I had a meeting at Europe House earlier today. It’s the European Parliament Information Office in the United Kingdom. I picked up some of their propaganda — there’s no other word for it. Blosssom Lane — on the evil of cars. The Blue Island — on the importance of licensing […]
Read MorePost Tagged with: "Referendum"
EU debates yesterday
Yesterday, the Commons debated three important issues relating to the European Union: the 2013 EU Budget increase, reform of the Court of Justice of the EU, and the creation of an EU special representative for human rights. EU plans to increase its budget by 6.8% would lead to the UK’s contribution […]
Read MoreEU motion of the day: Home Affairs Funds for 2014-20
It’s unintelligible bureaucratese of course. From the order paper for today: 9 HOME AFFAIRS FUNDS FOR 2014-20 [No debate] Damian Green James Brokenshire That this House takes note of European Union […]
Read MoreTwo questions in the House on an EU referendum and responsibility in banking
Today, I had two questions during statements. I welcomed the progress the Prime Minister is making towards a referendum on our relationship with the EU and asked him to remind us who denied the public a say on the Lisbon Treaty – Labour. I then asked the Chancellor to look […]
Read MoreThe Owen Plan’s questions are too obscure
Today, The Times has coverage of Lord Owen’s sensible ideas on Europe but, as my wife has pointed out, his referendum questions are too complex. Instead of asking “Do you want the UK to be part of the single market in a wider European community?” just ask, “Do you want […]
Read MoreThe UK faces a €149.2 billion liability to the EU
The Bruges Group’s latest report has exposed that the UK is facing a maximum potential loss of €149.2 billion on its financial commitments to the EU and the Euro. The report reveals the full extent of our obligations in respect of the present and future debts of EU institutions including: […]
Read MoreThe latest Government stance on Kashmir
Last week, the Foreign Secretary launched the Government’s Human Rights and Democracy Report. The Report is a comprehensive look at the human rights work of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office around the world. The Foreign Secretary has said that 2011 will stand out as a positive year for human rights […]
Read MoreDemocratic self-determination is a basic right: both Kashmir and the UK should have referenda on who governs them
After Easter, I spent a week in Pakistan and Kashmir, visiting Islamabad, Thara, Sava, Dadyal, Mirpur and Skardu, which is in the northern Gilgit-Baltistan province. During a live news conference with Kashmir’s Prime Minister, I was asked why I take the time to support the cause of democratic self-determination for […]
Read MoreLocalism Bill becomes law
Last week, the Localism Bill was passed into law. I was glad to support its passage. Through 13 years of New Labour, we witnessed continual moves towards centralised planning and micro-managing of our everyday lives. This new law will see central government interference cut and give power back to citizens, […]
Read MoreOn the EU, social thinking and local democracy
The People’s Pledge offered me the chance to supply a guest blog post, in which I argue that the EU should be abolished: I detested the European Constitution. It was palpably statist and bound to produce an unaccountable bureaucracy. It was everything Hayek warned us about in The Road to […]
Read More