How much ?

The Better Regulation think tank has put the cost of existing regulation to industry at £100 billion a year.

The Institute of Directors have estimated the future cost of full membership of the EU, inc unfunded pension liabilities at £168 Billion.

The problem wifh expressing points using vast sums of money is that most people can not comprehend the sums involved.

A writer in a CIB recent article commented:

£1 billion provides the capital to build a hospital and if the balance is invested will provide the running costs for ever!

Now that is what most peolple will understand.

Big Brother Cometh

by Dr Richard North

In the Sunday Times today is a story that has being doing the rounds, this one headed: "Europe wants a black-box speed spy in every car"

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According to The Times, "black box recorders" could be installed in all new cars under an EU ruling. The "aircraft-style equipment" would also act as a tracker, using global positioning satellites to record the location and route of a vehicle and to tell how fast a driver is going and whether seatbelts are being worn.

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Typically, this is being presented as a safety measures, the Times also reporting that "data recovered from the boxes could give investigators important clues on how accidents are caused".

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We are told that the EU commission has asked the police forces of member states to look at whether the technology could improve road safety.Then, if as expected, the police give their backing, manufacturers would be required to install black boxes in all new cars by 2009. All very nicey-nicey this is, and you can bet the police – or more particularly the "road safety" partnerships – will be highly enthusiastic.

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As the technology allows speed to be monitored, and is linked with positioning data, the facility will exist to issue speed tickets from information generated by the car electronics, without any external apparatus such as speed cameras.Furthermore, there have been some suggestions that the system could be linked to in-car computer diagnostic systems which already exist in many cars, to monitor exhaust emissions, with penalty tickets being issued automatically to drivers of cars which fail to meet emission standards – even though they may be unaware of the problem.

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Few people are aware of quite how far this technology has already developed, and quite how enthusiastic the regulators are about its applications. Some indication can be gained from the EU commission site on “Intelligent transport systems”, where ideas such as "electronic fee charging" are rehearsed.Furthermore, since much of this technology relies on satellite positioning data, this the use of such systems in the regulatory context has the potential to provide a considerable revenue stream, underwriting the EU’s Galileo project, with otherwise is difficult to justify financially (other than through the spin-off in arms sales).This is not only an EU problem as the National Transportation Safety Board in America is also highly enthusiastic about such systems, all of which goes to show that the bureaucracies of the world have a great deal in common.Unsurprisingly, British motoring groups fear the technology could be used by government to introduce a national congestion charge or to keep tabs on people’s movements and therein lies the greatest danger.

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Give governments power (any governments) and it is only a matter of time before they abuse it. Here technology is creating a worrisome scenario where, in the future, every time you climb in your car, "big brother" will be looking over your shoulder.

The Sunday Quote

''Conservatives do not believe that the political struggle is the next important thing in life ..... The simplest of them prefer fox-hunting - the wisest religion.''

Lord Hailsham (1907-2001) The Case for Conservatism - 1947.

At a photocall when Lady Thatcher said to Lord Hailsham 'You should be on my right' the Conservative statesmen replied,
''That would be difficult''.

A question of Scrutiny

by Dr. Richard North

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In the House of Commons debating chamber, television cameras often show ranks of empty benches, even during quite important debates, inviting comment that MPs are not bothering to take part in the parliamentary process.

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Some of that is true, notwithstanding that MPs have televisions in their offices with a direct feed to the Chamber, so they can follow debates while also carrying out other work.But behind the scenes there are also the parliamentary committees, many unsung, unheard and almost completely ignored by the media.

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Three such as the European Standing Committees, known respectively - with unusual simplicity and logic - as Euro A, B, and C.These committees form the vital function of questioning ministers over forthcoming EU legislation, prior to their approving it in Brussels through the Council, and (in theory at least) giving those ministers a negotiating mandate which they are supposed to take into account when it comes to voting.

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The committees themselves are at the tail end of the scrutiny process, with the legislation first being looked at by the European Scrutiny Committee, which decided whether any of the draft legislation coming through from Brussels is "politically significant".Proposals which are considered so are marked down for "scrutiny reserve" - which, in theory, means that they cannot be approved by ministers until they have been debated by the House - and referred to one or other of the Euro committees for debate.

Thus, it came to pass that yesterday "Euro A" met to consider two draft EU regulations, together aimed at establishing a "legal base" for the financing of the "reformed" Common Agricultural Policy. But what effectively amounted to a total farce - a hollow charade even - started some 24 hours before the debate for it is only then that the committee papers were passed to the MPs who would attend.

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MPs were sent the regulations, which themselves amounted to 104 pages, with explanatory notes, in a package of background papers which amounted in total to over 400 pages (448, to be precise).There followed a frenetic reading and study session yet, such is the complexity of the subject, and the uncertainties surrounding it, that even this package was not enough.

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Much of the information needed, on which to pass judgement, simply is not known.In the questioning and debate, which can be read on the Hansard site, two speakers pointed up the nature of the problem.Firstly, Owen Paterson, Conservative MP for North Shropshire, and one of the shadow agriculture and fisheries team, noted that it was "most unsatisfactory" trying to discuss something "about which we do not know the details".He added, rather poignantly that: "It is rather like trying to grasp a greased piglet in the dark," a comment that drew some amused responses, not least a question as to whether Paterson was speaking from personal experience. (No said Paterson, he only did it in daylight.)

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Then Andrew George, the Lib Dem Agriculture spokesman, noting the complexity, recorded that he had tried to discuss the issues but there were, he said, few who are capable of seeing the whole picture, adding: "The last one I met who got their head completely around the issues involved is more likely to need institutional care as a result of the struggle that they experienced."This was brought out in the evidence from the European Landowners Organisation (ELO), cited by Owen Paterson in his speech, that organisation stating:The problems and needs of Europe's rural areas differ enormously... This must mean that the balance of measures selected as appropriate to each region is also bound to differ enormously.

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Then, getting to the crux of the problem, the ELO pointed out:We have no evidence to suggest that the Commission is better at prioritising and effective policy management at EU level than the Member States and Regions are at their level. Setting the priorities, quantified objectives, and indicators at EU level will turn out to either be a practical impossibility if done at the right level of detail, or it risks being meaninglessly general if set at a broad level for which comparable data exist for every region.

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And that is the crux of the problem. With 25 nations now in the CAP, the system of agricultural payments and the regulations controlling them are now so complex that they are virtually beyond the capability of the human mind to comprehend them.

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None of the MPs present understood them fully and, throughout the questioning, the minister, Alun Michael, was floundering, unable to give answers to even the basic questions.But, after two hours of questioning and debate, a motion was put asking the members to "take note" of the regulations and approve the government's line.

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The question went to division and, with its in-built government majority, the committee voted the motion through. The deed was done, the minister got his mandate and no one was any the wiser.

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That is parliamentary scrutiny of EU legislation !

Pauses

''Please can we have no more complaints about the pauses in Tony Blair's speeches. They are the best parts.''

Recent letter to the Daily Telegraph

Welcome

This blog is about very British Subjects.

q

We guarantee to be:
controversial, entertaining and occasionally humorous

Mission Impossible

According to the fragrant Margot Wallstrom commissioner for truth and reconcilliation, '' The UK is full of hate ........''

If they are relying on this particular commissioner for their information, however, people are going to remain ignorant – which is perhaps what advocates of the EU really want.

The fair commissioner, who is responsible for pushing through the controversial European constitution, has likened her task to "dressing Frankenstein's monster".These, apparently, are her first public remarks about a job that will keep her busy for the next 18 months. She told a press conference in Brussels that the British would prove particularly sceptical.

"The UK is filled with hatred towards the EU institutions," she said. "But I consider this 'mission irresistible', not 'mission impossible'."

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Extracted from '' The UK is full of hate '' by Dr Richard North http://eureferendum.blogspot.com

These Green and Pleasant Isles

A week-end essay, a ramble around a theme.

The world, I recently read, is divided into 193 sovereign nations; 61 dependent areas and 6 disputed territories. The definition of a 'sovereign nation' is a controversial issue. If because of the UK's membership of the EU the question arises, is our country indeed still fully, or partly, sovereign. This is a hotly argued topic which is often confused by the misuse of terms and the accusations of 'myths'.

What is the name of our nation ?

Great Britain, the United Kingdom and the British Isles do not mean the same thing, but the two former are included in the latter. The United Kingdom consists of Great Britain - the main Island made up of England, Scotland and Wales - and Northern Ireland (Ulster) while the British Isles also includes Ireland and the Channel Islands as well as the Isle of Man.The Untied Kingdom was established on 1 January 1801.

The Channel Isles which consists of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark enjoy a somewhat complex constitutional status with the Crown. The islands known as Bailiwicks are not a part of the UK, they have their own parliaments known as 'The States' and a Governor appointed by the Crown. The channel islanders constitutional status dates back to William the Conqueror who as Duke of Normandy ruled over the Islands off, what is now the French coast.

The Isle of Man, in the North Sea has a similar status to that of the Channel Islands. Neither the Channel Islands nor the Isle of Man are member states of the EU, though because of the close practical links with the UK British Subjects in the Islands are effected by the 1,000 pages of the all expanding 'access communautaire' that plagues Her Majesty's loyal subjects in the UK.

The population of the United Kingdom according to the census of 2001 is 60,094,648 and is currently growing at the annual rate of 0.21 per cent per annum. The census is inaccurate by at least one since I returned my census questionnaire marked 'nil return' because I was unhappy about the invasion of my privacy. The warnings that I would be prosecuted unfortunately came to nothing, perhaps the civil servants are still considering my arguments regarding the breach of my human rights and a closer argued clause in the Bill of Rights of 1689.

Whilst, still just about, on the subject of names 'Europe' (named after a Phoenician princess, Europa, who was according to Greek legend - abducted by Zeus, a 'father of the gods') one must not get confused with the European Union (EU). The EU, that most audacious political project of modern times: the plan to unite the nations and people of Europe under a single centralised government should not be confused with Europe, the geographical continent.

So where does all this take us ? The dear reader of this blog may well ask, all I can offer is knowledge is beneficial. I sometimes over concern my self at the lack of basic knowledge of British Subjects. I read recently in The Independent that according to a recent servey 11 percent of the population believe that Adolph Hitler never existed and 9 per cent believe that neither did Winston Churchill. Depressing !

To the 12.1 million British Subjects that currently have access to the Internet from home I trust that a few of you have found this site and more than one has got to the end of this posting.


The 'week-end essay' will be a regular feature of this blog. Guest columnists most welcome.

Knickers

Marks and Spencer recently confirmed that aproximatly 45 bras and 60 pairs of knickers are sold in their retail stores every minute during opening hours in the British Isles.

This fact begs one question and one statement:

Why are knickers 'pairs' whilst bras are not ?

Since M & S is underperforming on the 'High Street' then clearly thongs can only get better !

Indeed.

The French Are Revolting - Again.

French revolt as 'British invasion' drives up property prices

By Kim Willsher in Paris.

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Breton villages protested yesterday against an "invasion" of Britons blamed for pushing up property prices and forcing out locals.Around 100 people took to the streets of Bourbriac and called on all "proud French natives" to express their anger at "colonisation".

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They demanded more low-cost housing, criticised estate agents for "market speculation" and set fireto piles of property magazines.The protest was part of a growing backlash against the increasing number of Britons moving to rural France.

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It came six months after hostility to settlers erupted with "Brits out" and "Anglais integres, oui. Colons, non!" [Integrated English, yes. Colonisers, no!] slogans daubed on walls in the village near the Armor coast.Bourbriac is now home to about 700 Britons, 100 Germans and Dutch, among a French population of 1,200.Maiwenne Salomon, one of the protest organisers, said the demonstration was not racist or xenophobic.

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"Our problem is not with the British in general, it's with the people who arrive here, who don't speak French, who don't mix, don't take part in the life of the community and who create Anglo-Saxon ghettos where they keep them selves tothemselves," she said.

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"It's been complete madness over the last few years with foreigners, particularly the Anglo-Saxons, arriving in incredible numbers."The result of this has been that property prices have rocketed in the whole of Britanny and Bretons themselves can't find anywhere to live, whether it's to rent or to buy."She said that the cost of buying a home had risen by up to 600 per cent.

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Still talking in francs, rather than euros, Mrs Salomon, added: "You used to be able to buy a small house which needed some work on it for around 50,000 francs [£5,000]. Now it's impossible to find anything - even if it needs completely renovating - for less than 300,000."This has had a knock-on effect on properties for rent. Even if you could find somewhere, the monthly rent is far too high for most ordinary families to pay.

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"I've got friends living in caravans because they can't afford to live anywhere else."Flysheets advertising the demonstration, distributed by a Breton nationalist organisation calling itself the Trégor-Golelo Group demanded an end to property speculation. "Housing for Bretons, not for settlers," it proclaimed.

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"Those of us in the most precarious situation - the young, the badly paid - are suffering the worst.

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We know that this explosion in the property market is linked to two factors. Firstly there is the massive arrival of the rich and well-to-do from England, France and elsewhere.

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"Secondly we are well aware that the estate agents and solicitors are doing everything to persuade us to sell up and they continue to advertise across the Channel to keep filling their pockets."The organisation called for a series of measures, one of them that local authorities should exercise their right to buy properties at a fixed price and resell them to locals. Its criticism was not confined to foreigners and it called for measures to stop "our compatriots selling our country for profit".

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"We have to make them aware of the social consequences of what they are doing when they sell at mind-blowing prices to those who neither live nor work here."

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A census last year showed that about 100,000 Britons live in France. This figure does not include children or those owning holiday homes.

Telegraph Group Limited. Via DY Distribution.

ID Cards - Party Political

From the Editor's desk.

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The government has spent public money on opinion poll research to help sell its unpopular ID cards to reluctant voters long before the scheme was passed by parliament.

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Taxpayer-funded pollsters actually argued with their interviewees in an attempt to persuade them that ID cards were a good idea, as well as offering the government some very handy properganda points with which to win over voters.

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The surveys ''objectives'', and modus operandi uncovered by Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten MP, were to investigate ''motivations and barriers to acceptance of identity/entitlement cards and ideas about how they can most effectivly be presented to the public in any future publicity campaign''.

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Civil Service guidelines clearly state that polls should not be used for any party political purposes. As the surveys were conducted before Parliament voted on ID cards, the research was clearly party political.

I shall support Mark Oaten on this issue at write a letter to my MP.

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As in my previous communications to The Rt Hon. Member for Sedgfield I shall offer to discuss my point in the Dun Cow over a pint of traditional real ale. However, since I am not a head of State my offer is likely to receive the same response as my previous requests, that being of no reply !

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Anyway, must dash, I am off to the hunt meet at the village green, tally ho.

Shhhh It's Open Government

The Government's information and nationality directive has issued instructions to staff on how they will be affected by the freedom of information act, which came into force in January this year.

The instructions, circulated on the Home Offices internal 'intanet' system are proceded by a dire warning to civil servents.

'' Staff should on no account disclose any parts of this (document) to any one out side of a goverment department.''

Indeed.

The Myth of Troy

Cassandra was the beautiful daughter of the King of Troy, Priam.

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She had been given the power to fortell the future by the god Apollo. However, Apollo who had chosen to instruct this fair mortal woman also wanted to win her affections. Casandra accepted Apollo as a teacher but was less than keen on him as a lover.

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Apollo was upset and like male mortals he took rejection badly. He used his powers as a god to punish Cassandra by making everone who heard her true predictions belive that they were hearing lies.

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Thus, in spite of Casandra's warnings about the fall of Troy, the Trojans ignored her and made the fateful mistake of accepting the gift of the infamous Wooden Horse from their Greek enemies.

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Indeed.

Young Persons Competition

What does it mean to be a British Subject ?

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Young people (up to the age of 22) are invited to submit a 500 -1000 words on 'what it means to be a British Subject'. The entry that is deemed by the panel of Judges (which will consist of The Editor and one other 'pressed' person) deemed to be the most in keeping with the style of this blog will win an unusual yet exciting prize - a flight over (some of) Her Majesty's Realm in a light Aircraft.

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The Judges' decision will be final. The closing date is 12 noon, 28 February 2005. Pieces should be submitted by email as attachments to ptroy@fsbdial.co.uk

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Further details, if required, please send an email to the address above.

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Disclaimer:

No resposablity can be accepted for anything,

this blog is a compensation free zone.

The Sunday Quote

''A committee is a group of people who keep minutes, waste hours, and create a cull-de-sac down which ideas are lured and then quietly strangled''

Milton Berle (1908-2002) Comment in The New Statesman 1973.

My reaction to the well known comment by that prolific commentator of human behaviour, Anonymous, that camels are horses designed by a committee is that it is unfair to camels.

I learnt to respect camels (often referred to as ships of the desert) during my days travelling in North Africa. Camels, the true aristocrats of the desert are above being designed - clearly they naturally evolved by supreme self determination.

Welcome

This blog is about very British Subjects.

We guarantee to be:

controversial, entertaining and occasionally humorous

Living in a Buble

by Dr Helen Szamuely

The egregious Mark Leonard is at it again. He is about to publish a new pamphlet, co-authored with Andrew Small and Martin Rose. Entitled Public Diplomacy in the ‘Age of Schisms’, it is due out in March but I have received a prepublication blurb for it. I cannot resist sharing it with our readers:

“The damage done to Britain's world image by the Iraq war and the emergence of new global schisms necessitates a new strategy for British public diplomacy, according to the pamphlet authors. [sic] They argue that Britain must rethink the way it communicates with international publics to prevent a gap emerging between its own perception of itself as a principled power committed to multilateralism and how other nations view it.

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”Fascinating. These people should get out more. (And learn about the possessive case.)

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Exactly, why do they think that Britain’s participation in the liberation of Iraq and contribution to the first democratic election in that country’s history should have harmed her image?

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What might seriously harm that image would be getting enmeshed in the EU’s common foreign policy, which consists of being extremely chummy with Fidel Castro and lifting the arms embargo on China, not to mention the never-ending and laughable one-sided negotiations with the Mullahs of Iran.

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Then there is the communication with international publics. What on earth are they? Do they mean the international great and the good, NGOs, media and tranzis? Then why don’t they say so? How can you have an international public?

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A public exists within a certain social and political structure and in a very large part of the world it does not exist at all, since the structures of many states militate against that.There is, of course, a public emerging in the Middle East, largely thanks to various actions by the coalition led by the United States, in which Britain has taken a strong and active part.That is principled activity. Being committed to multilateralism is supporting the corrupt and self-serving international and transnational bureaucracy of such wonderfully principled organizations as the United Nations, now embroiled in numerous scandals or the NGOs, whose collective behaviour after the tsunami has called their very existence into question.

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I do not suppose Mr Leonard is interested in my advice but if he were, I should tell him to get out more. Living in a bubble is bad for one’s mental faculties.

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Dr Helen Szamuely is co-editor of 'eu referendum'.

From the Farm

Recent letter to 'The Journal' from the Editor of this Blog.

This week is the fourth anniversary of the Foot and Mouth crises that caused so much devastation to rural Britain. A full public enquuary so ernestly demanded by many newspapers and pressure groups was not granted by the government. Thus much of the mismanagemrnt of the crises remains unexposed.

Even before the epidemic, with its ghastly images of waste and destruction British agriculture was (and remains) a dying industry. Farming has struggled under the onslaught of successive crises -the effects of the Common Agricultural Policy and its bureaucratic demands; food scares from salmonella to BSE ; the spread of intensive farming and the concentration of buying power in the hands of the retail giants.- the British Agricultural industry is on its knees.

There is a breath of life left in the corps of British Farming but only if clear and successful policies covering land management, subsidies, and government controls are formulated.

More meaningful decisions concerning the countryside should be taken at local level, only then will our Agricultural Industry stand a chance of full recovery.

Fox Hunting

A comment from Josephine White.

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If the hunting ban was genuinely motivated by a love of animals, I might have had some sympathy. Gracious, no-one approves of cruelty to animals. But the Bill was purely class driven. In a toss up between a few dead foxes and the right of Rural England to selfdetermination, Rural England wins hands down. The anti-hunt campaigners do not know what they've done. Whilst they mayhave muzzled the hunting dogs, they may well have unleashed the far nastierdogs of civil war. Remember that poem about the Saxon and his plough?

The Countryside will not forget this... Ever!

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Indeed, Ed.

Totaly Rejected in 'Totality'

The UK's largest member business organisation with over 185,000 members, which last year recruited 32,683 new members, confirms in it's annual report that lobbying for business issues continues to be an increasingly competitive activity. In a glossy Annual Report published for the AGM next month the Federation's Policy Chairman, on page 6 states:

''We have a long established policy of retaining the pound in the UK and following a debate at the National Conference last March. on the EU Constitution, the Policy Committee and the then National Council { both of the FSB, ed } have adopted a position of calling on the UK Government not to implement the Constitution for the UK. This was very much driven by business reasons rather than the totality of the Constitution.''

A motion at the FSB's 2004 conference calling on the government not to sign the constitutional treaty was carried by 104,178 to 5310 { branch delegates carry block votes based upon branch membership} The massive 95 percent victory was a true reflection of the attitude of the nations small business community.

The editor of this blog spoke in support of the motion saying:

'' If the EU Constitution is ratified it will signal, in effect, the end of the United Kingdom as a self governing nation''.

As this blog will continue to point out the totality of the constitution, for business and for reasons of good governance 'The Treaty Establishing A Constitution For Europe'' is a threat to the future prosperity of British Subjects.

Of course it is the totality of the EU Constitution which is the threat to the future prosperity of our nation, as any one who has read and understood it's 560 pages (including annexes and protocols) should confirm.