Europe is holding us back. We must rethink
By Iain Martin
10/02/2008
The Telegraph
Britain may be better off if it left the European Union, or at least have a different relationship with it
If you feel Europe is boring and shrug your shoulders as the Government rams the Lisbon treaty through Parliament, can I recommend a strong dose of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing?
The former president of France personifies what was that country's ruling class (patrician, sober-suited and a good deal grander than our ancient aristocracy) and the contrast could not be greater than with the short, sex-obsessed wearer of aviator shades and Ralph Lauren polo shirts who now occupies the Elysée Palace.
D'Estaing is also a crazed Eurofanatic. Those who fear a superstate always do well to keep an eye on the musings of the high priest of European integration, because he articulates what his followers are thinking but are not honest enough to say. Of course the constitution and the treaty are largely the same thing, he said, at a time when our leaders were trying to pretend otherwise. His latest comments on the nature of the new president of Europe are even more frightening: "This is about the first fixed president of the EU and we must have George Washington in mind as the precedent."
That is Washington, as in first president of the United States, the exemplar of virtue who built a strong central government and did so much to define America's idea of itself.
Who, I wonder, might fancy that role in Europe? Is there anyone daring enough to imagine himself immortalised on a €100 note two centuries hence? Of course, this is not a time for soundbites, but once more the hand of history is on Tony Blair's shoulder.
If a development were required to illuminate the work being done in the dark to diminish Britain's powers of self-government, then it should be the emergence of Blair as the front-runner for this post. The effect should be equivalent to a light-bulb switching on above the head of the average Briton, but it is not.
As a country we appear to have given up thinking that action, on just about any subject, is possible. We fear the European train has left the station and that, trapped on board, we might as well enjoy the view and meagre refreshments.
Meanwhile, as Blair limbers up, a tragedy is unfolding on the floor of the Commons. The tactics being used by the Government to force through the treaty of Lisbon, with all its erosion of sovereignty, are reducing a once great chamber to the status of parish council. The treaty contains measures - on law and order, for example - which would have required individual bills and detailed scrutiny if Britain were still in control of its own destiny. With what relish the vandals are setting about the desecration of our rights and liberties.
It is unlikely that the former PM planned all this as revenge on Gordon Brown; Blair is an opportunist first who simply enjoys cutting a dash. However, once in office his entire being will be dedicated to expanding the scope of his authority and increasing his exposure.
At stake is our hard-earned right to boot out those with political authority over us and vote decisively for our country to take an alternative course if we choose, as in 1945, 1979 and 1997.
Consider the contrast with America. There, millions are involved in the process of choosing presidential candidates and the spectacle inspires awe. In Europe, some envisage, eventually, direct elections for the EU presidency, but how convincing is the prospect of a contest in which potential rulers cannot necessarily speak to the governed in their own language? No, the EU would eventually decide all such matters in its favoured way: by negotiation, trade-off, stitch-up and fudge.
None of this need be inevitable, even though Eurofanatics rely, like Scottish nationalists, on the Marxist myth of historical inevitability. The currents are instead moving against the old-fashioned concept of a Brussels-based superstate. If the dirigiste French and the Germans, who have not the heart for serious reform of their own countries, cannot see that then that is their loss. It need not be ours.
The age of technological transformation through which we are living is making citizens less likely to accept the word of a distant authority that disregards our wishes. In all manner of fields - commerce and industry, education, the media - Britons are coming to expect to be able to make choices based on easily available information.
At the very same point the outside world has become more unstable. Yet the two forces need not drive us to isolation. We have known for centuries how to prosper independently. We require trade and co-operation with Europe but not membership of a slow-moving, cumbersome superstate: fleet of foot is what we will have to be to prosper in China, India and beyond.
An excellent organisation, Global Vision, has been launched to promote just such a renegotiation with Europe. The initial polling carried out on its behalf by ICM suggests that nearly half of voters favour this approach, while another quarter want to leave the EU entirely.
This means we do not want swivel-eyed isolationism but we would like change. Once Lisbon is on the books, the question is whether or not there is a party leader out there capable of giving us back the self-confidence we require to take what we want.
www.telegraph.co.uk . . .
By Iain Martin
10/02/2008
The Telegraph
Britain may be better off if it left the European Union, or at least have a different relationship with it
If you feel Europe is boring and shrug your shoulders as the Government rams the Lisbon treaty through Parliament, can I recommend a strong dose of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing?
The former president of France personifies what was that country's ruling class (patrician, sober-suited and a good deal grander than our ancient aristocracy) and the contrast could not be greater than with the short, sex-obsessed wearer of aviator shades and Ralph Lauren polo shirts who now occupies the Elysée Palace.
D'Estaing is also a crazed Eurofanatic. Those who fear a superstate always do well to keep an eye on the musings of the high priest of European integration, because he articulates what his followers are thinking but are not honest enough to say. Of course the constitution and the treaty are largely the same thing, he said, at a time when our leaders were trying to pretend otherwise. His latest comments on the nature of the new president of Europe are even more frightening: "This is about the first fixed president of the EU and we must have George Washington in mind as the precedent."
That is Washington, as in first president of the United States, the exemplar of virtue who built a strong central government and did so much to define America's idea of itself.
Who, I wonder, might fancy that role in Europe? Is there anyone daring enough to imagine himself immortalised on a €100 note two centuries hence? Of course, this is not a time for soundbites, but once more the hand of history is on Tony Blair's shoulder.
If a development were required to illuminate the work being done in the dark to diminish Britain's powers of self-government, then it should be the emergence of Blair as the front-runner for this post. The effect should be equivalent to a light-bulb switching on above the head of the average Briton, but it is not.
As a country we appear to have given up thinking that action, on just about any subject, is possible. We fear the European train has left the station and that, trapped on board, we might as well enjoy the view and meagre refreshments.
Meanwhile, as Blair limbers up, a tragedy is unfolding on the floor of the Commons. The tactics being used by the Government to force through the treaty of Lisbon, with all its erosion of sovereignty, are reducing a once great chamber to the status of parish council. The treaty contains measures - on law and order, for example - which would have required individual bills and detailed scrutiny if Britain were still in control of its own destiny. With what relish the vandals are setting about the desecration of our rights and liberties.
It is unlikely that the former PM planned all this as revenge on Gordon Brown; Blair is an opportunist first who simply enjoys cutting a dash. However, once in office his entire being will be dedicated to expanding the scope of his authority and increasing his exposure.
At stake is our hard-earned right to boot out those with political authority over us and vote decisively for our country to take an alternative course if we choose, as in 1945, 1979 and 1997.
Consider the contrast with America. There, millions are involved in the process of choosing presidential candidates and the spectacle inspires awe. In Europe, some envisage, eventually, direct elections for the EU presidency, but how convincing is the prospect of a contest in which potential rulers cannot necessarily speak to the governed in their own language? No, the EU would eventually decide all such matters in its favoured way: by negotiation, trade-off, stitch-up and fudge.
None of this need be inevitable, even though Eurofanatics rely, like Scottish nationalists, on the Marxist myth of historical inevitability. The currents are instead moving against the old-fashioned concept of a Brussels-based superstate. If the dirigiste French and the Germans, who have not the heart for serious reform of their own countries, cannot see that then that is their loss. It need not be ours.
The age of technological transformation through which we are living is making citizens less likely to accept the word of a distant authority that disregards our wishes. In all manner of fields - commerce and industry, education, the media - Britons are coming to expect to be able to make choices based on easily available information.
At the very same point the outside world has become more unstable. Yet the two forces need not drive us to isolation. We have known for centuries how to prosper independently. We require trade and co-operation with Europe but not membership of a slow-moving, cumbersome superstate: fleet of foot is what we will have to be to prosper in China, India and beyond.
An excellent organisation, Global Vision, has been launched to promote just such a renegotiation with Europe. The initial polling carried out on its behalf by ICM suggests that nearly half of voters favour this approach, while another quarter want to leave the EU entirely.
This means we do not want swivel-eyed isolationism but we would like change. Once Lisbon is on the books, the question is whether or not there is a party leader out there capable of giving us back the self-confidence we require to take what we want.
www.telegraph.co.uk . . .