Matt Ridley assures us that a no-deal Brexit is nothing to worry about: “It is highly likely that the downsides of a clean break are being exaggerated, the upsides underestimated”
Let’s take a look at his record of assessing future risks, shall we? Thread thetimes.co.uk/edition/commen…
Let’s take a look at his record of assessing future risks, shall we? Thread thetimes.co.uk/edition/commen…
In 2007 the 5th Viscount Ridley, to use his full title, was Chairman of Northern Rock when it became the first bank since 1878 to suffer a bank run thanks to the disastrous business model it had adopted. He later described this as a “painful memory for me” express.co.uk/news/uk/196113…
Ridley is a committed climate sceptic, and has a habit of making false and inaccurate claims about climate science, as Carbon Brief have documented here: carbonbrief.org/scientists-res…
In 2013 Ridley even wrote an article called “Why climate change is good for the world” which claimed that “warmer temperatures do more good than harm” spectator.co.uk/2013/10/carry-…
Ridley is of aristocratic lineage, was educated at Eton and Oxford, inherited a 8,500-acre estate, and now sits as a hereditary peer in the House of Lords. For people like him, the harm from a no-deal Brexit or climate change is a spectator sport. He‘ll be just fine regardless.
By far the worst thing about Britain is the amount of privileged white men who occupy powerful positions because of their background and connections, regardless of how unqualified they are or how disastrous their track record is. Ridley is a classic case in point. It’s depressing
Sadly this phenomenon is not limited to the Leave side of the Brexit debate. It’s ubiquitous across both sides and across British society
