BETTER OFF OUT

Roger Helmer on pomp and pageantry, Strasbourg style

Roger Helmer MEP writes, "On Monday the (unlucky?) 13th of July, in the Louise Weiss Square at the European parliament in Strasbourg, a formal ceremony will mark the opening of the new 2009/14 parliament, and celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first election, by universal suffrage, of the European parliament (previously it was an appointed body), which took place in 1979.

The programme will commence at 3:25 p.m., and at 3:40 they will have the Raising of the European Flag by a Eurocorps detachment (did a shiver of apprehension run down your spine just then?).  This will (of course) be followed by a performance of the European National Anthem, Beethoven's "Ode to Joy", provided by the City of Strasbourg Symphony Orchestra along with the "Petits Chanteurs de Strasbourg", the Youth Choir of the National Rhine Opera.  Then there will be a rousing rendition of the Overture from the opera "La Forza del Destino" by Giuseppe Verdi (a.k.a. Joe Green).  This title of course translates as "The Force of Destiny", and its metaphorical implications will not be lost on you.  Abandon hope all ye who enter here.

Fortunately I don't plan to arrive in Strasbourg that day until around 6:00 p.m. -- otherwise I should probably throw up.

You will recall that when pressed to the wire to explain the differences between the defunct European Constitution and the not-quite-defunct Lisbon Treaty, euro-apologists can offer nothing better that "Well we've dropped the flag and the anthem, symbols of nationhood".  If they've dropped the flag, why is a detachment of Eurocorps raising it in Strasbourg on Monday?  I only ask because I want to know.  Visit Roger Helmer's blog

Stuart Wheeler to speak at BETTER OFF OUT event on 18 July

We are delighted to announce that Stuart Wheeler will now be joining the panel of speakers at Stanway House, Gloucestershire on Saturday 18 July. 

Stuart will join Roger Helmer MEP, Lindsay Jenkins, the Rev'd Dr. Peter Mullen and Sam Westrop on the platform at this BETTER OFF OUT event.  Tickets are still available at the discounted price for early bookers.  MORE

European "Parliament" Presidential candidate reveals arrogance of EU politicians

Graham Watson, the Eurofanatic Liberal Democrat MEP who is campaigning to become the new President of the European "Parliament" has revealed some of the arrogance of EU politicians.

In a message to his fellow MEPs, he wrote, "Our Parliament is becoming stronger. As its President, I would stand up for the things we all believe in - human rights, climate action, and a stronger Parliament."

As Roger Helmer MEP has pointed out to him, "Isn't it just a wee bit presumptious for you to tell us "what we all believe in"?  I'm with you on human rights, but not on climate action or a stronger parliament."

EU politicians such as Mr. Watson continue to ignore their voters.  The turnout in this month's European "Parliament" elections was a record low.  French, Dutch and Irish voters have rejected the European CONstitution Lisbon Treaty, but their views have been ignored.  Mr. Watson's own Liberal Democrat Party slipped even further behind the UK Independence Party in the elections, yet he continues to presume that all MEPs share his blind allegiance to the EU Empire.

Mr. Watson's comments demonstrate the cosy consensus thinking whereby troughing politicians live high on the hog at taxpayers' expense.

BETTER OFF OUT event in Gloucestershire on 18 July

Roger Helmer MEP, Lindsay Jenkins, the Rev'd Dr. Peter Mullen and Sam Westrop will put the case for leaving the European Union in the beautiful and historic setting of Stanway House, Stanway, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL54 5PQ, home of the Earl of Wemyss and March DL, on Saturday 18 July 2009, from 6.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.  MORE

Proof that the Lisbon Treaty and the European CONstitution are one and the same

Roger Helmer MEP notes, on his blog, that "our Labour government, and its Lib-Dem fellow travellers, have tried to pretend that the Lisbon Treaty is materially different from the European Constitution which preceded it.  This is the fig-leaf clutched at by Labour to justify their shameful volte face on their manifesto commitment to a referendum on the Constitution.  Yet those who have studied both documents, the Constitution and the Treaty, understand that they are functionally identical.

Pressed to outline the differences, defenders of the Treaty argue that it eliminates the pseudo-national symbols like the EU flag and the anthem.  Critics respond that this is a distinction without a difference - the use of the flag and the anthem will be exactly the same, whether or not the are mentioned explicitly in the Treaty.  And to prove the point, I have just received the following e-mail:

Hans-Gert Pöttering

President of the Europan Parliament

requests the pleasure of your company at the ceremony of the raising of the colours of the European Union, which will take place on the eve of the opening of the 7th legislature of the European Parliament, Monday 13th July 2009 at 3.30 p.m., on the "forecourt" of the Louise Weiss Building, European Parliament, Strasbourg.

The European flag will be raised by a detachment of the Eurocorps and the European anthem will be sung by the "Petits Chanteurs de Strasbourg" accompanied by the Philharmonic - Strasbourg Symphonic Orchestra."

"How the Kinnocks have enjoyed an astonishing £10m ride on the EU gravy train"

No wonder the Kinnocks, that champion family of EU gravy trainers, are so passionately committed to Britain remaining in the corrupt, costly and anti-democratic European Union.  Although long suffering British taxpayers would be BETTER OFF OUT of the EU, there's no doubt that the Kinnock family are better off in, with their snouts well and truly in the trough.  MORE

Each MEP costs taxpayers £1.8 million

Open Europe has published a comparison between the cost of the European Parliament and the cost of the UK Parliament, which finds that the European Parliament costs taxpayers a staggering £1.8 million for each MEP per year. This is in contrast to the House of Commons, which costs taxpayers £364,000 for each member per year, and the House of Lords, which costs £208,000 per member per year.  MORE

British taxpayers to fund BNP - thanks to the EU

As though there weren't already enough reasons why we'd be BETTER OFF OUT of the corrupt, costly and anti-democratic European Union, now there's yet another one.  Because of EU membership, British taxpayers' money will now be used to finance the bigoted national socialists who run the British National Party.  Already a luxury retirement home for failed and disgraced politicians such as Kinnock and Mandelson, the EU is now also a comfortable and well-funded home for national socialist bigots.  Thank EU - for nothing. 

77% of Tory members say candidates should be able to support leaving the EU

Should Conservative candidates be able to say that they support leaving the European Union?  That was the question asked of Conservative Party members in the recent Conservative Home grassroots survey.  MORE

EU attacks the Dutch over exit polls

Tony Sharp's excellent blog has an interesting piece on the EU's insistence on no European "Parliament" results appearing early.  Naturally enough, the diktats of the superstate must take precedence over protestations of national sovereignty and constitutional requirements.  MORE