In light of the latest in what has become an interminable series of talks between the Greek government and their increasingly annoyed creditors, you will hear much from centre-left commentators in the days to come about how the ECB is trying to subvert democracy. Actually, putting aside the radio static of snap referenda for one […]
Lesson for the EU campaigns: anti-politics doesn’t work
The Telegraph has run a story this morning concerning one Jim Mellon, a wealthy man who plans to back the No to the EU campaign. If you’re thinking it’s a bit much for the Telegraph to write an article every time some rich person donates to the Get Out campaign, get used to it: we’ve […]
Both the Left and the Right’s hypocrisy over the Greek referendum is astonishing
Steve Baker, Tory MP for Wycombe and head of the modestly titled Conservatives for Britain, has been over the moon about the No vote in the Greek referendum last Sunday. “Today’s dramatic result is a wake-up call for the failed EU Establishment. Even the most vulnerable small nation will not be bullied by supranational authorities.” […]
Both Tsipras and David Cameron demonstrate that referenda are generally cop outs
Faced with having to either go against what he rather foolishly promised prior to becoming the elected leader of his country, or take said nation to the brink of and possibly over and into disaster, Alex Tsipras decided to fudge it. It was a good fudge, as these things go, I hasten to add: politically, […]
When Cameron campaigns to stay in the EU, how will the right wing press handle it?
I’ll start off by saying I usually find most attacks on the right of centre press by the Left to be over the top and silly. The idea that they conspire in a room together about how to keep the “establishment” clutching the reigns of power; the fact that the word bias is thrown at […]
Will a Grexit help or hurt Cameron?
In terms of the European Union and its history, today will probably be a day for the books, whatever happens. Either a deal between Greece and the EU will be struck at the 11th hour, saving the day for all involved; or, Greece will have set the stage for leaving the Euro and then who […]
Don’t listen to Alex Salmond – Labour abstaining on the purdah vote was excellent opposition politics
“Labour have yet again chosen to abstain on a key vote,” Alex Salmond declared in his usually understated manner. “They need to find a backbone and become an effective opposition in parliament.” It will come as little surprise that I disagree with Salmond: in this case, it’s because he happens to be objectively incorrect. Because […]
Lessons from Budapest – Brexit and all that fun stuff
I spoke at an event in Budapest yesterday, one focused on the various problems facing the EU in regards to making sure that all of the countries within it abide by basic democratic standards. This is a topic that has particular salience in Hungary, a country whose prime minister, Viktor Orban, has been likened to […]
David Cameron is right to demand collective cabinet responsibility on Europe – now let’s see if he can stick to it
The prime minister has come out all guns a-blazin’ on Europe today, specifically on the topic of what he expects his cabinet ministers to do. He unequivocally expects them to back his position. “The government isn’t neutral in this. We have a clear view: renegotiate, get a deal that’s in Britain’s interest and then recommend […]
Given what we saw post-Indy referendum in Scotland, what could the EU referendum do to British politics?
Andy Burnham wants there to be a separate EU Labour Yes campaign, one very much walled off from any possible connection with the Tories. The reason for this is simple. Better Together was seen as a disaster for Labour, particularly given what happened several months later (the whole losing every seat in Scotland bar one, […]