Monday, 23 August 2010
Well Richard, We've Done It Before...........
Methinks that young Richard North is a tad 'pissed off'! Mind you, who can blame him?
There Can Still Be 'Surprises'
The Staggers Blog, the New Statesman rolling blog, is not one that I normally read - and this is, I believe, the first time that I have linked to it. Discussing AV and the Australian result, it states:
"Comparing the frequency of hung parliaments in the past overlooks the role of the Liberal Democrats in the UK, who would be likely to benefit hugely from second preference votes under AV. If the system were to end up creating a three party system, it could indeed make hung parliaments more likely."
The continual repetition of this two/three party system, comprising the Lib/Lab/Con elements, I find increasingly annoying. Were AV to be introduced - far from certain, based on recent opinion polls - why should it be the LibDems who "would be likely to benefit hugely from second preference votes"?
Is it not just as feasible to speculate - which is all the the above statement is - that because people are fed up with the present political elite that they may just put what the media love to term 'minor parties' as their second preference?
Sunday, 22 August 2010
Tom Harris vs Nelson (& His Column)
Tom Harris, Labour MP, castigates Fraser Nelson who, in turn, castigates Charles Kennedy in what Tom Watson decries as "sneering and nasty in the extreme".
"......the only defection being considered is from Glenfiddich to Glenmorangie”, “If he’s going to cross the floor, he needs to be able to do it in a straight line....."
One has to wonder whether if a comedian, say at The Fringe, had said those lines, Tom Watson would have laughed - one can but speculate......... Anyhow, one has no wish to intercede in a 'lover's tiff'...........
One aspect of Tom Harris' blogpost is worth picking up on though and that is where he quotes from Fraser Nelson:
"But the sensible small-government liberals (David Laws, Nick Clegg, Jeremy Browne) could settle down in the Tory Party where they are genuinely admired."
Fraser Nelson, with that statement, opens up various scenarios and reasons for those scenarios - especially where the likes of Clegg and Laws are concerned - when considering the future for the LibDems.
First, Cameron has taken his party - without their express permission - so far to the left that it is more Liberal than Conservative, so the likes of Clegg and Laws would have no trouble 'fitting in'. Second, there is the point that those LibDems in government have shown they can change their principles at the drop of a hat ministerial salary, which gives them another reason not to 'defect'. The likes of Simon Hughes - and his 'band of followers' - will no doubt go their own way, heading the remainder of the LibDems.
But then, is not the obliteration of the LibDems what Cameron had in mind when he formed The Coalition? And who walked smack into the trap, with their eyes open?
Comitology - Explanation
Comitology – UK Government back door to EU law
Comitology – a word that many have probably heard politicians speak about but don’t have the faintest idea of what it means, or more importantly how it works.
Comitology in the European Union refers to the committee system which oversees the delegated acts implemented by the European Commission.
This is in addition to the main types of law making undertaken by the EU, which come in the form of Directives, Regulations and Opinions.
All legislatures have a system of delegating detailed implementing measures to the executive. At EU level too, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union can confer such powers on the Commission. Delegated Acts we have written about before, and are in so many words, a form of Statutory Instruments for the European commission. Government by executive order.
There are four categories of comitology committee: Advisory, Management, Regulatory and, under the new procedure agreed in 2006, Regulatory with Scrutiny. Advisory committees give opinions which the Commission must take account of, but it retains the power of decision. Management committees can block a proposed Commission measure by a qualified majority. A Regulatory committee needs a qualified majority to approve a proposed Commission measure. Only measures not adopted are referred to the Council for a decision (or Council and Parliament under the new Regulatory committee with Scrutiny, where opposition from either can block the proposed measure).
Few understand the scope and power that the unelected EU Commission wields.
All well and good you say, except these committees allow national governments to hoodwink their electorate. In the case of the UK we currently see the Coalition Government having a review of legislation that was passed by the former Labour Government, but it is a review which specifically excludes any legislation coming from the EU.
Comitology gives the UK Government the scope to win browny points with the public by removing the more ‘unpopular’ elements of legislation, tidying up the house as it were to make draconian laws more palatable, but it has the ability to sway the EU Commission using comitology committees into introducing the same or similar legislation via the Directive or Regulation route like rodents gnawing away behind the skirting boards. At which point the government will tell the public ‘nothing to do with us, it was the EU wot dun it’.
This route is not a new one, it has been going on for years, and a quick look at the Comitology Register will show just how much legislation has been pushed through via this back door route.
It is also necessary to point out that non of these comitology committees are staffed by elected officials, this is all done at the civil service level, all carefully trained, all vetted for their pro-EU stance, all appointed to the role, and is the primary route used by lobbyists.
While approximately 50 directives are adopted each year under co-decision, 2,500 regulations are conducted through comitology…
The EU is such a strange mix of Communist styled centralised control and vested interest Corporatism that it cannot fail to eventually collapse under the weight of its own regulations, finally stagnating as the former Soviet Union did, and the populations of the 27 member states will suffer in the same manner.
If you wish to see just how much of EU regulation is pushed on us in this manner, search for specific documents, look up the various committees or look for the minutes of the meetings, you can do that here at the Comitology Register.
I have already downloaded a Comitologylist20082010 for your use just in case this link should ‘disappear’.
So I invite you to dig a little deeper into the world of comitology, and we will find that irrespective of whether we have the Blue EU party, the Red EU party or the Faded Yellow EU party in government in the UK, the EU laws will just keep coming.
European Arrest Warrant - And Denial Of The Truth
The Sunday Telegraph reports on the "Surge in Britons exported for trial" and once again the article illustrates the shortcomings of our press; journalists; government spokesmen; and our elected representatives.
"David Blunkett, the former home secretary who introduced the European warrants, admitted he had been "insufficiently sensitive" about how they could be "overused". David Davis, his former Tory shadow, last night called for a "review and reform" of the extradition system."
"A Home Office spokesman said: “The Government is committed to reviewing the UK’s extradition arrangements."
1. David Blunkett did not 'introduce' the European warrants, the EU did and all Blunkett did was 'administer' their introduction.
2. How David Davis believes that calling for a 'review and reform' can be implemented (which is implied can be done by Westminster) I would love to know.
3. The statement from the Home Office spokesman is likewise misleading as the Government cannot 'review' the UK's extradition arrangements anymore than I can.
So yet again we have the truth being twisted by our press, journalists and politicians - the press by not presenting the full facts; journalists being too lazy to do so; and politicians denying any EU 'oversight'.
And I wonder why the 'sheeple' continue to believe what they are told and what they read...........
The Government Lies On Road Pricing
The Express on line has an article about the possible mandatory imposition of road-charging by the European Union. I have already posted on this subject here, likewise IanPJ on Politics here.
From the Express article we learn:
What is it that the DFT do not understand from Articles 90 and 91 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) especially those words which I emphasised? I would also remind the DFT of the provisions of Article 5 (3) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) which states:
The attention of the DFT is also drawn to Article 6 of the TFEU which states:
The Coalition's programme for government has been disingenuous (no change there then) in its statement on Transport (page 31):
So much for 'honesty' and 'transparency'!
From the Express article we learn:
"The DFT said last night: “The Trans-European Transport Network allows the UK to bid for funding for transport projects but does not give the EU any control over UK roads. “We have ruled out charging for existing roads and any decisions on this matter are for the UK Government to make."As an aside, do note the wording used: 'but does not give the EU any control over UK roads' and the omission of the word 'yet'. Note also: 'We have ruled out charging for existing roads' and the word 'existing'. Note also 'any decisions on this matter are for the UK Government to make' and the omission of the words 'at present'.
What is it that the DFT do not understand from Articles 90 and 91 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) especially those words which I emphasised? I would also remind the DFT of the provisions of Article 5 (3) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) which states:
"Under the principle of subsidiarity, in areas which do not fall within its exclusive competence, the Union shall act only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by Member States, either at central level or at regional and local level, but can rather, by reason of the scale or effects of the proposed action be better achieved at Union level."'Subsidiarity' is presently best known as a fundamental principle of European Union Law. According to this principle, the EU may only act (i.e. make laws) where action of individual countries is insufficient - which opens what might be termed a 'Pandora's Box' in that it allows the EU to initiate any law on any subject it so desires.
The attention of the DFT is also drawn to Article 6 of the TFEU which states:
"The Union shall have competence to carry out actions to support, coordinate or supplement the actions of the Member States. The areas of such action shall, at European level, be:Under the above, all subjects - other than possibly (e) - can and no doubt will be used by the EU to initiate laws governing transport matters.
(a) protection and improvement of human health;
(b) industry;
(c) culture;
(d) tourism;
(e) education, vocational training, youth and sport;
(f) civil protection;
(g) administrative cooperation."
The Coalition's programme for government has been disingenuous (no change there then) in its statement on Transport (page 31):
"30. TRANSPORTwhich leaves them all the 'wriggle-room' they need to 'accept' any EU 'law' on transport - and any aspect of transport - and which shows that besides the DFT, the Coalition also need to re-read the Articles quoted above.
The Government believes that a modern transport infrastructure is essential for a dynamic and entrepreneurial economy, as well as to improve well-being and quality of life. We need to make the transport sector greener and more sustainable, with tougher emission standards and support for new transport technologies."
So much for 'honesty' and 'transparency'!
Saturday, 21 August 2010
Saturday 21st August 2010
Apologies for lack of posts today - rather fractious day visiting Mother in her care home!
Friday, 20 August 2010
Drip, Drip, Drip - That Also Includes Those On The Tory Benches!
Stephen Booth, of Open Europe, writing on Conservative Home states:
"Conservative MPs must put pressure on their Cabinet to resist the temptation of acquiescing to the drip, drip, drip of new proposals and amendments that are bound to come from Brussels over the next few years."
First, the chance of Conservative MPs, with one or two exceptions, remembering the principles in which they are supposed to believe is fairly remote; and second, even if they were to put pressure on their Cabinet, how on earth is the acquiescence to the drip, drip, drip of new proposals and amendments supposed to be halted?
At times one can only despair at Open Europe, for all their good intentions - which ultimately leads one to believe they are no more than a mouthpiece for Conservative Party policy.
Heard It Before - Sorry
Politics Home 'tweet':
"Lib Dem spokesman on Charlie Kennedy Labour rumour: "It is completely without foundation, he's confirmed it's completely untrue."
Err, isn't that what was said about a certain alcohol matter?
The One Great Principle Of English law Is To Make Business For Itself - Charles Dickens
"The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws" - Ayn Rand
The European Union now wishes to 'standardize' the law relating to consumers and businesses in relation to Contract Law and has begun a consultation process which ends on 31st January 2011. Our own 'toy' government, as a result of the impending Directive/Regulation which will surely follow, have begun their own consultation process which ends on 26th November 2010.
Of course this is not the only attempt to 'standardize' laws within the European Union as we also have the office of European Public Prosecutor which has been created. This can only lead to the introduction of a 'standardized' system of justice being introduced throughout the European Union.
With it being generally acknowledged that the majority of our laws by which we are 'governed' - and by 'governed' I mean laws by which we have to live, including 'laws' that affect our daily lives - emanate from the European Union, once a country loses the right to administer its own commercial laws and justice laws - in fact the right to determine its own laws on any matter - then that country in effect ceases to be a country and becomes a province of whichever external body then makes those laws.
Thursday, 19 August 2010
For Those Who Enjoy Our Language
Regular readers will know I enjoy the odd pun, or two - so.......
Those who jump off a bridge in Paris are in Seine.
A backward poet writes inverse.
A man's home is his castle, in a manor of speaking.
Dijon vu - the same mustard as before.
Practice safe eating - always use condiments.
Shotgun wedding: A case of wife or death.
A man needs a mistress just to break the monogamy.
A hangover is the wrath of grapes.
Dancing cheek-to-cheek is really a form of floor play.
Condoms should be used on every conceivable occasion.
Reading while sunbathing makes you well red.
When two egotists meet, it's an I for an I.
A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is two tired.
What's the definition of a will? (It's a dead giveaway.)
In democracy your vote counts. In feudalism your count votes.
A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
If you don't pay your exorcist, you get repossessed.
With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.
The man who fell into an upholstery machine is fully recovered.
Local Area Network in Australia: the LAN down under.
He often broke into song because he couldn't find the key.
Every calendar's days are numbered.
A lot of money is tainted - It taint yours and it taint mine.
A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.
He had a photographic memory that was never developed.
A plateau is a high form of flattery.
A midget fortune-teller who escapes from prison is a small medium at large.
Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.
Once you've seen one shopping centre, you've seen a mall.
Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead-to-know basis.
Santa's helpers are subordinate clauses.
Acupuncture is a jab well done.
Quotes Which Hold True Today
"Unnecessary laws are not good laws, but traps for money. -- Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, 1651"
"The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home." -- James Madison "
" Democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. -- Thomas Jefferson"
"Sometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government of others? -Now use those quotes and think of ID cards, climate change, terror laws, 'benefits' and the need for minimal government!
Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural Address March 4, 1801"
Do feel free though to add to the initial examples!
Well Theresa, May We?
The Government Equalities Office works "to improve equality and reduce discrimination and disadvantage. They lead on gender issues, to make sure gender equality is included in all government policy. They also lead on sexual orientation and transgender equality policy, working to make sure lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual people are protected against discrimination."
At the foot of their home page is a message from Theresa May:
"Home Secretary's Ramadan message
At the start of the holy month of Ramadan I would like to wish you and your families Ramadan Mubarak. The important role that Muslims have played in creating Britain’s diverse society is recognised and celebrated by all in Government.
As Home Secretary it is a pleasure and privilege to mark this time when Muslims across the world are strengthening family ties, helping those in less fortunate positions and spending time in peaceful contemplation.
Once again, Ramadan Mubarak to you all."
Once again, Ramadan Mubarak to you all."
Presumably, in the spirit of equality, Christians may expect a message come December and Easter?
Brittan Can't Back Britain
The appointment of Leon Brittan as a trade adviser to the Coalition government is akin to appointing Peter Mandelson to the same post - but then hey, who made the appointment..........?
Whilst the two individuals mentioned above may be on opposite sides of the political spectrum in Britain, they do have one thing in common - they are beholden to the EU. It is a well-known fact that any ex-commissioner, or employee of the EU, cannot publicly criticize the EU or it's policies if they wish to continue receiving their pension - so the only advice that Brittan can give Cameron must comply with EU trade policy!
And Cameron does not want further integration with the EU?
Casting A Wider Net
Regular readers will know that on my 'respect-o-meter', the standard of journalism in Britain ranks quite low. It would seem that British journalism can now be joined by certain members of the American circle of journalism.
Writing in the Washington Post, Anthony Faiola states:
"David Cameron's 100-day-old ruling coalition is launching an effort to reduce the role of government, seeking to vest communities and individuals with fresh powers and peddling a new era of volunteerism to replace the state in running museums, parks and other public facilities. Supporters and opponents describe the campaign as the biggest assault on government here since the wave of privatizations by Conservative firebrand Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s"
and:
"For those in the United States who would like to see smaller government, you've got to believe that David Cameron is their kind of politician," said Tony Travers, a political analyst at the London School of Economics."
Exam Pass Rates Rising?
With today being when students receive their exam results, courtesy of Old Holborn in a tweet comes this reminder of the maths exam from 1952.
Three papers on Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry - total time: 6 and a half hours!
What's that? You don't understand the questions..........
Provenance Please
Stephen Allison, UKIP Councillor and NEC candidate has posted on his views of smoking in public:
"I think smoking is a nasty habit, but if people want to do it in the privacy of their own homes then that is their choice. However, I don’t want to be made to breathe in their second hand smoke so in my opinion smoking should be banned in any public place, including walking down the street."As I have posted previously, the 'fallacy' of second-hand smoke has yet to be proven, likewise no autopsy procedure has yet been devised to show that someone died as a result of second-hand smoke.
Just stop breathing when you are in a public place or walking down the street, Stephen - solves your problem with us and our problem with you.
Simples!
Another 'Power Loss'?
Approximately three years ago 1.8million signatures were appended to a petition on the No10 website which was against the introduction of road-pricing. It is fair to say that the then government took little notice of this as, in effect, 'transport' is an EU competence under Article 90 and 91 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). For the benefit of readers I reproduce the wording of those two articles, in the section headed 'Transport', from the TFEU:
"Article 90: The objectives of the Treaties shall, in matters governed by this Title, be pursued within the framework of a common transport policy.
Article 91: 1. For the purpose of implementing Article 90, and taking into account the distinctive features of transport, the European Parliament and the Council shall, acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and after consulting the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, lay down: (a) common rules applicable to international transport to or from the territory of a Member State or passing across the territory of one or more Member States; (b) the conditions under which non-resident carriers may operate transport services within a Member State; (c) measures to improve transport safety; (d) any other appropriate provisions." (my emphasis)
A Commission Staff Working Document, TEN-T Policy Review, deals with the Trans European Network - Transport (TEN-T) and the future development of this policy. It is interesting that in Part A of this working document, Results on the Public Consultations, from the table which follows only 16 'citizens' out of a total of over 500million (Wikipedia) actually responded, the remainder being 'stakeholders' etc. This does rather make a mockery of the document 'trumpeting' that "the public consultation elicited much interest from a broad range of organisations, public authorities and citizens from EU Member States and outside the EU.", however I digress......
From reading the Commission Working Paper it is obvious that the EU intends to set out 'rules' on how and where we have and use our roads and waterways, rules governing commercial aircraft and how they operate, airports and ports and also use of the EU's proposed satellite system Galileo, which will include road-pricing.
The Department of Transport have produced their own consultation which can be read here and the consultation response form cannot be accessed as the link does not appear to be working. This does also make a mockery of the fact that with the closing date for consultations being 10th September, it does somewhat limit the number of responses that can be submitted.
A recent comment on twitter contained the remark that the EU were intending to bring in road pricing by the 'back door'. Totally incorrect twitterer, its there - in black and white - if you only read the damn TFEU! No doubt when our transport systems are 'reorganised' out of all recognition the 'puppets' ensconced in Westminster will nod this through as their strings are pulled by their masters in Brussels!
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
Interesting Question
Courtesy of a 'tweet' by Ian Parker-Joseph I came across this story and for those readers who are not conversant in Czech, courtesy of Google, a (kind of) translation of the link can be viewed here.
The Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association (TMA) is the trade association for tobacco companies that operate in the United Kingdom. Their members are British American Tobacco UK Ltd, Gallaher Ltd (a member of the JTI Group of companies) and ImperialTobacco Ltd. To take British American Tobacco as an example, they have subsidiary companies and factories in dozens of countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and continental Europe. In total their subsidiary companies produce some 724 billion cigarettes through 50 cigarette factories in 41 countries.
From the Tobacco Manufacturers Association' website comes this table:
| RRP £ per 20 | Tax Burden £ per 20 | Tax Incidence % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | 7.00 | 5.52 | 79% | ||
| UK | 6.29 | 4.83 | 77% | ||
| France | 4.61 | 3.71 | 80% | ||
| Sweden | 4.28 | 3.07 | 72% | ||
| Netherlands | 4.16 | 3.04 | 73% | ||
| Denmark | 4.10 | 3.07 | 75% | ||
| Germany | 4.08 | 3.02 | 74% | ||
| Belgium | 3.99 | 3.05 | 76% | ||
| Finland | 3.63 | 2.85 | 79% | ||
| Austria | 3.30 | 2.41 | 73% | ||
| Malta | 3.30 | 2.51 | 76% | ||
| Italy | 3.05 | 2.29 | 75% | ||
| Luxembourg | 3.03 | 2.12 | 70% | ||
| Portugal | 2.88 | 2.28 | 79% | ||
| Spain | 2.80 | 2.19 | 78% | ||
| Greece | 2.64 | 2.26 | 86% | ||
| Cyprus | 2.32 | 1.68 | 72% | ||
| Slovenia | 2.06 | 1.56 | 76% | ||
| Czech | 2.02 | 1.58 | 79% | ||
| Slovakia | 2.00 | 1.66 | 83% | ||
| Romania | 1.88 | 1.56 | 83% | ||
| Lithuania | 1.82 | 1.40 | 77% | ||
| Latvia | 1.77 | 1.44 | 81% | ||
| Hungary | 1.75 | 1.38 | 79% | ||
| Bulgaria | 1.73 | 1.54 | 89% | ||
| Estonia | 1.68 | 1.39 | 83% | ||
| Poland | 1.57 | 1.36 | 86% |
This table shows the price and tax burden of 20 cigarettes in the Most Popular Price Category (MPPC) in each of the 27 Member States – it is not a comparison of the same brand.
The price and tax burden shown is primarily based on information contained in the European Commission’s publication Excise Duty Tables. Part III – Manufactured Tobacco, July 2010 and the exchange rates published in the Financial Times for the 1 July 2010
As an aside, when I was in Northern Cyprus a couple of years ago 20 Marlboro Red were 2.5 Turkish dollars for a pack of 20 (conversion rate 2.5 Dollars = £1)
Remembering the British American Tobacco 'stats' - and also remembring an important factor, that this was just for one company - that is an awful lot of tax that the EU is 'inhaling'. It is also worth remembering that the 'income' that this tax produces no doubt goes towards funding things like health, defence (oh and the EU official's salaries?). So where is the 'replacement' income coming from when their dream of the numbers of people smoking has been drastically reduced or completely eradicated???
Just a thought..........
Cost Of EU Reguations
Open Europe press summary reports on this subject and hightlights the fact that a new report from the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions shows that 60 percent of the decisions taken in an average Swedish local authority, and 50 percent of decisions taken in the country’s regions are impacted by the EU. This press summary links to the report and for those who don't speak Swedish a translation (of sorts) can be viewed here - courtesy of Google. They also link to their latest report on this subject, which can also be viewed here.
All of which can but repeat a question asked of our governments many, many times. If our membership of the EU is such a good thing - can we please have a cost/benefit analysis done?
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