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MAZZINI · 25-02-2008, 08:14 PM

One wonders why the Lib Dem's are so pro-EU given their previous, and in theory still, support for decentralisation from Westminster? A closer look however at recent events suggests otherwise.
After World War II many 'liberals' (and a few socialists) thought that the only way to stop war in Europe was to take away a countries independent capacity to wage it. Some others perhaps thought that the European connection might 'liberalise' institutions and ultmately the public (remember also that PR, a one-time 'must have' in the old Liberal Party, has a strong tradition within Europe). Remember too that they absorbed the SDP which were/are heavily into the concept of a EU 'Super-State'. I also recall David Steel stood on the Radical Party list in Italy some years back presumably on the basis that if you can't get left-liberalism here then.............

25-02-2008, 08:14 PM	#13 (permalink)
MAZZINI Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 37	Lib Dem contradictions One wonders why the Lib Dem's are so pro-EU given their previous, and in theory still, support for decentralisation from Westminster? A closer look however at recent events suggests otherwise. After World War II many 'liberals' (and a few socialists) thought that the only way to stop war in Europe was to take away a countries independent capacity to wage it. Some others perhaps thought that the European connection might 'liberalise' institutions and ultmately the public (remember also that PR, a one-time 'must have' in the old Liberal Party, has a strong tradition within Europe). Remember too that they absorbed the SDP which were/are heavily into the concept of a EU 'Super-State'. I also recall David Steel stood on the Radical Party list in Italy some years back presumably on the basis that if you can't get left-liberalism here then.............