Big Brother (and Sister)

On the website of Hazel Blears, Labour MP for Salford, the "Chair" of the Labour Party, and Minister without Portfolio, at the Cabinet Office is an item of concern.

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_http://www.hazelblears.co.uk:80/home_

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It is worrying that so far, 22% of those being asked, are telling the Labour party ''Chair'' that they don't mind carrying an ID card. Perhaps they'll mind more when they're landed with a swingeing fine (after an introductory period) each time they're caught not carrying it.

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Another nice little earner for HM Treasury, all in the intrests of anti-terrorism of course.

The Sunday Quote

"I have striven not to laugh at human actions, not to weep at them, nor to hate them, but to understand them."

Baruch Spinoza - (1632- 1677)
Tractatus Politicus 1, iv (translated from the Latin)

New Years Revolution

Peter Troy, Editor

The European Union (EU) at the end of this year is as dominant a factor in our affairs; interfering, controlling telling us what is best for us, as it was at the beginning.

If this Blog were to have one new years resolution it would be to be more effective in communicating the damage that the E U does to the wellbeing of not only the United Kingdom and Europe but indeed the Western World.

It will take not resolutions but a revolution in peoples thinking to change the dominant influence of the EU.

A salient example was when a top EU official, yesterday issued a statement on behalf of the EU the denouncing the execution of Saddam Hussein as a "barbaric" act that could create an undeserved martyr. The EU official speaks not in the name of the British people, nor in the name of the peoples of Europe. Neither he nor his colleagues were elected by us and we, the people did not appoint or authorize these self appointed officials to speak in our name. Nor in the name of the former citizens of Halabja, now deceased, and the hundreds of thousands of others victims of the former dictator of Iraq lying in mass graves.

Yet the 'EU effect' deepens. At midnight tonight, with the dawn of the New Year, Romania and Bulgaria join the European Union, bringing it to 27 members. But that means more than them joining a cosy little club which many want us to believe. It means that Romanians and Bulgarians have the right to enter our country. They do not, as yet, have a right to work here – unless they are self-employed – but who is checking?

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It also means (a little understood fact that) the Romanian and Bulgarian governments become part of our government. Both member states will supply officials, high and low, to the EU commission, which makes decisions on how we in the United Kingdom are required to run our affairs. Their ministers join the Council of Ministers, which decides which laws are adopted, and their heads of government become members of the European Council – and decide on "European" political strategy. For that privilege, we also pay several more billions into the kitty. The simple fact is that Romania and Bulgaria are now a part of our government, giving their officials the right to decide on the laws that affect all of us.

Thus is how we are told what to think and do. Such remoteness of governance is the stuff of revolutions not resolutions.

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For further viewing -please click the Reuters link below

http://today.reuters.co.uk/tv/videoChannel.aspx?storyid=c4907843772a3c25bb945b780f316efb170ae6b2

Tommy Atkins

Posted is here is a serious piece.

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British soldiers, are suffering from neglect, our neglect, the neglect of our government, our opposition and, most of all, of our media. No wonder they feel unappreciated. No wonder recruitment and retention is problem for the British Army.

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When the media tell us how important our soldiers are, and how much they care, we shall remember. Kipling had it so right.

Saddam Hussein Hanged

A truly evil man was this morning hanged by his own countrymen with a delicious sense of justice inside one of his former torture centres.

Three years after he was hauled from a hole in the ground by pursuing U.S. forces, Saddam Hussein was hanged at 03.00 hrs GMT Saturday under a sentence imposed by an Iraqi court, al-Hurra TV, al-Arabiya and Sky News TV have reportrd early this morning.

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The deposed president was found guilty of the killing of 148 members of the Shiite population in the town of Dujail after militants tried to assassinate him there in 1982, during Iraq's war with Shiite Iran. Sadam Hussein was also responsable for the murder of tens if not hundreds of thousands of his fellow countrymen during 20 years as the despotic ruler of Iraq.

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The official witnesses to his execution gathered on Friday in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone in final preparation for his hanging, as state television broadcast footage of his regime's atrocities.

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The Pentagon said that U.S. forces, always on high alert in Iraq (as indeed are British) were braced for any upsurge in violence from Sunni insurgents loyal to Saddam.

An Iraqi court upheld Saddam's death sentence on Tuesday for the killing of 148 people who were detained and tortured after the attempt on his life.

Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki said in statements released on Friday that those who opposed the execution of Saddam were insulting the honor of his victims. His office said that he made the remarks in a meeting with families of people who died during Saddam's 23 year rule.

"Our respect for human rights requires us to execute him, and there will be no review or delay in carrying out the sentence," al-Maliki said.

In his Friday sermon, a mosque preacher in the Shiite holy city of Najaf called Saddam's execution "God's gift to Iraqis."

Earlier reports said al-Maliki feared fueling religious tensions if Saddam were executed during Eid al-Adha, a Muslim holiday that starts at sundown Saturday.

An execution during Eid carries great symbolism. The feast marks the sacrifice the prophet Abra.

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The British Government's anouncements following the execution have concentrated on the fact that the decision was that of the independent Government of Iraq. An interesting comment at this juncture is that the United Kingdom is not independent of the European Union and thus cannot impose (or carry out) a death sentence on any of its evil criminals.

The End of Week Quote

A quote from John Blundell in a Heritage Lecture, 22 December 2006:

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It is not even clear how many E.U. regulations there are! When pressed on the matter, a British minister said that “as far as the government has been able to verify” the number of sets of regulations enacted between 1973 and 2002 as a result of E.U. membership was 101,811. But Britain, like other applicants, was obliged to adopt the acquis communautaire – the existing body of E.U.regulations and directives – on entry. The total number of sets of regulations to which British citizens are subject as the result of E.U. membership may be inexcess of 200,000, with an average 2,500 new sets of regulations being added each year.

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http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/1779

The 38th President of the USA

Nixon leaves the White House -8 August 1974

The death was announced yesterday of Gerald Ford, the 38th President of the United States.

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Until now there were two things one always remembered about Ford; one is that he was the only President who had not been elected either to the presidency or the vice-presidency and the other is LBJ's comment about him. There are two versions of the latter, both indicating LBJ's low opinion of Ford's intelligence. Either he said that Ford was so dumb he could not walk and chew gum at the same time or, and this is much more likely, that he could not fart and chew gum at the same time.

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Now we have a third piece of information: as of last month he was the longest living American President. All of which is a little unfair on a decent, upright, reasonably able man who did the best he could in difficult circumstances.

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Becoming Vice-President after Spiro Agnew's resignation in October 1973, Gerald Ford took over as President when Nixon decided not to face probable impeachment and resigned in August 1974.

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Taking over after Watergate, Ford did a creditable job of moving the country back more or less onto a steady course, though the hysteria generated by Nixon has survived and poisoned American politics to this day.

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And that is about all one can say in Ford’s favour. Gerald Ford is still remembered with a good deal of personal respect, it is difficult to understand the mawkishness of the blog entry on Hot Air and the comments on it. A good man does not a good president make.

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His appointment of the ultra left Nelson Rockefeller as Vice-President was a disaster. The economy under him continued to lurch between inflation and recession with the government trying to counter the problems caused by OPEC-raised oil prices by ever more taxes and controls.

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When it came to foreign policy, Ford was definitely of the "let us be nice to the Soviets and maybe they will be nice to us" persuasion (though one could never doubt his patriotism). Of course, neither the Soviets nor the Chinese had the slightest intention of tickling the West's tummy if it rolled over. A swift kick where it hurts most was the usual response.

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SALT talks resulted in the Soviets constructing SS20s in Eastern Europe. On the other hand, the Helsinki Accords, intended to be another surrender to the Communist world view, unexpectedly proved to be a useful weapon against oppression in that world and, consequently, aided its destabilization.

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Helsinki Watch strengthened the dissident movement in the oppressed countries by making the plight of individuals who had courageously stood up for basic rights and liberties public in the West and giving politicians like Reagan and Thatcher weapons in their fight. Its successor, Human Rights Watch, is a considerably less useful organization.

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Above all, however, Ford’s presidency is linked to the most appalling event in the West’s fight against Communism: the betrayal of South Vietnam and Cambodia. In 1974 the American troops began evacuating from South-East Asia. The Thieu regime was given strong promises of military aid if it continued the fight. The aid did not materialize.

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North Vietnam, having effectively lost the war previously, now overran South Vietnam and at the end of April, 1975 Saigon fell. The "realists" and the media, which had induced the "Vietnam war" hysteria, had triumphed. Vietnam and Cambodia entered years of totalitarian oppression and genocide, while in the rest of the world the West and its ideas of freedom and democracy seemed in retreat.

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To be fair to Ford, his narrow defeat by Jimmy Carter in 1976 turned out to be an even bigger disaster. Now there is a man about whom one might say many things but one will suffice: the worst and least successful president in the history of the United States. Furthermore, unlike Carter, Ford retreated into private life and did not spend his time pretending to re-fight old battles, this time being victorious. In other words, he did not spend his time passing ignorant judgement about his successors' policies. Carter's obituaries are unlikely to be as respectful as Ford's.

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Prsident Ford's family, August 1974

The Sunday (Christmas) Quote

''I stopped beliving in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked me for my autograph.''

Shirley Temple

A Good News Story

From Christopher Booker's notebook comes a story of victory over petty officialdom

Just in time for Christmas has come a miraculous twist to one of the saddest stories reported by in my column in 2006. In July I revealed a bizarre ruling by the Environment Agency that threatened to close down Intercare, a charity that collects medicines surplus to British requirements and sends them to a networkof 100 clinics in some of the poorest parts of Africa.

The drugs were all carefully screened by a volunteer team of doctors, nurses andpharmacists to ensure they were still in perfect condition, and were only sent in response to the specific needs of trained medical staff in Africa, where they were hugely appreciated, helping to treat more than a million patients.

A British Government Environment Agency official, however, decided that, under EU rules, these medicines were "waste" and had to be sent to landfill. They even threatened Intercare, run from Leicester by Dr Margaret Macdonald, with prosecution.

When I told this extraordinary story it was followed elsewhere in the media.Those in charge of the agency were sufficiently embarrassed to send a more senior official to investigate. So positively did he approach his task, as a joyful Dr Macdonald was able to tell me last week, that not only can Intercare continue its good work, but it will soon be licensed to receive drugs from any GP, hospital, nursing home or NHS trust in the country.

Collecting will begin again in January, and even private individuals cancontribute through their GP.

Anyone wishing to contribute can make contact through http://www.intercare.org.uk/, oremail medicines@intercare.org.uk, or ring 0116 269 5925 in office hours.I am pleased to say that, on the day the good news came through, as I took aband of carol singers round our Somerset village, my generous neighbours wereable to lead the way by raising £164.

A happy Christmas to Dr Macdonald and all who work for this admirable charity.

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Christoper Booker

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The above is confermation that one should never give up when one is right; petty officials (Managers) are often the enemy of progress, mostly because they have no greater vision. Ed.

Merry Christmas

A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

to our many readers across the world.

(terms and conditions apply)

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During the year there has been some adverse comment (we are pleased no note) on the contents of some of the postings on this glourious blog. For the avoidance of any doubt (and as we are mindful of the vast number of regulations that apply in these cirumstances) this blog's best wishes are given with no obligation, implied or implicit, for an environmentally-conscious socially-responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice (in the northern hemisphere) holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of ones choice, or indeed secular practices, with respect for the regions/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.

In addition, please also accept this blog's very British best wishes for a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2007 but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make this, Her Majesty's Realm, great and without regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual orientation of the wishees.

This wish is limited to the customary and usual good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greetings, whichever comes first.

“Holiday” is not intended to, nor shall it be considered, limited to the usual Christian celebrations or observances, or to such activities of any organised or ad hoc religious community, group, individual or belief (or lack thereof).

This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher at any time, for any reason or for no reason at all. The greeting is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. This greeting implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for the wishee her/himself or others, or responsibility for the consequences which may arise from the implementation or non-implementation of any wishes.

Peter Troy

The Christmas Repeal

The European Communities Act 1972 is on the BBC's Today Programme's Short List for Acts of Parliament that the public would like to see abolished.The repeal of the Act would in effect mean that the UK would leave the EU (three cheers for that).



Readers can either can either vote for free here:

www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today

or by telephoning 0901 5221004 (calls cost 15p from a UK land line).

Voting is open now and closes on New Year's Eve - the result will be announced on New Year's Day.

Please make the effort to vote after all we only want our country back.

That Institutionally Stupid Commisioner

It is quite difficult to work out which is more scary – that the capital's police are led by a man who has no understanding of history, or a man who is so stupid that he hasn't the sense to keep his mouth closed when he doesn't know what he is talking about.

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Dr Helen Szamuely asks : Who will rid us of this talkative plod?

Plod Blair, Sir Ian of that Ilk, has been opining again. Specifically he was giving another interview on BBC Radio 4. Having waffled his way through the Forest Gate episode (of which we still don't know the whole truth) and asserted his belief (which we share) that he will be cleared over the Menezes shooting, he went into what one can only describe as hyper mode about a potential al-Quaeda threat:

''Christmas is a period when that might happen. We have no specific intelligence to do (with) that. It is a far graver threat in terms of civilians than either the Cold War or the Second World War. It's a much graver threat than that posed by Irish Republican terrorism.''

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Does this man know any history at all?

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While it is reasonable to say that the present terrorist threat is different from that posed by the IRA for several decades, it is actually not worth saying. Everyone has made that point and we have all acccepted it. The only problem, is why are people like Plod Blair and his various minions of differing ranks are looking at the IRA? Why not look at the international terrorism of the seventies? They will find quite a number of parallels there.

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But hey, that would be reading history and that is something our senior plods do not do.The idea of equating the Second World War and the Cold War in terms of civilian casualties in Britain is so daft as to defy explanation. Apart from a few ex-KGB agents and pesky emigres, all murdered by the Soviet secret service or their henchmen in, say, Bulgaria, there were no civilian casualties in the Cold War.

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When we look at the Second World War, the picture is starkly different. It has been calculated that the blitz and the V1/V2 attacks between them killed around 60,000 in London and wounded many more. They were almost all civilians. When we add the horrific attacks on Coventry, Plymouth, Bristol, Liverpool, Glasgow and other more casual ones like the Baedeker raids, we must assume that the death toll was probably 100,000 and more. The destruction of property was stupendous.

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Is Plod Blair telling us that a putative al-Quaeda attack for which he has no specific intelligence (that's nothing to go by) will be worse? Or is he simply so ignorant of the history of his own country that he says the first thing that comes into his head?

Cruel Quotas

The latest fisheries resolution came out of Brussels early this morning.

The cruelty comes because it is the time at which the crucial decisions on quotas for the coming year are made, under the EUs Common Fisheries Policy – a policy which is not only morally but also technically wrong – invariably bringing woe to hard-pressed fishermen, just at a time when everyone else is preparing for the Christmas festivities

Each year this ritual, held in the the killing fields of the Brussels council chamber, where they participate in the slow, inexorable execution of the British fishing industry.

All of us lose, the whole nation, as we see an industry which could be worth £3 billion plus ground into oblivion, currently worth about half a billion and declining each year.

It says something that the agriculture minister of Cyprus has a say in the management of British waters, but the ultimate farce, or insult if you prefer, is Joe Borg, fisheries commissioner, the man in charge of British fishing - he is from Malta

There is plenty of coverage on the internet – Google News has nearly 200 reports – from which this is a representative sample, here, here and here.

As the man from Scotland says, "it's another nail in the coffin", while Ross Finnie twitters - as he always does, every year – "I think it's the best deal there was available." If the EU Commision stripped his stripped his shirt and underpants from him as he walked out of the Council chamber he would still say the same.

Of all the comments the one to highlight comes from the BBC website, citing Dr Bryce Beukers-Stewart, Fisheries Policy Officer for the Marine Conservation Society, who makes the point that It is astounding that the EU continues to persist with this doomed approach to fisheries management.

These marginal adjustments to the quotas for cod around the UK have been going on for at least the last 20 years, but the fish stocks themselves are going down much faster. This is hardly surprising, as the quotas still allow for at least 60 percent of the fish to be removed each year - what chance does that give for recovery?

What is needed, he says, is a much more creative and proactive approach to improving the selectivity of fishing gear and practices to reduce the bycatch of unwanted or under-fire species such as cod.

There was actually such an approach proposed by the Conservative Party, which was gathering strength until the current leader junked the policy.

So is there a light at the end of the tunnel ? Yes it is a huge express train, with the letters “EU” emblazoned on it front, bearing down on us. There is no hope for the British fishing industry, no hope at all.

The picture above says it all: as the sun sets on the industry, the "Single European Fish" is now that much closer to reality.

Photos: (Approprioatly) from the Council of the European Communities -will be attached as soon as blogger allows.

The End of Week Quote

Martin Bell

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''I was on the base when Tony Blair arrived for his fourth and last pre-Christmas visit to the troops. More than half of his entourage of 13, apart from bodyguards, were spin doctors or press managers of one sort or another. For a travelling press corps of 20 reporters, that was an extraordinarily high proportion of sheep dogs to sheep. Downing Street got what it wanted - an heroic photo op against a background of troops, tanks and a helicopter. The reporters had to take it at face value, because face value was all there was time for.''

Jornalist and former independent MP Martin Bell writing from Basra in the Guardian's Comment is Free blog.

As Martin Bell details in his piece, what was taken at face value was quite wrong. It is a matter of regret that the main media have not, as yet, reported the actual situation and plans for the future in Basra. Well presumably they will not want to admit that they have been over influenced by Downing Street's press managers!

To whom it may concern

The UK Independence Party (UKIP) recently issued the following communication:

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'' As a point of information UKIP recently sent blanket mailshots to all Councillors throughout the Country asking them to consider joining UKIP.

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If UKIP Councillors have been written to they need not apply to join as they already have joined. If however any BNP or similar unsuitable souls apply to join UKIP they will be refused. ''

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No junk mail from UKIP then during the festive season !

Sark Embraces Democracy

Sark, one of the smallest of the inhabited Channel Islands (off the northern coast of France) voted this year to end 450 years of feudalism in favour of directly elected local politicians.

The Channel Islands are 'out with' the United Kingdom (and the EU), are Crown Dependencies with theirs own legislative assemblies, the inhabitants are indeed very British and very Loyal to the Crown (it all dates back to King William I of England, Duke of Normandy in 1066 and all that), yet the islanders have (it is all a tad complicated) to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights.

For over four centuries Sark has been governed by the law-making body, the Chief Please which comprised of 40 landowners directly descended from the 40 Jersey (the largest of the Channel Islands) families who were settled in the Island following the expulsion of a ramshacakeled collection of French temporary occupants in 1533, by the powerful DeCarteret family from St Ouens, in the west of Jersey. Each family was granted a piece of land with a small section of coast on condition they maintained a cannon on their land - and presumably fired it in the general direction of any intending invaders or pirates.

The coastal cannons have long since gone but the feudal system of government has, up to now, remained.

In March this year the Islanders agreed to change (actually, they had no choice) its centuries old system of government which dated back to Queen Elizabeth I, who granted the ruling 'Seignior' a 'fief' on the tiny island.

A ballot outlined two options. In the first, the Chief Pleas would be made up entirely of 28 elected deputies. The second option was for 28 seats but with the body being made up of 12 elected deputies, eight elected tenants and eight additional members.

Well now, the residents of Sark were keen on simple democracy. Of the 419 returned ballots, 234 opted for the first option and 184 for the second. The turnout was an amazing 90 per cent.

So it came to pass that the legislation was sent to the Privy Council for approval. It was then granted Royal Assent and is now law. In the Spring of next year the islanders will elect 28 new politicians and another of our ''dear Channel Islands'' will enjoy universal suffrage.

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One wonders if the Islanders of Sark will soon have the highest ratio of voters to politicians in the world, some 450:28 - equelivant to one politician to every six voters. As a consequence one could suspect that the future political scene in Sark will be less tranquil than the past 450 years. Thus is how they will now be governed.

Per Tea Pot Ad Astra

An RAF Nimrod

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We are grateful to a former Royal Air Force Officer who has advised us that despite drastic cuts in recent years, sandards in the Service are being maitained. Apparently the crew of an RAF Nimrod resently used a teapot to block a hole in their aircraft. A mid-air mechanical fault forced the fight crew to improvise when a hatch door from which sonar buoys are thrown during search and rescue missions fail to shut properly.

A press statement confirmed that the crew's safety had not been compromised but made no reference to the quality of tea employed on operations; one assumes it was Earl Grey. When asked for a reaction the former Flight Lieutenant commented (whilst pruning his beloved roses) ''I trust they took up china cups and saucers there are somethings that can not be substituted''

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An RAF Tea Pot and Milk Jug

Enlargement Matters

Bruno Waterford The Daily Telegraph Brussels correspondent reports today that more than half of Britons are opposed to EU enlargement after the latest round of expansion triggered a massive influx of migrant workers, according to a new poll.

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The European Commission's Eurobarometer shows that for the first time a majority of the British people, 51 per cent, is against the EU's eastwards expansion. The number of opponents has jumped by nine points over the last six months. Only 36per cent now support enlargement and 13 per cent are undecided.

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It is hardly surprising that EU Commission officials blame public alarm over immigration as 437,000 migrants flocked to Britain after Eastern European countries such as Poland joined the EU in May 2004. Initial British government estimates had put the total of expected migrants at only 13,000. Only 36 per cent of Britons were against enlargement in the autumn 2004, according to surveys held at the time.

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The editor of this blog commented on the BBC in July 2004 that the governments had no idea of the number of immigrants entering the EU and thus could not predict what numbers would arrive from Eastern Europe in the next few years. Along with other commentators making the same point he was derided as alarmist and racist by 'little Europeans'. Both comments were vigorously denied both at the time and subsequently.

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Britain was forced to impose restrictions on workers from Bulgaria and Romania, when both countries join the EU on 1 January. Though 'self employed' workers will not face (as we understand the rules) restrictions on entry, despite asking the question to the Government as to how self employed workers will be controlled, we are still none the wiser (probably because we did not get a reply).

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Perhaps the Federation of Small Businesses may want to take up the issue - which will be an interesting exercise since it has a policy of not replying to the editor of this Blog's questions. However they may, possibly, respond to each other's communications - two negatives making a positive as it were.
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Anyway, much to the dismay of our EU masters the UK Government's restrictions on Bulgarians and Rumanians, is in contradiction to the 'open borders' ethos. Thus the UK is being accused of not entering into the sprit of 'the (EU) project'.

The EU enlargement issue has very much damaged the EU in the eyes of the British people, with opposition to membership up three points and negative perceptions of Brussels rising seven points, reports The Daily Telegraph today.

The reaction to all this from Her Majesty's Government (and supported in effect by the Loyal Opposition), will undoubtedly be to spend vast sums of British taxpayers money on 're-educating' the British people. Thus is how we are now governed.

Unforgivable and Inexcusable

"To send soldiers into a combat zone without the appropriate basic equipment is, in my view, unforgivable and inexcusable and represents a breach of trust that the soldiers have in those in Government."

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Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner, Andrew Walker today, speaking about the death of Sgt Steve Roberts and the failure of the MoD to supply him with body armour. In the days of honour someone would have resigned over the '' breach of trust'' but sadly there is no honour in Government circles in todays 'target orientated', corporate management speak ministries.

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The danger now is that the media and (opposition) politicians will focus on this one issue - which has actually been sorted. All troops in combat areas have been issued, at last, with high-tech body armour.

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There are many more fundamental shortages, from armoured vehicles, to thermal imagers and counter-mortar equipment - to say nothing of helicopters and amoured transport vehicles.

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It is time that all Members of Parliament and commentators start doing their jobs and demand this equipment, instead of just using British troops as a source of cheap copy or stage dressing for their own publicity?

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The under equipped British armed forces are paying in blood for the failings of their political masters. Whilst this situation is nothing new that is no good reason why it should continue.

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Please read "Reflected glory" by Dr Richard North here.

Consultation is not the solution

Left, John Walker, Policy Chairman of the FSB with Peter Troy.

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The Federation of Small Businesses gets it wrong

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Independent (of any political party) Member of the European Parliment (MEP) Ashley Mote contributed to a recent 'debate' in the Parliment recently. Using all of his allocated 90-seconds during the so-called debate on 'enterprise and growth' and with less than a dozen members in the chamber, which seats 732, the MEP for South East England said:
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Madam President, I wonder how many people in this Chamber have had an idea for a new business, raised the money themselves at their own risk and successfully run that business for 20 more years and generated jobs and wealth. I see that not a hand goes up, and yet here we have a Commission talking about authorising entrepreneurs and about level playing fields – which is the most fundamental contradiction of the word ‘entrepreneur’ you could possibly imagine. The whole point about entrepreneurship is creating something that nobody has ever thought of before.

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There sits the Commissioner talking about criminalising the use of imperial measurements on exports from the UK after 2009. As a consequence of that, the manufacturers of tyres, bicycles, clothing, medical equipment, dairy products, frozen foods, specialist papers, domestic appliances, hand tools, computer components and oil and gas components will all suffer every single one of them. One of them in my constituency will be faced with going out of business because there is no way he will be able to sell his components to the oil and gas industry in the United States. They are not going to pull their drill up thousands of feet just to check a measurement – no way! He will either become a criminal to stay in business or he will go out of business.

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Years ago I walked into the office of one of the biggest industrialists in the United States and behind him was a notice that said: ‘If you are not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem, so get out of the way!’ That is a message I commend to this House. (ends)

Ectracted from the official records of the European Parlament - 30.11.2006 Ashley Mote (NI).

The day after Mr Mote's comments the representitave of the UK 's small business community, the Federation of Small Businesses issued a news release curiously titled ''Business hails MEPs’ support for small firms'':

The Federation of Small Businesses has welcomed the European Parliament’s adoption of a report calling for greater engagement with small businesses at the local level.

The report adopted by the European Parliament calls for improvements to the existing network of offices, known as Euro Info Centres (EICs), set up to consult small businesses at local level on EU decision making.

EICs also offer advice to small businesses on accessing the internal market and organize panels of small businesses to advise the European Commission on new regulations and policy proposals.

The obvious comment to the FSB management is to demand that they listen to the representitives of their members rather than waste time and money in pointless consultaion and lobbying. The FSB members previously at two Annual Confrences -1995 and 2001 - voted to Support leaving the European Union. Clearly the FSB has become as undemocratic as the EU - hence the reason the FSB (on policy issues) is now a part of the problem on the solution - it is simply not listening to its own members.

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In fact on the specific issue of the EU those that decide policy in the Federation have a few not very un-democratic policies of their own; that of not replying to members letters and sending at least one active member 'to coventry' for daring to question their stance with those that hinder the growth of free enterprise. All very curious really, untill one undersatand that the Federation has been, in the main, hi-jacked by placators and government collaborators.

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For an index on postings relating to the FSB please click below:
http://search.blogger.com/?as_q=Federation+of+Small+Businesses&ie=UTF-8&ui=blg&bl_url=verybritishsubjects.blogspot.com&x=50&y=7