Category Archives: Uncategorized

Those who follow EU affairs will remember Tony Blair’s extraordinarily naïve decision to give away a big chunk of our EU budget rebate negotiated by Margaret Thatcher at Fontainebleau, in exchange for a promise of a “root and branch reform” … Continue reading →

There’s been an outbreak of Euroscepticism in the Tory party — or at least we could say that the firmly-held conviction of most party members and activists has once again broken through the arrogance, hubris and indifference of the leadership.  The … Continue reading →

It’s quite extraordinary to see the contortions into which Cameron has got his Party over the John Baron amendment “regretting” the lack of an EU referendum Bill in the Queen’s Speech. First Downing Street was reportedly “relaxed” about Tory MPs — … Continue reading →

One of the advantages of a long-haul flight is the chance to sit down and read.  On a recent flight, I picked up a copy of Super Freakonomics by Levitt & Dubner, the sequel to their hugely successful Freakonomics.  Promoted under … Continue reading →

Back in October, I published UKIP’s Energy Policy Statement, warning that “the lights could go out by 2020″.  Many people thought I was being alarmist.  But a new report from analysts at Liberum Capital, a London-based investment bank, suggests that I … Continue reading →

  Tory MP Bernard Jenkin is a good guy, and genuinely wants to do the right thing.  It’s just a shame that he’s in the wrong party. Of course the Tories post-last-Thursday are terrified of the rise and rise of … Continue reading →

I’ve just come across a perfect example of how the European parliament over-eggs the pudding.  We have, coming up, a revision to the Directive on Environmental Impact Assessments.  It appears to be directed particularly at unconventional gas.  And an amendment … Continue reading →

An ITRE intervention:

I recently Tweeted about the need for our Coalition government to stop dithering, and get on with building new nuclear power infrastructure.  Someone Tweeted in reply “Yes, but who pays for it?”.  I replied “Good question, but impossible to answer … Continue reading →

Personally, I am sick to death of Europhiles telling me that with all its faults, ”the EU has at least kept the peace in Europe since the Second World War”.  Absolute nonsense.  The peace in Europe has been maintained by the … Continue reading →

A new organisation, Business for Britain, has been launched to make the case for looser ties between the UK and the EU. http://businessforbritain.org/  It claims to have the backing of 500 business leaders, many of them very familiar names indeed.  It is … Continue reading →

This royal throne of kings, this scepter’d isle, This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, This other Eden, demi-paradise, This fortress built by Nature for herself Against infection and the hand of war, This happy breed of men, this … Continue reading →

UKIP is opposed to a number of things.  We’re against Britain’s EU membership.  We’re against wind farms.  We’re against open-door immigration.  We’re against HS2. The problem is that some people — including, sadly, some UKIP members — conclude that we’re … Continue reading →

We shall soon be voting on the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive Two (TPD2).  The effect will be to create a field-day for counterfeiters; make fake cigarettes easier to manufacture and supply; and increase the market for fakes, which will have … Continue reading →

  The Tory MEP delegation must be scared to death about UKIP’s prospects in the up-coming council elections.  They’ve rushed out a quick-and-dirty leaflet accusing us of virtually every crime except eating babies for breakfast. They’ve been careful to put their Conservative logo on … Continue reading →