The right wing gutter press have been printing ridiculous stories all week claiming the EU want to ban the sale of eggs by the dozen.
If you read this story HERE on Liberal Burblings, you'll see the story is made up poppycock. But satill people believe these gutter rags when the print such rubbish !
Showing posts with label EU. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EU. Show all posts
2/11/2010
Greek economic mess highlights everything that is wrong with Europe
Lets manke one thing clear, I am not a great fan of the EU, the way it works, its institutions, its parliament or most of its policies. Like communism, the idea of the EU makes a lot of sense, but just like Communism, in practise it simply does not stand up to scrutiny.
The EU is a club whereby members are expected to follow rules, show honesty and respect for each other and work for the greater good. the problem is, it fails on all these counts.
Take Greece and her financial travails today. Each country that joined the Euro was supposed to sign up to a stability pact. It means that each country had to follow strict financial rules. The fact is that Greece never ever met the criteria, but because the rest of the EU wanted as many countries as possible to be in the Euro, the EU bent the rules, in effect tore up the rules book in order to shoe horn Greece in.
Is it any wonder that a few years later we find that the Greek national accounts are a fabrication with billions of Euros unaccounted for as the Greeks simply borrowed more and more money in order to avoid the obvious need to make cuts. The Greeks knew that they were not going to be forced to trim spending because the EU knew that the Greeks never had the financial stabilty to be in the Euro.Let's not just blame the Greeks though. Germany, the authors of the stability pact also broke the rules, not as badly as the Greeks, but they did all the same.
So what does this tell us ? Essenially it says that the foundations on which the EU is built are works of fiction.
It'd not just the Euro though. The problems with countries across the EU is that they all break EU rules, and are allowed to get away with it.
Do you remember the French banning British beef ? They were supposedly being fined every day that they persisted in banning British beef. And what happened when several years later than the rest of the EU the French lifted the ban ? The EU let the French off ! What is the point of rules, fines and agreements if the EU ignores it respinsibility to other nations.
In truth almost everyone knows that the EU does not really work. If it disappeared tomorrow, nobody would really notice. The old story that the EU has kept European nations from fighting wars against each other is ridiculous. There are so many things that link European nations, most notably mutual trade, that claiming that without the EU we would have had a war devalues and belittles the fact that European countries have matured and grown up.
So what of Greece ? What of Europe ? In the short term, it appears the Euro will lose value and so holidays to Europe will be cheaper this year. That's at least some good news for us in the UK.
10/29/2009
That's the kiss of death for Blair's ambitions
Gordon Brown today spoke up on behalf of Tony Blair becoming the first President of the EU. Brown called Blair and "excellent candidate" and spoke highly of Blair's qualities. There is only one problem. An endorsement from Gordon Brown is like a reverse form of the Midas touch for everything Gordon Brown touches turns in to excrement, not gold.
Such is the contempt in which Gordon Brown is held by the public these days, should he endorse beer, chocolate or sex then it is likely that beer sales would fall, women would stop thinking about chocolate and the birth rate would drop dramatically.
Such is the contempt in which Gordon Brown is held by the public these days, should he endorse beer, chocolate or sex then it is likely that beer sales would fall, women would stop thinking about chocolate and the birth rate would drop dramatically.
2/10/2009
Lib Dems raise concerns about threat to retained firemen
One of the spin offs of Britain no longer having an opt out from the EU's working time directive is that it could directly affect fire services across the UK as many retained firemen will already have worked their full allowance of hours in their normal jobs and it could mean they may not be able to attend to emergencies for fear of sanctions under EU rules.
Many rural areas are reliant on the volunteers who serve as retained firemen. I know from my brother in law who is a retained foreman that recruitment is difficult enough at the moment with fewer people living and working within the designated distance required from the fire station, so the last thing firefighters want the EU to be doing is interfering.
So well done to the Lib Dems who have secured a debate on this issue in the House of Commons and let us hope some common sense can be brought to this issue.
Many rural areas are reliant on the volunteers who serve as retained firemen. I know from my brother in law who is a retained foreman that recruitment is difficult enough at the moment with fewer people living and working within the designated distance required from the fire station, so the last thing firefighters want the EU to be doing is interfering.
So well done to the Lib Dems who have secured a debate on this issue in the House of Commons and let us hope some common sense can be brought to this issue.
12/11/2008
You had your say, you were wrong, now think again and come up with a different answer
The EU's decision to press on again with the EU constitution, and the Irish government's decision to hold another referendum really does smack of the worst kind of undemocratic behaviour.
The fact is that the Irish rejected the EU constitution in a vote. They are unlikely to win any opt outs because that would mean other countries would have to re-ratify the treaty too, meaning in effect the Irish are going to vote again on the identical treaty, it is just that they are now expected to vote differently by their government because "they were wrong".
As the BBC correspondent on the radio said earlier, the pro EU groups in Ireland have just one campaign message, and that is that with the recession as bad as it is, this is no time to turn your back on the EU. It's an odd sort of threat that says the EU is your friend, don't make it angry, but it seems pro EU groups will do anything to get you to vote differently.
The fact is that the Irish rejected the EU constitution in a vote. They are unlikely to win any opt outs because that would mean other countries would have to re-ratify the treaty too, meaning in effect the Irish are going to vote again on the identical treaty, it is just that they are now expected to vote differently by their government because "they were wrong".
As the BBC correspondent on the radio said earlier, the pro EU groups in Ireland have just one campaign message, and that is that with the recession as bad as it is, this is no time to turn your back on the EU. It's an odd sort of threat that says the EU is your friend, don't make it angry, but it seems pro EU groups will do anything to get you to vote differently.
12/06/2008
Is this the sort of country the EU should be letting in ?
People setting up anti government Facebook groups in Croatia have been arrested in a rather disturbing crackdown against legitimate opposition in the country. Yet Croatia is applying for EU membership.
Is this the sort of country we should be letting in ?
Is this the sort of country we should be letting in ?
10/27/2008
And we thought that dinosaurs were extinct
Norman Tebbit has raised his always unpleasant head once again to bang on about, what I would describe, his xenophobia toward the EU.
You do have to ask yourself why it is that some Tories would rather be in in opposition talking about Europe than in power talking about this country.
Every political analyst knows that talk of Europe excites and divides Tory MPs, but moreover, it puts off voters who have shown since 1997 that when Tories talk about Europe, the electorate care less for the Conservative Party.
My advice to the Tories, ignore him.
Update : Yes, I am aware that this is Lib Dem policy he is backing, but I wrote this from the angle of "Why would the Tories want to get stuck debating Europe again". Clearly David Cameron has done well to stamp out the Europeean arguments from the Tory Party.
You do have to ask yourself why it is that some Tories would rather be in in opposition talking about Europe than in power talking about this country.
Every political analyst knows that talk of Europe excites and divides Tory MPs, but moreover, it puts off voters who have shown since 1997 that when Tories talk about Europe, the electorate care less for the Conservative Party.
My advice to the Tories, ignore him.
Update : Yes, I am aware that this is Lib Dem policy he is backing, but I wrote this from the angle of "Why would the Tories want to get stuck debating Europe again". Clearly David Cameron has done well to stamp out the Europeean arguments from the Tory Party.
7/23/2008
The truth about the EU and bent cucumbers
The EU is to allow bent cucumbers, so news reports say, and this is seen as the EU cutting through red tape. This is a good proposal (especially in these times of growing food prices), but let's not forget the EU is not to blame for the bent bananas stories all these years.
Euro sceptics like to use the regulation on bent cucumbers as a means of bashing the EU. the truth is though that the EU (or EEC as it was) had no policy on cucumber shapes and sizes and instead adopted the British system that we already had in place before we joined the EEC.
So in may ways this is a victory for common sense over UK red tape.
I am not the world biggest fan of the EU, indeed there are many Lib Dems who will not be including me in Iain Dale's list of top bloggers because I dare to criticise the EU and the Lib Dems policy towards it, but I have always been annoyed that Euro sceptics base a lot of their anti EU rhetoric on untruths and the cucumber argument has been one of these for many years.
Euro sceptics like to use the regulation on bent cucumbers as a means of bashing the EU. the truth is though that the EU (or EEC as it was) had no policy on cucumber shapes and sizes and instead adopted the British system that we already had in place before we joined the EEC.
So in may ways this is a victory for common sense over UK red tape.
I am not the world biggest fan of the EU, indeed there are many Lib Dems who will not be including me in Iain Dale's list of top bloggers because I dare to criticise the EU and the Lib Dems policy towards it, but I have always been annoyed that Euro sceptics base a lot of their anti EU rhetoric on untruths and the cucumber argument has been one of these for many years.
7/17/2008
EU Treatry ratification - An utterly pointless exercise ?
You might be forgiven for think that Gordon Brown pushing through the ratification of the EU reform treaty today was a pointless exercise, and you' d be right. But given the fact that Labour have been deluged with bad stories coming one after another, you'd have to think it was a wise "political" decision to do it, even if it was an exercise in futility.
Whilst the EU reform treaty remained unratified, it sat there like a festering sore. It could be referred to again and again by the opposition to the Treaty and in Europe too countries could point at the UK and claim it was showing the usual reluctance to be European.
I am 100% against the EU reform treaty being ratified without a referendum because it was Lib Dem policy to support a referendum, and this was the basis on which I campaigned and canvassed at previous elections. Little did I know the party was going to flip flop and back track on this promise. So Gordon Brown pushing it through today might have show political expediency, but lacks judgement on what the people of the UK want.
Whilst the EU reform treaty remained unratified, it sat there like a festering sore. It could be referred to again and again by the opposition to the Treaty and in Europe too countries could point at the UK and claim it was showing the usual reluctance to be European.
I am 100% against the EU reform treaty being ratified without a referendum because it was Lib Dem policy to support a referendum, and this was the basis on which I campaigned and canvassed at previous elections. Little did I know the party was going to flip flop and back track on this promise. So Gordon Brown pushing it through today might have show political expediency, but lacks judgement on what the people of the UK want.
6/13/2008
Ireland's "No" - A disaster for Nick Clegg and Gordon Brown
Today's result from Ireland and a clear rejection of the Euro Constitution immersed in what was name a "Reform Treaty", is disastrous for the EU, but is the very last thing either Gordon Brown or Nick Clegg wanted right now.
Gordon Brown's problems seem to double by the day and have been well documented, but having only got the 42 vote through by a wafer thin margin, Gordon Brown must be dreading that the Euro Constitution might resurface in another amended form shortly before a general election and require another re ratification by parliament.
Nick Clegg too must be worried. The decision to put a three line whip to tell Lib Dem MP's to abstain, thent Lib Dem Lords were told to oppose, all while many voters lived under the preoccupation that the Lib Dems actually supported the idea of a referendum in the 2005 manifesto, left deep divisions, made the party seem untrustworthy and lacking direction, and brought Nick Clegg's leadership in to question very early on in his leadership. Since then Nick has done well to reunify the party and bring people back on board, and many of the electorate have forgotten what the Lib Dems did, but the idea that this might become an issue again must be a worry for Lib Dem strategists.
This leaves, of course, the Tories, who must be laughing their socks off right now. But lets face it, we could all see this coming, and it was exactly the reason why some were so opposed to a referendum on the EU constitution in the first place. Quite simply, people are sick of the EU and want to vent their anger at it.
Gordon Brown's problems seem to double by the day and have been well documented, but having only got the 42 vote through by a wafer thin margin, Gordon Brown must be dreading that the Euro Constitution might resurface in another amended form shortly before a general election and require another re ratification by parliament.
Nick Clegg too must be worried. The decision to put a three line whip to tell Lib Dem MP's to abstain, thent Lib Dem Lords were told to oppose, all while many voters lived under the preoccupation that the Lib Dems actually supported the idea of a referendum in the 2005 manifesto, left deep divisions, made the party seem untrustworthy and lacking direction, and brought Nick Clegg's leadership in to question very early on in his leadership. Since then Nick has done well to reunify the party and bring people back on board, and many of the electorate have forgotten what the Lib Dems did, but the idea that this might become an issue again must be a worry for Lib Dem strategists.
This leaves, of course, the Tories, who must be laughing their socks off right now. But lets face it, we could all see this coming, and it was exactly the reason why some were so opposed to a referendum on the EU constitution in the first place. Quite simply, people are sick of the EU and want to vent their anger at it.
6/06/2008
Another Tory MEP in trouble over his expenses
One in a week is terrible for the Tory Party, Two is disgraceful, what price a third Tory MEP for being in trouble at some point ? After all, The News of the World printed this about another Tory MEP
"Moustachioed top Tory Roger Helmer is another MEP filling his boots. He has set himself up as a champion for openness and transparency in Brussels. But in an unguarded moment he bragged to our reporter of his plans to exploit the crazy expenses system for thousands more—by tweaking the way his home address is listed.
The idea is to make his home in Ashby Magna, Leics, appear at least 1,000 kilometres from Strasbourg— which under crazy Euro allowance rules will net him an extra £135 every time he flies there—£1,620 a year.
At present the distance is calculated from his postal town Lutterworth, which makes it 996km.
Over a blowout meal of scallops and red wine Helmer said: "From Ashby Magna I make it 1,001km.
"If Brussels agrees with me I'll say, ‘OK, backdate it!'"
The way the Eurocrats throw cash around they probably will. "
"Moustachioed top Tory Roger Helmer is another MEP filling his boots. He has set himself up as a champion for openness and transparency in Brussels. But in an unguarded moment he bragged to our reporter of his plans to exploit the crazy expenses system for thousands more—by tweaking the way his home address is listed.
The idea is to make his home in Ashby Magna, Leics, appear at least 1,000 kilometres from Strasbourg— which under crazy Euro allowance rules will net him an extra £135 every time he flies there—£1,620 a year.
At present the distance is calculated from his postal town Lutterworth, which makes it 996km.
Over a blowout meal of scallops and red wine Helmer said: "From Ashby Magna I make it 1,001km.
"If Brussels agrees with me I'll say, ‘OK, backdate it!'"
The way the Eurocrats throw cash around they probably will. "
5/27/2008
In this place we call Europe
Who would imagine that in Europe there is a country where people can be prevented from travelling freely, can be assaulted, beaten up and have their vehicles burnt, attacked, damaged and ruined and whilst this happens, the police look on and laugh as they share jokes with the perpetrators.
If I said it was Russia, you'd probably expect it, but if I say it is France, an EU members state, a state which was supposedly born on the virtues of "liberte, egalite, fraternite", we can see again (like my last post) why so many people don't trust European institutions at any level.
Yes, because it seems in France local fishermen are allowed to close ports, ram British ships, attack crews and even attack British yachts with firebombs if they want to leave the ports. Meanwhile the French police look on and laugh.
Where are the MEP's who should be complaining about British boats being prevented from leaving French ports by local thugs ? Where are the British MP's who should be raising hell about the French Police looking on as British boats have been rammed or attacked with firebombs ? Where is our government when the rule of law is not being applied evenly to EU citizens in an EU state ? Do the guarantees on out passports mean anything ? Not in the EU it seems.
I await howls of derision and claims that I am xenophobic.
If I said it was Russia, you'd probably expect it, but if I say it is France, an EU members state, a state which was supposedly born on the virtues of "liberte, egalite, fraternite", we can see again (like my last post) why so many people don't trust European institutions at any level.
Yes, because it seems in France local fishermen are allowed to close ports, ram British ships, attack crews and even attack British yachts with firebombs if they want to leave the ports. Meanwhile the French police look on and laugh.
Where are the MEP's who should be complaining about British boats being prevented from leaving French ports by local thugs ? Where are the British MP's who should be raising hell about the French Police looking on as British boats have been rammed or attacked with firebombs ? Where is our government when the rule of law is not being applied evenly to EU citizens in an EU state ? Do the guarantees on out passports mean anything ? Not in the EU it seems.
I await howls of derision and claims that I am xenophobic.
4/01/2008
Confusion and contradiction over the EU constitution
News that Lib Dem peers will vote against plans for a referendum on the EU Constitution should come as no surprise to anyone since the whole messed up Lib Dem policy to the referendum seems to have come as a result of some pressure from Lib Dem lords in the first place.
What I do find odd though is Shirley Williams response that
" never in Britain has there been an objective attempt to explain the European Union to our people and they have been subjected to the most astonishing propaganda, not least from major influences in the printed press."
The obvious question is then why are Lib Dem lords opposing a referendum when it is the ideal opportunity for the pro EU lobby to make its case. If the EU Constitution/Reform Treaty really does limit the EU's powers and draw lines in the sand it should be easy to sell this to the British public and at the same time educate the country about the benefits of the EU.
You might have imagined, given that Lib Dem MP's were told to abstain that Lib Dem peers would have been given the same advice. But oddly the Lib Dem line in the House of Lords is to back Labour. Isn't this another contradiction ? Surely if Nick Clegg's policy was right for the Commons, why isn't it right in the Lords ?
More importantly isn't this change of tack a sign that actually Nick Clegg got things very wrong when ordering Lib Dem MP's to abstain ? The whole thing is compounding a bad decision in the first place by now making the party inconsistent.
What I do find odd though is Shirley Williams response that
" never in Britain has there been an objective attempt to explain the European Union to our people and they have been subjected to the most astonishing propaganda, not least from major influences in the printed press."
The obvious question is then why are Lib Dem lords opposing a referendum when it is the ideal opportunity for the pro EU lobby to make its case. If the EU Constitution/Reform Treaty really does limit the EU's powers and draw lines in the sand it should be easy to sell this to the British public and at the same time educate the country about the benefits of the EU.
You might have imagined, given that Lib Dem MP's were told to abstain that Lib Dem peers would have been given the same advice. But oddly the Lib Dem line in the House of Lords is to back Labour. Isn't this another contradiction ? Surely if Nick Clegg's policy was right for the Commons, why isn't it right in the Lords ?
More importantly isn't this change of tack a sign that actually Nick Clegg got things very wrong when ordering Lib Dem MP's to abstain ? The whole thing is compounding a bad decision in the first place by now making the party inconsistent.
3/06/2008
Why it so sad that loyalty is made to look so bad
Amid the many postings from various bloggers who like me were disgusted with the Liberal Democrat Party line over the EU referendum yesterday, there has been a constant stream of unhappiness at the MP's who followed the party line and abstained on the vote. But is this fair ?
I didn't agree with the party line and had I been an MP I would most certainly have voted for the amendment, but should we be critical of MPs who stay loyal to the party and follow a three line whip ?
Loyalty is something that is easily lost, and we should admire our MPs for accepting they have pledged to support the party line and the leader. Sadly though, these MPs have been let down badly by the party, and not the other way round.
I disagree with the way they chose not to vote, indeed I think some of their constituents will also let their anger be known at some point in the future. But our anger should be aimed more at the incompetent leadership of the party that chose to steer this course.
Another point also worth reiterating is that the course chosen by Nick Clegg was also the policy shared by Chris Huhne. Sadly, understanding of the issues here and the way it played with the British public was something out leadership candidates had no idea about.
The loyalty of MPs to Nick Clegg has made the MPs look bad. In truth, the leadership has taken advantage of this loyalty in an appalling way.
I didn't agree with the party line and had I been an MP I would most certainly have voted for the amendment, but should we be critical of MPs who stay loyal to the party and follow a three line whip ?
Loyalty is something that is easily lost, and we should admire our MPs for accepting they have pledged to support the party line and the leader. Sadly though, these MPs have been let down badly by the party, and not the other way round.
I disagree with the way they chose not to vote, indeed I think some of their constituents will also let their anger be known at some point in the future. But our anger should be aimed more at the incompetent leadership of the party that chose to steer this course.
Another point also worth reiterating is that the course chosen by Nick Clegg was also the policy shared by Chris Huhne. Sadly, understanding of the issues here and the way it played with the British public was something out leadership candidates had no idea about.
The loyalty of MPs to Nick Clegg has made the MPs look bad. In truth, the leadership has taken advantage of this loyalty in an appalling way.
3/05/2008
The slow, painful and completely avoidable accident that has done so much damage to the Lib Dems
The fiasco over the Lib Dem stance on the Tories EU referendum motion today was so clearly signposted, so easily avoided, so obviously could have been dealt with and perhaps most importantly was so widely challenged from withing the party that you have to question the intelligence and integrity of the party for it's decision, and in particular Nick Clegg has so mortally wounded his own standing that he will always find it hard to escape the criticism of this folly.
Sadly though, this policy was also supported during the leadership election so Chris Huhne would not have done anything differently from Nick Clegg. The two former MEPs ensured the party as a whole never got to make a choice in this issue. Perhaps this too highlights a weakness in both candidates who stood.
The debacle of three front bench Lib Dem MP's resigning, a number of backbench Lib Dem revolting against a three line whip, and almost universal criticism of the Lib Dems today was totally avoidable. Clegg could have allowed a free vote on the issue. He could have let the Lib Dem stick to the party's own manifesto pledge, or he could simply have told the party to vote against. But the colossal incompetence of ordering the party not to vote, to sit on their hands, to take part on a debate and not vote actually leads any sane voter to ask "What is the point of an MP who does not vote ?"
Everyone could see that this was going to happen, it didn't simply occur without warning, it actually reminded me of this clip from the film Austin Powers.
At the risk of repeating myself, today did not have to happen. It was all so easily avoided. Not a day that will fill anyone with pride in the Lib Dems.
Sadly though, this policy was also supported during the leadership election so Chris Huhne would not have done anything differently from Nick Clegg. The two former MEPs ensured the party as a whole never got to make a choice in this issue. Perhaps this too highlights a weakness in both candidates who stood.
The debacle of three front bench Lib Dem MP's resigning, a number of backbench Lib Dem revolting against a three line whip, and almost universal criticism of the Lib Dems today was totally avoidable. Clegg could have allowed a free vote on the issue. He could have let the Lib Dem stick to the party's own manifesto pledge, or he could simply have told the party to vote against. But the colossal incompetence of ordering the party not to vote, to sit on their hands, to take part on a debate and not vote actually leads any sane voter to ask "What is the point of an MP who does not vote ?"
Everyone could see that this was going to happen, it didn't simply occur without warning, it actually reminded me of this clip from the film Austin Powers.
At the risk of repeating myself, today did not have to happen. It was all so easily avoided. Not a day that will fill anyone with pride in the Lib Dems.
3/04/2008
Nick Clegg - Out of his depth and made to look silly
Nick Clegg has just been on Newsnight trying to defend the indefensible, and mightily stupid he has made himself look, and the Liberal Democrats.
The point was made to him that a week ago the Lib Dems walked out of parliament because they were not allowed to vote on an issue, but now they are intending to enforce a three line whip to tell our MP's not to vote ? It seems daft in the extreme. But worse than that, Nick Clegg kept making the point that our MP's would not support calls for a referendum because it was not the preferred referendum we wanted. rather like a starving man refusing a sandwich because "I prefer wholemeal bread", the Lib Dem stance is just plain daft.
Perhaps the most interesting point though was the lack of a sincere response from Nick Clegg on the question put to him by Jeremy Paxman, had he asked for pre-prepared resignation letters from MP's prepared to vote for the referendum ? Nick's response of "how could I, the vote has not taken place yet", was met with another repetition of the question by Jeremy Paxman. It was clear Paxman wanted Nick Clegg to be given a chance to change his mind on this question or dig a bigger hole for himself. Clearly someone has tipped of the BBC that resignation letters have been asked for.
Sadly, the whole piece on Newsnight made the Lib Dems look daft, out of touch and irrelevant. Very sad indeed.
The point was made to him that a week ago the Lib Dems walked out of parliament because they were not allowed to vote on an issue, but now they are intending to enforce a three line whip to tell our MP's not to vote ? It seems daft in the extreme. But worse than that, Nick Clegg kept making the point that our MP's would not support calls for a referendum because it was not the preferred referendum we wanted. rather like a starving man refusing a sandwich because "I prefer wholemeal bread", the Lib Dem stance is just plain daft.
Perhaps the most interesting point though was the lack of a sincere response from Nick Clegg on the question put to him by Jeremy Paxman, had he asked for pre-prepared resignation letters from MP's prepared to vote for the referendum ? Nick's response of "how could I, the vote has not taken place yet", was met with another repetition of the question by Jeremy Paxman. It was clear Paxman wanted Nick Clegg to be given a chance to change his mind on this question or dig a bigger hole for himself. Clearly someone has tipped of the BBC that resignation letters have been asked for.
Sadly, the whole piece on Newsnight made the Lib Dems look daft, out of touch and irrelevant. Very sad indeed.
3/01/2008
Is Lib Dem policy being dictated by back seat drivers ?
Danny Finkelstein claimed yesterday that the Lib Dem policy of abandoning a manifesto pledge to give the people of Britain a referendum on the EU treaty was made because Shirley Williams was threatening to leave the party and join the Labour Party if we didn't do it.
Mr Finkelstein comments that it was a deal hatched with Ming last summer when Gordon Brown and the Labour Party were enjoying high poll ratings.
If this is true, then it is disgraceful. But given that anyone joining Labour now would be rats joining a sinking ship, shouldn't we again look at our policy on this issue and ask if we are being dictated to by back seat drivers on the basis of threats made to leave the party, is this a proper reason for making a policy decision ?
Hat tip top Iain Dale.
Mr Finkelstein comments that it was a deal hatched with Ming last summer when Gordon Brown and the Labour Party were enjoying high poll ratings.
If this is true, then it is disgraceful. But given that anyone joining Labour now would be rats joining a sinking ship, shouldn't we again look at our policy on this issue and ask if we are being dictated to by back seat drivers on the basis of threats made to leave the party, is this a proper reason for making a policy decision ?
Hat tip top Iain Dale.
2/27/2008
The EU and Fraud - Better off out ?
Given the nature of the recent reports of serious fraud involving MEPs, one would have hoped that the EU would have published the report, in full, so that every single citizens of the EU can find out which MEPs are committing serial fraud and embezzlement.
So what did the EU do ? It decided to keep the report hidden and secret.
Sadly, from my point of view as a Lib Dem, this is the same EU that my party seeks to defend and praise at almost every opportunity. Given that my own party wants to deny me the vote in a referendum on the EU constitution, perhaps my only chance to register my disgust at the fraud in the EU will be to vote against our continued membership of the EU.
Perhaps if the EU continues to treat fraud in such a flippant manner and whilst the population of the UK has to endure further converging of UK and EU laws without any opportunity to have a referendum , they too might start to consider whether our better interests are served inside a "club" of fraudsters ?
So what did the EU do ? It decided to keep the report hidden and secret.
Sadly, from my point of view as a Lib Dem, this is the same EU that my party seeks to defend and praise at almost every opportunity. Given that my own party wants to deny me the vote in a referendum on the EU constitution, perhaps my only chance to register my disgust at the fraud in the EU will be to vote against our continued membership of the EU.
Perhaps if the EU continues to treat fraud in such a flippant manner and whilst the population of the UK has to endure further converging of UK and EU laws without any opportunity to have a referendum , they too might start to consider whether our better interests are served inside a "club" of fraudsters ?
2/26/2008
Political decisions by the speaker should be met with an equally political response
There is little doubt that the Speaker's refusal to accept the Lib Dems amendment to the EU Treaty vote in parliament is a blatantly political act. To refuse to allow a party to submit it's own motion in the way Michael Martin has (and noticeably left Deputy Speaker Michael Lord to carry the can) on an important issue such as this shows an astonishing amount of political interference from the Speaker, and a real lack of unbiased an fair treatment for all sides.
However, this political move from the speaker should be seen as an opportunity to light the touch paper for an equally political response from the Lib Dems.
Why don't the Lib Dems now accept that the choice is a referendum on the EU treaty or not. With the speaker, a Labour politician doing so much to try and protect his Scottish friend in number 10 Downing Street, the Lib Dems need to wake up to the need for a more suitable political response. Let's put Gordon Brown in a corner and show him that the Lib Dems too can fight back. Let's support calls for a referendum on the EU Constitution and take the fight to Gordon Brown.
It can still be party policy to support a wider referendum in the future, but for now only one referendum is on offer and it deserves our support.
However, this political move from the speaker should be seen as an opportunity to light the touch paper for an equally political response from the Lib Dems.
Why don't the Lib Dems now accept that the choice is a referendum on the EU treaty or not. With the speaker, a Labour politician doing so much to try and protect his Scottish friend in number 10 Downing Street, the Lib Dems need to wake up to the need for a more suitable political response. Let's put Gordon Brown in a corner and show him that the Lib Dems too can fight back. Let's support calls for a referendum on the EU Constitution and take the fight to Gordon Brown.
It can still be party policy to support a wider referendum in the future, but for now only one referendum is on offer and it deserves our support.
2/25/2008
Nick Clegg needs to realise it's the sort of politics people are tired of
When you ask an ordinary typical person what turns them off about politicians, the answer that is heard time and time again is that they do not listen. The classic example is always the TV interview, be it on Newsnight with Jeremy Paxman or on Question Time, when a politician is asked a question, and the politician replies with the line "the real question is ..." and changes the terms of debate to an issue that they want to talk about and not the issue actually under discussion.
Sadly, this is what the Lib Dems are doing at the moment over the EU Constitution. By attempting to turn this in to a wider debate on Europe and Britain's continued presence in the European Union, a line that all but the biggest idiots (UKIP) will support, the Lib Dems are ploughing a furrow that the public don't want to go down. The vast majority of British people have no doubt that we should be members of the EU, but they do have concerns that politicians, UK politicians in fact, want to integrate and introduce more EU measures without the population at large being able to discuss the issues and vote on them via a referendum.
In many ways the Lib Dem line is simply "But that's not the question. The real question is ... "
However, the question is "Should their be a referendum on the EU constitution". Emphatically, the answer is yes, and this is a view held by a large number, possibly even a majority of Lib Dems. Certainly of Lib Dems I know, this view is the dominant one.
We should not pretend for one minute that a wider referendum on the issue of the UK's continued membership of the EU is a proper way in which the EU constitution can be properly debated. All this Lib Dem plan does, in the short term, is to sweep the issue under the carpet and hope that it goes away. The problem is, that it won't. All it does is paint the party as being as bad as all the rest, promising a referendum that not choosing to support it when it comes to the crunch.
It's the sort of tired politics that people are really fed up with. The electorate are crying out for more from a politicaly party, They want to believe that there is a political party that genuinely listens and aswers the questions, not one that avoids giving answers and changes the questions.
Sadly, this is what the Lib Dems are doing at the moment over the EU Constitution. By attempting to turn this in to a wider debate on Europe and Britain's continued presence in the European Union, a line that all but the biggest idiots (UKIP) will support, the Lib Dems are ploughing a furrow that the public don't want to go down. The vast majority of British people have no doubt that we should be members of the EU, but they do have concerns that politicians, UK politicians in fact, want to integrate and introduce more EU measures without the population at large being able to discuss the issues and vote on them via a referendum.
In many ways the Lib Dem line is simply "But that's not the question. The real question is ... "
However, the question is "Should their be a referendum on the EU constitution". Emphatically, the answer is yes, and this is a view held by a large number, possibly even a majority of Lib Dems. Certainly of Lib Dems I know, this view is the dominant one.
We should not pretend for one minute that a wider referendum on the issue of the UK's continued membership of the EU is a proper way in which the EU constitution can be properly debated. All this Lib Dem plan does, in the short term, is to sweep the issue under the carpet and hope that it goes away. The problem is, that it won't. All it does is paint the party as being as bad as all the rest, promising a referendum that not choosing to support it when it comes to the crunch.
It's the sort of tired politics that people are really fed up with. The electorate are crying out for more from a politicaly party, They want to believe that there is a political party that genuinely listens and aswers the questions, not one that avoids giving answers and changes the questions.
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