Is there such a thing as a heavyweight Brexiteer?

[lunicorn]

I'm thinking if politicians, economists and lawyers. Not thinking of charisma and personality, more of a thorough in depth knowledge of economics and politics
I kind of imagine there being 20,000 remain economists and 5 maverick Brexiteer ones.

I think if you look at the overall scope of Brexit that to achieve the majority of it's stated aims you have to dismantle UK life and prosperity.
I have seen many statements that on the surface suggest they are 'true' but have a massive question mark over what the next sentence that qualifies it actually means.
Something like 'the house is nice and warm this evening' could be followed by 'because the front room is on fire'.
The ERG say things like 'it will be good for prosperity', actually meaning their own and not of the remainder of the country.

Prof Patrick Minford is a well-respected economist.
Frank Field is arguably the best-respected politician.
Have no idea about lawyers.
There are various groups of pro-Brexit economists and industrialists such as Economists for Free Trade.

I asked my partner the same question and he laughed and said he couldn't really think of any errors, tho there is Patrick Minford.

{Prof Patrick Minford is a well-respected economist.}
Especially by the ERG. Unfortunately unless you are very wealthy the scenario he proposes will disappoint you as he has very little social conscience so wholesale unemployment are not an issue for him.
You have to read way beyond the headlines.

The letters page of the Telegraph has many pro Brexit letters from successful business men.

"Prof Patrick Minford is a well-respected economist."

Not really.

David Irving is still a respected historian in some circles.

The letters page of the Telegraph has many pro Brexit letters from successful business men.

Successful business men will be thinking about it from their own point of view, rather than the benefit of the country as a whole/the less well off. There are often profits to be made in chaotic situations, and successful business people are usually opportunists, who are good at grabbing advantages for themselves, without worrying about the wider implications. They are not usually intellectual heavyweights, and are usually not particularly knowledgable beyond their own narrow field.

Intellectual heavyweights talk a good game.

I’d rather trust someone at the coal face

There is good money to be made in disaster capitalism and war, but not necessarily friends.

Do dead people count? Tony Benn.
Disaster capitalism seems to be the Remainer insult now you 'very got bored of bendy bananas.
You might not like Dyson or Tim Martin or the many other pro-Brexit small business people like myself, who would prefer to have Canada-style government, but do you really think our aim is disaster?

I’d rather trust someone at the coal face

So would I. Which is why I listen to those who have expertise and experience in macro-economics, as opposed to people who flog cheap trainers, or import widgets.

Interesting letter from Tony Benn to his grandchildren was in the paper the other day.

How rude are you Tolles?

Since Jacob RM's father wrote a book about disaster capitalism, and Jacob is attempting to follow it it is hardly a 'remainer' insult.
I have not read it personally but maybe you should and report back if you find things that will make 'ordinary' peole's lives better.

Not particularly....? Wasn't a personal dig at you, if that's what you are implying?

I do stand by my comment about trusting those who are expert in macroeconomics rather than business people, though. Most business people are expert in their own area, but simply do not have the time to become expert in the wider field.

Maybe Ruth Lea.

You're always trotting our that fact about JRM's father. Do you actually know who he was LeClerc?

Ursula- with regards to Brexit who are the coal face?

No. It was your comment that pro Brexit economists flog cheap trainers and import widgets.

Interesting that you prefer to trust experts in macroeconomics rather than widget importers Tolles . I'm not knocking your position because it's just as valid as mine, but I think that might be the fundamental difference between Remainers and Leavers. I would always trust the business community more than academics when it comes to trade.

I would also trust the business owners when it comes to trade millyonth, to quite a large degree - when they are talking within the sphere of their own experience and expertise, i .e. what helps/hinders their own business/small business etc.

The problem is that trade is only one of the 'coalfaces' that make up a complex and sophisticated economy such as ours. To focus only on that is to ignore the wider issues. Also, different business and different size of business vary hugely. A small or medium size business faces very different problems and opportunities than do large multi-national corporations. Sometimes that is forgotten.

It is simply not true to say that if somebody is successful at running a business that they will also make a successful politician or economist, or central bank governor, and successfully steer the economy of a whole country. They are two different skill sets.

Ursula my point was that the vast majority of 'names' pushing Brexit, and opining it will be good for the economy, are NOT economists, but rather business people with a clear self-interest, a narrow sphere of expertise, and a lack of intellectual or acedemic credentials.

I don’t trust any of the people you say are running the country.

Well, neither do I, Ursula! Wouldn't trust a single politician in parliament.

I do have respect for the likes of Mark Carney, though, and also leading economists in think tanks and academia.