There was never the slightest chance that David Cameron will achieve any significant “renegotiation” of Britain’s EU membership terms. This fictitious “renegotiation” is the fig-leaf with which Cameron has sought to appease euro-sceptics, promising an in-out referendum once the non-existent “renegotiation” is completed.
When a non-existent process can be deemed complete is an interesting question.
On Cameron’s side, it has only ever been a fig-leaf to buy time, though I do not entirely discount Britain’s extraordinary capacity to delude itself about its ability to “punch above its weight” diplomatically. The book of modern British diplomatic triumphs would be a slim volume indeed.
But the Emperor has made the mistake of pointing to his dangling naked penis. Cameron stated starkly that the election of Jean Claude Juncker to head the European Commission would be evidence that Europe would not adopt Cameron style reform.
Yes, David. Exactly. Thanks for pointing it out. Personally I never thought you were wearing any trousers anyway, but if anyone did you have now dangled it right in their faces.
Cameron has made it even more plain by linking Juncker’s election directly to Cameron’s thesis that national governments must always be paramount in Europe. Juncker’s election is in accordance with an agreement that the leader of the largest party in the European Parliament will head the Commission. Thus, as Cameron pointed out, the very process itself is an advance of Euro-federalism and Euro-democracy, irrespective of Juncker’s views. Absolutely. Cameron’s thesis that national governments must be paramount over European institutions has already been defeated in what Cameron himself made a symbolic fight. The complete fatuity of Cameron’s re-negotiation claims is exposed.
Personally I am very pro-EU. But whatever your stance on the EU, the outright dishonesty of the Cameron approach must be condemned.
I published a couple of weeks ago that Juncker does not share Barroso’s hostility to Scottish independence: as a former Prime Minister of Luxembourg he does not see the problem with small nations. The British media has been extremely keen to puff up the opposition to Scottish independence by foreign leaders. Cameron and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have invested huge diplomatic capital into persuading Barack Obama and Li Keqiang to make statements against Scottish independence, while standing next to Cameron for the cameras.
The media failed to pay the same attention to a much more significant occasion – Angela Merkel refused to do it. Standing right next to David Cameron at a press conference in Sweden, Merkel rebuffed intense British diplomatic lobbying when she refused to back the continued existence of the state the man next to her was representing. It was a stunning slight, as Merkel knocked back the same question fed to Obama and Keqiang with the sensible (though entirely untrue) reply that she never answers hypothetical questions. Cameron stared at the floor, discomfited.
There was never the remotest chance that an independent Scotland would be excluded from the European Union. And the two people who are most important in that decision – Jean Claude Juncker and Angela Merkel – have not been amenable to the FCO’s frenetic anti-Scottish lobbying. They both are in positions much more vital to Scotland’s future than Barack Obama and Li Keqiang – both of whom will change their tune post-independence anyway.
Cameron’s headaches are multiplying.
Kempe.
“How long before Scotland is sending it’s budget to Berlin for approval?”
Well the Uk’s been run by a German mob for centuries so why would you give a toss?
Dangling it right in their faces seems to be English tradition
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/elm-guest-house-undercover-cop-3434195
Lebedev wants In.
What is David Cameron playing at? His anti-EU stance is totally irresponsible
Just because the PM has it in for Jean-Claude Juncker shouldn’t mean he ignores the advice of British business
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/what-is-david-cameron-playing-at-his-antieu-stance-is-totally-irresponsible-9565684.html
and their cartoon has Cameron naked with Thatcher’s handbag covering the vital bits.
http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/article9567047.ece/alternates/w1024/daily-cartoon-20140627.jpg
The Scotsman has him in the trenches.
http://www.scotsman.com/webimage/1.3458593.1403812990!/image/2085769402.jpg_gen/derivatives/articleImgDeriv_628px/2085769402.jpg
Juncker: The Corporate Boot Goes In –
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/10929427/Fears-over-Jean-Claude-Junckers-drinking.html
Drinks. Smokes. Probably strangles kittens.
I would not be surprised if Savilles report yesterday was released to take the strain of multiple boots up Camerons backside, a diversion to feed the masses.
His obstinacy and wriggling is purile, he is the City’s bitch and they tell him how to keep the pirates at it. We could not possibly have the EU look into our affairs, such as the NHS privatisation, the wholesale move of massive taxes to 40% of our representatives in the House of Lords.
remeber the promise to reform both houses? too late, demolish them!
Cameron is effectively putting two fingers up to EU voters who for the first time did have a say in the matter of chosing the EU president, as it was signed by the UK and the rest of the EU, so his stance is clearly aimed at us. For that Juncker has to listen to be berated by the Telegraph, o dear, he drinks too much and is lazy…
Others say, that Merkel could have given him the indisputable nod weeks ago, but she held out to see whether Cameron could muster, not just bluster, in the end he made a twit of himself. Everyone in Europe knew what Junckers was like when they elevated him on to the rostrum, but there is always someone in the crowd who can’t agree. Thats its the British, again, is now tradition in Europe, the moaning started in the 1970’s and it is still de rigueur today.
Most important, his daddy was a Nazi and hence his fatherly genes must be coursing through Junckers venes. My congratulation to the Tel;egraph for entering the tabloid level of ‘shit for brains’, one stage removed from changing to a smaller format and some more red splashes.
That said, I do like the Telegraph for detail at times.
OMG, this woman should have a stint on the Newsnight programme. Can you imagine the fallout?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=13PIF3hAYgc
SNAP!
Tell Ba’al @ 8.27am that I had already said that last night @ 11.28pm!
Meanwhile, here’s a gruesome threesome –
Poreshenko, Barroso and van Rompoy
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/75877000/jpg/_75877777_75877374.jpg
EU signs pacts with ex-USSR states
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28052645
The squeeze is tightened around President Putin.
Although it is diminishing, there is still vastly more personal freedom in the EU than in the non-EU states of the former Soviet Union. There is also a much better standard of living for ordinary people.
The more squeeze on Putin – who is a far more vicious killer than anybody currently in power in the West, even Obama – the better. The ability of the British left to ignore Dagestan, Chachnya and the killing of hundreds of independent Russian journalists sickens me.
Jeremy Paxman: I’m a one-nation Tory and ‘Newsnight’ is made by 13-year-olds
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/jeremy-paxman-im-a-onenation-tory-and-newsnight-is-made-by-13yearolds-9566874.html
“Although it is diminishing, there is still vastly more personal freedom in the EU than in the non-EU states of the former Soviet Union.”
Yes, but the EU doesn’t deserve any credit for it.
How long will it take for the first rant about Paxman being a Tory and the inevitable bias he has shown over the years? 3..2..1..
“Drinks. Smokes. Probably strangles kittens.”
Just another monumentally dull apparatchik from another non-country tasked with dismantling European nation states.
“Monetary policy is a serious issue. We should discuss this in secret, in the Eurogroup. I’m ready to be insulted as being insufficiently democratic, but I want to be serious. I am for secret, dark debates.” — Jean-Claude Juncker.
Reportedly not so dull when he’s drunk.
Mary crows
“SNAP!
Tell Ba’al @ 8.27am that I had already said that last night @ 11.28pm!”
___________________
Yes, you’re wonderful, Mary, we know!
And modest with it!
************************
Habbabkuk says : he who blows his own trumpet will quickly run out of puff.
The UK is dead! Long live the EU!
So Junket gets the job, the Tories get trashed and next year’s Labour/Liberal coalition deliver no EU referendum exactly as promised. Yes voters of the free west, the undemocratic march for ever more massive government continues.
Of course Putin is scum but so is Merkel, Junker, Miliband, Salmond. You EU loving liberal left sicken me.
It was nothing to do with ‘crowing’. Yet another reference to chickens. there.
I was making the point that since Habbabreak came into existence people can end up talking to themselves with an audience of one. I believe I am on Ba’al’s Habbabreak. Fair enough. He’s welcome.
He might even have a list of some others on there! 😉
Paxman took OUR filthy lucre though so yet another hypocrite/stenographer to power reveals himself.
“The ability of the British left to ignore Dagestan, Chachnya and the killing of hundreds of independent Russian journalists sickens me.”
It also sickens the left, but the Tariq Ali’s of this world are now interested in getting paid for their utterances and live in big houses just as the establishment. But its a general swipe that should not go unchallenged because the same happens here.
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/michael-hastings-car-crash-death-still-being-investigated
The ability of the britsh establishment and the right to make out that war with Russia is inevitable, down to ideologues and gangsters, not the outcome of our greed and zest for Russias resources, is a crock, and its full.
Then this from Anon, a total distortion of facts by someone who has come to love his status as a US bitch. Well bitch, isn’t it nice of the EU to let you run along and go to war/walkies with your hegemonic handler as you see fit, attack this and that country whilst filling your belly at the EU table? and withoput any consequences to you or your country? One could argues that such warmongering is contrare to the EU’s founding statements by the club of Rome, one could argue for change to such selfish anger in future reforms, that nobody should drag the EU into their spats with others, without consequences to their own status.
And don’t think that these companies frequenting Britain do this to bring us jobs, they are out to use us for their trade in the EU alone, don’t worry they have not forgotten the opium wars and devastation the British empire wrecked on them, now they are in the driving seat.
“Although it is diminishing, there is still vastly more personal freedom in the EU than in the non-EU states of the former Soviet Union.”
Yes, but the EU doesn’t deserve any credit for it.
The EU does deserve credit for it, because without it, the Yugoslav conflict would have taken a different turn, but don’t strain on that, just keep ploughing on with your PM.
Great news just in from the Anon ‘ymous Times’, Britain will in future make do with Japanese and Chinese cars, not a single person will buy French, Italian or German cars anymore. Further, all the globalised companies leaving Britain for another vasall to be exploited in the EU, this will not mean much loss of taxes to the exchequer as they don’t pay much, will leave a wave of unemployment, so Camerons policies will eventually get the pitchforks out in Britain whilst he is personally switching the lights off.
what a prat
Of course Putin is scum but Junker strangles kittens! You EU loving liberal left sicken me.
The EU loving left is not left anymore Phil, they never were there for a united movement, just in it for their own little divisive cliques.
Scotlands Independence, long may it last, will make it obvious that England is the last unreformed bastion denying its citizens a fair vote, not that this will cheer anybody up here.
Just another monumentally dull apparatchik from another non-country tasked with dismantling European nation states.
I’ll have you know he did very well for Luxembourg. And Vodafone. You should admire his entrepreneurial genius. An inspiration to globalising neocons everywhere. I’m surprised you’re agin him. Which is not to deny his regrettable personal habits, bad breath, the strangled kittens buried in the grounds of his palace and preference for cognac over English (sic) whisky, and whatever the Barclay Bros’ private organ can smear him with. Sorry about that image.
Cameron wants to reform Europe to reflect the needs of the UK service/financial fraud economy. Otherwise he’s going to get trashed by half his own party and many of his backers at the next election. That’s all this is about.
“Of course Putin is scum but so is Merkel, Junker, Miliband, Salmond. You EU loving liberal left sicken me.”
Ha ha! Well said, Phil. Personally I’m sickened by the lot of you!
But seriously, I think some of you have it all arse about foot here. There is nothing in the least Eurosceptic about Cameron. He bows and scrapes before the EU, whilst maintaing the charade of standing up to it for domestic consumption. Truth be told he is pro-EU and has said so on many occasions. He is committed to keeping this country in the European Union.
“So Junket gets the job, the Tories get trashed and next year’s Labour/Liberal coalition deliver no EU referendum exactly as promised.”
Spot on, Phil. That was, after all, the whole thinking behind the Tory referendum promise!
Take note Dave.
Scots NHS satisfaction soars as England’s falls
Posted by The (Medialens) Editors on June 27, 2014, 9:52 am
Scotland’s shift away from a commercialised NHS to one based once more on solidarity is proving highly popular with the public.
http://www.opendemocracy.net/ournhs/dave-watson/scots-nhs-satisfaction-soars-as-englands-falls
~~~
and watch out, the UN is supporting the Argies over the Thatcher Falklands. So much in the in tray at the moment and all that electioneering to plan for over the next 11 months.
UN committee backs Argentina over Falkland Islands
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/un-committee-backs-argentina-over-falkland-islands-9566894.html
plus a new M16 chief to find as Sawers is leaving.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28033521
Some dark mutterings from Germania
” Then this from Anon, a total distortion of facts by someone who has come to love his status as a US bitch. Well bitch, isn’t it nice of the EU to let you run along and go to war/walkies with your hegemonic handler as you see fit, attack this and that country whilst filling your belly at the EU table? ”
Precis of this latest outburst: you can’t be US bitch, you must be our German bitch. You can’t be no-one’s bitch. That would be Little Englander.
The ability of the British left to ignore Dagestan, Chachnya and the killing of hundreds of independent Russian journalists sickens me.
Putin certainly trumps Obama when it comes to acting the thug, as his forces’ conduct in the second Chechnya war clearly demonstrates . However Russia’s top ranking for journalists getting whacked predates Putin, and has its origins in the oligarch wars of the Yeltsin years-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_journalists_killed_in_Russia
Some high profile murders in the early Putin years were also very probably the work of non state actors-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Klebnikov
‘But seriously, I think some of you have it all arse about foot here. There is nothing in the least Eurosceptic about Cameron.’
Anon- Cameron has no fixed beliefs whatsoever, beyond preserving the privileges of his class; he has acquired a Eurosceptic veneer in an effort to appease his disgruntled right wing. His latest anti Juncker charade has backfired badly. Pass the popcorn please.
‘The UK forewent that part of its budget rebate (won by Mrs T) which related to certain expenditures flowing arising directly out of the accession of the central and eastern European member states in 2004.’
Thanks Habba for recycling the Eurocrat line used to some good effect against a supine Blair in 2005. The ‘linkage’ between the UK rebate and the admission of the 8 accession states was a pup sold to Blair, then intent on burnishing his Europhile credentials, and nothing more.
The main reason for the instigation of the rebate by Thatcher was the unsuitability of the CAP to UK needs. In exchange for renouncing the original rebate terms Blair ‘won’ for the UK a commitment from the other member states that a ‘full review’ of the CAP would follow. Blair, in other words, gave up something concrete in return for a lot of hot air.
The disgusting MacShane profits from his prison sentence. Chutzpah. Most normal people would hang their heads in shame and keep a low profile.
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/biteback-signs-macshane-prison-memoir.html
The publisher is the oleaginous Iain Dale who signed up Damian MacBride if memory serves me correctly.
Have you ever seen Dale on Sky News paper reviews with Jacqui Smith? Ugh!
A few questions for Juncker. He’s not all you might expect from someone Cameron evidently loathes.
http://www.globalwitness.org/blog/message-to-jean-claude-junker-will-you-publicly-back-eu-efforts-to-make-business-fairer/