James O'Brien challenges how Mick Lynch views the EU

This is the moment James O'Brien challenged views of the RMT's Mick Lynch on the EU. This video clip is from James O'Brien's LBC show on August 19th 2022.
#jamesobrien #micklynch #LBC
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[@samjones7296]

Just remember that even if you disagree with Lynch on foreign policy it has nothing to do with what these strikes stand for.

[@orwellsgoatatemyradishes4358]

Absolutely.

[@arturobianco848]

Now that i agree with i think Mitch is very bad for the UK and has done alot of damage. But that doesn't mean that enough ais enough and the strikes aren't justified. It just hurts me that one who has enabled it to become so bad, like Mitch, is now a posterboy for the movement. and yes pehaps for his workers the EU rules wheren't that great but the total package was way better for the avarage people in the UK. So nice one Mitch on youre anti EU stance, o and he was also against PR you know what system keeps getting the Torry's in power.....

[@zoedaisy1499]

So you support Lynch an ardent Lexiteer that wants to benefit from Lexit cos you can renationalise the Rails but at the expense of every other sector in the UK and ultimately the overall health of the UK economy and its people. Sorry but you’re deluded! The far left left are just as bad just as dangerous as the far right

[@raymondo6665]

the majority agree with him though or have you forgotten that?

[@ironsoul2633]

It has a bit. These strikes are caused by the high cost of living. Which is caused by high inflation which was also caused by Brexit

[@CASM-ze7lb]

Different views having civilised and reasonable debate. If people and governments operated like this, the world would be a better place.

[@SSJfraz]

Although I side more with James when it comes to the EU, he can be quite a bit shouty at times which I find off putting. When you ask somebody a question, give them time to complete their answer before jumping in.

[@Nintenmarz]

It’s the first times James has ever done that.

[@alexlevie4056]

They are people… The people in this video are… people.

[@lecturesfromleeds614]

They are the very people that are supposed too, the entirety of the houses of parliament are debating chambers

[@peterpeterholt]

Yep, was just thinking exactly the same thing.

[@rogermoore9795]

He's being asked direct questions and answering honestly. I like that

[@silverlinings3946]

Actually he isn't answering honestly, he's spinning anti-EU rhetoric as it suits him, for example that the EU country could pay lower wages to workers from another country with lower wages. That's blatantly untrue. So is the myth that it's not possibly to have nationalised industries in the EU- we had the National Health Service while in the EU. I've actually lost any respect I had for that man.

[@ravenna_bronze]

@@silverlinings3946 what is the minimum wage in Bulgaria, what is the minimum wage in Germany

[@alanhat5252]

@@ravenna_bronze how is that relevant? If a Bulgarian goes to work in Germany (s)he is paid according to German pay scales not, as Mr Lynch states, Bulgarian scales. This is mostly covered by the Posting of Workers Directives, a topic which Mr Corbyn tried to discuss on several occasions in the run-up to the referendum but he was rapidly shut down every time.

[@alanhat5252]

@@silverlinings3946 I still have great respect for Mr Lynch in his day job though I agree he should educate himself on the EU before discussing it publicly.

[@alanhat5252]

he's giving his honest understanding, unfortunately he's wrong on much of what he says about the EU.

[@chris56269]

Might post later with some detailed thoughts but just want to say how refreshing it was to hear 3 (although largely 2) people with differing opinions but not resorting to petty name calling, relying on meaningless soundbites and slogans and just having what sounded like an open and honest conversation and a respectful disagreement. Why don't we really see that from top tier politics?

[@Grz349]

Because that doesn’t win them power

[@alanhat5252]

why? because we keep voting for morons & a*holes.

[@kaisersose3872]

We don’t see that on this show either. If anyone else spouted the nonsense Lynch did about the EU, James would’ve humiliated them and rightly so

[@sharonwashington8150]

Just goes to show there are some civilized people out there after all. It used to be the norm once upon a time nearly!

[@michael1]

Because, in spite of the title, O'Brien didn't "challenge" Lynch's views at all.

[@derfinsterling]

Austrian here. Our railroad is still nationalized. And minimal wages apply even if you hire somebody from a cheap labor country. We just tried giving people from Romania a lot less in child subsidies because living standards in Romania are lower - and the EU courts struck that down. So no, the EU is better at protecting workers' rights than national governments.

[@5e1enium]

Nationalised for now. The 4th Railway Package will ultimately change that, just a matter of time.

[@danielwharrier2408]

@@5e1enium not true only some lines and the government will be able to bid on it

[@SSJfraz]

@@Gary-bz1rf Because Liz Truss who is a board member of the 1828 committee. A far-right 'think tank' committed to flogging off the NHS and replacing it with an insurance based health care system, really likes our NHS?

[@johnrussell3961]

It’s a union. Rights are not national but for any who stay via FOM.

[@ianl1052]

@@Gary-bz1rf Hey, Spitty. I was beginning to think that Putin had sent you to the front line in Ukraine. 🤣🤣🤣

[@dandonovan11]

As a Conservative (not a Tory), I believe the nationalisation of Britain’s railways is just common sense and I’m glad Mr. Lynch is exposing the huge shortcomings of railway privatisation.

[@davidty2006]

Yeah. Back when British rail was a thing railways were regaining their footing. Suprisingly under thatcher of all people. And then John major came and trashed it.

[@bradleywalsh8571]

As a leftist, I've been looking to speak with people like yourself to explore the differences between Toryism and Conservatism. I think some aspects of Conservatism have merit and have been undermined by successive Tory governments. For example, the austerity years were anti-conservative in that fact that it eroded a great deal of social cohesion in the UK, particularly the family unit and the increase of in-work poverty. I think it's a discussion worth having from left to right.

[@nigeltrigger4499]

Daniel, you clearly don't understand your own political views:- conservatism /kənˈsəːvətɪz(ə)m/ noun 1. commitment to traditional values and ideas with opposition to change or innovation. "proponents of theological conservatism" 2. the holding of political views that favour free enterprise, private ownership, and socially traditional ideas. "a party that espoused conservatism"

[@quentinjalapeno1344]

@@nigeltrigger4499 It’s not impossible for conservatives to be in favour of nationalising essential utilities, the NHS being an example. Stop trying to be an absolutist with black and white vision.

[@mariogmajner6549]

@@quentinjalapeno1344 If Labour MPs had respected the Referendum result we would now have a Labour Government in power.

[@Beans360]

The look on O'brien's face when the caller asked that question is priceless.

[@keithbaldock128]

O'brien's face ? Yes. smug and sickly like an half baked pie.

[@michaeldibb]

Which question?

[@envysart797]

The Irish rail service is nationalised and always has been. There’s no EU mandate to privatise railways, and more EU railways are under national ownership than private. There’s nothing that would have stopped the U.K. making the railways public under he EU (and in fact they were public until 1996). Lynch is just doing the typical brexiteer thing of taking a bad decision made by the British government (in fact, a Tory government) and blaming the eu for it, instead of the Tories.

[@irishskier9432]

I live in Ireland, young people cant get a house because of EU laws around mortgage lending rules. Stop shilling neo liberal propaganda

[@envysart797]

@@irishskier9432 the EU aren’t to blame for the fact that the country doesn’t build any new houses! Have you seen the *price* of houses in ireland? What’s your answer, even more debt, even more mortgages? Higher house prices? This ls literally why the fukken 2008 crash happened.

[@danielbentham758]

The Irish rail service is an absolute mess theres not even a line to Dublin Airport

[@irishskier9432]

@@envysart797 I didn't mention the building of new houses, but who do you think builds houses? Its not the government, its private builders or agencies who then sell most for profit. An entire generation can't get a mortgage to buy these houses therefore there is no incentive for builders because they know there is no profit in it for them. They also won't be incentivised to build more so the government can force them to sell some of the few houses they do build as social housing. Therefore supply dry's up its a vicious circle. Where can I ask should the capital come from to incentivise the new builds?

[@elingles3708]

The railways are publicly owned in Denmark too

[@TheLeagueOfTasteAndClassCorp]

I'm so glad I heard this side of the EU debate. It's something that gets overlooked all the time and it shouldn't be

[@0cypher0]

It's also based on a lot of misinformation and incorrect assumption on Mick's part

[@christopherblackburn6811]

That’s fine but the argument that France and Germany may do it but the EU wouldn’t let us do it doesn’t stand up to much scrutiny.

[@FatRonaldo1]

Watch Lexit the movie it explains it incredibly well

[@tfinde]

@@christopherblackburn6811 wouldn't let us? When was it ever blocked. Our government loves privatisation it isn't forced by the EU to do so

[@christopherblackburn6811]

@@tfinde that’s my point. Lynch argued that we wouldn’t be allowed nationalised public services despite most of the EU owning a much higher proportion of their public services.

[@Gillemear]

Just a clarification from Dublin- Irish mortgages are increasing due to the dramatic rise in house prices thanks to a severe lack of available accommodation and housing. Yes, fiscal policies of the European Central Bank has not helped but they are a drop in the ocean compared to other strains on the market.

[@moc7323]

One factor in the house price is They are building AAA+ energy house .. they are more expensive to build .. A 2022 house is built much better built than a 2000 or 1990 house Hence the price

[@louisburke8927]

@@moc7323 no

[@louisburke8927]

Thanks for this

[@Dreyno]

Developers are sitting on land banks, trickle feeding them into the market to keep prices high. Knock on effect is high rents as well due to the demand. Also the selling off of public housing stock 30 years ago and the non-replenishment of it.

[@Gillemear]

@Daniel Wood I have lived all my life in Dublin. I'm 45 years old. The earliest I remember housing issues being an issue was when I was 8 or 9. You are right, it is nothing new. But nothing has changed and honestly the EU has nothing to do with a long line of politicians too corrupt to act or too lazy to care.

[@chrisroche989]

Honestly best debate about the EU. Just taken 5 years too late

[@kevjq2435]

The joys of having a biest media

[@Paddythefriendlykiwi]

Exactly.

[@johnnypatterson7512]

The problem with leaving the EU is now the UK is at the mercy of the greedy Tories who can now change any rules they want to hurt the working class.

[@FatRonaldo1]

That’s what we have elections for, if we vote in someone like JC he can actually enact some of his policies which would have been illegal under EU law

[@fireup8140]

we will all riot.

[@robcord5982]

@@FatRonaldo1 Jeremy Corbyn lol

[@evolassunglasses4673]

The Conservative are ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE. Come forward with better policies.

[@mariogmajner6549]

@@robcord5982 If Labour MPs had respected the Referendum result we would now have a Labour Government in power.

[@thomaswinters3341]

Love both these men, but got to side with James on this one. As much as as it is true the anti union laws aren't influenced by the EU, Sunak and Truss are ready to take the perfectly fine laws enshrining European workers rights and rip them to shreds. And people even on the left were fooled by this infantile disease of nationalism and getting our sovereignty back. And doing so they've given the Tories the power to do as they please.

[@bradleywalsh8571]

What is remotely fine about the EU's "worker rights"? There's nothing progressive in its binding treaties, far from it. It was designed and has always acted in the interests of capital. Unfortunately for the UK, we have the Tories in power and an increasingly incompetent Labour Party suffering from an identity crisis because it's forgotten those it was created to represent.

[@xxxxOS]

The EU is propping up global corporations and late stage neoliberalism. In or out were all doomed inevitably if we don't challenge this unsustainable economic philosophy. Brexit did its job, because the entire point of it was to blame Brexit for the economic collapse they knew was coming since 2008. Im sorry but some of you are seriously naive

[@notwkrail]

I totally agree let's get on our sailboats and head towards Trafalgar

[@lauralishes1]

Everyone desperately trying to find out Mick's views on anything from the EU to Scottish independence. It's mostly a right wing smear tactic, when really Mick's views on any of that are irrelevant.

[@ofsoundmind3990]

@@JupiterThunder Is Jupiter your home planet? Because you don't appear to be living on this one! Why do you think the mental section of the tories were so desperate to leave the EU? I'll give you a clue, it wasn't to improve workers' rights.

[@cpuuk]

Show me any de-nationalised service that has been proven to work better for the people- I use to pay £660 a year for my railcard\ LU travel,. Then 5 years after it was sold off I was paying £2600 a year- delays still the same, still got to work in the same amount of time, so how is that an improvement? My salary certainly didn't go up 300% during the same period. We are still dancing to the tune of the 1970's Ridley Plan, which has one single objective and that is to put national money into private hands.

[@conwaynoel3715]

The Irish rail system is state owned and always has been . There is no plan to change that regardless of EU rules.

[@Eis_Bear]

I think that some pre-existing situation don't have to be changed when you join the EU, regardless of EU law. So if you have state owned railways when joining that can remain, but if you were to privatise them afterwards.. you wouldn't be allowed to revert back to state owned. Not 100% sure, but I think it's something like that.

[@LiveFromLondon2]

To be to the point, there is no money in Irish rail so the teh EU couldnt care less about.

[@conwaynoel3715]

@@LiveFromLondon2 At least what money is in Irish rail is being spent in Irish rail. It's not being siphoned off by private companies for the benefit of shareholders to the detriment of the service and investment. What's more the EU does care about the Irish rail system as it is investing in it's development year on year the tune of millions of euros. The EU have rules that are designed to help the many not the chosen few.

[@PhyllisGlassup2TheBrim]

most other European railways are also state owned.

[@davidpryle3935]

@@Eis_Bear Yes, EU state aid rules would prevent Renationalising the railways.

[@patrick_lamb_voiceover]

Saying that the British rail system could not have been renationalised effectively under EU law is manifestly not true. Whilst they are both shareholder companies, both Deutsche Bahn and the ÖBB are owned entirely by the German and Austrian state, respectively. The SNCF in France is owned by the French state.

[@bazzacuda_]

Many of our "private" rail franchises in the UK are partnerships involving European state operators. e.g Avanti West Coast has TrenItalia behind it. Abelio has Nederland Spoorwagen the Dutch state rail operator, Cross Country has Deutsche Bahn behind it.

[@godehardbrysch7905]

@@bazzacuda_ And not to forget we in the Rhine-Ruhr area have the National Express. I have never asked myself who the owner is.

[@bazzacuda_]

@@godehardbrysch7905 National Express Group Plc is not state owned. Not even partially.

[@kebabtank]

The point is, that if they are privatised, they would not be allowed to be run by the state again under EU law.

[@stuartsinclair-smith9140]

What was so annoying about that interview was, the EU sets a minimum every country can increase workers rights above that. I find it fascinating that both extreme left and extreme right, wanted brexit but for completely opposite reasons I liked Hannans explanation we voted to redecorate a room but none of can agree on how it should be redecorated

[@bosoerjadi2838]

@Macavity That was the puzzling thing about the Leave voters. If you're conservative, you'd be happy that the EU slows down radical change and offers the largest barrier-free trade area in the world. If you're progressive you'd be happy with the basic protection the EU offers against tearing down worker's and citizen's rights structures. People on the left and on the right had more than enough compelling reasons not voting for Brexit, least of all a 'hard Brexit'. Tragically the hard Brexit is exactly what the country drove itself into. The consequences are still in crescendo, likely to reach the worst point within five years after 'Brexit day'. Whether the country will remain at that point forever depends on voting anyone out who will stand in the way of improving the relationships with the EU. And even then, the best that can be reached are mitigations on the medium term. Unless the UK sets out on a new course of convergence after all. Meanwhile Scotland has been inspired to actually leave the Union after all, Northern Ireland practically has been cut loose and Wales has begun to recognise and resent its default compliance to England. We are living in increasingly interesting times.

[@chasingthesun-bi6cx]

@Macavity I can see many, but for the same reasons as you I voted remain. Leaving or renegotiating with the EU could only have been done under a government for the people.

[@chasingthesun-bi6cx]

@@bosoerjadi2838 I don't know about convergence but maybe democratic alignment on a basis that will allow for fair trade and collaboration. Power should come from the bottom up IMHO. A government is Brussels knows even less of the lives of people in Macclesfield than the people in London. We should keep it local.

[@lacdirk]

@@chasingthesun-bi6cx Sorry, but there was no beneficial brexit possible. Economically, socially, geopolitically and culturally it was always going to be a disaster.

[@jaybe2908]

Restricting freedom of movement has given low paid uk workers a much better bargaining position. I worked pre freedom of movement and are still working now, did I see any great benefit from being in the EU absolutely not.

[@robfarquhar7780]

Scotland managed to re-nationalise Scot Rail but England cant !!! WHY

[@itsjoemofo]

Don't forget Transport for Wales (TfW) a few years back

[@nathanhowarth5760]

Might have nothing to do with it, but the Scottish govt and the welsh govt nationalised their railways AFTER leaving the EU. Now the reason we dont in England is cos of the rotten tory govt. But at least we could if we choose as we are not party to that rotten EU 4th rail package (market clause)

[@itsjoemofo]

@@nathanhowarth5760 Indeed. And not just rail but water too. Scottish Water and Dwr Cymru are publicly-owned/not-for-profit. Corrupt Tories got England paying the private sector through the nose for national utilities and services. disgraceful.

[@nathanhowarth5760]

@@itsjoemofo Agreed

[@michaelhughes6634]

An actual advance debate where people are actually talking about Brexit and what they want instead. James well done for pushing him and bring something interesting.

[@melvinp1324]

brexit - pmsl ! you actually thought you had a vote ! it was already done they just used media to have half the people belive in it !

[@simonw3330]

😂

[@BigRon554]

I suppose James had to enter civil discourse now that the person is actually infront of him. The mute button and talking over doesn’t work face to face

[@MD-uu5nt]

James O'brien treats people with opposing ideas abysmally so he is usually the guy lowering the tone. He is a tool.

[@leftofcentrebrexit1546]

O'Bigot is just cutting him off all the time before he can answer.

[@Dreyno]

The property prices in Ireland are due to many things. Developers allowed to sit on land banks and trickle feeding houses into the market to keep prices sky high, landlords jacking up rents while people are desperate, the selling off of social housing stock decades ago and their non-replacement, increasing building standards, fuel and material costs, sheer greed and yes, to some extent, some EU decisions. But that’s a minor factor compared to the greed.

[@johnmolloy3750]

Yes, all of the above and a slavish, Thatcherite belief that the "market" will solve everything!

[@Dreyno]

@@johnmolloy3750 Absolutely. Touted by people who will benefit from the market of course and without a scintilla of evidence that it will solve anything.

[@aleksandrai3973]

I think Mitch is amazing. But he's also terribly wrong (and I'm surprised that James was not ready to rebut him) on the issue of ownership of railway in the EU. Deutche Bahn, which is 100% owned by German state is also an investor in the UK railway. Actually, according to the RMT themselves, 70% of the UK railways is owned by foreign states. This has nothing to do with the EU, but with the Tory corruption!

[@jameshoughton701]

You'd have thought that Mr Remoaner would have pulled him up about that and put him right........................

[@Nick-kb6jd]

@@jameshoughton701 I am delighted that European governments own and profit from British Utilities. Taking back control. /sarc

[@tisFrancesfault]

@@jameshoughton701 tbf he did state that it wasnt the prime topic of discussion today, but should be had some other time which is reasonable

[@minimax9452]

@@Nick-kb6jd you lost control...

[@minimax9452]

German here: At Volkswagen 90% of the workers are Unions-member. We have a law about "Mitbestimmung" (Co-Ladership) - the members of the Union are sitting at the board. Also parts of VW are owned by the State. After some quarrels - no problems with EU Law. Mr lynch is the same disappointment as Mr. Corbyn. "Workers of the world unite!" (marx). They still think they can solve it for a small island. A tragic.

[@lloydbelle3406]

I really don't get Lynch's EU stance on UK railways: France, Italy, Germany and Ireland all have state controlled railways - exactly what he would like for the UK, so why's he fearing EU privatised Railways?

[@beautiplady8712]

France and Italy have both nationalised and privatised rail...

[@jensverstraete4722]

the thing is that those countries where forced to open up the market to private businesses so that the state owned companies don't have a monopoly anymore

[@inspectahwoke5746]

It's really difficult to have a fully nationalised program without being interfered by the EU. It's quite simple.

[@lloydbelle3406]

@@inspectahwoke5746 Twenty Seven EU members manage to have national programs without the handicap of exiting the trade market they sit in. That idea is obviously a con, as it's proven not to be true.

[@scapingby]

you need to have an understanding of the UK railways & EU law to understand why full nationalisation cant be done. it requires alot of reading so who can be bothered, really.

[@michaelvdunne]

He was in Ireland seeing relatives but he forgot to either listen or ask about the Irish attitude to the EU. The answer would have told him that Ireland supports the EU and think the brits are nuts.

[@LiveFromLondon2]

do the irish have a reputation for being thick? I dont think the brits will worry too much about the opinion of the irish.

[@Jen-lg4hp]

I'm Irish- I DESPISE the EU and fully support Brexit! Then again, I don't watch the constant pro-Eu propaganda spouted out by the mindless morons in the Irish media!

[@ericdavies1040]

@@LiveFromLondon2 English people are quite a lot thicker than the Irish.

[@derekkearns3377]

Ireland and EU are usa puppets . And governent love laundering our cash upwards to corporations

[@christopherallen3784]

Ironic ,when Ireland came with the begging bowl to the UK to bail them out in the financial crisis.....those nasty Brits you all hate eh?Same Brits whom patrol your sky's,cos you don't have an airforce,and the life boats of the RNLI who patrol your shore's.... Ireland's never been truly independent from UK...the word plastic comes to mind...as it often does with the Irish!🤣

[@paulcopsey6573]

I can never get my head around the "no to an EU army", but being in NATO is just fine?

[@jackiethomas249]

Because the US is not included. 🙄

[@kirishima638]

@@JupiterThunder As a member of the EU, the UK could support or veto any EU legislation it liked. And there is no such think as 'EU law'. The EU makes legislation and directives which are then translated into domestic law.

[@lacdirk]

@@JupiterThunder Nonsense. As one of the top three members, the UK did not actually disagree with anything that became EU law. However, now it no longer has power in the EU, and EU laws will still heavily influence the UK economy and citizens. UK companies will largely follow EU law, whatever the government decides. Brexit was a huge loss of actual sovereignty.

[@StephenTownsley]

@@JupiterThunder The EU never made laws in the UK that it could not change. The UK had to agree, via treaty, the council and Parliament, then pass the EU law into British legislation. The Uk never implemented the restrictions of freedom of movement and then complained it couldn't restrict freedom of movement. The rules were literally there to be implemented. NATO treaties are clear. If Estonia was invaded we would have to send troops. The UK can't change that. Except by leaving NATO.

[@tomjones8715]

One is mutual self defence the other is a politically driven entity

[@edmurth]

Here’s the thing with this endless debate. What our relationship was and is now with the EU is complicated, as everything in life is, it should have never been put to a national referendum in such simple terms, Cameron did it for party politics, not the nation. Then when parliament was in deadlock, it was in deadlock precisely because parliament was functioning as it should, trying to act in their constituents best interests, this would have ended in compromise, lets say for example, remaining in the customs union. But that all ended when Boris broke the law and illegally prorogued parliament. The Tories should never be forgiven.

[@dh1380]

100%

[@scatmann5839]

You don't get consulted before a rise in taxes or interest rates; or indeed, to go to war. You can't be consulted on everything.

[@tonygange7636]

@@JupiterThunder Hear hear

[@TheNathanielDurand]

@@JupiterThunder You go and fight for the right of Ireland and Scotland to get their Sovereignty back and THEN maybe you'll have a semblance of a leg to stand on.

[@BobK5]

@@TheNathanielDurand would Ireland and Scotland want that or is it just a romantic pipe dream drenched in disaster if it did come off for both of those countries?

[@VolkerHett]

The german railway DB AG is 100% owned bei the Federal Republic of Germany. DB AG holds a majority share in DB Schenker and DB Arriva (sounds familiar?).

[@a.r.stellmacher8709]

Let’s hope it stays that way.

[@a.r.stellmacher8709]

Now I look at your second sentence and I’m somewhat confused.

[@aidanbrophy86]

Irish Rail and the Irish Rail Network are entirely owned by the Irish State. We are under no obligation to change this from the EU. None. This is a nonsense point Mr Lynch.

[@davidpryle3935]

Aidan Brophy. You’re missing the point. If the Irish rail network had been privatised like the British rail network was, it couldn’t be renationalised under EU rules.

[@aidanbrophy86]

@@davidpryle3935 "Andrea Biondi, director of the Centre of European Law at King’s College London, found that the effect of remaining inside the EU “would likely be negligible”. Writing with Andy Tarrant, a former Labour adviser on Europe, in the quarterly social democratic journal Renewal, he said: “Particular concern has been expressed by supporters of ‘Lexit’ concerning state aid rules preventing those parts of the Labour’s current programme which favour nationalisation. “This is not the case; nor would Lexit in any event be a mechanism for avoiding state aid laws, which are requirements of World Trade Organisation membership and form part of the EU’s negotiating brief for any trade agreement with the UK.”" From the Guardian. It is simply made up nonsense. What EU rules insure is that the state cannot favour its own companies in the awarding of contracts etc. The majority of EU countries have National Rail. Sure what sort of mad people would privatise the railways....

[@davidpryle3935]

@@aidanbrophy86 You’ll have to forgive me Aidan if I continue to take the word of a working class socialist trade union like the RMT over the word of a bourgeois liberal newspaper like the guardian. This is really where we get to the whole class issue of Brexit, which the bourgeois liberal left have avoided like the plague. The EU is basically a bourgeois liberal project. The working class have never liked it.

[@aidanbrophy86]

You know you don't have to take anybody word right? The EU prints it's legislation online.

[@davidpryle3935]

@@aidanbrophy86 Yes, and it’s legislation is interpreted by the ECJ. And as the Viking and Laval cases show, we know the ECJ is the enforcer of EU neoliberalism.

[@danWMO7]

Great to see sensible debate without attacking each other on a personal level.

[@leftofcentrebrexit1546]

O'Bigot is attacking him.

[@ianbetts4435]

What like he usually does

[@petercutting6126]

O'Brien will be on Lynch's side. The difference is one went to a posh school. Guess which, lol.

[@ianbetts4435]

@@petercutting6126 O'brien is a champagne sipping hypocrite.

[@pv8636]

O'Brien normally ridicules his opponents, hes the only broadcaster I know who delights in embarrassing people. He couldn't do that to Mr lynch could he because he knew more than o'Brien.

[@murphybegood]

As an Irish man that's moving back to Ireland atm from Ireland as a result of Brexit. The situation in Ireland has absolutely nothing to do with the EU. The issue with Ireland right now has to do with vulture funds and the corruption of FF and FG (political parties) are to blame.

[@Rincenso]

The english seems to Love blaming foreigners for the problems they themselves have created. Goes for all hard right people, of course, but in the uk it seems to be over the whole spectrum.

[@jasbindersingh2441]

Right... so the central bank of Ireland sets it monetary policy then ????

[@antonralph6947]

Ireland needs to leave the EU

[@thechunkyone7118]

Tiocfaidh ár lá

[@MrGrifft]

@@antonralph6947 Why? So they can be like the failing state to their East?

[@PanglossDr]

It is so sad that a debate like this is so exceptionally rare in the UK when it is the norm in countries like Ireland or France.

[@niccymak8243]

Somewhere on here are Tony Benn and Enoch Powell debating with great politeness and interest with what the other one wants to say.

[@rockcatsofmiami4180]

Is France the country where Marine Le Pen does well? And is Ireland the country with the sectarian divisions?

[@garytaylor6408]

@@rockcatsofmiami4180 I think you mean Northern Ireland, not Ireland.

[@jdermody1]

@@rockcatsofmiami4180 sectarian division???? Not in the Republic..

[@TMan786]

You're not living up to your name with that pessimistic attitude.

[@ljcbvideo]

They just don't get the EU and even worse they have no idea about business and company instruments that would solve this issue of nationalised industries. The objective is social responsibility and not who owns which widgets......

[@colinstephenson5386]

Hello Lawrence , solve the issue of nationalist industries ? , can you expand your thinking on what you call ‘ issue “ please, then perhaps I’d able to make an opinion about the ‘ solve “ bit , I feel I should explain from where I’m coming from, methinks Public services like buses, trains and trams , water , energy, cops , Health, Education etc should be run for the benefit of everyone, not profit , manufactured goods , Mars Bars etc should be given to the profit seekers ,

[@ljcbvideo]

@Don´tbehasty doesn't have to be like that. The issues are ownership, management and social responsibility.

[@ljcbvideo]

@@colinstephenson5386 totally agree with you ironically because this leaves people with more money to participate in the economy. But of course there are profits, price and monopoly abuse, and reasonable remuneration for services rendered. The privatised services are today price gauging without services rendered......

[@mariogmajner6549]

@@ljcbvideo If Labour MPs had respected the Referendum result we would now have a Labour Government in power.

[@ljcbvideo]

@@mariogmajner6549 no... if Labour didn't support a flagship policy of the tories that was blindingly obvious going to destroy the country we would have had a Labour government these past few years. And with Corbyn being a nut job did not help at all....

[@wendysimpson6395]

I am so disappointed that he still opposes the EU and talks of the scaremongering EU army and not admitting the inflation rate the highest in the G7 is due to Brexit.

[@scapingby]

There's a possibility that their could be an EU army, it's not completely off the cards. you seem to think that the EU is static, that it cant change. Yes it can change, it could turn into something you don't like 10, 50 years from now. They could impose laws that you don't like... can you imagine that? it's already changed so much from inception. Don't just think about what's happening now or tommorow... have an imagination. That's why democracy is so important, and why we need more of it, not less.

[@tonygange7636]

The EU army is being talked about. Then when the "scaremongering" comes true, your types stay in their boxes

[@WolfgangVonKempelen838]

The EU protect workers rights much better than this tory government or any UK government will ever do

[@ravenna_bronze]

His union members supported Brexit, as he's a union representative, he speaks their opinion. If there were any reason to poll the union and opinion had changed, of course he'd need to change what he's saying. He's only doing his job and people forget that.

[@TMan786]

The plan for an EU army is real. You know that plan that Nick Clegg dismissed as nonsense. Inflation is higher in Turkey. Is that Brexit too? Stop reaching for your desperate lies you Brussels shill.

[@donmcmillan4388]

I worked for a railway that was run by the federal government that was privatized and it’s been disastrous. Safety compromised, constant fight at contract time and everything they do is for the share holders and profits

[@minimax9452]

German here: At Volkswagen 90% of the workers are Unions-member. We have a law about "Mitbestimmung" (Co-Ladership) - the members of the Union are sitting at the board. Also parts of VW are owned by the State. After some quarrels - no Problems with EU Law. Mr lynch is the same disappointment as Mr. Corbyn. "Workers of the world unite!" (marx). They still think they can solve it for a small island. A tragic.

[@drayzorn]

Your argument seems to imply that European Union is a workers union. I'm not sure Marx would speak in glowing terms of the EU, do you?

[@minimax9452]

@@drayzorn No - this is what you try to make out of it. Obviously the EU is not a workers union. But european Unions should work together to have a bigger influence on EU.

[@mariogmajner6549]

@@minimax9452 If Labour MPs had respected the Referendum result we would now have a Labour Government in power.

[@MissBlennerhassett876]

Not really. 'Workers of the world unite!' are your words. Neither Corbyn nor Lynch were trying to solve generic global issues by being eurosceptic.

[@richardburns5925]

You are just similar to us, but better. The German unions work hand in glove with industry, as it should be. In the 70s, our unions had too much power, now they have too little and less members.

[@jonathanroberts9168]

The idea that we would get the brexit he wants under a Tory government is for the birds.

[@britnatzaredemocracydenier5922]

Democracy denying English liebor can't and won't make brexit work only the brainwashed think differently

[@HopeIsFleeting]

He didn't say that though if you were listening. He was talking about the EU it 'in principle'. I.E from a socialist position.

[@quinn3334]

That’s not what he said

[@dlawrence3187]

You can democratically change the Uk government. That’s the point.

[@britnatzaredemocracydenier5922]

@@dlawrence3187 Scotland doesn't want to be apart of this fake English dictatorship union

[@philipberthiaume2314]

I've written on brexit, in economic terms, for years. The reasons to justify a vote for an exit, in this video, clearly reside in matters of jurisdiction control and fear of imposed outcomes made by outside decision makers. I also learned from this video, that Europe is truly viewed as an outside entity. The irony for me is that the UK is in Europe. The UK was a leading voice in EU decision making and the price it has and will pay, to leave economic cooperation with Europe, is stellar enormous. I am trained in economics, 'stellar' is usually not an adjective that I would use, but in this case, it fits.

[@baronrodrigo5049]

Exactly it’s madness from both sides Gulliver’s travels

[@bradleigh10]

Unfortunately though, because your trained in economics we shouldn't listen to people like you? And instead listen to Fred from down the road who says Brexit will make Britian's economy a thousand times better... Well I think thats the narrative anyways all the Brexiters splurt out.

[@TheArgieH]

The Single European Market was largely a creation of Maggie's CDL, Lord Cockfield to be precise. Some folk have awfully short memories. The setting up of the ECHR, now anthema to to some, also owes much to the UK.

[@loosabway3400]

@@TheArgieH Exactly

[@tonygange7636]

Hey phillip. How do you plan for an already crumbling infrastructure when you dont know who's coming or going as wed have been signed up to FOM. How do you project a budget when you dont know who's coming or going ?

[@chrismalcomson7640]

I understand Micks position, which is the same as JCs, that its against EU law to have a large scale program of nationalisation. I don't buy that. I always felt the EU protected us from our own government and as we were a major player in the EU we could have been part of changing the rules to facilitate a new way. UK PLC was a huge success until we voted to leave. Now its the French or any other EU country you can scape goat to hide our own failures..

[@chasingthesun-bi6cx]

Maybe, but I have the feeling we weren't as influential as we believe. We just had a sweet deal. A Tory or New Labour style govt wouldn't have had the will or credibility to reach out across Europe to make the alliances to force the changes needed in the EU. Maybe if labour member's votes hadn't forced the party into a second vote a more EEC style deal could have been negotiated. I voted remain, but I'm also a democrat and I think the treatment of Brexit voters and not upholding their vote lead to this, frankly scary, version of a Tory govt we have today.

[@JohnSmall314]

"its against EU law to have a large scale program of nationalisation" Pretty much all the laws the EU made to obstruct nationalisations were instigated by the UK.

[@loosabway3400]

Have you not noticed the working and middle classes getting ****ed over for the last 40 years despite all these wonderful ‘protections’ being in place?

[@intothemultiverse1033]

And who protects us from the EU and who protects them from the next level and the next level etc.

[@zoedaisy1499]

So you guys support this Lexiteer whom presides over a Union full of Brexiteers who’s policies have caused the pound to crash and whose policies shrunk the economy and caused out of control inflation and you support them in their quest to be absolved from the consequences of their choices whilst the rest of us get bent over! Deluded misguided people

[@franklettering]

The important aspect of this short video is that the people of the UK being asked to stay or leave were never given a chance to listen and evaluate the pro's and con's of the decision we were voting for.

[@LiveFromLondon2]

Not sure if you are employing sarcasm.....

[@sgu00dir]

???? Sorry what?! Sarcasm surely? :)

[@eatthisvr6]

@@sgu00dir brexit means brexit ring any bells??

[@tomruddy2592]

We injured about three months of televised debates. Were you in a coma during that time?

[@eatthisvr6]

@@tomruddy2592 injured? do you mean endured?

[@jamesmp1015]

Job can’t bear anyone questioning his beloved EU superstate! 😂😂😂

[@bastikaz]

Well nobody's perfect but I am disappointed to learn that Lynch is in favor of leaving the EU.

[@paulrainer100]

me either. let him have his brexit, but he shouldn't spread untruths about the EU

[@scatmann5839]

Why don't you point out the untruth? I bet he's better informed on the EU than you are.

[@ollyje9667]

It seems as though from what he has said is that he is in favour of the Single Market/Customs Union. As he was in favour of the EEC back in 1973

[@legaleagle6111]

@@ollyje9667 The single market was introduced when the EEC became the EU. So he is against the single market. 99% of what he says about the EU is incorrect. Union leaders in EU Member States are much better informed than he is. In my opinion the lack of knowledge in the UK is what led to Brexit.

[@MrResearcher122]

@@legaleagle6111 ''Opening domestic passenger markets The 4th railway package includes the proposal to open up domestic passenger railways to new entrants and services from December 2019. Companies would be able either to offer competing services, such as a new train service on a particular route, or to bid for public service rail contracts through tendering. The proposed changes would make competitive tendering mandatory for public service rail contracts in the EU.''

[@dwdei8815]

Really interesting to hear someone trying to produce a cogent argument for Brexit - first time I've heard it attempted for 6 years - although I'm not buying it. E.g. with the mortgages, what difference is there if it's a national bank or a EU central bank having the effect of increasing your mortgage? We sprogs have just as little control over either of them. Mortgage rates are currently shooting up in the UK and nothing to brag about. A bit put off by the insincerity of the misrepresentation of EU workers' rights legislation, which sets a minimum platform which any country can voluntarily do MORE than if it wants. It's not a command to not increase e.g. the minimum wage or holiday entitlement. The nonsense of Lexit pivots on being dishonest in that way.

[@saaversteen]

he'd much prefer home grown toffs to be making the big calls on his behalf rather than them foreign toffs

[@oneoflokis]

I am a leftist and have yet to be convinced by Lexit!

[@pcat1378]

Erm weren't mortgage rates at there highest when we were in the EU??

[@StephenTownsley]

The lexit position is contradictory. He said he was in favour of the EEC but not the EU. In other words the single market and the customs union where Britain obeys the rules. The EU membership side is for countries that want to make the rules. It's an odd position of wanting to obey rules without being in the room that makes them.

[@pcat1378]

​@@StephenTownsley So are you saying the GS of the RMT who is doing more for British workers than any other force in Britain or Europe for that matter for literally decades, doesn't know what he is on about?

[@chrisrobinson860]

Brilliant to see and hear sensible debate, whichever side you are on. Well done both guys.👍

[@joe94c]

The biggest issue I have here is that the EU set basic standards, and an individual sovereign nation can still be leftist. Look at the Scandinavian countries. The unions in Denmark are so strong they literally don't have a minimum wage. It's redundant. Sweden has 6 hour work days. Worker co-ops are becoming increasingly popular. In Central Europe, in Germany, the rail system is ACTUALLY nationalised. Deutchebahn is a private company owned by the government, hence the 9€ ticket implemented over the summer. In Germany water is not a bill to ge paid for. The boogy man that was the EU is no where as scary as leavers made it out to be. As for free movement, my wife is Bulgarian and I've been living in Germany for past 4 years. Yes, the EU has problems, but it was easily a net benefit

[@oneoflokis]

Thought Germans had water meters? 🤔

[@jimmyrich4675]

So true. Wish numpties could understand!!

[@joe94c]

@@oneoflokis hot water meters, yes. But water itself is always included

[@joe94c]

@@oneoflokis my meter is exposed and it doesn't count when using only cold water

[@Cornu341]

@@joe94c every house in Germany has at least one water meter for the general provision with fresh water. Every year the muncipality is then billing the water provided to the house. Homeowners may install additional meters like in your case to differentiate for other uses. So technically water needs to be paid but perhaps not in all cases by the renter. Depends on the contract you have.

[@grumpyyyyy]

Lynch is actually right about the Fourth Railway package which is coming into force next year in the EU, which James didn’t really address. All subsidised routes will have to be put up for open tender for private companies. Subsidised routes have been a financial black hole for the EU for sometime, particularly the SNCF in France. I’m a remainer, but simply saying it’s not the case now, isn’t really an answer to his point.

[@cosidolyang4215]

Little correction: Put out for tender to *companies. The companies don't have to be private and can also be national operators. The package underpins free competition, that's true. As an analogy: The manufacture of new British blue passport was also put out to tender & it's not a British company that won the contract....

[@johnsullivan2449]

It’s an English/Welsh Brexit forced on Scotland and Northern Ireland who didn’t want it. Brexit is no truly representational of the British people/workers.

[@jamesbovington8218]

Hope that they leave and destroy the UK in its present incarnation.

[@aldebaran9255]

James O'Brian is very comfortable interviewing an anti-conservative guest, but you can see, hear and feel his discomfort when he realises that his revered guest opposes the EU, but supports the EEC. This has been the Labour position for decades and can be read online in their historical General Election manifestos.

[@scarletharlot69]

supports the EEC but opposes the EU, is it all down to an objection to a change of name then?

[@markperrin8098]

@@scarletharlot69 That's got to be the stupidest thing I've read today, well done.

[@scarletharlot69]

@@markperrin8098 do you think so?

[@scarletharlot69]

@@markperrin8098 so is it all down to a change of name?

[@tombutcher3021]

I agree with this stance and I am conservative.

[@andrewmcree9157]

Please get this guy in charge of our country.

[@davidz3879]

He's in favour of greatly increasing immigration.

[@RandomTask]

he’s a corbynista so no thanks

[@Anduril1974]

This man Lynch, he's a monster. And I agree with 99% of what he says. Wish he was Labour leader.

[@david-pb4bi]

I think he is a closet conservative, 100% he voted Brexit.

[@lbert1347]

@@david-pb4bi doesn't intrinsically make him a bad person.

[@garrypayne5733]

@@david-pb4bi people can have varied views. Everything you believe doesn't have to go in one box or the other.

[@steveg8522]

@@lbert1347 just dumb

[@3rodox]

@@david-pb4bi By your logic then Corbyn is also a closeted conservative? News to me.

[@tobiwan001]

Of course none of this is true, as the EU does not require privatization of railways. In fact German laws REQUIRE that at least the infrastructure of the railway remains owned by the public.

[@olixz]

A big reason I wanted to stay in the EU is because I always felt like the EU was always more progressive than we are.

[@tomruddy2592]

What does that make you?

[@olixz]

@@tomruddy2592 Depends on who you ask and what political persuasion they are haha.

[@gavinhillick]

So why would you want to be a part of it? And why should you be allowed?

[@olixz]

@@gavinhillick Freedom of movement and I believe we're better off in the customs union. I shouldn't be allowed to be in it because we left. We should have left because that's how the referendum went. I was just stating why I wanted to stay in.

[@gavinhillick]

@@olixz You said that the EU being more progressive than the UK was a big reason you'd have stayed. I think trying to force progress on a county from the outside is doomed to failure, especially when that progress is in the form of neoliberalism. Your big reason for staying is exactly what so many people fear.

[@simonheindl6522]

I strongly disagree with Lynch here: the EU provides consumer and worker protection, and a minimum of human dignity in all laws - with that security now gone, it seems more than likely that the Tory government will continue to aggravate the situation of ordinary people and that often in a legal way

[@scapingby]

it's all copied and pasted into UK law... if they wish to change it, they'll need to put it through parliament... and if by some miracle they get it through, they'll be voted out in the next GE. there's a word that summarises the process i've just outlined... democracy.

[@Jide-bq9yf]

He couldn’t possibly see it any other way . A trade unionist has no interest in an unrestrained pool of ever cheaper labour dwindling bargaining power with the bosses . As for worker rights , he’ll take his chance’s , grit his teeth , and ballot for a strike when he has to .

[@zergnub7426]

You don't need the EU to guarantee consumer and worker protections. You need a government that has its people's backs, that's all. We don't have one.

[@Marenqo]

I know someone responsible in the commission and his job was literally going from one gov to another trying to convince them to privatise rail. That was the early 2010s. I brought about union rights, they were not too impressed. True story.

[@weswheel4834]

@@garethatkins450 And as Truss is a massive fan of unions, that'll be fine.

[@gopyai3486]

GREAT !! a debate between 3 adults all giving views and respecting other arguments. This was not quarrelling this was proper non-dogmatic, pragmatic discussion. POLOTICIANS SORT YOURSELVES OUT

[@Dragonten312]

France owns EDF (energy) and the SNCF (railway company). Like Lynch's work in standing up for worker's rights, but he doesn't know what he's talking about when he talks about the EU

[@davidty2006]

Hmmm. Theres ALOT of nationalised rail companies in the EU mainly government owned.

[@trulyexorcise2918]

Oh dear, James really does not like his beloved EU being discussed negatively

[@sososoprano1]

No, especially when someone is repeating a viral lie. Lexiters were wrong about nationalism being not allowed within the EU.

[@silondon9010]

Britain is more than just a star on somebody else's flag

[@m.g.3013]

@@silondon9010 Yeah its the one you'd find on your backside

[@Detector1977]

The EU worked more or less as a second failsafe. With that gone all it takes is one nutty government in Westminister and rights are gone....

[@evolassunglasses4673]

Vote for Socialism if you want it.

[@jimmyrich4675]

@@evolassunglasses4673 very much will do

[@clbfan]

Have been impressed with Micks dealings with regards challenging this extreme right wing government. However he and some far left folks views on the EU are bizarre. We are better in the EU fighting our corner. Also Euro Army tales are like bent bananas, so a bit disappointed there. Flexibility is needed not rigidity...that's a Tory traight, please don't copy!!

[@evolassunglasses4673]

After Ukraine the EU army is certain. The EU is completely unaccountable and a Capitalist club. Free Movement was capitalism importing an over supply of labour in, race to the bottom for the working class

[@clbfan]

@@evolassunglasses4673 And straight banana's? Most countries in the EU are coalition governments, unlike here where parties can get 80 seat majorities, so barely capitalist if you are comparing!

[@clairewright332]

The far right party, with Rishi Sunak, Pritti Patel, Kemi Badenoch, Sajid Javed, Suella Braverman, James Cleverly, Sam Kwasi etc 😂😂😂 Looks like a very diverse party!

[@clbfan]

@@clairewright332 diverse not sure thats an argument. I don't think anyone can argue they're far right. Boris got rid of all the moderates early days. They are nowhere near the centre which probably most of the electorate sit. So yes, far right.

[@clairewright332]

@@clbfan Far right is just a code word used to describe anyone who you disagree with. My point in the previous is that a far right party would only have whites such as the Nazis. What exactly is far right about them? Being proud to be British, not constantly trashing their citizens, traditions and culture, respecting the democratic vote that was Brexit. If that's what far right is, then fine.

[@larslarsen5414]

90% of Danish railways are nationalized and 10% private. Is he saying that is illegal under EU law?! And EU workers generally get Danish minimum wage. But yes, there was the strange example he mentioned. Never happened again.

[@ennoterkeurst]

The construction in Denmark is according to the EU rules which is focused on creating equal market conditions in the single market. That means that public traffic is still the responsibility of the goverment of a country. But, private and public companies should be able to bid for the contract that provides that service. No monopoloy position but an European tender. Under which conditions whould work could be part of the contract. It happens in the Netherlands every few years when we tender the contract for public bus transport.

[@larslarsen5414]

@@ennoterkeurst Ok thanks.

[@DavidJohnson-dc8lu]

Hold on a second if France brought in an emergency package to cap EDF due to EU legislation package, that means the UK should currently have the same EU legislation and can cap energy prices.

[@DavidJohnson-dc8lu]

Listen again!

[@CrowColdblade]

The Swedish railway SJ is owned by the state, so is the mining company LKAB. There is nothing preventing state ownership as long as you dont give them a competative edge.

[@michaelk.jensen1611]

Yeah but the competitive edge is in some cases turned around and in order to not give them competitive edges, the private companies are giving special competetive edges, like private hospitals in Denmark (im from DK). We should also be able to use the benefits of having it in public ownership and not stiffle the type of advantages that gives, then we are deliberately no using their advantages.

[@Sapiensiate]

Which makes the point of having them entirely worthless. A private company will always come along and be more competitive economically, and they will do this by cutting staff, lowering pay, and worsening services to achieve that. That doesn't happen in other industries, for example Supermarkets, as you the consumer have a free choice to go to the one you like the most, so if conditions worsen you can go somewhere else. You can't do that with trains.

[@verystripeyzebra]

Nationalisation is possible in the eu. It just has to be approached as a commercial transaction. Which may make it more expensive. Ironically it was privatised in order to make it profitable for the early investors. Ie undervalued.

[@mpeg2422]

The train service in Ireland is in national ownership.

[@peterfenton2750]

Obrians face when lynch told him hes not a fan of eu..priceless.

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

The huge elephant in the room has always been stability in Northern Ireland. It was plainly obvious. Brexit should never have been called. It's only purpose was the self-preservation of the Tory Party. I didn't understand how everyone didn't realise that. You were conned.

[@ClannCholmain]

I’m Irish living in Ireland. I don’t know anyone who seriously wants to leave the EU.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

You are at the early stages of open borders Globalisation. When you become a minority in your own country and ultimately shafted by international finance you will understand.

[@ClannCholmain]

@@evolassunglasses4673 so why do more and more children go to bed hungry and cold and in poverty in the U.K.? The top 14 country of birth of immigrants in the Republic of Ireland 2016 Census : Poland 122,515 United Kingdom 103,115 Lithuania 36,552 Romania 29,186 Latvia 19,933 Brazil 13,640 Spain 12,112 Italy 11,732 France 11,661 Germany 11,531 India 11,465 United States 10,519 Slovakia 9,717 China 9,575

[@michaelmayo3127]

Lynch is wrong with regard to Scandinavia. In Scandinavian all wages are negotiated by the Unions and the Employers. After which the result of their negotiations are passed into legislation for a period of 4 years. This means that is illegal to pay a wage less than the negotiated minimum. This wage and working conditions `overenskomst` agreement must be respected in all employers in the Scandinavia countries, those failing to do so, will be fined. No matter were you come from in the world and if you are a permanent resident, you must be paid the minimum wage. Ask Ryan-air, they tried to pay Irish wages at Copenhagen air port and got burned.

[@roisinmalone3015]

The Housing crisis in Ireland is a result of successive Irish Governments policies, there is a shortage of houses which pushed the prices up.

[@Theycallmedoorway]

and mass immigration

[@roisinmalone3015]

@@Gary-bz1rf Interest rates are going up everywhere The problem in Ireland re some people struggling to pay mortgages is because there is a shortage of houses, the prices are very high and so therefore are the mortgages and were before the interest rates going up. And Irish Governments are responsible for the shortage of houses.

[@roisinmalone3015]

@@Gary-bz1rf Emm, we are the EU. And we chose to be in the eurozone. The UK wasn't in the eurozone, so your point makes no sense. Does Scotland control interest rates in the UK, or Northern Ireland, or Wales? Emm no. England does. And the Government is voted for by England. Ireland is a member of a Union of equal countries. And it can leave. Doesn't look like that's the case in the UK, and increasingly more so re what Frost and co have planned for the UK. A unitary state that no one can leave. And that's English democracy. 🤣

[@roseanne9986]

@@JupiterThunder I think your talking about England. Ireland has control of it’s immigration.

[@roisinmalone3015]

@@roseanne9986 Well said, Rose Anne

[@michaeloshea5505]

I often wonder how many of his membership voted leave and voted Tory.

[@aldrongrey7070]

michael oshea Presumably the more intelligent ones including those who happen to know the difference between cost and value.

[@tangerinestorm]

I would bet a large number and they will again.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

Old Labour was solid for Leave.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

@Don´tbehasty wrong. Old Labour in the North voted Leave

[@tonygange7636]

@Don´tbehasty Enough to see voters switch & labour take a drumming

[@geoffreyparsons4353]

Lynch is the only person who can debate James

[@paulbaker9879]

It's simply not true that you can't nationalise things in the EU.

[@mattg5878]

Finally, someone on the problem who actually represents my views and position. So refreshing to see Brexit represented not by Farage and the posh brigade

[@evolassunglasses4673]

Corbyn was anti EU for decades, became leader and flipped flopped. He then crashed in the Leave seats. The metro Libs have destroyed the Left

[@biocapsule7311]

"Those of socialist background never believe in the EU", that is certainly so. The problem is that the world have change, younger socialist has changed and the EU had move along with those changes, Lynch and Corbyn obviously never did. They still don't understand that without closer ties with EU countries, UK don't have the economic factors to maintain the standard it is accustom to, socialist or otherwise. Economic realities do not care about ideology.

[@legaleagle6111]

Lynch is against the EU (i.e. the single market) and wants to return EEC. Perhaps he doesn't care that it raised GDP by 2.2% and created 2.75 million jobs. Presumably he considers that his members have not benefited from the single market and he doesn't care about the general state of the UK.

[@oneoflokis]

Why did Corbyn settle for the compromise of soft Brexit in the end then?

[@davidpryle3935]

Socialism and liberalism are two different things. This seems to be where the confusion is setting in. The EU’s free movement of goods services capital and labour is neoliberalism. It is in fact the opposite of socialism. A true socialist could never be in favour of the EU.

[@biocapsule7311]

@@oneoflokis hahaha... if he ever care for socialist policies, he should have fought with his life against Brexit. As it is, anyone who takes over now will be spending most of their time solving the problems Brexit cause for the foreseeable future, instead of building anything worthwhile. He should have know better. If the far right wanted something this badly, it should have been *a freaking warning sign.* A worst thing then an ideologue is an ideologue who is economically illiterate. Would have been better if Corbyn just fade into obscurity, one of the most useless wannabe opposition leader I have ever seen.

[@bouncingbluesoul5270]

Socialism rots your brain

[@douglastodd1947]

he states you cannot go to public ownership of rail. energy cos etc. under EU LAWS FRENCH GOVT. is launching a bid to take over ownership of EDF Energy.

[@SRPC21]

James didn’t like the fact that this union worker he kept praising is also pro Corbyn and pro Brexit 😅

[@aragornthebrave]

Yes, but he is not a fan of the extreme version of Brexit that we have.

[@theoilandgasresourceportal2132]

Like you know

[@aragornthebrave]

@@theoilandgasresourceportal2132 He said we should be in the EEC.

[@50_Pence]

Never trust a tory.

[@bluefishhh]

This was one of the key issues in the lead up to 2016 - Lexit, the far left's refusal to back remain and incredulous belief that the EU and free movement was responsible for UK labour issues (do we really think we'll see nationalisation and wage inflation following Brexit??) I'm sympathetic to striking workers, but the Left and unions did themselves and the rest of the country no favours here.

[@loosabway3400]

'incredulous belief that the EU and free movement was responsible for UK labour issues' You mean as shown by evidence?

[@wildskel6350]

well said

[@magnificentbastard5085]

@@loosabway3400 It has been repeatedly pointed out that this evidence either didn’t exist, showed a very weak effect or more commonly showed the opposite. The fact that these issues either continue or are getting worse after we’ve left the EU really should have killed this argument off already.

[@fbarnea]

@@loosabway3400 look at how incredibly well the UK labour market is going now. Apart from the strikes.

[@maxpowerii7368]

To even discuss this polarising issue during a time of major national dispute between Tory government and trade unions is to scab and undermine trade unionism in my honest opinion.

[@johnharvey1786]

James must do a fact check video on some of these claims. I wonder why people with political ideology try to adjust the facts to suit their views. This applies to the far left as well as the far right. There are many nationalised industries in the EU and Art. 345 TFEU allows this. The problem for the Corbyn supporters is Art 106 TFEU places regulation on how they operate so not allowing them to act unreasonably and of course the unions would never do that would they. We need politicians who govern based on facts not ideology. The lies from the conservatives don’t need balancing out by lies from the other side.

[@paulwood6048]

Far right do you mean normal

[@oneoflokis]

Corbyn would have enacted a soft Brexit.

[@johnharvey1786]

@@oneoflokis There is no such thing. You can’t have the advantages of membership when you are out, otherwise what’s the advantages of membership. The EU would simply not have allowed this as it would have caused serious issues within the EU.

[@endamoynihan]

That is a well informed beat down my favourite kind

[@gerardjlaw]

Simple - the ideologues HAVE to lie because they believe in a fantasy ("achieving socialism" or "taking back control", depending on their outlook) and the facts don't support their warped view of the world.

[@patrickfrondigoun4145]

Speaking as somebody on the Left, the whole "Lexit" argument has more holes in it than Swiss cheese

[@deanlowdon8381]

Been a big fan of Mick’s and everything he’s done lately, but just can’t agree with him when it comes to the EU. I don’t see how you could possibly think relying on our government would improve things for people.

[@lacdirk]

It's not a matter of not agreeing with him, he is lying through his teeth and he knows it.

[@King-balloon]

I see it as, everyone that used the eu as a scapegoat caused people to blame the eu rather that the uk government, now we are out only the government can be blamed

[@lacdirk]

@@King-balloon If you paid attention over the past two years, you might have noticed that the government is still blaming the EU, and it's still working.

[@silondon9010]

@@lacdirk I think I would trust Micks judgement over yours

[@lacdirk]

@@silondon9010 Why? He literally lies throughout this bit.

[@KrellenFireball]

I don't understand Lynch's point on the 4th Railway package forcing privatisation. From my understanding it mainly focuses on centralising the administrative aspects of railways, unify the system under one overarching roof. That makes sense for the EU which is a single market of 27 countries with interconnected railways. Operators won't need to have their trains approved multiple times just to run anymore, and many operators already do cross borders. I don't see it really being an issue of operators being private or state owned here. It looks like operators are still allowed to be state owned, just that you have to all play by the same common rules (again, makes sense for a single market of 27 different countries). The EU also provides the baseline of workers rights across its members, countries can go higher but not lower than that. Left wing brexiteers also seem always miss that point.

[@MrResearcher122]

It seems very Big Business in aims: ''Opening domestic passenger markets The 4th railway package includes the proposal to open up domestic passenger railways to new entrants and services from December 2019. Companies would be able either to offer competing services, such as a new train service on a particular route, or to bid for public service rail contracts through tendering. The proposed changes would make competitive tendering mandatory for public service rail contracts in the EU.''

[@KrellenFireball]

@@MrResearcher122 that still doesn't necessarily eliminate state owned companies, it just means all companies (regardless of ownership) the EU have an equal playing field to bid for new contracts and related things. That's always a principle of the single market to not favour any one nation's company over another (I. E. Avoid discrimination and bias in the single market).

[@MrResearcher122]

@@KrellenFireball We will have to disagree, friend. It is, ultimately, irrelevant: UK isn't a Member of the EU, for the people clearly disliked the Powers it exercised over them.

[@charnjits]

That answer was perfect!! It means our transportation or even our water , gas and electricity should not be in a corporation hands !! All those services are for the people and not for profit!!

[@hermeshermu]

Most of the companies that run the railways in Portugal are nationalised only a few are private. Cheap, quick, modern and works.

[@farhadchaudhry]

I disagree with Lynch on this. This is a problem with Lexiters. the 2015 referendum was NOT a referendum in principle on the EU. It was a referendum for handing the power to exit to a Tory government. And people voted to give them that power. And now are suffering the consequences of that.

[@evolassunglasses4673]

We could of got Corbyn in. But he was anti EU all his life, became leader suddenly flip flopped and crashed in the Old Labour Leave seats.

[@kirishima638]

Well said.

[@brucedunn6845]

It doesn't matter what you say or think, you need to wise up . You have no say anyway, everything is controlled by an elite few .they don't call it prison planet for nothing 😂

[@egnazia]

A pity to hear such an intelligent (also emotionally) man supporting Brexit…

[@inspectahwoke5746]

Get a grip. Wait until you find out Jeremy Corbyn has been a lifelong eurosceptic.

[@kirishima638]

He always did.

[@egnazia]

@@JupiterThunder In UK your must have read some different treaties. Anyway you are right as he is convinced that privatisation of the railways was an EU obligation.

[@footyball66]

brexit is great. problem is the conservatives.

[@nogingerfool1]

millions did absolutely millions .

[@flemlion13]

The EEC doesn't exist anymore, and the EU goes forward, after Brexit that's even more sure than before. And you can bet that if or when the UK would want to rejoin they'll have a hard time getting the exception they got before they left.

[@minimax9452]

It is not so easy - many don't want you in again. I am german.The british alway tried to set their conservative politics in the EU. I am German.

[@louis-philippearnhem6959]

I don´t want them back either after having heard this. This island mentality is going nowhere! Grts from Belgium EU

[@klaudio29751]

They must be kept OUT for ever .Lets forget about them .

[@minimax9452]

@François Pignon As a German - I can't agree more. let them work this out on the island!

[@mariogmajner6549]

@@klaudio29751 The EU were impotent in stopping Tory Austerity so what was the point of being a member

[@simonw3330]

James the EU fan boy

[@silondon9010]

I agree it's becoming embarrassing

[@gormless2046]

People say they don’t want a European army but we are basically in one nato

[@Hagg-o-tron]

I hope you're aware what NATO stands for? It's nothing to do with Europe. The first two letters should give you a clue..

[@oliver69cork46]

Lynch is exactly right on the eu as opposed to an European community. Amazing how o brien 6 years later can't let brexit lay quietly, it's done and passed.

[@sunseeker9581]

Hes wrong on the rules of nationalisation and ignores the rights EU laws protect. We've already seen australia rip up environmental protections. Food standards are disappearing. Next up workers rights and subscription drugs.

[@michaelkimber6203]

SO refreshing to have two intelligent people have an Intelligent discussion without someone being murdered. Thanks for this 👍

[@yorkiegilly4355]

Can you point me out the two intelligent people involved , most of the left leaning sites on You Tube barely hold enough brain cells to cover a postage stamp ,all opinions with very little facts and if you don"t agree with their views your a Rabid Tory or nasty Brexiteer ???.

[@knutschischi1716]

The rail network in Germany is not privatized, it is fully owned by the goverment through a state-owned enterprise.

[@carelesshx]

3:01 Very poor answer there, borderline dishonest. We weren't asked 'in principle' whether we approved of the EU. We were asked whether we should leave, with full knowledge that it would be the tories who were in charge of the leaving.

[@nk-gp1ml]

Much as I like Lynch, he was plain wrong on this issue. Lexiters helped deliver a Tory Brexit that saved the Tory vote from UKIP and will realise few if any of the benefits they imagine.

[@chris60036]

So nice to hear to someone reflect my views on the EU without James talking down to them and interrupting all the time to play linguistic/semantics war to void what they have to say

[@davidduxbury7530]

He dare'nt,playing footsie is what O'brien wanted,but Lynch wasn't having it...

[@florinadrian5174]

Lol! The barrier to nationalization of the railways in UK is not EU, it is Keith Starmer, a tory mole at the top of the Labour party.

[@mementomori4352]

Just to clarify: the 4th EU railroad package does not require to privatise any aspect of the rail networks nor does it require any member state to break up its national operator. What it does however, is to open up national rail markets to 1.) create more competition and 2.) create a single Eu wide market with common operating standards for both trains and the workforce. So, it should basically do the same thing what the liberalization of the aviation market has done in the `80/`90s. So, while I like Mike Lynch for what he is doing and how he is fighting for his members, this statement sounds very much like the Corbin BS.

[@MrResearcher122]

This is the broad aims: ''Opening domestic passenger markets The 4th railway package includes the proposal to open up domestic passenger railways to new entrants and services from December 2019. Companies would be able either to offer competing services, such as a new train service on a particular route, or to bid for public service rail contracts through tendering. The proposed changes would make competitive tendering mandatory for public service rail contracts in the EU.'' That sounds very much like an invitation to private investment. It has the usual talking points about safe guarding worker's rights, but with the expansive liberalising of the whole structure, it actually appears to leave power in the hands of investors and their appointed technocrats.

[@gavinhillick]

You just described privatisation.

[@SlinkShady]

You didn't actually clarify anything. All you did was create a basis to slander your pet hate Corbyn, which is, frankly, pathetic. The "create more competition" angle is nonsense. It's about strong arming private enterprise into nationalised services and creating profit centres for shareholders and venture capitalists. How many years of privatisation do you have to suffer before you realise they don't run things any better as a result? All they do is add in an extra level of profit capture for shareholders. It has never benefitted the general public to have to pay shareholders as well as running costs. All you've done is parrot the capitalist lie that competition is all we need to lower prices. Look at how much we pump into the railways as "subsidies". If private enterprise had the answer we wouldn't need to subsidise them. Right? What do we have? The highest rail prices anywhere. Not only at the ticket office, but as the taxpayer as well. Add all that together and rail is costing us a fortune and all in the name of "competition". The EU is overwhlemingly a neo-liberal organisation. Sure, you might want to argue they create a level playing field, but that, to my knowledge, has NOT improved the lot of wokring people in the UK. Standardisation of rail networks? What does that even mean? How do you standardise wages across the EU when the cost of living in all the member countries varies? Do you level up to the best conditions, or level down to the worst? And who benefits? How about you actually deal with some real facts rather than the brainwashed nonsense of neo-liberalism which amounts to liberalisation for the wealthy to do as they please, and more an more rules for the workers? I voted remain by the way before you come out with the time honoured riposte of "you leavers". The ONLY reason I voted remain was because all I could see was a bonfire of workers rights, and environmental standards under Tory rule. Was I right?

[@woldemyr5234]

@@SlinkShady You are saying the most trade protectionist trade zone is neo-liberal?

[@Sapiensiate]

You cannot operate the principles of free market competition on something which is fundamentally a closed market. You cannot give people in Cheltenham a choice of which train they take to London; they have to leave at certain times along a single track. As soon as you prevent freedom of choice all you end up with is value extraction from the private company that can blag their way into the position. Governments are not going to let trains fail so instead they will subsidise companies from their losses. Then 5 years later we get the same merry go round all over again. The EU is fundamentally wrong in their approach to many industries, as they are at heart neoliberal in their mindset. The only reason we have any worker protections is to stop France from leaving the EU.

[@darkmusky9851]

Mike Lynch is completely right here

[@kilinu85]

Malta - an EU member - has nationalised electricity, nationalised public transport etc.

[@KaasSchaaf666]

you can privatize the railroad, but the important question is, what do you do with the shares? in the Netherlands, local authorities are major shareholders.

[@andredavis4657]

In France, most mortgages are not going up as fixed interest mortgages are the norm.

[@chatham43]

...as they are here....

[@Raider_MXD]

What Lynch says is incorrect. Germany's Deutsche Bahn is publicly owned as are most local public transport companies. The EU mandates that competition for providing rail services has to be allowed, but that includes public companies. The same applies to the energy sector, several large energy companies in Germany such as EnBW or EWE are publicly owned and many towns run energy companies for supplying their local region. Moreover, in areas such as worker's rights the EU usually defines minimum standards, i.e. it is entirely possible to deviate from those for the better. One just has to choose to do so.

[@doqas]

Our railways are already nationalised……..by different nations.

[@dieselpub2]

UE never prevent any country to have publicly own public service. He said UE prevent to have public railways. But that's what existe in France, or in Spain. In most of EU countries, actually. And UE never said anything about that. British public railways were sold as a sovereign decision of the british government, and no one else. Just as usual, when they don't want to do something, that's UE fault, or EU prevent it. Lies. Again.