Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

Britain is scorned and insulted across the EU. Why do we stay?


By Daniel Hannan Politics Last updated: June 24th, 2014

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/100277381/britain-is-scorned-and-insulted-across-the-eu-why-do-we-stay/




Graceless and solipsistic? A Buller man?

Could a mainstream British Conservative become President of the European Commission? Or President of the European Council? You only need to put the question.

Britain is excluded from a leadership role in the EU, not because Continentals have some irrational prejudice against cricket or Elgar, but because of a fundamental incompatibility of outlook. We are interested in free markets and co-operation with our neighbours; the others are interested in merger.

This is true even of the supposedly reformist governments. Regular readers of this blog won't be surprised by the foul-mouthed tirade of Poland's foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski: the man is as charmless as he is vain and self-absorbed. What is interesting is the matter-of-fact way in which the other Polish ministers join him in vilifying the British Government.

Is this because of some long-standing enmity between the two states? Hardly. Poland is an old friend, the only country to have fought alongside us from the beginning of the Second World War to the end. Huge numbers of Poles have chosen to work here, following in the footsteps of the Polish migrants who, in 1940, fought for freedom in the Battle of Britain and, later, in North Africa, Italy, France and the Netherlands, even as their own homeland was overrun.

So why is our government spurned and traduced by ministers in Warsaw? For the same reason that we are disliked across Europe's palaces and chanceries, namely our resistance to European integration. The EU was supposed to make countries get on better; but, in reality, it's the cause of almost all our quarrels with our neighbours these days, especially those with the Germans. If it weren't for Brussels, we'd be getting along famously.

Whenever I argue that Britain should secure some sort of country-club status, an EFTA-plus deal based on open markets rather than political amalgamation, I get the same answer from worldly Sir Humphrey types. "We need to have influence. We need to have a seat at the top table". Chaps, how much clearer can it be that we have no such influence? It's not a recent thing: the Sikorski tapes recall the Spanish minister who was unwittingly recorded describing Tony Blair as "a total wanker" ("un gillipollas integral").

We can see, in the row over the Commission Presidency, how pettily we weigh in the counsels of the EU. We should rejoin the wider world, where we still have friends. We should replace the rancour and quarrelling that comes from EU membership with the mutual satisfaction that comes from free trade. We should be a good neighbour to the EU, not a bad tenant.

Why do we subject ourselves to rule from people who despise us?

Does the UK not have an equivalent to the US's Son of Sam Law which prevents criminals from profiting from their crimes? If it does, then Coulson presumably wouldn't be able to write anything.

42786/42789
absolutely unbelievable .... just goes to show that the law, justice and fairness often have little in common but was always thus .....

on the other hand Our 'Arry thinks that's just dandy :-)

Jury still out trying to get majority on a couple of other charges relating to bribing palace officials to get 'green book' list of royal phone numbers.

The sentencing part will be interesting. I would guess Coulson will appeal and may get off. Evidence only circumstantial on main charges.

It has always been a fuss about nothing. Maybe just a suspended sentence. Millions spent on a waste of time.

Do you mean Cameron is a Hooray Henry?

Camoron having to apologise for links with Coulson.

Next up the Euro boys he aint half going to look a plonker after losing the vote.

Investigation cost £15m plus 6 months trial. News Corp legal costs were £238m as at last September.

"There is no law prohibiting convicted criminals from publishing their autobiographies or
other writings in which their crimes may be described, or from selling their stories to
newspapers or biographical writers. However, there are restrictions on criminals profiting
from such activities. These are set out in Part 7 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, which
came into force on 6 April 2010. The Act established a civil recovery scheme that enables
the courts to order criminals to pay an amount in respect of assets or other benefits derived
from the exploitation of accounts of their crimes. Sums received are then paid into the
Consolidated Fund (the Government’s general bank account at the Bank of England).
Special rules apply to serving prisoners, who under the Prison Rules and Prison Standing
Orders may be prevented from publishing material relating to their crimes while in custody.
In the case of a life sentence prisoner serving a whole life term, the application of the Rules
may effectively prevent any such publication during his or her lifetime.
There are also various media codes of practice advising broadcasters and journalists on
making payments to criminals: public interest is the key factor"

Half the retiring politicians would not be able to write their autobiographies if there was such a ban.

What was Coulson in charge of at No 10?

It wasn't procurement, or was it?

============

Amazing how many associates of Cameron have been given second chances by him.

Sounds to me, what an old etonian mafiosi would do.

No wonder the EU leaders laugh at him behind closed doors!

I have a reflection, that at the time of Coulson's appointment to No10, he was not subjected to normal home office scrutiny.

I think, the appointment of Coulson was made at Cameron's instigation, even though he was warned by Clegg and cabinet advisers.

Cameron is not fit for office.

Spot on Fred Hays forgets that, well choses to forget that.

Camoron is in this right up to his ear lugs.

HAYS have you faced a kangeroo court on advfn recently. A lot out to get you today. unzipped file. ..........he he.

I rarely post on ADVFN and certainly don't read the threads.

Coulson is no problem for Cameron. The public don't care about the phone hacking. It is only the media and activists who have an interest,

Hays thats because you have been banned they reckon so many times.

I cant believe this but they reckon your right up at the top with that Holden bloke and Broker Man Daniel for multiple alias.

Poster Andy as stuck up for you as have I.

Andy says Ive met him once and seemed a decent man.

I said hes an online pal of mine over the road so watch it or ill be after you.

All went quiet did the thread, but if youve had those Kangaroo courts that advfn have quite frequently and the numpty administrators take notice, you have all my sympathys.

God help if this board went like that.

Anyway Hays Ill keep an eye out for you and be in if theirs any lip.

I have Andy a few times years ago. I used to go to lots of ADVFN socials and had restaurant meals with Clem and others.

Hazy,

You are more out of touch than Cameron!

They have a lower and lower opinion of politics, politicians and Cameron in particular.

They have a growing distrust of the media and its insiders environment.

They are fed up with the media which they think has been bought and more and more questioning the R/winged owned and biased press.

I am not certain about the court judgement but, there are many who will be suspicious of it.

Whether that opinion is justified, or not, I remain to being persuaded!

But when the election comes, a lot of the public demoralisation will be blamed on Wavy Dave and Crew.

=======

GF.

I hope you have record of the posts you have made, so that they can be repeated in the weeks leading up to the election.

.

What happened to Clem then, fallen out?? we both follow each other on twitter.

Anyway like I said anymore idle talk about you and ill bang a few heads, i always look after my online chums here.

We all should.

Hays,

.

Haystack Send an email to Haystack View Haystack's profile - 24 Jun 2014 15:58 - 42807 of 42810

I have Andy a few times years ago.
--------------------------

Do you mean, "you had Andy a few times years ago" ?

Very interesting, what was he like?

Fred...............no probs especially all the stuff on the deficit blamed on labour and like you the debt position of the tories.

Its nailed on.