Britain without the EU

The Tax Payers’ Alliance’s new Book “Ten Years On – Britain Without the European Union” turns out to be a somewhat disappointing read. The book aims to describe Britain’s improving lot ten years after leaving the European Union. It is written as a retrospective comment on the developments that took shape during the ten years after an anticipated Tory election victory in 2010.

The obvious charge against the book is

Good news on the DNA database?

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the UK authorities violate human rights by permanently keeping DNA records of anyone the police get their hands on. This is good news on the face of it and the fact that Jackie Smith is complaining about it seems to confirm this. On the other hand, she also stated that “The existing law will remain in place while we carefully consider the judgement.”

‘Carefully considering the judgement’ probably means

Barroso: UK may join Euro soon

The BBC featured an article on its front page this morning -although it didn’t stay there for long- in which Barroso was quoted as saying that senior UK politicians were warming towards Euro membership. The article contained the following priceless quote:
“I know that the majority in Britain are still opposed, but there is a period of consideration under way and the people who matter in Britain are currently thinking about it,” (Source)

That is one way of saying that the majority are no longer the people who matter in Britain. Barroso also

Euro-Feminism: an initiative for centralised social engineering

Der Spiegel, a German weekly, reports that French feminist Gisèle Halimi proposes a rule for centralised feminist legislation in the European Union. A team of researchers has worked under her direction to identify the most pro-feminist examples of legislation in a number of EU countries. Her proposal: all EU countries should be forced to adopt those laws flagged up on her feminist wish list.

Thus all countries would have to adopt

EU Commissioner: Smoking Bans not Draconian Enough

EU Commissioner Vladimir Špidla seems to be upset that not all member states are as draconian as the UK in implementing the smoking ban:

“Smoking bans currently differ widely across the EU. While Ireland was the first EU country to make its pubs and restaurants smoke-free, puffing cigarettes is still allowed in some pubs in Germany and Belgium. And smoking is still common in both bars and restaurants in central and Eastern European countries like Hungary and Romania.” (source)

Clearly, such differences can’t be tolerated. This would be bordering on subsidiarity.

Mark Steyn on Europe, America and the West

“…the only reason why Belgium has gotten away this long with being Belgium and Sweden Sweden and Germany Germany is because America’s America. The soft comfortable cocoon in which Western Europe has dozed this past half-century is girded by cold hard American power. What happens when the last serious Western nation votes for the same soothing beguiling siren song as its enervated allies?” (Source)

HT: The Atheist Conservative

Helmer, Hannan and the European Anthem

Conservative MEPs Roger Helmer and Daniel Hannan have objected to the formal adoption of a flag and Anthem by the European Union, as these are the trappings of statehood which were originally removed from the text for the European Constitution when it was re-launched as a mere treaty.

Now, I think both MEPs missed an opportunity for constructive engagement here. The

Free Speech and the European Arrest Warrant

Gerald Fredrick Töben, a holocaust denier, has been arrested in the UK following an extradition request from Germany. The Telegraph points out how this case shows neatly what is wrong with the European Arrest Warrant:
“The Government wrongly signed up to the European Arrest Warrant, and to the accelerated procedures for extraditing people arrested in Britain to other EU countries.
Dr Toben’s case is precisely the sort of incident which ministers assured us would never happen. They said the warrant was only for terrorists and drug dealers. Now that it is being used to punish opinions, our government and judges have an obligation to throw it out.” (Source)

A Cunning Plan

Daniel Hannan has a cunning plan. There is a summary on the telegraph and those who really want to know can buy the whole thing here.

A Dissident German Voice on the EU

Henry Nitzsche an independent German right wing MP offers some straight talking on the EU constitution: here on Youtube
HT: Better off out