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Brexit Party hopeful candidate begs Nigel Farage for penny-farthing spokesman job

Alan Price claims the UK's 35 million (?) cyclists and motorcyclists "are massively in support of Brexit"...

A penny-farthing rider from Battersea who hopes to be a candidate for the Brexit Party has begged its leader, Nigel Farage, to be given a job as the party’s spokesman to represent the views of fellow enthusiasts – as well as cyclists and motorbikers more generally.

65-year-old Alan Price – a past Conservative voter who describes his political views as “slightly to the right of Genghis Khan” –   arrived at a press conference for the party on his penny-farthing, reports The New European.

Farage founded the party earlier this month after the continued postponement of the date the UK is due to leave the EU meant that the country will go to the polls next month for the European parliamentary elections.

Candidates confirmed as standing for the party include Annunziata Rees-Mogg, the sister of the Conservative MP and leader of the Tory backbencher pro-Brexit European Research Group, Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured above).

Price, evidently, has done his own research – although perhaps surprisingly, it doesn’t stand up to close scrutiny.

He claimed that the EU had “harassed and excessively regulated” the “35 million” people in the UK who choose to get around on two wheels.

Analysis of government statistics by Cycling UK suggests that figure may be a slight exaggeration. In 2017, 6.1 million people in Great Britain cycled once a week or more, a further 3.1 million at least once a month, and 5.3 million less than once a month.

That gives a grand total of 14.5 million – equivalent to 28 per cent of the population – and it’s highly unlikely most would consider themselves “cyclists.” Meanwhile, more than two thirds of the population never cycle.

As for motorcycles, only 2 per cent of households nationally have access to one.

Besides that slight quibble over statistics, Price claims to speak for everyone who gets around on two wheels, powered or otherwise. “We as a group are massively in support of Brexit,” he trumpeted.

Hoping to be approved as a candidate for the Brexit Party in the forthcoming elections, he said: “Democracy has failed to work because we voted out and we want out.

“I have a personal interest in excessive taxation and bicycle tyres but there are also plenty of other laws about kettles and everything else.”

Including bendy bananas, at a guess.

“I'm excited now that democracy may rule in the UK because it clearly has not been ruling in recent times,” he added.

Touching as his plea to represent cyclists and motorbikers – and, yes, penny-farthing riders – is, he may wish to check the cycling policies of UKIP, the party Farage previously led.

In its manifesto for the 2010 general election, the party claimed that it “supports pedal cycles as a healthy means of personal transport.”

But while it said that “there needs to be a better balance of rights and responsibilities for pedal cyclists,” the focus was very much on the latter – it insisted there was “too much aggressive abuse of red lights, pedestrian crossings and a lack of basic safety and road courtesy.”

One solution it suggested was for cyclists to be required to have third party insurance combined with compulsory bike licensing in the form of a “Cycledisc.”

It also said it supported “provision of cycle parking at reasonable charges,” as well as compulsory training for cyclists, and for riders to be forced to dismount at “busy roundabouts, junctions or bus lanes, or where the road would be too narrowed by cycle lanes and cause unacceptable delays to traffic.”

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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70 comments

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hawkinspeter replied to ConcordeCX | 5 years ago
0 likes

ConcordeCX wrote:

don simon fbpe wrote:

FrankH wrote:

John Smith wrote:

FrankH wrote:

Mungecrundle wrote:

 

 

<snip> Incidentally no bananas of any shape or size are actually banned, they get classified as class 2 and can be as bendy as you like.

 

 

 

 

Care to do some research on vacuum cleaners before you come back with that false meme?

Quality: fair enough. Care to do some research on bananas? Here, I'll give you somewhere to start:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:1994R2257...

You'll see that what I said about small bananas is correct.

 

Did you even read what he wrote? No one denies the existence of quality standards. They are pointing out your lack of understanding of what they are and why they are needed.

And I quite clearly said that quality standards are fair enough. Did you even read what he wrote. Let me quote the relevant bit:

"...no bananas of any shape or size are actually banned..."

Did you even read the link I provided? I guess you didn't:

"The minimum length permitted is 14 cm and the minimum grade permitted is 27 mm." (Grade is their way of saying thickness.)

Ergo, as I said, small bananas are banned.

 

So, you're happy that these bureaucrats are setting standards of quality, in spite of not wanting an extra level of government. you're just pissed off that they won't let you buy small bananas. Why is that? I assume that as it's just one line in 7 pages of text, one line I must have missed as I read through, so insignificant it must be. Why are you so hung up on not being able to buy small bananas, but happy to accept the (same) rules on quality.

Why is buying small bananas so important to you?

they're readily available in Marks and Spencer's 

Aren't those a different variety though?

Avatar
ConcordeCX replied to hawkinspeter | 5 years ago
3 likes

hawkinspeter wrote:

ConcordeCX wrote:

don simon fbpe wrote:

FrankH wrote:

John Smith wrote:

FrankH wrote:

Mungecrundle wrote:

 

 

<snip> Incidentally no bananas of any shape or size are actually banned, they get classified as class 2 and can be as bendy as you like.

 

 

 

 

Care to do some research on vacuum cleaners before you come back with that false meme?

Quality: fair enough. Care to do some research on bananas? Here, I'll give you somewhere to start:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:1994R2257...

You'll see that what I said about small bananas is correct.

 

Did you even read what he wrote? No one denies the existence of quality standards. They are pointing out your lack of understanding of what they are and why they are needed.

And I quite clearly said that quality standards are fair enough. Did you even read what he wrote. Let me quote the relevant bit:

"...no bananas of any shape or size are actually banned..."

Did you even read the link I provided? I guess you didn't:

"The minimum length permitted is 14 cm and the minimum grade permitted is 27 mm." (Grade is their way of saying thickness.)

Ergo, as I said, small bananas are banned.

 

So, you're happy that these bureaucrats are setting standards of quality, in spite of not wanting an extra level of government. you're just pissed off that they won't let you buy small bananas. Why is that? I assume that as it's just one line in 7 pages of text, one line I must have missed as I read through, so insignificant it must be. Why are you so hung up on not being able to buy small bananas, but happy to accept the (same) rules on quality.

Why is buying small bananas so important to you?

they're readily available in Marks and Spencer's 

Aren't those a different variety though?

maybe, maybe not, but I’m not going to find out as I’ve almost used up my EU-regulated quota of time spent discussing the niceties of European banana regulations on a cycling site.

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to don simon fbpe | 5 years ago
7 likes

don simon fbpe wrote:

Why is buying small bananas so important to you?

Personally, I enjoy buying miniature products (baby sweetcorn, mini courgettes, cherry tomatoes, sprouts etc) as I can put them around me on the floor and then pretend that I'm a big giant.

 

Avatar
stomec replied to hawkinspeter | 5 years ago
2 likes

hawkinspeter wrote:

don simon fbpe wrote:

Why is buying small bananas so important to you?

Personally, I enjoy buying miniature products (baby sweetcorn, mini courgettes, cherry tomatoes, sprouts etc) as I can put them around me on the floor and then pretend that I'm a big giant.

 

These should do the trick!  

https://www.eatme.eu/products/mini-banana

Avatar
Butty replied to FrankH | 5 years ago
2 likes

FrankH wrote:

And I quite clearly said that quality standards are fair enough. Did you even read what he wrote. Let me quote the relevant bit:

"...no bananas of any shape or size are actually banned..."

Did you even read the link I provided? I guess you didn't:

"The minimum length permitted is 14 cm and the minimum grade permitted is 27 mm." (Grade is their way of saying thickness.)

Ergo, as I said, small bananas are banned.

 

 

Banned where exactly? The UK? In the rest of EUland they can be sold as Class 2.

RTF Regs next time. 

 

Avatar
hawkinspeter replied to FrankH | 5 years ago
1 like

FrankH wrote:

John Smith wrote:

FrankH wrote:

Mungecrundle wrote:

 

 

<snip> Incidentally no bananas of any shape or size are actually banned, they get classified as class 2 and can be as bendy as you like.

 

 

 

 

Care to do some research on vacuum cleaners before you come back with that false meme?

Quality: fair enough. Care to do some research on bananas? Here, I'll give you somewhere to start:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:1994R2257...

You'll see that what I said about small bananas is correct.

 

Did you even read what he wrote? No one denies the existence of quality standards. They are pointing out your lack of understanding of what they are and why they are needed.

And I quite clearly said that quality standards are fair enough. Did you even read what he wrote. Let me quote the relevant bit:

"...no bananas of any shape or size are actually banned..."

Did you even read the link I provided? I guess you didn't:

"The minimum length permitted is 14 cm and the minimum grade permitted is 27 mm." (Grade is their way of saying thickness.)

Ergo, as I said, small bananas are banned.

 

I think you're using the outdated regulation. A newer one came into effect in 2012: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2011:336:0023:0034:EN:PDF

Quote:

Account should be taken of the fact that, because
climatic factors make production conditions difficult in
Madeira, the Azores, the Algarve, Crete, Lakonia and
Cyprus, bananas there do not develop to the minimum
length laid down. In those cases such bananas should still
be allowed to be marketed, but only in Class II.

and later on in the reg:

Quote:

The minimum length permitted is 14 cm and the minimum grade permitted is 27 mm.
As an exception to the third paragraph, bananas produced in Madeira, the Azores, the Algarve, Crete, Lakonia and
Cyprus which are less than 14 cm in length may be marketed in the Union but must be classified in Class II.

Avatar
don simon fbpe replied to FrankH | 5 years ago
8 likes

FrankH wrote:

brooksby wrote:

FrankH wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

Well I'm glad that cycling is on the political agenda, but I think he's a bit confused about cyclists.

Now, as the comments here are bound to devolve into a political slanging match, I'll present an argument on why the referendum was flawed (apologies for repeating this).

Source: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/take-it-from-the-swiss-the-brexit-referendum-wasnt-legitimate

<snip>

Apology not accepted.

I know why I voted Leave, I've been told often enough during the last 34 months.

I'm racist, thick as pig-shit, ill-informed, uninformed, a working class oik having a tantrum, a little Englander pining for the days of Empire, I believed what was written on the side of a bus and I'm racist, did I mention racist?

I'm assuming that's hyperbole.   So, why DID you vote Leave?   Genuinely interested.

I believe we have too much government. Voting Leave was an opportunity (or so I thought) to remove one whole layer.

That's one reason. Is that good enough?

(I could mention bananas, we have EU regulations regarding the minimum size of bananas. Think about that. We have people employed by government who have so little to do that we pay them to think up stupid rules about the size of bananas, but when you mention bananas and the EU you get people laughing at you about stupid people believing that the EU have banned bent bananas so I won't mention bananas.)

I know, it's shocking. The way people sold any old crap and ripped us off. And those EU bastards wasting my 10p per day (or whatever it costs me) to make sure I have good quality food on my plate. The meddling bastards.

I particularly hate the way the take my money. MY FUCKING MONEY! And give it to poorer countries to improve their infrastructure and help develop customers of the future. Our fucking customers! we'll see who's laughing when we up our trade tariffs and rake in the profits. They need us more than we need them. White Cliffs of Dover, etc...

I hate the way that we have nurses in the NHS because they want to come and work in this hate filled country. Do they not know that we're better.

I hate that there are people who want to come and work hard in the shitty jobs that we don't want to do.

I hate being able to go on holiday on the cheap, without a passport (I know, but once you get into Schengen territory) or visa

I really hate the idea that young people want to go and work abroad. Why the fuck wants to educate themselves in other cultures. Ours is the fucking best (apparently).

I hate that I could work abroad for 11 years. It was awful, hardly anyone spoke english. FFS!

I hate the fact that illegal immigrant steal all our benefits (in spite of them being illegakl and not having access and our Govet not applying FoM as they could)...

I hate having higher quality goods with decent warranties.

I do hate the three pin plug, I mean who designs something so easy to stand on and injure themselves. Good on you UK for not capiyulating on this one.

 

I could go on, but I won't.

The sooner we get good honest BoJo, Victorian Dad or NF running things the better.

Chao!

Avatar
Legs_Eleven_Wor... replied to FrankH | 5 years ago
0 likes

FrankH wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

Well I'm glad that cycling is on the political agenda, but I think he's a bit confused about cyclists.

Now, as the comments here are bound to devolve into a political slanging match, I'll present an argument on why the referendum was flawed (apologies for repeating this).

Source: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/take-it-from-the-swiss-the-brexit-referendum-wasnt-legitimate

<snip>

Apology not accepted.

I know why I voted Leave, I've been told often enough during the last 34 months.

I'm racist, thick as pig-shit, ill-informed, uninformed, a working class oik having a tantrum, a little Englander pining for the days of Empire, I believed what was written on the side of a bus and I'm racist, did I mention racist?

This is like a white version of the Livingston Formulation.  

Avatar
Morat replied to hawkinspeter | 5 years ago
0 likes

hawkinspeter wrote:

Well I'm glad that cycling is on the political agenda, but I think he's a bit confused about cyclists.

Now, as the comments here are bound to devolve into a political slanging match, I'll present an argument on why the referendum was flawed (apologies for repeating this).

Source: https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/take-it-from-the-swiss-the-brexit-referendum-wasnt-legitimate

Quote:

Perhaps an example could be of help to illustrate this. Imagine 40 per cent of the population is vegetarian, 30 per cent loves pork but abhors beef, and the remaining 30 per cent love beef but can’t eat pork. A vote on the question “who wants to eat meat tonight?” should yield an easy 60 per cent majority, although both the pork and the beef options are rejected by 70 per cent of the population.

The reason is simple: “meat” is not actually a real option. “Meat” means something different to different voters, and the 60 per cent majority in favor of “meat” is the sum of mutually incompatible beef and pork eaters. Furthermore, any skilled politician can evade criticism of the “meat” option by switching from one definition to the other as convenient. The hazier the option, the more the result will skew in its favor.

So it’s no wonder Brexit won. David Cameron drew up a textbook example of a referendum done wrong: asking an ill-informed electorate to choose between a costly and constraining EU marriage full of unsavoury compromises and a fantasized Brexit-with-benefits. The utter vagueness of the Leave option allowed their campaign to cast the widest net of all, encouraging each voter to keep their most favourable version of Brexit in mind, however far that may be from the Leave politicians’ intentions.

 

It's an interesting point, but for balance you have to admit that it also applies to a second referendum where Remain gets the simple option and Leave gets the Deal/NoDeal/Beef/Pork split.

Avatar
ktache | 5 years ago
11 likes

This man does not represent me.

There may be 35 million bicycles out there, there are many tucked away in shed and garages gathering dust and slowly rotting away.  Probably more than cars, just never ridden.

UKIPs pro cycling policies are pro cycling in the same way as they are so not racist.  Taking advice from Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

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