January 25, 2009
Rewarding Scum
BBC NEWS | Northern Ireland | Troubles victims' payment planned
The government is to be asked to pay £12,000 to the families of all those killed during the Troubles - including members of paramilitary groups.
The families of paramilitary victims, members of the security forces and civilians who were killed will all be entitled to the same amount.
The Consultative Group on the Past..., co-chaired by Lord Eames and Denis Bradley, is expected to say there should be no hierarchy of victims and that everyone should be treated in the same way.
That would mean the family of the IRA Shankill bomber Thomas Begley would receive the same for his death as those of the families of the nine civilians he killed.
Likewise, the families of two UVF members killed while they planted a bomb that also killed three members of the Miami Showband in 1975 will be entitled to the same payment as those of the victims.
Devil's Kitchen has a word for Lord Eames and Denis Bradley. Let me concur with him.
Posted by The Englishman at 5:27 PM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
October 19, 2007
The band is playing Lady in Red and the chairs are being stacked on the tables...
EU Referendum: The last British government
There is still some argument about the precise date on which it happened. Some assert that it was 18 October 2007, when prime minister Brown agreed in principle to what became known as the "Lisbon Treaty" – once the pretence that it was a "reform" treaty was no longer necessary.
Others suggest that it was the following day, when Brown initialled the communiqué giving his assent to the treaty, following down the path set for him on 18 June 2007 when his predecessor, Mr Tony Blair, agreed on the "mandate" which led to the treaty.
Some declare that it was on the day in December when Brown formally signed the new treaty and still others maintain that it took effect from the day when the amendment to the European Communities Act was given Royal Assent, placing the treaty formally on the statute book of the United Kingdom and thus embedding it as part of its constitution.
But, to a man – and the occasional woman – all agree that, whatever day it was, it was the last time the once-proud nation which called itself the United Kingdom had its own independent government. Mr Brown was the last prime minister of the last British government.
Of course the dancing will continue for a bit longer before they grab a taxi to his place and she takes up the offer of "coffee", no one likes a girl who appears to be too easy....
Battle of the EU treaty to last for months - Times Online
The Prime Minister briefed his Cabinet colleagues on Tuesday to expect another protracted tussle on the latest treaty, starting in the new year and continuing well into the spring, The Times has learnt.
He told them that months of detailed examination will dampen Eurosceptics’ opposition while demonstrating that the document is too complex to be decided by referendum.
The reform treaty was agreed by leaders of the 27 EU nations after talks that stretched through their summit dinner.
Damn, that must be too complicated for voters, I mean it they had to even talk it about it at the dinner table before they could sign, the sacrifices these wise men make for us, we should be grateful.
Posted by The Englishman at 6:52 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
August 17, 2005
Mais Oui!
Maurice Druon, an author, ex-culture minister and grandee of the Acadmie Franaise, holder of an honorary knighthood for services to Anglo-French relations, said: "What Britain and Europe want of the EU is quite different. You want an open market, whereas the rest of us want Europe to evolve as a strong power, not just economically but diplomatically and strategically, too."
"Shouldn't we draw the consequences and ask whether it wouldn't be to everyone's advantage, Britain's included, for them to leave the EU's political institutions and take the status of privileged partner?
"You cannot stay indefinitely both in and out. If a friend cannot raise this question, who else will dare to pose it?"
The old man he speaks sense, and finding myself agreeing with a French intellectual is a shock to the system this early in the morning.
Posted by The Englishman at 6:59 AM
| Comments (6)
| TrackBack
July 13, 2005
Read all about it
Jens-Peter Bonde's Reader friendly version of the EU Constitution as signed in Rome October 29, 2004 is now available.
Click to read and download it:
Thanks for sending me the link - I will read at my leisure. Thanks.
Posted by The Englishman at 12:37 PM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
June 25, 2005
Patently Obvious
Vote YES to Patenting Software and Business Methods*
*and computer-implemented cooking recipes
Top Ten Reasons to Vote for Software Patents
We present an easy-to-read guide to software patents and why you, an MEP should vote for
full patentability of software and business methods. Copy and distribute this handy guide!...
Vote for Software Patents now and help us
destroy the SME plague!
This message has been brought to you by the British Association for Software Technology and Research & Development Standards, representing the largest technology firms in Europe and America in collaboration with patent attorneys. We believe in a future where we the largest and most powerful firms are free to compete on any legal terms that we care to define even if it means corrupting the democratic process and destroying the general population's trust in the EU institutions to do so.
Posted by The Englishman at 1:23 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
June 23, 2005
Tony Two Face on Europe
BBC NEWS | Politics | Full text: Blair's European speech
I am a passionate pro-European. I always have been.
TONY BLAIR SEDGEFIELD PAMPHLET
Tony Blair was elected to Parliament as a Labour Party MP in the constituency of Sedgefield at the General Election on the 9th of June 1983. He had previously stood at the Beaconsfield by-election in 1982. In his Sedgefield Election Address he stated:
"We'll negotiate a withdrawal from the E.E.C. which has drained our natural resources and destroyed jobs."
Sovereignty has obtained a copy of Blair's 1983 Sedgefield Election Address and we reproduce it in full. His EEC quote appears on page 3...
Posted by The Englishman at 11:45 AM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
Meeting the vassals
Telegraph | News | Eurocrats plan grand tour to win hearts of citizens
Still reeling from the collapse of its constitution, the EU's most senior Eurocrats yesterday promised to tour member states, including Britain, to ask citizens for their vision of its future.
Aides pledged that the 25-nation tour would not be complete without the commissioners involved meeting their fiercest critics face to face, including British Euro-sceptics.
The European tour will be led by Jose Manuel Barroso
The progress through national capitals will begin this autumn, and will be led by Jose Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Commission, and Margot Wallstrom, the vice-president for communications.
They will be accompanied by a shifting retinue of relevant commissioners - such as Peter Mandelson for the British leg of the tour.
The exercise to win hearts and minds will lead to the commissioners meeting national parliaments and members of "civil society", including unions, NGOs, groups of voters and young people.
"civil society", oh - that lets me out then!.
Like Medival monarchs loaded with a waggon train of bribes they will stately process dispensing favours and audiences on the adoring crowds..., maybe like Bad King John they will loose the Constitution in The Wash. A tip - avoid any surfeit of lampreys on your trip Margot!
Posted by The Englishman at 6:45 AM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
June 22, 2005
No, no , yes
BBC NEWS | Politics | Blair says EU rebate 'has to go'
Tony Blair has said Britain's 3bn EU rebate is an "anomaly that has to go" -
He is tired of all that tough posturing and some of his European chums have been rude to him - where is he going to go on holiday next year? - so the Tony is made for turning.
Posted by The Englishman at 7:00 AM
| Comments (4)
| TrackBack
June 16, 2005
One last flight
Telegraph | News | Donors let the Sally B fly again
A wartime bomber will be able to make one more historic flight despite European insurance regulations that have made it too expensive to fly.
Britain's only airworthy B17 Flying Fortress, the Sally B, will join Spitfires, Hurricanes and Lancasters to celebrate the 60th anniversary of VJ Day with a flypast at the Blenheim Festival of Flight on Aug 14.
It was feared that the aircraft would be grounded after EU regulations put it in the weight category of an airliner, increasing its insurance five-fold.
Francis Rockliff, the festival's director, described the re-classification of the Flying Fortress as "European bureaucratic lunacy", but sponsorship by Virgin Atlantic and an anonymous American donor has made its appearance possible.
Good news - I must try and go - but if it really is its last flight might I suggest a slightly different flight plan - rather than going west to Blenheim a more South East route would take it over the Channel, and Brussels isn't that far, even if it were fully loaded...
Posted by The Englishman at 7:08 AM
| Comments (6)
| TrackBack
June 15, 2005
Mandy in 1940
BBC NEWS | Politics | UK must end "Churchillian tone on the Reich"
The UK Government must stop sounding like Winston Churchill in its negotiations in Berlin, European Commissioner Peter Mandelson has said.
In a speech in London, Mr Mandelson said the UK had to change both tone and substance to win backing in Europe.
The UK must be ready to look at reforming its independence as part of a deeper rethink of the Reich's plans, he said.
"It is surely wrong to ask the poorer new accession states to pay for any part of the independence," he said....
In a Fabian lecture in east London, Mr Mandelson said: "Refusal to talk about much needed Joining the Reich is part of the old conservatism in Europe which the Barroso Commission is determined to change.
"But Britain should be careful not to play into the hands of this conservatism.
"Ministers must be consistent and courageous in their reformism, and be prepared, in the context of a deeper re-think about the Reich's expansion, to look at reforming Britain's independence."
Posted by The Englishman at 7:06 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Mandy joins in the handbagging
BBC NEWS | Politics | UK must end 'Thatcher tone on EU'
The UK Government must stop sounding like Margaret Thatcher in its negotiations in Brussels, European Commissioner Peter Mandelson has said.
In a speech in London, Mr Mandelson said the UK had to change both tone and substance to win backing in Europe.
The UK must be ready to look at reforming its rebate as part of a deeper rethink of EU spending, he said.
"It is surely wrong to ask the poorer new accession states to pay for any part of the rebate," he said.
What do you mean "pay for the rebate"? The rebate just means we pay a bit less, we don't get money from anyone else! And quite frankly I couldn't give a flying fuck what the Europeans think...
Posted by The Englishman at 7:05 AM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
June 14, 2005
Picture this
If my mental arithmatic is correct - if a grain of salt is worth a Pound then the average yearly salary would about fill a Salt shaker. A Kilo bag would be worth a million pounds. The cost of our EU membership since 1992 would be very large Lorry load - 41 Tonnes.
I can see the advert now!
Graphic: Figuring out Europe - World - Times Online
Posted by The Englishman at 8:49 AM
| Comments (3)
| TrackBack
June 10, 2005
Crazy Frog demands
Britain, UK news from The Times and The Sunday Times - Times Online
TONY BLAIR put himself on a collision course with Jacques Chirac last night by rejecting a call from the French President to make a gesture by giving up Britains 3 billion rebate
M Chirac said after a meeting with Jean-Claude Juncker, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg:: "The time has come for our British friends to understand that they must now make a gesture of solidarity."
Mr Blair delivered his rebuff after the talks with Mr Rasmussen. "Britain has been making a gesture, because over the past ten years, even with the British rebate, we have been making a contribution into Europe 2 times that of France."
Or "Piss Off Crazy Frog"
Posted by The Englishman at 6:40 AM
| Comments (3)
| TrackBack
June 9, 2005
Its the euro, stupid.
Opinion - Anatole Kaletsky - Times Online
The euro is the essential cause of Europe's "democratic deficit" because it prevents different countries adopting the variety of social and business models that voters demand. A currency is to national economic management what a border is to political sovereignty: with floating currencies each country can choose its own style of economic and social organisation; with fixed currencies they can't.
If France or Italy wants a generous social safety net, it can keep its business costs down by devaluing its currency. Of course, devaluation may lower living standards for consumers, but if people want to pay this price to preserve their social traditions, that is what democracy is for. It is only when a country with high social costs loses control of its currency that the burden becomes intolerable, destroying jobs and decimating investment.
The truth is creeping out - and if the bankers do cut the rates to help Italy, Germany and France what happens to the economies of Ireland, Portugal and Greece?
Posted by The Englishman at 6:47 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
June 8, 2005
And it is value for money?
Telegraph | Money | UK to swell Brussels' coffers by 14.6bn
Britain's gross contributions to the European Union could rise to 14.6billion by 2007-08, up from 12.1billion this year, according to figures published by the Treasury.
The figures - which came in a parliamentary answer - are likely to add to the confusion over exactly how much Britain contributes, which on current projections is equivalent to about 4p on income tax or the Home Office budget. Britain is the second biggest contributor after Germany.
And that is just the direct cost...; with any luck by 2007 the cost will be zero, zilch, not a bean!
Posted by The Englishman at 7:22 AM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
June 7, 2005
Augean stables to get light dusting
End is near for MEPs' "outrageous" expenses - World - Times Online
THE notorious expenses system that enables MEPs to boost their salaries by thousands of pounds a month by claiming for a set amount, rather than what they actually spend, is to be reformed. ...
MEPs admit that their expenses system is little more than legalised corruption, the Parliament has repeatedly defended it as a way of balancing the disparity in pay between the worst-paid and best-paid....
Well, it is a start I suppose. I always thought claiming expenses you didn't occur was an offence....
Posted by The Englishman at 7:01 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
June 5, 2005
Euro crash?
Ministers deny euro's demise - Sunday Times - Times Online
A report last week from Charles Stanley Sutherlands, the stockbroker, put a 50% probability on at least one country leaving the euro by 2008, and said that its complete collapse by 2020 was "inevitable".
There seems to be all sort of jittery feelings out in the market at the moment - and sometimes markets overreact and cause irrational crashes. I think I would swap out my Euro notes for greenbacks, if I had any.
Posted by The Englishman at 8:34 PM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
A man who knows
It is perhaps a bit too early to look into the future of the EU but maybe a couple of things now seem likely. Firstly, the 'ever closer union' written into the 1957 Treaty of Rome is now of historical interest only. It seems like the voters of France and Holland have indicated a general disinclination to surrender both sovereignty and their views of their own national character. And yes, it could be said that in many ways, the Eurosceptics have won.
Secondly, I suspect that the eurozone's days are numbered. It was always a dubious proposition that so many very different countries would be able to find a common interest rate suitable to their needs and the restrictive euro rules regarding national deficits acceptable. Italy, now arguably Europe's 'sickest man', faces economic decline as its manufacturing markets are ravaged by the emerging giants of India and China. The straightjacket of the euro means that it cannot use devaluation as the antidote but has to face rising unemployment. How long can this last? I suspect the euro will prove to be a brief and unhappy interlude in Europe's financial history long before we get anywhere near considering an application to join it.
So is the EU finshed? No. Far from it....
New blog on the block; from Bill Jones who isn't one of us amateurs in "Ars Politica" - one to watch.
Posted by The Englishman at 7:01 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
June 3, 2005
Lame Ducks
Telegraph | News | Lame duck leaders in search of solutions
Jacques Chirac
Silvio Berlusconi
Gerhard Schrder
Wot? No Tony Blair?
Great article - go and read it - either get the Kleenex out for the poor darlings or, well, whatever else you would choose for an injured duck....
Posted by The Englishman at 7:28 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
June 2, 2005
No means No
EUROPA - Margot Wallstrm, Vice-President of the European Commission: my blog
The fragrant one is in a state of shock and for the sake of feminists everywhere needs reminding that "No means No" - I am sure she spent days chanting that in her earlier years. Now she seems to think it means - Maybe, well after a couple of glasses more of wine; yes.....
If you have time go and drop a comment on her blog; such as:
Dear Vice-President Wallstrm,
Which part of No do you and your various minions and spokespersons not understand?
Posted by Helen
Website: http://www.eureferendum.blogspot.com
Posted by The Englishman at 7:38 AM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
June 1, 2005
The Euro - the market speaks
THE EUROs losses after Frances rejection of the EU constitution gathered pace yesterday as the French vote fuelled concerns that future economic reforms in the eurozone will be hampered. ..
The selling pressure on the euro came as Moody's, the credit rating agency, warned of the long-term consequences of the French vote for the eurozone economy.
Although Moody's concluded that "European unity is unlikely to be derailed as a result", and saw few direct implications for the credit status of eurozone member states, it said there would be damaging fallout nonetheless. "The dynamics of integration and enlargement will be hampered and the functioning of European institutions will become increasingly ineffective," it said.
That feels a bit optimistic to me...
Posted by The Englishman at 6:51 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
May 31, 2005
Revolting Peasants!
Telegraph | News | Defiant rural French give Paris elite a bloody nose
France's resounding No to the EU constitution amounted to a defiant blast from country people, mid-ranking professionals, the young, the low-paid and the jobless at the well-heeled elite in Paris.
And we are a strong forgotten lot over here as well!
Posted by The Englishman at 6:55 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Blair against the "elite"
Telegraph | News | Blair faces clash over move to kill EU treaty
Tony Blair was on a collision course with fellow European leaders last night over Government plans to kill off the EU constitution...
The German chancellor, Gerhard Schrder, admitted that the French result had been a shock to Europe's elites but insisted that it would not halt closer integration, built round the Franco-German axis.
"It is a setback for the process of ratifying the constitution but not its end," he said.
Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the Spanish prime minister, whose country has already ratified the treaty, also insisted that the show must go on.
He said: "European construction is a grand project and will overcome obstacles, as Europe is not the problem but the solution."
Peter Mandelson, the trade commissioner in Brussels, said the French government could well ask the people to vote again in a second referendum in the hope of getting a different answer.
"No single member state has a veto over a constitutional treaty of this sort," he said.
"France will have to consider its position: whether it is going to maintain a No or whether it is going to revisit the question and possibly come forward with a different view."
Laugh? - I am nearly crying into my cup of "Rosy" - no double moccha fairtrade lattes here, mate! The "Elite" is still on autopilot having assumed it would be a "petite non" - but it wasn't; the world has changed and something needs to shift to accomodate it.
For real analysis go and read some of the euro bloggers on the sidebar - they are far better at it than I am!
Posted by The Englishman at 6:53 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
May 27, 2005
Competiton Time
Tim Worstall is having a competition this weekend. The aim is to come up with the tag line for a bumper sticker which perfectly describes your (or our) view of the European Union.
Posted by The Englishman at 9:49 AM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
May 26, 2005
You vote - We ignore
Telegraph | News | Keep up the pressure for a No vote, Left warned
Jean-Claude Juncker, the prime minister of Luxembourg and holder of the rotating EU presidency, told Le Soir newspaper in Belgium that he would act swiftly on Sunday night if France voted No.
He would appear with the head of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, and demand that all 25 EU nations complete the process of ratifying the constitution, in referendums or parliamentary votes.
Mr Juncker said it was essential for the EU leadership to show a united front on Sunday night, and "maintain order in the process that will unfold the morning after".
"If it's a Yes, we will say 'on we go', and if it's a No we will say 'we continue'," he said.
We are not going to let the views of the little people get in the way of the great project....
Posted by The Englishman at 7:23 AM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
Euro Tories go native
Telegraph | News | Euro Tories suspend MEP in row over EU president
A Conservative MEP had his party membership suspended yesterday by the head of the British Tory delegation in the European Parliament after an angry debate about excessive European Union secrecy.
Four other British Conservatives were threatened with expulsion from the European People's Party, the parliament's majority centre-Right faction, by the EPP's German leader, Hans-Gert Poettering...
The suspension was triggered after Mr Helmer publicly accused the Tory leader in the European Parliament, Timothy Kirkhope, of "inappropriately" demanding he remove his name from a motion of censure against the European Commission.
Mr Helmer accused Mr Poettering of being behind that "pressure", telling the EPP leader he had "brought shame on this House".
Moments later the German MEP abruptly told parliament that Mr Helmer was no longer a member of his grouping, a declaration that followed no known parliamentary rule.
Within hours Mr Helmer was stripped of his British Tory whip - a move that angry colleagues said was designed to save Mr Poettering's face.
So Euro Tory MEPs are meant to dance to the tune of a German politician rather than represent their constituents or party at home - I will remember that next time they come asking for my vote.
Posted by The Englishman at 7:20 AM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
May 25, 2005
Suspicious, moi?
Telegraph | News | Europe faces up to double rejection of treaty
French voters appear ready to deliver a humiliating rebuff to the European establishment by rejecting the proposed EU constitution, according to opinion polls last night.
They showed the No vote strengthening to an eight-point lead in the final days of campaigning before Sunday's referendum.
....elements of uncertainty were enough to make it possible that when polling ended on Sunday night, France would have voted Yes.
Why do I have a feeling that when they open those Ballot boxes there will be more Yes votes than expected?
Posted by The Englishman at 6:57 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
May 23, 2005
EU referendum
Interesting week ahaead on the EU Referendum - I have given up trying to read the tea leaves and so am glad for this explanation from a leading french expert...
"I think there will be a 'yes'. If we don't (vote 'yes'), there is a great risk there will be a 'no'".
Elizabeth Guigou, former French Europe minister
Posted by The Englishman at 7:05 AM
| Comments (3)
| TrackBack
May 17, 2005
Sign me up!
The official launch of The People's "No" Campaign (against the European Constitution) is to take place at 2 pm Wednesday 25th May 2005. It will be held at The Conference Room, Abingdon House, 13 Little College Street, Westminster, London SW1P 3SH.
Details of the growing alliance will be posted on the website shortly, where we have a full analysis of news and events as they unfold.
Posted by The Englishman at 4:28 PM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
A United Europe!
Telegraph | News | Europe unites in hatred of French
Language, history, cooking and support for rival football teams still divide Europe. But when everything else fails, one glue binds the continent together: hatred of the French...
Britons described them as "chauvinists, stubborn, nannied and humourless". However, the French may be more shocked by the views of other nations.
For the Germans, the French are "pretentious, offhand and frivolous". The Dutch describe them as "agitated, talkative and shallow." The Spanish see them as "cold, distant, vain and impolite" and the Portuguese as "preaching". In Italy they comes across as "snobs, arrogant, flesh-loving, righteous and self-obsessed" and the Greeks find them "not very with it, egocentric bons vivants".
Interestingly, the Swedes consider them "disobedient, immoral, disorganised, neo-colonialist and dirty".
Posted by The Englishman at 7:03 AM
| Comments (5)
| TrackBack
May 16, 2005
Should We Stay or Should We Go?
CIVITAS The Latest Books Should We Stay or Should We Go? By Lord Pearson of Rannoch and Stephen Pollard.
Pollard argues, I gather, that the Anglo-Saxon's are winning the arguement in the EU so we should stay and convert the institution; Lord Pearson "Leaving the EU would be a liberating, refreshing, positive, modern thing to do. And we would be very much richer as well!"
Now is not the time for Britain to talk about withdrawing from the European Union, according to one of the contributors to a new publication from independent think-tank Civitas. Writing in Should We Stay or Should We Go?, Stephen Pollard of the Centre for the New Europe argues that the forthcoming referendum on the European Constitution offers 'the opportunity of a generation to mould the EU in the direction which the British have been advocating for decades [and] places the power to force change in the hands of the electorate, who will have the opportunity to say what they think, and to say it in a way that can't be ignored' (p.25).
Pollard sees the conflict over the Constitution as a battle between the forces of Old Europe, led by France and Germany ('statist, tax-devouring old, sclerotic' pp.28 & 28) and New Europe ('more market-flexible, politically loose and sovereignty-respecting' p.26). New Europe is led by Britain, but with the very important fresh allies of Eastern European countries that have recently joined the EU, and which are more drawn towards the British and American political model - 'the EU did nothing to free Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia and Hungary from the Soviet empire' (p.27).
Pollard cites the appointment of Jos Barrosa as President of the European Commission as a sign of the new outlook in Europe, an outlook that owes much to British influence:
At a time when the possibility now exists of sending so severe a shock to the EU's system that change is unavoidable, it would be crazy, now of all times, to consider withdrawal (p.26).
Pollard warns that the Blair government wants to portray the referendum on the European Constitution as being about whether we should be in or out of the EU. This should be resisted, as he believes there are many who share his own Euro-scepticism, and who will vote to reject the Constitution, but who want Britain to remain in the EU. If the referendum is allowed to turn into a vote for or against EU membership, it will let the Euro-federalists off the hook:
The withdrawal issue is thus political stupidity of the highest order, given the opportunity for a resettlement of the EU's foundations which would be presented by a "No" vote (p.31).
Better off out!
Lord Pearson of Rannoch, the other contributor to Should We Stay of Should We Go?, shares Stephen Pollard's aversion to the proposed EU Constitution, about which he finds only one good thing to say:
M. Giscard D'Estaing has done us all one great favour. The wording of the document is really very easy to understand; it is not written in the usual impenetrable verbiage of the Treaties (p.16).
But what it says is that:
the EU will acquire its own legal personality, superior to that of the member states. There is no longer even the pretence that the EU is an arrangement between sovereign nations. The EU, the Brussels system, becomes Sovereign (p.15).
However, Lord Pearson feels that the whole EU project has gone too far, and that the surrender of sovereignty involved is already so serious, that the only answer is to withdraw completely. The threat to our sovereignty, our democracy and our centuries-old tradition of self-government, coupled with the huge costs and institutionalised corruption of the EU ('Its own internal auditors have refused to sign its accounts for the last nine years' p.5) make sensible reform impossible. The only way forward is out.
Leaving the EU would be a liberating, refreshing, positive, modern thing to do. And we would be very much richer as well! (p.19)
Both essays are in the best tradition of political polemic. The authors argue their opposing positions with passion and conviction, enabling readers to compare and evaluate the two sides of this most topical debate.
Should We Stay or Should We Go? By Lord Pearson of Rannoch and Stephen Pollard is published by Civitas, 77 Great Peter St, London SW1P 2EZ
Tel 020 7799 6677, www.civitas.org.uk, price 5.90 inc. p&p, ISBN 1 903 386 40-3.
Posted by The Englishman at 4:16 PM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
May 12, 2005
Dragging us down
Telegraph | News | MEPs vote to stop Britons working over 48hrs a week
The change is being pushed through as a "health and safety" measure, allowing Brussels to circumvent the British veto.
Government sources said they remained confident of securing enough support from other countries to block the measure when it goes before EU employment ministers early next month.
But it presents Mr Blair with an embarrassing wrangle over who runs Britain's employment policy at the start of his third term in power.
Removal of the opt-out would oblige firms and employees to keep time sheets listing how long they worked, including hours spent working at home. Only top executives would be exempt.
A wide range of staff with "decision-making" roles - originally exempt - would be subject to the 48-hour limit. Records would have to be available for instant inspection at any time.
All "on-call" time for doctors, nurses, firemen, security staff and others at their places of work would be treated as ordinary work time, even if they were asleep.
No need to rehearse the arguments - I think we all know them!
Ceterum censeo Unionem Europaeam esse delendam
Posted by The Englishman at 6:59 AM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
BBC to start being impartial..
BBC NEWS | Politics | BBC unveils EU coverage changes
BBC coverage of the European Union must be made more sophisticated, the corporation's news division has said.
The BBC was responding to an independent inquiry which said its reporting of the EU must become "more demonstrably impartial".
...It found no evidence of deliberate bias in BBC reporting but it said there was a "widespread perception" of "certain forms of cultural and unintentional bias" which had to be corrected. ....The response also says there will be a new system to measure the impact BBC journalism has on its audience in terms of promoting "informed citizenship" and understanding in EU issues.
So still going to promoted "informed citizenship"! Doesn't sound like it views informed non-citizenship of the EU as a desirable option to aim for....
A heard Jeremy Vine on the car radio, a day or so ago, musing as he was approaching 40 should he start thinking of himself as "European" rather than "British". Not that that implies a fixed mind set; after all a year or so ago he asked the question : Should Britain Leave the EU, 13,500 listeners phoned in and of that number, a colossal 92 per cent said YES.
Posted by The Englishman at 6:39 AM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
Who said?
BBC NEWS | Politics | UK rebate 'unjustified' - Chirac
"In countries like Germany and France, where frankly because of a tighter social market they have much higher levels of unemployment, there is increasing anxiety about other people coming in," he said.
In other words the EU causes poverty and Xenophobia...
Who said it?
Jack Straw - I'm glad he is in favour of the EU otherwise I would hate to see how he would critise it if he was against it.
Posted by The Englishman at 6:28 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
May 9, 2005
Vote Yes or the Jews Get It
Telegraph | News | Vote for EU constitution or risk new Holocaust, says Brussels
Vote for EU constitution or risk new Holocaust, says Brussels
Margot Wallstrom, a Swede and the commissioner who must sell the draft constitution to voters,.. (accused) Eurosceptics of risking a return to the Holocaust by clinging to "nationalistic pride"....blamed the Second World War on "nationalistic pride and greed, and international rivalry for wealth and power". The EU had replaced such rivalry with an historic agreement to share national sovereignty.
Her fellow commissioners also issued a joint declaration, stating that EU citizens should pay tribute to the dead of the Second World War by voting Yes to the draft constitution for Europe.
The commissioners also gave the EU sole credit for ending the Cold War, making no mention of the role of Nato and the United States.
From Sweden? "Sweden was Nazi Germany's largest trading partner during the war and almost the sole source of high-grade iron ore and precision ball bearings for the German war machine. Imports of the latter from Sweden were especially important following the destruction of the VKF ball bearing plant (itself Swedish-owned) at Schweinfurt by the US Eighth Air Force in August and October 1943..."
TEBAF (The Ever Blessed and Fragrant) Magot uses VE day to make a cheap political point - may she rot.
Why don't they ever warn of the risk of a new Yugoslavia? - you know, a group of nations forced together into a federation against their will which then explodes...
Posted by The Englishman at 6:51 AM
| Comments (3)
| TrackBack
May 8, 2005
At long last Europe is safe from the threat of B-17s
On the eve of the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the end of World War Two, new European regulations have grounded the UKs much-loved Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, Sally B.....
Tell me that is what they fought and died for...
Posted by The Englishman at 9:18 PM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
April 29, 2005
Anglo saxon world
L'Ombre de l'Olivier - Di2.Nu weblog points out:
Go to http://maps.google.co.uk/ and zoom out to may then navigate left and right. Oh look, there is Canada, Alaska, USA, and The British Isles in the Ocean - but no Europe - what a refreshing view!
Posted by The Englishman at 4:52 PM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
April 25, 2005
Worrried - do I look worried?
Prodi says a French 'non' vote would be the fall of Europe - World - Times Online
Two polls over the weekend showed that the "no" campaigns are gaining ground in France and the Netherlands, which votes three days later. More than 20 successive polls have predicted that the French will reject the constitution. The latest put the “no” vote at 62 per cent, the highest yet. The latest Dutch poll showed 52 per cent planning to vote "no".
On Friday the Commission admitted that it was concerned for the first time. "It is very clear that the Commission, like everybody else, is worried by the turn of the statistics," a spokeswoman said.
Signor Prodi went further, telling a French newspaper that if France rejected the treaty "there will be no more Europe".
My worry is that somehow the ballot boxes will say something different - but apart from that I'm preparing for a "happy dance"...
Posted by The Englishman at 6:55 AM
| Comments (4)
| TrackBack
April 22, 2005
.eu domain
INn 2000 it was reported: Europe set to replace .com in 2001 - vnunet.com
Plans mooted by European government and business leaders to drop .com for .eu as the flagship European domain extension are on course, and registrations may start next year.
Ian Lynch, vnunet.com 04 Oct 2000
In 2003 I reported the follow up:
An Englishman's Castle: .eu bollocks
In 2004 I reported another follow up:
An Englishman's Castle: Couldn't run a whelk stall
And today in 2005 the BBC reports:
BBC NEWS | World | Europe | EU to launch its own web domain
The European Commission has said that the new internet domain name ".eu" will be up and running by the end of 2005.
.eu the only domain it has taken 10 years to set up! I think that tells you all you need to know about the thrusting, modern, dynamic Europe commission.
Posted by The Englishman at 9:53 AM
| Comments (4)
| TrackBack
April 21, 2005
Torygraph owners take advantage of EU law
Telegraph | News | Barclay brothers sue Times for libel in French court
Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay, the owners of The Daily Telegraph, have launched criminal libel proceedings against The Times over a report about their business activities, it was confirmed yesterday.
Officers from Scotland Yard's extradition squad arrived at the London office of The Times on Tuesday evening to serve a summons on the editor, Robert Thomson, and his media editor, Dan Sabbagh.
They and their newspaper are required to appear before a court in Paris on June 23, when a date will probably be set for their trial. If convicted, they could be fined.
You couldn't make it up - British newspaper owners sue another British newspaper and use the EU wide arrest warrent and French courts rather than the London courts. I'm just surprised they didn't use the Greek courts. And there was me thinking the Tlegraph was against this sort of thing...
Posted by The Englishman at 7:02 AM
| Comments (3)
| TrackBack
April 20, 2005
Of course it isn't our fault..
European companies may be to blame for a lack of growth within the euro zone, according to an EU Commission report released Monday (18 April).
Of course lazy old companies and silly businessmen not working hard enough or spending their moeny in the wrong way (Major European companies, including those posting record profits during 2004, are giving money back to investors or buying back shares rather than reinvesting it into more jobs or investing in technology.) are to blame for the EU's piss poor performance.
Posted by The Englishman at 10:06 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
April 15, 2005
Humanism through Strength
Remember Jack Straw saying, This Constitution is a victory for Britain and the British view of Europe.
Now there is a message that we ought to take out adverts in France to spread, because as Chirac trys to rally the Yes vote we get a slightly different message from him!
BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Key quotes: Chirac on EU constitution
So, there were two possible solutions - either letting things drift, as we have done so far, in other words, a solution leading to the kind of Europe which is driven by the ultra-liberal current, an Anglo-Saxon, Atlanticist kind of Europe. This is not the kind of Europe we want.
The second option is a humanist Europe, but one which in order to impose its humanism, its values, must be organised, must be strong, the kind of Europe which has the necessary power in order to be counted in the world of tomorrow...
And this means that it needs to be organised, that it needs to have shared ambition, and this organisation which gives it its strength needs rules, of course.
And why does the phrase "impose its humanism" with "organisation" and "strength" send shivers down my spine?
Posted by The Englishman at 6:01 AM
| Comments (6)
| TrackBack
April 13, 2005
Gallic Noes
Chirac toils to stem tide of 'no' voters in EU constitution poll - Newspaper Edition - Times Online
PRESIDENT CHIRAC embarks on a make-or-break attempt tomorrow to persuade voters to approve the European Union constitution after a poll yesterday showed the "no" majority increasing before the French referendum on May 29.
Of course there may be other ways for the Crook to win - all those ballot boxes from the territories for instance.. as
Michael Portillo said of a previous French vote:
"Within minutes of the ballot boxes being sealed Major received a call from Paris to tell him that the vote had been carried by 51% to 49%. That surprised me. In my experience of elections it had never been possible to know the outcome of such a close contest so quickly. To this day I harbour shameful doubts about how the French government could be so sure so soon."
Posted by The Englishman at 6:29 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Turkeys NOT voting for Xmas
Telegraph | News | MEPs veto moves to end fraud scandals
Members of the European Parliament rejected moves yesterday to clean up scandal-ridden arrangements for their travel allowances and expenses. Their decision prompted anger and disbelief from British MEPs, who voted for proposed reforms.
In a series of votes carried by a margin of six to four at a full session of the parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs resisted proposals for audits of their accounts and turned down calls to impose sanctions on those found to have defrauded the taxpayer.
No comment needed.
Posted by The Englishman at 6:06 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
April 7, 2005
Attention les voteurs de France
As part of the new campaign to tell French voters that the English want them to vote "oui" here is today's PR:
Allo Mes Braves. Vous will 'ave noticed cette article dans notre Newspaper:
Telegraph | News | EU seeks 4bn migration budget
The European Commission yesterday unveiled proposals for a pan-European immigration system.
The commission asked member states to provide more than 4 billion for Brussels-led programmes to manage legal and illegal migration during the life of the next European Union budget from 2007 to 2013.
An "integration fund", worth 1.2 billion, would offer help to national and local governments to integrate newcomers, with "civic orientation courses, intercultural training and handbooks".
Britain, along with Ireland, has not signed up to the core of the Schengen agreement, and maintains border controls. It will not contribute to the new funds.
Remembez-vous that tout les immigrants will be integrated dans La France et avec la dosh from Le UE they will buy up votre miasons et couchez ave votre filles. Les Anglais wont let them in so they will be stuckes ave vous! Cette what la tout UE is about n'est pas, Vous knows it makes sense, votez OUi pour le sake de Angleterre.
Posted by The Englishman at 7:10 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
April 6, 2005
Oui or Non?
Telegraph | News | 'Yes' and 'No' camps both turn to De Gaulle
The towering figure of Charles de Gaulle has been dragged into France's debate on the EU constitution, with backers and opponents arguing over whether the former president would have said "Oui" or "Non" to the treaty.
As three opinion polls yesterday showed that the "No" vote would prevail in the May 29 plebiscite, each camp redoubled its efforts to ally itself with the man who epitomises France's national identity.
And they are even trying to buy M. March Libre's vote...
French hunters have become the latest beneficiaries of their government's feverish attempts to ensure a "Yes" vote in the referendum.
The move to buy votes from the traditionally Eurosceptic hunters came in the form of a push for a relaxation of the rules of a 1979 EU directive on the shooting season.
The prime minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, has offered the country's 1.5 million hunters an extension of the season for certain species and the ecology minister, Serge Lepeltier, has promised to delay a ban on lead cartridges.
Of course, tacticaly we should all urge the Garlic Eaters to vote "Yes" - because us Anglo Saxons want to turn the EU into a Thatcherite Market and we want to buy up all their homes and sleep with their boys (you know about us Englishmen - eh, Garcon)and let the Turks in (and you know about the Turks too don't you Pierre!)and ban unpasturised cheese and make you drink English wine... So remember the English want you to vote "Oui" - so what are you going to do?
Posted by The Englishman at 7:12 AM
| Comments (4)
| TrackBack
April 3, 2005
Reporting for Duty
Via EU Referendum Blog I learn of the following :
The European Constitution
2. Citizens of the Union shall enjoy the rights and be subject to the duties provided for in the Constitution.
But it doesn't seem to say what those duties might be... Call me cautious but when the RSM called for "volunteers" I always managed to be busy elsewhere, and volunteering for unspecified duties is still not something I'm keen on.
Posted by The Englishman at 10:21 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
April 1, 2005
Another trough they have their snouts in.
Telegraph | News | UK challenges subsidy for elite Euro-schools
The Government is preparing for a showdown with its European Union partners over the more than 14 million that Britain spends every year subsidising a network of elite schools for the children of EU bureaucrats.
Few taxpayers have even heard of the "European Schools", established 50 years ago to provide a free, highly academic education for the children of EU officials and accredited diplomats.
2,000 of the 20,000 pupils at European Schools are British
Britain spends proportionally more than any other nation on funding the 13 schools, whose overall budget this year is 160 million.
I was going to say unbelievable but no it is all too believable with the whole crooked European Empire.
Posted by The Englishman at 6:30 AM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
March 24, 2005
Straw attacks "Social Market"
Jack Straw "In countries like Germany and France, where frankly because of a tighter social market they have much higher levels of unemployment".
Well you want it here then will you? Which is why Blair showed all the backbone of a Jellyfish with the Services Directive wasn't it. Or was getting a yes vote in France more important?
Posted by The Englishman at 6:57 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
March 23, 2005
The European Social Model of commerce .
As noted Tony has given up his insistance on the service Directive that was causing a storm in France (and a chance of the referendum vote going the wrong way.) This article from The Times describes what the Social Model really means, and why Europe won't flourish.
TO OPEN a chocolate shop in a French town a local committee must decide whether to grant your application.
That committee will include two people from the local chamber of commerce, representing the interests of any existing chocolate shops in the area. Such protectionist practices, widespread around Europe, would be banned by the new services directive, which is designed to sweep away regulations hindering EU citizens offering their services in other member states.
Another practice that the directive would ban is licensing on economic grounds. For example, in Germany the number of bakers is restricted to one in 10,000 people. This has led to Polish bakers baking bread in Poland and selling it in Berlin each day because they cannot bake it in the city.
...
Posted by The Englishman at 12:01 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Blair rolls over and surrenders
TONY BLAIR has given in to French demands for a far reaching revision of controversial plans to streamline employment regulations across the EU after President Chirac of France declared that the free market policies championed by Britain were the new communism of our age.
Mr Blair agreed, after a major row, to water down the proposals to open up Europes market in services to help the French Government to avoid defeat in Mays referendum on the European constitution and to protect the European social model. (source)
The "project" is too important for principles...
Posted by The Englishman at 7:35 AM
| Comments (4)
| TrackBack
CAP logic
Telegraph | News | Tate & Lyle given 127m from CAP
The reason so many food companies receive so much money is that subsidies and import controls make sugar three times the price it is on the world market and dairy products twice as expensive.
To compensate for the higher prices that result from European Union protectionism, companies that export outside the EU are entitled to apply for export refunds that cover the difference between the prices at which they buy and sell.
Producers of processed foods are allowed production refunds for the same reason.
Expensive food for Europeans, ruining of Third World farmers and huge amounts of tax - a veritable hattrick of badness.
Posted by The Englishman at 6:47 AM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
March 22, 2005
Open Letter to MacShane
Neil Herron has the text of an open letter to Slimebag MacShane.
...
You say reading of the debates (you quoted) gives lie to those who claim that Parliament was unaware in 1972 what it was agreeing to. I agree the LEGISLATURE knew very well indeed what it was getting into, but the people were not told the truth then and they are not being told the truth now.....
Posted by The Englishman at 7:20 AM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
Handbags at dawn
Telegraph | News | EU chief blames the French elite for treaty problems
The president of the European Commission yesterday launched a scathing attack on the ruling classes in France for allowing public opinion there to turn against the draft European constitution.
Speaking on the eve of a summit of European Union heads of state and government, a visibly upset Jose Manuel Barroso demanded the political leaders of France "do their job", and "make an effort to explain the constitution" to French voters, who are turning against the treaty.
Mr Barroso was speaking as a second public opinion survey, in Le Figaro, confirmed the results of a poll that sent shock waves through Paris on Friday when it showed a collapse in support for the draft constitution.
In both polls, a narrow majority of French voters said they would vote No.
'Eeee, I haven't laughed so much since Granny caught her tits in t' mangle!'
Posted by The Englishman at 6:46 AM
| Comments (4)
| TrackBack
March 21, 2005
Irish Regions
I noticed an advert for Tourism Ireland which just talked about the "Seven regions of Ireland" - so I went to have a look. To the world it would be hard to notice that there is more than one country on the island. Then I noticed us Brit visitors are sent a different site to the rest of the world http://www.theislandofmemories.co.uk and we are offered:
From the buzzing hearts of Dublin and Belfast to the remote coasts of Antrim, Galway, Cork and Kerry, each of our nine regions offers visitors a completely different experience. It all depends on what youre after.
Nine regions! even better.
Of course I'm happy to see all of Ireland play Rugby together and even happier when Wales beat them so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised they market to tourists as one island, but I get just a bit of a feeling that a Eurpean regionalisation agenda is at work here. And of course all being one entity wouldn't upset anyone, would it?
Posted by The Englishman at 7:34 AM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
March 17, 2005
Don't tell them a thing, Pike.
Telegraph | News | Britain tells Brussels not to spend on information
The Government yesterday urged the European Parliament not to spend any public money explaining the proposed European constitution to British voters, saying the parliament's plans for an "information campaign" in the United Kingdom would be "entirely counterproductive, and inappropriate".
Understandable - the more you know about it the less you like it!
Posted by The Englishman at 7:26 AM
| Comments (5)
| TrackBack
March 16, 2005
All that is wrong in one story
Telegraph | News | EU creche matches annual fees for Eton
European Union civil servants are building a subsidised creche for their children where places will cost more than 20,000 a year - almost as much as fees at Eton.
The 180-place creche is due to open next year, but the costs are already raising eyebrows in Brussels. Even hardened Eurocrats, used to generous living at the expense of EU taxpayers, have been startled. A year's fees at Eton are 22,380.
The presidency and ministers and officials attending meetings are supported by a permanent general secretariat, whose workers will be the main beneficiaries.
They will be expected to pay no more than 3,500 a year, thanks to subsidies provided by the EU taxpayer.
Posted by The Englishman at 6:35 AM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
March 11, 2005
EU racist chemophobes
A lot of chatter in the press about the huge rise in Malaria and Malarial Deaths - not a lot of chatter about how to prevent it so I was pleased to find an article that sums it up:
Putting mosquitoes first: Chemophobic EU fuels Uganda malaria epidemic.
EU must retract threatened trade war and encourage limited DDT use to control malaria.
U.S. civil rights official calls EUs Rijcken old-fashioned racist who violates human rights. (source)
Posted by The Englishman at 7:14 AM
| Comments (3)
| TrackBack
March 10, 2005
Mythbusters!
As England Expects points out:
The European Parliament has set up a "myth-buster" unit. This unit which is budgeted to cost about 300,000 euros over the next twelve month, is tasked with, "The CIDC is a special taskforce whose mission is to detect lies, errors and other types of misleading reporting on the EU constitution in the European media".
Of course being the European Parliament what we are talking is comments made by opponents of the Constitution. The "lies, errors and other types of misleading reporting" of pro-Europeans of course seem to be missed out.
So if you spot any please get in contact with them:
Jowita WYPYCH jowita.wypych@europarl.eu.int
Jolle FISS jfiss@europarl.eu.int
Ralph PINE rpine@europarl.eu.int
Bertrand PELTIER bpeltier@europarl.eu.int
Dominique ROBERT drobert@europarl.eu.int
Grard LAPRAT glaprat@europarl.eu.int
Danile RECHARD drechard@europarl.eu.int
Wilhelm LEHMANN wlehmann@europarl.eu.int
Jose Luis PACHECO jpacheo@europarl.eu.int
Posted by The Englishman at 2:00 PM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
March 9, 2005
Porkies
EU Referendum points us to:
Flying pigs
Have a look at this: Foreign Secretary Straw on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme on Wednesday, 9th February, 2005. Turn your speakers on first.
Posted by The Englishman at 8:23 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
March 7, 2005
The Times on euroblogging
The Times reports on Margot Wallstrm's Blog and how the comments are dominated by eurosceptics
Sometimes the comments descend into English nationalism. A contributor called Kissingengland listed triumphs from the Magna Carta to the defeat of Fascism, adding: This free, unconquered nation of mine, which has nourished, defended and preserved its institutions and liberties through eight centuries of continental despotism and warmongering, has nothing to gain from suborning itself to the inferior political structures of the EU.
Descend, Descend? Those truths are in the eyes of The Times obviously a descent from the high lofty ideals of Europe - bastards.
But the article makes me smile with the the arrogant self-delusion of Ms Wallstrms spokesman: Its true a lot of it comes from the UK. Its a pity we get so many comments from people who seem to be very eurosceptic. It proves those in favour are the silent majority .
Posted by The Englishman at 7:40 AM
| Comments (4)
| TrackBack
February 17, 2005
Another surrender, another click of the ratchet
Telegraph | News | Britain urged to back European top prosecutor
Speaking at a seminar at the European Parliament in Brussels, Mr Brner, a German former judge, hailed the EU constitution for "removing the walls" currently enforcing a strict separation between the union and national criminal justice systems.
During negotiations to draw up the treaty establishing a constitution, Britain tried in vain to block any mention of a pan-European public prosecutor, arguing that the task was best left to national prosecution services.
Finding themselves outnumbered, British negotiators surrendered that "red line",...
Posted by The Englishman at 6:22 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
February 11, 2005
What size shot needed
Luvvies Johnson Banks - ("When the British Council asked us to help show that Britain was no longer just warm beer and cricket, we presumed that all the old icons of Britain needed to be thrown out.
We first thought that this project (a worldwide poster campaign) should be all about the shiny 'new Britain', without any reference to Yorkshire pudding or Morris dancers.") have designed a lovely new Logo for President Tony of Europe's Reign - a flight of swans in a V formation.
Presumably that is a V sign to the people as in "fuck off you boring little earth bound peasants" or is it a V sign for Victory as in "I have got the money"? Whichever, I doubt it will be accompanied with the "Da Da Da Dum" and the roar of Merlins as it should be to remind Fritz of the last European Unpleasantness.
Anyway I will await Mr FM's learned advice as to what size shot is needed...
Posted by The Englishman at 7:06 AM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
February 9, 2005
Doing his duty
England Expects - new blog from Brussels - one to keep an eye on.
Posted by The Englishman at 7:15 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
February 6, 2005
Book to buy.
I mentioned this short book:
WHY THE D'ESTAING CONSTITUTION IS THE ANTITHESIS OF DEMOCRACY. by Kenn d'Oudney
Which is fascinating, and worth reading. - as an update I have been informed that if you e-mail scorpiodist@tiscali.fr the Publisher will reply with 'How to Order'details.
Posted by The Englishman at 8:33 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
January 31, 2005
Can Europe turn the Corner?
Power Line posts:
Yesterday, I speculated about the future of Europe in a post called "Can Europe Turn the Corner?" In doing so, I referred to a piece in the February issue of Commentary (not yet available online) by Arthur Waldron. The portions of Waldron's piece on which I relied dealt with the economic situation in Europe. But Waldron also suggested that Europe seemed to be turning the corner in its attitude towards combating terrorism. The key event, Waldron thought, was the murder of Dutch film maker Theo van Gogh by a Dutch Muslim as retribution for his film Submission about the abuse of women under Islam. As I read Waldron's argument, it occurred to me that the Europeans were just as likely, Spanish style, to respond to van Gogh's murder by curtailing works of art offensive to Muslims as by becoming more resolute. But what I do I know?...
Well it seems the answer is here:
Chris Ripke is a Rotterdam artist. His artist studio is close to a mosque in the Insulindestraat. Shocked by the murder ... of fellow artist Theo van Gogh, Chris painted an angel on the exterior wall of his studio with the text "Thou shalt not kill" ("Gij zult niet doden").
His neighbors in the mosque found the text "offensive" and called the Rotterdam mayor, the Liberal Ivo Opstelten. ..(ON) 4 November, the mayor ordered the police to erase the painting from Mr. Ripke's wall, because it was "racist."
When the police and the men from the town service arrived to erase the "racist" painting, Wim Nottroth, a television journalist, positioned himself in front of the painting in protest. The police arrested him.
I think that says it all...
Posted by The Englishman at 10:35 PM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
The Primrose path
Neil Herron quotes:
Euro-integrationists pursue a well-tried four-stage strategy. Stage One is mock-incredulity: "No one is proposing any such thing. It just shows what loons these sceptics are that they could even imagine it." Stage Two is bravado: "Well all right, it's being proposed, but don't worry: we have a veto and we'll use it." Stage Three is denial: "Look, we may have signed this, but it doesn't really mean what the critics are claiming." Stage Four is resignation: "No point complaining now, old man: it's all been agreed."
Posted by The Englishman at 9:05 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Eurocreep
The Home Office has angered the Commons European scrutiny committee by disclosing that it is not opposed to the principle of the police executing a search warrant in connection with conduct that would be legal in Britain.
The European evidence warrant follows the principle of the European arrest warrant, which came into force last January.
One of the most controversial aspects of the arrest warrant was that it generally abolished the principle of "dual criminality" - the rule that someone could be extradited only for conduct against the law in the country seeking extradition and against British law.
Telegraph | News | EU warrants 'undermine British law'
"The application of the principle of mutual recognition to orders to obtain evidence is fundamental to improving the existing mutual legal assistance procedures, without resorting to extensive harmonisation of procedure."
Yeah yeah yeah - what that actually means that is that the Rozzers will be able to break down your door in connection with activities that aren't illegal in this country - but might be somewhere else in Europe. Calling Chirac a crook for instance or wearing a swastika to a private party or making beer with additives ...
So no point in even pretending Westminster makes the Law of the Land.
(Of course there is the good point that some bent Spanish Magistrate will sign an arrest warrant for Tony Blair - illegal war or what ever - and he can get shipped off to The Old Jail in Grenada to be Big Miguel's special friend...)
Posted by The Englishman at 7:00 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
January 27, 2005
Is this the BBC EU bias?
BBC NEWS | Politics | Tracking Blair's EU comments
May 2003: "I see no case for having a referendum on this"
17 October 2003: "There will not be a referendum. The reason is that the constitution does not fundamentally change the relationship between the EU and the UK."
April 2004: "Our policy has not changed and if there is any question of it changing I can assure you we will tell you."
Posted by The Englishman at 11:28 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
"institutional mindset"
BBC NEWS | Politics | BBC 'must improve coverage of EU'
The inquiry said it had found an "institutional mindset" at the BBC when it came to the EU and a tendency to "polarise and over-simplify issues".
It also claimed there was a "measure of ignorance of the EU on the part of some journalists" and "a failure to report issues which ought to be reported, perhaps out of a belief that they are not sufficiently entertaining".
"Whatever the cause in particular cases, the effect is the same for the outside world, and feels like bias," the report concludes...
there was a "widespread perception" of "certain forms of cultural and unintentional bias" which had to be corrected.
OK, so the report is more robust than I thought it would be - interestingly the BBC report on it doesn't mention which way the "unintentional bias" runs; I think I can guess though....
Posted by The Englishman at 11:24 PM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
January 26, 2005
That's the question..
BBC NEWS | Politics | EU referendum question unveiled
The question to be asked in the referendum on the EU Constitution has been unveiled by the government.
And to save time I will reveal the answer - NO
Posted by The Englishman at 9:43 AM
| Comments (5)
| TrackBack
January 21, 2005
Talking about me sunshine?
Lose the Delusion: In your English faces
One of the things that I really dislike about your typical Eurosceptic is that they appropriate a notion of 'Britishness' as a cover for what really amounts to parochial Englishness. While I am prepared to accept that there are Eurosceptics in both Scotland and Wales, the loudest and most vociferous opponents of the EU are most usually to be found in England. You can see this clearly in the blogosphere. Apart from the dedicated Eurosceptic sites, it is interesting that a number of the other 'British' blogs that rant and rave about Europe seem to have the word English prominently displayed in the title.
Other "English" blogs have mentioned this post with reasoned arguement but I suppose I ought to make my position clear and absolve myself of the charge of hypocracy.
I was proud to be a British Subject and yield to no one in my admiration of what each of the constituent nations has contribuited to the Union.
And while I continue to be proud of our shared history of Britishness we have been forced in to a hopefully amicable divorce. "If you love them let them go". So Dear Sweaties and Taffs if you want to plough your own furrow, please go with my blessing but don't expect me to subsidise you or let you continue to rule me. And if you wish to to continue to feed at the European Swill trough that is your choice. You left us, now leave us alone.
I make an exception in talking about Ulster where the majority of people are being sold down the river by our leaders.
Posted by The Englishman at 10:49 AM
| Comments (4)
| TrackBack
January 17, 2005
There should be a law against it!
BBC NEWS | Wales | AM wants Nazi symbol law review
Welsh Assembly nobody culture Minister Alun Pugh has written to the Home Office requesting a review of the law concerning the display and wearing of Nazi regalia. He added the only "legitimate place" for displaying Nazi memorabilia and symbols was in museums and history textbooks.
Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, Grubb also join in..
The Liberal group in the European Parliament says all of Europe suffered because of the crimes of the Nazis, so there should be a continent-wide ban.
Sorry, that must be a meaning of the word "Liberal" I'm not familiar with. No recognition that if nasty little shits want to fly a particular symbol then that is their right.
And of course Buddhists still use it to symbolise the feet or footprints of the Buddha.
I won't hold my breath waiting for a similar call on a ban on the Hammer and Sickle - which I believe represents a movement that also may have caused a modicum of discomfort across parts of the EU - or come to that, the Battle flags of Islam ....
I'll just quietly go back to my books with this on the cover:
(explanation).
Posted by The Englishman at 6:57 AM
| Comments (5)
| TrackBack
January 14, 2005
Pay more or Else
The Budget Commissioner believes rich countries must pay more to save idea of Europe
THE European Commission warned Britain yesterday that it must pay billions of pounds more into its coffers each year or jeopardise the future of the Union.
Dalia Grybauskaite, the European Budget Commissioner, told The Times that unless Britain and other big EU countries increased their payments to Brussels over the next seven years, the EU would be unable to provide the skills, technology and infrastructure required to compete in the global market. That, she said, could kill the idea of Europe.
In a clear challenge to the British Government, the former Lithuanian Finance Minister also said that for the greater good of Europe Britain must give up the multibillion-pound annual budget rebate that Margaret Thatcher secured in 1984.
The Commission is increasing its pressure on Britain as part of its demands for just over 1 trillion (700 billion) in member state contributions for the next seven-year budget period which starts in 2007...
Sometimes choices are easy - They want a Trillion or the EU will die. They want lots and lots of dosh or else the EU won't create competitiveness in the Global Market and the "idea of Europe" will be killed. (Remind me how much competitiveness the EU has created up to now.) I think keeping the handbag firmly closed is a good idea.
Posted by The Englishman at 7:56 AM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
January 9, 2005
Silly Laws
Serious question - why is it that the people who are the readiest to dismiss Leviticus as being a bunch of silly laws, that no one should dream of respecting nowdays; tend to be of the same mindset that accepts and promotes the silly laws that Brussels, Health'n'Safety etc foist upon us?
Posted by The Englishman at 4:41 PM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
January 7, 2005
More EU rubbish rules
IT'S humble, inoffensive, excellent for plants and eminently biodegradable. But householders in Cardiff, having drunk deep of the recycyling message, have been ordered to keep their used teabags well away from the city council's compost collections.
An EU directive of the straight banana variety has obliged officials in the city of Cardiff to classify the teabag, a simple assembly of paper and dried leaves, as an animal by-product, and therefore the potential source of a future foot-and-mouth outbreak.
The reason, according to the EU's Animal By-Products Order 1999, is that teabags, and indeed used coffee filters, could have come in contact with contaminated milk.
Cardiff has the backing of the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, where a spokeswoman said: Home composting is no problem, but when it comes to commercial or municipal composting, because you cant guarantee the teabag hasnt come into contact with an animal product, namely milk, you cant technically put it in. It needs to be treated as a by-product.
No, you need to get your pompous heads out of your fat jobsworth arses and try recall a concept called "common sense".
Posted by The Englishman at 7:11 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
December 30, 2004
A fine blog - and another pig fan!
Cependant, laissez moi risquer une hypothse, cher frres et soeurs Croiss : ai-je raison de croire que la plupart d'entre vous n'a jamais envisag d'ajouter un mignon petit cochon la scne ?
Et diable, pourquoi pas ?
Posted by The Englishman at 9:15 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
December 28, 2004
EU shit laws
EU Referendum reports a graphic example of EU environmental madness...
we learned that Scottish Water was in trouble with its sewage treatment plant at Daldowie outside Glasgow. Here, a plant costing 65 million had been installed to turn 50,000 tons of sewage sludge each year - nearly half of Scotland's entire sewage residue - into pellets.
For four years, this had been feeding Scottish Power's giant 2,400-megawatt power station at Longannet in Fife with a "carbon-neutral" equivalent of 42,000 tons of coal, enough to provide electricity for 30,000 homes. But it was then the subject of a legal action awaiting judgment in the Scottish courts, this whole process is threatened with disaster.
Last winter the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) ruled that the sewage pellets were not "fuel", but "waste". When the EC Waste Incineration Directive (WID), 2000/76 comes into law at the end of the year, Scottish Power would no longer be allowed to use the pellets to make electricity.
This set Scottish Water a huge problem. Under other EU laws it cannot dump sewage sludge at sea or in landfills. It is becoming all but impossible to use sewage sludge as fertiliser on farm land. On Sepa's interpretation of EC law, the only practical means of disposal was to burn it at great expense in incinerators - but only so long as these served no useful purpose, such as generating electricity.
Posted by The Englishman at 6:30 AM
| Comments (3)
| TrackBack
December 19, 2004
Free the Bradford one!
EU Referendum
Dr Richard North is missing:
Just before midnight he was arrested by two police officers, described to me as verbally aggressive and carted off to the hoosegow, a.k.a. Bradford Central Police Station. I tried phoning (01274) 376459 but under the Data Protection Act they wouldn't tell me if he was being held!
Posted by The Englishman at 3:37 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
December 16, 2004
Foul Emblem
Stolen from The Anglo Saxon Chronicle
A Sussex pub landlord faces legal action for flying the EU flag The Argus Report here
The flag was spotted by a disgruntled resident who complained to the Council about the "foul emblem", which apparently offends him when he has to walk past it. The Council ruled "The EU flag is not a national flag and thereby falls within the same category as any advertising-type flag. These require advertising consent from the council."
A quick hurray for a Council Enforcement Officer - never thought that before!
And guess what the Lib-Dems think...
Councillor Bob Smytherman, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition on the council, said he was appalled.
He said: "The Lib Dems are the pro-European party. I don't see a problem with the EU flag. I think we should fly it from the town hall personally.
Oh I don't know Councillor Smytherman! I can think of a much better use of the townhall flagpole - I'm off to get the piano wire....
Posted by The Englishman at 8:44 PM
| Comments (3)
| TrackBack
December 15, 2004
Captain Euro - Superhero!
I thought I would catch up with the latest thrilling adventure of Captain Euro as "one brave man maintains perpetual vigilance" defending "the shining symbol of strength through unity". "In this climate of constant change The European Union, a union of prosperity and innovation, has emerged as a global superpower". Golly Gosh - can he save us from the evil Dr D.Vider (gettit?)...
To see the animated adventure you have to register - and so far they haven't sent the password to "bollockstotheeu - at anenglishmanscastle.com" If they do I will share it with you - it also asks for suggestions on the registration page - I left a couple I'm sure you can as well!
Posted by The Englishman at 2:47 PM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
Happy BoR Day
Telegraph | News | Christopher Booker's Notebook
When Tony Blair and his fellow heads of government met in Rome on October 30 to sign the new EU constitution, they were not putting their names to the document itself because it still didn't exist. Only (now can) anyone be able to read the text of the constitution set out in full in a single document thanks to an independent publishing venture run by an 89-year-old former brigadier from a small office in the Cotswolds.
There have been so many amendments to the constitutional draft agreed last summer that the EU itself will not be publishing a complete text until early next year. At the moment it still consists of 844 pages scattered across its websites. But thanks to a remarkable feat of detailed research by the British Management Data Foundation, run by Brig Anthony Cowgill and his son Andrew, a 47-year-old tax expert, it will be possible, at last, for members of the public to read precisely what the EU's politicians have agreed to in their name, to see what is new in it, and its wide-ranging implications.
The BMDF has consolidated the EU's 844 separate web-pages in just 270 printed ones, showing all 448 articles of the constitution (that of the USA contains only 26). It also adds supporting documents, invaluable analysis and a proper index (copies of The European Constitution in Perspective can be ordered on 01452 812837 at 27.50).
Compare that with this simple solid document - thanks to Kim du Toit:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
Which would you prefer?
Posted by The Englishman at 9:17 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
December 5, 2004
Flat Tax
The European Weblog Review aims to "provide a balanced and comprehensive look at new and thought-provoking content from the blogging community in Europe".
A bit late but I noticed this...
Apparently trying to make a pitch for the title of Europe's most right-wing blog, EURSOC brings us a passionate plea for a flat tax. Apparently it's a "truly cross-Atlantic idea". The only evidence that it has any relevance on this side of the Atlantic given is the assertion that some "central European EU members are said to be considering a flat tax policy". Which ones? How seriously?
To me that sounds like the comforting Tory myth that someone - somewhere - in (first) Scandinavia, then Southern Europe, and now Central Europe will agree with them and stand up for a British Eurosceptic shopping list. It's never happened...
The author Alex Harrowell rhul.ac.uk, ( maybe the same man who is the left wing The Yorkshire Ranter) obviously didn't try Google where for instance this comes up...
TCS: Tech Central Station - The Real Threat from the East
* Slovakia has enacted a 19 percent flat tax for both individual and business income,..
* Poland has dropped its corporate tax rate to 19 percent and also implemented a flat tax of 19 percent for individual business income. ...
* The three Baltic nations -- Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia -- all have flat tax systems. These nations also have pro-growth tax regimes for business income. Estonia, for instance, has eliminated the corporate income tax for reinvested profits.
These free-market tax reforms -- not the possibility of handouts and migration -- are the real reason why enlargement is a "threat" to Western Europe. Simply stated, market-oriented East European countries are going to impose enormous competitive pressure on high-tax welfare states...
Posted by The Englishman at 9:35 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
November 25, 2004
EU did/didn't meet with Hamas
EU chief held secret talks with Hamas - Report -
The European Union foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, announced on Thursday that he had held secret talks with the Palestinian Hamas movement.
"I have had direct contact with Hamas but not in the last few days," Solana told BBC Radio....
Later, Solana's office denied the report and released a statement saying; "With reference to the BBC interview broadcast today, the office of the High Representative, Javier Solana, clarifies that at no time Dr Solana wished to imply that direct contacts between himself and Hamas had taken place,"
Well that is clear then - one of the statements is a lie and I think I know which one - a trainee salesman would be sacked for misleading customers like that - can anyone remind me again why we are in the EU?
Posted by The Englishman at 9:21 PM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
November 24, 2004
Better say No
Dan Hannan's EURO BRIEFINGS
What would happen if we voted 'no'?
What would happen if Britain voted no to the EU constitution while most or all of the other countries wanted to go ahead? Would the other heads of government tear up the draft in deference to the British? And, if not, where would that leave us? Staying where we are would not be an option, since the existing treaties would no longer exist: they would all have been folded into the new constitution.
I was only wondering today - so am pleased to see an erudite answer - basically we would be much better off.
Posted by The Englishman at 2:04 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
November 20, 2004
I'm a criminal in France
EU Referendum points out:
Jacques Barrot, the French commissioner, is a convicted criminal, back in politics only through the generosity of his political boss. Chirac has given him a complete pardon, so comprehensive that it becomes a criminal offence even to mention that the man is a criminal.
I suppose that is only right and proper coming from a president who, but for his own immunity stemming from his office, would be in jail himself, having robbed and pillaged the state coffers for as long as he has been a politician.
...
Vice-President of the EU commission, Siim Kallas, the Estonian commissioner .., was convicted in 2001 of providing false information during his trial for the theft of $10m from the Central Bank of Estonia in a oil-trading scam in 1993. He was acquitted of charges of abuse and fraud in relation to the oil deal.
Furthermore, Kallas had also appeared in court just five years earlier when he appeared as a witness following the disappearance of Russian Roubles from the Estonian Central Bank, of which he was then the president.
Unbelievably, notes UKIP, Kallas has been appointed a Vice-President of the EU Commission, and has been given the anti-fraud portfolio. Says Nigel Farage, in a refrain that is not uncommon on this Blog, "You simply could not make it up."
And the MSM ignores it though when a Commissioner commits the crime of being a devout Chrisitan, who believes in the Church's teachings, there is a witch hunt.
And just to make sure I'm breaking the law in France let me say "M.Barrot was a convicted criminal" - and soon it will be a criminal offence here to say it as well....
Posted by The Englishman at 7:31 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
November 19, 2004
Shouldn't be allowed to run a whelk stall
Scotsman.com News - Latest News - Auditors Mark Decade of Failing to Clear EU Accounts
The European Union's financial watchdog has refused to give the annual euro-accounts the all-clear for the 10th year running.
A report from the European Court of Auditors repeats concerns about the accuracy of the books on the 2003 budget totalling nearly 70 billion.
...
The Court indicates that nearly 95% of the EU budget has serious problems with regard to accountability and effective spending. It is time that Tony Blair and his government refused to sign off the EUs dodgy accounts.
After 10 years in the Commission, the latter five as Vice-President for Administrative Reform, Neil Kinnocks legacy to the taxpayer is a decade of failure.
Unfubeckinglievable - and the bastards want us to trust them and give them more powers and more of our money to spend.
Posted by The Englishman at 12:41 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
November 18, 2004
German Joke of the Day
Franzsischer Terrorist Alarm angehobenes (Mittag 11/15/04) AP und UPI berichten, da die franzsische Regierung heute verkndete, da sie sein Terroralarmniveau "vom Durchlauf" angehoben hat "sich zu verstecken.", Die einzigen zwei hheren Niveaus in Frankreich sind "zusammenarbeiten" und "Auslieferung". Die Zunahme des Alarmniveaus wurde durch das neue Feuer ausgefllt, das eine von Frankreichs weien Markierungsfahnenfabriken zerstrte und sperrte ihr Militr.
Translation below.
French Terrorist Alert Raised (noon 11/15/04) AP and UPI report that the French Government announced today that it has raised its terror alert level from "run" to "hide." The only two higher levels in France are "collaborate" and "surrender". The increase in the alert level was precipitated by the recent fire which destroyed one of France's white flag factories, disabling their military.
Posted by The Englishman at 7:31 AM
| Comments (3)
| TrackBack
November 15, 2004
Fiddle, Fudge and Failure
BBC NEWS | Business | Greece admits fudging euro entry
Before editing the BBC said "Greece admits fiddling euro entry".. which was probably more truthful.....
And also out today:
.. as the cost of hosting the 2004 summer Olympics reached 7bn euros (4.8bn) (BBC)...
or ...... Olympics was nearly 9.0 billion euros (11.5 billion US dollars), almost double the amount forecast a year before the Games, Greece's Finance Minister George ...
as every one else says.
Can anyone think of a good reason why we would them hop skip and jumping all over London hoovering up money and drugs?
I'm backing Paris for the Olympics.
Posted by The Englishman at 9:19 PM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
November 11, 2004
"Plucky little Belgium" surrenders
Fainting in Coyles Belgium is no longer fit to be regarded as a democracy, nor is it fit to be regarded as a liberal tolerant society. By acting in this way it merely hastens the day when it will collapse.
Tolerance is endangered in Europe..
Posted by The Englishman at 8:52 PM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
November 5, 2004
French kissing
BBC NEWS | World | Europe | 'Lewd rubbing' shuts Paris statue
Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris has fenced off a famous tomb to prevent lewd acts being performed on a statue.
The effigy of 19th Century journalist known as Victor Noir has long been popular with women visitors.
The statue shows Noir in a frock coat and trousers lying flat on his back, with a distinct enlargement in the groin.
We are always being told what great lovers the French are - seems lying cold and still on your back is enough to satisfy the Filles...
Posted by The Englishman at 6:25 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
October 31, 2004
Business speaks
A MASSIVE slump in support for Europe's single market among international business leaders will be revealed in a new poll this week. Highlighting their mounting concern, an overwhelming 63% of top executives surveyed agreed that over-regulation was destroying European competitiveness.
The findings will deal another blow to supporters of the European Constitution which was formally signed by European Union (EU) leaders in Rome on Friday. The poll, due to be published this week by Chatham House, a London-based think-tank, was taken among business leaders in the UK, Europe, the US and Japan.
In the past, executives from global businesses have been the most enthusiastic and unconditional supporters of the EU, which makes the results of this poll especially striking.
Posted by The Englishman at 7:38 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
October 25, 2004
EU economy reform " a big failure" - Prodi
The Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler points out:
The head of the European Commission smells the coffee and gets only a whiff of rotting socialist cheese, leading him to call the EU an economic failure. This of course won't surprise anyone who doesn't go through life with their nose buried in a dog-eared copy of "Das Kapital" as they cash each month's allotted pay coupon as a non-working worker bee in a nanny-state taxpayer-subsidized Euro-socialist pretend economy....
Posted by The Englishman at 8:34 PM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
October 19, 2004
Ceterum censeo Consilium Europaeum esse delendam
Bring me my bow of burning gold
Bring me my arrows of desire
Bring me my spear: o clouds unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire.
I will not cease from mental fight
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
...
Hat tip Tim Worstall and L'Ombre de l'Olivier
Posted by The Englishman at 8:59 AM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
A likely story
BBC NEWS | Politics | Blair: We will tackle EU red tape
All pigs fuelled and ready for take off....
Posted by The Englishman at 7:11 AM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
October 18, 2004
EU Truckers
it seems as if the British Army is to be provided with second-rate equipment chosen, in part to rescue the troubled Eurofighter project, at a cost that does no favours to the British taxpayer. And, as we have observed before, despite the political implications, not a squeak of protest from the mainstream media.
Posted by The Englishman at 7:20 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
October 14, 2004
Living in the past
Scotsman.com News - Opinion - Playing with time will just create a topsy-turvy world
AN ENGLISH MP may be attempting to use devolution to allow England and Wales to move to continental time without Scotland.
But this is a non-starter. ..The real issue is whether the UK as a whole opts to shift to European Central Time.
There was a BBC discussion about Time zones today - with the thread that unless we synchronised with the rest of Europe we were living in the past and that trade and the economy suffered. I suppose those North Americans who have bits of states at different times to the rest of the state and different yet again from next door and as for the whole country - what a mess - they must be living in caves or something....
Posted by The Englishman at 6:46 PM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
October 13, 2004
Euro fails Bacon Buttie test
Despite the extravagant claims for "price transparency" and the theory that this would push prices down, the actual prices of consumer goods in the different eurozone countries are nearly as far apart as they were at the time of the introduction of euro banknotes and coins three years ago
Advocates of the single currency had confidently predicted that the euro would overcome the difficulties consumers had in comparing prices when they were expressed in different currencies, but the Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein investment bank has blown that comfortable little fantasy apart.
Posted by The Englishman at 6:31 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
October 3, 2004
Lack of Trust
45 percent of voters agree with the statement: "Tony Blair mostly lies about Europe". 41 percent disagree. Among young voters this lack of trust is most pronounced, with 51 percent agreeing that Tony Blair "mostly lies" and just 39 percent disagreeing.
-The other politicians unveiled by the pro-Constitution campaign in recent weeks also suffer from negative trust ratings. Neil Kinnock and Chris Patten, (who have both joined Britain in Europe in the last two weeks) suffer negative trust ratings. Peter Mandelson, who set out the case for the EU Constitution at a conference fringe meeting last night, suffers from extremely negative trust ratings. -Taking the balance of those who "trust" these politicians minus those who would "not trust" them, all three have negative ratings. Neil Kinnock is at minus 1, Chris Patten at minus 2, and Peter Mandelson at minus 49 percent. Even among Labour voters Peter Mandelson's net trust rating is minus 30 percent.
Bizarre - that means there are actually people who trust Kinnock and Patten.. But then:
Americans Who Believe Elvis Is Alive 7%
Elvis Fans Who Believe Elvis Is Alive 9%
Posted by The Englishman at 6:35 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
September 24, 2004
Snippets from the Front
EU Referendum s always a good read - everyday it is like this....
...The immediate effect for the European Union, is a gradual stifling of all innovation and a loss of the most dynamic businessmen and entrepreneurs. Where do they go? USA if they can, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, wherever they feel their work will be appreciated and they will not be destroyed by so-called legislators who think entrepreneurship is something that can be defined and measured against definite benchmarks.
The supreme irony is that the EU is destroying something in which it could and ought to compete with the United States: business innovation. While it tries to stand up to America in foreign, defence and security matters, which is absurd, harmful and, in so far as it leads the EU to support bloodthirsty dictators and, even, terrorists, morally shameful, it also undermines its ability to compete in a healthy way and, perhaps, to win. And so the United States surges ahead, while we put together another structure and negotiate with another tin-pot dictator in the name of integration and anti-American parity....
Another post:
"two enduring myths about the benefits of the euro were quashed yesterday by influential reports claiming the single currency had not encouraged fiscal prudence or attracted extra investment".
And another:
If Chirac and Kofi Annan truly represented the face of international co-operation, then there would be a lot to be said for isolationism.
Posted by The Englishman at 11:21 AM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
September 23, 2004
Regulated Free Trade
I am very pleased to see commenters slugging it out over the advantages of regulating working hours - but in line with a couple of other news items can I make a prediction.
All politicians now claim they believe in "the market" and "Free Trade". We all know how they then weasel around "the market" by adding socially, ethical, environmental responsible etc.
I foresee a lot of guff about "Free trade" coming - basically it is too chaotic and unfair so it must be regulated. So watch out for "Regulated Free Trade". Which is, of course, complete balls.
And on one point - I believe in Free Trade for my labour - if I choose to work long hours then that is my choice, how restricting that freedom "enhances" it, is beyond me.
Posted by The Englishman at 11:26 AM
| Comments (8)
| TrackBack
September 22, 2004
EU - banning working hard
BBC NEWS | Business | EU mulls changes to working hours
The European Commission is to discuss changes to the EU's Working Time Directive on Wednesday as it tries to limit the time employees spend at work.
On the table will be plans that would curtail the ability of member states, including the UK, to opt out of the 48-hour maximum working week.
That is the way to revive flagging economies - not. The poor bloody donkeys who actually do the work to support the bloated bureaucracies are not going to be allowed to a bit extra in case they make a little bit of money for themselves. It is a basket case.
Posted by The Englishman at 8:04 AM
| Comments (6)
| TrackBack
September 18, 2004
Socialist bedfellows
I post without comment (and only minor editing) this article from Mark Almond Lecturer in Modern History, Oriel College, Oxford Jan 1998 - I will leave the comments to you..
It took even Adolf Hitler three years before he succeeded in banning the pursuit of quarry on horseback in July 1936.
The Nazis faced the problem of how to define a hunt. In order to avoid ambiguity even following a pack on horseback was made illegal. Hitlers ban on hunting with dogs remains in force.
The teetotal and vegetarian Fuhrer was by nature against hunting on grounds of cruelty, but riding to hounds roused the ire of the socialist in Hitlers National Socialism. German fox-hunters tended to be aristocratic, in his view effete and probably Anglophile. Goebbels, too, on occasion dirided the social world of riding. In the politics of resentment, few could beat the Nazis.
Hitlers first dictatorial act, after the passing of the Enabling Act (1933) was to regulate the cooking of lobsters (he was distressed by their screams when tossed into boiling water). Only then did he abolish free trade unions.
Apart from their opposition to hunting, what Hitler and some of the most extreme contemporary animal rights activists tend to share are an implacable self-righteousness and misanthropy. Advocates of good causes all too often confuse the justice of their cause with their own moral worth. Since they support a holy cause they are sanctified by it and brook no criticism. When that sort of self-righteousness peaks in an extreme animus, other moral considerations go out of the window. Supporting animal rights for instance can legitimise violence against human beings in such peoples minds.
With some key Nazis this perversion of morality was central to their psychology. But it also had ideological justifications. The Nazis associated a raft of what they regarded as undesirable phenomena. They saw Jews as anti-natural and promoters of the alienation of man from nature. Their sentimentality about nature and their condemnation of millions of people as unnatural went hand in hand.
Hitlers chief mass murderer, Heinrich Himmler, regarded shooting birds or animals as pure murder and waxed lyrical about the ancient Germanic peoples had respect for animals. Like many modern animal rights advocates, Himmler rejected the Judaeo-Christian tradition and looked to Buddhism for inspiration about how man (or at least Aryan man) should deal with nature. In his article Animal Rights for the SS house magazine in 1934 , Himmler recorded his admiration for medieval Germans who put rats on trial for their depredations and gave them a chance to change their ways!
Backed by Himmler, Hitler would have gone much further down the animal rights agenda but important Nazis such as Goering, who gloried in the title Reich Master of the Hunt were not prepared to sacrifice shooting and fishing. However, Goering was anxious to be seen as politically correct , 1930s style. He assured a radio audience in 1933 that whereas democracy had consumed years of futile discussion about animal rights, he had moved decisively to stop maltreatment of animals, including vivisection in his own domain of Prussia. Warming to his subject, Hitlers number two threatened that anyone who flouted the Nazis concern for animal rights would be imprisoned.
Hitlers vegetarianism led him to experiment with a meat-free diet for his beloved German shepherd dogs though before one could finish the course she was poisoned by her master to test cyanide for his own use as the Red Army arrived outside his bunker in April 1945.
Hitlers politically correct dogmas would no doubt have earned him the reputation of a prophet of modern attitudes if he had stuck to petty tyrannical regulation rather than combining it with mass murder and militarism. Todays Nanny State could hardly disagree with his ferocious anti-smoking views for instance. Towards the end of the war in March 1944 he found time to insist on the necessity of banning smoking in trams, fearing the effect of passive smoking on their conductors health. Naturally he had already banned smoking in Nazi party offices years earlier. But even Hitler had to recognise that banning smoking in the Wehrmacht might be bad for morale and decided to leave that measure until after his final victory.
Nothing is more distressing than discovering uncomfortable ancestors in the genealogy of ones own beliefs. But it is certainly the case that a measure of subterranean intellectual continuity does exist between some contemporary Green movements and the Green/Brown world of ideas before 1945. It is also the case that the Authoritarian personality-type that attributes absolute moral correctness to its own views, and damnation to anyone who does not agree with them, is something which fanatics share. Misanthropy cannot be justified by a cloak of animal welfare.
So far the violence and intimidation exercised by hunt saboteurs may be only a faint echo of Hitlers combination of animal rights and inhumanity, but reasonable opponents of fox hunting ought to ask themselves how far their opposition is motivated by deep resentments which could turn ugly and how far by a more benign concern for animal welfare. People asking those questions should then ponder whether they want to be associated with the fanatics cause
Copyright Daily Telegraph.
http://www.huntfacts.com/hitler.htm
Posted by The Englishman at 5:30 PM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
August 24, 2004
Moron payoff
The Times reports:
Piers Morgan has won a payoff of around 1.7 million in compensation for the loss of his job as editor of the Daily Mirror, the tabloid newspaper owned by Trinity Mirror, according to reports.
Lawyers for Mr Morgan, who was sacked in May after refusing to apologise for publishing photographs purporting to show British soldiers torturing Iraqi prisoners, later exposed as fakes, are believed to have secured the payoff on Friday.
The news comes just days after Mr Morgan secured a record 1.2 million payment from publishers Ebury Press for his memoirs.
Mr Morgan was famously asked to leave the Mirror's offices at Canary Wharf in May without being given the opportunity to collect his jacket from his chair.
Nice reward for recklessly endangering British troops by being a lying fuckwit.
Posted by The Englishman at 8:50 PM
| Comments (3)
| TrackBack
August 17, 2004
From the north comes enlightenment
Iceland's experience of the EEA Agreement has been positive and the decision to remain outside the EU has not caused economic problems of any kind. On the contrary, Iceland has sustained impressive GDP growth ever since 1995, with the sole exception of 2002. Growth was around 4% last year and is forecast at around 4% or more over the next few years. Such growth figures leave no doubt about how difficult it would be for Iceland to take part in European Monetary Union.
The son and heir is going on a school geography trip to Iceland this coming year, I must show him this as Economic geography is all part of the course. Interesting site as the Tuscancentric reporting of the EU makes us forget the other Europe.
Posted by The Englishman at 8:57 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
August 15, 2004
Euroarmy
EU Referendum says:
The Euro-army cometh
"The massacre of our proudest regiments isn't about efficiency ...it's about surrendering our soldiers to fight in a Euro-army"
Col. Tim Collins
You hardly need to add anything to that - but if you want the full sorry tale go read, and as others say remove all breakable objects from near the screen beforehand.
Posted by The Englishman at 10:13 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
August 3, 2004
Happy 300th
Spain says British occupation of Gibraltar a blot on the EU
Spain accused Britain of clinging to its imperial past to the detriment of good relations with its EU partner as the Royal Navy prepared to celebrate three centuries of British rule over Gibraltar.
"It is strange in the 21st century that the military occupation of part of one member state by another should be commemorated within the European Union," Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said in an article published by the daily El Pais.
Wednesday is the 300th anniversary of the capture by British forces of a tiny peninsula on the southern coast of Spain dominated by a 408-metre (1,326-foot) peak overlooking a narrow strait separating Europe from North Africa.
Blot on I say and "vete a la mierda y la axila melenuda de su madre" (I think).
Posted by The Englishman at 10:50 PM
| Comments (3)
| TrackBack
July 26, 2004
More on Mandy in Brussels
The reason why I think Blair has blundered, from his point of view in appointing Mandy to be an EU Czar is summed up by William Rees Mogg in Times Online - Comment
The whole future of Mr Blair's European policy depends on trust, a commodity in short supply in his administration. The referendum on the constitution, if it ever happens, will be decided by trust. Will we all trust the assurances the Prime Minister is bound to give that the new European constitution is a minor administrative adjustment that will not damage or destroy the independent democracy of Britain?
When we read the constitution, we see that it transfers major powers from Britain to Europe, but does not transfer any powers back from Europe to Britain. It is a one-way street. Mr Blair will tell us that this does not matter, that he can be trusted as the protector of British interests. Will we believe him? Will the appointment of Peter Mandelson as a European commissioner make any of us more likely to trust the Prime Minister?
And can you imagine Mandy oiling himself across our screens saying "trust me, it is all going to be alright, it won't hurt a bit and I won't come in.." While he is a clever and able politician he is the wrong man to sell a distrusted entity like the EU. Which is good news for Eurorealists.
Posted by The Englishman at 1:26 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
July 24, 2004
Oh for God's sake
BBC NEWS | Politics | Why Blair brought Mandelson back
If Tony Blair wanted to end the parliamentary session with a defiant show of strength he could not have chosen a better way of doing it than by giving Peter Mandelson a job.
A show of strength? What planet do the BBC live on? Mandy is one of the last people who still fancy Tony and so he takes the fawning as a sign of intellignce. Simple management nouis tells you "don't sweat the petty things, and don't pet the sweaty things" - and Mandy is as sweaty as they get.
Posted by The Englishman at 12:11 AM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
July 22, 2004
EU - a home for failed politicians (again).
Prime Minister Tony Blair's old friend and ally Peter Mandelson is set to resign as a parliamentarian, clearing his way to become Britain's new European Commissioner, a government source says.
"No one doubts Peter Mandelson's abilities or his commitment to Europe, but the nomination of a man who has twice been forced out of the cabinet would be a gift to eurosceptics," said Chris Davies, leader of the British Liberal Democrat MEPs.
Oh no - I'm off for a strong drink - I actually agree with a Lib Dem MEP, I don't think that has ever happened before.
Posted by The Englishman at 9:20 PM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
July 16, 2004
Tories are against it.
I asked my MP.
Dear Rt Hon Michael Ancram QC,
I gather delegates of the EPP-ED European Parliamentary Group to which the Conservative MEPs are affiliated have adopted 'The Budapest Declaration'.
I was wondering if you agree with these statements from the declaration: 'Our Group reaffirms its commitment to the European model of social market economy' and 'the EU should become an ever more coherent, united entity ' and 'The new Constitution, .., must first be ratified and then implemented.'
Your reply will most interesting.
He replied today - "The British Conservaties do not support and are not signatories to this declaration" "Conservatives oppose the European Constitution." And the oppose the "European Social Model".
Well that clears that up then.
Posted by The Englishman at 9:36 AM
| TrackBack
July 4, 2004
Sparkie News
Sparkies are annoyed with the EU -- "standard 3 phase cables will not be Red, Yellow and Blue for the 3 phase and Black for the Neutral, Of which every single cable in the country is at the moment except for some older ones that have 1 2 and 3 on the phases.
The new Phase colours are Red is now Brown, Yellow is now Black(old Neutral), Blue is now Grey and the Neutral is now Blue(the old phase).
So what was live is now neutral and what was neutral is now live -= that sounds like a recipe for safety! (Imagine if an evil multinational had come up with such a stupid plan, the outcry.) As one of the commenters says:
It's like the fire extinguishers. They used to be easily distinguishable, now they are all red with a small label. WTF, let's think for a pico second. It's a fire, your eyes are stinging with smoke and now you have to read the f.cking thing.
Are they on drugs over there?
No wonder they are all unelected, they are all f.cking morons. The sooner we are out, the better.
Will anyone be held accountable for the corporate manslaughter that happens?
Posted by The Englishman at 6:10 PM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
June 28, 2004
Washed Up Politico
According to the EU Referendum blog:
"Christopher Patten has thrown in the towel, telling the BBC last night that his political career was "effectively over" after he failed in his bid to become commission president. This is who man who, having failed to get re-elected in the 1992 general election, went on to give away Hong Kong to the Chinese and then destroyed the Royal Ulster Constabulary...he can draw down his 60,000 a year commission pension, plus all the other bunce he's managed to pick up on the way. Hard life being a failure, innit?
I don't think Chris Petain's political career will be properly over until he is hanging from his heels outside a petrol station..
Posted by The Englishman at 11:12 AM
| Comments (4)
| TrackBack
June 23, 2004
The Cost of the EU
From Civitas via the EUreferendum Blog -Background Briefing: EU Costs and Benefits
If the UK were to leave the EU, there would be no net loss of jobs or trade. In addition, we would be nearly 20 billion per year better off, and possibly much more. These are the preliminary findings of a study, shortly to be published by Civitas.
Drawing largely on official sources and deploying the most cautious of assumptions, the net costs of EU membership are appraised in five areas: EU regulation, the common agricultural policy, net payments to EU institutions, the single market, and inward investment. Where independent sources suggest different figures, a range of costs is given.
Need I say more?
Posted by The Englishman at 10:34 AM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
June 19, 2004
Essential EU analysis
EU Referendum Richard North is working through it - keep going back to his site to get up to date.
Posted by The Englishman at 1:09 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Now the fun begins
BBC NEWS | World | Europe | EU agrees historic constitution
A deal has been reached on the first constitution for the European Union after hours of talks at the EU summit.
All Tony has to do now is persuade me and you to vote for it. Snowball meet hell.
Posted by The Englishman at 12:47 AM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
June 18, 2004
The Enemy's Handbook
The Edge of England's Sword notes his own article on a EU report which is the outcome of a working party looking into the future of the EU. I admit I hjave only skimmed the report's 112 pages but it does seem to be fairly blunt to why Europe is failing, but the answer seems to be if it hasn't worked yet, up the dose, more of the same, don't look at those unculutured Anglo-americans and their awful fascination with "trade". We know better. Read Iain's bits for the analysis by a man who has been arsed to read it.
Posted by The Englishman at 8:13 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
East is east and west is west.
So what is going on with the new EU members - they have only been mebers for six weeks and enjoyed all the hype and fanfare of joining - but firstly they couldn't be bothered to turn out to vote :
EU Business - European dismay at low election turnout
The worst fears of European Union officials came true on Monday after only nine voters in 20 bothered to turn out for European Parliament elections which also saw a surge in support for parties opposed to the continental bloc.
Disappointed politicians noted the paradox that apathy was most widespread in former communist states such as Poland and Slovakia, which joined the EU to much fanfare only six weeks ago.
For instance 16.6 percent trunout in Slovakia.
And then Today's headline in The Times
New Europe sides with Blair against old Europe
It is almost as though the people didn't really want to join the old EU at all...
Posted by The Englishman at 7:32 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
June 15, 2004
Europol
I popped over to Numberwatch to order his new book - what an essential site it is - and came back with this musing on D-Day.
..above all, it was for the precious concept of individual liberty that Britons, Americans and their allies endured that terrible ordeal. Protected by habeas corpus, free from the threat from double jeopardy, beneficiaries of centuries of careful development of a framework of law and justice, they were the inheritors of a tradition that represents the best of a fair society. For the British, however, it has all turned to dust, surrendered by the pusillanimous politicians. Here is a short extract from the book Ten minutes to midnight by Phillip Day , Credence Publications 2003:
* Under British law, a law enforcement officer or the public prosecutor must place evidence before a court within 24 hours of a citizen's arrest, detailing the charges being brought against him or her. Under EU law, the police and prosecution have become one entity, and all proceedings may be conducted in secret. These measures have already been endorsed by British politicians.
* Under ECJ law, past offences committed by the accused will be raked up against him and used to justify why he committed the crime for which he is accused. Under British law, this information is only made available to the court after the verdict, in order to secure a fair trial.
* Under Article 8 of the Treaty of Amsterdam, members of the new federal 'Europol' are "immune from legal process of any kind for acts performed... in the exercise of their official functions." Thus, no Europol officer can be charged or brought to trial for false imprisonment, violence against a suspect, the destruction or seizure of private property , or harassment of any individual.
* Europol has been given powers to operate anywhere within the Eurozone, including Britain, with complete impunity. They have the power of summary arrest and extradition, in spite of existing British laws, which specifically prohibit such action. Under the power of international treaty, British law is superseded.
* Ironically, or perhaps not so, Europol's main base of operations is quartered in the old Gestapo headquarters building in The Hague. Eventually Europol will have thousands of armed officers able to operate throughout the Eurozone with complete impunity.
* Europol has been amassing records on hundreds of thousands of European citizens. None of this information is ever made public. Europol has the power, under EU law, to instruct British police authorities to investigate anyone in Britain the EU deems a danger to law and order.
Posted by The Englishman at 10:21 PM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
Disappointed moi? Non.
BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Poll bruising forces EU rethink
European leaders are reeling from the blow delivered to the EU project by voters who abstained in droves or protested by backing Eurosceptics.
French President Jacques Chirac said the EU elections were "disappointing for all of us and for Europe".
Posted by The Englishman at 9:31 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
June 1, 2004
Europe
I haven't posted much on Europe recently - it gets so depressing the same old story of corruption and fedeophiles.. But the guys at EURSOC
have stronger stomachs than me and daily churn out the goods - and very good it is too.
Posted by The Englishman at 4:16 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
May 26, 2004
Non German Jokes
According to the stats most visitors here are looking for German Jokes - I have run out so here are some non German Jokes...
Oldies, but........
Two fish swim into a concrete wall.
One turns to the other and says "dam"
**********
Two peanuts walk into a bar
One was a salted.
**********
A jump-lead walks into a bar.
The barman says "I'll serve you, but don't start anything."
**********
A sandwich walks into a bar.
The barman says, "Sorry we don't serve food in here."
**********
A dyslexic man walks into a bra.
**********
A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm and says: "A
beer please, and one for the road."
**********
Two aerials meet on a roof, fall in love get married.
The ceremony wasn't much but the reception was brilliant.
**********
Two cannibals are eating a clown.
One says to the other: "Does this taste funny to you?"
**********
"Doc, I can't stop singing 'The green, green grass of home'."
"That sounds like Tom Jones syndrome."
"Is it common?"
"It's not unusual."
**********
Two cows standing next to each other in a field, Daisy says to Dolly "I
was artificially inseminated this morning." "I don't believe you," said
Dolly. "It's true, no bull!"
**********
Two hydrogen atoms walk into a bar.
One says, "I've lost my electron."
The other says, "Are you sure?"
The first replies, "Yes, I'm positive..."
**********
A man takes his Rottweiler to the vet and says,
"My dog's cross-eyed, is there anything you can do for him? " "Well," says
the vet, "let's have a look at him" So he picks the dog up and examines
his eyes, then checks his teeth. Finally, he says "I'm going to have to
put him down." "What? Because he's cross-eyed?" "No, because he's really
heavy"
**********
I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day but I couldn't find
any.
**********
I went to the butchers the other day and I bet him 50 quid that he
couldn't reach the meat off the top shelf. And he said, 'no, the steaks
are too high.'
**********
My friend drowned in a bowl of muesli.
He was pulled in by a strong currant.
**********
Our ice cream man was found lying on the floor of his van covered with
nuts & hundreds and thousands. Police say that he topped himself.
**********
What do you call a fish with no eyes?
A fsh
**********
Two fish are in a tank
One says to the other "I'll man the guns, you drive"
Posted by The Englishman at 10:34 PM
| Comments (4)
| TrackBack
May 21, 2004
eurotits
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Film | Britain axes nipple from EU film
A film advert encouraging people to vote in the European elections has been censored in Britain to eliminate a glimpse of a bare nipple.
Posted by The Englishman at 1:31 PM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
April 27, 2004
He said it
BBC NEWS | World | Europe | EU is 'chaotic and leaderless'
Finnish ambassador to the UK Pertti Salolainen, who said he was speaking in a personal capacity, said: "The EU is chaotic, it has no vision, no leadership and it seems it will have no constitution."
What is the Finnish for "Couldn't agree more"
Posted by The Englishman at 9:38 PM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
April 19, 2004
Why the U turn?
Tony's U turn on the Referendum has been perplexing me.
1) He needed to take the heat out of the Tories who were going to run with it in the Euro elections . So good reason to announce holding one.
2) He won't win the referendum, and he doesn't pick fights he doesn't believe he can win.
So either he is a fool who thinks the public will buy him being pretty reasonable sort of guy and back him or it is like the Euro referendum. We still haven't had that one either!
I bet it isn't going to happen. Either the rest of the Europolitcos will scupper it as last time, or it gets so changed that the UK Parliament turns it down. Either way no need for a referendum and Tony holds the moral highground.
Posted by The Englishman at 9:06 PM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
There may be trouble ahead..
The Sun says:
Only 16 per cent would vote Yes in a referendum and 28 per cent are not sure.
...an exclusive Sun poll shows at least 53 per cent would REJECT the constitution.
But that figure will soar as one third of the nation is still undecided, while fewer than one in five are in favour.
But while there's music and moonlight
And love and romance
Let's face the music and dance.
Posted by The Englishman at 5:57 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
April 15, 2004
Go on please ask us..
The Times reports:
TONY BLAIR is seriously considering calling a referendum on the new European constitution in what would be one of the biggest policy U-turns of his premiership, The Times has learnt.
Senior ministers and advisers are urging the Prime Minister to grasp the opportunity of the expected agreement in June on the proposals to open a national debate about whether Britain should play a full part in the European Union.
I can't wait.
Posted by The Englishman at 9:11 AM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
April 8, 2004
Better off out.
Boston.com / Business / Euro deficit cap being violated
Half of the 12 countries using the euro are projected to break the European Union's budget deficit rules this year as the continent's economic growth continues to lag far behind the rest of the world's, the EU's head office reported yesterday.
The euro zone will see growth in 2004 of only 1.7 percent, compared with projections of 4.2 percent in the United States, 3.4 percent in Japan, and around 7 percent for the rest of Asia, the European Commission said.
While the euro area is accelerating from last year's anemic 0.4 percent growth, the commission trimmed its 2004 prognosis from last fall's 1.8 percent because "overall, the balance of risks appears to have shifted toward the downside in recent months," the report said.
EU economics commissioner Pedro Solbes blamed a lack of progress in reforming labor markets, pensions, and healthcare systems by governments afraid of paying a price at the polls -- as happened last month in France.
Not much to add to that is there...
Posted by The Englishman at 5:45 PM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
April 2, 2004
Good news and tax free too...
Telegraph | News | Colonel wins libel payout over war crime claims
Col Tim Collins, the Army officer who won worldwide renown for a rousing speech on the eve of the Iraq war, has won undisclosed libel damages against two tabloid newspapers which accused him of war crimes.
Posted by The Englishman at 2:13 PM
| Comments (3)
| TrackBack
March 27, 2004
A German writes..
A new comment has been posted on your blog An Englishman's Castle, on entry
#312 (Don't mention the war).
http://www.anenglishmanscastle.com/archives/000312.html
Name: German
Email Address: Idontknow@gb.suxxs
URL: http://www.fawlty.towers.is.gay.de
Comments:
Don't mention the war <- funny episode (The Germans) but the only of fawlty towers. The rest is just something for cocksuckers. "Ve haf vays of making you tock" <- Don`t able to write in you on language? poor...
PS: Wrote this in my poor english because youll be to stupid to understand german.
PPS: fawlty towers is just something for simple-minded, anthropoid thinking humans, in other words for the English
Thanks Fritz - don't ring us we will ring you! (One of the commonest Google searchs that finds this Blog is "German Jokes" - I think I will add this one to the entry!)
Posted by The Englishman at 5:02 PM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
March 16, 2004
Too dirty for Channel 4
http://www.updater.co.uk has the celebrity swearathon advert - not worksafe!, somehow posh and pretty girls talking dirty still has a certain frisson.
Posted by The Englishman at 7:50 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
March 15, 2004
They won, we lost.
The more I learn about the Spanish bombing, the more convinced I am that al-Qaeda have won a major victory.
Item 1:
BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Spain to re-join 'Old Europe'
Item 2: Norway's Defense Research Establishment also uncovered documents linking al-Qaeda to the attacks. The documents said: "We must make use of the proximity to the elections in Spain in March next year. Spain can stand a maximum of two or three attacks before they will withdraw from Iraq."
The document identifies Spain as the weakest link in the Coalition of the Willing and says that if Spain withdrew then the other partners would follow like "pieces of domino".
And so on.....
Posted by The Englishman at 9:41 PM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
March 4, 2004
Microwave your money!
The official plan is for euro notes to have RFID tags in them by 2005. (RFID tags are the tiny tiny ID chips that can be scanned at a distance.
) This report suggests that they are already in them, though the only 50 euro note I can find I am not allowed to try out as the owner doesn't want it burnt (I can't see anything though, and it might just be the metal strip sparking)...RFID Tags Already in Euro Notes
This is a follow up to the more widely reported RFID Tags in New US Notes Explode When You Try to Microwave Them
"Of course, the official line is that these tags are there "to protect us", they stop counterfeiting and enable security agencies to track illegal money. Why would illegal money come in five or ten Euro notes? Surely your classic suitcase with wads of cash consists of 200s or 500s not fives and tens, you would need a whole truck to transport large amounts.
The truth is where ever we go are being tracked by our governments. RFID is the latest technology to be used in the ever-growing control grid that dictates the way we live our lives. Walmart has recently carried out RFID trials, even though they claim it is only to monitor possible theft of razors! "
Posted by The Englishman at 5:24 PM
| Comments (4)
| TrackBack
Not my Flag pt2
The Times, London
ROME, March 3. To the surprise of those who consider the European Union humanly flawed, even the work of the devil, the Pope is to put its founding father on the road to sainthood.
Vatican officials confirmed yesterday that Robert Schuman of France, who died in 1963, was a candidate for beatification, the penultimate step before sainthood. The Pope considered that Schuman was an extraordinarily competent statesman who served the people of Europe, they said. He had also been an authentic Catholic and an example to all those responsible for the construction of Europe.
And the EU flag and the Marian Cult symbol just co-incidentally are the same?
Posted by The Englishman at 12:12 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
March 1, 2004
Good news fo boy racers, but no one else!
From the Institute of Economic Affairs
Latest article by John Blundell in The Scotsman: My Bid for immortality, apart from my two sons, consists of Blundell's Law.
This can be expressed in several ways. "Stupidity has its own entropy" is the posh version. The plain man's rendering is "All bureaucratic interventions achieve the opposite of what is intended". It can also be distilled to "All politicians destroy their own projects".
I have just stumbled upon a proposal so ludicrous that I can only take pleasure in putting in the boot. The innovation comes from the European Commission. You may think it a wee bit technical and tedious but there is comedy if you are patient.
"The Impact Directive implementing the principle of equal treatment between women and men in the access and supply of goods and services" sounds mildly virtuous, even blameless. Yet it is a heavy-handed imposition of falsehoods. It requires that insurance companies do not differentiate between men and women, whether it be for motor insurance or pensions.
Equal treatment of the sexes sounds benign. Yet the sexes are different. Suppressing these facts helps nobody.
Women drivers crash their cars far less than men. This is not just true in Scotland. It is true in Portugal and Finland and Greece.
My guess is it�ll be true in the ten new nations joining the EU too. I�m not sure what the explanation is. It may simply be testosterone. So, women deserve lower individual health insurance premiums as they are a far smaller risk - yet this is what the EU Commission wants to censor.
The whole purpose of insurance markets is to share or pool risks. It is no secret that smokers expire long before those who do not block their lungs. The Commission is confused about whether this raw fact ought to be banned too. There is a strong anti-smoking lobby within the Commission which favours punishing or alarming the cigarette addicts.
Had these daft bureaucrats been around in the 17th century London coffee house Lloyd�s (which later evolved into the global insurance market) they would no doubt have insisted that all merchant ships paid the same premiums, regardless of the risks.
The nature of the risk is utterly different. Markets do their job by differentiating. They digest and process past experiences to price future risks.
Penalising safe younger women drivers to cross subsidise crash-prone males is distilled foolishness yet it masquerades as enlightened policy as it does away with sexual discrimination.
If muddling motor insurance is about a vivid but essentially modest amount of money, this is only a foretaste of the vast fatuities proposed by the Commission.
Across the EU, state pension schemes are failing. They are not funded, one generation simply taxes the next to pay for their needs. As the demographic patterns confirm, ever fewer workers of the future will be levied ever greater sums to pay for retirement benefits. Britain is something of an exception. Most of our pension provisions are in the market and fuelled by actuarial risk. The bulk of pension obligations on the Continent are claims on the national treasuries.
Yes, I know this sounds academic, but there is a potential catastrophe in insisting insurers and pension funds must disregard questions of sex, or smoking, or health, or of other lifestyle factors.
The European Commission thinks it is promoting "fairness". If women live longer, this fact of nature must be ignored so men are equal. It seems plain that these rules will only impose the flaws of the state social security or pension systems into the private markets.
We were told we were joining the Common Market. What we have is the Common Bureaucracy.
Edinburgh�s insurance giants seem to be mute about this problem. Perhaps they are only being discreet. Privately, they may be telling the Commission to behave coherently.
Yet this leads to far greater misgiving. The Commission could come up with preposterous ideas that have not been thought through. What we lack is a corrective mechanism. If our government pursues an unpopular policy, it has to explain itself to the electorate.
The noble philosopher Sir Karl Popper said most of the talk about democracy is waffle. The only substantive power in democracy was to dismiss a government. Fear of their rendezvous with the electorate is what keeps politicians alert. These powerful processes are absent from the European Commission.
Do not be fooled by the subterfuge of the European Parliament. The Commission does not draw its legitimacy from all those MEPs. The UK government has to secure a majority in the House of Commons, and try to resecure it at every election.
The European Commission is a very different beast. Nobody can be voted in or out. Nobody can be voted on or off. Here is raw power uninhibited by the democratic processes we all think we still live under. I believe we should be appalled that the auditors of the European Commission, reporting that half the organisation�s billions are corruptly or criminally processed, were dismissed for their diligence and courage.
So, a goofy plan to obliterate actuarial fact - that women drive more safely than men and live longer than men - is far more than an intellectual error.
It is emblematic that we are now subject to powers that lack proper corrective measures. The European Union is an autocratic monolith. It does not bother to crush its critics. It ignores them.
We are free to write to our MSPs, MPs or MEPs to criticise any directive from Brussels. In turn, they are powerless to do anything. They can burble. They can waffle. They can write articles. Why should Commission officials bother to yield any of their exhilarating powers?
If the EC can ignore the accumulated knowledge of the insurance industries with utter impunity, what levers can we mere motals pull?
When Friedrich Hayek penned his astonishing book The Road to Serfdom, he expressed the fear that nationalisation would not only crush all wealth but also destroy liberty. Perceptive though he was, he never envisaged or understood the prospect of this strange international bureaucracy that is incorrectable by elective mechanism and barely subject to laws.
It often seems to me that each industry is damaged or obliterated in isolation. Scotland�s fishing fleet has been decimated and the rest of us were as powerless as the Scottish Minister for Fishing. One by one every corner of our business life gets caught is these subtle cobwebs. We were told we were joining the "Common Market". What we have is the "Common Bureaucracy".
Scotland�s insurance markets work well. For generations they have been at the heart of Edinburgh�s vitality. Direct Line jolted us all and delivered cheaper cover far beyond the Lothians. Soon, perhaps, complying with the drizzle of Euro-directives, no Scottish insurer will have data on the sex, age, health, wealth, or accident history of its customers.
Paul MacDonnell of the Irish Insurance Federation expresses his exasperation: "In motor insurance, where objective sex-specific claims data justifies differences between men and women drivers, particularly amongst younger, less experienced drivers, equalising the premiums to the benefit of young males without improving their risk profile will bring more high risk drivers on to the road, thus making our roads less safe for all road users."
I have no doubt he is correct. My fear is that by fighting Euro-nonsense one by one, businesses will be defeated by the colossal weight of the Commission.
� John Blundell is director general of the Institute of Economic Affairs.
Posted by The Englishman at 5:13 PM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
February 16, 2004
Least surprising headline this year - so far.
BBC NEWS | French politicians found guilty
Posted by The Englishman at 5:44 PM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
February 13, 2004
One to read
The nation state, democracy, freedom and human rights
In The Need for Nations, published by the independent think-tank Civitas, Roger Scruton argues that the nation state is the best guarantee we have of peace, prosperity and respect for human rights. Recent attempts to transcend the nation state by creating some kind of transnational political order have ended up either as totalitarian dictatorships like the former Soviet Union, or as unaccountable bureaucracies, like the European Union. In spite of this, the idea of the nation is under attack either despised as an atavistic form of social unity, or even condemned as a cause of war and conflict, to be broken down and replaced by more enlightened and more universal forms of jurisdiction".
Like all Scruton's books, The Need for Nations is beautifully written and, in places, amusing. He coins the term 'oikophobe' to describe intellectuals who hate nations or regard them as outdated. These 'oiks', whose 'hatred of home' leads them to demand international or Europe-wide rule, have failed to see the dangers in eliminating nations based on constitutional liberalism.
Posted by The Englishman at 4:40 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
February 10, 2004
Couldn't run a whelk stall
Does anyone else remember the grand announcement (see continue reading bit) that the .eu Internet domain was all go.
OK it was in 2000, which you might think was about five years late anyway.
The Register reports that:
"The domain is now said to be up and running Q1 next year"
In other words it might be really ready in 2005, because of the bureaucracy involved in setting it up.
How long it it take private enterprise and the Americans to set up any number of other domains? About five minutes. Thank God we didn't rely on the EU to set up anything important to do with the Internet.
The European Commission revealed Wednesday that it will rapidly move to
register its ".eu" address as a top level domain name.
"Within days, we will go to ICANN," referring to the Internet Corporation
for Assigned Names and Numbers, the recently created new Internet governance
body, a Commission spokesman told IDG News Service.
For the Commission, the creation of a .eu domain is important to strengthen
the image and the infrastructure of the Internet in Europe by allowing
European industry and citizens to identify each other on the World Wide Web.
The domain name's creation is however also motivated by evidence that
existing generic top level domain name for commercial bodies, .com, is
already congested, according to the Commission.
Moreover, the new top level domain would let companies avoid the necessity
of registering in different EU countries, according to the Commission.
Currently, each EU country has its own domain -- ".fr" for France, for
example. The .eu domain would eliminate the existing country domains,
however.
Wed Jul 5 2000
Posted by The Englishman at 11:11 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
February 2, 2004
Trust them? Not as far as I could throw them
A court has found former French Prime Minister Alain Juppe guilty of involvement in a party funding scam in Paris in the 1980s and early 1990s.
The court gave him an 18-month suspended sentence and barred him from political office for up to 10 years.
However, he will be able to continue as mayor of Bordeaux, and as head of the governing UMP party during an appeal.
And now it emerges that the Judges have been subject to
'dirty tricks'
And guess what?
Mr Chirac was under investigation over the same affair until 2001, when he successfully claimed the constitution granted him presidential immunity
WTF are we doing still getting closer to this cesspit of corruption?
Posted by The Englishman at 12:39 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Can't be bothered.
British voters couldn't give a toss about the European Parliament. This much is clear from a Mori poll published in the Independent which reveals that only 18% of Britons plan to vote in June's EU elections. And what percentage of that 18% intend to register a vote against the EU?
EURSOC warns us that the EU will employ telemarketers to get us to vote - I pity them for the earfuls they will get.
Posted by The Englishman at 12:30 PM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
January 20, 2004
What a game old bird!
Samizdata brings this Daily Mirror story to my attention:
SHE WAS at Winston Churchill's side during Britain's darkest hour. And now Charlie the parrot is 104 years old...and still cursing the Nazis.
Her favourite sayings were "F*** Hitler" and "F*** the Nazis". And even today, 39 years after the great man's death, she can still be coaxed into repeating them with that unmistakable Churchillian inflection.
Churchill bought Charlie - giving him a boy's name despite the fact she was female - in 1937.
She took pride of place in a bizarre menagerie of pets including lambs, pigs, cattle, swans and, at one point, a leopard.
He immediately began to teach her to swear - particularly in company - and she is keeping up the tradition today.
James Humes, an expert on the late PM, said: "Churchill may no longer be with us but that spirit and those words of defiance and resolve continue."
Posted by The Englishman at 3:09 PM
| Comments (1)
| TrackBack
January 19, 2004
North view
From EURSOC
"Fascinating article by Richard North in the International Herald Tribune. North claims that a combination of single currency instability, constitutional wrangling and eastwards expansion will shortly spell the end of the European Union."
The question is how it disintegrates, gently or does it go with a bang?
Posted by The Englishman at 11:25 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Not so Silly Jacques
EUobserver reports: "In an interview with the Times, the former President of the European Commission, Jacques Delors, has said that the EU is now in "a state of latent crisis" due to weak leadership. He also says he understands why the UK has not joined the euro."
- First time I have ever heard him speak sense.
Posted by The Englishman at 11:17 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
January 16, 2004
Entente Cordiale
So this year is the hundred year anniversary of the Entente Cordiale. And unlike the 1801 Act of Union it has been deemed worthy of celebration by the Government. (The Act of Union was the foundation of the modern United Kingdom - for Americans it would be like ignoring the 1776 anniversary). So I popped over to the official website to see what they have come up with as making it worth celebrating:
Entente Cordiale :: The Franco-British relationship today
Bilateral Summits have been held annually since 1976 - important summit declarations include:
St Malo in 1998 on European defence which led to joint operations, continuing secondment of staff and greater pooling of resources;
- Yes I noticed them marching side by side with us to liberate Iraq.
Cahors in 2001 on the Cross-Channel commission, setting in place the cross-departmental co-ordination necessary for implementing (sic) eg the closure of Sangatte;
Implementing what they don't say but the closure of Sangatte should have involved one quick phone call.
Le Touquet in Feb 2003 in which agreements were signed on education and also on defence procurement.
Oh that sounds really important - more cross channel school trips probably - except the school teachers union advises members not to lead school trips - and a joint strategy on buying paperclips and having a few jolly decent lunches.
Now those aren't three items I have picked out to sneer at, they are the ONLY three items the official site can come up with. It is pathetic.
Posted by The Englishman at 10:45 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
What's the French for bollocks?
Checking le site de L'Ambassade de Grande-Bretagne en France
I came across this with a picture of Jack Straw:
"Les relations franco-britanniques aprs un sicle d'Entente cordiale"
Allocution du secrtaire au Foreign Office, Jack Straw, au Cercle de la Revue des deux mondes Paris.
"Ensemble, nos deux pays ont agi sur le destin du monde en gnral, et sur celui de notre continent en particulier. Malgr quelques divergences de temps autre, nous partageons les mmes valeurs - dmocratie, droits de l'homme, tat de droit - et le mme engagement l'gard d'une Europe des nations forte, faisant progresser l'emploi et la scurit."
12/01/04
(For a translation you could try Google Translation - or just read it as "I love you, you love me, we are the best of friends blurgghhh!")
and below it the link "En savoir plus ..."
Which leads to the appropriate picture of...
and an article on "technologie du rongicide".
Presumably they couldn't find a picture of a weasel...
Posted by The Englishman at 10:00 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
January 13, 2004
EU sues EU
BBC NEWS | Business | EU takes budget battle to court
On bunch of crooks are suing the other bunch of crooks or something like that - I wouldn't trust any of them with a brass farthing let alone our currency.
Oh and what is the BBC's take on it?
The BBC's Stephen Sackur
"This dangerous division has been pounced on by eurosceptics"
Well I suppose he is right, but I would have thought the big story wasn't about how the nasty Eurosceptics are being horrible to the EU, but about why this extraordinary situation has arisen.
Posted by The Englishman at 9:09 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
January 7, 2004
Euro shakedown.
BBC NEWS | Business | Nissan threatens move to France
Nissan has warned that its Sunderland plant could lose production of one of its most important cars if the UK continues to stay outside the euro.
The Wearside facility currently makes the company's mid-sized Almera model, but Nissan says it may now produce the forthcoming replacement in France.
Carlos Ghosn, the company's president and chief executive, made the threat at the Detroit motor show.
He said it would be "relatively easy" to switch to the continent.
Nissan's threat to move production of the Almera replacement to France may mean the government steps in with a financial package.
This happened two years ago when it came up with some 40m to keep the Micra supermini model at the Sunderland plant.
Mr Ghosen (a Brazilian of Lebanese heritage who was trained in France) obviously has the hang of this government. - 40m last time - I wonder how much he wants this time...
Posted by The Englishman at 1:54 PM
| Comments (3)
| TrackBack
January 6, 2004
Freedom to work.
Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | EU wants end to hours opt-out
British workers are being routinely and unfairly forced to opt out of the EU's 48-hour week and made to work the longest hours in Europe, the European commission claimed yesterday...
Brendan Barber, the TUC's general secretary, called on the commission to scrap the opt-out. "It's about time UK workers got the same protection against bullying bosses and long working days as workers do in the rest of Europe," he said in a statement. "Removing the individual opt-out would help signal the end of Britain's unhealthy long hours culture."
I want freedom from bullying bureaocrats and Union bosses and the ability to work when and how the frick I want to. I want to live in a country that can benefit from people's hard work and amongst people who reap the rewards for their own hard work. I don't want to be among the dumbed down idle euroweenies.
Posted by The Englishman at 2:49 PM
| Comments (3)
| TrackBack
Anti EU bombs
BBC NEWS | Politics | Bombs 'predictable price' of EU
Letter bombs sent to EU politicians are the "price of forcing a political ideal on people" according to the UK Independence Party (UKIP).
MEP Nigel Farage said his party had predicted 10 years ago the path the EU was taking could end in civil unrest.
But a British MEP targeted in one of the terror attacks said Mr Farage's comments were "despicable".
"This is about the worst thing I have heard in my entire time in politics," Gary Titley told BBC News Online.
Points:
The UKIP is trying to suggest a reason for the bombs, not excuse them. Just as trying to understand the Islamofascists is important in defeating them so is trying to understand why people are sending you bombs might be a good idea.
And the UKIP is right - people react with anger against excessive rule.
And Gary dear - I know it was nasty and shocking to get a parcel that went bang - but if the UKIP statement was really "about the worst thing I have heard in my entire time in politics" you really have been living a very sheltered life.
Posted by The Englishman at 2:41 PM
| Comments (5)
| TrackBack
December 21, 2003
Always look on the bright side of life
BBC NEWS | Business | Berlusconi goes cool on the euro
Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi has said the European single currency has yet to deliver any economic benefits.
In an end-of-year press conference, Mr Berlusconi said the euro had "so far produced many negative effects."
- But it is all OK because the future will be different!
Posted by The Englishman at 1:05 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
December 17, 2003
Open the envelope!
Highlights from The EURSOC Awards for outstanding services to Euro-dissidents.
In Third Place: Donald Rumsfeld
On the 22nd January, Rumsfeld highlighted the divisions in his famous speech on Old and New Europe:
Germany has been a problem and France has been a problem, Rumsfeld told Washington's press corps, but you look at vast numbers of other countries in Europe, they're not with France and Germany... they're with the US.
You're thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don't. I think that's old Europe.
In Second Place: Sweden
on the 14th September, they delivered a whopping No vote, defeating the Yes campaign by 14 points - on a higher than expected 80 percent turnout.
In First Place: Polish PM Leszek Miller
This award was going to go to French president Jacques Chirac. No-one has done more to advance the cause of Euro dissidents in 2003.
However, Miller's defence of his country's voting rights takes EURSOC's first award because his stance and the EU's response to it demonstrates so many things that are wrong about the union.
Posted by The Englishman at 3:46 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
December 11, 2003
Another Form to fill...
------------, Chief Constable
The ------------- Constabulary
------------
Information of HIGH TREASON committed by Edward Heath, one time MP and Prime Minister.
We the undersigned, ---------------, being British citizens and dwelling in ------ in the County of -------, inform you that Edward Heath committed High Treason, in that he did, during the years 1970 and 1971, conspire with Agents of a Foreign Power, to wit the reprasentatives of the European Union, then called the European Economic Community, to alienate our Sovereignty by agreeing to sign, and then signing, our accession to the Treaty of Rome.
By so doing he;- a) placed Her Majesty the Queen in breach of her Coronation Oath to maintain our ancient rights and customs and b) breached his own Oath on becoming a Privy Councillor to Her Majesty, which oath included the declaration that No foreign Prince, Person, Prelate, State or Potentate has or ought to have any Jurisdiction, Power, Superiority or Pre-eminence within this Realm. His action is TREASON on both counts.
Proof that the negotiations did involve surrender of sovereignty, that Heath knew this, and thus that he knew his action was wrongful is to be found in:
1. Heaths approval of Accession to the Treaty of Rome and his presentation to Parliament of the European Communities Act, 1972, to implement this accession while assuring the People and Parliament that this was just a Trade Agreement.
2. Foreign Office and Cabinet Documents released this year and last under the 30 year rule show that Heath was warned that his negotiations involved the surrender of Sovereignty. Foreign & Colonial Document FCO 30/1048 1971 is typical.
3. The British Constitution, starting with Magna Carta of 1215 and expanded by subsequent Constitutional Acts which guarantee to us freedom from foreign or executive oppression or dictation.
We require that you, as the body charged with investigating breaches of the Law, do proceed against Edward Heath and bring him before the Court to answer for his crime.
Signed and Dated:
__________________________________________ _______________
__________________________________________ _______________
- from National Association of Ted Heath Burners
Posted by The Englishman at 2:03 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
December 9, 2003
Not my Flag.
Revelation 12:1
"A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head"
Best read in an Ian Paisley accent.
The EU Flag's True Symbolism Revealed
Posted by The Englishman at 5:02 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Never Forgotten.
Ever since 1947, Norway has donated a Christmas tree to Britain as a symbol of gratitude for assistance to the Norwegian people, at home and abroad, during WWII. King Hkon VII spent 5 years in London and many exiled Norwegians came to Britain during the Nazi occupation of Norway. Britain not only provided a home for thousands of Norwegians, but also sent Norwegian radio broadcasts in Norwegian those in Norway who still had radios. These broadcasts were a vital help to the Norwegian underground.
I was keeping this story to be a nice warm cuddly story for nearer the day - but then as I was stealing researching the story at Anglo Trees the final paragraph caught my eye and the old Tourettes nearly broke out again...
Resistance to the tradition has come from Europeans who regard it as a violation of import restrictions. Environmental demonstrations have been organized around it, people have been chained to it, and some people have tried to cut it down.
Posted by The Englishman at 1:42 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
December 1, 2003
French corruption
Well here's a new one to me - it is so hard keeping up on all the French corruption stories, but this one is a big one, and is still being covered up!
a title="BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Book delves into frigate scandal" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3244148.stm">French frigates-to-Taiwan scandal
It has left a trail of eight unexplained deaths, nearly half a billion dollars in missing cash and troubling allegations of government complicity.
And yet 10 years after it first broke, the full story of the "frigates-to-Taiwan" scandal has still to be told.
While investigating judges in Paris have been able to uncover the secrets of a host of other "affaires", from the Elf slush-funds to the details of President Jacques Chirac's private travel, the Taiwan connection remains off-limits.
A government order banning judicial access to key documents for reasons of state security has twice been renewed, most recently in June last year.
...
In Taiwan, by contrast, the furore generated by the scandal helped bring down the Kuomintang regime in 2000, and the new government has made sure judges have access to all but the most highly-classified documents.
"The reputation of France has been seriously stained," concludes Mr Jean-Pierre (a Frenchman who has written a book about it).
"And when I compare our old democracy with Taiwan, a country where martial law was only lifted a short while ago, I am seized by shame."
Posted by The Englishman at 6:52 AM
| TrackBack
November 26, 2003
Wrong result - don't publish!
EU agency suppresses report on anti-semitism
The European Union's Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) shelved a report on anti-semitism after it found that Muslims and pro-Palestinian groups were behind many of the incidents, according to the Financial Times.
The agency decided not to publish the 112-page study after clashing with its authors over over their conclusions and the definition of anti-semitism, which included anti-Israel acts, the paper said.
An unnamed deputy board member of the Vienna-based EU agency confirmed that the directors of the EUMC had found the research biased.
The focus on Muslim and pro-Palestinian perpetrators was judged inflammatory.
An extract from the report obtained by the FT stated: "...it can be concluded that the anti-semitic incidents in the monitoring period were committed above all by rightwing extremists and radical Islamists or young Muslims".
And we don't want to upset the Muslims by saying some of them are racists do we - though traditional bodies through out England are expected to accept that they are "institutionlly racist" and to work to root out what often is impossible to actually nail down.
Posted by The Englishman at 7:33 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
November 25, 2003
Thanks to Kim for the link
Czech warns Europe of 'dream world' woes - The Washington Times: World
Czech President Vaclav Klaus said Europeans are living in a "dream world" of welfare and long vacations and have yet to realize "they are not moving toward some sort of nirvana."
The Czech Republic is a candidate for European Union membership, but Mr. Klaus, who was elected president in February, made clear in an interview his distaste for the organization.
However, he conceded during a visit to Washington last week that "the political unification of Europe" is now in "an accelerated process ... in all aspects and in all respects."
Mr. Klaus said the movement toward a single political entity of 25 European nations "will not change until people start thinking and realizing they are not moving toward some sort of nirvana."
The Czech president remains convinced that "you cannot have democratic accountability in anything bigger than a nation state."
Asked whether he could see the nation-state disappearing, Mr. Klaus replied, "That could well be the case, [but] it remains to be seen whether it will be the nominal disappearance or the real disappearance.
"We could see the scaffolding of a nation-state that would retain a president and similar institutions, but with virtually zero influence," he said "That's my forecast. And it's not a reassuring vision of the future."
Last week, the European Court of Auditors in Luxembourg released a 400-page report that found "systematic problems, over-estimations, faulty transactions, significant errors and other shortcomings" in the EU budget.
EU auditors could vouch for only 10 percent of the $120 billion the bloc spent in 2002. It was the ninth successive year the auditors were unable to certify the budget as a whole.
Europeans have not yet faced up to such "serious underlying issues," Mr. Klaus said, because "they are still in the dream world of welfare, long vacations, guaranteed high pensions and cradle-to-grave social security."
The biggest challenge for the Czech Republic, Mr. Klaus said, is to avoid falling into the trap of "a new form of collectivism." Asked whether he meant a new form of neo-Marxism, he said, "Absolutely not, but I see other sectors endangering free societies.
"The enemies of free societies today are those who want to burden us down again with layer upon layer of regulations," Mr. Klaus said.
"We had that in communist times. But now if you look at all the new rules and regulations of EU membership, layered bureaucracy is staging a comeback."
The European Union's 30,000 bureaucrats have produced some 80,000 pages of regulations that the Czech Republic and the other applicants for EU membership will have to adopt.
Mr. Klaus dismissed anti-Americanism in Europe, which he sees as "more a reflection of American anti-Europeanism than European anti-Americanism."
He said those who organize demonstrations in Europe are a tiny minority of the population. "The majority doesn't care to demonstrate."
Asked about the U.S.-led war on terrorism, Mr. Klaus said, "It is quite normal that the principal targets of al Qaeda are the U.S. and the UK, as they have taken the lead to do something about those who launch the terrorist attacks.
"We understand the fragility and vulnerability of today's world and we know these attacks are coming close to us, but as someone from a small country, I have a tendency to take domestic issues first and then look at the external ones."
The Czech Republic is one of 33 nations with troops in Iraq, but Mr. Klaus has been critical of the postwar transition to an Iraqi civilian government.
"My concern was always what to do after the end of the war because I know something about the transition from a totalitarian regime to a free society," he said. "This cannot be done by soldiers, or by foreigners.
"After we won back our freedom at the end of the Cold War, there was a proposal to bring back Czechs who had escaped to Western countries and make up a new government of those people who had been living in free countries.
"Those who had lived the tragic communist experience said no to the idea of foreigners organizing our transition back to freedom. We said we had to do this ourselves without outside influence dictating what we should do."
Posted by The Englishman at 8:32 PM
Stitch up.
Scotsman.com News - Latest News - Fury as France and Germany Escape Rule Breach Punishment
Fury as France and Germany Escape Rule Breach Punishment
A decision not to punish France and Germany for consistently breaking single currency rules triggered a political backlash today.
The European Commission enforcer of the rules erupted in fury at the leniency of EU finance ministers, including Chancellor Gordon Brown.
Meanwhile European Central Bank chiefs held emergency talks to consider the implications.
Implication - the pact is not worth the paper it is written on, as you would expect, and so now the smaller countries will break it as well. The euro - a strong currency - what a joke.
And Euro MPs on all political sides condemned the move and vowed to hold their own inquiry.
The rumpus followed a majority vote of the finance ministers not to launch legal action which could have meant huge fines against Paris and Berlin.
Both governments the most powerful economies in the EU have run budget deficits above limits permitted by the Stability and Growth Pact, which sets the economic rules for countries in the single currency.
The Commission had urged the other member states to trigger the sanctions the Pact rules demand, arguing that for three years France had not made any effort to comply with the Pact, while German efforts to do so had been inadequate.
But a majority of governments agreed to let the guilty pair off the hook in return for promises to work harder to buck up their economic performance in line with the needs of maintaining a stable single currency.
Afterwards Mr Brown justified his support for France and Germany, saying the Pact ought to be flexibly interpreted to take account of economic cycles and not just the bald annual budget deficit figures.
The Commissioner in charge of upholding the Pact, Pedro Solbes, disagreed. He said the decision had no legal basis and did not follow the spirit or letter of the rules.
And some other member states said the result showed there was one law for the powerful EU countries and another for the rest.
Ironically it was the Germans who insisted on setting up the Pact to ensure weaker economies in the eurozone did not endanger single currency stability.
Now the Germans themselves are pleading that the rules they invented are too strict, and the credibility of the Pact and the single currency itself is at stake.
Conservative MEP and finance spokesman in the European Parliament Theresa Villiers said:
Surely this must be the end of the Stability Pact.
Why should any country comply with it, when the two biggest Euroland economies are flouting it and getting off scot-free?
This is also another blow to the credibility of the euro. The Pact was billed as an essential way to make the euro work now it is coming apart at the seams.
European Liberal Democrat leader Graham Watson MEP said:
This shabby deal will endanger the ratification of Europes new constitution. Citizens may well ask what is the point of agreeing new rules to run the European Union if the big countries will ride roughshod over them when the going gets tough.
The European Parliament will want to conduct a thorough post-mortem on this sorry affair. The Commission has attempted to apply (the Pact) but has been overridden by self-interested member states. The onus now will be on the governments which have killed off the Stability Pact to create a workable framework to ensure the future stability of Europes currency.
European Parliament President Pat Cox declared the Pact to be in the hospital ward but not dead.
However he justified the decision to go easy on the French and Germans, saying sanctions might have been counter-productive:
The judgment the finance ministers had to make was whether this is the right moment to take action against one member state emerging from a recession and another which is not firing on all cylinders. I have some doubts its like kicking a dog when its down.
He said the Commission was doing its duty in pushing for sanctions, but it is for finance ministers to assess the impact of imposing sanctions on the stability culture of the eurozone and the currency itself.
He called for quality control improvements to gear the rules more to national economic cycles adding: Clearly the pact needs to function better in good times, to give the flexibility needed for a rainy day.
Posted by The Englishman at 4:49 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Conned again
This morning's headlines:
BBC NEWS | Business | Britons count high cost of scams
Conmen have tricked Britons out of at least 350m in the past three years, according to government figures.
- For a moment before the caffeine kicked in I thought they were talking about the EU - silly me the figure is far too low...
"a cost-benefit analysis of the UK's EU membership from the Institute of Directors. The discussion paper, by Graeme Leach, argues that the aggregate impact of the EU budget, common agricultural policy, customs union, single market and EU social welfare model is negative for the UK. His most conservative estimate is that the net cost of EU membership is about 15bn a year, while the true current net cost of membership could be as high as 50bn."
Source
Posted by The Englishman at 6:35 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
November 24, 2003
This is why I loathe Mr Free Market
He writes too bloody well - what is the point in me trying to add anything to his "This Is Why I Loath Chirac" when he says everything I would have said. Go to FREE MARKET FAIRY TALES: Economics & Politics Archives to read it.
Posted by The Englishman at 6:04 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
Accountants - my Heros!
Headlines today :
Rampant fraud costs EU more than 600m a year
Last week we had the Auditors refusing to sign off the EU accounts for the NINTH year running because they can't be sure where 90% of the budget is properly spent.
And here is an example of the pressure the poor beancounters are put under:
Scotsman.com Business - Banking & Insurance - Further allegations against EU whistleblower
MARTA Andreasen, the EU whistleblower, is facing fresh allegations from EU commissioner Neil Kinnock. The EU chief accountant, suspended on full pay since August 2002 after warning that the 100 billion (69.89 billion) budget was open to fraud, has now been told she faces further allegations of speaking at conferences without permission.
Andreasen is already banned from commission buildings while Kinnock decides whether to take any further action against her. Andreasen was last week voted 2003 Personality of the Year by readers of Accountancy Age magazine and accepting the trophy she thanked the UK profession for supporting her campaign.
It is not often that accountant are heros but the fact the auditors have held out for honesty for so many years amongst the swill pots of Brussels says something for their characters, and I'm sure the commission has tried to appoint Yes men in place.
Posted by The Englishman at 10:23 AM
| Comments (2)
| TrackBack
November 20, 2003
How modern markets overtook the euro
The no campaign has launched a new pamphlet by David Lascelles, Director of the Study of Financial Innovation, which deconstructs one of the main arguments of the pro-euro lobby - that we need the euro to avoid transaction risks. The reality is that modern markets have developed highly sophisticated practises which make the cost of hedging against these risks minimal.
David Lascelles said, "The message for the UK is that currency hedging is available, it's cheap and constantly becoming more efficient. Anyone can access it: companies big and small, public institutions and private individuals. The euro is not a modern project: at best it provides a solution to a problem that has already been solved."
For the full PDF of Currency Futures: How modern markets overtook the euro click :
here.
Posted by The Englishman at 4:28 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
November 18, 2003
Rotten to the core.
You wouldn't be allowed to run a whelk stall like this!
BBC NEWS | World | Europe | EU accounts fail to pass muster
The European Union's court of auditors has failed to give EU accounts a clean bill of health for the ninth year.
The court has criticised the system of accounting used by the European Commission and the way in which much of the 100bn euro annual budget is spent.
The auditors can give assurance to less than 10% of the European Union's annual budget for 2002, they say.
Posted by The Englishman at 10:11 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
November 17, 2003
I plead "Guilty"
:: Digital Freedom Network :: Internet censorship coming to a computer near EU
The EU just passed an amendment to their Convention on Cybercrime that outlaws any speech these thought crime specialists deem as "any written material, any image or any other representation of ideas or theories, which advocates, promotes or incites hatred, discrimination or violence, against any individual or group of individuals, based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, as well as religion if used as pretext for any of these factors." If passed into law by the various national legislatures which comprise the EU, online books, such as Oriana Fallaci's The Rage and Pride, which is an honest and impassioned examination of Islamic immigration into the West or even The Bible, which is examined and reproduced extensively on the Web, could be deemed "hate speech" by Muslims in France and homosexual activists in the UK respectively.
Any site which tries to honestly discuss and debate illegal immigration, the Iraqi War, cultural clashes, homosexuality, Israel's right to existance, or even conservatism itself can be declared a hate site. In the EU, as in any socialist society, politically correct speech shifts constantly as expediency, vengence, and fashion dictate.
This is the same mind set that passed an anti-blasphemy law in regards to itself in 1999 making it a crime to criticize or mock the EU. (Blasphemy according to the EU is extreme if you even dare criticize its monetary policies.)
Posted by The Englishman at 7:23 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
November 12, 2003
.eu bollocks
I was amused by Europe wanting to take a bigger role in "running the Internet" - it is instructive to look at the history of the .eu domain -it still hasn't happened! While private enterprise has set up any number of domains over the last few years ( despite the process being a complete dogs breakfast) Europe can't organise a single one - here's news from October 2000;
vnunet.com Europe set to replace .com in 2001
Europe set to replace .com in 2001
By Ian Lynch [04-10-2000]
Plans mooted by European government and business leaders to drop .com for .eu as the flagship European domain extension are on course, and registrations may start next year.
The full story is too tedious to bother with but for those interested here is the latest official news. Telecoms / Internet Services / EU Domain
Posted by The Englishman at 10:15 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
November 11, 2003
EU basketcases dragging us down.
From the FT.
UK records worst trade deficit with EU
Britain recorded its worst goods trade deficit with the rest of the European Union in September, according to official data which will rekindle fears of unbalanced economic growth.
Strong domestic demand led to a sharp increase in imports but exports deteriorated despite the weakening pound and strengthening global economy.
The sharpest fall in exports was to the weakest economies - Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
The deterioration meant that Britain's global goods shortfall widened from 3.4bn in August to 4.8bn the following month, or 4.3 per cent of gross domestic product.
This was well beyond economists' consensus expectations of a 3.5bn deficit and was the worst deficit since the record 5.1bn set in November last year.
"But interestingly, exports actually rose to both the US and Japan over the month reflecting the fact that both these economies are enjoying a healthy rebound in business activity," Mr Rubinsohn said.
Posted by The Englishman at 1:55 PM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
November 3, 2003
Borderless Europe
First of all the Greeks don't let anyone of this plague ship - though my experience of Greek hygiene suggests that if they had gone ashore they would have been in greater danger of catching something serious.
And now our Spanish colleagues use the excuse to shut the border yet again.
CNN.com - Spain closes border with Gibraltar - Nov. 3, 2003
MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- The tiny border crossing between Spain and Gibraltar has been closed by Spanish authorities for "reasons of public health," a Spanish Interior Ministry spokesman told CNN Monday.
Imagine the outcry if we closed Dover to stop some sick foreigners coming here...
Posted by The Englishman at 9:38 AM
| Comments (0)
| TrackBack
October 30, 2003
Lib Dems at work.
Hurray for the workers - as always the only good thing about a Lib Dem council is that come the Glorious Day they make sure there will be enough Lamposts for every single one of them...
thisisSouthDevon : Herald Express News : UP THE POLE
Moves to replace Union flags around Torbay with European Union emblems have triggered a Town Hall revolt.
Council workers have mounted an official protest over plans to take down the British and English flags at seafront locations in Torquay and Paignton. The ruling Liberal Democrats also want to take down the St George's flag and Union flag at the Town Hall in Torquay.
They would be replaced by the EU flag and "rotated" so the St George's and Union flags will fly for part of the week and the European one for the rest.
The news came in a memo to council staff from director of strategic services Tim Whitehead on behalf of council leader Cllr Chris Harris and deputy leader Cllr Andrea Colborne.
One worker said: "We object to being told we must have the Euro flag.
"They might want it but why should it be stuffed down our throats?"
It is understood the Town Hall "keepers" refused to carry out the switch.
And a staff petition was started which quickly gathered more than 130 names.
They plan to present the petition to council managing director Richard Painter.
Cllr Harris said: "The best way forward is to recognise that we are part of England, the UK and Europe.
"Look at Torquay harbour and see how much money we have had from Europe.
"It is important that if people are going to be assessing Torbay for European money we are seen to be part of Europe."
He said Union flags at seafront locations would be replaced by European flags or those of other European nations.
He said multi-national flags used to fly at prime locations but were replaced under the last Tory administration to tie in with the Queen's Golden Jubilee.
He said they were planning to "rotate" the St George's flag and Union flag at the Town Hall with the Euro flag.
"That may mean one day of the week or it may be three or four days," he said.
"I think the workers feared the St George's flag was coming down completely.
"There has been some misinterpretation and that is not the case."
He added: "We want to welcome visitors from Europe. We want to keep our workers happy and I am sure when they realise what is happening they will be happy."
The Lib Dems tried to get the Union flags replaced while the Tories were in power, but their proposal was unsuccessful.
Tory group leader Cllr Eileen Salloway said: "Our national flag is a matter of great pride, not least for those who have fought for this country under British colours.
"This arrogant and unpatriotic action by the Liberal Democrats will cause great offence to many."
Torbay hotelier and South Devon MEP Graham Booth, who represents the United Kingdom Independence Party, said it was "appalling".
And he felt the council was admitting it was being run by the EU.
He said: "They are run by the EU these days so at least they are being honest.
"With the programme of regionalisation the councils and district councillors are going to disappear anyway, so they are just getting ready for that."
He added: "It's appalling to see it but what more can you expect of them? It shows them for precisely what they are."
Posted by The Englishman at 9:40 AM
| Comments (3)
| TrackBack
October 28, 2003
German plans show drive for unified Euro-army
EUobserver: "Germany is pushing for the creation of a fully-fledged Euro-army, according to plans obtained by the Conservative Party in Britain, writes the Telegraph. This revelation is likely to send ripples of concern through Britain, one of the more sceptical member states - over close military co-operation in Europe.
The memorandum, written by senior Germany army officials on the future of European defence, allegedly suggests that a European army should have joint structures that go beyond the ones already in place.
The document adds, 'The army would report to the EU government and to the EU Parliament. Through a deployment law Parliament should decide if deploying troops is an option or not.'"
"The plans also have the backing of France and Belgium, according to the Telegraph."
Well at least the uniforms might be smart, His Tonyness claims to be against it but the ratchet still clicks towards it. Time to release the pawl with whatever it takes.
Posted by The Englishman at 11:18 AM
| Comments (0)