The Future of British Politics: In Conversation with Simon Heffer
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- Опубликовано: 21 сен 2024
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In this new interview as a part of the In Conversation events, Tom Clougherty, Executive Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs, sits down with Simon Heffer, the renowned historian, journalist, and political commentator. Heffer, a prominent conservative voice, shares his incisive perspectives on British politics, economics, and society.
Heffer delves into the struggles of the contemporary Conservative Party, offering a scathing critique of recent leadership and the party's ongoing civil war over Europe. He also explores the challenges facing the country, including an ageing population, pressures on the welfare state, and the need for economic reform and deregulation to spur growth.
Heffer's insights span a wide range of topics, from the failures of corporatism and state overreach to the importance of incentivising hard work and self-reliance. He advocates for a renewed debate on the role of the state, calling for a transition from a welfare state to a "welfare society" rooted in Victorian values of self-help and mutual aid. This thought-provoking discussion is a must-watch for anyone interested in the future of British politics and economics.
00:05:32 - The state of the Conservative Party
00:10:43 - Brexit and the Conservative civil war
00:33:07 - The role of the civil service and "the Blob"
00:35:58 - Britain's decline from great power status
00:44:22 - The need for economic deregulation and incentives
00:50:09 - Reforming the welfare state and transitioning to a "welfare society"
00:50:34 - Fixing the public sector pension system
00:59:42 - Qualities needed in politicians/the next Conservative leader
01:04:57 - Concerns about the future U.S. presidential election
01:07:54 - Anecdotes about interacting with political figures
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Rent levels render many British people unable to adequately provide for themselves.
Same in US, Canada, Australia and many countries across the EU.
And their taxes being used for just about anything else apart from looking after the people of the country while the country falls apart
Yep, but the problem is, neither the mainstream left or right know what to do about it.
The cause is inflation caused by government intervention
Savvy people borrow money and buy homes
Homes keep their value and money doesn’t - so after 20 yrs the mortgage value has disappeared
Don’t blame smart people for navigating government incompetence
hurting people is just another opportunity for neoliberals but it never hurts the rich
Just looking at the physical state of Heffer is somewhat symbolic of Britains decline and of his precious brexit. (Moaning about the working classes as 'slothful' is priceless in that regard)
You don't even to think too much about his odious views and ill thought out shambolic 'logic' to wonder at what makes people sit there and listen to it. I have no idea why is deemed to be some sort of respected journo or thinker.
By the way, 'Enoch Powell is the greatest man ever' . Says everything about Heffers inclinations. Powell was criticised back in the 60s by even conservative papers and Edward Heath was so appalled he dismissed him. If you are getting called 'racist' by Conservatives in 1960s - when the Black & White Minstrel show was considered accpetable TV the you can be sure you are racist. Powell was - and by elevating him to the status of 'greatest'
can only suggest he is also.
He's right on Johnson. Thats about it. Otherwise a waste of space.
I enjoyed this interview. A testimonial of the failure of neoliberalism
I don’t think you were listening. His argument was that left wing social and economic policy had failed
I got more out of it as a pointed failure of Heffers views and brexit
UK, by most metrics has got progressively more socialist over the past 25yrs ie. State spending as % GDP has grown from 34 to 44%. We see the results of a bigger state, all around us now from NHS to economically inactivity.
@@drew699 When the economy fails - due a right wing non socilaist governement of the last 14 years and its right wing antics (brexit anyone?) then state spending is the only answer to keep eveyrthing from failing apart to the point of societal collapse and civil war. The collapse of the banks and financial system was pure anti-socialist 'adventure' - allowed by a purely ultra capitalist failure to control the banks. You could have let them fail - and if had been only the ordinary people that were hurt they woudl have . But it also would mean the rich elite capitalists would have lost their money as well. Thats not allowed!----- so the banks got saved by £1 TRILLION of tax payers money. It looked like a massive socialist action but in fact was entirely brutally capitalist
In short --it is the non socilaists right wingers that screw things up and the only options that are available appear socialist to the uninformed but are not.
The UK in the 1990s was far more socialist in practice and by nature than it is now (e.g. NHS spending was highest ever in those times) - and the economy was stronger for it.
@@bbbf09 The financial crisis was caused by State regulation that mandated banks pursue sub prime mortgages for 'societal reasons', kept interest rates artificially low (overruling the market) and implemented a lot of other regulation that distorted the effective functioning of the market. Not intervening when the system went broke would of meant the total collapse of the economy, that would of hit the poor more than the rich.
As an ‘average’ salaried worker in my late 50’s, with two teenage kids aspiring to go to uni, mortgage etc I simply don’t have the capacity to make provision to save for care I may potentially need in my dotage. I don’t have a lavish lifestyle, drive a knackered old car, rarely take holidays, pay as much as I can into my pension etc there’s always some month left at the end of the money.
Until we start taxing the super rich and disincentivise the squirrelling away of billions into off- shore bank accounts we will never make any progress!
Very well said sir!!
Did you choose to work for others of your own free will, or did you take a risk and start a business? What steps did you take to learn skills that translate in you being able to profit directly? Why not tax the risk adverse, or people who sacrifice their shot at wealth over security?
I’ve spent years learning skills that profit me directly, I’ve then used these profits, bet on myself, and risked losing everything if I got my pricing wrong. This isn’t a dig at you but at that mindset. You’ve just described all the things that mean your decisions would never bring the wealth you wanted.
That said I’m in agreement about some having billions and hoarding it away in a tax haven etc. How much is enough if you’ve already got a billion, you could live a lavish life and give anything else to improving your community and really do some good. A social capitalist if you will.
Democracy is not the public just voting but more important getting what they want.
Liberal Democracy is just rule by international finance and the Merchant class now.
That’s called the tyranny of the majority. Or mob rule
Democracy does not exist...
quite so, as delivered by mrs Thatcher. Isn't that the point?
You do not get what you want in a democracy, you get what the majority want. Not the same thing, dear.
@@stevefrith9924 and your alternative is what? Revolution!
He's right about Johnson's cabinet but it's the same old freedom for those who have money and poverty and vulnerability for those who don't .
Exactly the way the neoliberal propaganda machine of the IEA intends it to be. Why don't they tell us who funds them?
You can sum up the politics of the UK easily:- Democracy does not exist! There you go!
Had to sell his Mother's house, because her care cost over £100,000 a year... I hope you all heard that number. He is living in a parallel dimension to the vast, vast majority of the country, and has no clue. This is such a warped perspective.
It was when he pointed out that we all know people who've inherited vast amounts of wealth that's corrupted them..... er, do we??
@@shaunmac6851 Indeed. I don't want to appear to be attacking the man because that inevitably takes us nowhere good, but a saner politics requires a more balanced perspective where we try to understand and account for each other. It's a complicated task, which is why simplifying ideologies like Neoliberalism never work.
Wow... This is what's missing out of politics today. Will NEVER EVER beat common sense. Bravo 👏👏👏👏
Ah the common sense myth, anybody with an advanced understanding of macroeconomics knows that the "common sense" of running a corner shop does not work at the macro scale. Just like in physics where everyday life can be explained by Newton but when you want to talk about astronomy you need Einstein.
Common sense yesterday is the nonsense of later years - e.g. the transatlantic slave trade. Although maybe you still believe that was good old 'common sense' and the woke crowd went mad to believe otherwise. I'll hazard a guess Mt. Heffer 'Enoch Powell is the greatest' probably does believe that.
Anyway - there is no absolute timeless benchmark of 'common sense'
Thatcher was a disaster! The policy of privatisation has had catastrophic consequences for every citizen of the U.K. Hayek and Friedman have been thoroughly debunked.
(*** A.S. Yes, indeed, Mike, privatisation - which, effectively, is part and parcel of the globalisation bandwagon - has been a disaster. I suggest you get a copy of Ernst Schumacher's, 'Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Really Matter', which was published in 1972, predicted the looming madness of globalisation. ***)
*************************************
Politically, and ideologically I am a full 180 degrees opposite any rendition of a Greens party that may exist, or AOC/Gavin Newsome/Nancy Pelosi etc, etc. However, I am right in the corner of Simon Heffer, with regards to what he said about Donald Trump. Moreover, I am 101 percent empathetic with Simon’s distress of pondering how could it be that, the seemingly only two contenders for the Presidency of the United States are a geriatric imbecile, and a totally deluded narcissist. But what’s even more disturbing to consider for the US, prevails with first-reserve, so to speak, to take the chair in the Oval Office: and that is in the form of that complete moron, Kamala Harris.
I have taken a very keen interest in history, and domestic and geopolitics from 1972, and over the past 52 years I’ve become increasingly distraught with watching the world sinking into a sociological mire. I live in Australia, and was 18 years of age when a radical political change took place in my country, and that came to pass with the election of the socialistic PM, Gough Whitlam, and the ALP.
The consequences of the policies, which the Whitlam/Labor government inaugurated during its tumultuous three-year term, is with welfare. The direst outcome of them creating a welfare udder, culminates with there now being three generations of people in Australia (accruing to a total of at least 600,000 people) who have never been net-contributors to the country’s economy. No doubt, this scenario is replicated in Britain, also.
However, that pales into insignificance with a myriad of other upheavals vexing the globe. Amongst these are the wars in Gaza, and Ukraine; a belligerent China; an emerging India, which has an openly bigoted quasi-theocrat at the helm, who unashamedly castigates Muslims; or with the open-borders agendas of the US, and Britain, that facilitate Third World interlopers to inundate their spheres. But the most disturbing constituent for the planet, prevails with the complete implosion/discombobulation of the US’s political/ sociological foundations.
Tragically, whoever wins the presidency on that first Tuesday in November will only drag the country further into a dystopian and sociological swamp. Unfortunately, due to the size of its economy, and military power, means that as it sinks into the proverbial dystopian sewer it drags us all down with it.
Simon Heffer, Douglas Murray and Dr David Starkey should have been key advisors for the Govt.
Douglas Murray supports the genocide in Gaza
Well said, considering the utter mess they've made in 14 years, even the teletubbies might have provided them with better, more coherent advice.
All Classical Liberals with no solutions.
Should be
Three cheeks of the same arse. You must be joking....
Can't imagine many capable people who've had proper jobs, would ever want to be an MP.
As a progressive liberal (if that is not oxymoronic), this was a wonderful conversation with a dour though earnest conservative whose views represent those elite who were born with a golden foot in their mouth (or had privileged access to economic opportunities) and have never experienced the vicissitudes of life. Nonetheless, I enjoyed listening to his views on how Britain has evolved over the last forty or fifty years!
As another progressive liberal myself - I did not enjoy hearing about his priveleged life - nor of description of racist Enoch Powell as 'the greatest of men'. Feel sick after listening to him and need a shower.
@@bbbf09 I understand where you are coming from!
Truly bizarre to hear a Brexit supporting admirer of Powell and Thatcher say 'I believe in a compassionate society.'
Simon Heffer was always a very strange eccentric, and that has only increased with time. He belongs on the lunatic fringe of a past era.
Talk about serious dinners
Pretty impressive analysis.
Keeps several local carveries going singlehanded.
Wise guy. Speaks his mind. Like this.
This is the guy that claimed Corbyn was going to "reopen Auschwitz".
People living paycheck to paycheck can't take risks if the price of failure is starvation. The reason why the rich can succeed is that they can fail again and again.
What Heffer seems oblivious of is not Britain’s lack of work ethic; it’s what’s BEHIND work ethic! There needs to be INCENTIVE to work hard! What incentive IS THERE?!? Young men can’t hope to find a loyal wife or buy a house! They’ll be lucky to have one child, let alone 2.1 - The replacement rate!
Politically, and ideologically I am a full 180 degrees opposite any rendition of a Greens party that may exist, or AOC/Gavin Newsome/Nancy Pelosi etc, etc. However, I am right in the corner of Simon Heffer, with regards to what he said about Donald Trump. Moreover, I am 101 percent empathetic with Simon’s distress of pondering how could it be that, the seemingly only two contenders for the Presidency of the United States are a geriatric imbecile, and a totally deluded narcissist. But what’s even more disturbing to consider for the US, prevails with first-reserve, so to speak, to take the chair in the Oval Office: and that is in the form of that complete moron, Kamala Harris.
I have taken a very keen interest in history, and domestic and geopolitics from 1972, and over the past 52 years I’ve become increasingly distraught with watching the world sinking into a sociological mire. I live in Australia, and was 18 years of age when a radical political change took place in my country, and that came to pass with the election of the socialistic PM, Gough Whitlam, and the ALP.
The consequences of the policies, which the Whitlam/Labor government inaugurated during its tumultuous three-year term, is with welfare. The direst outcome of them creating a welfare udder, culminates with there now being three generations of people in Australia (accruing to a total of at least 600,000 people) who have never been net-contributors to the country’s economy. No doubt, this scenario is replicated in Britain, also.
However, that pales into insignificance with a myriad of other upheavals vexing the globe. Amongst these are the wars in Gaza, and Ukraine; a belligerent China; an emerging India, which has an openly bigoted quasi-theocrat at the helm, who unashamedly castigates Muslims; or with the open-borders agendas of the US, and Britain, that facilitate Third World interlopers to inundate their spheres. But the most disturbing constituent for the planet, prevails with the complete implosion/discombobulation of the US’s political/ sociological foundations.
Tragically, whoever wins the presidency on that first Tuesday in November will only drag the country further into a dystopian and sociological swamp. Unfortunately, due to the size of its economy, and military power, means that as it sinks into the proverbial dystopian sewer it drags us all down with it.
Russian troll
Like so many highly educated Brits this guy is very likeable and very smart. Only problem is that his sort rarely have any political viable solution to anything:
"Deregulate" :-) - That word is pretty empty by now
"culture war" - this is an empty attack on.... well, someone else....
Well, I for one am shocked - shocked! - that the party taking such a turn toward unbridled self-interest would itself be riven by politicians out for...their own self-interests.
The U.K is at the mercy of landlords..The majority of the economy is for the benefit of estate agents..Small industries here are again forgotten..The U.K needs to produce and grow as producers of a variety of products and services..Part of the problem is we have forgot or choose to think we’re not good enough or others can and we can’t..This thinking must change..But can only change with new thinking from the top down and incentives in tax ..
This is superb and one of the best political discussions I’ve come across
He’s nuts
How heavy is Mr Heffer ?
"Don't mention the Brexit !!" - Basil Fawlty. Pontificates on everything but not 40 seconds on the mega disaster he foisted on his countrymen.
Thatcher was a complete disaster. Squander north sea oil and gas, and gave away all national treasures.
Thatcher sold off the nation's family silver and gave the money to the City of London.
It wasn't squandered. It was used to facilitate some of the fastest sustained real terms growth we've seen in the postwar era, certainly since 73 and not seen since.
@@hodgebodge it was squandered to buy the next election.
@@TheGatesOfFire it allowed for well over a decade of low taxes and greater wealth for individual citizens.
What would you rather the money was used for? Please don't say sovereign wealth fund
@@hodgebodge Rapid unsustainable growth for some. The capital wealth of the nation was bought up by foreign interests and now we are seeing the consequences.
Massively interesting talk and I totally agree with most of his comments
It's rich the IEA complaining about the state of affairs crafted in their own image
Was it gut instinct that swung Heffer from left to right on the political spectrum?
He's certainly got the gut for it.
It's not all about Brexit, the UK has been going downhill since Thatcher's time.
When the Prime Minister and government ministers are hamstrung by obstructive civil servants and, in some cases, the High Court, it is easy to see why few of the issues in the UK are ever solved. The worst part of this is that no political party seems to have an effective strategy to remove these obstacles.
No such thing as democracy... Just the illusion of it!
So you think that they should be above the law?
UK should be thankful for the dedication and real patriotism of the civil and public servants over the last 14 years of Tory induced crisis.
@@pedalinpete When a law is not fit for purpose, yes.
@@gordondavies7773 I disagree. Senior civil servants have frustrated the progress of Prime Ministers and parliamentarians who were elected to pursue certain mandates, such as Brexit, and have provided obstacles to any meaningful change. For example, an attempt to stop illegal migrants from making the dangerous Channel crossing in small boats, through a strategy of flying them to Rwanda if they attempt to enter the country illegally, has been blocked at every turn. In the meantime, more attempt the crossing and drown. What's the point in voting for any political party if they cannot deliver on their promises due to red tape?
A serious dinner?...i can see heffer certainly likes those🤣
A Hefferlump?
IEA - shady, Heffer - dodgy! !
Keep the state out of our pockets
This poor chap looks like he’s going to explode.
At 10:07 we hear another loony who thinks that Britain is as important and as strong as the EU. It is this kind of conviction (of still living in 1880) that gave us Brexit.
Enthralling and enlightening.
Hearing those thoughts, views and reflections in the current political and social climate, was akin to being in the desert and finding an oasis
The Great British brain-drain, we are loosing all the bright minds & becoming a state of grifters.. In a heartbeat I would migrate to Europe, but that opportunity sailed with Brexit
Losing
Terrible - EU takes many non-EU citizens yet, as you say, UK citizens cannot be included and can rarely get the ability to work in the EU. IMO if you want to work in the EU, have a skill the EU needs esp engineering and physical healthcare (higher, medium and lower level) - and don't even attempt with humanities, media, social sciences,
arts etc as Europe is SO BRILLIANT in those areas... ie experienced people who can mend/fix things properly are far far far less common.
You can still settle in some EU countries if retired or are a digital nomad
Because the EU member states are doing sooooooo well aren't they... Especially now the US has hobbled the Euro by crippling Germany's economy.
...and we are left with the Heffers of the world. Would that he would take a hike elsewhere.
Heffer must have a death wish with that stomach. Sorry because his biog of Powell was very good.
Very informative!
Brexit could have worked but BJ made a complete mess of it, I voted remain as I was hypnotised by economic orthodoxy over radical ideas.
This is revisionism at its most disingenuous, and very typical of a hard-right Tory and Brexiteer. First, he fails to acknowledge any connection between the man-made tragedy we experience today (as exemplified by human excrement in our waters) and 40-plus years of Thatcherism, in contrast with Germany which managed to become Europe's economic powerhouse while essentially remaining a socialist economy - complete with trades union bosses in corporate boardrooms until it committed economic suicide by rejecting cheap Russian gas - but I digress).
He also fails to acknowledge that it was his beloved Brexit (itself a pet Thatcherite project) that produced the literal kakistocracy that he disparages.
Some day, Thatcherism was going to fulfil its mission, and it has succeeded spectacularly. I just wish its proponents (which include New Labour - not least because it was infamously Thatcher's "greatest achievement") would have the decency to acknowledge the error of their ways.
EU and the decline of Germany and other associated countries.
I haven't listened to so much common sense for a long time, and agree with everything including the quality of cabinets; saying a lot other than the seriousness of what they're doing.
What a load of right-wing nonsense, more if we would just be more right-wing from the people who have got everything they wanted for 15 years.
Brexit . The self inflicted wounds are the most deepest and most debilitating.We are still a generation away from another vote but maybe with a change of government at least we will start tallking to Europe again.If M.T .wanted us to leave she had 11 years to do it Brexiters ,the enemy is in Moscow not Brussels! !
Wrong.
And Putin isn’t Hitler either.
How can such an established and respected political observer be so out of touch with what is actually taking place on the political scene?
Also: whof funds the IEA and why won't you tell anyone? WHO FUNDS THE IEA?
Entitlement, platitudes and a complete lack of awareness.
Well said. Just the old Tory stuff of cutting welfare and anti any social market nonsense. Not an interview, no challenges to absurd claims, just a forum for grandstanding.
I missed something: how does this guy love Thatcher but embrace Brexit?
Money.
Is this the IEA: architects of Liz Truss' disastrous mini budget??
Pretty much.
Yes... and they still have not declared who finances their sinister propaganda
Who funds the iea?
Dinners cannot get more serious than his.
He looks like he’s eaten a lot of them.
"The so called poor and the so called dispossessed", what an odious man. Look at the size of his gut, Simon Heffer doesn't appear to suffer from lack of access to food, it would take several food banks to keep that tummy tanked up.
Anyone know where he got the stat regarding 70% of nhs budget going on payroll, it seems to be a significant pillar of his oppinion on the state of the nhs. From what I can tell, it's more like 45% however.
Dérégulation is what cause the 2008 crash! Not a very good precedent…
this is the neoliberal dream
Nonsense
Governing this Country is largely about what can be gotten away with at the public's expense. It's taken many a decade but I think the public are finally waking up to these sorry costly stunts.
The problem is the Home Office .Not the Treasury.
Sadly our Civil Service has been so politicised that ministers receive the advice they want to hear not what they should hear. Any Civil Servant who tells his minister that a policy won't work is sacked. The FCO and Treasury warned the government about Brexit and it lead to all the best Civil Servants being replaced.
His silver spoon contained mercury.
'Arse from their elbow': in North Lanarkshire we say Boris Johnson didn't know if he was going for a shite or a haircut.
Brilliant
Johnson and haircut in the same sentence?
This video was brought to you by the tobacco industry and other secret funders.
For me, the most important issue by far is the very damaging high level of immigration. Its impact on culture and identity is more important than on the economy.
The account of the Civil Servant asserting that "we" would stop Brexit speaks volumes. They are SERVANTS.
I enjoyed the interview immensely. Mr. Heffer is simply a highly intelligent, interesting and, yes, good, man.
Mr. Heffer's comments on the comparative amounts of money spent on the NHS and on defence were convincing to me.
His account of Enoch Powell's encounter on the Tube was so very amusing.
The 364 economists were proven right. As we take the Tory waters of privatisation.
The EU is turning right wing. Us Brexiteers might join up again if they do.
One could tell oneself that he’s just mistaken about the practical effects of his economic approach - though he’s notably contemptuous of the idea that the state should help people. That is, until he tells us his hero, the greatest person he’s known, is Enoch Powell. Powell, the toxic racist and imperialist, who made life worse for tens of thousands of Asian and Afro-Caribbean people, who betook himself to Northern Ireland to bolster the retrogressive bigots of the Unionist Party. The economic talk is directed towards the sort of society he wants, and presumably the one he thinks Powell wanted. It’s by no means as cuddly and reasonable as he (and the iea, it seems) would pretend.
Boris couldn’t organize a piss up in the brewery!
Tax all dividends and chase heavens for money. ReDistribution is the best way to look after people.
He loses credibility for me when he complains that Johnson´s appalling cabinet was the worst in history. Of course it was! it was deliberate. Johnson and Cummings would not appoint competent people of integrity. They needed to surround themselves with ministers equally as vacuous and immoral as themselves.
So we haven't got any money to look after pensioners, but we got money for asylum sleekers, that's makes sense
Eh? Pensioners are the only people in the UK with any money
Having Gladstone as a role model is like in Germany being very fond of Bismark. It feels a little bit outdated in the XXI century
Re old people, if they have houses and assets then sell them and pay for their care.
But they've paid their national insurance and taxes. Why must they be penalised?
@@thomasalexand An ironic comment, I assume.
And if you have no assets you get your care for free?
@@paulcassidy8130 The nanny state encourages parasites.
@importantjohn Yes. Not everyone can earn the national average wage. Some people, for various reasons, can not work. But everyone should have an affordable roof over their head. This country has been broken for many years.
Heffer by name........
Brexit was about xenophobia and it was certainly not about creating a more free market UK. This dude and the IEA were always deluding themselves if they thought it was.
yes it was the biggest mistake this country has ever took
Considering that you're a champion of open-borders, I do wonder what your position is with open-borders, when observing those 300,000 Muslims staging that pro-Palestinian rally on October 28?
Or, indeed, ggunnelspect, what is your position with the 208 people (out of the 532) who were slaughterd by Islamic fundamentalists during the reign of Terror, from Atocha, and London in 2004, and MP, David Amiss, in July 2021?
Or, perhaps, with the Muslims who rape white girls?
Brexit has been a disaster.
So far
@@andylewis7360 It will only get worse. Brexit is impoverishing the nation. To walk away from the biggest single market in the world, which is right on our doorstep, makes no economic sense. Even Thatcher would be appalled by it. She was not pro-EU, we all know, but she was pro-international trade, and she was one of the main architects of the Single Market. Moreover, Churchill would be appalled by Brexit. Read or listen to Churchill's speech delivered at the University of Zürich in 1946. Brexit was Britain's worst move since the end of WWII.
Rather like the French Revolution = = Too soon to say.
Global lockdowns and the Ukraine war have been disasters. Brexit coincided with these two disasters and ignorant people level the blame at Brexit.
Politically, and ideologically I am a full 180 degrees opposite any rendition of a Greens party that may exist, or AOC/Gavin Newsome/Nancy Pelosi etc, etc. However, I am right in the corner of Simon Heffer, with regards to what he said about Donald Trump. Moreover, I am 101 percent empathetic with Simon’s distress of pondering how could it be that, the seemingly only two contenders for the Presidency of the United States are a geriatric imbecile, and a totally deluded narcissist. But what’s even more disturbing to consider for the US, prevails with first-reserve, so to speak, to take the chair in the Oval Office: and that is in the form of that complete moron, Kamala Harris.
I have taken a very keen interest in history, and domestic and geopolitics from 1972, and over the past 52 years I’ve become increasingly distraught with watching the world sinking into a sociological mire. I live in Australia, and was 18 years of age when a radical political change took place in my country, and that came to pass with the election of the socialistic PM, Gough Whitlam, and the ALP.
The consequences of the policies, which the Whitlam/Labor government inaugurated during its tumultuous three-year term, is with welfare. The direst outcome of them creating a welfare udder, culminates with there now being three generations of people in Australia (accruing to a total of at least 600,000 people) who have never been net-contributors to the country’s economy. No doubt, this scenario is replicated in Britain, also.
However, that pales into insignificance with a myriad of other upheavals vexing the globe. Amongst these are the wars in Gaza, and Ukraine; a belligerent China; an emerging India, which has an openly bigoted quasi-theocrat at the helm, who unashamedly castigates Muslims; or with the open-borders agendas of the US, and Britain, that facilitate Third World interlopers to inundate their spheres. But the most disturbing constituent for the planet, prevails with the complete implosion/discombobulation of the US’s political/ sociological foundations.
Tragically, whoever wins the presidency on that first Tuesday in November will only drag the country further into a dystopian and sociological swamp. Unfortunately, due to the size of its economy, and military power, means that as it sinks into the proverbial dystopian sewer it drags us all down with it.
I am a good old fashioned Gladstonian Liberal!
Haha aren’t we all
Britain never reformed itself properly after WW2. How did Commonwealth embrace democracy while Britain carried on the feudal system 😢
A ‘low tax’ economy is a pipe dream as long as the NHS exists. So, when will the Tory party have the guts to stand on a platform of either abolishing it or financing it through private insurance.
PS: the Armed Forces need an absolute minimum of an extra £10bn pa.
Well said - when one reads that other comparable nations have lower taxes, the reason is that they do not have the NHS to pay for, or a bloated Social Welfare bill. As for the NHS, if it's so damn brilliant, how come no other country on earth copies the same model of keeping its people healthy ?
Let's not do that
Britain could be great again if there were leaders with real vision for the future. We can either be shitty 2nd world neoliberal social democracy, with a small super wealthy elite based on finance on London, and the rest of the world an open borders third world dumping ground to bring in low wage labour.
Or we could have a future oriented nationalist government that would combine serious governance (no more feckless deficit spending and waste on current spending rather than capital investment), a realist foreign policy (cooperate with Russia, China and other emerging economies in synergy instead of yapping about "democracy promotion" as part of the American empire, divert defence spending almost entirely to the nacy to focus on protecting our commercial interests and defending the home islands), and a third position economic policy (let the market take care of things where we have a compeititve advantage like finance and luxury goods, while the state finances things we could be great again in with state investment, and which we have natural potential amd synergies for for, like shipbuilding, merchant shipping etc).
(*** A.S. So sorry to tell you, JDG, but Britain is way, way past the point of ever being great again. To glaringly ascertain that reality merely requires viewing any of the RUclipsr's who travel to cities and towns in the country exposing the hopeless, and hapless state of affairs. ***)
*********************************************
Politically, and ideologically I am a full 180 degrees opposite any rendition of a Greens party that may exist, or AOC/Gavin Newsome/Nancy Pelosi etc, etc. However, I am right in the corner of Simon Heffer, with regards to what he said about Donald Trump. Moreover, I am 101 percent empathetic with Simon’s distress of pondering how could it be that, the seemingly only two contenders for the Presidency of the United States are a geriatric imbecile, and a totally deluded narcissist. But what’s even more disturbing to consider for the US, prevails with first-reserve, so to speak, to take the chair in the Oval Office: and that is in the form of that complete moron, Kamala Harris.
I have taken a very keen interest in history, and domestic and geopolitics from 1972, and over the past 52 years I’ve become increasingly distraught with watching the world sinking into a sociological mire. I live in Australia, and was 18 years of age when a radical political change took place in my country, and that came to pass with the election of the socialistic PM, Gough Whitlam, and the ALP.
The consequences of the policies, which the Whitlam/Labor government inaugurated during its tumultuous three-year term, is with welfare. The direst outcome of them creating a welfare udder, culminates with there now being three generations of people in Australia (accruing to a total of at least 600,000 people) who have never been net-contributors to the country’s economy. No doubt, this scenario is replicated in Britain, also.
However, that pales into insignificance with a myriad of other upheavals vexing the globe. Amongst these are the wars in Gaza, and Ukraine; a belligerent China; an emerging India, which has an openly bigoted quasi-theocrat at the helm, who unashamedly castigates Muslims; or with the open-borders agendas of the US, and Britain, that facilitate Third World interlopers to inundate their spheres. But the most disturbing constituent for the planet, prevails with the complete implosion/discombobulation of the US’s political/ sociological foundations.
Tragically, whoever wins the presidency on that first Tuesday in November will only drag the country further into a dystopian and sociological swamp. Unfortunately, due to the size of its economy, and military power, means that as it sinks into the proverbial dystopian sewer it drags us all down with it.
« 35 years or more of civil war over the European question… »
…or how to kill the will to listen to a 1 hour debate after only 13 minutes and 25 seconds!
One or the two of you should spend (much) more time studying about what “civil wars” really are.
I think this is the most misguided interpretation of events I’ve ever seen.
British public did not vote for Brexit because of Nigel Farage alleged suppression. They voted because they were immiserated utterly and completely by Toryism .
That is an unfortunate name…
Is the British political system obsolete?
what took simon so long to see , in plain sight...
the decline...
( Did he ever leave Knightsbridge ? and venture
Managed Decline came to him ...even .
Certainly one of our fattest political commentators; Simon Hefferlump.
Also Heffer is a cricket buff which helps.
For the most part I don't disagree, with the exception of state debts. Sunak has brought the UK down to European levels with an acceptance that debt is OK at 90%+.
That madness on top of idiocy. At most we can maintain 40% debt. So the Conservatives and SNP need to suffer, as they keen eternally delaying big private sector projects.
A tunnel under the Thames costs money. A small nuclear reactor generates money.
52:30: "The limits on what people could put into their pensions were removed" err... what?!
As long as the urban professional class dominates parliament nothing positive will occur.
this is all done to blame Brexit
Hey Simon I know a delicious little restaurant with a huge wine cellar that specialises in thin chocolate wafers. Lets do lunch old poo. I know you will want to.😄
Torries are preparing for war, but they never asked British boters what they want... let them know on 4th of July
Regarding the “culture war” at around 14.00 David Starkey’s recent ncf speech was magnificent. He sees it not really as a culture war but as a political, legal and constitutional war kicked off by Blair’s disastrous reforms. Well worth watching:
ruclips.net/video/ClDrkcSfKjk/видео.htmlsi=XUU-8PYWjH9mM1dY
It's always Blair...
David Starkey is a fruit cake
Thatcher a great PM? he lost me there.
I know what you mean but at least she had a vision. And was willing to be unpopular to get things done.
@@mesolithicman164 she started the international finance take over of Britain.
The ultimate anti small c conservative.
She let international finance capture and hollow out Britain
Did you just join to make that comment?
Not just great, but the greatest since WW2.
Cutting taxes leads to a poor structural and social environment: health, infrastructure. UK has become a crappy place to live. As long as this is continuously championed the country will never raise itself.
Taxes have gone up and up and up and up. yet everything has gone to shit regardless.
Proper journalism
Unfortunately Simon is as common these days as hens teeth
There is no "British Politics! only English as what England says goes!
Not true!
Was Gordon Brown an English Prime Minister? Was he working for England alone?
I'm with Simon on a lot. Most. But the idea that Trump belongs in prison is for the birds. A silly comment.
He is an example of why the Torys have lost the working class.
Yes indeed - Trump is the best hope western democracies have...in reversing the elite globalist agendas.
Trump is a conduit for popilism...Surely popular ideas in the population - are the policies that 'the elites should be enacting?
@@evolassunglasses4673 - You have to actually work to be classified as 'Working Class' - Benefits don't count!
@@jstewart4205What would you call someone who claims benefits then? Or do you think they shouldn’t vote at all?
Politically, and ideologically I am a full 180 degrees opposite any rendition of a Greens party that may exist, or AOC/Gavin Newsome/Nancy Pelosi etc, etc. However, I am right in the corner of Simon Heffer, with regards to what he said about Donald Trump. Moreover, I am 101 percent empathetic with Simon’s distress of pondering how could it be that, the seemingly only two contenders for the Presidency of the United States are a geriatric imbecile, and a totally deluded narcissist. But what’s even more disturbing to consider for the US, prevails with first-reserve, so to speak, to take the chair in the Oval Office: and that is in the form of that complete moron, Kamala Harris.
I have taken a very keen interest in history, and domestic and geopolitics from 1972, and over the past 52 years I’ve become increasingly distraught with watching the world sinking into a sociological mire. I live in Australia, and was 18 years of age when a radical political change took place in my country, and that came to pass with the election of the socialistic PM, Gough Whitlam, and the ALP.
The consequences of the policies, which the Whitlam/Labor government inaugurated during its tumultuous three-year term, is with welfare. The direst outcome of them creating a welfare udder, culminates with there now being three generations of people in Australia (accruing to a total of at least 600,000 people) who have never been net-contributors to the country’s economy. No doubt, this scenario is replicated in Britain, also.
However, that pales into insignificance with a myriad of other upheavals vexing the globe. Amongst these are the wars in Gaza, and Ukraine; a belligerent China; an emerging India, which has an openly bigoted quasi-theocrat at the helm, who unashamedly castigates Muslims; or with the open-borders agendas of the US, and Britain, that facilitate Third World interlopers to inundate their spheres. But the most disturbing constituent for the planet, prevails with the complete implosion/discombobulation of the US’s political/ sociological foundations.
Tragically, whoever wins the presidency on that first Tuesday in November will only drag the country further into a dystopian and sociological swamp. Unfortunately, due to the size of its economy, and military power, means that as it sinks into the proverbial dystopian sewer it drags us all down with it.
Beds Baths & Beyond was a private for profit business that went bankrupt. Not a great title. Is Simon arguing for 100% inheritance tax, or for tax reductions? Confusing. At least he talks about society, which is not supposed to exist, no such thing.
Woulf be interested to know who funds this organisation.