Brexit Day Reaction Video: Yes Minister (Why UK entered EU)

[@lewisb85]

I used to think yes minister was a satire of the civil service until I started my career with them and then I realized it was a documentary!

[@desmondobrien68]

Absolutely correct lol

[@malcolmparker1928]

It's the training manual,and a lot closer to the truth than you think

[@lewisb85]

@gary jones I've worked in various over the years Culture, MOD, Justice, not going to say which one I'm with now for obvious reasons.

[@skittles074]

Still like it now.....

[@antonycharnock2993]

@@lewisb85 Ministry of love?

[@raymartin7172]

Love you two. Intelligent attempt to tackle a complex issue. Felipe is 100% right when he points out that Britain has/had no interest in conquering Europe. Too small., even if we wanted to, which we never did. Our interest was/is commercial, and avoiding a European hegemon be it Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin or the bureaucracy of Brussels.. As Churchill put it, "If Britain has to choose between the continent of Europe and the open sea, she should always choose the open sea".

[@bikerboyT1050]

Britain's policy for 500 yrs is to never let any one single country get too powerfull in europe and dominate the continent.

[@moodyb2]

Yep! That is it, exactly. Form alliances against the bullies and take them down.

[@borderlands6606]

Turkey have been knocking on Brussels' door since the early 1960s. In that time its population has risen from about 13 million, to around 90 million, similar to Germany's. At some point Germany and France will need to make up new rules to keep Turkey out of the EU. Turkey is Germany's only competitor for dominance of Europe, which hasn't been the case since the Ottoman Empire.

[@alanvanallen7762]

Yep,spot on

[@cinderelladevil1687]

@@moodyb2 so that they can rule??? That is what you conveniently do away with from the MP explanation. The Brexit move is of a different nature. It involved the uncertainty of the polls result, and I do not believe that the UK 's goal now is about anything else than yourselves. I do not believe that you are interested in the by-products of the Brexit on the continent. Your elites are just focused on making the most of the upcoming deals whatever the consequences for the EU. Because if you let me, the UK does not rule any more beyond its borders. What you voted for is for ruling within. Which is an accurate take of the geopolitics and a smart approach to it.

[@moodyb2]

@@cinderelladevil1687 I tend to agree with your final conclusion, but remember the elites didn't want Brexit and did everything they could to stop it. It was the people (or at least the majority of them) who voted for it. Leavers voted mostly for reasons of sovereignty, since they couldn't see how the EU would exercise its influence in our country, in OUR interests. Remainers saw the referendum only in terms of economic benefit, which means in my view, that they failed to even understand what the question was.

[@dek123]

When the Maastricht treaty was created which created the EU, John Major who was the PM at the time. He should have put it too a referendum, but he knew that the U.K. would almost certainly reject it. Major was so pro EU that he wouldn’t take that risk. Other countries did have a referendum ie Ireland, Denmark and the Netherlands and all rejected it, but being small countries the EC virtual forced them into having another referendum with certain threats. The U.K. was too big an entity to be intimidated so Major circumvented the process and the EU was created.

[@MrSweetPhilly]

And then the same thing happened with Brown and The Lisbon Treaty

[@mickc7388]

France a big country & one of the founders also rejected it.

[@alanvanallen7762]

Yes,that is all so true,the resentment built up over the years and when given the chance to have our say we told them what we think

[@MrSporkster]

>> Other countries did have a referendum ie Ireland, Denmark and the Netherlands and all rejected it, but being small countries the EC virtual forced them into having another referendum with certain threats. >> Bullshit. These countries demanded certain concessions from the EU, and agreed to enter when their demands were met.

[@desmondobrien68]

@@MrSporkster Which in turn led to Brexit as above! Hungary and Poland have caved in on the Covid budget,does it mean they got what they wanted?

[@ianwilkins7718]

Love how you guys say "are we" when referring to Britain leaving the EU lol you now consider yourselves more British than American! Your enthusiasm to embrace your adopted country is humbling and admirable, and your understanding of the British mentality is spot on!

[@girlsdrinkfeck]

home is where u hang your hat , so to speak

[@rocketmunkey1]

Controlled immigration taking in migrants who respect and love the host country and its people and integrating good ! MASS immigration and accompanying social justice media, discouraging integration, bad !

[@Roz-y2d]

🤮

[@WOTArtyNoobs]

This was a perfect example of why the programme 'Yes Minister' was so funny. It was suggesting that Britain was only in Europe to cause disunity, to divide and conquer. In truth this was not the case. There has been numerous attempts to unite Europe into a version of the United States of America, but all failed because it was only one country driving this forward by military action. First Napoleon, then the Kaiser and lastly Hitler. Many saw the European Economic Community as a captive economic market that would protect the industry of Europe from the might of America or the Soviet Block, or the Far East. The EEC was all about protecting local industry which is why they accumulated wine lakes, butter mountains and milk lakes. Europeans were hopelessly inefficient at producing food at cheap prices, so the protectionist tariffs of the EEC prevented other countries sending us their surplus. The EEC in turn accumulated vast surpluses of what the locals could not afford to buy and eventually a lot of this food went to waste with the butter mountain turning rancid and the wine being chucked down the sewers. Britain wanted into the EEC, as there were advantages of selling to a huge local market without tariffs. This worked for a while, but then the EEC decided that Britain had to pay more than we should realistically pay for our population. They wanted to tax the 'cash cow'. That's when Margaret Thatcher demanded and received a huge rebate on the contributions. If the EEC had not agreed, we would have left in the Eighties. When the EEC turned into the EU, there was a lot of upset people in the UK who believed that this was a grandiose ambition (by the Germans) to create a Fourth Reich with Berlin in charge. They wanted a single currency, a single Parliament and an unelected group of bureaucrats in charge - the EU Commission. This was too much for many in Britain and when word of the corruption became known, many wanted to leave the EU as they saw it as nothing more than the same as if the Germans had won in 1939-45. The fact is that there is a lot of animosity between EU states. This is mostly the historical hatred between states that used to be regularly at war with each other. So the French hate the British and the German's hate the French, Spain hates Portugal etc. This division gets worse when one member state imposes rules on others. When rulers such as Merkel tell the individual state leaders that they must accept Muslim refugees, a lot of the Christian states (Hungary and Poland) refuse to do so, whilst the Germans accept them out of guilt for WW2 and Sweden because they are a Socialist state and to refuse would not be socialist. British people decided that they did not want to give away their national identity. This is what would have happened once the full aims of the Lisbon Treaty were reached. The eventual complete and utter dissolution of national parliaments in favour of the EU one. It would be like the Federal Government in the States telling all the individual states that they have to get rid of their Governors and assemblies and be ruled by Washington DC - it would cause the United States to become the Disunited States. So Britain is taking back our sovereignty, keeping our Monarch and our Parliament and our currency and we will be outside the EU but still trade with them. We will be free to buy cheap produce from around the world, but not forced to accept the laws created by faceless EU bureaucrats that we cannot veto. Yes Minister and then Yes Prime Minister were hilarious programmes, because they exaggerated the animosity of Britain for the EEC and then the EU, but the decision to leave the EU is to preserve our ability to decide our own destiny.

[@jagdpanther1944]

@Tom Sanders The Holy See. Yes. Charlemange was all for it.

[@mcstaal]

There was one attempt before that, it's called the Commonwealth.

[@alanvanallen7762]

Good post,all so very true,you know your stuff !

[@cinderelladevil1687]

Spain does not hate Portugal. No way. We do not hate our brothers at all. Who told you that???? There is no hate, no animosity, and we are in the best of terms with each other. Come here and ask the Spaniards. I am astonished to read that 😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳.

[@grisflyt]

@@cinderelladevil1687 Indeed. The post is just a bunch of gibberish. The British seem to hate the French and the Germans, but the French and Germans hate nobody.

[@terry9325]

I’m sure I saw the Great in Great Britain yesterday while walking my dog ,but it could just have been a trick of the light . But I’m sure I will see it again for real tomorrow .

[@eclectictraveller]

The European Economic Community (EEC) was founded in 1957 and consisted of six countries. Originally it was about integration, free trade and togetherness after World War II. In 1973 Eire, UK, Denmark joined. There are now 27 member countries and the EEC has been superseded by the European Union (EU). The EU members have signed a number of treaties gradually increasing the amount of financial, political and military cooperation including a new currency, the Euro. Yes Minister dates to 1980 to 1982 and was a comedy satire designed to show the supposed conflicts between the ideological politicians and the impartial Civil Service. The aim of the UK was not really to wreck the EEC from within or without. In 1975 we British voted for EEC membership and worked constructively as members for most of the 40 years we were a part of it. UK attitudes changed as Maastricht, Nice and Lisbon treaties forced ever closer cooperation. Eventually the Brexit rebellion came and from 11pm tonight we will be out. For the record I voted Remain but I take a positive view of the future and believe we Remainers and Leavers should all work together to make a success of it.

[@jagdpanther1944]

Fortunately, most of the British population is normal and sensible like you and me. Until we know the full implications, we can't say if it will be good or bad. British people usually muddle through despite everything, and I imagine life will go on, as normal, the same people will still be in charge, and we'll moan and gripe as usual, and we will carry on making fun of the bureaucrats and civil servants as in Yes Minister, even without the EU

[@jagdpanther1944]

Hacker: "But we need a nuclear deterrent to protect us against the Russians" Appleby: "Who said anything about the Russians? It's to protect us against the French"

[@jagdpanther1944]

@@richardwills-woodward I would agree, but i am not Polish or Hungarian or Czech:)

[@hobmoor2042]

@@richardwills-woodward - I don't see any anti-Russian sentiment in people I know. There may be concern at the behaviour of the Russian Government but the Russian people have my respect for their endurance through some really bad times in the last 100 years.

[@Varksterable]

@@hobmoor2042 Cold war never happend. K.

[@LightxHeaven]

Yes Minister is the most accurate factual documentary of the civil service ever produced.

[@MarkSmithSa]

Churchill wanted them to get together so there would be no more wars. But he did not want the UK to be a part of it.

[@mweskamppp]

Maybe Churchill did not realize yet, that the empire was history and UK all alone?

[@MarkSmithSa]

@@mweskamppp Just as well for you that you aren't speaking German. Thanks to Winston.

[@mweskamppp]

@@MarkSmithSa German is my first language.

[@MarkSmithSa]

@@mweskamppp Luckily for the rest of Europe it isn't.

[@mweskamppp]

@@MarkSmithSa Whatever. Thats generations in the past. the people are not the same, the politics are not the same. Some precautions were put in place not to have war again. governments sitting at a round table on eye level, sorting everything out.

[@graememorrison333]

The UK actually started out in something called EFTA - along with Norway, Iceland (I think, and a few others) It was a sort of west Europe parallel organisation to what went on to become the EEC, but it all gets a bit complicated. Loving the way you two are digging into the fundamentals of the British national psyche - and understanding our historic aversion to any form of totalitarianism. I can't imagine it's easy. (I don't think anyone who was born or grew up here could offer a complete interpretation either!) Also Felipe and his pronunciation of 'Bri'ish' with the glottal stop! You'll both be fully native before you know it. #scary !

[@alainprostbis]

Graeme Morrison not quite. after the creation of the pact of coal and steel and then the treaty of rome creating the CEE, britain who was asked to be involved and refused vehemently. Britain tried to create an alternate union in the hope of destroying the EEC from the outside . this is the thing mentionned in the sketch above "we tried to destroy it from the outside and we failed". after the failure of this alternative union, britain knocked on the door of the European Union and asked to be a member after all, but was rejected by de gaulle for obvious reasons (what had been happening in the previous 20 years).

[@billydonaldson6483]

EFTA was founded in 1960 between Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. In 1952 the European Coal and Steel Community was established. The U.K. was invited to join but we refused.

[@gavingiant6900]

What most dont know, is that we wanted in, but they didnt want us in, (the french), and now they dont want us too leave, but bye bye, lol

[@Salfordian]

No they didn't want us in the EEC, in the EU we're the second highest contributor

[@frankwilson9821]

Tbf, Général De Gaul knew that the Brits weren’t temperamentally suited to taking rules from the rest of Europe and tried to veto us joining in order to spate the everybody the pain

[@MrMinima86]

@Everything Cool who do you think is going to pick up the shortfall when we have left? the french and the germans...they dont want to pay that extra money.

[@cinderelladevil1687]

The French?? They do not rule, if someone wants to have dealings with Europe the one to talk to is Germany.

[@davidpeters6536]

@@frankwilson9821- The General was not keeping us out "for our own good", the UK was a basket case in much of the 60s and 70s with Labour governments and industrial mayhem, add to that Ted Heath, and the EEC looked like a way out of the mire, but De Gaul wasn't keen to help us. Little did we know the baby EEC would grow into an EU monster.

[@blondieandthefatman]

I love you guys. You come to a country, which because of language, seems familiar to you. Massive step. I have met many Americans who have come on a 2 year contact, kept them selves to themselves and only mixed with other Americans. However, you guys have really embraced our country and tried to understand it. Which is great. That's why you have so many UK subscribers, possibly more that American. You have really opened a can of worms, (a British expression), with this one. It has caused so much debate. Very complex issue. Most older people can see what's going on and voting to leave. Keep up the good work.

[@chrismccartney8668]

And tribute to Derek Fowlds who passed recently.....

[@philipmason9537]

In case you don’t know the whole history of this subject, the UK entered the Common Market (EEC) in 1973 purely as a trading bloc to compete against other larger countries and trade bodies. It made complete sense but then unelected bureaucrats took charge and formed an HQ in Brussels to oversee this behemoth and brought their left wing politics to run it. It’s fair to say that if the British public had known that this was going to happen they would have been strongly against it. As the years went by Brussels turned out more and more rules and administrations which adversely harmed British fisheries and other profitable industries, many of these making no business sense at all and to make matters worse the UK was forced to become the second highest payer into the EU budget after Germany. It’s the older British voters who remember the UK making their own rules before the EU imposed their regulations which held precedence over UK law and no, they’re not senile, as most Remainers accuse them of. People under 40 were born into being under EU laws and know nothing else so it’s understandable that they are reticent about Brexit. Although the UK is a very small country geographically we’re the sixth largest economy in the world and trade deals with the US, China, Japan and especially the Commonwealth countries on our OWN terms will benefit us greatly and keep us away from the EU 28 countries one size fits all mentality.

[@moodyb2]

The political union was ALWAYS in the plans, they just decided not to tell us about it in 1975. There's a whole raft of documents from the time confirming this, released in the past 10 years or so.

[@Vault97]

Philip Mason I’m 22 and I can see how harmful the EU is being run by unelected officials and being able to do as they wish, it’s also bullshit all the remainders saying leavers are racist, I’m brown skinned I’m not racist I’m a nationalist and want what’s best in the long run for our Island home 🇬🇧

[@oweng7987]

Excellent summary of the facts

[@philipmason9537]

bbbf09 In the early seventies, yes, the UK was in a real mess with nearly everyone on strike because of Edward Heath’s Industrial relations Act and the IMF crisis. Heath lost the next election because of this and Harold Wilson became Prime Minister but he put Michael Foot, the extreme left winger, in charge of industrial relations and he basically let the trade unions take charge of the country in return for wage restraint, which never happened ! So Labour lost the next election and Thatcher was now in charge. Whatever anyone thinks of her methods and actions the UK recovered to become a global power again and while she initially thought joining the EU was a good idea to be part of this huge trading bloc, once the Brussels undemocratic, biased and unaccountable bureaurocracy began imposing their rules on member states she, and many other people, realised that this was not what we were promised. A good example of the EU is that if you’re living in your OWN house in a street of 28 houses but the only Mansion in that street is owned by a dictator who tells all the other households what they can and can’t do in their own house !!! Why would you want these rich elitists who have no idea how “ordinary” people live, take charge of our lives ? In the news today the forecast for the UK economy is still good and once we stop paying billions of pounds into the EU bottomless hole we’ll be even better off and it’s fact that the UK has always paid more into the EU budget than it receives back ! That makes no sense at all ! You and me would lose our house, car, everything if we ran our everyday lives like that ! Whatever happens in the next year or two regarding trade deals etc. the UK will still be situated near France and the rest of Europe ( not being magically transported elsewhere) and we’ll still be trading with the EU in some arrangement or other. If you watch Euronews on the television or other European news programmes you can see in Germany, especially, that their economy is the weakest for ten years and heading for recession and they have so much trade with the UK that they will soften their stance over doing business with us. Also, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Italy are now being openly critical of the EU and many eminent politicians think that the EU will lose its importance in coming years so they’ll be no EU for the UK to “return to” . With the Labour Party here electing a Corbyn clone as their new leader this means that they’ll be a Tory government for at least ten years so the UK will never return to the fading EU. After the difficult transition stage over the next two years the UK economy will be fine, no need to worry !

[@valeriedavidson2785]

@@moodyb2 That is correct. It was NEVER just FOR trade I voted NO and was very disappointed when we went in. There were debates on BBC2 often and I listened. The info was there in the T'reaty of Rome. Most people didn't bother to find out.

[@thelongstory6395]

I watched Yes Minister with my dad when I was young. He always told me that it was actually a surprisingly accurate representation of how government works and how often things can be far more complicated in real life than in mere principal. They honestly very rarely write comedy like this anymore, so I'm glad you did a video on this. Joining the EEC/EU was essentially to keep one hand on the steering wheel. And now that it's on what was from the start the inevitable collision course, the UK jumps ship and watches the EU disintegrate from afar.

[@alanvanallen7762]

Felipe really does have a good grasp of the UK politics,would love to see him interviewing some of our politicians,he would be great 😊😊 That clip you showed is really true to life,we really have fought most the European nations at some time or other.,Sir Humphrey knew his stuff. The UK voters will never elect a government that is anywhere near true socialism,we have seen what happens if you do.I think the UK voters have now seen the EU in action for 40 or more years and decided we don't want to be ruled by Germany and France,they are the true decision makers in the EU.I really enjoyed your take on the election,good stuff folks.Best wishes.😃

[@SuperReasonable]

The non humorous takeaway about us leaving the EU is to understand that there’s a big difference between the EU and Europe. The EU is a political system that the Brits voted against while we are Europeans and love the other Europeans. It’s about being good neighbours, while ridding ourselves of an onerous political system and taking political accountability back into our own hands.

[@jagdpanther1944]

Many would hate you for saying it, and even for you having the temerity to think it...not just healthy political and social debate, but real visceral hatred, and therin the problem will remain.

[@MrDaiseymay]

You have it precisely

[@KitsyX]

Unless I'm forgetting about another vote, wasn't the vote barely over half? To be fair, a lot probably didn't know what they were really voting for and others probably didn't vote... Who knows if it could have been more on the side of leave, but I dunno... And arguably the General Election after might possibly indicate a stronger preference for leaving after... But I dunno... I'm not sure it's right to suggest Brits weren't somewhat torn about remaining or leaving the EU, at least for the initial vote... I'm not overly torn up about it, but I personally think that such a big decision with such a close vote probably should have been redone, even if it meant more people went against what I wanted in the end, but oh well... I do wish that the politicians had taken it more seriously and prepared for a leave vote as well... One of my main reasons for voting to remain was because I knew there was no real plan and leaving would be a total clusterf*ck lol. ... At least it's mostly sorted now, but damn...

[@desmondobrien68]

@@KitsyX You do realise that the original devolution vote in Scotland had exactly the same margin right? 52%-48% Want a rerun of that aswell shall we? The largest turnout of voters in UK history voted in 2016 and thats why we left

[@craighutchinson7065]

another video which was a pleasure to watch, very happy a family such as yourself chose Great Britain as your home, amazing to see a family of immigrants know more about the history of our country than most of our natural citizens

[@573gwills3]

The more members it has,the more arguments it can stir, the more impotent it becomes. Why does this make so much sense!

[@ministry2627]

I wish I could give this video more than 1 like. Your description of the useful idiots latching on to the media buzzwords is absolutely spot on, IMHO. Globalism is a cancer on our societies, and has been a disaster for almost everyone, except those at the top end of the financial pyramid. You guys are a credit to the US, and personally, I am so happy you chose to make the UK your home. Even if it is temporary ♥️

[@Cjbx11]

Yes Minister is a comedy show and shouldn’t be taken as fact but there is certainly an element of truth in it.

[@omegasue]

Clearly the democratic vote of 2016 was given because MP's were convinced people would want to remain in the EU, but they were wrong and most of those MP's reneged on their pledge - it was their behaviour which kicked off the rest of the country's remainer voters to act in such an atrocious and vile manner so together these people have caused much misery in the country. Many remainers actually believed that by leaving the EU we would be leaving the rest of Europe - they would whinge and whine that they liked being European - the EU caught on to this and promoted it further. I don't know if what you're saying, that we joined to cause division, is true or not. What I do know from the moment we joined back in 73 EU eurocrats have, by stealth, brought in various laws gradually culminating in the taking of our sovereignty. If you look at Hitler's plan for Europe (and no doubt the world) he too wanted a powerful European Army under his strict leadership; the EU's model has many comparisons. There is nothing wrong with countries coming together, but each country has centuries of culture & traditions, sovereignty etc., and that must always be honoured.

[@nedkemp1250]

I’m sorry to comment so late after the event, but you really are to be congratulated on your analysis of recent (since 2016) U.K. domestic politics.

[@2opler]

The `wine/ milk lakes` and the `butter mountains` are a reference to subsidies paid to european farmers encouraged to grow and grow regardless of the fact there was no market for the stuff. There were warehouses full of the stuff..all paid for! They even converted wine to anti-freeze to spray on frozen european streets in the winter. I swear it`s true.

[@whysa4]

I was only a school boy at the time, but I seem to have a recollection that vast quantities of the excess butter was later virtually given away to Russia, causing an uproar that poor UK pensioners should have been given some. Of course that would have depressed the European demand further so they would rather give it away to Russia rather than our own poor.

[@lilyliz3071]

@@whysa4 UK pensioners and people on benefits were given 1lb of cheese and butter for weeks on end also tinned minced beef,I know because I received it

[@whysa4]

@@lilyliz3071 Perhaps that was later after the outcry from the public then? as I say I was only a school boy at the time

[@2opler]

@@lilyliz3071 I remember that, i recall it being handed out from the back of a van.

[@lilyliz3071]

@@2opler we had to get ours at the council office,don't think anybody liked the mince but my dog loved it

[@TomCamies]

This is the greatest day in our modern history. 🇬🇧

[@martinbobfrank]

I normally watch you stream every so often, as I am subscribed and find it mildly interesting. However, honestly, I thought this was the best UK political conversation I've seen and heard in the last; well forever. You state your British (We), not just here for a while and then jump ship. Good, glad you're aboard fellow islanders. By the way, no doubt somebody has said this, but I don't read the comments. The Romans called us Great Britain, not us. It was because, during the invasion of Britain, some of us went to the part now called Brittania (Little Britian, Great Britian). You should start a separate news channel and debate it as you do. You both seem highly intelligent and have enough of a difference of opinion, but a willingness to listen to each other which is very refreshing.

[@simac8640]

Did you mean Brittany? I thought the British exodus to there was during the Anglo Saxon invasion

[@grosvenorclub]

Its just comedy folk , British tongue in cheek comedy , but...... See the brits do not take themselves seriously like their cousins over the pond but they can be more devious in a subtle sort of way . Love it how you are soaking up the British character , keep up the good work.

[@nigelp7849]

Really enjoyed your post-clip discussion, and in my opinion for the most part you nailed it. As a Brexiteer, Tory voter I have to say you have a clearer understanding of what's going on than many Brits.

[@frankwilson9821]

When the UK joined (what was then called) the Common Market, it was sold to the electorate as merely a trading arrangement. In the 40 years since, the organisation has morphed into the European Union which has, at its core, a determination to integrate all the individual countries into one large socialist superstate. The referendum was the first chance that the UK electorate have had to give their consent (or otherwise) of the European Commissions’ ambition....

[@guyellory784]

Haven't watched you for a while but I love this discussion you're both having!

[@avrilbowler8755]

There really were things like wine lakes and butter mountains. They hadn't got the subsidy system correct and paid farmers subsidies for producing their goods. The more they produced, the more they earned. Naturally, the farmers produced as much as they could. If the product had no buyers because they had flooded the market, the EEC stepped in and placed the goods into storage until the market picked up. In this country we held the EEC butter mountain. All of the excess butter from the whole of Europe was shipped here and stored in cold storage. The market never could resolve the problem because the cows kept being milked and new butter was being made. Eventually, they sold the butter off cheaply to pensioners or people on very low incomes. The subsidy policies were changed and the mountains and lakes slowly disappeared. Hope this explains the comment that you didn't understand.

[@Steve-ys1ig]

It is a comedy program. But it reflected the British people's distrust of Europe almost from the start. That was why it was funny because most of the people watching that comedy series didn't trust the Europeans for historical reasons. Which at the time, because most people had been taught their country's history, most people instinctively understood.

[@GodConsciousness]

British policy was always to preserve a balance of power on the Continent, always expending blood and gold against any country that sought to tip that balance, disturb the peace and potentially harm British commerce.

[@eyeofthetiger6002]

The EU's greatest fear is that the UK will thrive outside of the EU and thus leading to a domino effect and the eventual breakup of the EU itself.

[@alainprostbis]

Eyeofthetiger that's projection. the worst fear of the UK government is that the EU thrives in the absence of the UK. if that is the case you can be sure the UK governemnt will knock at the door once again, without asking it's population through a referendum...and the whole cycle of dived and rule will start again...

[@eyeofthetiger6002]

@@alainprostbis well,we shall see although with a major contributor country like the UK leaving, means that others will have to stump up more to make up the shortfall and in effect that means Germany in the main. Well, we'll see how the far right party and the German tax payers react to this If anything, the smart money will be on the UK thriving rather than the other way round..

[@alainprostbis]

Eyeofthetiger yep. that s what was expected. as explained in the yes minister ! skit, there never was any wish from the UK to belong and improve the EEC . just try to make it impossible and leave as it is in shambles. let's hope with the UK out there will be a renewal of the EU. and that this unprovoked stab in the back will be retributed as it deserves. the karma seems to go pretty hard against England regarding immigration. it's a good start. hope my country stops retaining these thousands of people wanting to go to England from Calais too... the future can be a lot of fun indeed...

[@eyeofthetiger6002]

@@alainprostbis let's hope that there will be a renewal of the EU after Brexit but I rather fear the worse with the UK out of the way,the EU might descend into bitter infighting with the Eastern bloc countries persuing their own agenda especially with far right parties in charge in Poland and Hungary, the Italians with their unsustainable debt problems which could ultimately lead to the breakup of the Euro itself,and France and Germany both experiencing weak economic growth which may yet descend into a recession if a hard Brexit actually transpires on 31st Dec 2020. As regards the migrants in Calais, it's the total failure of the Schengen zone that has resulted in this situation whereby a migrant arriving in Turkey is able to travel unhindered all the way to Calais.

[@florianmeier3186]

@@alainprostbis No, it won't. Conditions won't be so nice anymore for UK as in the past. Brexit somehow strengthened EU's unity even if there are still many open cases and Brexit will strongly reduce the power of UK, which is not the same anymore as in 20th century anyway. I also think the assumption made here that UK joint the EU just to destroy it, is wrong. This might be valid for a conservative part, but not for UK as such. Actually EU is partly British invention and the idea of reducing violence within Europe after two World Wars by strong cooperation is completely reasonable. To think that UK would remain unharmed, if Europe drowns in clash and violence is rather stupid and failed already 100 years ago. Without support from outside and the Global Empire the situation might have a much worse outcome even at that time. Even if there are long lines in history, it won't repeat exactly in the same way. I think Brexit is an European accident and not a British pleasure.

[@nemosis9449]

I like the way you say "we" that means a lot to a Brit.

[@borderlands6606]

In the 1970s the EEC was a trading block, and Britain has always been keen on international trade. A few siren voices said this was the first step to federalism; stateless, borderless, centralised transnational rule. They were dismissed as extremists, but their warnings have come to pass. Indeed, there's a push for a European army, something unthinkable before the unification of Germany. The Common Market went from swapping goods and services to something rather sinister, and the UK was first to cry enough. Who if anyone follows, will depend on how successful the UK is. If Boris goes for regulatory alignment, Britain will still be subject to the EU's laws. If he's bold and opens the UK to the world, other EU countries will follow Britain's lead.

[@sanderdeboer6034]

Brexit has made the EU stronger.

[@joannortham5517]

As I recall the steps towards the formation of the EU, it went like this - the Iron and Steel Community, the Common Market, the European Economic Community, the European Community, and finally the European Union, in the course of which it went from selling its purpose as a group of relevant countries trading with one another, to a finally admitted POLITICAL union of nations, which, if one read the small print, made plain the determination to abolish the nation state as an individual entity, and to create a monolithic Europe, responsible first and foremost and LOYAL not to their own nation, but to the European Union. It didn't take long for some of us to realise on the name change to the Common Market that the new "trading" group was dictatorial in terms of ruling with which nations we might or might not trade, within their RULES. Britain, for example, was expected to drop traditional and long-standing trade with our Commonwealth countries, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, who had kept us afloat with meat and dairy products, butter, etc. during the dark days of WWII, and gave us very good terms after the war, when we were bankrupt and needed them. Joining the Common Market meant we had to cease our trade in these staple items with countries where many of us had friends and extended family ties. I thought it was like a breaking of family ties, which we would not have done had we not joined the CM. General de Gaulle, who was not a fan of Britain, twice prevented our joining by voting NO to our application. He didn't believe Britain would FIT into a European setting - and he was RIGHT! The European Union is in effect a resurrection of the old USSR - a dictatorship. You are right about others following our lead OUT - Hungary, Poland and possibly Italy. ALL the old European nation states are experiencing a resurgence of nationalism/patriotism…Macron is done politically in France, and the French are longing for a patriot, rather than a globalist leader. Marine le Pen looks set to oppose him at the next election - SHE is dismayed by the loss of so much of French culture and tradition, as are many of her compatriots. Germany's population are sick and tired of being Europe's paymaster, thanks to Merkel (who is also supposed to be going, but hangs about like a bad smell, who knows for how much longer). Patriotism is resurgent in Germany, too. As you see I could write a short book on this - but I'll stop now. Hope this gives you the general idea - we want our COUNTRY BACK! We want it to be OURS, and to make OUR OWN decisions about its future. Love your videos - thanks very much.

[@buzzardbrother1911]

The butter mountains and wine lakes were an actual thing, the EEC bought up as much produce as they could to create a shortage and thus force the prices up. I remember as a child the uproar caused by it and the EEC had to release all the stock they held, butter was on the shelves at ridiculously low prices (we never had butter, we had to make do with margarine for the most part when I was growing up, so to get butter was a treat, and one of the only positive thoughts I have about the EEC/EU).

[@Gsoda35]

that was truly an interesting discussion on British politics. refreshing channel!

[@buckplug2423]

The Lamb War and Milk Ocean, along with other "wordplays" in the minister's sentence were real things - those were surpluses and definition quarells of the 70s and 80s.

[@Louisa93able]

You might be interested in Ed Balls' series on Euroland on BBC. I think the Brexit issue is chiefly about fear of loss of British identity; rising nationalism feeds on that fear, but it is also about loss of parliamentary sovereignty and unfair agreements imposed by the EU as in the case of fishing rights.

[@umbrellaman2501]

The UK's entrance into the EU came at a perfect moment of weakness, as UK, at the time, was in economic dire straits. Offered the chance of an economic pact that would increase GDP - it was a no brainer. My dad voted for it. He regretted it over the years. Because the goalposts moved almost every year. The EU NOW, resembles nothing to what he and many people originally voted to be part of. This is what made me angry -- that younger people ignorantly complaining Brexit was enabled simply by 'old people'. Those older British people were the forefather's of the UK's European community movement. They had every right to change their mind's.

[@moodyb2]

The real lies, of omission, were sold in the 1975 referendum. The elites deliberately withheld the full facts about what we were signing up to because they knew we would NEVER have signed up to it.

[@pipercharms7374]

The issue younger people have about older people enabling Brexit is the fact, THEY as the young people will have what the older people voted for. Voting wise, with cold hard logic, the older people won't be around as long as the younger people will and deal with the consequences. So the younger people, who don't want, what the older people voted for, their future will be dealing with the conisqences of what the older people did. For example say theres a law that will benefit older people if its passed and will benefit younger people if it's not passed, in this society which is looked on as the "correct" way to vote on the law? Well the younger people will deal with that law for the longest in their future, compared to the older people. So the "correct" way to vote would be not to pass that law. Cold fact is The younger peoples point is, you have HAD your turn, now its OUR turn and now your votes will effect OUR future THE MOST, not yours.

[@anitawhite6104]

We never had a vote for going into the Common Market - Edward Heath took us in without a vote. It wasn't until Harold Wilson became Prime Minister that we had a say in whether we wanted to stay in the Common Market or Leave. I voted to stay, something I later on regretted.

[@moodyb2]

@@pipercharms7374 Well, now we're giving you what WE had before we were fooled into giving it away. You can do what you want with it, but we've put right our error!

[@peterdaymond6080]

Your dad and me have run parallel lives on this.

[@jamess6961]

Ohhhhh, as well as you’re fitting in well over here, you are still very misunderstanding of our humour, but possibly not. Either way you are getting there slowly. Thank you for taking genuine interest in the place you’ve chosen as home, and again...welcome.

[@SuperReasonable]

Of course it’s not real, but the beauty of Yes Minister is that it takes a very British cynical view in a very British humorous way and makes points that could just be believable, but in fact are not! It’s brilliant.

[@steveatbuccscoin336]

This comedy episode was written some 20 years before Brexit reared its head, there were people wanting to leave but not active enough to force it through at the time this episode was recorded and aired on the BBC. Steve 👀👍

[@JC0023]

Felipe your soo intelligent and you know your country sooo well!! If the UK is made up of families like yours we will have huge success post EU!😊

[@anthonysmith-hs1vp]

I’m English and learning British history from two newbie Brits that originate from America

[@richarddimeck4578]

Yes minister and yes prime minister are and still is some of the funniest comedy in the uk. Still holds truths today.

[@wright427]

My favourite vlog by you guys so far. 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

[@decam5329]

Well done Sir, you have found our cunning plan.

[@FrankCastlesConscience]

Its also worth noting that when this was shot back in the early 80s, a lot of the thousands of Whitehall civil servants were likely to be centre right in their political views, whereas nowadays with the millenial crowd the civil service has tipped more in the direction of centre left. There’s some evidence to suggest that many were working against ministers (and by extension the majority of Brits who voted to leave) and trying to scupper the Brexit deal. But as we can see they largely failed.

[@rawschri]

The EEC's Common Agricultural Policy ( or CAP ), which still accounts for 42% of EU expenditure, at that time was 75% of the EEC's spending. It has slightly reformed since, but basically, farmers were guaranteed a set price for their produce with no real limits, hence a surplus and the references to " Wine and Olive Oil lakes " and " Butter mountains " ....

[@Gambit771]

Really enjoyed hearing your perspective on the EU. Enjoyed hearing you say 'we' are leaving for example.

[@ltmund]

You seem to assume leaving the EU was a plan by the British establishment. Yet the establishment fought hardest to stay in. Maybe because they didnt destroy it yet.

[@joshuagarnham9703]

MP is Member of Parliament, the minister are specially chosen to make up the cabinet.

[@hobmoor2042]

As you say, this sketch was written in jest and it was actually a piece of irony - the Civil Service/Foreign Office was pro EEC. On the other topic, British foreign policy was always to seek a balance of power in Europe - to have no European country powerful enough to cause trouble on the Continent. To that end, over time, Britain had various alliances with other countries in order to keep a check on whatever country was causing a risk to peace at the time. From a political point of view, the EU appear to be anti the individual and hellbent on concentrating power in the hands of a few. Quite a few friends of mine who voted Remain voted Tory in 2019 because the Brexit vote was being thwarted. Since then, more Remainer friends are now anti-EU after seeing the disrespect towards the UK from the EU.

[@GenialHarryGrout]

The EC (European Community) was founded in the mid 1950's to stablise Europe and to stop countries fighting each other by creating a common bond. The 6 original EC countries were Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg

[@lewisb85]

But to quote Blackadder "there was a small problem with that plan, it was bollocks".

[@jagdpanther1944]

And who became the genial Harry Grout of Europe? ("I do like you Greece, but you haven't been paying your subs lately have you")

[@colinharbinson8284]

You have a better understanding of the election results than many.

[@peterdurnien9084]

There was a wine lake, and a butter mountain, and a beef mountain. The price of beef was so high no one in the UK could afford it. In the newspapers it was said that UK's favourite food was chicken, it wasn't but that was best value for money meat. What happened to all that mountain of beef you might ask? It was sold off cheap to Russia. One of my mums favourite fruits has virtually disappeared because the price that was set was so low it was not worth picking, and that was greengages. The thing the EEC and the EU did best was waste money, like deciding how bendy a banana should be and what type of cucumbers we could eat. They outlawed tiger toms, threw away undersize fish even though they were already dead. There was so much carouseling ( a form of legitimate smuggling) of goods it was beyond a joke. I am glad to see the EU go.

[@penname5766]

Exactly Filipe. The UK HAS given the blueprint for leaving the EU (I voted remain by the way but I can see the other side of the argument). We know there are other countries in the EU that want out as well, but I think they are waiting for someone else to take the lead. I personally think the EU was too controlling and that its future is in jeopardy. It may well be that it eventually falls apart or is at least restructured in terms of how countries can maintain autonomy within it. It's ironic really that some are so desperate to break away from the UK and rejoin the EU, and yet whilst a country elects to be in the Union, once it's in, to a large extent independence is sacrificed (although there obviously are benefits). You're so right. It's really not cut and dried. And those who voted to leave are definitely not all anti-immigration. There are much wider political and social implications of leaving the EU than just those relating to immigration. As you say, to assume people think a certain thing on a certain topic simply because they voted one way or the other in the argument is nonsensical. This is probably the first intelligent discussion/analysis on the subject that I've seen.

[@karyne826]

You guys are so switched on. Great hearing your views.

[@royburston8120]

Interesting discussion between you two - I'm loving that Lillian refers to the UK as 'we' all 5 of your clan will end up totally british 😎

[@jagdpanther1944]

I hope so; one of the advantages of leaving the EU is that they will have equality now with EU citizens in the UK

[@robertburr2212]

I think it's sad that the UK is leaving the EU. It's a good reason to stay together and make peace and trade

[@johnegerszeghy9818]

If the EU wants just 'peace and trade' why do they need to create an EU army? I'm glad the UK will not be involved.

[@jagdpanther1944]

@@johnegerszeghy9818 well said, thank you.

[@jimmymifsud8353]

We will still have peace and trade 👍

[@alangraves9151]

I'm glad were leaving

[@seanwalsh5467]

Amazing NEED to do more politic talk. Best conversation up to now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@atomicant4511]

Don't worry UK is not going to be the only country leaving EU

[@eddievision]

Yes minister is a political satire so everything within the show has some basis in truth and the writers themselves had some experience within government ....as the old cliché goes many a true word is said in jest.

[@SD-li9g]

eddievision you should watch the documentary we’re Antony jay and Johnathan lynne say practically every story was fed to them by ministers who couldn’t say what they said in public or used the show as an out let to get their views across or leak as the case may be

[@doobedoobedo1]

The wine lake and the butter mountain were real. They made some foods so expensive with a guaranteed price to farmers (who then produced as much as they could) that there were huge surpluses. Eventually they couldn't afford to store it all so it was sold off cheap in Russia and Africa, while the price was kept high for EEC members. You couldn't make this stuff up...

[@Marie-Elaine]

So interesting listening to you. Summed up so well.

[@darrenwood2232]

Spot on guys! Love the show.

[@annmolloy8600]

The wine lake refers to the glut of wine and other products like butter which were overproduced and which had to be dumped through lack of markets.

[@MarkSmithSa]

The East India Company was the best example of what you describe.

[@Replevideo]

Phillipe has a pretty good understanding for an American, and better than a lot of Brits. The wine lake and milk ocean were very real. The EEC agricultural policy encouraged over production by means of subsidies. The result was hundreds of warehouses full of wine, milk and grain for which there was no market. Of course wine and milk were containerised, so the terms lake and ocean were metaphors. I just though of one more - the butter mountain. Later the policy was changed to eliminate such problems. Farmers were on to a good thing because they could produce as much as they wanted without worrying about being able to sell it, because the EEC would buy the surplus and put it into storage.

[@SonyaTodorova]

I beg you, could you tell me the exact name of the episode, and from which season of the series "Yes, Prime Minister" is this shot concerning British foreign policy. Thank you in advance for the answer.

[@hy-vo7vs]

I remember the lamb wars, butter and beef mountains. When EU stopped us from our longstanding arrangements of importing new Zealand lamb Argentinian beef etc leading to massive stockpiles. All the vegetables had to be perfect shapes and bent veg was destroyed. It's always been super wasteful

[@kaianttila1619]

Bunch of lies and nonsense. I work in a company in Finland (an EU country) where we get lamb from New Zealand. And vegetables are the same shape they've always been. These are just a few myths and lies from your british tabloids press and 99% of these stories aren't true.

[@hy-vo7vs]

It it definitely true that misshapen veg was stopped from being sold in our supermarkets. I'm old enough to remember it.

[@hy-vo7vs]

I also remember the butter mountains and my mother buying a job lot of cheap butter when it was eventually sold off.

[@roughblooduk]

There were two retired senior figures who were secret informants to the writer. I know one was Lady Faulkener and they other was Lord Donoughue. However, their input was kept secret and kept parliament wondering where the writers were getting all their information as parliament knew it must be somebody.

[@peadarruane6582]

The 'Wine lake' and 'food mountains' refers to European policies to ensure that the hunger and starvation expereinced during the war etc will never happen again. The EEC was in place since the 50's, The UK only joined in the 1970's. The EEC was promoting cooperation between the likes of France and Germany, who divided, were weaker opponents to British interests. United they were a threat to British Interest. Appleby, the civil servant was arguing that getting into the EEC and stirring up fights.

[@lloydburbidge9788]

It's absolutely bang on. It was always the aim of British government to never allow one dominant power on the continent of Europe.

[@maryhook9478]

You need to understand European history. For the past 500 years Britain has been the balance of power in Europe.

[@Brightstarlivesteam]

The EEC was the European Economic Community, It was supposed to be a trading union, not the a start of the European Empire. When we had a referendum we were assured that this was for trading purposes and that there would be no political union. They also told us before the 2016 referendum that there was no intention of having an EU Army , but within weeks this was on the future agenda.

[@mweskamppp]

Your perception of the EU politics does not really fit. There have always been anti EU parties in nearly all member states. Some openly asking for a break up of the EU. After the brexit referendum the pro EU direction gain momentum with the people and those Anti EU parties and groups are not longer asking for an end of the EU but rather for reforms. Poland is not anti EU, the government is kind of authoritarian leaning what collides with EU rules. Same with Hungary. There is a lively right wing anti EU yellow press, though, especially in the UK. all countries have a different idea of what the EU is. For some its a peace project for others an economic benefit. The UK saw and many still see themselves separated from "the continent". Whenever one country there became strong enough to compete with the british empire worldwide, the british supported the weaker enemy of that competitor so britain can stay on top. Many brits still do not realize, that the empire is long gone and the commonwealth is nothing more than a tea party. There are other arguments about what made some elite want to leave the EU. Delusions about greatness of an empire might have been part of the education in Eton where the elites come from might have been taught until the 80s even and sunk into the minds of the elites. It might be plans of the EU to better control the financial market stricter than before and dry out tax havens. Funnily, the USA is going the same direction now. Also ideas about the money generator of UK, the fintechs of London could operate more freely without the EU especially in far east might have played a role. And then the scavengers who want to buy cheap when there is blood in the streets after the brexit and sell high some years later. "Blood in the streets" but not your own, of course.

[@TigerDan925]

wow such a great pick, you guys are awesome From North UK

[@davidbowen4848]

Just my pennies worth we can only accept so many people in this small country great discussion

[@Jungfrun1]

Thx I finally realized what MP stod for :P

[@RonSeymour1]

The food mountains are very real. Subsidies caused the overproduction of a number of food items. Amongst these was a surplus of milk which when turned into butter became the Butter Mountain. They had to dispose of it and save face so they introduced butter coupons for the poorer in society, pensioners and the low income. Part of my job in the 1970's at one point was the distribution of these coupons and judging by the number that I sent out for a small area of London there must have been millions of tons. I understand that butter, wine and grain is still stockpiled as the last thing that the EU wants to do is dump it on the market, reducing the price paid and farmer's profits. Excellent discussion by the way.

[@jagdpanther1944]

And thank you for the information, that is fascinating to read your recollections, I'm sure with the 30 year rule there will be more coming out (unless Sir Humphrey manages to lose the files in the Great Flood)

[@andrewhallam237]

No it's not true, it's just a joke seen in hindsight as quite relevant. It's like the simpsons predicting 911, with hindsight it seems totally true but it's actually just a conveinient coincidence.

[@grahambunting8867]

But very funny :-)

[@NiskRanThawll]

The wine lake and milk sea/ocean was indeed a real thing and still is. When the eec kicked in, in the late 70s early 80s there were massive amounts of wastage across all of Europe, due to subsidised farming being wide spread throughout each sovereign nation, with each nation (rightly) wanting to keep their farming industry safe. There was a lot of food hampers given out of tinned meat, butter and cheese all the way through to the 1990s. There are still mass stockpiles of grains and dairy overflows throughout the EU. Though not to the extent of past decades.

[@Split10uk]

This is the offical line on the United Kingdom joining the EEC. The United Kingdom made its first application to join the European Union in 1961. It was quickly apparent that there was a danger of political isolation within Western Europe, Commonwealth states were rushing to do deals with the new bloc, and it had American support. This application was vetoed by the French Government in 1963 with a second application vetoed by the French again in 1967. It was only in 1969 that the green light was given to negotiations for British membership. The United Kingdom joined the European Economic Community (as it then was) on 1 January 1973 with Denmark and Ireland. This proved controversial at the time. The Labour party initially sought renegotiation of membership. This was toned down to requiring a referendum on whether the United Kingdom should remain part of the Community. This referendum was duly held in 1975 with a 67% vote in favour of continued membership. Thought I'd add......Charles de Gaulle always thought we were too close to America, hence they used their vito to block the United Kingdom joining the EEC.

[@elimtain7387]

Love the channel and the debate about Brexit.

[@billydonaldson6483]

You mentioned wine-lakes. This was and probably still is a problem. There was a glut of wine and butter etc because of overproduction. We had wine lakes and so called butter mountains. In order to keep the prices in the shops high they sold the butter off to the likes of Russia for a fraction of its worth. They then started to pay farmers not to cultivate some of their land. These subsidies are still in place today. The Common Agricultural Policy (The CAP) accounts for 40% of the EU budget. Poland, Portugal, Spain and Italy are among the main recipients. Some of this money has been used in order to modernise the fishing fleets from the countries.

[@jameshead9119]

In the 70’s the wine lake & butter mountain existed

[@pjmoseley243]

Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony London. Look up the Dec 6 2014 speeches if your interested.

[@annprince5298]

The writers were journalists and worked as political columnists, ITV's true to an extent, it was a very informative and funny.

[@raymondporter2094]

"Yes, Minister" and it's follow-up, "Yes, Prime Minster" were masterpieces and very well written. Not to mention very funny. I suspect very "British" humour and with a big slice of "making fun of ourselves" within it. The one where they discuss the people who read various newspapers... "The Financial Times" - read by people who own the country - "The Times" - read by people who run the country - "The Morning Star" - read by people who think Russia should run the country etc....

[@marksnark11]

I think Felipe's analysis nailed it.

[@jameshead9119]

The problem is the civil service got seduced and stopped working for interest of England

[@desmondobrien68]

Yep! Even now the Home Office are claiming they are being bullied by Priti Patel

[@nostradormouse3583]

Many a true word spoken in jest. This series was written by Civil Servants who were writing a version of what happened with the less believable bits excluded. The funniest parts are practically a documentary.

[@GodConsciousness]

A bit of a history lesson. England, and after 1707, Great Britain has always sought to maintain a balance of power on Continental Europe. For if any single European Great Power were to obtain hegemony, British trade would be threatened and the Home Islands suffer potential invasion. Hence, vast amounts of British blood and treasure were expended in alliances and coalitions to maintain the European balance of power.