Dominic Raab has admitted he only realised that the Dover – Calais trade route was fundamental to UK economic well being after being appointed Brexit Secretary.
I’m not going to doubt his sincerity.
Nor am I going to question his timing.
I am just going to ask how anyone with such a lack of curiosity that they cannot appreciate something so basic made it to selection as an MP, let alone got to have Cabinet rank on an issue where this mattered.
The problem with a Curajus State is that those who would run it are know nothing toads. An no, e can’t insist that only those who know stuff get elected – that’s up to the peeps, isn’t it?
Is the information the sort of information required by someone before they can stand as an MP in an election?
I daresay there are thousands, maybe millions of other people who are also unaware of the same information.
Not lack of curiosity – lack of interest perhaps.
Maybe we should insist that all election candidates should have a PPE from Oxford. That would work, wouldn’t it?
For a “professor” (lol) with a almost boastful ignorance of economic theory and a totally deluded view of himself as a nice person who’s open to different opinions he’s certainly quick to judge others.
I loved how curajusly the state dealt with Mariana Mazzucato’s application for permanent residency. I’m sure the arrogant and dismissive way she deals with people who disagree with her had nothing to do with the jobsworth way her application was handled. Oh no.
The Curajus State means we would be ruled not by politicians but by civil servants. They would have to pass tough exams, but would also be well-rewarded. This is the model used in China since imperial times; it’s also the French model.
Under such a model, the person in charge of Brexit would be the most qualified (assuming the test is an accurate metric of on-the-job performance….) and therefore would indeed be aware of Dover’s importance. Unfortunately, they’d also behave like French civil servants; and I’ve never heard a Frenchman say good things about their government.
Stay out of bureaucratic entanglements and only those who really need to know–say the actual importing/exporting businessmen will need to know.
Fire the treasonous SCS–you know the rest.
Things will run much smoother.
The sooner the Fat Turd Murphy has his UB40 in his hot little hand the better.
@ Andrew M – are you mad ? After working in 2 departments in the civil service for 30+ years I can say that’s the most deluded thing I’ve heard of since NIV.
But is Dover’s importance a result of EU membership or independent of that? Are there alternatives? Will Dover continue to be important.
Personally I’m more concerned about the appointment of a Northern Ireland secretary who was unaware of the existence of sectarian views there.
It would be nice if the idea that subject knowledge was valued as highly as general ability, and both more than political loyalty. But that won’t happen.
Dominic Raab has admitted he only realised that the Dover – Calais trade route was fundamental to UK economic well being after being appointed Brexit Secretary.
And I’ll bet Ritchie didn’t realize it until he read that Dominic Raab just realized it.
Island nation needs ports to trade, especially the ones nearest to its trading partners…
well fuck me, what a revelation.
Even if Raab didn’t *know* for certain, surely any reasonably intelligent person could have intuited it? Bell end.
DtP–Since you are on–what’s all this re-count cockrot that the Democrats–arch election fraudsters themselves–are trying on in Arizona and Florida?
Remainer Jo Johnson has resigned over Chequers deal and further concessions and “vasssal state”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V3v5nptuT8
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1043232/jo-johnson-resigns-who-is-transport-minister-why-quit-brexit
I’m so glad the EU invented Dover. How did we survive beforehand?
To be honest, I thought the general media castigation of Raab pathetic and misrepresented. There was nothing especially shocking about what he said, and even if his precise knowledge of the Dover trade statistics wasn’t up to par (whose is?), it’s not like he has been Brexit minister for more than a few weeks.
I hate it when politicians get lambasted for making fairly plain and candid comments. It’s what forces them to use meaningless politician-speak in most of their public dealings.
The astonishing ignorance of our politicians was highlighted by the committee that came up with a plan to impose electric cars on everyone by 2030. No clue how impractical the things are. No clue how damaging to the environment they are. No clue where all the extra electricity is going to come from. No clue about the astronomical cost which will inevitably occur. In any case, electrifying the railways would be such an obvious priority before cars are even considered.
I hate it when politicians get lambasted for making fairly plain and candid comments.
Same. It’s not as if Raab’s actually thick, unlike the Shadow Home Secretary, who is so stupid she thinks the Italian government is run by a chart-topping 80’s band from Romford.
Talking about astonishingly stupid people, did anyone see the abbotomous on question time? I missed it. Don’t watch it anymore but thought it might be worth it with Jordan Peterson on.
I bet the abbotomous put on her sanctimonious voice. The one which she thinks makes her sound intelligent but really makes her sound stupid in slow motion.
DtP–Since you are on–what’s all this re-count cockrot that the Democrats–arch election fraudsters themselves–are trying on in Arizona and Florida?
Republicans are claiming last minute vote fraud by election officials. That might be, or it might just be that the Republicans called themselves winners at bit too soon. Personally, I suspect that latter rather than the former. The Democrat polled slightly ahead of the Republican in both races right up to the election.
Republicans spent Wednesday and Thursday mocking the Democratic Blue Wave… Now reality is setting in.
AndrewC
“makes her sound intelligent but really makes her sound stupid in slow motion.“
LOL. Thank you for that, you’ve perfectly articulated how the majority of female news presenters on R4 sound, especially that sanctimonious no-nothing Sarah Montague. Wish I’d thought of that.
If a grubby little harbour with bugger all in the way of port facilities apart from a lorry park & a scruffy cafeteria are vital to UK trade, god help it.
Stonyground – yes the people who buy electric cars seem unaware of how impractical they are too. How damaging to the environment etc.
Pretty much how the people buying motor cars a hundred years ago had no idea how impractical they were or how damaging to the environment etc.
I think the government are quite aware of where the extra electricity is going to come from what with the expansion of renewable energy methods, planning permissions in the works etc. Quite an increase over the next decade though of course the demand from the green lunatic fringe will then be to stop using gas. Wait until everyone has to switch to electric only houses, that will be a jump in demand for electricity. Never mind jump in energy provision being required. None of this lines down business or transformer gone issue.
Andrew – The one which she thinks makes her sound intelligent but really makes her sound stupid in slow motion.
Kek.
Dennis – You’re not at all suspicious about a Democrat-run county with form for electoral fraud “finding” 78,000 votes?
Martin – I think the government are quite aware of where the extra electricity is going to come from
Really? The same government that built an aircraft carrier without any aircraft and is currently doing everything possible to fuck up Brexit? That government?
I can’t find any funded plans to dramatically increase electricity generation (wind and solar certainly won’t do the job, those are eco-indulgences, not infrastructure).
Instead, almost 10 years after announcing eight possible sites for new nuclear plants, only two reactors have gotten past the planning stage – being built by the French and the Chinese at eye watering prices (to British consumers). The rest probably won’t happen.
At the same time, we have 5 nuclear stations due to be decommissioned over the next decade, and our coal fired plants are mostly preparing to shut down as we speak, though a minority are being expensively converted to burn wood chippings imported thousands of miles from America. Because the environment.
No, mate, the government doesn’t have a fucking clue about how we’re going to keep the lights on in 2028. It’s like pensions – their plan is for it to be someone else’s problem by the time the system collapses.
At least we’ll get to burn politicians to keep warm.
Steve –
Yes I am.
But I also suspect a lot of Republicans talked themselves into believing in some victories before they actually knew they were victories.
Traders are practical and ingenious folk. Trade can be switched to Rotterdam or Antwerp quite easily.
“Same. It’s not as if Raab’s actually thick, unlike the Shadow Home Secretary, who is so stupid she thinks the Italian government is run by a chart-topping 80’s band from Romford.”
Quite, they do seem to be addicted to the system.
“Trade can be switched to Rotterdam or Antwerp quite easily.”
Yes. And the same goes for Dover and DP London Gateway.
Who elected him Brexit secretary?
Get him a map.
So. Calais. Fundamental? Is it or maybe convenient? Well it certainly is to the Irish Republic… hard border anyone?
But what about Belgian ports, Cherbourg, Spanish ports Scandinavian ports, or Rotterdam (that thing called the Rhine) which handles a huge amount of UK non-EU import/export as well as quite a lot of EU trade not going to or from France and Iberian Peninsula?
Is trade with France and Iberia ‘fundamental’? Whither Germany and North and East Europe?
UK trades so much with the EU because it is forced to do so by EU tariffs and non-tariffs. Absent being inside the EU Customs Union, without trade barriers to prevent trade outside the Bloc, the significance of Calais and the stagnant EU economy will just be a bad memory.
According to Redwood Dover handles 5% of UK port traffic. So useful, but we could live without. Especially as there are alternatives that could take the strain.
And most of that is imports from the EU, much of which could be sourced from elsewhere, and will eventually be because it’s cheaper.
DTP
Bwahahahahahahahahhahah
@ Steve
No, a different government. Brown is who ordered TWO aircraft carriers to be built by his constituents (without, as you say, any aircraft) is not, thank God, part of the current government.
@AndrewC, November 9, 2018 at 10:01 pm
BBC QT was rubbish. Jordan Peterson given little time Abbotpotamus given more time than anyone else. Rampant BBC bias again.
Peterson was good when permitted to speak (twice?).
Abbot attacked Tories (not?) realising it was Khan not Torries who made claim: take a “generation” to solve stabbing explosion? Also spouted the end of school day victim, stab because no good jobs/single mother excuse memes
https://www.continentaltelegraph.com/economy/the-two-towers/
punishment works
RoI MEP McGuiness spouting resources nonsense, the problem is effective use of resources is hampered by poltical dictats.
A good start – abolish hate crime, race, relegion, discrimiation laws and put office twatbook plod back on street
The entire problem is down to Left for generations promoting “rights” and concurrently promoting belief everything is the State’s responsibility.
Socialist May has extended this beyond all common sense – she rewrote hate-crime to be [url=https://www.timworstall.com/2018/11/09/that-white-fiat-uno-gets-around-doesnt-it/#comment-824574]”perceived, no evidence required”[/url]