#Brexit are you a true democrat ? (democracy can only work with "losers consent")

Our history is full of heroic battles to establish our much vaunted and admired democratic system. Our nation has been seen as a bulwark in support of a democratic system that has been taken as an example of enlightened government. Everyone thought the democratic system was so embedded in our society in would never be undermined.

Think again. The UK is on the brink. Our system is threatened by duplicitous unscrupulous people.

I am going to try to really get back to basics to explain.

First our system as it stands :-

• Everyone 18 and over has a vote. Every vote is worth the same - universal suffrage.
• Every 5 years approx 650 MP's (Members of Parliament) are elected by the people to represent them in Parliament.
• MP's stand on a manifesto which most often is a Party manifesto.
• The Party that can command a majority in Parliament (House of Commons) (has the most elected MP's) forms the Government and the leader that party acts as the Prime Minister.
• Under our system "the people" delegate to their constituent MP to look after their best interests inaccordance with the manifesto pledges made, but also utilising the MP's experience and conscience. This principle is often referred to as "representative democracy". Some MP's emphasise they are representing the best interests of their whole community not just the people that voted for them.
• In this period Parliament is the supreme power - sovereign.
• At the end of the 5 year Parliament (or sometimes before) Parliament is dissolved - there is a General Election when a new Parliament is elected.

This is our day to day representative Parliamentary system - Parliament is sovereign until the General Election - when the people are sovereign again - until a new Parliament is formed. 

However now and again within a Parliament - Parliament votes to give power back to the people through a REFERENDUM. Referendums are rare in the UK. They are used to determine what the people want in respect of a fundamental question - usually a binary one.

The Brexit referendum was one such - should the UK remain a member of the EU - yes or no. As we all know the people voted No.

Now this is where the trouble started.

What should have happened?

What should have happened is everyone acknowledged the referendum result and allowed it to be implemented. That is the simple truth - the democratic imperative.That is how democracy works. The losers should have given their consent for the decision of the people to be implemented even though it was not what they wanted.

What has actually happened. Many losers did not accept the result and have worked either directly or indirectly (they state they accept the referendum result) to undermine it ever since. Many MP's have simply been motivated by political gain.

Here are some of the things that have happened AFTER the result (not before) :

• Some MP's claim the result of the referendum was advisory only and that Parliament is sovereign. It is for Parliament to decide what actually happens. Technically they are correct but that was NEVER stated during the referendum. On the contrary everyone went into the referendum believing the referendum result would be sovereign and that it would be implemented.
• MP's and their supporters who didn't want to leave started to claim the referendum never stated how we should leave - that Brexit meant different things to different people - and therefore they could agitate for a nominal Brexit - a BRINO - Brexit in name only. The objective reality was it was clearly stated (and accepted) in the referendum debate prior to the actual vote that a vote to leave meant to take back full control of our laws, money and borders and to be able to trade freely on our own terms with the rest of the world. Anyone disputing this is being duplicitous. 
• Remainers started to claim the people who voted leave had been duped in the referendum debate or worse didn't know what they were voted for. They claimed false claims had been made by leave supporters and that leave supporting groups had broken spending rules. This enabled them to justify to themselves that they could seek to overturn the referendum result. The objective reality. Remain ran "project fear". Remain vastly out spent Leave ( the Gov't alone spent £10m on a remain leaflet.). It is also a very slippery slope for democracy when people start claiming they know better than their fellow electors or their fellow electors were in effect not clever enough to exercise their vote properly. 
• Remain MP's started to argue while they respected the referendum result they would not implement it if it meant their electors would be economically worse off. They started to rerun the referendum arguments. Objective reality 1) some were cynically using this argument to prevent Brexit actually happening 2) it is not for them to say Brexit was only about economic wealth. It was clearly argued in the referendum debate that there were economic risks to leaving. Clearly many voted to take back control - to regain our self determination - our freedom - and that any economic downturn was a price they were prepared to pay.
• The Labour Party (because their supporters were half leave half remain) decided to argue it was possible to respect the referendum result but remain within a customs union with the EU. This is duplicitous and results in a BRINO (Brexit in name only) ie we nominally leave but do not repatriate our self determination or be able to trade freely with the rest of the world on our own terms. It means they have not respected the leave decision in a meaningful way.
• Remainers started to argue that the Government should take into account the views of the 48% who voted remain not just the 52% who voted leave. This is nonsense. It was a binary question - leave or stay. Half leave is the worst of all worlds. An analogy. The train track runs north to south. You can catch a train in either direction but you cannot go in two directions at once. A compromise would be to go up a siding - which suits no one. The whole point of the Brexit Referendum was to settle a binary question - in or out. Everyone understood that at the time of the referendum.
• At an early stage the May led government rightly stated "no deal" is better than a bad deal. This acknowledged the UK was in a negotiation with the EU and the EU quite naturally and understandably would want to negotiate a deal most favourable to them. As in any negotiation the other side must believe you would be prepared to walk away otherwise they have no incentive to compromise. This is basic and obvious. Unbelievably the Letwin Benn bill - the Surrender Bill as Boris Johnson rightly refers to it prevents us leaving without a deal! - so what is the incentive for the EU to give us a fair deal? There isn't. They are hoping they can drag out the process to prevent us leaving.
• What should have happened from the outset - the democratic thing to do - would have been for all politicians to get behind the Government in a united front to get the best possible deal from the EU. What some have actually done is form a 5th column - they have conspired with the EU against the interests of the UK. Their hope is they can prevent the UK leaving. They have encouraged the EU not to make concessions and argued delay will give them more chance of overturning the leave decision. There is no other word for it - they are TRAITORS.
• Remainers talk about a "Tory Brexit". Brexit was not a Tory construct. What the Tory ERG support is the proper Brexit the people voted for. Everyone else are letting the public and our democracy down.
• Remainers have called for a second referendum - cynically referred to as if the people are stupid as a "peoples vote" or a confirmatory ballot! Of course they want remain as an option. They claim this will settle the issue - best of 3? The Liberal Democrats say they will never accept leave. We all know their objective is to stop Brexit.
• Throughout our remainer parliament has done everything it can to delay and hinder the proper implementation of the Brexit Referendum leave decision. They believe the longer they can drag it out the greater the chance it will not happen.
• Boris Johnson has now PM -  determined to leave - to deliver the democratic imperative. Remainers rattled -  are now playing dirty politics and they will do or say just about anything to try to undermine him. The public are not stupid. They can see what is happening.

So this is where we are in the UK. Remainers are battling to keep us in the EU. It seems there is no level to which they will not stoop.

The cost of all this is likely to be our democratic system - the thin thread that holds our diverse society together. It amazes me that remainers think they can overthrow Brexit - and that Leavers - the people that won the referendum will just stand by and let it happen - and thereafter our democracy will revert to being intact. That will not happen.

If we do not leave - if the democratic imperative is not upheld things are going to get very nasty in the UK - and we will never again be able to look the world in the eye and seriously advocate our democratic system - because we would have trashed it. Remainers should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. The damage they are doing to our society is truly unforgiveable.

#Benidorm how it was for the fam

We are just back from the renowned - maybe infamous holiday resort of Benidorm - Spain. We? Myself and my daughter and 3 sons.

Here is a banal description of Benidorm - taken from the Benidorm Tourist Board :

Benidorm is a leisure and holiday town located on the southern Spain, 41 km. (25 miles) from Alicante on the Costa Blanca coast. Benidorm is one of the most popular choice of millions of holidaymakers every year in Spain and Europe. It is one of the world's largest and vibrant resorts. And it continues to be the ultimate holiday destination as there are lots of things to do in Benidorm for the holidaymakers. “Benidorm, land of light and fun. I want people to know that if I ever get lost, they should look for me in Benidorm”. Pablo González. Benidorm is beaches; Levante, Poniente and Mal Pas with all the services provided by the city that lies behind them. It only occurs somewhere like Río de Janeiro, Miami Beach or Mar del Plata, but with the attraction of Las Vegas.

Here is a more informative description taken from Wiki :

Benidorm is popular with tourists from the UK, Ireland, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. Benidorm's initial growth in popularity can be attributed to the package holiday explosion, and continues year round, due to the night-life based around the central concentration of bars and clubs. The large number of free cabaret acts that start around 21:00 and continue into the early hours sets Benidorm apart from other similar cities.

The author and Guardian journalist Giles Tremlett identified the city as the birthplace of package tourism in the book Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through a Country's Hidden Past and remarked that culturally the city contradicted conservative notions of National Catholicism that General Franco had espoused.The accessibility of Benidorm to a wider social strata made the town into an ever so easy target for highbrow sarcasm, as by Jani Allan in the Sunday Times in 1990: "These days you just have to look at the numbers of wide-bodied jets bearing wide-bodied holidaymakers to Benidorm to realise that package holidays and airborne cattle trucks make fun in the sun accessible to everyone." 

In the 1980s Benidorm developed a reputation for British drunken lager louts and violent binge drinking. This did not happen all year round but mainly in the summer months of July and August. During the 1980s families were put off visiting the city. However today the problem of drunkenness and lager louts has largely gone and Benidorm has mellowed. Now there is a very good police presence in the town which has greatly improved safety and provided for a good atmosphere. Nightlife is very popular and mainly involves cabaret acts and tapas bars.

The town is now very popular with families. Also, more and more elderly people from Northern Europe decide to stay there during the winter. This made 'Benidorm' into something of a synonym for elderly people in those countries, as can be seen in the Flemish candid camera programme Benidorm Bastards. 

Benidorm has three major beaches: Playa de Levante (Valencian: Platja de Llevant), Playa de Poniente (Valencian: Platja de Ponent) and Playa de Mal Pas (Valencian: Platja del Mal Pas); all of them have had a blue flag since 1987, the maximum quality standard recognised by the European Union. The Gran Hotel Bali, a four-star hotel located in this city since 2002, is a 186-metre-tall building which stood as the tallest skyscraper in Spain for five years, until it was surpassed by the CTBA towers in Madrid and Intempo building, also in Benidorm.

The town is divided into five parts: Poniente (Ponent or 'sun setting') and Levante (Llevant or 'sun rising'), each fronted by a beach of the same name; the old town (also called El Caste l); La Cala situated to the west side of Poniente; and El Rincón de Loix (or El Racó de l'Oix) situated to the east side of Levante. Between the two beaches lies a rocky promontory and the port.

The old city occupies the promontory and the area immediately inland, while most of the hotels occupy the more recently developed sections inland from the two beaches. A few miles from shore is an uninhabited island which provides a dramatic centrepiece to the seascape.

In 1954 Pedro Zaragoza Orts, the then young Mayor of Benidorm, created the Plan General de Ordenación (city building plan) that ensured, via a complex construction formula, every building would have an area of leisure land, guaranteeing a future free of the excesses of cramped construction seen in other areas of Spain. It is the only city in Spain that still adheres to this rigid rule. Most of the streets in the city are named after places such as Avenida de Uruguay, Avenida del Mediterráneo, Calle Pekín, etc. Avenida del Mediterráneo is a wide avenue that crosses Levante and links the old town with Rincón. Avenida Europa crosses Levante at right angles linking the western city limits with the Levante beach. 

Before I give my assessment of Benidorm I will quickly explain why we went - because it is maybe an odd choice for us. I have been to Spain quite a few times and been to the Canaries on many occasions for winter sun - but I have never been on a bargain package holiday to Spain. Quite frankly the Benidorm described above is not really for me. However the fam wanted to take the opportunity to do something different together, something fun and not too expensive - something easy because limited time for us was a factor. One of my sons particularly finds the comedy show "Benidorm" funny - and we had also seen episodes of "Bargain Brits in the Sun" which is based around Benidorm. My son James loves a party. Benidorm was suggested tongue in cheek. We thought why not - lets give it a go. Is it as outrageous as it seems - ha!?

Here is my description/observations based on just a few days holiday (so not claiming to be an expert or that I am even right!) : I am going to use bullet points - forgive me they are likely to be a bit random !

• Benidorm is easy to get to from the UK. Fly into Alicante - but the transfer is a bit of a pain and a cost.
• Benidorm is skyscrapers - and not particularly attractive ones at that - odd looking infact. However they are set apart and avenues are mainly wide - so it is not claustrophobic. Traffic is not an issue.
• The beach front is lovely with a wide promenade behind. It does have something of Rio about it as claimed.
• There are apparently over 2000 bars/restaurants in Benidorm. This competition drives prices down and it is a good value place.
• Surprisingly there is very little touting and any there was was very low key. You do not get hassled in Benidorm as you do in so many places.
• Benidorm is not a noisy place - despite the fact that most bars have music and many live music.
• Benidorm feels safe enough. All big bars have professional door staff and any police presence was low key. I read Benidorm has cleaned up its act - it has.
• We were out of school holidays so very few children around. What surprised us was the absence of thoughtless teenagers. Benidorm appeals to the party goers for sure - it is not a sophisticated place but the age range is late 20's upwards. This changes things. People were friendly - sure there was plenty of booze flowing - but people were there for a good time. There was no sense of aggression whatsoever - which was great.
• Obesity is an international crisis - very evident in Benidorm.
• It seems to be abnormal not to have large and dodgy tatoos!
• There are plenty of "Madges". Mobility scooters are everywhere including tandem ones. They can be hired very cheaply. Many obese people seem to use them because they prefer not to walk. They park up outside the bar and walk in!
• People watching is great in Benidorm. Try not to be too judgemental. You will have some bizarre conversations!
• It seems there is not too much Spanish spoke in Benidorm!
  
• Food in Benidorm seems to be limited in range or is it quality despite the number of cafes and restaurants.
• All bars and entertainment is free. It seems like performers/musicians turn up on a just in time basis - do a slot and then off to the next one.
• Taxis are fine - all metered and fair.
• Bands are party pleasers - something for everyone.
• Inside the big bars there are heavy screens with the louder music within.
• You can't win on the bull riding. The person operating it can increase the speed and bucking to make sure you don't. 
• My tip - get stuck in - embrace Benidorm for what it is - unsophisticated hedonism - and don't be too judgemental until you get home!

So a typical Benidorm day for the Shoulder's :

Breakfast at 8.30.

Chill time in and around the pool.

Maybe a walk to the beach - a beer - a light lunch.

More pool sunbed chill time.

Out at 7.30 - beer beachfront - dinner Old Town - sometimes with a cabaret.

10pm karaoke, live music and dancing in the "Square" (although there is no square as fas as I know - but just a series of streets that might form a square!).

Latest time home 3am +

To sum up. We really enjoyed Benidorm. We had a great fun time. Memorable - but we were drained after 4 nights of excess. Would I go back to Benidorm. I wouldn't say no - but I think we are all suited to a more wholesome sort of holiday! 

Here are a few photos :

Yellow is the Old Town - green on the right is the nightlife area. Blue is quieter.

Western are favourite bar. Live music - non stop dancing - ha!

We spent most of our time in the Levante beach area and Old Town between the two bays.

Poniente beach looking back to Levante beach

Old Town

Our hotel Benidorm Melia

out for the evening. Rich must be the photographer

Pool aerobics to try and repair the damage from the night before

A lunchtime beer

as sophisticated as it gets

the night has progressed

athletes in training!