John Major: Brexit Is a Colossal Mistake

Feb 7, 2024 | This 4-minute video has already been viewed over a million times

John Major is one of the last of the great, sensible Tories. I would still be voting Tory if the Party was still made up of respectable and decent men like John Major. – © Mark Alexander

Was John Major Right in 2016 about Brexit

Dec 5, 2023 | New report from Resolution Foundation sheds new light on Brexit impact on Britain together with new data on immigration. We were led to believe people wanted Brexit to reduce immigration, but in truth it has now quadrupled since Brexit and the economic impact is realising the predictions made by the Remain politicians. We need to ditch Brexit and get prosperity and food security back!

As a one-time, dyed-in-the-wool Conservative voter, it hurts me to say this, but it has to be said: The Tories of today are a bunch of tossers. They have got this country into the biggest mess I have ever known it to be in in my not-so-short lifetime. This country needs radical reform now if we are to pull ourselves up by the bootstraps. Labour does not have the answer. Its leader wants more of Thatcherism. That shows me clearly that the man doesn’t understand economics. The party that could offer a solution – the LibDems – is afraid of its own shadow! That party should be offering a speedy return to the EU.

These ne’er-do-wells — losers all when it comes to understanding economics — talk frequently about how this country needs economic growth; but they are totally clueless as to how to go about achieving it.

There are many ways to achieve economic growth. But the very first thing we need is a market for our goods. In voting for Brexit, we have walked away from the BIGGEST single market in the world – a market of 450 MILLION CONSUMERS. To talk of wanting economic growth at the same time as walking away from such a ready-made, tariff-free market is total bunkum and nonsense. One is speaking with forked tongue when doing so.

The second obvious thing that you need to achieve economic growth is for people to have money in their pockets to spend! Shops need customers with SPENDING POWER! It is the ordinary consumers that need the spending power, not the über-rich élite, whose needs, apart from the odd superyacht or private jet, are already met. It’s Joe Bloggs in the street that need a new fridge or a new freezer or a new car or some work done on his house, not the chap living in the mansion in the best part of town!

How do the Tories expect to achieve economic growth when tens of thousands of people can’t afford to put food on the table for their children and have to go to foodbanks for assistance? How do the Tories expect to achieve economic growth when poverty in the nation is at alarming levels? You can’t expect a poor man to go to the shops to have a spending spree on consumer goods. As for white goods, he will surely need them, but will surely have no money to pay for them. So no consumption there!

To achieve economic growth at home, people need money in their pockets. They need to be able to spend! Under the Tories, people have been strapped for cash for years. Living standards have been in steep decline for ages. How do do these plonkers expect to be able to achieve economic growth?

Then there is the Tories' reluctance to spend and invest in infrastructure, so sorely needed in this country. Look at the state of our schools, hospitals, roads and bridges! The state of many, many schools and hospitals is disgraceful. Not at all worthy of a first world nation.

The more one thinks about this Tory government, the more one realizes how totally USELESS the people in government are. Bumbling fools all!

This country needs radical change at the top. Anything less just will not cut the mustard. – © Mark Alexander

The Fall of Margaret Thatcher | John Major | Leading

Jun 27, 2023 | A clip of former Prime Minister John Major outlining what he believes to be the reason for Margaret Thatcher's downfall.

Vision of a Classless Britain | John Major | Leading

Jun 18, 2023 | Former Prime Minister John Major opens up about his lifelong dream of creating a classless society in Britain. In this segment, Major reflects on the pervasive influence of social class and how it has shaped the country's political landscape over the years. Discover the evolving dynamics of voting intentions across different classes during Major's lifetime and the complex relationship between class and politics.

Sir John Major Questioned by Oxford Students

Mar 29, 2023

Gordon Brown and John Major Back Nuremberg-style Tribunal for Putin

THE GUARDIAN: Former PMs join campaign calling for trial of Russian president and those around him over invasion of Ukraine

The campaign backed by Brown and Major seeks the creation of a special tribunal modelled on the Nuremberg trials of 1945-46. Photograph: PA
The former UK prime ministers Gordon Brown and Sir John Major are among those calling for the creation of a new international tribunal to investigate Vladimir Putin and those who helped plan his invasion of Ukraine.

They have joined a campaign – along with leading names from the worlds of law, academia and politics – aiming to put the Russian president and others on trial.

Launched with a website and a target of 2 million petition signatures, the campaign – which has already been backed by 740,000 people around the world – seeks to gain public support for a special tribunal modelled on the Nuremberg trials.

It was vital to ensure, eight decades on from the trials of Nazi war criminals, that there was “a day of reckoning for Putin”, said Brown. » | Agencies | Saturday, March 19, 2022

Sign this petition to put Putin and his cronies on trial here.

‘Shameful’: John Major Hits Out at Handling of Owen Paterson Scandal

THE GUARDIAN: Former PM said trying to shield MP from punishment suggested Johnson’s government was ‘politically corrupt’

John Major said the government’s actions had ‘the effect of trashing the reputation of parliament’. Photograph: Jeff Overs/BBC/PA
Sir John Major has launched a searing attack on the government over its handling of the Owen Paterson lobbying scandal, condemning its actions as “shameful and wrong”.

The former prime minister said it suggested Boris Johnson’s administration was “politically corrupt”, and that Major would be posed with a dilemma if he had to consider voting for Johnson to remain PM at the next election.

The comments came after the government briefly tried to shield Paterson from punishment for what the standards committee called an “egregious case” of breaching lobbying rules.

Major told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think the way the government handled that was shameful, wrong and unworthy of this or indeed any government. It also had the effect of trashing the reputation of parliament.” » | Nicola Slawson | Saturday, November 6, 2021

Once upon a time, this country used to have decent and honourable Conservative governments and decent prime ministers like Sir John Major. Now, however, we are stuck with BoJo and his administration made up of people of questionable integrity. Sleaze and corruption abound, to say nothing of the questionable way BoJo entered Number 10 by duping the public. – © Mark

Boris Johnson sleaze crisis deepens amid pressure on Covid deals: Sir John Major attacks PM’s actions as ‘shameful’ while poll shows slump in Tory support »

John Major on Afghanistan, 'Global Britain', and the Tory Party | FT

Sep 6, 2021 • The former prime minister tells the FT Weekend Festival it was 'wrong to leave Afghanistan', discusses Britain's place in the world, and says nationalism in Boris Johnson's Conservative party needs 'rooting out'. John Major attacks ‘strategically stupid’ decision to leave Afghanistan

John Major: Brexit Set to Be 'More Brutal Than Anyone Expected'

BBC: Brexit may be "even more brutal than expected" due to the UK's negotiating "failures", Sir John Major has said.

In a speech in London, the ex-prime minister said the UK's "inflexibility" and "threats" towards the EU would make future trade "less profitable".

And he warned of the "corrosive" impact to the UK's reputation of a proposed law giving ministers the power to over-ride aspects of the Brexit Agreement.

Peers will vote shortly on whether to amend the Internal Market Bill.

They are expected to remove a series of clauses which would give the UK the right to disregard obligations in the Withdrawal Agreement with the EU in relation to Northern Ireland, a move that Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has conceded would break international law. » | Monday, October 9, 2020

MPs of All Parties Must Unite to Rein In This Reckless, Divisive Government

THE GUARDIAN: I fear Boris Johnson will use political chicanery to bypass the anti-no-deal Brexit law. Time for parliament to show its strength

At the moment, our country is more unsettled, more divided, than I can ever recall. Ministers assure us they are moving towards a deal. The European Union tells us they are not – because no new or viable proposals have been put forward by the British government. The prime minister tells us he wishes to have a deal with Europe. But we don’t see him sitting down in Brussels, hammering out an agreement.

Lip service is paid to the unanimous judgment of the supreme court – that it was unlawful to prorogue parliament for five weeks – while the prime minister tells us the court was wrong and he was right. That is the cry of those found guilty of misdemeanours throughout the ages.

Meanwhile, ministers continue to offer fantasy outcomes of what a post-Brexit future holds for people in every corner of our United Kingdom. As day succeeds day, it seems more likely that we will end up leaving the European Union without any deal at all. On Wednesday night, the prime minister wilfully destroyed any hope of cross-party agreement.

The price of such a negotiating failure will be widespread and will affect rich and poor alike – with one difference: the poor will be far less able to protect themselves. » | John Major | Friday, September 27, 2019

John Major to Join Legal Fight to Stop Johnson Suspending Parliament

THE GUARDIAN: Labour’s Shami Chakrabarti already granted permission to join Gina Miller case on behalf of opposition

John Major has said he will seek the high court’s permission to join a legal fight to prevent the government from suspending parliament before the Brexit deadline, in an unprecedented legal battle that could pit a former prime minister against the incumbent.

And, hours after the news emerged, the shadow attorney general, Shami Chakrabarti, was granted permission to join the case on behalf of the official opposition.

In addition, Labour’s deputy leader, Tom Watson, has said he will seek to intervene in his role as an MP, while the Liberal Democrat leader, Jo Swinson, said she too was seeking to join the case brought by the anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller aimed at preventing Boris Johnson from proroguing parliament from next week until mid-October. » | Jessica Elgot, Chief political correspondent | Friday, August 30, 2019

John Major at Chatham House on the Realities of Brexit for Britain and Europe

In his first public speech since the EU referendum, Sir John Major outlined the realities that he believes both Britain and Europe face in the future at Chatham House.

Eurozone Crisis Can Be Used to Take Back Powers from EU, Says Former Prime Minister John Major
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Britain should take advantage of the eurozone crisis to grab back powers and re-negotiate its relationship with the EU, John Major has said.


Any new treaty drawn up in its wake would allow Britain to renegotiate its relationship with Brussels, particularly on employment issues, the former prime minister suggested.
Sir John claimed it was likely that Europe was heading towards a ''federal state within the eurozone'' as leaders try to find a resolution for the current crisis.

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr show: ''There won't necessarily have to be a treaty in this country for fiscal union.

''It is conceivable there would be a treaty just among members of the eurozone.''
He added: ''But at some stage there will be another treaty because if there is fiscal union in Europe it changes our relationship to Europe. » | Sunday, October 09, 2011

Prestige of EU and Nato Will Be Lost If Gaddafi Clings to Power, Says Sir John Major
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The “prestige” of the international community will be lost if Colonel Gaddafi is allowed to cling to power in Libya, Sir John Major has warned.

Unless Gaddafi is toppled, he will inflict “bloody reprisals” on the Libyan people, the former prime minister said. Other Middle Eastern leaders would also be encouraged to continue to repress their people.

He spoke as Western leaders continued to debate their response to the growing violence in Libya, where Col Gaddafi’s forces were yesterday making significant gains against opposition groups.

Sir John also backed William Hague as a “superb” foreign secretary, amid continued Conservative criticisms of his performance in the job.

Sir John speaks frequently to David Cameron, advising the Prime Minister on issues including the Middle East, where he travels frequently on business.

European Union and Nato leaders will meet today to continue discussing their response to the Libyan crisis, but there is still no sign of an international consensus on military action. >>> James Kirkup, Political Correspondent | Thursday, March 10, 2011

If something isn’t done about Gaddafi soon, it will be too late. The opportunity to topple this despicable dictator will have been lost. President Barack Hussein Obama is showing no leadership in this thorny issue. Isn't he a typical academic? Quite unable to make up his mind because he is able to see the problem from each and every angle. So, he ends up dithering instead of taking decisive action. This, of course, is a very dangerous strategy (or lack of one). If Gaddafi is allowed to cling to power, and it looks as though he probably will cling to power given today’s advances, he will terrorize his own people and, as retribution, will probably resume terrorizing the world, too. We only have to think of Lockerbie for a graphic example of such a nightmare scenario. – © Mark

A Bright Future for Pinky & Perky!
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The coalition between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats should continue after the next election and could lead to a permanent merger, according to Sir John Major.

The former Conservative prime minister said the Coalition could represent a “realignment” of politics and the two parties should “prolong” their co-operation beyond this parliament.

Sir John’s intervention will ignite a political debate about the future of Britain’s current party system. David Cameron has insisted that his deal with Nick Clegg’s party is a one-off arrangement and he will seek to form an all-Tory government after the next election, due in 2015.

But Sir John raised the prospect of the Coalition being maintained in the next parliament as the best way to implement long-term reforms. John Major: let's keep the Coalition after the next election >>> James Kirkup, Political Correspondent | Friday, November 26, 2010

Sir John Major Gives Blair Some Advice
THE GUARDIAN: Sir John Major today calls on his successor to quit Downing Street and hand over power to Gordon Brown as soon as possible. In an interview with the Guardian, the former Tory prime minister criticises Tony Blair's drawn-out departure from office, mocking him for being "in the middle of the longest farewell since Dame Nellie Melba quit the stage". Major to Blair: stop acting like Nellie Melba and go now (more)

Mark Alexander