Harperson to fall off cliff

It appears that Harriet Harman has just had a senior (politico) moment. In Dundee for the Labour Party conference she made a clarion call,

to party members, urging them to treat the Euro elections as a "dress rehearsal" for the next UK election.
The deputy labour leader urged delegates at the Scottish Labour conference in Dundee to make every vote count in the run-up to the June 4 poll.

Not only is she asking for trouble in that Labour are going to get hammered, she is playing straight into the Tories and federasts everywhere's hands. From what I understand the Tories main campaign thrust at the June euro elections is along the lines of, 'mmake this a run up to the General election, "Vote Conservative to give Gordo a kicking," a message to be fair that has some resonance.

But my concern is, and it would be wouldn't it with my UKIP sympathies, is that yet again, a European election will yet again be run with the main parties deliberately avoiding the issue of Europe and its increasing domination of our nations poltical life.

If we cannot talk about Europe during a European election, then pray when can we?

CSU in desperate stakes goes scep

The German - well OK Bavarian centre right party is in all sorts of trouble right now. They curremtly have 9 sitting MEPs including some big hitters in the Parliament like Inigo Freidrich. Due to a change in the way that the European Parliament election's are being held in Germany, they stand to lose all 9, despite still picking up over 40% in their home, and Germany's most populous Lande, Bavaria. This time they have to get over 5% of the whole of Germany's vote.

Of course this means that their sister (and have you ever seen sisters together, it can get pretty brutal at times) party the CDU will be the only one holding the flame of Christian Democracy in Germany, and they quite like that.

Add to that the spectre of Libertas Germany standing possibly with Count Von Stauffenburg (former CSU federal MP - and a chap with a resonant name) at top of the list and their is massive pressure on the old party of Bavaria.

So what do they do, first Edmund Stoiber suggests that he will ride to the flailing party's rescue by sitting at the top of their Euro list.

Now we hear that current party leader, Horst Seehofer has been talking referenda. No not on the Lisbon Treaty - though that would cook Libertas's goose in the Lande - but over Turkish entry into the European Union.

Now everybody knows that Merkle and the CSU see eye to eye on their not wanting Turkey through the portals of the Berlyamont (Germany would lose its position of country with most weight - and would have to pay for the privilage), but the word referendum is a dangerous one in German politics. Particulary in the light of the deliberations of the Constitutional Court.

Interesting times indeed in Barvaria.

What is he talking about?

Ari Vatanen is a personable chap a surprisingly humble for a man of his distinctions. Formerly World Rally Driving Champion inumerable times and MEP. Having first been elected for his native Finland, last time round he was elected for a French constituency. Here he is talking about on the Parliaments new European Elections 2009 website,

Life is all about bridge building, and now I have a slightly bigger hammer in my hand.

Sorry Ari, you are going to have to run that one past me again.

What if they held an election and nobody came?

B. Awareness of the date of election and interest

QD3 In your opinion, when will the next European elections be held?
2009 26%
Other 7%
Don't know 67%

QD3 Of the respondents who answered with the correct year 2009

June 2009 8%
Others 2009 18%
2009 26%
Others 7%
Don't know 67%

These are igures from the latest Eurobarometer Report on the forthcoming European Elections that were released today. From these figures it looks like another very low turnout must be expected next June.

Here you have the probabilities of voting

1. Definitely would not vote 15%
2. 4%
3. 5%
4. 4%
5. 10%
6. 6%
7. 7%
8. 9%
9. 6%
10. Would definitely vote 28%
Don't know 6%

National variations:

Calculating voting probability as described (answers 1-8 counted as low probability and 9-10 as high probability) it is highest in Belgium where voting is compulsory (61%), Netherlands (58%) and Denmark (57%).

According to the same criteria voting probability is lowest in Portugal (76% are not likely to vote), UK and Austria (75%).

It just shows how utterly irrelevant the European Parliament is in people's lives.

How much does the UK care about the EU

Not alot if the latest Eurobarometer survey has anything to tell us.

Yeas that is a full three percent who are aware that the next European Parliament elections are taking place next year

Girding their loins

The Parliament authorities have been planning for next year's Euro-elections and have asked all the Parliamentary departments to come up with a plan of action. And here it is in all its glory

Background: The main messages identified in the information and communication strategy as adopted by the Bureau in October 2007
Phase I (January 2008 – December 2008):
- Parliament has developed into a key player in the EU.
- Its decisions matter and have profound impact on the European society and add value to the lives of European citizens.
- Parliament is a political institution in which the groups each bring their political vision to bear on political outcomes. Voters have an interest in ensuring their opinions are represented by voting as future decisions will affect them.

Phase II (January 2009 - May 2009):
- There are major policy issues, challenges and even threats facing the EU, its member states and citizens.
- The issues can in fact only be dealt with at that European level.
- The electorate face in June 2009 a choice between different political alternatives to tackle these issues.
- The European parliament is the only democratic institution at European level where policy choices can be discussed and decided on in an open debate.

As you can see it was money worth spending on future strategy.

Parliament is a "key player"... right and most MEPs are well known to their opwn parents.

Its decisions "add value" to the citizens. Now if they were to say "its decision add costs" they might be on to something here. But 'add value' now you know they are deluded. Voters 'have an interest', no they are profoundly un-interested, maybe they should be a little more engaged, just to stop the avalanche of piffle, absolutely. But this is politics for the under fives. This has been drawn up by highly paid people for the use of political anoraks. Maybe they could have come up with something a little less trite?

Wow. There are threats to the EU are there? Well of course the key threat facing the EU is the people. After all they are as Mr Sarkozy puts it,

“They are bloody fools.They have been stuffing their faces at Europe’s expense for years and now they dump us in the s***.”

Decisions can only be made at a European level...tosh.

Anyhow each unit has been asked to come up with proposals for the campaign, under the following titles,

Dossier/Issue/Activity (including both current and future legislature)
1 Possible positive messages
2 Possible negative reactions/risks

These thoughts will then be sent back to the Information/Prerss/Propaganda DG for cogitating and so on. I shall of course keep you updated as to what these messages are.