Comments on: Recovering the EU economies – a modest proposal

By: APL

APL — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 06:47:30 +0000

Mr Redwood, an article on the Russia – Georgian situation, with comments on the wisdom of using the so called peace dividend to prop up the welfare state, rather than our military?

By: Keith

Keith — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:00:47 +0000

As has been said above, it’s in their nature, they can’t help themselves.

I should be interested to hear your views, John, on Great Britain’s leaving the EU altogether. I imagine that if a referendum was held (some hope!) there would be a resounding Yes to the question..”Should we leave?”

By: mikestallard

mikestallard — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:44:12 +0000

OK now for the good news.
I have just heard that Global Vision (Ruth Lee) is to ally with the Taxpayers Alliance.
“We now have 75-plus eminent business supporters; 28 top economists on our Advisory Panel; 9 Fellows; 60 Parliamentary Friends; and over 400 public supporters. Our lunch seminar series and business breakfasts have also proved to be very popular. Our arguments are now taken seriously.”
There seems to be some sort of bandwagon beginning to roll.
Hooray!

By: Derek W. Buxton

Derek W. Buxton — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:32:38 +0000

Is there not an “Enabling Act”, brought in to make the transfer of EU regulations and Directives into British law much easier? The EU is a major problem because it does what all beaurocrats do, cause problems for everybody else. But our “National” government blindly passes these into British law without question. By the way this stricture applies as much to conservative as labour governments. If my first sentence is correct then the first thing is to repeal the act. I suspect too many people have their snouts in the trough for this to happen.

With all due respect to you, sir, I do not believe that your leader will rock the EU boat and frankly I see no possibility of someone coming along with the courage and following capable of saving our once Great nation from the EU. I do so hope that I am wrongbut will not hold my breath.

By: wrinkled weasel

wrinkled weasel — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:02:53 +0000

A refreshing and brilliant idea.

My refreshing and brilliant idea is to blockade France. That’s right..cut off their ports, close the tunnel, prevent their planes landing at Heathrow. (They do understand the concept of blockades) Tell them, that we will lift the blockade when they finally accept that the CAP is preposterous and agree to get rid of it.

By: Mark Wadsworth

Mark Wadsworth — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:31:29 +0000

“Where do you start?”

Easy. The next Tory government just repeals every law enacted since 1997 (see recent thread on Con Home) (unless, let’s say, there is a petition of at least 500,000 signatures demanding that it be retained, in which case it is put to the vote). And then we work backwards in time.

By: Acorn

Acorn — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:17:15 +0000

John, we are told that EU legislation now forms a large part of the UK legislative process. My question is, how much influence do you as an MP have over the introduction of these EU Directives?

For instance, on the “have your say” (TSO) site, there is an example of a EU Directive being enacted by a Statutory Instrument. Was this ever discussed anywhere in Westminster or is it just nodded through by the SI procedure?

http://www.haveyoursayonline.net/whatis/regulations/

Also, is it true that many Acts, have clauses / schedules that never have a “commencement order” because someone decides they will not work. (There is an example of the Easter Act 1928, that has still not had a commencement order).

http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/l01.pdf

Reply: All too much legislation comes from Brussels – our government gives in and presents it to Parliament on a take it or take it basis, much of it implemented by SI

A repeal statute would be a great idea, but how the hell you unwind all this primary and secondary legislation; and, all the previous legislation that has been amended by it; where do you start?????

By: steve-roberts

steve-roberts — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 10:13:40 +0000

A good start, but why a temporary halt to new legislation, rather than a permanent one ? and why not repeal the lot rather than just stop adding to it ?

By: David Eyles

David Eyles — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:37:19 +0000

Given that the EU is incorrigible and beyond reformation, then surely, the best way of acheiving your pipe dream is leave the EU altogether.

By: Acorn

Acorn — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:07:44 +0000

Mark, you have forgotten the “elf ‘n’ safety risk assessment” and the “regulatory impact assessment”; oh, and the “environmental impact assessment”.

By: David Cooper

David Cooper — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:16:29 +0000

Aesop’s fable of the frog and the scorpion springs to mind – despite the sting sentencing both creatures to their death as the frog swum the river with the scorpion on its back, the frog’s vain protest only drew the response “I’m a scorpion: it’s my nature.”

By: Letters From A Tory

Letters From A Tory — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 07:52:46 +0000

According to the Telegraph this morning, the EU has twice as many bureaucrats as the UK has soldiers – so I’m sure they can let a few of them go!

http://lettersfromatory.wordpress.com

By: Johnny Norfolk

Johnny Norfolk — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 06:34:54 +0000

I think you must know the answer to this one. They are like the Labour government, they know best in everything and if they stopped passing legislation we may think we do not need them.

What happened to freedom we are becomming like an old Soviet Eastern Bloc country thanks to Labour and the EU.

By: Mark Wadsworth

Mark Wadsworth — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 06:33:48 +0000

Good plan.

All they need is a committee and working group to draw up a shortlist of the personal qualities and experience needed by the team of administrators and bureaucrats who will form the initial steering group to thrash out an implementation strategy (continued page 94).