Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Farage on the Czech Presidency
What Mr Barroso forgets of course is that the Treaty takes the flag away, in order to get the Dutch to refuse a second referendum. So why is he flying that flag?
Oopps and double oops
Further to the Tory European group train crash, Tory spinners are claiming that everything is fine... Yeah right.
I spoke to Kaminski this morning. He was a little embarrased by what had happened, but he pointed out that rather than behave so honourably Kirkhope had tried to salvage some pride by offering a joint Presidency. Kaminski turned this offer down, he felt that he had worked over the years for a Tory EP grouping (true) and the Poles had upheld their part of the bargin They had found themselves in the UEN group in 2004 because they had been promised that the Tories would leave the EPP-ED at that time and had been left high and dry with nowhere to go). To be offered a joint chairmanship was felt to be insulting.
He had his name put forward. In the Group meeting that followed a number of Tory MEPs then openly declared that they would support Kaminski's candidacy and Kirkhope did the maths, realised that he would lose the vote and stood down.
The fact is that at the present time the Tories are trusted by nobody in or out of the ECR group. They failed in their promise because they had no discipoline and they are left with nobody on the top table of the Parliament (the Bureau). Nobody in Strasbourg is pretending that this is anything but a disaster for the new group.
Then of course we have the problem within the delegation. The idea was Kirkhope would become ECR Chairman. This would lead to him standing down as delegation Chairman. Of course this would mean that Harbour or Van Orden would stand for delegation chairman. This can no longer happen as the position ante is still extant. Thus we now have thwarted ambition in the Tory delegation - always a fun ingredient to throw into any soup. There will now be an election for Tory delegation Chairman in November and noises off are telling me that it is expected to be one serious cat-fight. Fur will be flying and tickets will be sold for ringside seats.
I spoke to Kaminski this morning. He was a little embarrased by what had happened, but he pointed out that rather than behave so honourably Kirkhope had tried to salvage some pride by offering a joint Presidency. Kaminski turned this offer down, he felt that he had worked over the years for a Tory EP grouping (true) and the Poles had upheld their part of the bargin They had found themselves in the UEN group in 2004 because they had been promised that the Tories would leave the EPP-ED at that time and had been left high and dry with nowhere to go). To be offered a joint chairmanship was felt to be insulting.
He had his name put forward. In the Group meeting that followed a number of Tory MEPs then openly declared that they would support Kaminski's candidacy and Kirkhope did the maths, realised that he would lose the vote and stood down.
The fact is that at the present time the Tories are trusted by nobody in or out of the ECR group. They failed in their promise because they had no discipoline and they are left with nobody on the top table of the Parliament (the Bureau). Nobody in Strasbourg is pretending that this is anything but a disaster for the new group.
Then of course we have the problem within the delegation. The idea was Kirkhope would become ECR Chairman. This would lead to him standing down as delegation Chairman. Of course this would mean that Harbour or Van Orden would stand for delegation chairman. This can no longer happen as the position ante is still extant. Thus we now have thwarted ambition in the Tory delegation - always a fun ingredient to throw into any soup. There will now be an election for Tory delegation Chairman in November and noises off are telling me that it is expected to be one serious cat-fight. Fur will be flying and tickets will be sold for ringside seats.
Bright beautiful new morning
So my comments yesterday about the troubles in the new Tory ECR Group were nothing on what really happened. All yesterday evening I was trying to get a steer on what was happening within their group following Edward MacMillan-Scot's auto-defenestration, and there were reams of silence. Unanswered texts, phones pointedly unpicked up, mubles and delays.
This enraged the Poles, despite desperate attempts by Tory staffers who were spinning that EMS's candidacy was all about the Germans getting pissed of with Sylvana Koch-Mehlin's . The photogenic Sylvana is getting too much publicity they say, she is unimportant (being from the small free-trading, atlanticist Free Democrat Party) whilst far more important and visuallly chalenged German MEP's do not attract the press attention.
What was going on?
Well in brief this...
EMS's vainglorious independent candidacy for European Parliament Vice-Presidency was sucesful. This unpicked the deal which had been the foundation of the new Group, that is the Poles of the PiS get the VP job and the Tories get the leadership of the Group. EMS did this despite threats (now carried out) that he would lose the Tory whip.
This enraged the Poles, despite desperate attempts by Tory staffers who were spinning that EMS's candidacy was all about the Germans getting pissed of with Sylvana Koch-Mehlin's . The photogenic Sylvana is getting too much publicity they say, she is unimportant (being from the small free-trading, atlanticist Free Democrat Party) whilst far more important and visuallly chalenged German MEP's do not attract the press attention.Anyhow this obviously didn't wash with the Poles who then had the temerity to gather together and nominate Mick Kaminski (the failed VP candidate) to stand against Timothy Kirkhope as Group leader.
Kaminski, a long time friend of the Tory Eurosceptics in Brussels collected the support of at least ten of the Tories and thus defeated Tory wet Kirkhope.
One grinning all over his face turned to me this morning and said,
"At least we have a Conservative as Group leader".
That is all very well, and I like Mick, but it means that the Tories having set up their group now have failed to pick up either of the posts that gives them acess to the Parliament's top table of the Bureau.
Mark Francois , (the shadow Europe Minister) may well have phoned Mick to offer his congratulations but the Tory high comand must be livid. Their plans have gone spectacularly awry. And it is only day one of the new Group.
Worse still, from what I hear, MacMillan-Scott is boasting that he is going to cause even more trouble by revealing more revalations about the PiS (homophobic stuff maybe).
How we all laughed last night as Robert Sturdy arrived to enjoy Bastille day drinks and pulled his finger across his throat with a grimace.
The picture illustrates Nigel Farage and Jan Zahradhil (ODS). Zarahdil is sitting in the seat that Mr Kirkhope thought had his name on it at the front of the chamber.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Others thoughts
This was sent to me, and though I rarely do this, this time I reproduce it.
The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, just old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's, but he has never collected unemployment either.
He's a recent Comprehensive School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and a 155mm howitzer.
He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk. He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must.
He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional.
He can march until he is told to stop, or stop until he is told to march.
He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient.
He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.
He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts.
If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands.He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job.
He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay, and still find ironic humour in it all.
He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime.
He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed.
He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking.
In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful.Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the BRITISH Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years.He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding.
Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.And now we even have women over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.
Prayer wheel for our military...
Prayer Wheel
When you read this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our ground troops inAfghanistan, sailors on ships, and airmen in the air, and for those in Iraq .
Of all the gifts you could give a British Soldier, Sailor,or Airman, prayer is the very best one.
The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, just old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's, but he has never collected unemployment either.
He's a recent Comprehensive School graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and a 155mm howitzer.
He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk. He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can field strip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must.
He digs foxholes and latrines and can apply first aid like a professional.
He can march until he is told to stop, or stop until he is told to march.
He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient.
He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry.
He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts.
If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands.He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job.
He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay, and still find ironic humour in it all.
He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime.
He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed.
He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking.
In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful.Just as did his Father, Grandfather, and Great-grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the BRITISH Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years.He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding.
Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood.And now we even have women over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so.
Prayer wheel for our military...
Prayer Wheel
"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands.
Protect them as they protect us.
Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need.Amen.'
When you read this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our ground troops inAfghanistan, sailors on ships, and airmen in the air, and for those in Iraq .
Of all the gifts you could give a British Soldier, Sailor,or Airman, prayer is the very best one.
First cracks in the new Tory Group
I have speculatedthat the new European Parliament Grouping of the Tories, the Conservative and Reformist Group (CRG) is going to find life a little dificult.
They have been used to a big group where a little differences are generally hidden and the size of the group creates ts own gravity, keeping people within the group's orbit. They have no experience of the nips and tucks of group management. If they loose two sub groups then their experiment of non EPP membership will end in embarrasing disastor.
So it is with interest that the first cracks are showing.
Today the nominations for the Vice-Presidents of Parliament close (The President will be decided by annointation as the choice is a toss up between Jerzy Buzek (seen wandering around his new empire on Sunday this weekend- trying it out for size) of the EPP and some Communist).
The CRG is getting a Tory as the Group leaders - with a place on the Conference of Presidents and the parliament's Bureau as goodies) - a minor battle between Geoffrey Vin Ordinaire and the plodding Timothy Kirkhope. However the deal cut with the Polish PiS is that their nomibnation gets the VP post.
Not if last term's EP V-P, Edward MacMillan-Scott is very unhappy about this - claiming that there was no vote and no doubt wiffling on about lack of democracy in the Group. Really he despises the new Group, is happy to bugger it up and suffers from a serious degree of political vanity.
He has collected the required signatures and believes that in a contested election (there is one more candidate than VP slot) he will beat the CRG official Pole.
This will set the first of many many headaches for Van Kirkhope to cauterise in maintaining the impression that everything is fine.
It isn't and even a casual observer knows that.
They have been used to a big group where a little differences are generally hidden and the size of the group creates ts own gravity, keeping people within the group's orbit. They have no experience of the nips and tucks of group management. If they loose two sub groups then their experiment of non EPP membership will end in embarrasing disastor.
So it is with interest that the first cracks are showing.
Today the nominations for the Vice-Presidents of Parliament close (The President will be decided by annointation as the choice is a toss up between Jerzy Buzek (seen wandering around his new empire on Sunday this weekend- trying it out for size) of the EPP and some Communist).
The CRG is getting a Tory as the Group leaders - with a place on the Conference of Presidents and the parliament's Bureau as goodies) - a minor battle between Geoffrey Vin Ordinaire and the plodding Timothy Kirkhope. However the deal cut with the Polish PiS is that their nomibnation gets the VP post.
Not if last term's EP V-P, Edward MacMillan-Scott is very unhappy about this - claiming that there was no vote and no doubt wiffling on about lack of democracy in the Group. Really he despises the new Group, is happy to bugger it up and suffers from a serious degree of political vanity.
He has collected the required signatures and believes that in a contested election (there is one more candidate than VP slot) he will beat the CRG official Pole.
This will set the first of many many headaches for Van Kirkhope to cauterise in maintaining the impression that everything is fine.
It isn't and even a casual observer knows that.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Aluminum hats or legitimate concern
Quentin Letts in the Mail today poses an interesting question.
The point is, as lets makes clear, MI5 works in the 'national interest' as defined by HMG. EU membership is in the national interest accordng to HMG, UKIP is a political party, not a 'campaigning organisation', and denying that MI5 works to further "the interests of a political party" seems frankly bizzare, as that should be so self evident as to be redundent.
Lord West's answer therefore raises far more questions than I am personally comfortable with.
The Government states that European Union membership is in the national interest. UKIP disagrees. Might not MI5, applying logic, therefore say it should put a tail on UKIP's wilder elements?Now nobody is going to deny that all parties have 'wilder elements' and UKIP is not immune, however that would not excuse MI5 interest. Indeed keeping tabs on the wilder one would be pointless. Listening in to some of UKIP's finest over a pint of Old Kneecracker down the King's Head planing to make a latter day reprise of Guy Fawkes seems to me to be a waste of resources, particularly in these times of a homegrown islamacist threat. Surely other more valid and sensible threats exist? Farage for example, cripes even myself (not regarding myself as 'wild' in the slightest. Lord Pearson, who occaisioned this article would no doubt be the the perfect target and is an obvious revolutionary. Here is the question,
"6 July 2009 : Column WA118And here the answer,
UK Independence Party
Questions
Asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 10 June (WA 151), whether the Security Service has been or is active inside or towards the United Kingdom Independence Party or any of its members. [HL4590]
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 10 June (WA 151), whether the security services or the police have collaborated or are collaborating with the European Anti-Fraud Office or any other organ of the European Union in relation to the United Kingdom Independence Party or any of its members. [HL4591]
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Security Service has investigated or is engaged with the United Kingdom Independence Party. [HL4592]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The established policy of successive Governments is not to comment on questionsabout Security Service investigations.Of course thisis not the first time that these questions have been asked, back in 2001 Lord Tebbit posed similar questions in a Spectator article that seems to have dissapeared, though not references to it.
The Security Service Act 1989 sets out its functions and prohibits it doing anything in furtherance of the interests of a political party. It does not investigate anyone for being a member of a campaigning organisation.
Police operations are a matter for the relevant chief officer who is under no duty to report such matters to the Government.
The point is, as lets makes clear, MI5 works in the 'national interest' as defined by HMG. EU membership is in the national interest accordng to HMG, UKIP is a political party, not a 'campaigning organisation', and denying that MI5 works to further "the interests of a political party" seems frankly bizzare, as that should be so self evident as to be redundent.
Lord West's answer therefore raises far more questions than I am personally comfortable with.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Deluded perchance?
One pof the most fascinatingthings about politicians is their ability to see the world through their own spectacles, and not allow brute reality to impinge upon them. Thus it is with Martin Schulz, leader off the socialist group which we must learn to call, at least for the next week the "Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament".
Here he is about the sucess of the Group in last month's elections,
Nah, don't think so. The chilled towels are kept over there on the sideboard, why don't you go and get one?
Here he is about the sucess of the Group in last month's elections,
With only 25% of seats other coalitions are indeed possible. However best of all is the following,the group has gone from holding approximately 27.5% of the seats in the outgoing Parliament to around 25.8% of the seats in the new Parliament.
According to Martin Schulz, it is therefore a "marginal decline" for the second largest group and the only one with MEPs from all 27 Member States. Its power is still "practically identical," and without it "the formation of a democratic and social coalition is not possible."
"I am working extremely hard to hold back the 27 heads of state or government."Guffaw, chortle, gasp. Oh yes Martin, Angela, Nicolas and the crew are going to take a blind bit of notice of a failed-burgomeister style, arm-waving auto-dictat whose group got womped in the elctions.
Nah, don't think so. The chilled towels are kept over there on the sideboard, why don't you go and get one?
Lies, dammit lies, well maybe not
The European parliament has got itself into a tizzy about a story that made it into the News of the World last Sunday.
Somehow Parliament Bureau documents from June had made into the hands of the Screws and they documented quite how much money the new President of Parliament was to receive,
Liar I say.
If she is telling the truth why does she then admit that "There was... a possible proposal tabled which may have led to changes in the president's financial arrangements but this is not going ahead now", what since the publication of the article?
Shall we see how the final published minutes are massaged shall we, wonder if the recordings of the meeting have been changed too?
And if legal action was looked into - get real - why was it decided against, because the story was true?
It's shooting fish in a barrel.
Update
I have just received an anonymous note corerdcting this piece.
Somehow Parliament Bureau documents from June had made into the hands of the Screws and they documented quite how much money the new President of Parliament was to receive,
"THE next European Parliament president is set to get an EXTRA £113,016 to rent a home PLUS £43,704 for entertaining on TOP of the current £36,778-a-year living allowance."So we made it clear that we didn't like it,
The leaked document, uncovered by the UK Independence Party, says the changes will put the president in the same pay bracket as the head of the European Commission, who is in charge of the EU's day-to-day running.UKIP MEP Marta Andreasen said: "The political elite think these obscene sums should be thrown at their feet without any thought of the people that pay for their feather-bedded lifestyle - the taxpayers."
The response though seem a little confused, I will add it in full,
Parliamentary bosses have angrily hit out at a UK tabloid's claims that the next president is in line for a "massive" pay increase.
According to the News of the World newspaper, the president is set to gain an extra €130,000 per year to rent a home plus €49,000 for entertaining on top of the current €41,000 living allowance.
The planned €180,000 pay rise is detailed, said the paper, in "secret EU documents" and is designed to give the president "more dignity."
The pay rise, it says, would make his total yearly income about €247,000 and put the president in the same pay bracket as the president of the commission.
Former Polish PM Jerzy Buzek is next week expected to be approved as parliament's next president, taking over from German deputy Hans-Gert Pöttering.
However, a parliament spokeswoman said there was "no truth whatsoever" in the story.
She told this website, "We do not know where they have got these figures from and it is incorrect to say the president is in line for a 'massive' pay rise. The allegations are utterly unfounded.
"There was, some time back, a possible proposal tabled which may have led to changes in the president's financial arrangements but this is not going ahead now."
She added, "It is possible legal action could have been taken in relation to this story but we have looked at this in the past and I am afraid it is not a viable option."
Well the figures (10,990 euros pcm for housing and 4,250 pcm for entertainments) came from the Bureau "summary of decisions" document, item 6, dated June 2009, which are not yet available in the intranet of the Parliament. So yes she does know where they came from.
"Some time back", suggests years, not less than a month. I had breakfast "some time back", but I would be dissembling if I said that to a journalist.
Liar I say.
If she is telling the truth why does she then admit that "There was... a possible proposal tabled which may have led to changes in the president's financial arrangements but this is not going ahead now", what since the publication of the article?
Shall we see how the final published minutes are massaged shall we, wonder if the recordings of the meeting have been changed too?
And if legal action was looked into - get real - why was it decided against, because the story was true?
It's shooting fish in a barrel.
Update
I have just received an anonymous note corerdcting this piece.
"The paragraphe in the Bureau document presented the currant situation which has been the the case since 1991. The president gets every three months (trimenstrel) the per diem for every calander day, an allowance for housing and an allowance for entertainment. The 2009 figures are 298 euros for the per diem, 10,990 euros for housing and 4,250 euros for entertainments. Total = 90 days x 298 + 10990 + 4250 = 42000 euros. Or about 170,000 euros a year. So Poettering got about 400,000 during his two and a halve years as President.So I apologise for my inaccuracy, and I suppose we must be grateful for small mercies that they didn't extend the package. Astonishing that they considered it. But this confirms the great wodges of wonga dissapearing into the president's maw.
the porte parole of the parliament is technically correct to say that it is untrue that increases are planned for the President. The new president will simply get what every president has got in the past. The Bureau document was about extending parts (but not all) of the president's package to vice-presidents and group presidents. This was rejected by the Bureau".
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Ego monitor
Mark Littlewood of Progressive Vision yesterday wrote a post on the Lib/Dem Group blog about Nigel Farage. It is a very positive piece, but I almost choked when I read this...
Beware Liberals bearing compliments I say.
(Still quite chuffed about it I suppose).
The event in question was the launch of a new campaign created by Forest, the Manifesto club and others.
"Nigel Farage has made a string of very sharp tactical and strategic moves. He has a slim, streamlined, but very talented staff. Gawain Towler, his chief lieutant, is a top-grade political asset with sharp organisational and communications judgement. Not just more personable than Damian McBride (most homo sapiens clear that hurdle), but highly intelligent too."
Beware Liberals bearing compliments I say.
(Still quite chuffed about it I suppose).
The event in question was the launch of a new campaign created by Forest, the Manifesto club and others.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Coincidence...maybe?
Con Home is getting itself into a tizzy about a Labour recruitment email signed off by Harperson. A suggestion that the BNP and the Tories are linked such as thisCausing particular outrage. Well barring the synthetic anger from a party that is happy to have a leader describe UKIP as "closet racisists mostly" that wasn't the thing that caught my eye. This was,Brendan from Durham said he joined because:“You can’t ride the fence when the Tories and BNP are gaining power.”
Silke from Guildford said:The name Silke is unusual, a German name but not in the top hundred girls names in the UK over the past few years. Interestingly one of the Labour candidates for the South East, a region including Guildford was one Silke Thomson-Pottebohm. (Revealingly, the Labour Party official page drops her German name - maybe finding a foriegner embarrassing?).
“I have re-joined because the Tories will ruin this country.”
Silke in real life is my Labour oppo in the European parliament, and a charming lass too, but an out and out Labour hack.
Now could it be possible that the Silke quoted by Harperson is one and the same as the Silke employed by the Labour Party in Brussels? I don't know but for a party that eschews spin like Labour you just can never tell.
Underhand stuff
Now I know that I am no great fan of the EU, but even I don't think it deserves this.
C'mon guys play fair.
C'mon guys play fair.
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