time to be relegated to the dustbin of history in favour of an equal one world union of all peoples trading and moving equally.

Re: New Year 2023 - Bernard (3rd Jan 2023 - 15:32:19) er says that Brexiteers "voted to do business with the whole world equally, whereas Remainers voted only to do business and have free movement of people from within the largely 'white' EU club!" This demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of what was being voted for. Being in the EU gave us access to the preferable trade agreements it had negotiated with nations and blocs around the globe, based on the size of the market it represents. It meant we could trade with the world on better terms, as well as enjoy ease of trade with our neighbours. It did not mean that we only trade with EU countries. Immigration to the UK for non-EU citizens has not improved since Brexit, so I'm not quite sure how Brexiteers voted for worldwide immigration. This seems a little revisionist! er might not think that the UK has done badly compared with other countries, but the fact is that our growth is worse than every other EU country bar one. There is a good reason why the Conservatives are no longer mentioning Brexit. The EU did not control our foreign policy. Brexit made no difference to our ability to support Ukraine, just as being in the EU did not stop us being involved in Kosovo, or Iraq for that matter.

Re: New Year 2023 - Pete (3rd Jan 2023 - 16:15:57) It is looking like a bleak year ahead with the UK facing the worst recession out of all major world economies. Analysts at insurer Allianz Trade predict the UK economy will shrink by 0.9%, as the country is battered by rising energy bills, high interest rates and an increase in failing businesses. This compares with a 0.7% decline in Germany, a 0.4% slump in France and a 0.3% fall in the US. Not my words, interestingly though the words of the Mail, the Express and the Metro.

Re: New Year 2023 - Interested (3rd Jan 2023 - 16:52:06) Reading through the posts their are a lot of quotes from the media no one really has an idea what is going to happen in 2023 . But saying that I just wonder why over 40 thousand migrants risked their lives to get to this country, going through all the other EU countries that are supposed to be far better than us . All the other countries have far more room than us especially France but they don’t want to stay there?? Is it because we are a far better country and they feel safe here or is it that other country’s don’t make them welcome France seem to just want to get them out as quickly as possible don’t care if they drown in the channel. This country is just as good as any of the other EU countries and in a lot of areas much better we are a multi cultural country the best in Europe. Another thing some of the posters seem to pop up all day long don’t they work or are they the WFH brigade that say they work so hard from home to keep the country running ?

Re: New Year 2023 - Joe (3rd Jan 2023 - 18:02:35) Other EU countries have a lot of immigration too either legal or illegal it is not just our country. Admittedly some lose their lives to get here but they do by trying to get to Italy and Greece.

Re: New Year 2023 - Ian (3rd Jan 2023 - 18:43:04) @ Interested. The reason we have so many illegal immigrants trying to get to the UK is we are considered a soft touch. We have closed the door on useful skilled immigrants and replaced with non-skilled and very costly economic migrants that in most cases will be a burden to the taxpayer! Heard of own goal?

Re: New Year 2023 - Interested (3rd Jan 2023 - 22:25:32) So Ian you have answered my question the EU countries kick out emigrant’s I was right France pushes them out to us because we care yes a soft touch lovely EU .

Re: New Year 2023 - Ian (3rd Jan 2023 - 23:50:55) Interested, you missed the point! fairly typical Brexit failing!

Re: New Year 2023 - Penny Williamson (4th Jan 2023 - 15:34:55) A typical Remainer failing is that they seem to think that the EU is perfect and the UK would be better off part of it. Latest news: "Leo Varadkar has been accused of letting slip "obvious" errors from the European Union over the hated Northern Ireland Protocol. Mr Varadkar admitted that "perhaps" the treaty was a "little bit too strict", saying "mistakes" were made on both sides in the "handling of Brexit". While some have interpreted the comments as a signal of a softening in stance from the EU, DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr has suggested that the comments are "just a confession that has slipped out". The MP claimed Mr Varadkar had "confessed" that the EU "got it obviously wrong". The Irish Taoiseach, who was part of the negotiation process to agree on the protocol, said he would be "flexible and reasonable" when attempting to solve issues with the Northern Ireland protocol. He said: "I'm sure we've all made mistakes in the handling of Brexit. "There was no road map, no manual, it wasn't something that we expected would happen and we've all done our best to deal with it." The EU was and is far from perfect and if not corrupt, (depends on your interpretation of corrupt) is bordering on it. They have been and are continuing to punish the UK by being as difficult and intransigent as possible whenever they can. There are none so blind as those who will not see.

Re: New Year 2023 - Bernard (4th Jan 2023 - 17:10:56) Penny, you are right - there are none so blind as those who will not see. Why do you seem to think that 'remainers' believe the EU is perfect? I am a remainer and I don't think that. Remainers, generally, are not wedded to the idea that the EU is perfect, in that way that so many Brexiteers have a visceral, ideological objection to the whole principal of the institution and everything it ever says or does. Remainers accepted that the institution is imperfect, but took a pragmatic view that it is a significant powerhouse on our doorstep and that, economically, the UK was, hands-down, better-off as a member and having significant influence. This is the issue I always had debating this topic with Brexiteers - Remainers (generally, in my view) argued facts and likely outcomes, weighing-up positives and negatives for our economy, based on the expert views available - Brexiteers talked about vague notions of sovereignty and comments on EU corruption that border on conspiracy. Anyone remember the current Secretary of State for Levelling Up saying that "people have had enough of experts", for goodness sake? How do you have a rational discussion with people who believe that facts and reasoned calculations should be ignored? Regarding Leo Varadkar, I see him a diplomat - he sees the revolving door of incompetence in Downing Street and is throwing the Conservatives and DUP a bone in the hope of getting a resolution. Remainers often voiced the impossibility of the NI situation with Brexit and the danger of bringing down the peace process. This was dismissed as Project Fear and then met with surprise when it was obvious that the Irish border conundrum could not simply be 'boostered' away. Your 'latest news', Penny, is lifted straight from the right-wing Daily Express - don't forget that the "hated" NI protocol was negotiated and signed by one Boris Johnson, party-loving former Conservative Prime Minister - the darling of that publication. I think I see alright. The damage is done. All we can hope for now is a fresh government who will take a less ideologically-negative and more practical view of trade and relations with our neighbours and not crash our economy and health service.

Re: New Year 2023 - Ian (4th Jan 2023 - 18:39:59) Sensible Bernard and spot on

Re: New Year 2023 - passfield resident (4th Jan 2023 - 21:51:30) Penny- What is your opinion of corruption in British politics? Do you think there isn't any?

Re: New Year 2023 - ER (4th Jan 2023 - 22:38:13) Well Bernard another remainder presuming why the people that voted out did so . You have no idea whatsoever just your opinion which is miles out . We voted out because we were fed up with being told what to do in our own country the EU wasting millions of our money moving house every month . Not letting our courts make decisions and so much more not enough room to list it all. We signed up for trade deal which was a fantastic idea but NOT to be ruled by people that have no idea how this country works we have our own government for that the one WE voted in .So Bernard keep your thoughts to yourself because you don’t no what your talking about.

Re: New Year 2023 - Jacqui (4th Jan 2023 - 23:16:27) Evening ER, Just like to point out, WE did not vote for this shambles of a government. Night night

Re: New Year 2023 - Bernard (4th Jan 2023 - 23:38:35) If you read my post, er, you will see that I only mentioned what Brexiteers argued at the time. I didn't presume anything. Your post perfectly demonstrates what I was saying. I'm sorry that you feel that those who think it was a mistake should keep their thoughts to themselves. A bit rich given your comments on democracy - I was merely responding to another poster. Another Brexiteer presuming to know what Remainers think, eh? I'm sorry that you feel that you were ruled but the EU. I'd be interested to know what laws you feel you don't have to follow now that we're out The EU is a bureaucracy and is wasteful too, but despite that our economy was better off as a member. Look at the state of us now. All EU states bar one have better growth than us. The UK Government, County Councils, Parish Councils are bureaucracies too that cost a huge amount of money - should we dispense with them? Or should we work to improve them, for everyone's benefit. In case you missed the fact, you had every right to vote for your MEP. Don't believe everything you read in your echo chamber.

Re: New Year 2023 - Ian (5th Jan 2023 - 08:59:13) ER - you demand Bernard keep his thoughts to himself, presumably because you disagree with him, yet you feel entitled to share your thoughts even though many disagree with you! Says a lot about your attitude to freedom of expression.

Re: New Year 2023 - Pete (5th Jan 2023 - 11:16:27) Bernard- Very well done sir.

Re: New Year 2023 - er (5th Jan 2023 - 14:45:56) Minor point perhaps, although ER and I have similar names and may even appear at times to hold some similar-ish opinions, we are in fact different posters!

Re: New Year 2023 - Neutral (5th Jan 2023 - 15:30:48) Must say don’t the remainders bang on about how bad things are because we are out of the EU . Not sure if that’s quite correct but the majority voted out so surly we have to accept that I do . No good surmising if this or that had happened we would be better off . We are independent now so let’s go forward see if we can do a good job and get this old country back on its feet we have weathered many storms don’t let this little hiccup stop us .

Re: New Year 2023 - Sarah (5th Jan 2023 - 17:22:27) It's more than a hic-up, it's a full on cardiac arrest

Re: New Year 2023 - Oldie (5th Jan 2023 - 18:02:37) It is compared to two world wars , there are people far worse off than we are.

Re: New Year 2023 - Jen (5th Jan 2023 - 23:26:48) I am in complete agreement with Bernard. The UK was far better off in the EU than out of it, for so many different reasons.

Re: New Year 2023 - Joe (6th Jan 2023 - 11:24:00) The only way we can progress is by looking forward into the future not back into 2 world wars - or comparing ourselves to 3rd world countries. The Second World War finished nearly 80 years ago - let’s look to try and improve on that.

Re: New Year 2023 - er (6th Jan 2023 - 13:16:54) What do you think we've been trying to do as oldies for all you younger guys these last 70 plus years if not give you better opportunities for peace, prosperity and self autonomy? I was reading a hypothesis about how Europe has been following a pattern of massive wars followed by about 80-100 years of relative peace, followed by new massive wars. Each big conflict starts with a general complacency as the fighting seems remote to us at first, due to the psychology of generational memories as generations starting to feel secure forgetting or doubting that it's likely to ever happen again, so we definitely must never forget! To think we're having it worse than they did in the first half of the 20th century is plain wrong. I'd add also that to hope or expect that handing over our independence to a beurocratic politicised foreign committee will secure all of our futures in the longterm is fundamentally a shortsighted error, short term gain maybe but long term subservience whatever direction they take us. Yes we are paying a price for our freedom and autonomy, but it doesn't compare to the past and there are compensations such as our ability to set our own relationships with the rest of the world. I'm not a Tory fan by the way, they have been utterly useless in government and think only of themselves and forget the poor and needy and often (as recently) they are just as bad, or god forbid even more incompetent in government than Labour!.

Re: New Year 2023 - Oldie (6th Jan 2023 - 14:40:25) About right er . Just wondering Sarah why you called it a cardiac arrest what are you suffering from why are you in such a bad way. Is it that you can not afford to live a massive problem perhaps. Just wondering what you would do if Putin turned his armament’s on us how would you cope.Or is it you have lost your mobile phone or you can’t get some of your usual groceries at the supermarket??. We ARE NOT as bad off as many try to make out have said it before many in the world far worse.

Re: New Year 2023 - Joe (6th Jan 2023 - 15:04:04) er, you have no idea how old I am ? I am not at all young just not nostalgic for ration books and war.

Re: New Year 2023 - Penny Williamson (6th Jan 2023 - 15:37:03) Bernard I cannot speak for others but I have never had a visceral, ideological objection to the whole principal of the institution (EU) and everything it ever says or does. In the first referendum in 1975 I voted to remain within the EEC which is what it was called - the European Economic Community or Common Market. A bit of a giveaway those words – a trading agreement between likeminded nations. Unfortunately over the ensuing years it morphed into something entirely different and in 1993 the Maastricht Treaty introduced new concepts, one of which changed the Union from an economic one into a political union. It is well documented how the Commission, whom many believe are corrupt, behaved in the following years and the money that was wasted so I won’t dwell on that. Suffice it to say the rot had set in. In 2005 David Cameron became Leader of the Conservative Party over David Davis. Had the positions been reversed it is my personal opinion that we would never have had a Brexit. David Davis was a tough negotiator more like Thatcher and would have fought our corner in negotiations. David Cameron, one of the worst Prime Ministers we have ever had, in his arrogance alongside George Osborne never believed in their wildest dreams that the UK would vote to leave the Union. Therefore Cameron did nothing to fight UK’s corner in negotiations with the intransigent EU. He came home with nothing and when the vote to leave had the majority he and Osborne took the easy way out and resigned, leaving everyone else to pick up the pieces. One of the reasons life is difficult for us now in the UK is because the EU take every opportunity to make us pay for leaving, to punish us and make sure that no other country will vote to leave, although I believe Italy has been making noises. So to conclude Bernard I am not a diehard Brexiteer but we could not go on as we were and now we will all have to make the best of it.

Re: New Year 2023 - Bernard (6th Jan 2023 - 16:49:51) I do agree that we now all have to make the best of things Penny - we can't turn the clock back, the damage is done. I must agree with you about Cameron too, he was unbelievably reckless and underestimated the ferocity of bile from the hard-liners in his party. He was complacent after the Scottish and Alternative Vote refs and didn't believe he would win an outright majority in 2015, so would not have to proceed with the Brexit vote. As Jeremy Paxman said - he was the worst Prime Minister since Lord North - although I would have to argue that we have had three even worse ones since. I am less convinced that David Davis would have done a better job - he was hopeless as our Brexit negotiator. Still, all conjecture now. I'm afraid that I can't agree that the "EU take every opportunity to make us pay for leaving, to punish us....". This sounds like right-wing press rhetoric. I don't claim to be on the inside, but as an observer, I think our neighbours in Europe have been surprisingly tolerant of the UK government, which acts like a petulant child. If French or German politicians had been as consistently rude and objectionable to the UK as ours have been to them (what was it that Truss said about Macron?), I cannot imagine the British establishment and our nasty, jingoistic press being so tolerant. The UK Government negotiated and signed the NI Protocol and then claimed they had 'got Brexit done'. They then decided that they didn't like what they had negotiated and blamed EU states for acting in bad faith. For other countries, it must be like trying to negotiate with a toddler. I agree we could not have gone on as we were - we should have played a more active role in improving the EU, making it as good as it can be and maximising the benefit of its trade deals with the world. Making the best of things now will mean a complete change of approach to European relations by whichever UK government is in power after 2024. That is unlikely to mean going back in - we gave up our substantial rebate and right to keep our currency when we flounced-off - but it should mean a more grown-up and respectful approach.

Re: New Year 2023 - passfield resident (6th Jan 2023 - 20:34:56) Bernard-spot on. I agree with everything you say. The EU had to deal with a government led by Boris Johnson, a man so dishonest and unprincipled that most of his own cabinet finished up saying he wasn't fit to lead the country.

Re: New Year 2023 - Penny Williamson (7th Jan 2023 - 10:39:37) On a point of order, Passfield Resident,co-operation and politeness works both ways. As I remember the EU ie the Commission were pretty rude and intransigent to Theresa May. Whatever your politics are I think most people agree that Theresa May did her best and as politicians go, is a pretty honest one. She didn't stand a chance with the likes of Jean-Claude Juncker, former President of the European Commission who was and probably still is an alcoholic - well known and documented that he was drunk by lunchtime. As a result she was booted out and we got Boris Johnson - Oh dear!

Re: New Year 2023 - Joe (7th Jan 2023 - 14:43:28) Not often I agree with Penny but I too thought Theresa May was honest and tried her best.

Re: New Year 2023 - passfield resident (7th Jan 2023 - 16:15:22) Do you remember Theresa May as Home Secretary? She was pretty intransigent then herself. I do agree that she was a fundamentally honest person, doing an impossible job.

Re: New Year 2023 - Ian (7th Jan 2023 - 17:50:01) Not been a decent Tory PM since John Major. Bizarrely I am a lifelong Conservative yet I think of the top 5 worst PM’s in my 67 years 4 of them are from the Conservative Party

Re: New Year 2023 - Penny Williamson (7th Jan 2023 - 18:38:50) Yes as Home Secretary she was tough and intransigent. Kenneth Clarke referred to her as a "bloody difficult woman". However her disastrous decision to call a snap election in April 2017 cost Theresa May dearly. Not only did she not receive her sought-after mandate, but the Conservatives lost their governing majority in the House of Commons, dropping at least 12 seats. So she was fighting from a position of weakness . Hard to be intransigent after that. Hindsight is wonderful. That said it does not excuse the treatment and disrespect she received from the Commission.

Re: New Year 2023 - RM (8th Jan 2023 - 10:11:04) Yes Ian but JOHN Major your having a laugh he was the worst PM by far . An affair with that woman curry cheating on his wife. Totally useless as a PM and still poking his nose in and causing trouble. Bring back The Iron Lady she was the only PM that had guts she would have sorted out the EU .Boris did a good job getting us out but then the weak back room boys got the wind up and got us in this mess. We all need to stand up for this wonderful country of ours.

Re: New Year 2023 - Bernard (8th Jan 2023 - 18:09:15) RM, Mrs Thatcher is no longer with us. Her European policy was not all you suggest either - she was a supporter and instigator of the European Single Market and encouraged business to make the most of it in 1988. She did express objections later once it occured to her that a single market needs Europe-wide oversight and that not all of Europe was sold on Conservative monetorist dogma. She only became a full-on 'Eurosceptic' after she was booted out of office by her party, but make no mistake, she played a big part in instigating what later became the EU, only regretting it later. Boris fudged the exit from the EU, effectively leaving Northern Ireland still in it, causing outrage from the right-wing DUP and the extreme Brexity elements of the Conservative Party. He absolutely failed to 'get Brexit done' which is why it is all still a mess. To be fair, it is pretty-much unresolvable, but it was disingenuous of him to claim he had solved it..

Re: New Year 2023 - Penny Williamson (9th Jan 2023 - 11:15:17) Bernard I am not sure I agree with the contents of your first paragraph. I am sure you know a great deal more than I do about the machinations and complications in the EU, but my understanding of Margaret Thatcher’s policy on Europe was that she was passionately against any transition by the European Economic Community (EEC) into a federal Europe because in her view that would remove powers away from its members. She clashed publicly with Jacques Delors on this issue on many occasions. It has been often stated by the Commission that if the UK wanted to be part of the EU, like any club, then it must abide by the rules. However in the case of EU, the club changed its rules without consultation and morphed from a trading union into a political one. I can only thank God we did not join the Euro. While Mrs Thatcher was like marmite – you either loved or hated her she was committed to free enterprise, British nationalism, a plan to strengthen the state by improving efficiency and a belief in traditional values ie hard work and civic responsibility. Her mantra was "if you can't afford it, you can't have it." She was also highly respected abroad.

Re: New Year 2023 - RM (9th Jan 2023 - 12:46:23) Thanks Penny your much better than me at explaining it. All I meant was the conservative government has lost its way since Mrs Thatcher none of the PMs have her strength her time in charge was the best this country has had she got things done put the Union’s in there place got the country working just what we need today. We all need to work at it if it means a few extra hours so be it cutting working week’s doing less hours doesn’t work we need to boost the economy with longer work time. If we are going to compete in the world market we have to show them we are up to it .And that includes our government.

Re: New Year 2023 - Bernard (9th Jan 2023 - 13:41:39) Here is Mrs Thatcher's 1988 speech imploring businesses to take advantage of the upcoming single market: www.margaretthatcher.org/document/107219. Whilst she later clashed with Jacques Delors over the integrations this required, it is interesting to see that she was praising him at this point for his contribution to the establishment of the single market. Although she had significant reservations later, it is not at all clear that she would have supported our recent exit from the EU and the damage it would do. Perhaps RM is correct, she might have negotiated some changes that would have negated the anti-Europe press campaigning and prevented us exiting at all. She was perhaps better (initially) at standing-up to the extreme elements of the Conservative party than her successors.

Re: New Year 2023 - RM (9th Jan 2023 - 15:08:03) Exactly. Bernard single market NOT to be ruled by the EU this country welcome the single market good idea but not to have all our laws taken out of our hands. Mrs Thatcher would never have agreed to the present EU controls . Returned recently from Belgium everyone to a man when they learned we were from England said we have done the right thing . They wished they were out. Bernard the EU has had its day it will explode very shortly so many other country’s wanting to come out. We can now go forward with out being interfered with by Brussels.

Re: New Year 2023 - Bernard (9th Jan 2023 - 16:41:03) You can't have a single market without single rules. You can't cherry pick. That's just how it is. As I said previously, I'm sorry that you think that you were ruled by the EU and that all of our laws were taken out of our hands (I can't imagine what the UK parliament was doing all this time) and I hope that you are enjoying all these new freedoms you apparently have and laws that you don't have to follow. I hope it was worth disrupting our economy and international reputation for. I'm no expert on Belgium, but according to a Kantar poll last June, "three-quarters of Belgians do consider Belgium's membership of the Union a good thing". Brexiteers may think that the EU is about to "explode", but I seriously doubt it.

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