You Get What You Vote For

Bra-bloody-vo.

And the 25 who are campaigning for votes for wing of The Westminster Party that advocates integration into the EU Super State, (just slightly slower than that other two, but with twice as much denial and drama) are:

•Steve Baker
•Brian Binley
•Peter Bone
•Andrew Bridgen
•Douglas Carswell
•Bill Cash
•Chris Chope
•James Clappison
•Philip Davies
•David Davis
•Richard Drax
•James Gray
•Gordon Henderson
•Philip Hollobone
•Julian Lewis
•Jason McCartney
•David Nuttall
•Andrew Percy
•Dominic Raab
•Mark Reckless
•John Redwood
•Richard Shepherd
•Sir Peter Tapsell
•Andrew Turner
•Martin Vickers

Saturday Rant

I shall be watching the Conservative conference around work this week with interest. It is naturally going to be watched by with broad interest because they are looking likely to be the party of government from next year.

Today’s result from Ireland on the referendum is looking to be a convincing YES vote which means it is looking very likely now that The EU Constitution will come into force in the coming months and that President Blair and an EU Foreign Commissioner will be appointed to rule us. God help us all.

So, in a “well duh” statement observers of this week’s conservative conference are going to be looking for an indication of what the Conservatives are going to do now that a pre-ratification referendum for the UK after a Cameron election is almost impossible.

That’s why I will be watching, and that is what I will be looking for. I suspect this is true of many others. Looking to a hint in the papers before the conference gets going full swing; it is perhaps a deliberate and placed message from none other than Ken Clarke that I stumble upon in the Telegraph.

Ken Clarke is a big thinker in conservative economics, but he is not the big beast he is presented to be, well at least in my opinion. He to my recollection has not cornered Mandelson since his return to the shadow front bench in January, and has no scalps to his name. The Big Beast has been tamed. On TV it seemed to me he supports much of what he is there to oppose. Mandelson quipped at the Labour conference that he had tried to call Ken Clarke but his phone was off and wondered if David Cameron had ordered it off having got wind of how often Ken and Mandy “agree privately on so much”.

Infuriatingly in his Telegraph interview he speaks well on the Economy. Take this for example:

"I've been through a fair number of spending rounds. The present deficit is a far more serious crisis than anything I ever faced." He points out that Labour's promise to halve the deficit in four years will only bring it down to the level it was at when Denis Healey had to go cap in hand to the International Monetary Fund in 1976.


"We have to go faster than that. We really must start cutting the deficit faster than they are doing because that isn't an adequate aim," he says. He would prefer to cut spending "resolutely" rather than raise taxes. He praises as "wise" the leadership's decision not to rule out tax increases. "Some of my colleagues promised it in 1992 and I spent most of my time raising taxes and cutting spending. It was an embarrassment. Most Conservatives would prefer naturally not to raise tax rates." He repeats the hope that the Tories will be able to reverse the planned increase in National Insurance that will hit all incomes.

But what about it Ken, what about the EU? Where’s the not so hidden message before the conference from a leading Conservative. Here it is.

Mr Clarke urges his critics to stay quiet this weekend. He does not want a return to “the most absurd civil war” of the 1990s when the party “destroyed” itself over Europe. It would be a “disaster”. Under Mr Cameron the party is not interested in “punch-ups”.

But some are. He must know that. “I hope you’re wrong. We have got policy, I accepted it was settled and I wasn’t going to try to change it. We’re not going to move on until and unless the treaty is ratified and enforced.”

ARRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!

It is the Ken Clarke paradox, a brilliant mind on economics, completely blind to the dangers and excesses of the EU. It is not an accident he is interviewed for the papers the day the Lisbon votes are counted in Ireland.

I did not of course need to go looking for a hint in the papers, like many others when I checked my emails today I got an email from David Cameron – this is his message.

This weekend we will hear the results of the referendum in Ireland on the re-named EU Constitution.


I want to make one thing clear: there will be no change in our policy on Europe and no new announcements at the Conference. There will be no change in Conservative policy as long as the Lisbon Treaty is still not in force. The Treaty has still not been ratified by the Czechs and the Poles. The Czech Prime Minister has said that the constitutional challenge before the Czech Constitutional Court could take 3-6 months to resolve.


I have said repeatedly that I want us to have a referendum. If the Treaty is not ratified in all Member States and not in force when the election is held, and if we are elected, then we will hold a referendum on it, we will name the date of the referendum in the election campaign, we will lead the campaign for a 'No' vote.

If the Treaty is ratified and in force in all Member States, we have repeatedly said we would not let matters rest there. But we have one policy at a time, and we will set out how we would proceed in those circumstances if, and only if, they happen.

Again I am not a party member, and I will not be at the Conference. Does this really cut it for EU skeptics in the Conservative party?

You tell me.

In a post Lisbon EU the UK Government will be even more limited in its function and powers and will have to subvert to the wishes of President Tony Blair. Can you see Cameron flying in for a White House summit without Tony? How about alongside, knowing that Cameron cannot over rule Blair? This is the Tip of the Iceberg as to the limitations of UK Government.

So, it will be an interesting week, I think. In my gut I think the EU Skeptic vote is about to harden without a clearer line of what David Cameron will do. My EU Skeptic Conservative friends have been happy to go along with supporting an “if it is not ratified, we will have a referendum” line. But, it will be ratified, so what is the plan now? When they take this line there is a look in their eye that is the same for most that have uttered it, they want this to be true and enough of a commitment not to send the Conservatives into a dogfight.

Me, I am a swivel-eyed EUphobic-loon who would, if I lead of a national party would campaign for an “in or out” referendum, and if the vote was in I would do all I could to protect and enhance Britains prospects. At least people will have voted on it! And if the vote was out I would have us out in a heartbeat, and would be looking to keep strong trading ties to the EU but also looking to trade deals and to reestablish stronger cultural ties with the Commonwealth Countries and with the US and Asia. I would be thinking of Britain’s place in the World, not just in Europe – Like Prime Minister used to do.

I think the debate needs to move on now from what will be done if it is not ratified. Maybe not this week, but soon. In a General Election campaign with Lisbon ratified and on current pledges, I see no reason to look to the Tories, I think I would have to look to UKIP.

Update: Thanks Boris.

Stuart Wheelers Expulsion

I am a little saddened by the events of the weekend, and I will explain why.

I am not a member of the Conservative Party, and I do not know Stuart Wheeler. The reason I am not a member of the Conservatives is because of their policy (or lack there of) on the EU. I want to join the Conservatives, and help make their arguments, but I feel the EU is the greatest danger to the UK's well being today. I have long seen membership of the Conservatives as a barrier to talk freely on this issue.

The way I see it, the EU is a straight-jacket, that locks the whole continent into an expensive long winded way of doing things. In doing this, we are endorsing protectionist practices that is slowly strangling Africa, that is slowly poisoning a once strong relationship with America, and is totally incompatible with us taking much more than a ceremonious lead in the Commonwealth. We are ignoring our history and hard earned lessons; we could have no better giude to our future than to look into our past.

The EU laws which are being passed affect every single person on this island, and yet they are devised by people who do not live here, and who were not elected by us; then ratified in a chamber where the UK represents less than 10% of the vote. This is how over 75% of the laws which govern us are devised. When we talk about what ilk's us, a path can usually be drawn back past Westminster, to Brussels.

Stuart Wheeler it seems is a bit of an attention seeker. But, when needed, he put his money up to help the Conservative Party, to which they owe him a great debt. I would imagine that when he put up £5m, he did so because he felt he was doing what he felt was right for him and for his country. I salute that, I suspect others do to.

Prior to this weekend, I suspect Mr Wheeler concluded that what was right for him and for the country was no longer funding or voting for the Conservatives in the EU elections, but by highlighting that the Conservatives are not an EU-Sceptic Party. They are usually unwilling to talk about the EU. The greatest thinkers and writers in the country today make sound compelling Conservative arguments against socialism, terrorism and statism, but mention the EU and they turn to trifle. Wheeler has not just handed UKIP a cheque, he has handed them an argument, and a mandate not to vote Conservative in the EU Elections.

Where will the young right-leaning EU-sceptic conservatives go now?

Since Mr Cameron spliced his leadership campaign with EU-Sceptic overtures, he has remained very tight lipped on the EU. He should be commended for bringing the Conservatives out of the EPP, but he took his time in doing so. What is the new grouping going to stand for? As far as I can tell the new group will not be for the UK exiting the EU, but for internal reforms of the EU. Mr Cameron clearly therefore see's the UK and his own future as an EU member state. I do not. His pledge on a referendum on The Lisbon treaty seems to be rooted in the knowledge that he will not be PM in time to stop it being enforced. Despite the plea's from the grass-roots to shore up and strengthen that pledge, the party leadership remains united in silence.

It pains me as I want to see this dismal and unhinged labour Party ejected for a very long time, but I cannot personally give the Conservatives my vote in the EU elections, though I will on certain matters argue their case. This weekend, through Mr Wheelers actions, the Conservative Party can no longer cling to even the ambiguous notion that they are the anti-EU party. They have not just ejected a principle donor, they have ejected the notion that with them in power the UK will ever leave the EU.

So, I am also pledging not to vote for the Conservatives at the EU elections, even though I wish I could give Daniel Hannan my vote. Daniel Hannan and Doug Carswell have presented an exceptionally compelling case in their book, The Plan that the way in which we are governed can be changed. I know from comments on this blog and others that they are fighting a good fight and winning the argument. But they do not represent the current direction of the Conservative Party, instead they represent what many of us would like that direction to be. I would not actually be voting for Daniel, but for a Party which does not represent my views. To those who say I am helping split the Tory vote, tough. You can not consistently be wrong and silent on such a major point and expect not to lose support.

Part of their argument is that the parties should hold primaries to allow constituents to select and run for their local positions. I wholeheartedly agree, as I did with most of the book; which is why I have wanted to highlight the Jury Team cause, and I will continue to try to help in their cause by writing about them. If you too dislike who your chosen party stands in your area then I urge you to try having a hand in the selection, by looking at who is running in your area for Jury Team and voting in the primary. The main parties will not let you have a say in who they run. In doing so, you might just find someone who represents your views and values better than the party you would normally vote for.

I started this blog because I wanted to do something positive and because I wanted my voice heard. I have stood next to many people and had many rational conversations about how things should be and how they can be different. But those argument which seem so simple to me, seldom find representation at the top of Government. I wanted to put my voice into the mix and see if I couldn't nudge the Conservatives and likely Conservative voters towards a more open and direct style of democracy. Grand and sometimes noble aims are seldom met in a short time and in the first effort. The notion seems distant and unreachable today, but that does not mean it will not happen in the future.

If I was in the proverbial doorway looking in, I am now stood outside in the rain. It will be harder to be heard, but I will just have to make myself louder and more visible.

It might turn out that the biggest winner will not be UKIP but Gordon Brown. I suspect the fight between UKIP and the Conservatives is about to heat up. If UKIP and Tories focus their efforts on the same pool of voters, it may just be that some of those will dessert both; a pox on both their houses.

Is The Euro In Crisis?

There is some good debate going on over at the DT from Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, who asks if the Germans are ready to give up on the EURO here; and from Daniel Hannan who asks if the EURO will survive here.

The crux of the argument is that the Germans will have to make a financial commitment to prop up the EURO if it is to survive... this is of course not solely an economic argument with the politics and Maastrict laws being big factors.

Go read, all good stuff.

Ultimately, I feel the EU will put politics before the economics or existing treaties and laws. We know this, because this is exactly what it has always done in the past. So in my mind it is more a question of how long the Irish, Portuguese, the Greeks and the Spanish can hold on. To my knowledge none of these national governments is looking seriously at alternatives to the EURO. Italy seems to be making up the new acronym of PIIGS.

I really doubt that Spain, Portugal or Italy will be allowed to default on any debts or succeed from the financial union. I don't know enough about Greece to comment, but there has been public uprisings there so it will not be a straight forward fix. Greece, I feel will be better suited to recovery by taking national decisions, rather than trying to fit in to the EU's decisions. Ireland has friends in the UK and the US, so if they go first the EU might pass the buck to the IMF. I must however confess as I have done so before, don't bet the farm on my economic outlook.

I want to see an end to the EU integrationalism and the EURO crashing has long been the best hope for this; though I really do not want to see allied countries in financial dire straits. I got married in Ireland last year and I am sad to think of how this might affect the fantastic people there.

The UK economy is in trouble, but those of us who fought hard to retain economic independence are being proven right. It was the right decision because the economics were put before politics... let's hope the EU does the same.

Can Gordon Brown Pledge To Increase Trade With China?

The Times at the end of their piece regarding Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's speech at Cambridge today they say this:

Mr Brown said that his target was to increase British exports to China from £5 billion in 2008 to £10 billion in 2010. He added: “I believe that there is much scope for trade and investment to expand between our two countries even in these most difficult of times for the global economy.”

SkyNews.com have a similar line when they say:

Earlier, Gordon Brown had described the relationship between Britain and China as "a pivotal force" in helping the country through the recession.

"I believe that there is much scope for trade and investment to expand between our two countries even in these most difficult of times for the global economy," Mr Brown said.

"The strength of the relationship between China and Britain will be a pivotal force in helping us through the downturn and a powerful driving force behind our future growth and prosperity.

"We know from previous downturns that a retreat to narrow, short-term protectionist policies would only serve to deepen the global recession and we must not and will not allow that to happen again."

As I understand it, the UK is not in a position to unilaterally make trade deals with a non-EU country as this is an exclusive competency of the European Commission. In fact, before his ennoblement this was the area headed up by Peter Mandelson.

I may be wrong, I will be happy to hold my hands up if I am, (though I don't think I am.) I happen to think that one of the best ways to to put the UK on a path to economic recovery is by enhancing trade with Asia. There is a lot of currency stockpiling in Asia, especially China, by selling to them goods and services that they require, their cash becomes our cash.

So why are The Times and Sky quoting Gordon Brown, instead of challenging him on this? Gordon Brown and Chinese PM Wen Jiabao are free to make as many pledges as they like because they cannot possibly act upon them and the MSM seems unwilling to scrutinise. This, while workers are striking after his inability to act upon his pledge to deliver "British Jobs for British Workers".

Perhaps, and this maybe considered somewhat cynical; but perhaps the £10bn number is not a pledge, but has already been forecasted, and Gordon Brown is simply attempting to take credit for the increase. Maybe, just maybe, Peter Mandleson was able to make that number known to the Government, and the Government is taking trying to take credit for it.

What do you think? Am I a crazy cynic, or am I about right here?

00:05 Amendment: Colours went a bit crazy, plus changed an "If" to an "In" to make more sense.

EU List Of Criminal Offences

Just discovered Raedwalds Blog tonight, I will be adding to the links on this page. I am also going to highlight a piece from this blog which can be read in full at this link: Raedwald: Integrated EU blacklist of 'criminals' is here

Essentially, the following offences will be centrally recorded by the EU as a result of this E.C. ruling.

- Offences related to waste - Unintentional environmental offences
- Insult of the State, Nation or State symbols - Insult or resistance to a representative of public authority
- Public order offences, breach of the public peace - Revealing a secret or breaching an obligation of secrecy
- Unintentional damage or destruction of property
- Offences against migration law - an "Open category" (offences undefined thus all encompassing)
- Offences against military obligations
- an "Open category" (offences undefined thus all encompassing)
- Unauthorised entry or residence
- Other offences an "Open category" (offences undefined thus all encompassing)
- Other unintentional offences
- Prohibition from frequenting some places
- Prohibition from entry to a mass event
- Placement under electronic surveillance ("fixed or mobile" - eg: home, car, mobile phone etc)
- Withdrawal of a hunting / fishing license
- Prohibition to play certain games/sports
- Prohibition from national territory
- Personal obligation - an "Open category" (offences undefined thus all encompassing)
- "Fine" - all fines. inc minor non-criminal offences

LPUK also has this, along with a video clip of the EU flag being BBQ’d, here.

This is another example people of the EU setting out its Federal boundaries and the extent of control over the citizens of the EU, boundaries that it now sets for itself under the impending Lisbon Constitutional Treaty.

The EU views itself as your Government, even if you do not share that view. It has decided it wants to know when you commit one of the above offences. None of this has been openly discussed within the UK and you will not see anyone from the Lib/Lab/Con parties discussing this in Parliament or on the TV. You could write to your MP, but they are powerless to act in any way to change this, they are likely unaware that this is even happening.

Remember, there is no opposition voice or vote on the E.C. its function is solely to “Harmonise” the laws and protocols of E.U. member states. They have decided this, and will impose it upon national parliaments; this will become law without you, as a voter, having had any say what-so-ever. The trappings of a Totalitarian State are being established under our noses, the tools of Democracy that were designed to protect us are again being used against us.

I repeat once again Thomas Jefferson’s wise words. "When the people fear the Government there is Tyranny; when the Government fears the people there is Liberty."

Ken Clarke Appointed To Shadow Cabinet

As of Monday 19th January 2008 Ken Clarke will be back in the Conservative Shadow Cabinet. Iain Dale has the scoop here.




The next 10 days will be very interesting. There is going to be something of a backlash amongst Conservative voters, and David Cameron will come under fire for this decision. Ken Clarke has seven, maybe ten days to land a big body blow on Peter Mandelson and/or the Labour Party. If he does this, David Cameron's decision will be vindicated.* If not, then the recent poll results which have been showing an overall Conservative Majority will likely slip back, as the anti-Ken voices from within the Conservative Party get louder. Mandelson and Brown will be prepared for his return, suspect they have some counter punches lined up already.




This is not, in my opinion a clause 4 moment for David Cameron. This is not the Conservative setting a new direction, or casting of the burden of unpopular ideology. This is the moment however that the Conservative Party was honest with itself and who they are and what they stand for. Most have suspected since David Cameron accession that he is Pro-EU at heart and wants to lead Britain from inside the EU. I would rather he were more open about this so that it can be debated, rather than a closed issue which will, in the long run, cause greater frustrations and factions within the Conservative Party.




If I was still a likely Conservative voter, and held my previous concerns, this announcement would definitely send me over the edge…. However, paradoxically, now looking in without a sense of voting allegiance it could be a good move for the Conservatives. The only thing, politically speaking, that I want more than to withdraw from the EU is the complete defeat of the current Labour Government. If Ken Clarke's return ensures that The Conservatives move from narrow election majority, to comfortable majority then it may help put more Conservative MPs in Parliament and may subsequently ensure that I get what I want, an open, national debate on continued EU membership.




Of course, there is the chance also that Labour will on Tuesday announce that they are taking the UK into the Euro, then the Conservative party might possible implode into full scale civil war... and my head would explode from the excess rage surging through my brain.


*Provided that Ken Clarke does not then go off and rattle the Tories by a) Standing on a platform with Gordon Brown & Peter Mandelson to promote the Euro or the Lisbon Treaty. B) declares publicly that ‘smoking does not cause cancer’ or C) launches another ill-fated leadership bid. (If I have missed any, please add to the comments…)

A New Approach To Euroscepticism

There was me preparing to start beating the drum in recent days about the EU, and the need for a new dialogue. Then I saw this over at Coffee House earlier today.

The Tax Payers Alliance and Global Vision will be launching a new campaign on the EU. Have a read.

It is exactly the type of initiative that I will be eager to read up on.... So expect updates and links from this blog in the future.

My EU Scepticism

I blogged earlier here, mostly to link to Rupert Matthews piece on ConHome.

Part of the reason I wanted to start my own blog, was because I wanted to understand and influence peoples opinions on the the EU through debate; and to be able to reach a wider audience than I could just by posting on various MSM sites. However, I am under no illusions of this particular blogs reach.

So let me tell you this. My EU Scepticism began whilst I was studying at University. In an economics assignment we had to look at the proposed single currency. At the time, Britain had not all together ruled out of participation. I had in my teens been enthused by the idea of European Co-operation, and putting in place economic structures across the EU to rival the USA. It became clear through actually looking further than the news headlines that the UK would need to give up monetary and economic independence to be a participant. The price of participation was and is too high.

It is my belief that the more you read into the subject of the EU, the harder it is to like and appreciate it. It did not take long for me to recognise that the European Project was a one-way implementation whereby member nations gave up more and more to a central legislative, executive and judiciary. I find myself outraged some times at the extent of sovereign control that has been assumed by the EU over the UK without the UK populace having been consulted electorally. Power, is supposed to emanate from the people, not be accumulated centrally for control of the people.

The secretive and subversive manner in with the EU has gained control over the lives of the people of Europe should not go unquestioned. But it mostly has. Successive Conservative and Labour Governments have practiced subservience to the EU. Hardly inspirational is it? Make no mistake, it is not just the EU, it is Westminster.

Eventually, most ordinary people grow to dislike the EU. It is by realising this that we can account for the UK position (at home). Broadly, those who oppose it are largely people who have looked into it, who have been stung by it.

Those who actively support the EU are largely career politicians, and/or people who see professional & personal economic benefits. There are also those who see the potential for enforcement of a socialist state. The don't knows, in UK polls typically out-number the people in favour of the EU, especially when a hard question is asked such as for or against continued membership. These undecideds are the people that need to be awakened to the points in this particular debate, people have a remarkable capacity to form opinions when those opinions are deemed to matter.


My EU Scepticism started with and has grown since that project. I would very much like to hear why it is you are for or against the EU. I am also interested in what you think the UK should do on The EU, on Lisbon and on the EURO.