I was a tory,
Now I am a UKIPian and proud of it.

Redwood is a nice guy, But Scameron is a Europhile and he’s in charge of EU Policy, not Mr Redwood, nor any other Member.

Election? Bring it on!

JR: “On the contrary, there are bound to be more Treaties, starting with accession Treaties for new members.”

APL: “[ ] post Lisbon with its newly established legal entity the European Union will negotiate accession of any applicant countries.”

It is usually fairly futile to simply contradict each other, but in support of my assertion that the European Union has finally gained ‘legal personality’ I cite the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States, Dec 26 1933.

The convention sets out the definition, rights and duties of statehood. Article 1, sets out the four criteria for statehood:

The state as a person of international law should possess the following qualifications: (a) a permanent population; (b) a defined territory; (c) government; and (d) capacity to enter into relations with the other states.

We know the European Union has had three of the former for some time, although (b) does change from time to time. The Lisbon Treaty brings into effect the last, the capacity to enter into relations with other states in the person of the foreign minister, what else could a foreign minister be for but for entering into relations with other states?

The UK Independence Party offered to disband if David Cameron agreed to hold a referendum on the ratified Lisbon treaty.

Lord Pearson of Rannoch, UKIP’s newly elected leader, says in an interview with The Times today that he proposed the deal after the party’s strong showing in the European elections.

He reveals that he approached Lord Strathclyde, the Tory leader in the Lords, six months ago and asked him to tell Mr Cameron that if he guaranteed a referendum and gave the Conservative Party a free vote then UKIP would disband and its members stand down. He received no answer. Several months later Mr Cameron announced that the Tories would not hold a referendum.

Lord Pearson adds: “A referendum on a ratified Lisbon Treaty would have become about in or out, which is why the political class wouldn’t do it.”

Lord Pearson says that he was acting on behalf of his predecessor, Nigel Farage, when the overture was made.

Last night Mr Farage confirmed that the meeting took place with his blessing, although he argued that the offer was to withdraw the party from the general election rather than to disband. Lord Strathclyde also confirmed that the meeting took place.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6935779.ece

Exactly, well said sir.

btw, UKIP only achieved a 16.5% share of the vote in the 2009 European Election.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/elections/euro/09/html/ukregion_999999.stm

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6935779.ece

Given the offer, six months ago of a deal by Lord Pearson now leader of UKIP to STAND DOWN UKIP in the next UK general election in exchange for a referendum should the Tory party form the next government, the ‘patriotic’ Tory party decline.

That seems like a cost free bargin for a Eurosceptic Tory party.

Rather than helping the Eurosceptic cause, the Tories would rather whinge about why “UKIP does not help Euroscepticism” because they undermine the Tory vote.

Given that Pearson is telling the truth, we must conclude that Cameron, Strathclyde ( who has form undermining the UK constitution ) are not.

More evidence that the Tory party at the top level is not Eurosceptic nor a patriotic party, but quite the opposite.

JR: “David Cameron is a Eurosceptic ..”

Don’t make me laugh.

Socrates: “It’s no good citing the existence of a few Eurosceptics – they just look like the Conservative analogue of the Communist idea of “useful idiots”.”

Now confirmed as fact rather than supposition.

I disagree. Parliamentary democracy is now so unrepresentative, unaccountable and incapable of reform that there is no other solution for the British people than to vote for the non main-stream parties, all three of these are essentially similar flavours of the same status quo of old fashioned parliamentary politics. The three main parties are hardly distinguishable any more and they have no obligation to keep to a manifesto pledge either.

David Cameron wants to engage more with voters, yet he has said quite categorically that he will not give a ‘yes/no’ vote on the Treaty of Rome (of which Lisbon is now part). Furthermore he says Tories wish to engage with the electorate but in reality a ‘yes/no’ vote in a national election for a slightly different flavour parliamentary politics every five years is hardly engaging the public in a free and open debate on the issues that matter to them. It is not social democracy with an issues based agenda, it is a closed form of unrepresentative politics that puts party before taxpayer/voter. The veil and veneer of acceptability has worn thin. With power shifting to Brussels why do we have any MPs at all?

In view of the fact that UKIP is now the only viable party (other than the BNP) which has a clearly defined aim of exiting the EU, it is clear that there is only really one set of choices for the voter. Elect more of the same tax and spend traditionalists or vote to leave Europe, for UK self-determination; and then focus on our own much needed urgent political and economic reform.

We need a new system fit for the twenty-first century and not seventeenth century politics that are now totally out of step with public needs, financially and morally bankrupt and devoid of any remorse or penitence for the series of expense scandals, tax evasions, self-indulgent pensions, allowance and grants and flagrant disregard for the taxpayer’s position. In the end, it is all take, take, take with no financial accountability.

Leaving the EU is not anti-European, it is simply about putting British interests first and not wasting our money subsidising developing nations in emerging economies at the expense of the UK taxpayer and to UK living standards.

Enough is enough.

Parliament: ‘NOT IN MY NAME’

I disagree with the EUphile Mantra that EUrope can be reformed from within.
That being the case, there is limit as to how long I can remain within the Conservative party, hoping to reform that from within.

I cant agree with your UKIP conclusions either.

If, no matter what, we promise to vote for the Conservatives, what power do we have?
On that bargaining position Cast Iron David would be able to make us the most integrationist member of Euroslavia.
That we will see 5 more years of labour rather than 15 years of Pro EU integration Cast Iron David isnt a particularly irrational response given the circumstances.

The Problem is simply that the EU is not a single issue, its every issue.
People are raving about Goves half hearted Education reforms, but theres no reason the EU cant implement a Common Educational Policy and decree that a primary school is from 4-9 and will consist of two seperate classes for each year group of 27 students in a room of dimensions X by Y by Z, they will follow the following curriculem with these lessons at these times of the day, terms will be between the following dates.

Why not?
The EU has said what lightbulbs I am allowed to use, why not the dimensions of school buildings?

Reply: Yes

Indeed like yourself I have been called far far worse things.

Have a great day Alan!

It is so sad, but that is the conclusion I have held for some time.

Socrates: “It is a nice theory John but it won’t wash.”

Exactly, Mr. Redwood mocks himself and thinking voters by proposing it.