tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27932062.post3911320799007950685..comments2023-10-10T15:39:35.168+00:00Comments on Centre for European Reform: Five ways to win a referendum, and five potential pitfalls Centre for European Reformhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815454225955436329noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27932062.post-87448741400456582562015-08-21T13:34:10.676+00:002015-08-21T13:34:10.676+00:00Charles Grant neither appreciates the true strengt...Charles Grant neither appreciates the true strength of anti-EU feeling in the British people nor admits its justification.<br />Ian Duncan says it all; clearly, concisely, factually - right from the heart of John Bull. If only politicians understood us half so well!<br />There is no need for anyone or anything to "energise the get-out campaign". The signs of tentative (and not so tentative) 'Islamisation' already visible in Britain are fuelling resentment against the thousands still trying to enter the country, and thus the 'out' campaign.<br /><br />In connection with the latter, might I suggest introducing identity cards? When I suggested this recently on a number of Forums, listing the advantages [credit-card-sized, plastic with sealed-in photo, impossible to forge; presented when opening bank account or drawing money from deposit account, for picking up parcel or registered post, or (together with credit card) when purchasing expensive goods/hiring car/paying hotel bill, etc., etc., all ensuring that no one else spends the 'hard-earned'] - I received nothing but positive responses; not a single objection! <br />Identity cards would disadvantage none but criminals and illegal immigrants, make the jobs of police and social workers easier, and safeguard our money. So why not introduce them to help control illegal immigration? Useful, simple, effective and - in the present social climate - welcome.<br />Someone applying for asylum could receive a temporary card, renewable at given intervals.<br /><br /><br />R. Shawnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27932062.post-69336272453169958802015-07-16T11:31:12.085+00:002015-07-16T11:31:12.085+00:00This article is written from a 'the EU is righ...This article is written from a 'the EU is right' rather than a reformist viewpoint which one should expect from the CER. This enhances the perspective of EU arrogance which is one of the major causes of the increasing distrust which sweeping through Europe.<br />The EU take on continuous improvement appears to be the issuance of an ever increasing volume of laws with little, if any, review of the operation of the EU itself. Clarity and simplicity seem to be disregarded.<br />The EU is too rigid and cumbersome. Without a mechanism for real improvement in which the UK could play a leading and meaningful rĂ´le a "BREXIT" looks increasingly likely.<br /><br />The referendum issue is resulting in very informed and constructive debates around the UK. which will result in a much better understanding of the issues and likely results of staying in a marginally reformed EU or of a "BREXIT".<br />The UK has expertise across the spectrum of EU activities but is under-represented in the Commission, partly due to being outside the Eurozone, partly because of non-compliant views on social and other policies and partly because it has not resourced the required structures to properly contribute.<br />This is part of the debate. Should the UK add to the resources required to take a full part in the EU or to apply such resources to bilateral agreements with individual markets.<br />The anti-immigration issue is real, not just rhetoric.<br />Firstly, the resources required to accommodate immigrants - transport infrastructure, schools, housing, hospitals and doctors, etc. are in short supply and costs are very substantial.<br />Secondly, teaching staff, local authorities, etc.are having to cope with large numbers of people who don't speak English<br />Thirdly, there have been numerous cases of dangerous immigrants entering the country who have been involved in murder, drugs and other serious crimes<br />Fourthly, a large influx of immigrants makes integration difficult<br />Fifthly, immigrants have engaged in severe anti-social behaviour.<br />The difference between UK and EU politics is partly due to the UK being an island state and means that the UK does not fit readily within the EU. Differences in characteristics should be celebrated rather than everybody being expected to conform to an EU norm.<br />Cameron's attack on Juncker may not have been politically correct but the many instances where he has been found lacking including the "GREXIT" episode in which instead of reminding Tsipras of the eurozone membership rules he talked of flexibility which further encouraged the Greeks to harden their line.<br />The UK wants to determine the pattern of immigration and has a long history of absorbing non-EU immigrants. It judges that this, together with investing in improvements in Ethiopia, Eritrea, etc. is more positive than taking North African boat people.<br />The negative attitude to the European Court of Human Rights is due mostly to the number of cases in which the rights of any one individual have outweighed the rights of a Nation of people. With no means of democratically influencing the Court the UK has no option but to leave the Convention <br />Introducing the Euro before political integration requires a federal Europe. The UK has to fight for 'equal rights' for non Euro members. The EFSM funding proposal for the Greek bridge is just one example of this.<br />Your statement regarding the dislike of the EU seems well wide of the mark. The EU is disliked because a whole raft of laws are seen as unnecessary and in many cases downright ludicrous. The EU structure in which the Commission is responsible for proposing, drafting, implementing and policing the laws and in which individual Commissioners are expected to bring forward an ever-increasing volume of new laws is also abhorrent.<br />The situations in Spain and Greece in particular have highlighted the gross economic incompetence of Eurozone EU leaders over many years. The competence of Dijsselbloem may help to offset the errors which lead up to the Greek situation to some extent.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09130504943111177641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27932062.post-69974139445926221592015-05-28T14:32:02.874+00:002015-05-28T14:32:02.874+00:00There is no good argument for the UK remaining in ...There is no good argument for the UK remaining in the EU.<br /><br />So the biggest mistake Cameron can make is to allow that to happen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com