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European Union
THERE is no truth in John
Hodson's assumption (HAS, June
26) that Britain has lost its
independence, or by other HAS
Eurosceptics that all decisions
governing the country are taken
in Brussels.
Another correspondent, Eric
Wilson, said that the UK
subsidises the EU every week
with at least £1bn (HAS, June 24)
when a contribution is given
once a year. In 2007 this was
£3.9bn. It works out at just over
£2 per person.
Each national government
among the EU member states is
given due consideration for their
needs and difficulties - eg, in
fulfilling all the demands of new
treaties.
Before the summit meeting a
year ago Tony Blair negotiated
successfully for various UK optouts
from the Lisbon Treaty.
Thus, our independence was
made secure and we could not be
drawn into military conflict
against our will.
John Heslop (HAS, June 24)
and others still do not recall that
Gordon Brown told the Speaker
of the House of Commons last
autumn that the concept of a
constitution for the EU was
abandoned.
No promise of a referendum
applies to the Lisbon Treaty. The
general opinion about referenda
is that they are unreliable
measures of public opinion
unless they require a simple
yes/no answer to two fully
understood alternatives.
E Whittaker (Ms), Richmond
North Yorkshire.
8:20am Tuesday 1st July 2008
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CommentPosted by: Edmondsley, Chester le Street on 9:29am Tue 1 Jul 08
The first paragraph dimisses John Hodgson's asumption without provideing any proof or arguement.
No referendum applies to the Lisbon Constitution ( sorry treaty) Why not?I think the Irish answered that one.
The "general opinion about referenda" Whose opinion?
The first paragraph dimisses John Hodgson's asumption without provideing any proof or arguement.
No referendum applies to the Lisbon Constitution ( sorry treaty) Why not?I think the Irish answered that one.
The "general opinion about referenda" Whose opinion?
Posted by: David Lacey, Newcastle on 1:40pm Tue 1 Jul 08
I read and then re-read Ms Whittaker's letter and still can't believe that she is so naive and gullible. Or is she being very deceptive? The bland "£2 per person" statement for example. She actually means £2 per person PER WEEK. As for statements made by Gordon Brown or any other politician - surely she doesn't believe a word they say. My most vivid memory of Tony Blair's lies was his 1999 commitment that "within 2 years everyone will have access to an NHS dentist". As we know, exactly the opposite happened.
Finally - if she is so uncertain about the value of referenda - let's have one on the "treaty". The question should be "YES" or "NO".
We all know what the answer would be, that's why Brown and his gang of thieves won't give us the opportunity.
I read and then re-read Ms Whittaker's letter and still can't believe that she is so naive and gullible. Or is she being very deceptive? The bland "£2 per person" statement for example. She actually means £2 per person PER WEEK. As for statements made by Gordon Brown or any other politician - surely she doesn't believe a word they say. My most vivid memory of Tony Blair's lies was his 1999 commitment that "within 2 years everyone will have access to an NHS dentist". As we know, exactly the opposite happened.
Finally - if she is so uncertain about the value of referenda - let's have one on the "treaty". The question should be "YES" or "NO".
We all know what the answer would be, that's why Brown and his gang of thieves won't give us the opportunity.
Posted by: David Lacey, Newcastle on 1:42pm Tue 1 Jul 08
I read and then re-read Ms Whittaker's letter and still can't believe that she is so naive and gullible. Or is she being very deceptive? The bland "£2 per person" statement for example. She actually means £2 per person PER WEEK. As for statements made by Gordon Brown or any other politician - surely she doesn't believe a word they say. My most vivid memory of Tony Blair's lies was his 1999 commitment that "within 2 years everyone will have access to an NHS dentist". As we know, exactly the opposite happened.
Finally - if she is so uncertain about the value of referenda - let's have one on the "treaty". The question should be "YES" or "NO".
We all know what the answer would be, that's why Brown and his gang of thieves won't give us the opportunity.
I read and then re-read Ms Whittaker's letter and still can't believe that she is so naive and gullible. Or is she being very deceptive? The bland "£2 per person" statement for example. She actually means £2 per person PER WEEK. As for statements made by Gordon Brown or any other politician - surely she doesn't believe a word they say. My most vivid memory of Tony Blair's lies was his 1999 commitment that "within 2 years everyone will have access to an NHS dentist". As we know, exactly the opposite happened.
Finally - if she is so uncertain about the value of referenda - let's have one on the "treaty". The question should be "YES" or "NO".
We all know what the answer would be, that's why Brown and his gang of thieves won't give us the opportunity.
Posted by: John Routledge, Witton Gilbert on 4:16pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Somehow somewhere people such as Ms.Whittaker must be being brainwashed.There cannot be any other reason for such views and the methods for doing it do exist.
Somehow somewhere people such as Ms.Whittaker must be being brainwashed.There cannot be any other reason for such views and the methods for doing it do exist.
Posted by: JM, Northallerton on 5:59pm Tue 1 Jul 08
I'm still waiting for another classic from the other europhile who writes to the Echo!
"Our independence was made secure..."?!?! I've never heard of an independent country for which 75% of new laws are made by a foreign power!
I'm still waiting for another classic from the other europhile who writes to the Echo!
"Our independence was made secure..."?!?! I've never heard of an independent country for which 75% of new laws are made by a foreign power!
Posted by: Jim Tague, Bishop Auckland on 9:03pm Tue 1 Jul 08
Google Ms E. Whittaker and the other Euro-fanatic Mr Bill Morehead and see if you can find their links to Europe and the European Movement. They seem to both have links to Europe.
If so, then that's fine by me, if they wish to join such a movement, but at least have the decency to tell the public, otherwise it looks like more Euro-deception.
Google Ms E. Whittaker and the other Euro-fanatic Mr Bill Morehead and see if you can find their links to Europe and the European Movement. They seem to both have links to Europe.
If so, then that's fine by me, if they wish to join such a movement, but at least have the decency to tell the public, otherwise it looks like more Euro-deception.
Posted by: Jim Tague, Bishop Auckland on 9:09pm Tue 1 Jul 08
...and another thing - aren't these and the rest of the luvvies the very same people that would suggest that it is wrong that Britain and the US force our way of life and rules on Iraq or Afghanistan, but happily denounce anyone that suggests that is exactly what the EU is doing to Britain.
...and another thing - aren't these and the rest of the luvvies the very same people that would suggest that it is wrong that Britain and the US force our way of life and rules on Iraq or Afghanistan, but happily denounce anyone that suggests that is exactly what the EU is doing to Britain.
Posted by: EricWilson, Hartlepool on 4:37pm Wed 2 Jul 08
Ms. Whittaker,
You are rightIn my letter of June 24th.I should have written that the E.U. costs the taxpayer of this country 1 billion pounds per week. It may interest you to know that I used figures produced by the Bruges Group,however research produced by the Labour Euro-Safeguards campaign suggests that membership of the E.U. costs Britain 2 billion pounds a week. I repeat that we would be better off out of the E.U.
Ms. Whittaker,
You are rightIn my letter of June 24th.I should have written that the E.U. costs the taxpayer of this country 1 billion pounds per week. It may interest you to know that I used figures produced by the Bruges Group,however research produced by the Labour Euro-Safeguards campaign suggests that membership of the E.U. costs Britain 2 billion pounds a week. I repeat that we would be better off out of the E.U.
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