The BBC has released a video today where young Brexiteers give their positive reasons for voting Leave in last year's referendum. Very refreshing.

One young woman described the EU as a "man-made bureaucratic, paper pushing hellhole" and that she is very proud that 17.4 million British people decided to stick their fingers up to the EU and walk away. Can't argue with that. 

When he was Prime Minister, Tony Blair was often criticised in the media for taking "freebie" holidays in exotic places around the world courtesy of the rich and famous. I don't know if Tony and Cherie paid for their recent trip to Malta, but they were certainly at some point during their visit the guests of Malta's Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat and his wife. 

As reported in today's Sun newspaper, Mr. Muscat tweeted the following on Sunday morning:

If you live in Yorkshire, today is Yorkshire Day. I do, so I will wish you Happy Yorkshire Day! If you are in Switzerland, today is the Swiss National Day. And the Swiss have a lot to celebrate. They have a good working relationship with the European Union, but do not have Brussels' bureaucrats meddling in their laws. Switzerland is fourth on Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom - and the freest country in Europe. 

Kemi Badenoch, the newly elected MP for Saffron Walden, gave her maiden speech in the House of Commons yesterday. And what a speech it was. Here is just one paragraph: 

"I believe in free markets and free trade. But there is more to conservatism than economic liberalism—there is respect for the rule of law; personal responsibility; ​freedom of speech and of association; and opportunity through meritocracy. Those freedoms are being subtly eroded in an era when emotion and feeling are prized above reason and logic. It is those freedoms that I will seek to defend during my time in this House."

You have to feel for some people. For them, Brexit is an utter disaster. They moan about those ignorant working class people who voted to leave the EU last year. Those people living in the wastelands of the North and the Midlands are not educated; they don't understand the nuances; they don't understand the consequences. How could they? They are not as cultured as we are. They don't have second homes in France - they can't even speak French. We drink wine from some of the finest vineyards in the world - they drink strong lager. It really says it all. 

Now the Remoaners have something else to moan about: a lack of au pairs. 

Writing for Comment Central, Rory Broomfield says that since last year’s EU Referendum, there has been good news in abundance, but try telling that to George Osborne and co.

Things happen in life that we might not like. We have to deal with them and move on. However, there are some events in life that people feel unable to let go. It seems that, to much of the press, Brexit is that issue.

In the House of Commons this morning, Nigel Evans, Conservative MP for Ribble Valley, asked Dr. Liam Fox MP, Secretary of State for International Trade, the following question: 

"I think that the potential for trade with Commonwealth countries is very exciting—they are growing and strong economies—but every time I open a newspaper or listen to the radio or TV, the story is presented very negatively, as though it will be almost impossible for us to do these trade deals. Does the Secretary of State feel that that is wrong, and that it undermines the work he is doing?"

The Sun has reported today that a cross-party group of MPs held a meeting with James Harding, Head of BBC News, earlier this week to discuss the corporation's anti-Brexit bias. Amongst those MPs attending were Kate Hoey, Philip Davies, and Ian Paisley Jr. 

I looked at BBC bias in this post last week, so it is welcome news that some MPs have voiced their concern in a private meeting. It is shocking that BBC Radio 4 listeners are two and a half times more likely to hear a pro-EU speaker than an anti-EU one. 

The BBC has issued a statement following the meeting, saying: 

“BBC News listens to and reflects all points of view and remains committed to covering developments in a fair and impartial manner.”

In other words, no change. 

In an excellent article for City A.M. yesterday, Brian Monteith, a Freedom Association Council Member and a former MSP, described the BBC's coverage of Brexit as "bias on stilts". He also said:

"Recently, we were subject to a BBC report of a decline in nurses coming from the EU, when the truth is that applications have climbed. Last week’s anniversary of the Brexit vote was marked by a Question Time panel that had four Remainers against one Leaver, and an audience dominated by Remainers in Plymouth – a constituency that voted overwhelmingly to Leave."

There are numerous other examples, and quite often bias shows itself in different forms. As Brian has noted, it's not always what is said or done, but rather what is omitted.

This article was originally posted yesterday on my personal blog

Throughout the EU Referendum campaign, I said that reverting to World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules would not be disastrous. Indeed, as the respected economist, Ruth Lea, has pointed out, the UK would thrive under WTO rules.