Mikeuk

Got a nasty feeling that Paul won't be quite so chummy next time you see him, Gary - assuming there is a next time.

If I were you I would resign from UKIP now and avoid a full blown 'public execution'.

BTW - exactly what is the National Ex-Services Association?

Does it actually exist?

Anthony Butcher

I have no idea. We can only judge him on his actions. As I said before, his previous work has been competent I believe, and up until now I haven't really heard anything against him.

Although he has handled his own appointment badly and his speech wasn't to my liking, it doesn't mean that he can't turn it around. It is perfectly possible that he simply got caught up in Farage's whirlwind and didn't consider the consequences.

We should wish him luck and hope for the best.

__________________
If you care about what's in your food and where it comes from, then get it labelled!
Label My Food - http://www.labelmyfood.org.uk

Niall Warry

I suppose it is polite to wish him luck and hope for the best but let's also face the facts. He is Nigel's placement so one assumes he will do his bidding. If he doesn't he won't last long!

AB do you disagree with what I've said above?

Anthony Butcher

I can only repeat what I said above. You can only judge someone on what they have done, not what you expect them to do.

__________________
If you care about what's in your food and where it comes from, then get it labelled!
Label My Food - http://www.labelmyfood.org.uk

Millennium3

My understanding of the Cameron's stated position is that if the LT is fully ratified by the time he comes into office, he will accept this as final since to renege would be extremely time consuming and prevent him from attending to the many other important issues which need to be confronted. [I am not agreeing!]

I seem to remember Haig saying that the Tories would hold a referendum on the LT if the the Irish had not ratified by the time they came into office. Is this still their position?

I wonder if this is of concern to the EU high command and a reason for this:


Britain 'should be able to opt out of EU deals'
Britain should be able to have "special status" within the European Union that would allow it to effectively opt out of agreements such as the Lisbon Treaty, the author of the European Union Constitution will say today.

By Andrew Porter Political Editor
Last Updated: 7:09AM BST 08 Sep 2008
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, the former French President who was the key architect of the constitution, will tell a special conference in London that members states have to accept that not everyone believes European integration should continue. The furore over the Lisbon Treaty - effectively a revived version of the Constitution - has once again led to a debate about how many powers Britain cede to Brussels.
Mr d'Estaing will tell the conference organised by the Daily Telegraph and campaign group Global vision: "Integration is vital for Europe: it is a question of scale that will become vital in the world of tomorrow. The European Union has already come too far with the project of closer integration to stop now.
"However, we have to accept that not all countries share the same vision, or are comfortable proceeding at the same speed. If countries such as Britain do not want to move to the next stage we should be prepared to agree with them on a special status that would preserve close ties, but avoid them acting as a brake on the progress of others."
The event, which takes place at the Houses of Parliament, will look at what options Britain and Europe has in the wake of the Lisbon Treaty. The treaty was rejected by Irish voters earlier this year, throwing its ratification process into doubt.
Lord Blackwell, the Chairman of Global Vision, will argue that Britain needs to look again at loosening its ties with the EU.
He will say: "The time has come for Britain say clearly that it does not want to continue down the road of further political and economic integration in Europe. A regional European block is an outdated concept in the globalised world of the 21st Century, and is tying us into inward looking, uncompetitive protectionism and regulation.
"We should take this opportunity to negotiate a new, looser relationship with the EU that preserves the benefits of free trade and cooperation but allows us to opt out of the project of political and economic integration that others seem committed to follow."
Other speakers will include Lord Trimble, former first Minister of Northern Ireland; Lord Howell, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords; Ruth Lea of Global Vision; and Iain Martin, Head of Comment at The Daily Telegraph.

Britain 'should be able to opt out of EU deals' - Telegraph

Jeff

I always thought that it was the United Kingdom that was known and shown to be a member of the EU,not Britain.

Millennium3

Yes mine too - probably shorthand. The article is being discussed on the 'Daily Mail' thread.

Jeff

Yes, but even the shorthand version would be or should be UK, I believe.

As in the "UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND"= THE UK.

After all,this is the UNITED KINGDOM OF, ##### ####### ### ######## #######,isn't it?

Millennium3

Perhaps more importantly, if reasonable opt outs were achieved, it would take much of the wind from the eurosceptic sails.

Jeff

Selective opt outs would probably totally destroy all eurosceptic resistance, overnight.