Lawson speaks out on Europe

[Roger Dyer]

Yesterday, I saw in the paper that Nigel Lawson (former chancellor in Maggie Thatcher's Tory government), has added support to those seeking Britain's withdrawal from the EU. Writing in the 'Times' he expressed the view that the EU had become " a bureaucratic monstrosity" from which Britain should break free. It is thought that his comments will electrify a growing band of Tory M.P.'s who oppose Cameron's vision for continued membership of the EU, albeit with terms more favourable to Britain than has been the case thus far. Lawson claimed that leaving the European union would deliver a timely wake-up call to business leaders of Britain who, till now, have been content in "the warm embrace of the European single market", apparently heedless to the fact that the great export opportunities of the future lay in the developing world, particularly Asia. If credence is to be given to Lawson's view then it might be in the best interests of Britain to alter the emphasis of her trading preferences, sooner rather than later. Nigel certainly thinks so. ......................................... Somewhat naively, perhaps, this set me to wondering........what if Britain were to sever it's ties to the European Union and seek to maximise it's trade ventures in Asia and other parts of the world ? Would such a change in trading policy signal the need for a larger merchant fleet and even kick-start the rebirth of a dormant ship-building industry. Wishful thinking I suppose, but it's a lovely thought isn't it ? I would love to hear your views...............Roger.

[robpage]

Roger , it is my belief that shipbuilding is not dormant it is Dead . The last Dockyard apprentices here ( Portsmouth ) are all over 50 years of age , the skill base has gone . We would have to import all the steel . When you google Earth the docklands , they are housing developments . Nice thought , but the bulldozers have done their worst

[George]

A very nice thought Roger, but it just won't happen. As Rob has stated all our shipyards are now vertualy housing estates. Our skill base has now more or less gone. and as far as seaman go we could no longer man the QM2. Why even the two new aircraft carriers are being built in sections and towed alseware for assembly, this to me indicates Portsmouth Dockyard can no longer handle large ship building anymore. Mined Roger an old man is entitled to dream
George
in Southampton

[Ivan Cloherty]

such a change in trading policy signal the need for a larger merchant fleet and even kick-start the rebirth of a dormant ship-building industry. Wishful thinking I suppose, but it's a lovely thought isn't it ? I would love to hear your views...............Roger.

Unfortunately Roger it would not be the traditional shipping nations that would reap the benefit of increased trade. The Chinese have a five to seven year plan to introduce 17,000, yes! you read it right, 17,000 new cargo vessels onto the world's oceans, a lot of these will be centred around the Pacific Rim but also what they call their aging fleet (10 to 15 years old) will also be replaced with 'green' vessels. The Western Nations have only themselves to blame by exporting their expertise and technical know-how to take advantage of the then cheap labour. Did they think that the Chinese would not disect anything that was supplied to outfit these ships so that they could then build them locally without importing the necessary components. I learnt very early on in my business not to deal with the Chinese, when selling them something they were not content with an instruction manual and General Arrangement Plan, they wanted technical drawings, that's when negotiations ceased on my part, I wasn't going to make it easy for them to ruin my business. Alas a lot of clever Western people underestimated the Chinese, thinking that they would remain an 'Old Style' communist system, but give a man a taste of what money can buy and principles seem to evaporate, the Chinese were always great innovators and they flourished once the chains had been released and their brains were allowed to work again.

[Roger Dyer]

Thank you, lads, for your prompt and informative comments even though your brutal honesty has shattered my dreams of a resurgent Britannia in all her former maritime glory. In truth, I'm not surprised by your response. However, had hoped respondents might also proffer their views on the desirability of Britain's continued attachment to such an all-consuming, life-changing organisation. An organisation that is currently struggling to maintain credibility amongst those of it's member countries who share a common currency, (whilst the rest of the world looks on in disbelief). As Nigel tells it, significant changes to world trade have given Asia a much greater prominence which, for Britain, might well question the relevance of her continued membership of the EU. He may well be right, who can say ? We certainly live in interesting times don't we?..............Roger

[Ivan Cloherty]

Roger even the current Admiral of the Fleet and the ex Admiral in charge of the Falklands expedition are finding it impossible to persuade the Governments of all shades that it is in this country's interests to have a strong Royal Navy and a British flagged Merchant Navy with cargo carrying capabilities and not just British flagged passenger ships, Alas the Government assume that passenger ships are the Merchant Navy and seem to have no idea what carries the goods that affect their everyday lives. They think, like them, we all live on caviar and salmon 'flown' in from Russia and Canada

[Jim Brady]

What a surprise to have a person of Nigel Lawsons status to speak out against Europe.Maybe he has realised that it is a very expensive club to belong to.Maybe Rogers dream could come true of Great Britain becoming great again and starting our industries such as ship building back up again.We could well subsidise them as we would not be paying Europe the £54 million a day which we are at present.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[j.sabourn]

Roger, if a person like Lawson has made such a statement he must have gone into most factors such as some of the pessimistic and quite correct answers re lack of skills and facilities now existing in the uk. However he must know that his old standing in the political world it would be against his best interests to spout a load of too obvious rubbish. Therefore it is in at least his mind quite feasible to come out of the EU. These are the thoughts of many people, its a great pity that Britain was taken into in the first place. To get a politician or a party to admit to a mistake is nigh on impossible they would rather carry on putting the country into further distress. We have an obvious example of this in our present leader here in Australia. Regards John Sabourn

[John Pruden]

were do we get our steel from were do we get our shipbuilding from not from countries in the eu like we thought when we went into the trough club. countries are waking up to the cost of the eu once one drops out it will be a house of cards? lads if you go to a pub and the ale is to dear you stay out of it? we are carrying to many that expect to much from us we were conned from day one of the common market the goal posts are in another county now they have moved that much are we that soft we put up with this billions waisted every week?just my view jp

[Jim Brady]

John there are some in the EU banging the drum for Turkey to become a member,what have they got to offer????Another 80 million to help out and another flood into the UK by foreign nationals.Get out now before it gets worse than what it is.
Regards.
Jim.B.