You can choose whatever name you like for the two types of government. I personally call the type of government which can be removed without violence “democracy”, and the other “tyranny”. — Karl Popper Before the Lisbon Treaty, I had no interest in being an MP. That Treaty was introduced to sidestep […]
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There is much fretting in the Commons today. Conservative MPs are torn between the demands of party discipline and their higher loyalty to constituents and the country. Many colleagues are wrestling with their consciences. It’s because at 7pm we’ll be voting on whether to approve an increase in the EU Budget. Not for this year […]
Read MoreFollowing Barroso’s contradictory speech calling for a federal European state, the Telegraph reports, Germany, France and nine other of Europe’s most powerful countries have called for an elected European Union president and an end to Britain’s veto over defence policy in a radical blueprint mapping out the continent’s future. And […]
Read MoreI 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 MoreVince Cable answered an urgent question on industrial policy in the Commons yesterday. In the supplementaries, I asked: Steve Baker (Wycombe) (Con):Will my right hon. Friend reassure me that he will not allow Opposition Members, in their clamour for economic intervention, to drive us back to the misery and impoverishment […]
Read MoreIn July 2010, I wrote an article for ConservativeHome, setting out the inevitability of economic and political centralisation when interventionist nations are combined in a customs union. I referred to the book Omnipotent Government: The Rise of the Total State and Total War, published as World War II ended, which […]
Read MoreVia 100 Tory MPs call for Cameron to prepare legislation for EU referendum: Is the momentum towards a referendum on Britain’s relationship with the EU becoming irresistable? I ask because, this morning, nearly 100 Tory MPs have signed a letter to the Prime Minister urging him “to place on the […]
Read MoreParliament sees a considerable amount of EU business in the main chamber, often nodded through without debate. Here’s today’s motion (emphasis mine): 3 EUROPEAN SEMESTER IN THE UK [No debate] Mr Mark Hoban That the Committee takes note of European Union Documents No. 10834/12, relating to the Commission Communication: Action for stability, […]
Read MoreFrom a comrade, 1. “Spain is not Greece.” Elena Salgado, Spanish Finance minister, Feb. 2010 2. “Portugal is not Greece.” The Economist, 22nd April 2010. 3. “Ireland is not in ‘Greek Territory.’” Irish Finance Minister Brian Lenihan. 4. “Greece is not Ireland.” George Papaconstantinou, Greek Finance minister, 8th November, 2010. […]
Read MoreAgain this morning, I see Spain’s bond yields at levels which have sparked warnings, with Italy close behind. Did recent actions achieve anything but ladling more water into the boat? It seems not. The idea that we can all borrow our way to prosperity has run its course. Banks’ excessive […]
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