Bob FM: The major objection to Britain joining political alliances in Europe, certainly since the time of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952, was the certain impact upon our own Constitution. People like Lord Denning, warned constantly of the danger resulting from extra-territorial intrusion upon the assumptions (e.g.presumption of innocence; Habeas Corpus) and the independence of our Judiciary. Recognising and reversing these processes provided the impetus for the creation of UKIP. The constitutional question was central to our message. The founding leader, Professor Alan Sked, had an encyclopaedic knowledge of his subject, and is quoted as a Learned authority. Without intending any disrespect to our current leader, our intellectual appeal to the professional classes is now on the wane.That is a consequence of deviating from the original case, and it has been to our disadvantage. Flirtations with Libertarianism, Poujardism and populism is serving us ill. This must now be clear for all to see.
As you feel that it is me, who is out of step with the democratic process,
can you explain what it is? What did our leader have to say on the subject last night? I endeavoured to explain that our system is a Representative Parliamentary Democracy, which has proved itself in peace and war for centuries. Founded on the Rule of Law, our legislators must be mindful of public opinion, but they must always place the interests of the Realm above the immediate approval of the electorate. I gave a list of examples, over a long period of time to illustrate the point; that appears to have been totally lost on you. Populist constitutions are invariably of short duration, and frequently bring disaster in thier wake. What do you know, for example, of the Weimar Republic? Talented people like Gustav Stresemann, who were a threat to Hitler's ambitions, were brought low by the mobs.
The very idea that reversing the smoking ban in public houses, will produce a
psephological consequence, advantageous to UKIP, is utterly eccentric. You are saying two things simultaneously: not only will the electorate agree with us, but it will also manifest itself as a voting determinant amonst them. I fear that voting determinants are more complex than that.
Anyway, tell me all about , '... the modern democratic process', with which I am out of step! I hope it doesn't revolve exclusively around smoking in pubs.
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