oh how ironic

Yesterday evening in Brussels I saw a lady trip, fall and skid along the ground so I went over to see if she was okay. I managed, in my quite outstanding schoolgirl french, to establish that not only was she not too badly hurt but that she didn't know the way to the beach or need the blackboard to be cleaned.

I glanced around to find her a taxi so she could get home and cleaned up more quickly than using the rat infested sewer underground when I saw this on the door of the Berlaymonster near where she fell...

three out of three ain't bad

Am back from Brussels after a day which could have been worse. Of course, it could have also been better. Yes, the Irish said NO. No, the Commission, European Council and national governments won't listen.

Gap year kid Miliband who was sitting in the House of Lords debate on a referendum the other night says we have to push ahead with a treaty which, if the Irish government stick to their constitution, has no legitimacy under EU law. But that won't stop them.

Cowley will be summoned on Thursday to explain why his country didn't appreciate that really, the correct answer to the question was yes.

I overheard TEBAF Margot being interviewed last night and she said the Irish voted no because the No campaign went around telling people that under Lisbon children would be locked up. Which is of course both wrong and ironic because in the Nice campaign irish voters were told if they didn't vote yes, then the children in Eastern Europe who were locked up wouldn't be freed.

This morning Nigel Farage was on his was to do an interview with Sky and saw the potential next president of the European Commission again. He said to her "another referendum result for you to ignore, Margot?". She, of course, has the answers to the 'problem' that only politicians who will get the same money for less work want the feckin' treaty. Can you guess what it is?

The EU are going to fix oil prices. Oh yes, they are. Margot says so. Margot, the woman who, if she was in a private business, would have been sacked for failing in her job.

She's not the only idiot, though. Irish MEP Marian Harkin said that the reason the Irish voted no was because the 'exceptionally well funded No campaign lied." That be the campaign that wasn't funded with huge amounts of public money, eh Marian? You complete spanner.

Too scared to hope...

From the defiantly pro-Lisbon) Irish Times


Early Dublin tallies lean toward No vote

Counting of votes in the Lisbon Treaty referendum began at 9am today, and early Dublin tallies show the vote leaning toward the No side.
In Dublin South-West, there is a report 60-40 split in favour of the No side, and this 60-40 tally is repeated in Dublin North-West, Dublin Central, and Dublin North-East.
In Dublin South-East, early tallies indicate a 70-30 split in favour of the No vote. Elsewhere in the country, tallies from Limerick West indicated a 59-41 No vote,
Tipperary South tallies show 50.3 Yes and 49.7 No vote, while Tipperary North tallies indicate a 50-50 split.

I myself won't believe anything until the results are in, although I do know a 'NO' vote will be ignored by the Euro extremists. Their new nationalism doesn't care for public opinion.

And regardless of the vote, I still haven't had my say, and I demand one.

David Davis, Lisbon and JHA

My personal view on David Davis's resignation over the 42 day terror limit amongst other issues is that it's all pretty irrelevant if his party will not have a retrospective referendum on Lisbon.

The things I am really opposed to are issues like ID cards and biometric passports which stem from the EU (and which the Lid Dems voted for) and Corpus Juris.

On the 42 day detention for terror subjects I am less concerned about it because as an Act of Parliament it can be repealed by Westminster. Having read into it, it's not a straight forward application for 42 days locked up, magistrates and parliament have to approve each case. If that were not the case I would have been concerned by it.

The real issue for me is that we don't have situations that exist on the continent which we could see being used in the UK as the government have signed us up to losing our veto on Justice and Home Affairs.

France: Up to 72 hours without seeing a lawyer and four years in pre-trial detention

Germany: Must be seen by a judge within 48 hours but can be held without trial during investigation

Greece: Up to 12 months - 18 months in extraordinary cases

Italy: Up to 24 hours without seeing a lawyer

Norway: Up to 48 hours - a judge can increase this period

Spain: Up to 72 hours without a lawyer - can be increased to a maximum of 13 days

USA: The attorney general can detain foreign suspects but must start deportation proceedings within seven days. Suspects can be held for periods of six months

So David Davis campaigning for a retrospective referendum on Lisbon would please me. Him campaigning on this but letting more power go to Brussels would not. It would also make this all rather irrelevant.

Well, the last chance for a referendum has been and gone and I was astonished that so many of the people making statements did not have a full grasp of the facts.

Lord Macleenan of Rogard thought that democracy was self indulgent navel gazing. Lord Britten, who failed to mention his EU pension, thought that the public were too stupid to understand the question, a thought shared by the government spokesman on this, Baroness Ashton of Upholland.
Lord Tomlinson, grotesquely fat, ignorant and unpleasant has turned into more of a hate figure for me than even Lord Kinnock. Actually no, having had drinks with Mrs Andreasen, on Tuesday they are equal.

My 'I can't believe anyone would say something that stupid' last night was awarded to the Archbishop of York who acted more like the Catholics his Church was set up in opposition to. His speech was riddled with mistakes and his pathetic attempt at humour over statements which were wholly inaccurate almost made it impossible for me to stay and listen. Anyone who sits in the House of Lords and doesn't yet realise that it is not the supreme court in the country is undeserving of a position to influence legislation.

Finally, if you ask whether the Queen will still be supreme in Parliament under the new treaty, will the answer be yes?

Noble Lords: Yes.

The Archbishop of York: My Lords, will this Parliament still be the highest court in the land?

Noble Lords: Yes.

The Archbishop of York: My Lords, will foreign policy, defence policy and law and order still be governed by this country?

Noble Lords: Yes.

The Archbishop of York: Then why, my Lords, are we making this fuss?

We are making this fuss because you are fundamentally inaccurate. But this capped it off:

The problem is that if there is a referendum now, being one of the Lords Spiritual in this House, I no longer have a vote, so I ask not to be deprived of what I had lost in Uganda.

Get that? The Archbishop of York voted against a referendum because he wouldn't be allowed a vote in it.

Am glad I am Atheist.

Results of amendment vote yesterday

On Question, Whether the said amendment (No. 29) shall be agreed to?

Their Lordships divided: Contents, 218; Not-Contents, 280.

Division No. 1

CONTENTS
Alton of Liverpool, L.
Ampthill, L.
Anelay of St Johns, B. [Teller]
Arran, E.
Ashcroft, L.
Astor, V.
Astor of Hever, L.
Attlee, E.
Bagri, L.
Baker of Dorking, L.
Ballyedmond, L.
Bell, L.
Bew, L.
Bilimoria, L.
Blackwell, L.
Blaker, L.
Blyth of Rowington, L.
Bottomley of Nettlestone, B.
Bridgeman, V.
Brooke of Sutton Mandeville, L.
Brougham and Vaux, L.
Browne of Belmont, L.
Bruce-Lockhart, L.
Burnett, L.
Buscombe, B.
Byford, B.
Cameron of Dillington, L.
Campbell of Alloway, L.
Carnegy of Lour, B.
Cathcart, E.
Cavendish of Furness, L.
Chadlington, L.
Chalfont, L.
Chalker of Wallasey, B.
Coe, L.
Colwyn, L.
Cope of Berkeley, L.
Courtown, E.
Cox, B.
Craigavon, V.
Crathorne, L.
Crawford and Balcarres, E.
Crickhowell, L.


11 Jun 2008 : Column 636

Cumberlege, B.
De Mauley, L.
Dean of Harptree, L.
Dear, L.
Deech, B.
Denham, L.
Dixon-Smith, L.
Dundee, E.
Eccles, V.
Eccles of Moulton, B.
Eden of Winton, L.
Elliott of Morpeth, L.
Elton, L.
Feldman, L.
Fellowes, L.
Ferrers, E.
Fookes, B.
Forsyth of Drumlean, L.
Fowler, L.
Fraser of Carmyllie, L.
Freeman, L.
Gardner of Parkes, B.
Geddes, L.
Gilbert, L.
Glenarthur, L.
Glentoran, L.
Goodlad, L.
Goschen, V.
Greenway, L.
Griffiths of Fforestfach, L.
Guthrie of Craigiebank, L.
Hameed, L.
Hamilton of Epsom, L.
Hanham, B.
Hanningfield, L.
Harris of Peckham, L.
Hayhoe, L.
Henley, L.
Higgins, L.
Hodgson of Astley Abbotts, L.
Hogg, B.
Home, E.
Howard of Rising, L.
Howe, E.
Howell of Guildford, L.
Hunt of Wirral, L.
James of Blackheath, L.
James of Holland Park, B.
Jenkin of Roding, L.
Jopling, L.
Kalms, L.
Kilclooney, L.
Kimball, L.
King of Bridgwater, L.
Kingsland, L.
Kirkham, L.
Lamont of Lerwick, L.
Lane of Horsell, L.
Lang of Monkton, L.
Lawson of Blaby, L.
Leach of Fairford, L.
Liverpool, E.
Lloyd-Webber, L.
Lucas, L.
Luce, L.
Luke, L.
Lyell, L.
Lyell of Markyate, L.
McAlpine of West Green, L.
McColl of Dulwich, L.
Macfarlane of Bearsden, L.
MacGregor of Pulham Market, L.
Mackay of Clashfern, L.
Maginnis of Drumglass, L.
Mancroft, L.
Mar, C.
Marland, L.
Marlesford, L.
Masham of Ilton, B.
Mayhew of Twysden, L.
Miller of Hendon, B.
Monson, L.
Montagu of Beaulieu, L.
Montgomery of Alamein, V.
Montrose, D.
Moore of Lower Marsh, L.
Moran, L.
Morris of Bolton, B.
Morrow, L.
Moynihan, L.
Murton of Lindisfarne, L.
Naseby, L.
Neill of Bladen, L.
Neville-Jones, B.
Newton of Braintree, L.
Nickson, L.
Noakes, B.
Northbrook, L.
Northesk, E.
O'Cathain, B.
Onslow, E.
Oppenheim-Barnes, B.
Ouseley, L.
Owen, L.
Paisley of St George's, B.
Palmer, L.
Palumbo, L.
Park of Monmouth, B.
Parkinson, L.
Patten, L.
Pearson of Rannoch, L.
Perry of Southwark, B.
Pilkington of Oxenford, L.
Platt of Writtle, B.
Plummer of St. Marylebone, L.
Prior, L.
Quinton, L.
Ramsbotham, L.
Rawlings, B.
Reay, L.
Rees, L.
Rees-Mogg, L.
Roberts of Conwy, L.
Rogan, L.
Rotherwick, L.
Rowe-Beddoe, L.
Ryder of Wensum, L.
Saatchi, L.
Sainsbury of Preston Candover, L.
St. John of Bletso, L.
Saltoun of Abernethy, Ly.
Sanderson of Bowden, L.
Scott of Foscote, L.
Seccombe, B. [Teller]
Selkirk of Douglas, L.
Selsdon, L.
Sharples, B.
Shaw of Northstead, L.
Sheikh, L.
Shephard of Northwold, B.
Shrewsbury, E.
Simon, V.
Skelmersdale, L.
Skidelsky, L.
Slim, V.
Soulsby of Swaffham Prior, L.
Sterling of Plaistow, L.
Stevens of Ludgate, L.
Stewartby, L.
Stoddart of Swindon, L.
Strathclyde, L.


11 Jun 2008 : Column 637

Sutherland of Houndwood, L.
Swinfen, L.
Taylor of Holbeach, L.
Taylor of Warwick, L.
Tebbit, L.
Tenby, V.
Thatcher, B.
Trefgarne, L.
Trenchard, V.
Trimble, L.
Trumpington, B.
Ullswater, V.
Verma, B.
Vinson, L.
Waddington, L.
Wade of Chorlton, L.
Wakeham, L.
Walker of Worcester, L.
Warsi, B.
Wilcox, B.
Willoughby de Broke, L.
Wolfson, L.
Wolfson of Sunningdale, L.
Young of Graffham, L.

NOT CONTENTS
Adams of Craigielea, B.
Addington, L.
Adonis, L.
Ahmed, L.
Alderdice, L.
Allenby of Megiddo, V.
Anderson of Swansea, L.
Andrews, B.
Archer of Sandwell, L.
Armstrong of Ilminster, L.
Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon, L.
Ashton of Upholland, B. [Lord President.]
Avebury, L.
Bach, L.
Barker, B.
Barnett, L.
Bassam of Brighton, L.
Berkeley, L.
Bernstein of Craigweil, L.
Best, L.
Billingham, B.
Bilston, L.
Blackstone, B.
Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury, B.
Bowness, L.
Bradley, L.
Bradshaw, L.
Brett, L.
Brittan of Spennithorne, L.
Broers, L.
Brooke of Alverthorpe, L.
Brookman, L.
Butler-Sloss, B.
Campbell-Savours, L.
Carlile of Berriew, L.
Carter of Coles, L.
Chester, Bp.
Chidgey, L.
Chorley, L.
Christopher, L.
Clarke of Hampstead, L.
Clement-Jones, L.
Clinton-Davis, L.
Cobbold, L.
Cohen of Pimlico, B.
Condon, L.
Corbett of Castle Vale, L.
Cotter, L.
Coussins, B.
Crisp, L.
Cunningham of Felling, L.
Currie of Marylebone, L.
Darzi of Denham, L.
Davidson of Glen Clova, L.
Davies of Coity, L.
Davies of Oldham, L. [Teller]
Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde, B.
Dearing, L.
Desai, L.
Dholakia, L.
Dixon, L.
Donoughue, L.
D'Souza, B.
Dubs, L.
Dykes, L.
Eatwell, L.
Elder, L.
Elis-Thomas, L.
Elystan-Morgan, L.
Evans of Parkside, L.
Evans of Watford, L.
Ezra, L.
Falconer of Thoroton, L.
Falkner of Margravine, B.
Farrington of Ribbleton, B.
Faulkner of Worcester, L.
Filkin, L.
Finlay of Llandaff, B.
Foster of Bishop Auckland, L.
Freyberg, L.
Gale, B.
Garden of Frognal, B.
Garel-Jones, L.
Gibson of Market Rasen, B.
Giddens, L.
Golding, B.
Goodhart, L.
Gordon of Strathblane, L.
Goudie, B.
Gould of Potternewton, B.
Graham of Edmonton, L.
Greaves, L.
Greenfield, B.
Greengross, B.
Grenfell, L.
Griffiths of Burry Port, L.
Grocott, L.
Hamwee, B.
Hannay of Chiswick, L.
Harris of Haringey, L.
Harris of Richmond, B.
Harrison, L.
Hart of Chilton, L.
Haskel, L.
Haskins, L.
Haworth, L.
Henig, B.
Heseltine, L.
Hilton of Eggardon, B.
Hollis of Heigham, B.
Hooson, L.
Howarth of Breckland, B.
Howarth of Newport, L.
Howe of Aberavon, L.
Howe of Idlicote, B.
Howells of St. Davids, B.
Howie of Troon, L.
Hoyle, L.
Hughes of Woodside, L.


11 Jun 2008 : Column 638

Hunt of Chesterton, L.
Hunt of Kings Heath, L.
Hurd of Westwell, L.
Irvine of Lairg, L.
Janner of Braunstone, L.
Janvrin, L.
Jay of Ewelme, L.
Jay of Paddington, B.
Joffe, L.
Jones, L.
Jones of Cheltenham, L.
Jones of Whitchurch, B.
Jordan, L.
Judd, L.
Kennedy of The Shaws, B.
Kerr of Kinlochard, L.
King of West Bromwich, L.
Kinnock, L.
Kirkhill, L.
Kirkwood of Kirkhope, L.
Laird, L.
Layard, L.
Lea of Crondall, L.
Lee of Trafford, L.
Leitch, L.
Linklater of Butterstone, B.
Livsey of Talgarth, L.
Lloyd of Berwick, L.
Lofthouse of Pontefract, L.
Low of Dalston, L.
Ludford, B.
Macaulay of Bragar, L.
McDonagh, B.
Macdonald of Tradeston, L.
McIntosh of Hudnall, B.
MacKenzie of Culkein, L.
Mackenzie of Framwellgate, L.
McKenzie of Luton, L.
Mackie of Benshie, L.
Maclennan of Rogart, L.
McNally, L.
Maddock, B.
Malloch-Brown, L.
Mar and Kellie, E.
Massey of Darwen, B.
Mawson, L.
Maxton, L.
Meacher, B.
Miller of Chilthorne Domer, B.
Mitchell, L.
Mogg, L.
Moonie, L.
Morgan, L.
Morgan of Drefelin, B.
Morgan of Huyton, B.
Morris of Handsworth, L.
Moser, L.
Murphy, B.
Neuberger, B.
Newby, L.
Nicholson of Winterbourne, B.
Northover, B.
Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay, L.
O'Neill of Clackmannan, L.
Oxburgh, L.
Parekh, L.
Patel of Blackburn, L.
Patten of Barnes, L.
Paul, L.
Pendry, L.
Pitkeathley, B.
Ponsonby of Shulbrede, L.
Prashar, B.
Prosser, B.
Prys-Davies, L.
Puttnam, L.
Quin, B.
Radice, L.
Ramsay of Cartvale, B.
Razzall, L.
Rea, L.
Redesdale, L.
Rees of Ludlow, L.
Rendell of Babergh, B.
Rennard, L.
Richard, L.
Roberts of Llandudno, L.
Robertson of Port Ellen, L.
Rodgers of Quarry Bank, L.
Rooker, L.
Roper, L.
Rosser, L.
Rowlands, L.
Royall of Blaisdon, B. [Teller]
Sainsbury of Turville, L.
St. Albans, Bp.
Sandberg, L.
Sandwich, E.
Sawyer, L.
Scotland of Asthal, B.
Scott of Needham Market, B.
Sewel, L.
Sharman, L.
Sharp of Guildford, B.
Shutt of Greetland, L.
Slynn of Hadley, L.
Smith of Clifton, L.
Smith of Finsbury, L.
Soley, L.
Stevens of Kirkwhelpington, L.
Stone of Blackheath, L.
Strabolgi, L.
Symons of Vernham Dean, B.
Taverne, L.
Taylor of Blackburn, L.
Taylor of Bolton, B.
Temple-Morris, L.
Teverson, L.
Thomas of Gresford, L.
Thomas of Macclesfield, L.
Thomas of Swynnerton, L.
Thomas of Walliswood, B.
Thomas of Winchester, B.
Thornton, B.
Tomlinson, L.
Tonge, B.
Tope, L.
Tordoff, L.
Truscott, L.
Tugendhat, L.
Tunnicliffe, L.
Turnberg, L.
Turner of Camden, B.
Turner of Ecchinswell, L.
Tyler, L.
Vadera, B.
Vallance of Tummel, L.
Wall of New Barnet, B.
Wallace of Saltaire, L.
Wallace of Tankerness, L.
Walmsley, B.
Walpole, L.
Warner, L.
Warnock, B.
Warwick of Undercliffe, B.
Watson of Invergowrie, L.
Watson of Richmond, L.
Waverley, V.
Whitaker, B.
Whitty, L.
Wilkins, B.


11 Jun 2008 : Column 639

Williams of Crosby, B.
Williams of Elvel, L.
Williamson of Horton, L.
Winston, L.
Woolf, L.
Woolmer of Leeds, L.
Wright of Richmond, L.
York, Abp.
Young of Hornsey, B.
Young of Old Scone, B.

unemployment: when things really start to go wrong

For me, the main indication of an economy in trouble, apart from having a Labour government, is when unemployment starts to rise. It's toxic in the way it damages everything surrounding it with the exception of a greater knowledge of daytime TV. If people don't have a regular, substantial income then they can't pay their mortgage and their bills, they can buy less, they can't invest and the government has to give them money which all takes away from the national income. Indeed, the opportunity cost of unemployment is significant. The unemployed are a non productive asset in the economy which still needs to be maintained by the economy.

So whilst the OECD report damning the state of the nation's finances should cause alarm bells to ring in the ears of the government and their treasury bods, it shouldn't really be a surprise given how badly they have handled the economy over the last 11 years.

The Growth and Stability pact is of course meaningless and toothless since Britain is, thankfully, not part of the euro-zone. The sheer nonsense of fining a country which is in trouble for not having enough money is clearly straight from the European Commission; the people who didn't understand that when you threw fish back into the sea after a period of time out of the water they would be dead. I happen to think that borrowing should be used in slow or negative growth times to flatten out the economic cycle and we really don't need Trichet interfering in our economy. I'd rather not have Gordon Brown interfering in it either but the point with him is that I and my fellow voters can sack him.

Unemployment takes a while for its effects to hit but once the damage has reached jobs, it's very hard to halt it. The spiralling effects are significant and I hope will prove to be the downfall of this very dangerous administration.

And I can also buy a house.

BBC Europe editor reveals his true colours..

On a 'No' vote in Ireland...

There would be no attempt to renegotiate a second reform treaty. No further tinkering with the text, no treaty of Prague or Stockholm to be signed next year.

What there would be is a dissection of the corpse. Some major parts of both Lisbon and the constitution would be sadly discarded.

Sadly discarded, eh?
And also the admission that there are chunks of the Constitution in the Lisbon Treaty, as if we already didn't know...

At last...

Northern Ireland's new environment minister said today that much of climate change is beyond man's control and cutting emissions will have limited impact.

Reducing discharges will not alter the global warming cycle, Sammy Wilson added.

Thank heavens! Another person speaking sense, and this one in the right portfolio!!!

now, cue attacks from lentil eaters wearing socks an sandals who think that the change in the earth's climate has only happened in recent years, and that the dinosaurs died in Noah's flood.

And who exactly is Declan Ganley, the campaign's Mr No? his critics ask" says Michael White in the Guardian today.

He's not a politician and he has read the treaty being voted on, which is two ticks in favour of the Irish Prime Minsiter...

New blow to UK labour market

So, the government have given in to the lunacy of the Agency Workers Directive. That's just what we need in a time where the economic forecast looks less than rosy: less flexibility.

The 1.3 million agency workers will get the same rights as full time members of staff after only working 12 weeks.

Now, whilst this decision is nowhere near as bad as the mindnumblingly dumb proposals originally on the table, that of equal rights from day one of an agency contract and the second one of six weeks into a job, it is still not necessary and not required.

It also shows how little power we really do have because the government's idea was that temps should work at least a year.

Surely it should seem obvious that the people this will affect is the temps, who will not get such long term contracts because it is not in the interest of the business to do so. Lots of people choose to be temps rather than being forced to do it because there is nothing else going, which means they don't want to be a full time member of staff with the obligations that puts on them.

But, you see, in the eyes of the EU who are all mad socialists (is there any other kind?) and unions who, as far as I can see would rather we all sat around not doing anything than some people achieved more than others, people who employ other people and run companies are bad, wicked mill-owners ready to ravish the poor, innocent and yet beautiful factory girl and leave her pregnant with his bastard child whilst he goes on a grand tour of Europe with his rich, ungrateful wife. Catherine Cookson stuff here, but whilst she's dead, the EU lives on.

John Hutton even says:

Flexibility has been critical to our ability to create an extra three million jobs over the past decade

So why get rid of it now?
And of course, he can justify it by:

That flexibility has been preserved by ensuring workers can continue to have choice over their working hours in future years.

So in a nutshell, the UK have agreed to a law they didn't want so long as they can clarify some aspects of the loopy Working Time Directive that also most people don't want. But if we weren't in the EU we wouldn't have to have either.
So tell me, why are we in it?

But, hold on, for it is not over yet, for the European Parliament still has to vote:

Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne warned that Gordon Brown's own Labour MEPs could object to the working time deal.

Liz Lynne who is not a libertarian, I would like to point out, but very amusing to watch when there is even a sniff of cigarette smoke around.

But she's got a point; Labour MEPs are even more drum-bangingly left wing than those in Westminster, as are the Tory MEPs and the Lib Dems, if that is possible. Ah, yes, for their leader in Brussels likes to make speeches in French rather than the language his constituents speak.

I would estimate that the Employment committee who will get this legislation will stuff it with amendments calling for equal rights straight away, and the six week option.

The European Parliament: reliable in their stupidity.

Please, can we leave yet?

head too far in the trough to notice the rule changes

From the Dundee Courier:

"However, Mr Purvis has now learned that the rules may have changed in 2003 without him being notified. “I don’t recall having been told of any change,” Mr Purvis said.

I knew the rules and I simply don't believe that you didn't. Not when every single MEP was told about the rule changes come reelection in 2004.

That is why you are supposed to have a professional in charge of financial transactions, someone who makes an effort to know what the rules are. Considering Purvis has been an MEP since 1869 or similar, it just doesn't wash.

It's probably allowed

But that doesn't make it right...

Labour MEP Brian Simpson employs his son full time in Brussels and employs his wife part time one day a week as his service provider in his St Helen's office.

So dad employs son and wife and wife takes daddy's money to give to son?

That probably doesn't break any European Parliament rules but that's another reason why the EP is such a pit of filth.

Majority of people support UKIP policy

British voters would back radical moves to negotiate a new, looser relationship with the European Union, a survey has shown.

The ICM opinion poll for Global Vision, the Eurosceptic campaign group, found that among people who want to remain in the EU, a majority would like Britain to opt out of political and economic union, and restrict itself to links based on trade and co-operation.

I went to the launch of global Britain and they say that their aims are to get that looser relationship whilst remaining in the EU. Something that, when they are not on record, senior members say is not possible.

A British government seeking to achieve such an outcome could only do so by putting it to voters in a referendum.

Not strictly true if it were a manifesto pledge, surely?

If there were a positive result, ministers would then need to renegotiate the terms of Britain's membership with all other EU member states – apolicy currently held by none of the three main political parties.

But held by UKIP, of course. Although to be honest what would need to happen would be Westminster parliament to repeal the 1972 EA act. Then we go and arrange a free trade deal with the EU which they would take because otherwise their businesses would stab them.

The survey findings come days before Ireland holds a referendum on the EU's Lisbon Treaty, the only member country to vote on the issue.

For shame that 4 million people get to vote on the democratic future of the rest of the EU because our leaders are so shameless.

If the Irish vote No on Thursday the treaty, which gives more powers to Brussels, abolishing dozens of national vetoes and creating the new post of EU president, cannot come into force in any of the 27 member states.

Considering that the French and Dutch voted no in 2005 I shouldn't have thought it really mattered to them. In a matter of weeks I would imagine that we'd see another referendum in the near future saying to the Irish 'Do you want to stay in the EU and accept the Lisbon Treaty or do you want to leave?' and so the Irish will vote to stay in with the Lisbon Treaty and it goes through.

It would be another big blow to supporters of further EU integration, after the collapse of the Union's proposed constitution when voters in France and the Netherlands rejected it in 2005.

Maybe, to the extent that it's something else for them to ignore.

The Irish Government could, in theory, seek to hold a new referendum, and carry on doing so until it achieved a Yes vote. But recent surveys in the Republic have suggested that public opinion would be hostile to such a move.

I don't think that will bother them if they have the EU breathing down their neck.

Latest opinion polls yesterday showed a dramatic surge in the No vote. Those saying they oppose the treaty have doubled in three weeks to 35 per cent, with just 30 per cent in favour – a result that has shocked the government and the country's major political parties, all of which want a Yes result.

Although this was taken before the deal with the farmers union was sorted out.

The Global Vision/ICM survey found that when British voters were asked about their ideal relationship with Europe, 41 per cent chose one based simply on trade and co-operation. Some 27 per cent wanted Britain to stay a full EU member while 26 per cent wanted to withdraw altogether.

Although of course the first and the last are essentially the same thing, because we couldn't have that relationships whilst being signed up to the treaties. So, 67% of people support UKIP policy.

If the "trade-only" option were offered in a referendum, 64 per cent said they would vote in favour. Asked what should happen if Britain sought to negotiate a looser relationship but other nations blocked the move, 57 per cent said the UK should leave the EU, while 33 per cent said it should stay in.

33% people who don't appear to have a grasp of economics, democracy and who like the poorest people in the world to suffer whilst the west allow their despotic governments to stay in power.

Ruth Lea, director of Global Vision, said: "A looser relationship, based on trade and co-operation, rather than full political and economic integration, is consistently the option of the British people."

Such a shame that that option is never put forward by our politicians in Westminster and the media.

Gordon Brown has said Britain will not get a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, although the House of Lords will vote on this decision this week. Stuart Wheeler, the millionaire businessman and major Conservative donor, will make a High Court challenge, also this week, attempting to force the Prime Minister to call a public vote.

Fingers crossed, but I suspect the phrase 'manifesto pledges are not subjet to legitimate expectation' will be used, and probably not reported.

Meanwhile, tomorrow, Britain will come under pressure to pass an EU directive giving temporary agency workers the same employment rights as permanent staff. Britain has always opposed the directive because business leaders fear that it could cost 250,000 jobs.

Just what we need! Less labour market flexibility Jeez, these people are morons.

Brian Cowen, Ireland's prime minister, embarked yesterday on a last bid to persuade voters to ratify the treaty, saying it was his "most important" task. Defeat would be a personal humiliation for him and would also set back – perhaps permanently – hopes for a reformed and more streamlined decision-making process within the EU.

What a selfish, selfish man, putting his own career above that of the democratic wishes of his people and their right to know the actual facts of the treaty.

Ireland has received huge economic benefit from EU membership and Mr Cowen has warned that it could suffer dire consequences, with a No vote interpreted in Europe as a rejection of the union. But the business downturn and public uncertainty over how the treaty will work in practice mean acceptance is not certain.

I would imagine that the 12.5% corporation tax has more to do with that than money being poured into the EU which caused spiraling inflation in the country.

But basically, if bribing won't work then they'll resort to blackmail. Another reason to leave.

Why is anyone surprised about Den Dover? He's a teetotal Methodist lay preacher. What did you expect?

not breaking news

The European Parliament may be incapable of reforming itself.
Chris Davies Lib Dem MEP

Yes. Where have you been?

Members Elected to make Profits

How could Chichester have not known that the rules on MEPs not being their own paying agents had changed? The system was open to fraud and it's something UKIP complained about from 1999 and to be fair to them, they changed. Each MEP was given a copy of the new rules and so it is laughable that the man tasked by Cameron to clean up his MEP expenses did not know this.

Now he has resigned from his job, but not his seat, he will have the time to try to make his books look respectable, which they allegedly need. But he broke the rules and ignorance is not an excuse. Of course, the EP rules are such that whilst they break moral and ethical codes, they do allow MEPs to do things with their funds which no normal person would think acceptable.

He makes Tom Wise and Derek Conway look like amateurs, but he's overshadowed by Den Dover who has the effrontery to go on the news and say that his paying his wife and daughter large sums of tax payers money is acceptable. We already know this is the man who must have hired Michael Jackson's lawyers, or have a father who is a judge but really. His nickname is 'Ryan Air Den' and his own Tory colleagues say that he is on every freebie going. It was alleged that he had said that he's made a million whilst being an MEP and that he 'prefers being an MEP to an MP because they expenses are so much better.'

Oh yes, this is just the sort of man you want to be protecting the UK from the sleaze and corruption of the EU.

So top three in the north west now:
1)Sir Robert Atkins, paying his pensioner wife who already had a few other jobs a considerable salary and told the news of the world that their readers 'wouldn't possibly be able to understand' because it's so complicated, who I hear then decided to sue them.
2) Ryan Air Den and
3) a former Lib Dem.

hmmm. Lucky North West Tory voters.

I notice the Telegraph shoved the story in 'world news' in their paper and got the figure under discussion wrong. What's a small £300,000 between friends, though?
They do have a wonderful Brussels correspondent, though.

Irish results

News reaches me that the powers that be in the European Parliament are rather concerned about the forthcoming Irish result. Not only the result which look to be a 'NO' but the actions which will be taken afterwards. They have been put on notice that a request for a debate on the results of the Irish vote which, of course, will be voted down in the conference of presidents. Even if some British Conservatives and other assorted MEPs want a vote, the request by UKIP leader Nigel Farage will be ignored by Martin Schultz and Joseph Daul who vote for the Tory and Labour party. As he said, 'It's like a 1970's trade union meeting without the cups of tea.'

However, if they debate is refused, if they try to ignore an Irish 'NO' as they voted to do in the debate on the Lisbon Treaty in Strasbourg then who knows what will happen. No doubt the huissiers will be violent and find the nearest female member of staff to attack; the federalists will start comparing people who want free and fair debate and the results of legitimate referendums to be respected to Adolf Hitler. They will then sit in their secret meetings and work out the next question they can ask the Irish to make sure they get a 'YES' vote.

Eh?

Open Europe really are on a different planet:
"The Conservatives would not be able to fight the next election as the anti-sleaze party if they are carrying someone who has been forced to resign over sleaze."

How could they anyway? It's not just Chichester, it's Dover, it's Atkins, it's Harbour, it's Heaton Harris, Callahan...and that's just the stuff that's been in the papers!
They don't really want reform, most MEPs love the EU just as it is, and the fact that the press, for some bizarre reason, still cover it as foreign news.

You only have to look at the way they vote to see that, no matter what Open Europe say. I am convinced they're a diversionary tactic to stop any change.

News has it that Giles "catch me if you can" Chichester has been given 48 hours to justify his expenses. Which you may say makes Cameron look tough, except that firstly in 2006 he called for 'Independent' inquiries into potential breaches of the ministerial code

In his submissions to the Democracy Task Force, Mr Cameron suggested a "genuinely independent mechanism" should be created to establish whether rules have been broken by ministers.

And as such, why is CCHQ then deciding if Chichester has behaved badly?

Only an hour ago, I heard from a friend of Mr C that he had until 16h00 Brussels time to state his case or else resign from leading the Tories and also have the whip withdrawn. So this may well be an extension by Mr Cameron which isn't all that tough.

I myself don't like Chichester. He called UKIP MEP Graham Booth a racist in the Western Morning News, then when questioned about it said "that's politics, dear chap" and proceeded to call him a racist two weeks later. He's also the man who said he'd saved the crown mark on pints when in fact he got rid of it.

The News of the World have been doing features on these MEP expenses and I"m glad to say that they couldn't find a UKIP MEP breaking the rules or going on jollies at the expense of the tax payer, for the simple reason that they have a chartered accountant in charge of their money to make sure they don't break the rules. UKIP national treasurer is also Marta Andreasen who has quite a reputation for speaking out when she sees the rules being broken.