The Politics Thread

[Hoboh]

Mr Cameron said Ukip, which is expected to do well in the European elections later this month, was a threat to the future of the country because Mr Farage's answer to Europe was to "give up" having taken a "pessimistic view of Britain and the world".

"I know people are frustrated with their politicians, sometimes angry that we haven't taken more steps to deal with these issues, but what we've got to have in our country is the politics of the answer rather than politics of anger," Mr Cameron said.

"Because what we've got to do is fix these problems.

"Fix our welfare system so it rewards the hard working; fix the immigration system so it benefits the whole of our country; get our taxes down so we see living standards rise.

"Those are the things I am focused on because they are the politics of the answer, not the politics of anger.

"It's going to be tough in these European election campaigns to get those points across but in the end if we really want to sort out these problems we need people who have the policies, the answers, the ability to get stuck in and sort these problems out.

"Not simply people who stand up and make an attractive sounding protest."

Is that the best you can muster Davey boy? not a lightweight, a featherweight son

[Hoboh]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/eur ... 68365.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Just UKIP?

[Lord Kangana]

Everybody gets a chance to speak, without being drowned out by a bullying mob, for 60 seconds? Thats a giant leap forward in the democratic process, not something to fear.

[Hoboh]

Everybody gets a chance to speak, without being drowned out by a bullying mob, for 60 seconds? Thats a giant leap forward in the democratic process, not something to fear.

I read it that the Germans are getting wary of the shift of powers from National government to the soviet republic of the EU actually.

[Lord Kangana]

Perhaps you need to discern the opinion from what's happening?

[Hoboh]

They are, to be sure, only allowed to block laws or improve them, rather than propose legislation themselves. But some 90 percent of all EU plans and proposals are now dependent on European Parliament consent. In the final session before the voters head to the polls on May 22-25, some 170 proposals await decisions by the MEPs. They want to establish the right to a bank account for all European citizens, introduce a new foundation for European financial markets, limit the use of plastic bags -- and they want to secure a vast amount of power in Europe.

Says it all really

At the beginning of the 1950s, when the EU was still the European Coal and Steel Community, there was nothing but the "Common Assembly," which had little more than consultative duties. Once the Treaties of Rome went into effect in 1958, the body wanted to rename itself the European Parliament, but member-state opposition scuppered the plan. Indeed, the body lived in the shadows for years and enjoyed little respect. The first direct elections didn't take place until 1979 and only in 1987 was the European Parliament allowed to adopt its current name. The Treaty of Maastricht, signed in 1993, granted parliament a role in lawmaking for the first time. Subsequent treaties -- Amsterdam (1997), Nice (2003) and Lisbon (2009) -- expanded the body's power to include a say in almost all areas of policymaking.

Note, not on any of those treaty's did the average Joe voter get a say and look just how much the EU has morphed from the original plan.

Then, a few years ago, London's Sunday Times newspaper dispatched undercover reporters who offered to pay European parliamentarians in exchange for favors. Several politicians showed a readiness to talk. Meanwhile, Transparency International recently criticized that although members of parliament disclose their assets, there are no subsequent checks to verify their accuracy. And repeat efforts to establish an obligatory lobbyist registry have also come to naught.
So who is going to bring the deputies into line? Anyone who wants to become anything in Germany's federal parliament has no choice but to stick to the rules of their party group -- while Europe's supra-national party blocks appear to be a loose coalition of political mavericks.

Corruption on a mega scale?

Members of the traveling circus that is the European Parliament would be pleased by a further gain in power. It would finally put them at the center of power in Europe.

The truth.

[Lord Kangana]

So, what you're saying is, if I've got this right, is that corruption is a symptom only of the European Parliament, and European Parliamentarians, and by the simple expedient of withdrawing all power back to Westminster would eradicate once and for all all corruption in the political process?

[Hoboh]

So, what you're saying is, if I've got this right, is that corruption is a symptom only of the European Parliament, and European Parliamentarians, and by the simple expedient of withdrawing all power back to Westminster would eradicate once and for all all corruption in the political process?

No but at least we, the voters could have direct control over the MP's via direct elections.
Lets face it apart from maybe a protest vote for UKIP swelling the turnout for the Euro elections, most people feel that isolated from the European Parliment, to coin one of Pru's theorys, it would be a waste of money funding them!

[Prufrock]

What do you think is happening next month, btw?

[BWFC_Insane]

So, what you're saying is, if I've got this right, is that corruption is a symptom only of the European Parliament, and European Parliamentarians, and by the simple expedient of withdrawing all power back to Westminster would eradicate once and for all all corruption in the political process?

No but at least we, the voters could have direct control over the MP's via direct elections.
Lets face it apart from maybe a protest vote for UKIP swelling the turnout for the Euro elections, most people feel that isolated from the European Parliment, to coin one of Pru's theorys, it would be a waste of money funding them!

Most people feel totally isolated from Westminster. From politics in general.

[Lord Kangana]

There's only one thing I am certain of is that a slimy spiv like Farage is not the answer. Whatever the question was in the first place.

[Beefheart]

So, what you're saying is, if I've got this right, is that corruption is a symptom only of the European Parliament, and European Parliamentarians, and by the simple expedient of withdrawing all power back to Westminster would eradicate once and for all all corruption in the political process?

No but at least we, the voters could have direct control over the MP's via direct elections.
Lets face it apart from maybe a protest vote for UKIP swelling the turnout for the Euro elections, most people feel that isolated from the European Parliment, to coin one of Pru's theorys, it would be a waste of money funding them!

Most people feel totally isolated from Westminster. From politics in general.

I think it's reasonable to suggest people feel more isolated from the European parliament though. I mean who honestly knows what gets talked about there? When was the last time an MEP was interviewed on Newsnight or a live debate from Brussels broadcast on BBC Parliament?

[Prufrock]

Bloody Farage is on every week!

[KeyserSoze]

https://twitter.com/IsFarageOnQT" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Bruce Rioja]

I've just been round to Hoboh's and stuck this on his door

[BWFC_Insane]

Bloody Farage is on every week!

Does he know what's happening at the European Parliament though? I'd say it is doubtful.....

[Lost Leopard Spot]

I've just been round to Hoboh's and stuck this on his door

Hoboh's got a pink door. That's just feckin wrong.

[Lord Kangana]

His repressed, subversive, anarcho socialist tendencies were bound to find an expression in some form.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

His repressed, subversive, anarcho socialist tendencies were bound to find an expression in some form.

There's no answer to that.

[BWFC_Insane]

So Gary Barlow should have to pay back the tax he owes the state (well durrrrrrr) but basically is a thoroughly nice chap and Tory supporter so we'll say no more about it then......