To understand why this country should question its whole relationship with the EU click on this link http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;sessionid=D2W5JUKRTJ5JVQFIQMGCM5WAVCBQUJVC?xml=/news/2005/05/15/nbook15.xml&secureRefresh=true&_requestid=6856#1
I defy even the most ardent Europhile to defend this.
24 comments:
The article about the building regulations is completely inaccurate. EC Directive 98/34 does not require "harmonisation with various European electrical standards" as The Torygraph claims. What it requires is for Member States to notify the Commission of changes to technical standards. This is designed to stop an old favourite French trick of blocking free trade by introducing spurious and unnecessary standards (classically, you could always technically import video recorders into France but they insisted on tinkering with them individually to ensure compliance with spurious technical standards). This is all part of what is known as "mutual recognition" of standards, which is actually the antithesis of "harmonisation".
It is damning, and perhaps one of the reasons for your defeat, that you chose to believe what you read in the Telegraph rather than bothering to do the most basic of fact-checking.
I feel great sympathy for the electrician. But the real story is that Prescott apparently decided to introduce seriously flawed building regulations - Europe has nothing to do with it. In fact, by blaming Europe you are letting the British Government off the hook!
The europhiles might not have a leg to stand on but they will always defend the EU by using vague platitudes 'we'll miss the bus' or the horror of a 'two speed Europe'.
Another tactic is to try and frighten people by using spurious statistics.Did you realise for instance that about 179% of our trade is with the EU which equals about sixty five million jobs and if we leave the EU we will lose all of them? You didn't?
We'll listen to Dennis McShane he'll tell you and so will the BBC,Guardian etc etc
Why the EU need to regulate electicians is beyond me and I cannot understand why even someone as thick as Prescott bothers to implement this madness.
If you had troubled yourself to read my post, Malcolm, you would appreciate that the Telegraph article is simply wrong and the regulation in their story has nothing to do with the EU. It is purely home-grown red tape. Sadly, most eurosceptics never bother checking their facts.
Try that for size as a "vague platitude".
I wish anonymous would identify herself. Sounds an interesting and well-informed correspondent. As the UKIP candidate for West Ham, I'd like to know if I've been barking up the wrong tree with my criticisms of "Europe". Traditionally (pre-web) one didn't take anonymous comments seriously -what's with the shyness about identity when you're forthright about your opinion?
The first contributor is probably anonymous because he/she doesn't have a blogger account. But the beauty of the web is that you don't have to believe anyone, you can fact check for yourself.
A simple Google search will bring the text of Directive 98/34/EC which shows that the first poster was completely correct, 98/34 aims to stop spurious technical regulations being introduced to create a trade barrier and require member states to inform each other about technical regulations that are being contemplated.
Don't take my word for it, take a look for yourself.
>But the real story is that Prescott apparently decided to introduce seriously flawed building regulations - Europe has nothing to do with it.
Booker *does* blame Prescott. He also blames the EU. As he and North constantly point out, half the problem is the British government goldplating EU legislation. And the Tories are not against creating a free market -- that's why they were for the EU in the 70's (and Labour wasn't), when that was the idea. But what's been created now is a grotesque parody.
So am I meant to be in favour of the EU or against it. I suppose it is obvious from all this that one should be against Prescott.
Also, what is this blogger account business. On the post comment box I tick *other* and type my name in. Anything uncool about that? I think I have a right to know.
Dear anonymous, apologies for not having read your post when I posted.For some unkown reason I didn't see it when I posted even 'though it had been up for a few hours.
Having spent some years working in the national press I can quite believe that the journalist go it wrong,it's an everyday occurance.
However I think it wrong that you accuse eurosceptics of not checking facts.
From the referendum in 1975 through to people like Keith Vaz we have been fed lies by europhiles.
The most recent example is Jack Straw describing the EU constitution as a 'tidying up excercise',a total und utter lie.
It is interesting that Blair chose his liar in chief Mandelson as our commissioner to the EU.He should do well over there.
I know in these politically correct times we should refrain from calling opponents 'liars' but with my limited vocabulary I can't think of another word to describe them!
I had forgotten my blogger password - thanks for telling me you could use the "Other" thing Henry.
Genuine commiserations to Iain, by the way. I considered introducing myself to you at the count. In the end, I thought it was tough enough for you to have to deal with your own side patting you on the back every two minutes without opponents doing the same in a slightly smug and patronising manner.
Which one was Lady Finchley, by the way? I have narrowed it down to the one with the hair or the one with the laugh - my money is on the latter.
James, you should have said hello. I always knew you were closer to Norman than you made out! Lady F was the one with the laugh. Interesting that Graham Jones finally admitted to being Robb. He won't believe it, but I had had my suspicions.
I hope you felt my concession speech was reasonably dignified in the circs. How I held it together I still don't know...
Ah, James, well done!
Ridi, Pagliacci....
Graham Jones informed me a few days before the election that the tobacconist in Cromer had done an opinion poll of customers which showed (from memory) Lamb on 52%, you on 38%, others on 10%.
If only "Robb" had had the decency to post the results on this site, everyone could have been saved a lot of needless effort in the final week.
Greetings to you, Lady F. Sterling work keeping up spirits on election night.
Entirely fine concession speech by the way (and given the time of morning, mercifully brief).
I though the atmosphere of the count was quite good. I understand past counts have been quite brutal, particularly 1997, although Labour were mostly to blame for lowering the tone. The Labour remnants basically just sat in the corner eating crisps and drinking beer all evening this time.
Had a nice chat with the UKIP chap. Seemed very pleasant but I had to move to tactful mode when he asked whether my tally sheets revealed where his areas of strength were within the constituency. "Er, your support looks pretty evenly spread" I concluded - which was technically correct as each tally sheet registered no more than one or two ticks next to his name.
I thought that Lady Finchley was fantastic - now if she had been the candidate the result might have been very different. That raucous, raunchy, rattling laughter so reminiscent of Bett Middler at her most Zany. She must be fantastic company on a wild night out! Come Lady F [from the man who gave you your title] - abandon the sinking ship of Lord "A's" sycophantic, navel gazing, sou sou loving specious failures. Bring your New York Yiddish sense of fun to the Lib Dems. You are bright and articulate and fun - your natural home is with us. You femme fatale!
It's Bette...
Lady F would no more grace the LibDems with her presence than you would accompany me to a Conservative Way Forward dinner!
And anyway, she's just got herself a new position. I'm sure she will explain....
I would be very happy to attend a Conservative Way Forward dinner as a guest speaker. But isn't "Conservative Way Forward" a contradiction in terms? Although on reflection it is a phase that could have been attached to Moses as he led his people from the wilderness. Unfortunately his people did actually have a leader, they also had God on their side [by all accounts], but it still took them 40 years to make it. Thats an awful long time for a young girl like Lady F to have to wait.
I was refering to Bett Middler from Fakenham - did you not meet her? She was a Conservative voter who switched to Lib Dems.
Not sure I invited you to speak... Typical LibDem, always take more than you're offered! Enjoyed the last comment. Just gave her a call and persuaded her of the error of her ways.
Just had Bett Middler from Fakenham on the phone in a very distressed state. She sobbed that her husband in a jealous rage had kicked her out following your call. Apparently you were on the phone to each other for over three hours. He is an ardent Ipswich Town fan and he was trying to watch some match or another and couldn't concentrate because of half listening to you two. She was laughing a lot, like Lady F, and seemed to be enjoying herself. Apparently the final straw came when, shortly after a difficult point in the match, he heard her say "OK Iain I'll come over to you....but only for a short while" He was incandescant with rage and would not hear her attempts at explanation. She has taken her three kids, two goldfish and three budgies and was asking for directions to your place at Swanton Abbots.
ps just had a call from Pugface Midler wanting to know your address. You will be relieved to know that I directed him to the tank regiment barracks at Swanton Morley. I said that I didn't know what you looked like and he said that he was going to thump whoever answered the door.... I said that will be interesting!
Your directions weren't very good. He's just been round and thumped me. However, he was grateful to get rid of Bett(e). Said her demands were proving to much (no idea what he means) and that he thumped me because the Hammers thrashed Ipswich. Sometimes you just can't win (as only I can know!)
Oh no!
I must have sent Bett to the tank Regiment barracks - One or two of the lads must have dived for cover thinking that their past indiscresions had cought up with them. It must have been a very Hardiesque scene... I mean Bett, the kids, goldfish et all standing at the gurdroom gate asking to speak to Iain as a matter of urgency! Any chance that you couls go and see her - after all you did get her into this mess?
Boys, boys! This is getting too surreal. You shouldn't make menopausal ladies with weak bladders laugh like that.
Oh, Robb - join the Lib Dems? I'd rather have a thousand paper cuts on my face. Mind you I'd be the only attractive person in the Party. Not a looker to be seen. You try seeing old Lempit in the lift before you've even had your coffee and you'll see what I mean.
Lady F. Appearances can be deceptive. I may wear a wig, have false teeth, breath that repels my pet camel and I may still have many of the spots that arrived 73 years ago when I was a teeenager but beneath it all is a kindly soul. One day when you grow up and get cured of this menapausal thing you will come to realise that what I say is true. You were made for the Lib Dems. You know, and I know, that every sinew of your being is crying out to join. To be forgiven for being a Conservative and to touch the garment of Charles K. He will heal you of the menapause thing and give you a new life. Don't delay - come today! Went to see Midge Ure tonight at Cromer Pier. Fantastic. It wasn't you selling the ice cream was it Lady F - only Iain said that he had sacked you and that you were looking for a job.... Don't trust him Lady F - look what he has done to Bett Middler from Fakenham!
Really, Robb, I'd rather eat dirt and take a beating!
My heart belongs to DD!
"Methink the lady doth protest too much" [or something like that].
You can't be serious about DD? I know that he was a big star at one time but Dirty Den has been gone from East Enders for some time now. Lady F don't you find it all faintly ridiculous. These grown men [and no women!] posturing and posing like entrants in a nudist colony beauty contest. You know absolutely facinating to other nudists but mildly repugnant to others who do not share their devotion to their cause? You should declare your hand, come out of the closet, tell the world that you [yes You Lady Finchley] want to lead the party to glory. Do it today. Set out your policies. Send them to the Telegraph and get a "friend" of David Davies to say that Davis is withdrawing from the contest and supporting you. Get Iain to find a safe seat for you to contest [On second thoughts, get someone else to do that - you know - track record etc]. I will plan your campaign for you. We can concentrate on vulnerable groups and give them a hard time, get rich sponsors, keep mentioning famous people that you know and who don't know you. Tell everybody that you intend to cure menapause within the first three months of being elected, and that you intend to declare war on France if they don't all start speaking English as a first language. I'm getting quite exited at the prospect are you lady F? We could start with a campaign around "Support Bett Middler from Fakenham" Iain can get up a petition and you can claim to be "Leading the Fight". You would be known as a leading member of the Finchlites..... I must stop now before I get too carried away. keep it quiet but I have heard that a survey amongst dog owners has indicated that a popular issue would be to get non dog owners banned from North Norfolk beaches. [I can feel another pepition getting up.....]
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