Don't call the EU president 'moroso'
The EU President Jose Manuel Barroso is a boundless optimist.
Most of our intersection yesterday was satisfactorily off the record. I say “satisfactorily” because, of course, you learn far more, and can eventually drip-feed what you learn subtly into succeeding perspectives as the months go by.
But what I did learn whilst I was at the EC’s headquarters here in London was that they fear that the next European elections will throw up many more politicians from the political extremes.
There is anyway a widespread belief, both here and in Europe, that the UKIP phenomenon (passionately anti-European) is all but dead. To quote one correspondent in Brussels, they have been “a complete shambles”.
The expectation here is that the BNP could take three or four of their seats, and the rest, if current trends continue, would largely go to the Tories.
Interestingly, I learnt that David Cameron has been to the commission in Brussels more times than any other European aspiring premier – this despite the fact that he is said to cut something of a euro-sceptical demeanour.
There is a sense, too, that Ireland will eventually vote FOR the Lisbon treaty because Irish sentiment currently believes that Ireland inside the euro has fared much better than poor old Iceland out of it.
According to the Europeans, the one word that seems to sum up the central requirement from the G20 summit on 2 April is “confidence”. So anything less than big commitments on how to resolve the present crisis will be seen as failure and will damage confidence.
We are busy constructing a confidence thermometer, even as I speak.
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There are 15 comments on this post
Oh dear, so out of touch, as usual.
UKIP is alive and well and ready for the June elections.
You need to get out more.
I concur that UKIP does indeed look like a busted flush. The flavour of the month for protest votes may well be the BNP but I rather thought they only expected to get one seat.
Perhaps UKIP will retain one or two?
The Tories’ position remains bizarre. They want an EU that doesn’t exist and isn’t going to exist [ie just an economic zone]. It’s just not on offer. Ever since the founding 1957 Treaty of Rome, the Common Market/EC/EU has also been a political project:-
Peter Sissons: The single currency, a United States of Europe, was all that in your mind when you took Britain in?
Edward Heath: Of course, yes.
[BBC's Question Time on 1 November, 1990.]
“An ever closer union among the peoples of Europe” is one of the stated aims of the Treaty of Rome. The mantra is repeated in the Maastricht treaty, which also talks about a “new stage in the process of European integration”.
Further if they [the Conservative Party] like the single-market-only EU, why on earth aren’t they going hell for leather for Euro entry – particularly now?
I think they rather wish the whole question would just go away both for the forthcoming Euro-elections and for the next general election.
So Jon Snow goes to the European Commission offices in London and discovers that they believe that UKIP is dead. To paraphrase another harlot, “They would say that would’t they”.
In 2004 UKIP were told they would loose their three seats, instead they won 12 and beat the Lib/Dems into 4th place.
Of course this is part of the federalist strategy, play up the nationalist/socialist elements, thus denying political space for a genuine, free trading, liberal and tolerant party like UKIP. Then, their narrative goes, all those who believe in their nation’s freedom can be described as fascists.
It is just a shame that Mr Snow cannot see the very expensive taxpayer-funded wool being pulled over his eyes
Peter Gardner and Simon Gardner – any relation? I’m just wondering. I don’t mean anything by it.
“Peter Gardner and Simon Gardner – any relation?”
I noticed but I b***** well hope not.
Actually I’m a second generation Gardner – my refugee dad having changed his name from Katzenstein on advice from his British guardian on being dropped into occupied France. It was thought unhealthy to do so with a Jewish name – even if dad was secular.
It just goes to show you can’t be too careful
What chance one of the periodic Green revivals during the Euros – since it’s all become so fashionable amongst the non-voting young?
They have a very able MEP in the South East region – Dr Caroline Lucas. Could they gain another place in the parliament?
If there’s going to be a substantial protest vote in the Euro elections (and their usually is) maybe the Greens might make some progress. Remember that stonking Green vote in the 1989 election.
And Green parties do have a substantial representation in the European parties.
Certainly, I detect no great enthusiasm for David Cameron’s Conservatives – rather a dissatisfaction with the Government – hence the state of the polls.
As normal, they put around the lie that UKIP is either dead or is anti-European.
Wrong! on both accounts, UKIP is not dead we are alive and kicking and we are anti-EU only.
People who fear us doing well again are saying we are dead ’cause they don’t want us to do well again. Well, sorry, but we are here to STAY!
Here in London the UKIP campaign appears to be well prepared and ready to roll. From what I hear from elsewhere, UKIP are looking good in other regions too.
I believe they will take two seats again in the SE, with the EU whistleblower Marta Andreasen (now UKIP’s national treasurer) winning the second. I think the folks over in Brussels are indulging in a bit of wishful thinking!
I find it absolutely disgusting that you would describe UKIP as “passionately anti-European”.
The party is anti the political insitutions of the EU and wants Britain to freely trade and negotiate on a global basis in the future, and not just in an oudated, backwards European backyard as countries like China and India come to the fore.
It is for this reason that the BNP, with their isolationism and xenophobia, must not be allowed under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES to brand themselves as what euroscepticism is about.
Oh, and UKIP are told every election that they are going to be wiped out. Go and check the news archives. The party is going to once again upset the odds – though this should by now not really be a surprise.
Ha ha! UKIP dead? You know nothing. I know the plans and can’t wait to see you eat your words. People said UKIP would be wiped out in 1999 and 2004. Did it happen? No. Will they this time? I think not.
The EU are spending millions on indoctrinating the press that the EU is wonderful. They are even infiltrating our schools. The UKIP are the only UK party who stand in the way of the Lib/Lab/Con coalition who all want Britain run from Brussels.
The UKIP is far from a spent force. Across the regions the campaigns are in full swing. The branch workers are delivering ten of thousands of leaflets and newspapers. The feedback is very positive.
If the UKIP fail then Britain is lost. Voters must realise and understand the negative UKIP publicity will intensify over the next couple of months, and seasoned presenters like Jon Snow should have more sense than to be a mouth piece for the corrupt EU.
Chairman and PPC UKIP Swindon
The NHS. So the big white cow is running out of milk to feed those 3rd world immigrants, while those that built it drink from flower pots, go hungry, and are abused by foreign nursing staff then denied medication. Of course, Jon Snow or Gordon Brown has no such problem…
The BNP will be the only winners at the European elections. Thank God!
Jon Snow is right. UKIP is dead and gone, and the establishment are right to worry the BNP are going to do well in the EU elections. They will do well in the local elections too. They will carry on doing well until this stupid establishment stop taking the people for fools.