Beyond Brexit, Corbyn and Johnson: Stoke's politics of hope | Anywhere but Westminster

In the 2016 referendum, John Harris and John Domokos watched the Staffordshire city vote heavily to leave the EU.
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Since then, some remainers say they have grown tired of hearing vox pops from leave areas such as Stoke. But away from the election's noise and the political polarisation in the city, which has made one local MP's life incredibly difficult, there are trailblazing efforts to turn Stoke around, which we can all learn from
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#AnywhereButWestminster #Stoke #StokeOnTrent #Brexit #Politics #UK

[@IAMSHADZ]

Lived there for 4/5 years. They have more issues than brexit.

[@Salmonandfriends]

what sort of issues?

[@mrbearbear83]

Bigger issues. Poverty, wealth gap, class system, no investment, poor education

[@peteradaniel]

The problem I have with Vox pop is that their’s never a resolution. “It’s not about Boris or Jezza”: it’s exactly about Boris or Jezza. The Tories blamed the recession on labour incompetence and used it as an excuse to cut funding over the last ten years. This lack of money has exacerbated social tensions which they’ve exploited in a referendum on completely spurious grounds. Another 5 years of Tories means another 5 years of manufactured instability, class conflict and demonisation of the poor. That’s my problem with this Vox pop, it’s inconclusive. It amplifies the bewildered, muddled voice of the public, but never produces any clarity.

[@margaretgordon7481]

Agreed 100%...... 👍🏻

[@dreamer2260]

Exactly, it's infuriating. It's the same on programmes like Question Time; most of the public's views are just general frustrations/anxieties/angry insults, but there tends to be nothing constructive, and you're right it's the same with these.

[@forza223bowe5]

Problem is put a labour government in, and it will be back to square one once the Tories are voted in. They will borrow and overspend like there is no tomorrow

[@jonb12321]

Is there ever going to be a 'resolution' and 'clarity', while we remain complex and individual human beings; especially in these transformative times.

[@peteradaniel]

@@jbagger331 TBH i don't know what Londoners have been calling us for the last three years. I come from just outside of Manchester and I'm just expressing how things feel from where I am.

[@theGuardian]

The latest episode of Anywhere but Westminster, which is about Southend's homeless voter registration drive, is available here ► kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHWUlYtqZ9h1kKM

[@SimianEncounter]

'the economy is going to tank, we'll lose 8% of GDP over 10 years' 'it'll come back' How encouraging.

[@673497]

I really can't with people like her.

[@selim-cel]

It's didn't come back fast enough for the employees of Dudson pottery.

[@bpdlr]

Such a selfish attitude. If it tanks for ten years, how many more years for it to "come back"? A great future for a young person leaving school/university!

[@jake4101]

Stoke is still recovering from the 1st Industrial Revolution ma'am.

[@mrde0mrsai]

She’s throwing a tantrum at someone or some force she could not articulate. The only voice she could utter is that she wanted out.

[@BuddhistJihad]

This series is one of the best political things I've seen in a long time. Top work lads

[@Dessydd]

And all these moments will be lost, in time. Like tears in rain

[@DCI-Frank-Burnside]

Someday this...Brexit...will end.

[@andrewtowell6074]

@Cowardly Custard You sound hopefully, is it so you can tell people you were right? Have you heard of speculate to accumulate?

[@KingdomEnfilade]

MP walks into Turkey factory. 'What you voting for?' 'Christmas.' 'And you?' 'Christmas.' Narrator: 'all these turkeys have been eaten.'

[@domzbu]

Yeah because you can only trade with the eu if you’re in it.... duh.... wrong

[@sarutochigcp937]

@@domzbu yeah, because tariffs don't cost anyone anything......duh

[@knockitoffhudson3470]

I thought big businesses were stealing all my money, I'm sure they can afford the tariffs.

[@hughslooskant4420]

@@knockitoffhudson3470 what about small-medium size business? What if trading with Europe becomes greater and many industries depart? Give me one reason for leaving and I'll consider it

[@knockitoffhudson3470]

@@hughslooskant4420 name a small business that trades internationally.

[@public.public]

40 plus years of neoliberal lead parties and government... what could possibly go wrong? The establishment is by now regretting not introducing proportional representation 20 years ago. Did the middle class really think their piss on the poor policy would last forever without a reaction of some kind? The continual 'choice' of one neoliberal lead governemnt or another neoliberal lead governemnt or another neoliberal lead governemnt cornered a lot of people into ever increasing poverty. And like ANY cornered animal people lashed out... with brexit. Even though it will only crash the pound, as it was funded to do, and drive poverty even deeper and wider spread and leave OUR UK open to speculators and asset strippers from all over the world.

[@timhunt2137]

Public Public the right are the neo liberal it just started new dark age for twenty years,

[@Bacon4Rashers]

Freedom of movement from the EU has pissed on our poorest by driving down wages and making our poorest unemployable.

[@andrewtowell6074]

Did your vote leave?

[@AtheistEve]

Frank Warren Capital can move; doesn’t matter where your workers are.

[@anthonykey9706]

@@Bacon4Rashers no it hasn't your barking up the wrong tree

[@agt155]

500 Pottery factories closed since we joined the EU, then the last one closes and the Guardian suggests leaving the EU is the problem.

[@andrewtowell6074]

Can't make it up can you m8

[@sean748]

Wowee it's almost like the decline in manufacturing has more to do with austerity and our economic system than whether or not we are in the EU...

[@agt155]

@@sean748 Imagine thinking austerity isn't an EU policy, and that our economic system isn't one they created.

[@sean748]

@@agt155 The EU had literally nothing to do with the Tories imposing austerity.

[@johnthorburn1913]

The EU didn’t cause austerity.

[@barbra7562]

shaun king How?

[@public.public]

@shaun king How did the EU cause austerity? Did it cause it the same way it caused your catastrophic constipation?

[@forza223bowe5]

David Cameron comes to mind

[@stephensodyssey7423]

The EU doesnt allow nations to make suitable trade deals : one size fits all trade during a crash = widespread austerity

[@barbra7562]

Forza223 Bowe The EU didn’t inflict austerity. The EU doesn’t set domestic policy. Central government led by Cameron supported by the lib dems did. It was nasty Tory ideology sold as necessity. “We’re all in together” only we weren’t! Just like Brexit, the electorate persistently voted against their best interests again in 2015. The leave vote was mostly a protest vote and once again those that can lest afford it will suffer. The decline in areas such as Stoke didn’t start with Cameron though. It started with Thatcher in the 80’s.

[@littletraveller5428]

Brexit closed that factory even though it hasn’t happened yet.

[@c.j.griffin]

Brexit isn't a single event. It's a process. It will only continue 'happening'.

[@bluntycunty6952]

Why u bothered? Still living off mummy .soy boy

[@amandamcmartin3284]

@Tom Brice very intelligent reply. 🚀

[@amandamcmartin3284]

@Tom Brice You're more than welcome hen !!

[@danieloliver4558]

😂 yes exactly

[@karlanthony6715]

I grew up in Stoke and it has always returned Labour MPs. The film highlighted that the Labour party wants to remain but Labour voters, voted to leave. The question raised is do MPs represent their constituents or their political party's?

[@meanpower1]

... majority of Constituents voted to leave. And the MP was trying to find a conciliatory approach. The problem is the split with labour is about 2/3rds remain 1/3 leave. Do you have a single party vision or let MPs vote in line with their constituents? I don't think that's a question we can answer.

[@Martyntd5]

@@meanpower1 I think the real question is who is in charge? We'll let you know on the 12th. Regards, The Public.

[@meanpower1]

@@Martyntd5 ... Erm Okay. I think you're alluding something unrelated.

[@Martyntd5]

@@meanpower1 No I'm not. I'm alluding to this comment: ///Do you have a single party vision or let MPs vote in line with their constituents? /// The concept of 'not letting' MP's vote in line with their constituents, means there is a real confusion where you think the power lies and who is in charge. MP's were ordered to remove the UK from the EU by the plebiscite. It is an order. It is not up for debate and any of our representatives who think it is, will answer to their constituents at the ballot box on the 12th.

[@meanpower1]

@@Martyntd5 it's an instruction for the Government to initiate leaving the EU not parliament. Democracy doesn't work if the executive can dictate the debate and without scrutiny.

[@DCI-Frank-Burnside]

Political vox-pops are very optimistic in a way cardiac vox-pops aren't. No one conducting cardiac vox-pops expects Pete the electrician from Stoke on Trent to have more insight into cardiac surgery than a cardiac surgeon.

[@ireneuszpyc6684]

the trouble with Pete the electrician, from Stoke on Trent, is that he really believes that Nigel Farage & Fox News give him all the data he needs to see the big picture & make big decisions

[@ireneuszpyc6684]

@RoadKillzine all you can do is walk around certain neighbourhoods? and now you think you outsmarted everyone in Brussels? you must be Pete, the electrician

[@MrJason005]

2:18 What brilliant editing

[@simoneaves9941]

MrJason005 Tarkovskian

[@charles-vq6sd]

the blind leading the blind.

[@Iazzaboyce]

So disrespectful of disabled people. Find a less offensive analogy and learn to be grateful that you have your sight.

[@Rb39-ej5hh]

@Suck MyToe "So the nhs is going to stop tending to white people and men in england in the next couple years one nhs hospital as just started doing it" I hope this is just a joke that I don't understand.

[@charles-vq6sd]

@pete2778 well said Pete.

[@charles-vq6sd]

@K L well said KL

[@spritecut]

I really enjoy these conversational gonzo journalism pieces, I wouldn’t really describe the as Vox pops.

[@jake4101]

Stoke hasn't bounced back from the 1st Industrial Revolution yet.

[@loveulez]

Stoke is dragging it's knuckles around gibbering uncertainly about immigration and lack of industry, hungover, depressed, uneducated, racist, ugly, surplus, it is like most of England

[@alexcoleman589]

Adam That’s really unfair and totally wrong.

[@andrewtowell6074]

@@loveulez... the low skilled Labour market was flooded in 2004 when the A8 ascended and only UK, Ireland and Sweden let their citizens enter our countries freely... give me your thoughts on the affect this had on low skilled workers here? Let me heard your thoughts on why a points based immigration system is bad for low skilled workers? Thank you

[@loveulez]

@@andrewtowell6074 One thing I've learned after nearly 20 years of daily internet chatter across all borders is that the more often someone Capitalises something randomly and wrongly in s sentence the more batshit crazy they are, Might sound strange but you look and see. Reality is all your silly nonsense about low skills and immigration in but a spec of confused dust in the face go globalised wealth distribution. Woods>Trees.

[@loveulez]

@@andrewtowell6074 I should say - redistribution. Basically about a 5th of the wealth stolen over centuries by Western empire bandit capitalism, slavery and straight up murderous theft, is going back to where it was taken from. Rougly. It's gone back to China, India, Asia generally, some even to Africa. The 'low skilled' workplace market is infact globalised. If it is protected by nationalist policies like you imagine - a fantasy btw - it is in other Euro states, that is certainly to the detriment of the wider economy. It is not protected. Unskilled Labour is provided where it is cheapest this is the capitalism of Thatcher and Reagan all you see is a hopeless drunken gammon protest movement. You've misunderstood the factors. Too late.

[@darrenmcdermott6443]

well done John, love these

[@MetalheadBen88]

I'm a very atypical person to be interested in anything the guardian makes (and I know the guardian account posted this but I consider it your material rather than theirs :) ), but it makes me sad to see you're considering yourself among the silly vox pops nonsense. Despite the fact I really am not a fan of the guardian's stuff, I think your journalism has been extremely fascinating in many ways, for readers/watchers/listeners who may be anywhere in the political spectrum. I have watched your material for a long time, and sincerely hope you continue to practise journalism. Have a great weekend~

[@DaylightM]

this is camerons big society .......

[@batintheattic7293]

Sort of - but not quite. He was a tw*t but, I think, the concept of 'big society' was generally positive and constructive. It was supposed to make our communities happier and safer. The 'big society' of the community kitchen is about not starving. It's desperation level stuff. The real 'big society' idea never really experienced a naissance because society deemed to be some sort of Marxist indentured slavery. We should be endeavoring to be on an upward slope to sunnier climes - now we are just submitting to let other people keep us alive.

[@andrewtowell6074]

@Aphrodite's Child at the end of the day, you borrow and let your kids pay it back or you bite the bullet now and don't spend what we can't afford.... or you campaign for higher taxes for all to pay for it... It's really not rocket science!

[@Maxime_K-G]

8:16 I agree that locals often know best people how to fix their own communities. But when we're super dependent on bad government planning it always fails regardless.

[@tomd5678]

Turkeys = early Christmas

[@politicalphilosophy-thegre3894]

UK GDP (national income) in 2020 is a projected £2.2trillion. That means as a society, we will have £2.2trillion to spend on public services, healthcare, education etc. Of that we spend only £4billion on the BBC, only £12billion on policing, and only £4billion on prisons etc. *Yet we are about to blow over £100billion just on HighSpeed 2!*

[@saynotop2w]

68% of Scottsland voted remain, and so did the 55 of NI. This is not Brexit, it's Englandexit.

[@BallsTheDog]

Wales also voted Brexit

[@andrewtowell6074]

You can't accept the result of a democratic majority? Your not a democrat...

[@saynotop2w]

@@andrewtowell6074 I'm a Yank, it doesn't matter whether or not I accept it. I'm making an observation.

[@Chris-oz9qx]

Manhwa Fan a Yank? Your politics are the moral high ground huh?

[@Badhat66]

Manhwa Fan Those figs you quote are in correct the snp being the snp put the 20 percent of undecided voters on the remain fig so in fact it was 48 percent remain in Scotland ,

[@tristanthescientist]

Keep doing what you're doing John and John! Quality stuff.

[@wbafc1231]

I love this .."all the forecasts say the economy is going to tank"....forecasted by the same people who told us that the economy was in great shape before the last big financial meltdown.

[@minimead368]

Aidan Lille do you know how the financial crash happened and what its causes were? And a forecast is a prediction of the future using past data to give an idea of the must likely outcome, it’s not a guarantee. It’s a suggestion of that path or direction of travel. When a weather forecast says it’s going to rain it doesn’t mean it will 100% rain but the conditions will be grey miserable and with a high probability that it will rain. Oh and these forecasts are by our own government. Not the same institutions like the imf although their projects back up what the our government is suggesting is the likely outcome of brexit.

[@TheDominicProject]

Site your economists Aidan. I will if you ask. Many predicted the crash to be honest, we were due one. And it's funny because there's literally like that one Tory economist who says we'll be fine...even though his findings could be debunked by a child.

[@thearsenalmisfit2414]

The financial meltdown had very little to do with your economy. It was the USA that caused it with thier unethical banking practices. The USA by the way is what most you are hoping will save you. If you only knew what they are like. It took Canada 10 years to recover from signing the Noth American Free Trade Agreement. Our unemployment rate nearly doubled. It was bloody awful.

[@thehappywanderer1082]

I like the change in emphasis from anger and disillusionment to hope and love. This is how Westminster will get back on track. More please.

[@adscri]

So why did the pottery factory close? What is in store for the supplier of parts for Costa? How does the MP function as a remainer in a leave constituency? This episode is extremely vacuous.

[@arkenmint9030]

Is there anyway to get just John Harris content on YT without all the other guardian output?

[@c.j.griffin]

Anger is an energy...

[@ThepPixel]

Okay Johnny

[@thearsenalmisfit2414]

That factor closed because the owners realised that they would not be able to be competitive and would be sinking money into a money losing venture so the decided to keep their money and close the factory. My cousin had the samething happen to him. His company was going to lose 3 big contracts because they are clising or move to Europe. So his company is closing and he was in the first group to be laid off. When it's all done that is 200 people that eill have list thier jobs. My cousine by ghe way list thier house as the still had 2 years of payments left to pay.

[@Daniel.Walker]

Effing brilliant. Complexity not avoided here. Love it.

[@StephenTovey1960]

one of your best video's yet...no more politics just local action linked Nationally...no more leaders...just facilitators...

[@hollyshirras2783]

You guys should visit Cumbria. It would be interesting to see where "Workington man" came from and what is actually driving people in the area. Particularly farmers seem to have interesting views at the moment (Conservative loyalty vs Brexit vs Corbyn).

[@andrewtowell6074]

Most farmers voted remain, for the subsidies

[@TheDominicProject]

@@andrewtowell6074 soz Andy weirdly famers and fisherman had a large swathe of Leave support, shooting themselves in the foot ey. To be fair many in that industry were left dismayed at their fellow tradesmen, and now maybe the penny is beginning to drop. Heads or tails

[@thisiscrazy4122]

3:42 this is my face ... watching this.

[@jibcot8541]

It makes me sad how John seems to have lost a lot of enthusiasm for covering Brexit since 3 years ago, but haven't we all! This country is going to be so screwed up and divided over this for decades, I don't feel like it's my country anymore. I wouldn't be surprised if there was mass demonstrations like in Hong Kong if it all goes wrong.

[@absurdpanda]

It's 10 times worse in Hong Kong than Brexit. I live in London now and I lost hope of ever going back. To me it's kind of silly the reasons why Brexit happens having listened to all the opinions of the Brexiteers.

[@jaguppal187]

@Alice Rabbit shut it u muppet

[@mikele-baigue8155]

Mass demonstrations by knuckle draggers who don't know what they voted for.

[@absurdpanda]

@@mikele-baigue8155 I'll accept immigration to be a legitimate reason for Brexit. But for the people who says Turkey is joining EU, the EU membership fee is high or the free trade deals after Brexit, they should do some more homework.

[@mikele-baigue8155]

@@absurdpanda I can't see Turkey ever becoming a member of the EU Kit. I think the tensions on the border are too high and there is too much instability. I can't really accept immigration as a legitimate reason by Leave voters as there is often a great deal of confusion from Brextremists on where the immigrants come from, how many, what role they play in society. They don't seem to know what to be angry about. Many immigrants are here from outside the EU. Is it free trade within the EU they do not like? It is different with each Leave voter. And like many, they pick and choose what suits their beliefs.

[@bishboshs]

Wow nice colour grading...

[@kennyloggins961]

Such hate and division. Treat others as you would want to be treated. Love thy neighbour as thy self. What a sad day for England Friday the 13th.

[@everready2903]

4:20 CORRECTION: She is NOT Pro Brexit.

[@danlewis92]

On 22 Oct 2019: Ruth Smeeth voted in favour of proposed arrangements for the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union including a default position of retaining European Union law during, and beyond, an implementation period ending on 31 December 2020. She voted for the deal, how does that not make her pro-Brexit?

[@ddlcp]

@@danlewis92 No deal = brexit, thought that was obvious

[@johnbone2990]

Jonny G, meant without a deal.

[@timhunt2137]

John Bone in or out. There will have to be a deal and it will not be one side and all will be some what poor and the Sharks will move in well done.

[@fossildave123]

I would like to see you come to hartlepool and middlesbrough and get the townspeople's view from here, both being labour safe seats for decades, but from what i've heard the labour party are worried they may lose their seats and i'd like to see whats changing people's opinions.

[@jonb12321]

Hope they do stop supporting Labour, which hasn't liked provincial working Brits for many decades.

[@margaretgordon7481]

@@jonb12321 seriously dont know how people arrive at your conclusion. Well, actually I do, if you accept the whole terrorist sympathiser, immigrant loving (over native Brits) economy wrecker lines trotted out by hard right media outlets

[@nasimahmed8343]

@@jonb12321 and the tories have? haaa

[@jonb12321]

I'm an individual, not a representative or victim of 'hard right media'; and generally find it's not worth engaging in online debate unless it's on that basis.

[@jonb12321]

@@nasimahmed8343 Not really.

[@AutoAlligator]

The lack of respect for democracy is staggering.

[@CaptainSwitzerland]

You didn't speak to me guys!

[@davidsurrey4778]

What a bunch of fruit loops.

[@eirehere3026]

Dudson pottery wanted out.... And in a way they got it.

[@Dear_Mr._Isaiah_Deringer]

Savage

[@noahhughes2501]

1:41 isn't this England? Why is there a Scottish Power generator?

[@kangaroo4847]

Maybe because Scotland is part of the same union England is in

[@kaze987]

"this year that pottery factory closed with a loss of about 400 jobs..." Enjoy your Brexit!!!! Unbelievable that the staff voted out and got shut out as a result.

[@RobertLogan]

Anyone wonder why Scotland is appalled at the 'choice' made and forced on it by England? People voted to leave the EU because Westminster doesn't work. We have a party in Scotland that cares - the SNP - something that cant evolve in England because it only has FPTP, and does not have its own parliament.

[@person.X.]

The picture in Scotland is complicated too. My best mate is Scottish, lives up in Aberdeen, is fanatically SNP and a leave voter.

[@jorgejohnson451]

So the hope lies in communities coming together. Too bad that can’t be done on an international scale. Ba-Ha-Ha! Remain, you blimey fools.

[@carcass09]

...?

[@designdigitalarchitecturel6417]

Give it a rest

[@everready2903]

What the hell is a vox pop??

[@germansnowman]

Death Wish Vox populi is Latin for voice of the people.

[@everready2903]

@@germansnowman Oh ok thanks! I thought it was a music show lol

[@TheDominicProject]

yo Death wish, in THIS context vox pop is just media short hand for on the street off the cuff interviews. so the latin definition is relevant but not necessarily helpful in the context of this video

[@TheDominicProject]

@Ella Akehurst also Ella Pammens was scared about the rise of the right like you.

[@galleon1968]

Business open and close all the time.

[@Badhat66]

andy smith Spot on lazy poorly run company's hide behind a smoke screen blaming Brexit at every opportunity

[@Patrick-jj5nh]

"how could it be worse" you aint seen nuthin yet luv

[@VCanisMajorisY]

That's right move to Greece to see the future.

[@kangaroo4847]

@@VCanisMajorisY Greece is in the EU though

[@BNoble86]

What was that about toothpaste?

[@davidsully2547]

Checking if his colleague had any tooth paste.

[@shaun1293]

Over half of labour’s constituencies voted leave (over 5 million voters), and two thirds of conservative constituencies. London is in a bubble. They do not speak for the United Kingdom.

[@armadspengler2717]

There is no United Kingdom in this question. Unless only English votes count.

[@FunnyTummyART]

Majority of scotland and n.ireland voted remain

[@shaun1293]

ArmAd Spengler the Welsh also voted leave

[@armadspengler2717]

@@shaun1293 O.K. my bad. So the English (except Londoners) and the Welsh speak for the UK.

[@andrewtowell6074]

@@WalterKhayyam why can't remained a u understand this simple logic?

[@arrg2u2]

Mmm... well firstly thx to all involved, I'm sorry your doubting what you are doing I've found your work intelligent insightful and certainly wouldn't associate it with some of the glib "vox pops" sound bite of our times filler productions. I think it would be quite the loss if you felt you should stop but if this path is making you unhappy and you feel striking out in a new direction would be for the best I can only wish you and your team the very best for you on your new endeavours

[@danieloliver4558]

I love Stoke it’s a slum but a proper town

[@dianabrown1409]

JC4PM

[@landlord5552]

Just deciding on Brexit is important. Entrpeneurs cant really plan investments being in limbo.

[@GimmieTheLoot]

She looks like she has aged 10 years

[@jorgejohnson451]

From the outside looking in, there only seems to be a slight difference between pre-Brexit and now (almost 4 years later). Unemployment in February 2020 was 4.0%. It’s now 4.3%. There was a pandemic at the start of Brexit, so that didn’t help. There was a recovery post-pandemic. The old age question is, “Are you better off now than you were pre-Brexit?” 57%-33% of Brits now wish they had remained. Yet, Tories remain. Hmmm…

[@timothyfreeseha4056]

As they should. If the system is serving everyone but it's citizens, then sensible citizens should conclude that it is irrelevant & move on.

[@chesterdonnelly1212]

Why would British Asians not vote leave? You do know that Asia isn't in the EU don't you?

[@calixtovera3722]

yeah, you`r right, we need to do the new thing that will be our renascence

[@nicholaswoolfenden5254]

The Great Brexit Turkey Shoot. Turning one countryman against another. And violently. People will regret this later in life. The UK is in such a state it was a planned diversion by the government. In a ghastly atmosphere of desperation due to long term austerity. Interestingly appropriate background music. "Sleepwalk" a 50s hit by Santo and Johnny.

[@Jamie_Johnson]

If your memory extends far enough, the government did everything it could to tell people to vote remain. The People voted to Leave. I'm curios to know where you are based Nicholas Woolfenden?

[@Jamie_Johnson]

So, where you are based Nicholas?

[@Jamie_Johnson]

Let me guess

[@Gerardemful]

I give you leave to go.

[@jimsy5530]

Seems Ruth Smeeth only has two dresses.

[@jimsy5530]

@Magnetic Vortex I'm a few sizes smaller than her. Maybe yours are more her size?

[@jimsy5530]

@@TR12365 That's how you clean clothes, isn't it? I do it with my only pair of underoonies.

[@TheFriendoftheFunk]

Anything but Westmnster... you had one job.

[@mark39ful]

This will haunt the remainders in the future wait-and-see

[@meanpower1]

What will?

[@TheGladas]

SB Please SAVE Britain ...

[@karenm7449]

Factories close mainly because of China.

[@Jimmy4video]

And automation

[@michaelmiller867]

This is the end of empire.

[@grantandphil]

The factory has gone, wonder if brexit was to blame...

[@carcass09]

"Not directly. But it can't have helped" (in the words of the Guardian reporter) What didn't help anyone is a Speaker and parliament blocking the carrying out of the will of the people in a democratic referendum for 3.5 yrs.

[@Martyntd5]

In the last 45 years of EU membership, Stoke has lost it's steel industry, it's mining industry and 99% of it's pottery industry. But not to worry, London has done well. Yay for the EU.

[@thygreek8076]

UK is out whether they want it or not. They're gonna be forced to leave the EU.

[@Jamie_Johnson]

Forced?! Haha. We voted for it. And more countries will see the sense in it.....

[@robbiestevens1158]

It'll probably be better to be kicked out at this stage!!

[@forza223bowe5]

We will have to leave the EU, if you like it or not. We voted to do it, and that’s what will happen.

[@forza223bowe5]

Pardeep Parmar British have been a laughing stock in Europe, well before Brexit

[@robbiestevens1158]

I don't know about that. We lead the globe out of the banking crisis in 2008 when other countries stood idle.. We just have a terrible government and an even worse media platform in which they may aswell own. Our MPs need holding accountable for the defamation of the country.

[@andrescasado5975]

EU is a peace project

[@michaelhudson7345]

I was going to comment on the absurdity of most of the statements in this article, but in the end I realised I couldn't find the words that could, perhaps, make such people think more clearly.

[@andrewtowell6074]

So what your saying is you don't have the answer as why Labour let the low skilled Labour market be flooded in 2004? Nor do we mate...

[@michaelhudson7345]

No buddy, I don't have the answer as to why Labour does anything, because their thoughts are not in MY mind. But no, that is not what I was saying.

[@andrewtowell6074]

@@michaelhudson7345 Please enlighten me about the positives low skilled workers got from having the low skilled Labour market flooded, as a result of the EU political ideology of having the free movement of peoples piggy backed onto trade between nations. Tell me why those people who lost work in that flood should have voted to remain, for more of the same? People want the book to stop at politicians we the people directly elect, so they can be held accountable at the ballot box. No more passing the book to the EU, no more blame games. This is just the start of the silent revolution, lots more to come. "Power" has been centralised away from the indevidual, we will devolve "power" back to the UK (from the EU) and from there we will delegate authority away from London back down to regional powers. To long have we let the political class micro manage our affairs from afar, we have been sadly let down and people are going to have to step up to the plate and manage our own affairs. Expect to see free ports/zones on the Tyne and the Tees rivers, we will work to restore these coastal communities left behind in favour of financial services centralised in London and politicians with a globalist ideology in their mind. Expect to see a referendum on the unelected House of Lords as well as the voting system, in the next 10-15 years (3 parliments).

[@Jamie_Johnson]

John provides upper middle class Guardian readers a window into the realities of Real Britain, so they can observe with fascination the normal people (that voted the wrong way) from the comfort of their homes.

[@nicholaswoolfenden5254]

OK. They also ask why people would not move/retrain to where the work is. It happens in other countries. Not always joyously as old habits and identity die hard. You can't put people to work subsidised by the tax payer for long. It engenders generational welfare. It's unrealistic and experimented with in Russia a long time ago.

[@alexcoleman589]

Nicholas Woolfenden Stoke used to generate wealth and export goods. It could have evolved and carried on but it was a political choice to throw it under the bus and focus on banks

[@andrewtowell6074]

They refuse to accept the low skilled Labour market was flooded in 2004... because they were not affected... and your must be racist or xenophobic if you were affected and want a points based immigration system.

[@ashleyfield63]

Ruth Smeeth gets far less harassment than Nigel Farage.

[@CharalamposKoundourakis]

She deserves less and he deserves more.

[@andrewtowell6074]

@@CharalamposKoundourakis People deserve abuse?... let me guess your voting Labour?

[@CharalamposKoundourakis]

@@andrewtowell6074 Not people. Farage specifically.

[@andrewtowell6074]

@@CharalamposKoundourakis Ow so are you one of these "I'm only intolerant of intolerance" lol

[@davidvalter1936]

Could be worse

[@davidvalter1936]

@li d exactly. For example. I Could be in living in the UK. I could be upset with the break up of the United kingdom

[@BallsTheDog]

How hard is it to understand that the British don't like the idea of being told what to do by foreign governments? Many voters don't care if their lives would be better or worse after brexit, it's about principle.

[@BallsTheDog]

@li d explain why they would be hypocrites

[@BallsTheDog]

@li d So what you mean is you have no idea

[@TheQazzow]

@@BallsTheDog It's hypocritical because we used to own a 1/3 or the earth lol

[@andrewtowell6074]

@@TheQazzow We gave it back didn't we? ...Hong kong

[@Chris-oz9qx]

Harry Arthur-worsop you were around during the colonial British empire? Wow, you’re old

[@eglezinkute8240]

Stoke is hell on earth, because people who had nothing to give have issued far too many prospectless generations instead of upskilling with the changing times. Now those many generations of working age have no economy. They exist but have no resources and continue to breed, assuming that once the foreigners are ousted (after the Holy Grail called Brexit happens) they will get all of their benefits back. Pipe dream. A gentle recommendation - don't breed, unless you are wealthy, materially secure and super highly skilled to leverage for multiple streams of income.

[@zuzanazuscinova5209]

Bingo!

[@alee_enn]

Anyone supporting remain, I want to ask you .... in a general election, if the candidate you voted for doesn't get elected, do you spend 3 years demanding a recount or a revote because those that voted for the candidate who got elected "didn't know what they were voting for"? What if the candidate you voted for got elected, and those who voted for someone else, demanded a recount? Do you see how crazy it is to do these remain protests over a referendum that didn't go the way you wanted? That is not democracy, even if you think you're fighting for democracy, you're actually damaging it by not accepting you lost a vote. I'm not asking you to change your mind, I am merely trying to show you how crazy it is to not accept the result of a democratic vote, even if you didn't like the result.

[@carcass09]

Agreed 100%. 2 remainers in my family and I cannot come to terms with how they swallow the Alistair Campbell spin of "they didn't know what they voted for/they were lied to/they voted with their emotions". Appalling politics.

[@meanpower1]

Vote again at the next election.....

[@bobmcdade5217]

Thanks for making these videos, John. It matters that someone is - still - trying to understand the referendum result.

[@Machaivelli]

That labour MP is really tall She can ride me lol 😂😂😂😂

[@spritecut]

Devolution is the new revolution.

[@timhunt2137]

KA FKA they will not let it be with out a fight it not about the eu.

[@davidsully2547]

Watching scenes of last night’s flooding, I bet the ordinary working class people are glad they’re not also having to deal with the fall out of an October 31st no deal Brexit today as well as the floods. Brexiters were warned that a no deal Brexit late in the year could be exacerbated by bad weather - advice from experts that was circulated to all cabinet ministers but the posh Tory boys of Brexit dismissed as “project fear”.

[@andrewtowell6074]

They working class people voted for it... tell the low skilled workers who lost their jobs when the Labour market was flooded in 2004 when the A8 ascended...

[@DisconnectedRoamer]

If you choose a side, you've already lost

[@andrewtowell6074]

So which box did you tick on the referendum and how is that not choosing a "side"?

[@tomofthetomb]

Never felt so proud and upset to be British

[@tomofthetomb]

@Floopy Doopey British = living in the United Kingdom. It's not about being white, or Anglo Saxon or where you're born. It's about who you are

[@tomofthetomb]

@Floopy Doopey Yeah, if you contribute to British society of course your British. Other people being British doesn't make you any less British

[@justheretohelp6583]

They don't know it yet, but leaving the single market will be the greatest political blunder in British history. I wish I was exaggerating

[@icdgyixify]

Dyson goes to Malaysia with an EU grant. Crown Closures Bournemouth (was Metal Box) gone to Poland with EU grant. Once employed 1,200. M&S manufacturing gone to FE with EU loan. Hornby Models gone. All toys and models gone from UK with patents all with EU grants. Gillette gone to E. Europe with EU grant. Texas Instruments Greenock gone to Germany with EU grant. Indesit at Bodelwyddan Wales gone with EU grant. I could go on at length.

[@meanpower1]

The money is for investment. It's the companies choice of they move.

[@icdgyixify]

@@meanpower1 The choice of accepting the bribe is always theirs. We paid for the bribe, right?

[@meanpower1]

@@icdgyixify do you let a factory go under or do you let it move?

[@meanpower1]

@@icdgyixify not saying there's a right answer to this. But blaming the investor is only looking at a small part of the story.

[@icdgyixify]

@@meanpower1 Ford Swaythling was not about to "go under" - Transit vans were the standard. The EU were wholly to blame.

[@davidchadwick7222]

Ruth is a great MP, the only issue is that she has forgot what it is to REPRESENT her constituents. This is a problem with all politicians not just ruth. The only hope is for her to run as an independent. Then the people that have voted for her in previous elections will vote again. Representing your constituents views is the key. But as was stated at the start, people aren't interested in people from stokes views, so probably I am wasting my time. On the dudson issue, that is a direct result of globalization, surely politicians know this or it might just be they are paid to much to care.

[@NeverRubARhubarb]

Fair point. But surely MPs also have a responsibility to offer an informed vision for the future and not just regurgitate the common view? There's no chance that Stoke will be better off with Brexit than without it and some brave soul has to deliver that message to the voters. The EU didn't create Stoke's problems - most of the responsibility is down to the Tories having an austerity fetish and demonstrably being cloth-eared sadists. Ditto other parts of the country that're suffering the same fate. Kick the Tories out. That's the real issue here.

[@AH-iu1cw]

They are elected to know better than their constituents about how to govern, you don't live in a direct democracy you live in a representative democracy. it has to tell you something when the majority of these people are all opposed to something. They are entitled to an opinion as much as you are, if they think something is going to be harmful why should they just go along with it? Because a larger number of people support it? It's not a rational argument.

[@loveulez]

Whatever you think that means, it's actually just a bunch of gibberish

[@davidchadwick7222]

Ok Adam but as long as she respects your views she's on in your eyes. If not she momentum would have had her removed from standing in the next election? Funny even labour MPs now stateing vote conservative

[@davidchadwick7222]

Conservative matter, not just liberal global rules. As Ruth said something has quite rightly changed, that is the working class have decided to stand and fight at last for the values that we hold dear and to stop the demonic Marxist left in there tracks!!! Looks like your on the ropes from where I am standing, there's always Venezuela if you want your utopia, or even China

[@user-nb3eh9xf6w]

Модернтокинг

[@bethhopkins6873]

#

[@goldyx9487]

🙈🙈🙈🙈😂😂😂😂

[@user-nb3eh9xf6w]

ЕРНТОКИНГНКЛИ

[@user-nb3eh9xf6w]

Модернтокинг и в России тоже есть такие вещи в России как на рынке труда на Украине не очень удобно работать с людьми

[@derekridley711]

Just don't listen

[@peterfletcher8217]

🙏🙏🙏 1:43 19 december? 👇👇👇👇👇🔥

[@khanmdnazrulislamkhan4499]

Love world like to ?

[@adrianaspbury2970]

Great vid. It’s no surprise we haven’t left the EU it was always going to be a game of political football where leaving a customs union end of the day 17.4 million of us feel are identity is being stripped away seeing our communities change where islanders there’s a certain arrogance to us but a proud one I just wish the people on the losing side of that vote would be more respectful and let us move on

[@sarutochigcp937]

I think your British identity got stripped away the day you failed to string a sentence together. Also, how is the EU stripping your identity away? I'll respect the referendum result when both sides play by the rule of law and my future and the future of Britain is kept safe from those trying to destroy it in order to enrich themselves

[@ruk2227]

The communities most afraid of immigration are the ones that have the least immigration. Compare immigration in London and the SE vs Stoke on Trent.

[@SauberC10]

By “British identity” do you mean White? What exactly has the EU prevented you from expressing about your identity? All of the countries of Europe have very strong national identities, Britain included.

[@adrianaspbury2970]

Sarutochi GCP I’ll ignore that first remark if you want a slanging match go find someone else. My identity is being stripped away because of the mass migration to my local town is doesn’t feel like the place I grew up in. It doesn’t make me a racist to say it I just think ending the freedom of movement isn’t such a bad thing.

[@forza223bowe5]

Problem is it’s not just a customs union, it’s a political one too.

[@aissamh904]

Allegiance but that doesn't change that ourvKhayalim are coming baby Elishabat

[@Ukipmiddleleft]

It would have made a lot more sense for the Tories to drop candidates in Labour strongholds...Tories have wasted their resources in doing the opposite as there is no way they would get more votes than Brexit or even Labour combined. The tory votes in those seats are wasted votes. Please please please tory voters in Labour stronghold seats VOTE BREXIT PARTY