My goodness - that was a truly inspiring speech just now from Boris! ‘UnLeashing Britain’s Potential’.

But, * jennifereccles*, the EU nations are our biggest trading partners by far. We also export to other countries, Japan for instance, through EU trade deals.

I think what he was saying was that we certainly won’t be bossed about by the EU regarding a deal .

We are not children in a playground, JE. Even though Leavers and the press and leading Leavers only seem to be able to speak or understand playground language.

This whole Brexit thing really seems to be infantilising people...

Negotiations between countries are carried out by adults using adult thought and adult language.

I think what he was saying was that we certainly won’t be bossed about by the EU regarding a deal .

If the offered deal is not a good one for us and if they won’t budge, we will leave at the end of the year with no deal.

It’s the only way to do business isn’t it?

Whatever the commodity is, we always need to make it clear that if necessary we will walk.

That is what he is doing I’m sure.

Fine words butter no parsnips. Lets see the actions first before we judge whether this was an inspiring speech or just words, words, words

That’s exactly my understanding MaizieD. Just like there is no ‘Australia deal’.

then our trade will have to be based on our existing withdrawal agreement with the EU,

Correct me if I'm wrong, but surely the Withdrawal Agreement had little or nothing to do with trade? It was about securing the rights of EU citizens in the UK and vice versa, about the transition period and the NI 'backstop'.

What he said there is a lie. Trade negotiations come now. If there's no agreement reached then it's no deal. Trade under the existing WA is on the same terms as we had when in the EU. That no longer applies after 30th December 2020 (unless we have an extension of transition).

He's trying to pull the wool over our eyes. The sad thing is, thousands, if not millions, will believe him.

When I read the title of this thread I assumed it was satire, so was astonished to discover that the OP and others actually believed it. It is beyond satire.

I was shocked at the treatment of the Press in Downing Street yesterday. The Press need to ignore all photo ops by the PM et al. No publicity until all news outlets are allowed into briefings. Can you believe they lined them up and said, you can stay, you must leave? What?? Shades of sinister regimes, but right here in Cummings' territory.

Re BJ's speech yesterday. It was painful to listen to. I wondered at one point if there was an autocue on the ceiling. He seemed to be making it up as he went along. He has a awful machine-gunning delivery style, which gives the impression he's trying to remember what comes next.

The historian's among you have already questioned his knowledge of dates etc, but the whole reeked of imperialism and wanting to lead the world! 'Full of sound(bites) and fury and signifying nothing.' (Apologies to Shakespere, although I wonder what he could weave into a plot of the shenanagins of the blond one and Cummings the kingmaker)

However, it seems we're not leading at all, we're simply following Australia. First we had the Australian points system for immigration. Now Johnson's looking at an Australian-style trading deal with the EU.

He stated that Britain's negotiating objectives at this point, before ten months of intensive talks, is a free trade agreement similar to that which Canada has with the bloc.

But he added: “In the very unlikely event that we do not succeed, then our trade will have to be based on our existing withdrawal agreement with the EU, and let's be clear the choice is not emphatically deal or no deal - we have a deal, we've done it, and it did indeed turn out as I correctly prophesied to be oven ready.

The question is whether we agree a trading relationship with the EU comparable to Canada's or more like Australia's and I have no doubt that in either case the UK will prosper mightily… the question is whether we agree to a deal parallel to Canada's or more likely - Australia's.' "

According to Tony Abbot on the radio yesterday Australia's deal is 100 billion euros trade with the EU on WTO terms.

Fennel I find it frightening too and want to "do other things" rather than think about it quite often.

I think the "enforcers" will find it just as easy to openly beat people up or humiliate those who obviously disagree with them, as has happened in history, within a short period of time, if the current wave of populism if the conversations on here are anything to go by. I hope we forgo burning at the stake - but who knows what injustices will be ignored by those wedded to a populist government.

With Johnson's record I find it's extraordinary that people will think that he is telling the truth.

I don't think they do believe he is telling the truth any more than most of Trump's core believe he is, or any more then the good people of Germany believed the various truths they were told at least not for long. It's worth repeating this part of Maizie's quote about 1930s Germany.

The totalitarian mass leaders based their propaganda on the correct psychological assumption that, under such conditions, one could make people believe the most fantastic statements one day, and trust that if the next day they were given irrefutable proof of their falsehood, they would take refuge in cynicism; instead of deserting the leaders who had lied to them, they would protest that they had known all along that the statement was a lie and would admire the leaders for their superior tactical cleverness.

Isn't that exactly the same sort of conversation we have heard from both leavers and Johnson supporters?

I'm not so sure about us attracting bright people from Asia Vegansrock. That was the point of the article.

Dr Islam, 31, an expert on gender and class in urban India, has lived in the UK for a decade but the Home Office refused her application for indefinite leave to remain in November, saying she had spent too many days out of Britain during the application period. She had spent a year in Delhi conducting field research for her PhD – which has been backed up by Cambridge University.

Why did Johnson hide away in Number 10 last Friday instead of giving a speech to the nation at such an important time in our history? I'm aware that he did a little something on Facebook but I don't use that social media. In any event it was apparently only 3 minutes long.

As for quoting very old historical idea - that's just to show off his knowledge - it bears no relevance to today.

Some people have a lot to gain. Absolutely right.

And he has refused to take questions on climate change at this morning’s conference. Plus, he has sacked his junior minister, who has warned that he knows little about climate change, and can’t be held to promises. You may say that’s sour grapes, but she isn’t the first to accuse him of lying.

Do people think Boris is telling the truth - or do they simply think that Getting Brexit Done (or whatever today’s meaningless soundbite is) overrides everything else, and as such are prepared to forgive his lies and deceit? After all, all politicians lie, don’t they...

Watched the speech. Find it a serious concern that we have a wiffling, waffling delusionist as PM. However I must learn to keep quiet - apparently in the new populist democracy questioning Project Boris is tantamount to heresy.

With Johnson's record I find it's extraordinary that people will think that he is telling the truth. He is like Trump in that he thinks that if he says it loud enough people will believe, sadly it seems to be the case. Action speaks louder than words, so we will have to see. I still think it's more likely that we will not have a deal by the end of the transition period. Some people have a lot to gain.

Well we’re aren’t keeping the brightest and the best with the exodus of scientists and medics. Still I supposed we’ll be replacing them with immigrants from Asia.

It's interesting that the OP picks up on UnLeashing Britain’s Potential’

To unleash that potential, we were told that Britain is 'open to the brightest and best'. Apparently, the truth is that the "hostile environment" is still in action.

www.theguardian.com/education/2020/feb/04/cambridge-sociologists-visa-fight-sends-shockwaves-through-universities

So we can't keep the 'brightest and best' when we have them. What hope do we have in attracting others?

As far as I can see all the Tories are unleashing is a diminished and nasty 'Little England'.

Johnson has surrounded himself by a cabinet of “yes men and women”, Javid and Patel are good examples, hard liners. That comes out in their attitude to EU negotiations, very belligerent, this recent attempt to restrict the press is not unexpected and the united walk out by all is exactly what is needed.
They will quite likely resort to selected briefings and “leaks” and I hope the media respond in exactly the same way and share leads on this particular issue so that all get equal chance to comment. It is after all the most important change of direction for the UK for 50yrs, it needs to be right.

It’s called democracy!.

This is alarming and it is NOT democracy. I do fear for the future.

your or yours you or yours

Which bit of education are your or yours using at the moment Greymar.

Although this may have been the truth when learning by rote was the case I really don't see that now. The simple fact that more people are going to university now, where they are taught to look for both sides of the argument (although I agree not all learn that) has improved things and there is some talk about pushing back more of this into the schools.

Certainly, my GCs have learned to write in a questioning, researched way (they are 9 and 11) and my friends GCs seem to be doing the same. I would say the same about my older GCs who have recently finished University (21 & 22). I see this from earlier decades but that could be age and being very busy I suppose.

The euphoria I see on here when one side of a debate feels they have beaten-up the other and when the "Leader" makes a speech worries me much more.

Well I tried to watch the speech. I wanted to be inspired but really even Boris's grasp of history has to be questioned. There he is celebrating the 1707 Union apparently ignoring the 1715 and 1745 rebellion. All I can say is he'd better be praying history doesn't repeat itself because this time it might be the Scots who win out. Then he started on about Free Trade perhaps unaware that we have just left the largest freetrade area in the world and are currently touting for trade with anyone on any terms. Maybe it is all in the way he says it because what he is saying is tosh! I gave up after 5 mins. I am not inspired!

The education system does not foster a questioning attitude or a lively mind.