Time to call a halt

The Purple Scorpion posts on George Eustice's comment on the operation of Structural Funds from the EU and his comment that "There is no such thing as EU money. We simply get some of our own money back". Echoing the cry of Richard North, EU, Referendum, one has to ask Eustice: just who is this "We"? TPS rightly comments:

"It follows that there is no such thing as UK government money either. Remember that, George, every time you eat a subsidised meal at Westminster. That money belongs to the people, to your constituents. That goes for every penny your government spends."

With acknowledgement to 13th Spitfire, on the same subject it is worth Eustice remembering that governments cannot give to anybody anything that governments do not first take from somebody else.


Bruno Waterfield reports on another, what might be termed political, scam whereby MEPs receive thousands in cash to subsidise visits to the European Parliament for their 'constituents'. Then of course there are those enjoyable 'fact-finding' trips abroad, at our expense, for MPs and MEPs and 'second homes' so necessary for our MPs to 'function'. Oh and why are we paying MPs £64K per annum when they are, in some instances, earning that from their 'outside interests'?


As Richard North, EU Referendum, posts, why are we paying for Dav il Cam to 'lecture' at Davos that "Europe" must "stop throttling growth with excessive bureaucracy" whilst rolling out a massive amount of climate change legislation, and at the same time supporting Basel III and the EU's programme of turning it into law?


Is it not time that we said and did something? Like insisting on a form of direct democracy and 'referism' - the latter a means by which, before the political class can spend our money, they have to ask our permission; and the former a means by which we have the ability to halt policies with which we do not agree?


Just asking.............

Jacques Santer - SPIV!

The Purple Scorpion notes that Jacques Santer, ex European Commission President, who was forced to resign, along with the entire Commission, amid allegations of corruption and fraud, has been appointed as Head of the eurozone’s ‘Special Purpose Investment Vehicle’.


Of course to those of us of a certain age a Spiv was someone of questionable ethics, so just for once perhaps the EU has made the right decision with this appointment.

Cameronspeak

As we all know David Cameron made a speech at the Lord Mayor's Banquet last night, one entitled ‘Foreign Policy in the National Interest’- the text of which can be found here. A number of bloggers have passed comment on this speech amongst whom are Richard North, Fausty, The Purple Scorpion and Quiet Man.

There was nothing of substance in Cameron's speech and it is noticeable that the word repatriation of powers appears to have been dropped (as we were informed by Bruno Waterfield) and now the buzz word appears to be 'reform'. There was not one word of any plan for 'reform' - or repatriation - nor any hint of a timescale. Not one word on how differences in the Coalition would be dealt with, neither was there any word on what stance he would take if the cries for 'more Europe, not less' persisted. For someone who told his party not to become obsessed with 'Europe' but now finds himself having to deal with 'Europe', almost on a daily basis, the irony is delightful to behold.

Cameron, like others, continues to use false statistics and arguments in his zeal to remain a member of the EU - witness he repeats 50% of our trade is with the EU; intimating that leaving the EU would make us poorer and subject to rules about which we had no input, citing Norway as an example; letting the public believe that he can bring about change all by himself, whilst ignoring that any change requires the agreement of the other 26 member states. Once again we are told it is his belief that we are better off inside the EU - since when was this man granted what amounts to dictatorial powers to make that decision without asking those he is meant to serve and who fund his salary?

Cameron is delusional although extremely clever and evidence of this is his stated promise that he will do everything possible to reform the EU - do note the caveat 'everything possible'. He can talk to the EU until he is blue in the face and come away with nothing but will then be able to present himself to the British public whilst wringing his hands and telling us that he tried. Not that Cameron is the only delusional political leader as so are Miliband E and Clegg - and it would not surprise me, come the next parliament and whichever one of these clowns is 'in power', that with the continuing march to ever closer union we will be told it is in our interests to join the euro - assuming of course that the EU zealots in Brussels have managed to keep that currency afloat.

An odd omission indeed

With the meeting yesterday of Energy company chiefs and David Cameron, presented as David Cameron getting on top of the problem (a mental picture that I will not pursue!), it was interesting to see the statement from the No10 website.

Under 'better billing' it is odd that there is no mention of the need to show just how much of the bill is for 'windmills', an element which should be shown if our bills are to be 'transparent' - a subject which The Purple Scorpion covered in his post yesterday.

As Richard North, EU Referendum so succinctly states, the choice Cameron has is either ditch the greenery or pay the political price. Whether Cameron will pay the price whereby it costs him his job is open to question, but one thing is obvious - it sure as hell costs us!

Just saying.................