en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/4171095 Comments by Ricardos_Ghost https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/02/daniel-hannan-trade-sanctions-are-a-counterproductive-foreign-policy-tool-which-play-into-the-hands-of-hostile-regimes.html#IDComment1097632839 Interesting to see the Alton amendment misrepresented in this way. Sanctions of the sort used against Iraq were the outright banning of certain trades - eg we do not sell arms to them, and we do not buy oil from them. That is worlds away from whether we have an FTA with them that gives them preferential access to our market. Alton is all about FTAs, and whether they should prohibited with genocidal states. If you want to have an FTA with China, have the courage to argue for that. If you think that if we had an FTA, genocide going on in China would not be grounds for revoking it, have the courage to argue for that. But don’t be a slippery customer and pretnd this is a conversation about the efficacy of the oil for food programme. And don’t pretend that a serious response is to ban Mrs Xi from shopping trips in the West End. Wed, 17 Feb 2021 16:14:23 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/02/daniel-hannan-trade-sanctions-are-a-counterproductive-foreign-policy-tool-which-play-into-the-hands-of-hostile-regimes.html#IDComment1097632839 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/kevin-hollinrake-time-for-an-honest-conversation-about-taxation-here-are-seven-practical-reforms.html#IDComment1097486438 When you’ve thrown the working poor out of London (for example) where do you expect them to go? Thu, 11 Feb 2021 19:45:19 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/kevin-hollinrake-time-for-an-honest-conversation-about-taxation-here-are-seven-practical-reforms.html#IDComment1097486438 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/kevin-hollinrake-time-for-an-honest-conversation-about-taxation-here-are-seven-practical-reforms.html#IDComment1097484795 You are completely wrong. Thu, 11 Feb 2021 18:14:51 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/kevin-hollinrake-time-for-an-honest-conversation-about-taxation-here-are-seven-practical-reforms.html#IDComment1097484795 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/02/stephen-booth-the-main-benefits-of-joining-this-pacific-trade-partnership-would-be-strategic.html#IDComment1097484704 The Swiss and the Norwegians already prove the EU is not necessary for affluence, peace or success. Thu, 11 Feb 2021 18:10:33 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/02/stephen-booth-the-main-benefits-of-joining-this-pacific-trade-partnership-would-be-strategic.html#IDComment1097484704 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/02/stephen-booth-the-main-benefits-of-joining-this-pacific-trade-partnership-would-be-strategic.html#IDComment1097484651 We insisted on leaving the Single Market. You cheered that on. Now you’re whining that the UK and EU aren’t behaving like a single market, and there are barriers which are causing firms to change how and where they do business. What did you expect? Did you think everything would just carry on with no changes? If we want reduce these barriers and go back to having a single market, we’re going to need to return to the Single Market via EEA membership. Thu, 11 Feb 2021 18:09:00 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/02/stephen-booth-the-main-benefits-of-joining-this-pacific-trade-partnership-would-be-strategic.html#IDComment1097484651 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/02/stephen-booth-the-main-benefits-of-joining-this-pacific-trade-partnership-would-be-strategic.html#IDComment1097484528 So CPTPP is really important because of the rulebook it has for the digital and services industries. Maybe we should be be told what those rules are and what they’ll require us to change, and then we can decide whether these are changes we want to make. Thu, 11 Feb 2021 18:03:44 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/02/stephen-booth-the-main-benefits-of-joining-this-pacific-trade-partnership-would-be-strategic.html#IDComment1097484528 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/02/henry-hill-goves-challenge-what-if-the-protocol-ends-up-threatening-the-peace-in-northern-ireland.html#IDComment1097484381 Sign up to it? Boris Johnson did more than sign up to it. This was the centrepiece of his renegotiation of the Withdrawal Agreement. A Withdrawal Agreement he fought an election over and won. This was his big idea for how to do Brexit. Some Unionists pointed out at the time that imposing a border between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, that will only get harder as we choose to diverge further from the EU was outrageous, and ought to be rejected. But we were pushed aside. The choices haven’t changed. If a border with Ireland is unacceptable, and the border between NI and GB has to be substantially eased, then we will need to align to the Single Market at least. If we’re going to do that we’ll need to avoid ECJ jurisdiction, so we’ll need to join the EEA. Let’s get on with it. Thu, 11 Feb 2021 17:56:06 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thecolumnists/2021/02/henry-hill-goves-challenge-what-if-the-protocol-ends-up-threatening-the-peace-in-northern-ireland.html#IDComment1097484381 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/kevin-hollinrake-time-for-an-honest-conversation-about-taxation-here-are-seven-practical-reforms.html#IDComment1097484055 A lot of good ideas. The suggested reforms to business rates and capital gains are particularly welcome. I’d modify them to suggest that capital gains should be reformed to tax gains above the risk free rate of return (ie Bank of England rate). Scrapping business rates looks necessary as we switch to an economy with online competition. Tackling tax avoidance properly is long overdue. The fiction that Starbucks is hopelessly unprofitable, or that Amazon doesn’t sell in the UK, was always ridiculous. I’m slightly wary about the idea to fund social care via a compulsory social insurance fund. We’d be setting something up to immediately take on some huge liabilities (the costs of which aren’t being properly met at the moment). So we’d have to make consideration for funding what is actually required, not just covering the current bills, and think about how to ensure the arrangements are sustainable. Hypothecated funding like this is vulnerable to changing as the economy changes (e.g. drops if there is a sharp rise in unemployment). Congratulations to Hollinrake for proposing some proper substantial reforms. Let’s hope the government is listening. Thu, 11 Feb 2021 17:37:28 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/kevin-hollinrake-time-for-an-honest-conversation-about-taxation-here-are-seven-practical-reforms.html#IDComment1097484055 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/kevin-hollinrake-time-for-an-honest-conversation-about-taxation-here-are-seven-practical-reforms.html#IDComment1097483914 The tax didn’t support the old system. That was the point. Shamefully, it was politicians from this party that drove it into the ground. Thu, 11 Feb 2021 17:28:10 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/kevin-hollinrake-time-for-an-honest-conversation-about-taxation-here-are-seven-practical-reforms.html#IDComment1097483914 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/whos-in-charge-of-the-governments-clattering-china-train-its-heading-for-a-crash.html#IDComment1097424285 Not experienced enough or intelligent enough to scrutinise and vote on trade agreements, but they are qualified to handle criminal justice, child protection, nuclear weapons policy, pensions, espionage, telecommunications, flood defence, healthcare funding, long term unemployment, homelessness, industrial strategy, food safety, constitutional referendums, euthanasia, etc. etc.? Tue, 9 Feb 2021 13:42:29 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/whos-in-charge-of-the-governments-clattering-china-train-its-heading-for-a-crash.html#IDComment1097424285 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/whos-in-charge-of-the-governments-clattering-china-train-its-heading-for-a-crash.html#IDComment1097419726 The root of this problem is the government has grown addicted to the Henry VIII powers that we’re necessary to get Brexit legislation working. Now they don’t like putting legislation in front of Parliament, and would much prefer a kind of rule by Ministerial decree. So Parliament in its turn is trying to put some bounds on what those decrees can be. The simplest solution is to simply subject trade negotiations to Parliamentry approval and scrutiny. A China FTA, if that worries people, shouldn’t start unless Parliament consents. If we want to tackle human rights concerns the ones is sanctions rather than withholding an FTA it’s far from clear the Chinese are even seeking. That should be proposed by the government (if they want it) and approved by Parliament in primary legislation (if they want it). Tue, 9 Feb 2021 10:15:38 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2021/02/whos-in-charge-of-the-governments-clattering-china-train-its-heading-for-a-crash.html#IDComment1097419726 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/sammy-wilson-the-northern-ireland-protocol-needs-to-be-replaced-not-repaired.html#IDComment1097398925 This article did make me wonder though - is ConHome ever going to see an article about the current implosion of the UK fishing industry? Seems pretty important to me that we make sure they don’t go under. But maybe I’m alone it that, and the rest of the party thinks that they can go hang. Mon, 8 Feb 2021 17:52:13 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/sammy-wilson-the-northern-ireland-protocol-needs-to-be-replaced-not-repaired.html#IDComment1097398925 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/sammy-wilson-the-northern-ireland-protocol-needs-to-be-replaced-not-repaired.html#IDComment1097397649 Garbage. And particularly bad after you’ve had 4 years to learn about this stuff. 1. You’re actually suggesting a massive inspection regime for all NI manufacturers, farmers and retailers. Everyone will have to be inspected to ensure that they aren’t forgetting to declare as an exporter when they’re exporting. 2. Add to that you need an inspection regime to do all the compliance work currently taken care of at the border. That’s actually more tricky because now you want to take a regime that’s fairly clear about what and when it needs the paperwork (i.e. your goods are on a lorry wanting to board a ferry to Larne), and likely to involve hauliers and customs agents who’ll now the regime well, everything is now spread out across Northern Ireland, for all firms. 3. Far from clear that this is compliant with WTO rules. It certainly looks discriminatory by saying the UK exporters don’t have to comply with the Union customs code, and unlike anyone else can just keep an eye on their exporters who’ll be exempted from any checks or paperwork submissions. The authors get this, which is why they hope to lean on a security exemption. Not clear that that will work given the protocol is now in place. 4. Completely ignores goods coming from GB. We are supposed to assume that problem away. Mon, 8 Feb 2021 16:56:49 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/sammy-wilson-the-northern-ireland-protocol-needs-to-be-replaced-not-repaired.html#IDComment1097397649 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/sammy-wilson-the-northern-ireland-protocol-needs-to-be-replaced-not-repaired.html#IDComment1097397451 Why were you writing as if the only problem to overcome was tariff payment. That isn’t even the main problem. Mon, 8 Feb 2021 16:45:05 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/sammy-wilson-the-northern-ireland-protocol-needs-to-be-replaced-not-repaired.html#IDComment1097397451 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/sammy-wilson-the-northern-ireland-protocol-needs-to-be-replaced-not-repaired.html#IDComment1097397189 I suspect we need a better answer than asking everyone to pretend we didn't leave the EU. Mon, 8 Feb 2021 16:32:48 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/sammy-wilson-the-northern-ireland-protocol-needs-to-be-replaced-not-repaired.html#IDComment1097397189 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/sammy-wilson-the-northern-ireland-protocol-needs-to-be-replaced-not-repaired.html#IDComment1097397021 Well quite. Similarly we could have listened to Margaret Thatcher who said the UK ought to seek an arrangement like Norway’s EEA. Or listened to pre-2016 Dan Hannan who was sure we didn’t want to threaten our place in the Single Market. Or pre-2016 Owen Paterson who thought leaving the Single Market would be an act of madness. And so on. And so on. Mon, 8 Feb 2021 16:24:50 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/sammy-wilson-the-northern-ireland-protocol-needs-to-be-replaced-not-repaired.html#IDComment1097397021 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/sammy-wilson-the-northern-ireland-protocol-needs-to-be-replaced-not-repaired.html#IDComment1097396961 The customs union is unnecessary. Tariffs are least troublesome bit of the whole thing. What we need, is to get back to the Single Market - which the UK did so much to build, and Thatcher said we should never leave. Being a third country is the source of the major problems. VAT is another headache. But a customs union only solves the tariffs question. Mon, 8 Feb 2021 16:21:47 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/sammy-wilson-the-northern-ireland-protocol-needs-to-be-replaced-not-repaired.html#IDComment1097396961 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/sammy-wilson-the-northern-ireland-protocol-needs-to-be-replaced-not-repaired.html#IDComment1097396847 Not sure Johnson really does owing people. Not in his character to feel indebted to someone. This party used to be Unionist. I still am a Unionist. But the rest of the party isn’t anymore. That was all chucked out when Johnson became PM and rammed through his protocol, to much cheering from the Conservative benches. Mon, 8 Feb 2021 16:17:10 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/sammy-wilson-the-northern-ireland-protocol-needs-to-be-replaced-not-repaired.html#IDComment1097396847 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/sammy-wilson-the-northern-ireland-protocol-needs-to-be-replaced-not-repaired.html#IDComment1097396760 One day you will get the joke. Mon, 8 Feb 2021 16:14:29 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/sammy-wilson-the-northern-ireland-protocol-needs-to-be-replaced-not-repaired.html#IDComment1097396760 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/sammy-wilson-the-northern-ireland-protocol-needs-to-be-replaced-not-repaired.html#IDComment1097396723 Not being applied in the way discussed? What incompetent nonsense is this? You’re whining like a petulant child that it’s not fair that the British government didn’t bother to work out what the centrepiece of its EU negotiations actually was before signing it and ratifying it. Mon, 8 Feb 2021 16:12:32 +0000 https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2021/02/sammy-wilson-the-northern-ireland-protocol-needs-to-be-replaced-not-repaired.html#IDComment1097396723