Monday, 30 March 2009
EU Fudge
In the Libertas office we really enjoyed this video from the Taxpayers Alliance.
Focusing on agricultural policy it highlights the waste and overregulation that define so much of the currently self-serving bureaucracy that is the current EU.
Like so much of EU policy, the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) was introduced for good reasons - ensuring European food security, protecting rural livelihoods and promoting food as an aspect of Europe’s rich and diverse culture.
However, equally typically, it has lost its way. The CAP is now an unwieldy bureaucratic juggernaut which has rolled over those who have attempted to reform it in the past. The CAP now stands for unfair contribution and distribution of EU money, for supporting large, industrial farming and for entrenching poverty in the world’s poorest countries. It really is a perfect storm of the EU’s current problems with the Brussels beholden to certain interests rather than representing European people.
Libertas is committed to ending the closed-door decision making and excessive red-tape that are the signs of an undemocratic, unaccountable organisation. If you want to reform the EU and make the CAP fit, join us and make your voice heard and your vote count in the European Elections on June 4th
Saturday, 28 March 2009
To Market
Spent an invigorating couple of hours talking to people at Bath Farmers' Market this morning. The sense of community was tangible and the spirit of enterprise poured out of every stall.
Having served as a soldier, I have often found myself talking to local people around the globe, but to be honest this was the first time I had tried it in the United Kingdom. Suffice to say, people could not have been friendlier and were very interested to hear Libertas’ pan-European approach to creating a Europe people can believe in.
But it ain't going to be plain sailing: some know they should vote, but don’t; others don’t think their vote counts for anything and then there are the party loyalists. One Labour supporter I spoke to was particularly inclined to brush me off. However, when I told him that democracy and reform transcended party politics and asked how he felt being denied a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty (a Labour manifesto promise), I began to sense the first traces of a willingness to engage. That we continue to recruit people from across the political spectrum as supporters and candidates is a bit of ammunition I will save for next time.
So, a local market with a local feel: Laura who runs the stalls (expect Libertas there soon); the Thoughtful (and I have to say engaging) Bread Company, the chocolate stall run by Nicola, who would make an excellent candidate. I didn’t manage to persuade her, but I think we may just have got her vote.
And last but not least Ken Box. Just as we were thinking about leaving, up marched Ken clutching the newspaper article from the Bath Chronicle – ‘Ex-Army man to see action in battlefield of European politics’ - to ask what all this Libertas is about? So I told him. In truth, Ken is probably for withdrawal, which is not the Libertas position, but he listened, liked the pan-European approach to fixing the European Union problem and we exchanged emails.
Ken we need your support and the support of many millions more like you who really care about the democratic process, which sits right at the heart of the Libertas platform.
Having served as a soldier, I have often found myself talking to local people around the globe, but to be honest this was the first time I had tried it in the United Kingdom. Suffice to say, people could not have been friendlier and were very interested to hear Libertas’ pan-European approach to creating a Europe people can believe in.
But it ain't going to be plain sailing: some know they should vote, but don’t; others don’t think their vote counts for anything and then there are the party loyalists. One Labour supporter I spoke to was particularly inclined to brush me off. However, when I told him that democracy and reform transcended party politics and asked how he felt being denied a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty (a Labour manifesto promise), I began to sense the first traces of a willingness to engage. That we continue to recruit people from across the political spectrum as supporters and candidates is a bit of ammunition I will save for next time.
So, a local market with a local feel: Laura who runs the stalls (expect Libertas there soon); the Thoughtful (and I have to say engaging) Bread Company, the chocolate stall run by Nicola, who would make an excellent candidate. I didn’t manage to persuade her, but I think we may just have got her vote.
And last but not least Ken Box. Just as we were thinking about leaving, up marched Ken clutching the newspaper article from the Bath Chronicle – ‘Ex-Army man to see action in battlefield of European politics’ - to ask what all this Libertas is about? So I told him. In truth, Ken is probably for withdrawal, which is not the Libertas position, but he listened, liked the pan-European approach to fixing the European Union problem and we exchanged emails.
Ken we need your support and the support of many millions more like you who really care about the democratic process, which sits right at the heart of the Libertas platform.
Thursday, 26 March 2009
Hitting the Campaign Trail
As momentum gathers, it’s all go on the Libertas campaign trail. As befits the pan-European nature of our campaign, I have spent time this week in Brussels, London and around the UK.
Video of Robin Matthews discussing Libertas' campaign
Yesterday I was interviewed by the BBC for the Politics Show, which will appear on Sunday 29th March. Their approach was very positive, as you would expect from such a well respected programme, and so it was a good opportunity to explain what Libertas is about and the change it wants to bring in Europe.
Susanna Mendonca, who interviewed me, was intrigued about Libertas’ unique position as a pan-European, pro-European party which recognises the potential of the EU, but rejects the current anti-democratic status quo.
Libertas wants a Europe that people can believe in. Currently, the electorate right across the United Kingdom has lost faith in the European project and the only way to restore that faith is to put democracy back at the heart of European Union.
What this means in the first instance is letting people have their say and respecting the verdict delivered at the ballot box. The EU Constitution/Lisbon Treaty, call it what you will, has been rejected by the French, Dutch and Irish voters and yet the EU continues to push it through by any means possible. What part of ‘No’ does Brussels not understand, never mind the breathtaking arrogance of unelected or unaccountable elites telling the people of Europe what is best for them.
Witness Gordon Brown describing Europe as a beacon of hope when democratic citizens across Europe see their hard-earned money being wasted aboard the Brussels gravy train. Last year, Eur 6bn was mis-spent; for 14 years auditors were unable to sign off on the accounts. We can only imagine how much the needless monthly movement of the European Parliament between Brussels and Strasbourg costs, despite the fact that 1 million Europeans have asked for this wasteful practice to be stopped. The Prime Minister further declared how proud he was that Britain had ratified the Lisbon Treaty and yet in a recent poll over 80% of people said they wanted a referendum before any more power was handed over to Brussels. Talk about being out of touch.
Along the campaign trail, it has been heartening to meet people from across the political spectrum who share the Libertas’ values and concerns. As one Labour supporter told me: ‘democracy is not a right wing or left wing value’. Say no more.
On Saturday, 28th March, I will be at the Bath Farmer’s Market and look forward to meeting as many of you as are able to come along and lend your support.
Video of Robin Matthews discussing Libertas' campaign
Yesterday I was interviewed by the BBC for the Politics Show, which will appear on Sunday 29th March. Their approach was very positive, as you would expect from such a well respected programme, and so it was a good opportunity to explain what Libertas is about and the change it wants to bring in Europe.
Susanna Mendonca, who interviewed me, was intrigued about Libertas’ unique position as a pan-European, pro-European party which recognises the potential of the EU, but rejects the current anti-democratic status quo.
Libertas wants a Europe that people can believe in. Currently, the electorate right across the United Kingdom has lost faith in the European project and the only way to restore that faith is to put democracy back at the heart of European Union.
What this means in the first instance is letting people have their say and respecting the verdict delivered at the ballot box. The EU Constitution/Lisbon Treaty, call it what you will, has been rejected by the French, Dutch and Irish voters and yet the EU continues to push it through by any means possible. What part of ‘No’ does Brussels not understand, never mind the breathtaking arrogance of unelected or unaccountable elites telling the people of Europe what is best for them.
Witness Gordon Brown describing Europe as a beacon of hope when democratic citizens across Europe see their hard-earned money being wasted aboard the Brussels gravy train. Last year, Eur 6bn was mis-spent; for 14 years auditors were unable to sign off on the accounts. We can only imagine how much the needless monthly movement of the European Parliament between Brussels and Strasbourg costs, despite the fact that 1 million Europeans have asked for this wasteful practice to be stopped. The Prime Minister further declared how proud he was that Britain had ratified the Lisbon Treaty and yet in a recent poll over 80% of people said they wanted a referendum before any more power was handed over to Brussels. Talk about being out of touch.
Along the campaign trail, it has been heartening to meet people from across the political spectrum who share the Libertas’ values and concerns. As one Labour supporter told me: ‘democracy is not a right wing or left wing value’. Say no more.
On Saturday, 28th March, I will be at the Bath Farmer’s Market and look forward to meeting as many of you as are able to come along and lend your support.
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