No doubt taxpayers are funding his taste for expensively understated suits too…

Nothing is too good for Labour Party royalty…..

Great spot. For democracy to be meaningful, it has to be botton-up not top-down.

And far from losing the plot, I’m deadly serious. Because after attending Leamington Spa, I’m optimistic that Britain will lead the world to a new place. But it won’t be by conquest, it will be by example.

They called the period of the industrial revolution the age of reason. For all the reasons we understand we are now in the age of stupid, with no better example of this than the environmental non movement and exemplified by the Met office masquerading as a scientific institution.

But the one thing that the political class has not caught on to yet is the democratic deficit. This is their undoing as they argue about Norway and Switzerland, and tell us what THEY think. And whist UKIP are not with-it on method, they at least speak for the people when it comes to running our own affairs.

Once we remove the political class Britain will lead the world once more. Harrogate agenda!! I believe we will turn to nuclear power having finally accepted that low dose radiation, of the type you get from Cornwall or a transatlantic flight, and of which 99% of all so called waste is is not dangerous. We have 1000 years of Plutonium stockpiled, before we count the Uranium, and not to mention all the Thorium. With a range of Base load plutonium and uranium breeders, and thorium molten salt reactors that can be throttled much like a gas plant today we will have cheep and abundant power to lead us into the age of enlightenment. We will have our own shale gas much of which we will use for road transport, rather than wasting it producing electricity.

Fanciful thinking? No because it is backed by science

Richard speaks of needing a positive message, and the British people are ready for a positive message, not only about politics, but about our ability to innovate and produce. We could very easily lead the world once more in nuclear energy.

This is not a spoof but it has several hysterical moments (if you can forget you’re paying her): http://www.publicserviceeurope.com/article/2954/seven-days-a-week-in-the-life-of-monika-kosiand324ska

So what precisely is WRONG with the Fourth Reich my man?

Lets ensure that Cameron demand thae important things be changed: so the damned fool Euro becomes The ReichMark, nein!

Britain leading the world – think you’ve clearly lost the plot: THAT was over a hundred years ago – the Empire’s gone! Given away by …the Tories from Churchill & Eden onwards …with Wilson’s Labour Ludddites later merely falling into line.

Clearly the spirit of William Joyce walks with us.

Haw-Haw …indeed!

I see the same thing now in the Western world with our stagnation. The same issues of energy and regulation are stifling progress. Britain broke free of Monarchy and the industrial revolution occurred. Today we are looked into a system of government little different from a Monarchy. An Monarchy is the ultimate expression of the Left.

I once thought it would be the US that lead the world out of it current malaise, but now I believe it will be Britain, and the Harrogate agenda together with a positive message is the key. The rest will just happen, because that’s what happens when you free people.

In 2011 the british public voted overwhelmingly (within the terms of that referendum) against changing the voting system from FPTP.

You would imagine that the LibDems would find themselves obliged to accept that result and drop their enthusiasm for changing the voting system?
But no, it’s still in their manifesto.

…But of course, that was AV, and they want full PR – so it’s a matter of nuance and detail. Just as would be a UK referendum on the EU. I’d be happy to accept the result so long as the referendum was not pre-rigged to ensure the preferred result held (as happened in 1975), but failure to establish the full terms of reference, and the guidelines any referendum will be held within does not instil confidence in this writer with regard to the probity of any theoretical EU referendum.

The rest just call themselves eurosceptic it want to remain part of the EU. They are the ones who talk about renegotiation, conflate access to the single market with EU membership and ignore the fundamentally undemocratic nature of the EU.

For me the only acceptable outcome is withdrawal, simply because membership goes against every democratic principle. Same with the six I referred to earlier. So there would still be voices but nowhere close to the extent of now, perhaps they would be drummed out of the party altogether.

It would be nice to think a lot of Tory and Labour MPs will put what is right before their careers, open their ears and take a critical look at the EU and agree withdrawal is the right thing to do. But then it would also be nice to think I would win the lottery on Saturday…

At the 1975 referendum called by Harold Wilson, I unhesitatingly voted in favour of the UK remaining in the EEC. Unlike my few Tory friends, I never doubted that it would move towards increasing integration, economically and politically …as well as seeing the organisation expand.

Equally, unlike my (few …and likely to be fewer still!) remaining LibDem friends I now welcome an ‘in’ or ‘out’ referendum. How I vote, will depend upon how successful Cameron & co are at delivering those much-needed reforms. That said, while remaining prejudiced in favour of remaining in the EU, I harbour few real doubts that the (surviving) UK will prosper if it ceases to be a full EU member.

(An independent Scotland may, of course, move in the opposite direction!)

For me, the big question remains that IF this referendum ever happens and IF the vote favours remaining in the EU …will those vociferous Tory right-wingers finally stop whining & whinging, accept the democratic decision …and move on?