Another Query for Mr. Delingpole, Or, Rule Britannia?
Earlier today the Bundestag voted to support Chancellor Merkel in amassing a trillion euros or so with which to recapitalize European banks, a vote that the media on this side of the Atlantic are presenting as at least a minor triumph. In truth, of course, it represented at least a minor tragedy.
Greece has already effectively defaulted, negotiating terms under which it will repay only a portion of the principal it has borrowed; France is struggling to retain its AAA rating; Italy is making it clear that it has no intention of instituting the harsh austerity measures that might--might--enable it to remain entirely solvent; and, in voting to support Merkel, her own party gritted its teeth, aware that in the next election it will have to explain to ordinary Germans why the capital they acquired through hard work and frugality now resides in the accounts of Greek bondholders, which is to say, in French banks. The European project, in short, continues its slow and ominous implosion.
Which leads to a few questions about Britain.
In the House of Commons yesterday, some 80 members of the Tory party defied prime minister Cameron, voting to put the country's membership in the European Union to a vote of the British people--in a word, to hold a referendum. What proportion of the British people themselves favor a referendum? From the Times:
A YouGov survey for The Sunday Times this weekend found 66 percent of Britons back a referendum on European Union membership.
Whereas two-thirds of Britons want the right to vote on Europe, only 80 Tories out of 305 voted to give them one.
Why, James?
Has non-membership in the European Union blighted Switzerland? Has it retarded economic growth in Norway?
Why, James?
Why don't the Tories seize the moment? Why don't they put Europe to a vote of the British people, then campaign for full independence, seeking to reclaim British sovereignty, free the country of smothering regulations, and re-ignite economic growth? Has British democracy ceased to function? If Cameron refuses to seize the moment, why doesn't the party topple him? Why doesn't Hague--or someone--led a tidy insurrection, replacing him?
Why, James?
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Sep '10
Re: Another Query for Mr. Delingpole, Or, Rule Britannia?
I hesitate to answer for James -- who must be asleep right now -- but, as a Canadian, I assume I'm safe in ascribing the label "red Tory" to the jellyfish in the House of Commons.
Feb '11
Re: Another Query for Mr. Delingpole, Or, Rule Britannia?
While James sleeps: The very intelligent conservative UK member of the European Parliament Daniel Hannan says this: "The trouble, rather, is that no one has the appetite for a row – least of all the officials who would have to carry out the negotiations. The diplomatic service in general, and its Brussels arm, UKREP, in particular, is inveterately Euro-integrationist. For the Sir Humphreys of our EU mission, opt outs mean loss of influence. Being human, they tend to conflate their personal interest with the national interest." But he also says that the leaders of both parties to the coalition want to stay in, but on better terms. So a referendum at some point, which he seems to favor, would have three options In/Out/In with Better Deal.
Apr '11
Re: Another Query for Mr. Delingpole, Or, Rule Britannia?
It's not just Cameron, though; Thatcher, too. It's not just all three parties, but the entire establishment. Britain is far less democratic over a wide range of issues. There are no gun politics, no abortion politics, no judicial politics (although there's a mild suggestion that something ineffectual might be done about the European Court of Human Rights), no campaign finance debate, no death penalty movement, no debate over trade agreements with emerging markets, and no respectable debate over Europe.
That last needed qualification. The other issues often see a sharp contrast between strong public views and a uniform establishment, with the contrast being obliterated by silence, but Europe has broken through. For most of my life (I was born in '77), Europe has been the chief issue on which right wing cranks' views were acknowledged as existing, joined by immigration and, more recently, environmentalism.
It is not, though, respectable to be a Eurosceptic. The BBC, in particular, dominates the media and hence political environment in the UK. Even people who agree with euroscepticism tend to view its advocates as fringe, even where they hold important office. The best recent study of the techniques is summarized here.
Apr '11
Re: Another Query for Mr. Delingpole, Or, Rule Britannia?
FX Meaney: While James sleeps: The very intelligent conservative UK member of the European Parliament Daniel Hannan says this:
But he also says that the leaders of both parties to the coalition want to stay in, but on better terms. So a referendum at some point, which he seems to favor, would have three options In/Out/In with Better Deal. ·
An referendum with those choices was what was rejected on Monday. It seems worth noting that the more educated of the Euroskeptics I know disagree violently with Hannan on this, viewing it as careerism on his part (he has been trying to wrap up the older Better Off Out, Conservative, campaign and replace it with his own right of the Conservatives/ left of Labour campaign, "The People's Pledge"). If the referendum were to happen, reform would likely be the landslide option (who is against the reform of bureaucratic entities they don't understand?) It is not clear that this would leave Euroscepticism in a stronger place than it is in today. I like Hannan, and like to think that he was pursuing the course because he knows that there will be no referendum, but the publicity is good.
Mar '11
Re: Another Query for Mr. Delingpole, Or, Rule Britannia?
Yes, and unfortunately The United Kingdom is not the only nation in Europe for which this is the case. The EU has assumed some very disturbing and familiar characteristics.
Anyone following events in the UK, the FT and the writings of Melanie Phillips provide excellent contrasting and disturbing details, can clearly see the Tories have abandoned any pretense of being a conservative party and have instead opted for "Labor light", with the risible Cameron leading the way. For those who wish to protect British national interests, they no longer have a party.
Re: Another Query for Mr. Delingpole, Or, Rule Britannia?
Looks like the white puff went up from the EU college of financial cardinals. I suspect this will speed up the collapse of the euro as the rest of the PIIGS go into the deep recession Greece is already in. Tyler Cowen noted odds on which country would first leave the euro. InTrade has currently a 15% prediction that some country drops the euro before year end but 42% by end 2012 and higher the following 2 years.
Worth noting that the British were smart enough to stay out of the euro, so there's less immediate pressure on them.
May '10
Re: Another Query for Mr. Delingpole, Or, Rule Britannia?
I would be curious if the UKIP isn't (won't; incapable of?) take advantage of this fault line running underneath conventional wisdom. It seems that the what us North Americans call the MSM is the the MSE (Elite) across partisan political lines. In Canada I have seen two political parties implode in the last almost-20 years - Fed Tories, Fed Liberals - and another to come - Quebec (separatist) Parti-Quebecois. can/will it happen in Westminster? UK Ricocheters please chime in.
Mar '11
Re: Another Query for Mr. Delingpole, Or, Rule Britannia?
James answered this, to some extent, in his recent podcast with Mr Murray -- Mr Cameron is analogous to Mr Romney -- a Rino squish, or, I guess, Cino squish.
There are no Conservatives in the UK who can topple Mr Cameron, with the possible exception of Boris Johnson (the current Mayor of London). UKIP is a more likely toppler (the last time I voted in the UK, it was for UKIP).
Think of it as a cautionary tale of where the US is heading (unless Mr Cain is the nominee and next President).
But I will leave it to James to give a much better explanation.
Edited on Oct 26, 2011 at 9:22pmNov '10
Re: Another Query for Mr. Delingpole, Or, Rule Britannia?
http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/
UKIP poll at only 7%. They would require a Euro implosion to massively magnify their appeal before the could mount any sort of challenge to Cameron or the Conservatives. Moreover, even if they became more popular, they would probably split conservative voter, and let Labour in.
In short, UKIP = Ron Paul. They are not seen as credible electoral candidates. They are widely derided by sensible centrists as misguided muppets.
Mar '11
Re: Another Query for Mr. Delingpole, Or, Rule Britannia?
As James of England said "Britain is far less democratic over a wide range of issues." As an American who has lived in England since 1989, this is one of the unfortunate features of British democracy if not European democracy. You have a vote every four or five years on an MP when you are really intending to vote for a Prime Minister or at best a party platform. At best two or three issues really get discussed in a short campaign and the elected elite are free to do whatever for the next four or five years. .Tocqueville mentions that the Americans were always chattering. We discuss things at extremes but we do discuss them. We does this both because we think they need to be discussed and our democracy gives us multiple avenues to express those views (from dog catcher to US President). Nothing like our cultural and political debates takes place here. In Britain, only consecrated elites are aloud to discuss issues at any significant forum in the public square.
Mar '11
Re: Another Query for Mr. Delingpole, Or, Rule Britannia?
Aodhan:
In short, UKIP = Ron Paul.
Kinda true - I would support Mr Paul if it were not for his isolationism.
UKIP is actually a one-issue party, based on it's name. It's a sign of the desperation of the UK voters that it exists at all.
A better analogy would be the US Tea Party, which is sadly lacking in the UK.
Mar '11
Re: Another Query for Mr. Delingpole, Or, Rule Britannia?
Very true - Daniel Hannan, for example, would be a great Conservative Prime Minister, but he would first have to resign as a Euro MP, then run as a British MP, then build up support within the Parliamentary party, then stage a rebellion against Mr Cameron, and be voted leader of the party - there is no way for him to appear from nowhere, like Mr Cain in the US, and be voted Prime Minister, directly by the people.
So the US system is much better, which of course is what the founders intended, and which Mr Hannan explains very well in his writings.
Edited on Oct 27, 2011 at 8:15amOct '11
Re: Another Query for Mr. Delingpole, Or, Rule Britannia?
Jeez, why ask James to account for the limpness of the tories? That's like holding the tea party responsible for the Hastert-Bush repubs.
May '10
Re: Another Query for Mr. Delingpole, Or, Rule Britannia?
Aodhan: UKIP poll at only 7%. They would require a Euro implosion to massively magnify their appeal before the could mount any sort of challenge to Cameron or the Conservatives. Moreover, even if they became more popular, they would probably split conservative voter, and let Labour in.
In short, UKIP = Ron Paul. They are not seen as credible electoral candidates. They are widely derided by sensible centrists as misguided muppets. · Oct 27 at 2:08am
Hmmm, this reminds me of the early 90's here in Canada which saw the rise of the blue-er western-based Reform Party of Canada which contributed to the implosion of the (squishy, red) Progressive Conservative party in the 1993 elections. It took almost 10 years for the Reform Party to combine with the rump remnant of the PC's to form the current Conservative Party of Canada which (finally) ended more than 10 years of virtually uncontested Liberal rule. Unfortunately, I can't see the UK having the time for a similar amalgamation given the current crises.
Edited on Oct 28, 2011 at 5:48amOct '11
Re: Another Query for Mr. Delingpole, Or, Rule Britannia?
Gaaah, y'all are so dense. Motivations are economic, ideology is an after-the-fact excuse. The political leadership, including the "right", is bereft of the ability to work at objectively productive pursuits, and so must rely on persuasion, cajolery, and government's guns to maintain status, wealth, and power. The EU is unusual among governments only in that it exists solely to transfer wealth from the productive to the pretentious. I mean, c'mon people - Europe already had plenty of serviceable governments, but needed to do something with its surfeit of useless drones, and the U.N. was full up.
Making my head hurt. Or is that gin? No, it's you, definitely.
Edited on Oct 30, 2011 at 1:58am