Euro grandees and retired diplomats attack Cameron ....

... over his decision to quit the federalist European People's Party, according to the Guardian.

Good.  Proves it's the right thing to do.

Ever wondered why Euro grandees loath such a realignment?  Because it means an end to the politicians' monopoly in Brussels.  With a new grouping advocating a return of powers to the nation state, the federalist strangle-hold is broken. 

When dinosaurs say it means less influence in Europe, they mean less influence for people like them.  The British people, on the other hand, might at last start to get the kind of European policy they've wanted all along.

Remember;  the Foreign Office is the unaccountable quango responsible for the Euro mess we're in.  Only through democratised diplomacy can we heal the decades of damage.   

Posted on 30 May 2009 by Douglas Carswell

Comments

DC: "Good. Proves it's the right thing to do."

Problem is the average voter has seen this sort of 'bait and switch' too many times from the Tory Party.

How do erstwhile and potential Tory voters know we are not being 'taken for a ride' again?

Posted on 30 May 2009 10:11 by APL

Another example of yesterdays yes men out of touch with today's electorate.
Didnt those same people use to bang on about party loyalty?
Perhaps they ought to be encouraged to keep their own moats and tennis courts in order

Posted on 30 May 2009 10:35 by Ian

Its amazing about how these failed 'old boys' prattle on about 'influence' in Europe. Can any of these 'old boys' identify what influence they've ever managed to have on reforming the CAP or of ensuring that audited accounts of the EU are signed off?. Exactly nil, none, zilch, zero.

People are sick to the back teeth of hearing these remote old boys bang on about 'influence' at the same time as British citizens see their country's authority passported to Brussels without any reference to the people.

What sane person thinks that the likes of Patten and Brittan represent their views as opposed to the views of a corrupt and undemocratic EU political class.

Better off out!

Posted on 30 May 2009 10:56 by Yorkshireman

I am going to bite the bullet and vote Tory.

But if Dave caves in to the Grandee idiots that have kept them out of power for 13 years and does a U turn or a wriggle or a word play to not hold a referendum there will be blood on the streets.

Posted on 30 May 2009 13:03 by paul

Those same grandees were largely responsible for the Conservatives long stay in opposition. Perhaps they think that if they threaten to play that card again, Cameron will back down.

I hope he doesn't!

Posted on 30 May 2009 13:04 by http://faustiesblog.blogspot.com/

Horlocks Dougy,

You want to put the power back in the hands of this sovereign government? Stop trying to fight it on its own terms!

Repeal the European Communities Act 1972, ALL amending treaties and ALL statutory instruments.

Withdraw/Fire (as if it need be said) all MEP's and reset boundaries to pre-EU territorial waters (I'm certain Daniel will be able to take care of himself).

Protect parliamentary sovereignty in the way that the irish have done which we apparently lack!

When I see this happening I will believe in it!

Posted on 30 May 2009 13:06 by Thom

Clearly we were thinking along similar lines Douglas. I wrote about this on my blog earlier and fisked the comments made in the Guardian piece.

http://tonysharp.blogspot.com/2009/05/europhile-attack-on-cameron-is.html

Comments and observations are very welcome.

Posted on 30 May 2009 14:15 by Tony Sharp

Norway and Switzerland have been and are, doing well out of their trading status with the EU, without the rerst of the clutter to which we are signed up.Their influence is far greater than ours becuase the EU has to treat them with respect.Their position is what most people thought they were signing up to in 1975.If Dave fails to return powers to this country from Brussels and also fails to hold a referendum om Lisbon (and William Hague has been elusive on this one) the mood of the electorate is that the Conservatives will be ejected as Labour will shortly be.

Posted on 30 May 2009 16:15 by Grytpype-thynne

After yesterdays interview no way am I voting for cameron,two faced just like blair.He will not listen to the electorate even now.
If you have been banned from office for your views what does that say about cameron.Only europhile yes men will get promotion,he is just the same as the other main parties.

Posted on 30 May 2009 19:00 by davmc

"Good. Proves it's the right thing to do" were my thoughts exactly when I heard this on the 6am BBC news - read out by the newsreader with a very worried voice, presumably to upset the seriously ill-informed.

Posted on 30 May 2009 19:23 by Mike Spilligan

@ Grytpype-thynne,

The point I've made several times here to Dougy is that Cambo WILL fail to get his point across, even with a massive majority - his present message of "change" is a misnomer and is designed to be effectively meaningless but destructive in consequence to our sovereignty.

Its all killa, no filla.

If he wants to instigate any real change on the European Union debate the FIRST thing he should do as I've said is repeal the ECA1972 as I've mentioned above - then we can debate with the colleagues on our own terms, not theirs.

Will he do this? He will find as many reasons as not to, citing that it would appear like he was stealing ideas from UKIP or LPUK, but the fact is that he is a committed integrationists despite his rhetoric about a few rules that tinker around the edges of what is fast become a hard to conceal white elephant.

Posted on 31 May 2009 00:31 by Thom

BBC news webaite
Have Your Say
DEBATE:

Is it time for radical reform of politics and Parliament?


The point that's is being missed and therefore keeping public anger so raw is talk of reform (which is long overdue) by competitive Party leaders

Not enough attention is given to punish the guilty admonish the stupid and discipline the shoddy and remind the arrogant it is public money not theirs

We need to refrain from a Wild West style hang them all approach but give some thought to a graduated punishment tariff.

Below I offer a formula for consideration that is far from perfect but I strongly feel the focus of debate before reform should be a general acceptance by the establishment that trust has been seriously eroded and serial offensive misuse of public money must be fairly dealt with.

I have not heard any press reports reagarding police investigation so the first priority should be Police & HMRC joint press conference announcing detailed investigation into every MPs pay & expenses claims over last 8 years.

I am not seeking day to day public utterances by the Police and HMRC it wouldn't be right to interfere with their day to day operational independence.

But they must recognise the general public need to believe this is not being swept under the carpet.

Perhaps a fortnightly press release and /or a monthly press conference /update would convince the public this is being properly looked into.

All MPs outed by the telegraph must be sacked now no pension no extras, If Parliament cant find a statute that deals with this then we must insist on a General election by the end of September.

Before the election is called all MPs must face their constituency party to ensure they have their support.

Flipping is tax evasion and in the main should be a jail sentence The length determined by the scale Perhaps a minimum of 3 Years




Phantom mortgages is fraud a longer jail sentence and large fine

Offensive expenses claims applied for but not awarded should be automatic deselection

Offensive expenses' awarded Repayment of claim(s) plus a fine minimum £5000 plus double the amount claimed

(Offensive clarification claiming for charity donations Tennis court/ moat repairs anything not related to the job)

Suggested scale of offences

1 offensive but minor value Below £1000

2 Back bench up to £5000

3 Back bench serial abuser

4 Bank bench Fraud tax evasion

5 Front bench oversight up to £1000

6 Front bench final warning

7 Front bench sackable

All the above should be barred from public office for Life and complete loss of pension rights

The practice of massive pensions and elevation to the House of Lords and or government gifted jobs for time served public servants who have been inept must stop

The higher a politician is in his party the greater the punishment must be, it must be accepted they have a greater responsibility for public money and as a role model

A cabinet Minister / shadow cabinet / party spokesman/ for example is where the greatest punishment should be

It must be recognised that on occasion it is not acceptable for an MP to lose his portfolio and not face his local electorate

Once the above is addressed we can then reform the whole system

Posted on 31 May 2009 08:36 by Ian

Of course, Lord Brittan, Lord Patten and Lord Tugendhat are all in receipt of substantial EU pensions, which they lose if they "fail to uphold the EU's interests or bring the EU into disrepute".

Lord Pearson pointed this out. Said Lord Kinnock, "there is nothing that I have ever taken from anyone that would begin to influence the judgment that I exercise as a parliamentarian".

Lord Pearson replied, "My Lords, the noble Lord would say that, wouldn't he?"

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldhansrd/text/80618-0011.htm

Posted on 31 May 2009 13:14 by Hugo

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