http://euromove.blogactiv.eu/2009/06/08/after-the-european-elections-what-next/ Britain's future is with Europe! Join the debate and put your opinion forward! Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:42:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 http://euromove.blogactiv.eu/2009/06/08/after-the-european-elections-what-next/#comment-4 John Harmer Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:39:56 +0000 http://euromove.blogactiv.eu/?p=70#comment-4 The EU elections are over. Across Europe only some 44% of the electorate voted. In the UK 35%. The Conservatives, for all their boasting, accounted for less than 10% of the electorate. In Eastern England five at least of the MEPs do not support the organisation that pays them. As far as I can see the situation verges on tragedy. Or perhaps comedy. An organisation cannot continue with such a low level of public support. Unless something changes the EU will stagger on and sooner or later collapse with tragic consequences for us all. The Soviet Union was more popular than the European Union. Only the Liberals and their coalition partners seem to know what they want at the European level. But they are a minority and cannot compensate for the low turnout. Parties talk about leaving the EU, or opposing the Lisbon Treaty. Not one tells us how we leave the EU and what the alternative is. A massive leap into the dark. And for sure the law of unintended consequences will take effect. The opposition to the EU seems to centre on immigration. A vague concept because there are two types of immigration • from the EU, where we are treaty bound to allow it (and conversely it allows the British to live elsewhere in the EU, • from the rest of the world. We seem to have 50% of the population hostile to immigration, and, in the BNP case, wanting people born here to leave. All parties promise to do something about immigration. What, and how, they do not tell us. And from what I know, Britain is already doing more than enough. It is easier to enter through the eye of a needle than to get into Britain. For me this is no academic matter as my daughter in law and hence two grandsons are ethnic African. So it seems to me traditional politics at the European level, whether Conservative, Labour or Lib Dem has failed. People are turning to ‘extremists’ as they feel the traditional parties do not reflect their views. But sheep can be led. Politicians have failed to sell the EU. The EU has failed to sell itself. The politicians have failed to lead. They have stirred up trouble for their own ends. What is to be done to keep the EU alive and well? Perhaps a Europe wide party not contaminated by member state politics. Someone to speak up for the EU. And politicians who lead rather than pander to the lowest taste to secure themselves sinecures in Brussels (this is impossible). Hence there is a crying need for an organisation to promote the virtues and advantages of the EU. Is the European Movement up to the challenge? The EU elections are over.
Across Europe only some 44% of the electorate voted. In the UK 35%. The Conservatives, for all their boasting, accounted for less than 10% of the electorate. In Eastern England five at least of the MEPs do not support the organisation that pays them.
As far as I can see the situation verges on tragedy. Or perhaps comedy.
An organisation cannot continue with such a low level of public support. Unless something changes the EU will stagger on and sooner or later collapse with tragic consequences for us all. The Soviet Union was more popular than the European Union.
Only the Liberals and their coalition partners seem to know what they want at the European level. But they are a minority and cannot compensate for the low turnout.
Parties talk about leaving the EU, or opposing the Lisbon Treaty.
Not one tells us how we leave the EU and what the alternative is. A massive leap into the dark. And for sure the law of unintended consequences will take effect.
The opposition to the EU seems to centre on immigration. A vague concept because there are two types of immigration
• from the EU, where we are treaty bound to allow it (and conversely it allows the British to live elsewhere in the EU,
• from the rest of the world.
We seem to have 50% of the population hostile to immigration, and, in the BNP case, wanting people born here to leave.
All parties promise to do something about immigration. What, and how, they do not tell us. And from what I know, Britain is already doing more than enough. It is easier to enter through the eye of a needle than to get into Britain.
For me this is no academic matter as my daughter in law and hence two grandsons are ethnic African.
So it seems to me traditional politics at the European level, whether Conservative, Labour or Lib Dem has failed. People are turning to ‘extremists’ as they feel the traditional parties do not reflect their views.
But sheep can be led. Politicians have failed to sell the EU. The EU has failed to sell itself.
The politicians have failed to lead. They have stirred up trouble for their own ends.
What is to be done to keep the EU alive and well? Perhaps a Europe wide party not contaminated by member state politics. Someone to speak up for the EU.
And politicians who lead rather than pander to the lowest taste to secure themselves sinecures in Brussels (this is impossible).
Hence there is a crying need for an organisation to promote the virtues and advantages of the EU.
Is the European Movement up to the challenge?

]]> http://euromove.blogactiv.eu/2009/06/08/after-the-european-elections-what-next/#comment-2 conservative tradition » A quick online guide to the minor party and independent London European Election Candidates Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:38:49 +0000 http://euromove.blogactiv.eu/?p=70#comment-2 [...] European Movement UK » Blog Archive » After the European elections … [...] [...] European Movement UK » Blog Archive » After the European elections … [...]

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