Tuesday 13 September 2011

The 'new' Conservative 'Eurosceptic' Movement

I have had to break off from my intended post on Constitution (4) because the recent article on Conservative Home by Anthony Browne, co-author of the Open Europe paper on Euro-Localism, cannot be allowed to stand without comment. Richard North has already posted his views on Anthony Browne, pointing out that this is the man who one minute is advocating that we must not leave the EU and then writes for Open Europe.

Anthony Browne obviously has a deep sense of democracy when he enthuses that the purpose of the meeting was not to pressure the government into holding a referendum on pulling out of the EU – indeed, that was explicitly and repeatedly ruled out as a purpose of the new group. Neither does he get this 'democracy thingy' when he writes that the purpose of the group was also to reach political agreement, backed by in depth research, into exactly what powers the UK could repatriate, and in what way. So with the majority of the country wanting a referendum he is more than content that MPs - and MPs alone - should continue their practise of deciding what the country wants, or to put it another way what the country is going to get.

That Anthony Browne and George Eustice are but sycophants of David Cameron is all too evident; each is intent on ensuring that a rebellion against Cameron does not happen and confirmation that this is but a smoke and mirrors exercise to ensure our country remains a member of the EU, despite what the public believes or wants. But then would we expect otherwise; they are, after all, both in their own way members of the permanent political class, one that looks after their own.

I have borrowed the phrase 'permanent political class' from a speech by Sarah Palin in which she said:
".....because the reality is we are governed by a permanent political class, until we change that. They talk endlessly about cutting government spending, and yet they keep spending more. They talk about massive unsustainable debt, and yet they keep incurring more. They spend, they print, they borrow, they spend more, and then they stick us with the bill. Then they pat their own backs, and they claim that they faced and “solved” the debt crisis that they got us in. [..] Yeah, the permanent political class – they’re doing just fine. Ever notice how so many of them arrive..[...]..of modest means and then miraculously throughout the years they end up becoming very, very wealthy?"
 And that, dear reader, is why the likes of Eustice and Browne became involved in politics. They have no more intention of heeding the public than the Pope has of converting to Anglicism. If Anthony Browne and George Eustice really believe all this crap, namely that the one-way tide of power passing to Brussels can be stopped and then reversed, then rather than being in Westminster perhaps they should be in Broadmoor.

6 comments:

Oldrightie said...

"I have borrowed the phrase 'permanent political class' from a speech by Sarah Palin."

--------------------------------

One of many worthy of borrowing. If this woman could sweep into power then back up her excellent rhetoric, the World really could change for the better.

Anonymous said...

"The bottom line is this : the current state of economic affairs is reflective of a growing and entrenched super-class which lives in an entirely different world than what we would consider the “middle and upper-middle” classes (doctors, engineers, mechanics,
scientists, machinists, and other productive professionals).

Forget about the poor for a moment; the super-class is now parasitically sucking out money from the productive classes of society. The economic crisis in the world exists precisely because these oligarchs and plutocrats desire to keep their unsustainable wealth models which rely upon not paying the majority of capital for productive labor."

Sarah Palin's speech will resonate around the world.

http://www.pakalertpress.com/2011/04/26/cnns-fareed-zacharia-the-plutocrats-poodle/

TomTom said...

Permanent Political Class is pure Plato's Republic and his obsession with Ideas and Forms and the need to create Guardians as a Ruling Caste to be an hereditary elite.

Monnet was in essence a Fascist just like de Gaulle, and wanted a Permanent Elite to run the Project just as the Security Council has 5 Permanent Members at the UN.

Repatriation of Powers is a fascinating concept; I should like to repatriate some from Westminster. I don't want my MP voting on issues without consulting me.....I wish no longer to have my autonomy restricted by his taking my assent for granted.

Is that possible ?

I want a line veto on how my taxes are spent.

Since the EU has Education within its sights, how does Anthony Browne propose to stop plans for harmonisation of Education Curriculum in the EU and can he name the multitude of projects already under way to that end ?

WitteringsfromWitney said...

Or: Could not agree more!

Anon: As for comment to Or - ie agreed!

TT: I should like to repatriate some from Westminster. I don't want my MP voting on issues without consulting me.....I wish no longer to have my autonomy restricted by his taking my assent for granted. Is that possible ?
I want a line veto on how my taxes are spent."

You can, it is, you can.

You may like Constitution (4) to appear later ce soir, hopefully!

cosmic said...

"If Anthony Browne and George Eustice really believe all this crap, ............ they should be in Broadmoor.

I think there are probably all sorts of motivations for MPs to support this group.

The idea that EU reform is possible so the UK picks whatever it wants is very seductive; like the idea which occasionally recurs that it's possible to turn a gallon of water into petrol by adding 20p worth of chemicals.

Other people think it's something in the right direction and better than nothing.

I'm sure that many realise this has the at least tacit approval of the Whips' Office and it won't harm their careers to be associated with it, as long as they don't get carried away. They are watching the conductor's baton very carefully. If it looks like developing into a call for action which has to be complied with, it will be trodden on or directed to fizzle out.

I see it as a tendency spotted and rather than stamped on, it's been deliberately cultivated as a useful red-herring/safety valve.

As for Eustice, I'm not sure, I doubt he's entirely cynical, but far from completely genuine. He's watching the conductor's baton too.


Generally, as I've said before, I don't think it's possible to get out of the EU, or address the problems of which the EU is just a part, by some political party or section of the Westminster government, having a great idea of leaving the EU, or changing it and things take their course as a majority see the sense of it. External events will be required to drive things.

Never forget that our government, forgetting the party political mask at Westminster, sees itself as the EU regional government of the UK and likes it that way.

Palin has articulated something significant and radical. To put things in another context, the Europlastics are as credible as a LibLabCon group attempting to embrace Palin's ideas without going too far. i.e. talking about them within the strict limits of not doing anything about them and talking them away. Well possibly urging the putting in place of a QUANGO to monitor increasing corporatism.

WitteringsfromWitney said...

c: fair comment...............