November 28, 2006
by Nosemonkey
4 Comments
Everyone’s focussing on the collapse of the talks about Turkish entry (Guardian, Independent, Times, Financial Times, Le Monde (in French), Le Figaro (in French), EU Observer, Deutsche Welle (German press review – in English), EurActiv) – but, let’s face it, … Continue reading
November 24, 2006
by Nosemonkey
11 Comments
He really just doesn’t get it, does he? “A new contract between the state and the citizen setting out what individuals must do in return for quality services from hospitals, schools and the police is one of the key proposals … Continue reading
August 24, 2006
by Nosemonkey
18 Comments
Finally, an admission from the government, in Ruth Kelly’s speech launching Britain’s own Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Commission on Integration and Cohesion: “Muslims feel the reverberations from the Middle East. Wider global trends have an impact.” So despite all … Continue reading
August 10, 2006
by Nosemonkey
52 Comments
Yesterday: Major terrorism policy announcement by Home Secretary John Reid Today: A ‘plot to blow up planes’ is apparently foiled, and Heathrow airport shut down. And my first reaction? Utter disbelief and a sigh of resignation. They’ve simply cried wolf … Continue reading
June 15, 2006
by Nosemonkey
5 Comments
Our dear national leaders are meeting today in the Belgian capital to discuss the little problem of the EU no longer having tedious little things like “a purpose”, “a direction”, or “a viable way of continuing to function for more … Continue reading
June 1, 2006
by Nosemonkey
19 Comments
It has been a full year since the rejection of the EU constitution by France (29th May) and the Netherlands (1st June) – and still the European “political elites” (their phrase, not mine) can seemingly agree on only one thing: … Continue reading
May 15, 2006
by Nosemonkey
6 Comments
The way the British system works is that the legislature makes the laws, and the judiciary then applies them. If, as head of the executive (and therefore the person responsible for ensuring that new laws that pass through the legislature … Continue reading
March 2, 2006
by Nosemonkey
8 Comments
Piss off, chum – if you hadn’t done such a half-arsed job of drawing up a draft constitution for the EU we wouldn’t be in this mess. Yep, the chap who headed up the Convention on the Future of Europe … Continue reading
February 23, 2006
by Nosemonkey
42 Comments
A quickie to try and clear up a confusion I’ve seen on a few blogs around the place who seem to think that Magna Carta guarantees British (well, English) people certain freedoms: The Magna Carta “rights” thing is a complete … Continue reading
February 16, 2006
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
Talk Politics on top form once again, highlighting the details of deliberately confused legislation: “The provisions which appeared in the first draft of the Bill, when glorification was a separate offence, which limit its applicability to terrorist attacks in the … Continue reading
November 16, 2005
by Nosemonkey
4 Comments
The EU flag is apparently 50 years old today. Hurrah! The great thing is, the flag is a bloody confusing little object. First up, you can’t even get an agreement on who designed it – either Irishman Gerard Slevin or … Continue reading
October 17, 2005
by Nosemonkey
4 Comments
Another load of Blairite EU-nonsense? An attempt to make it look like we’re actually making an effort after the US farm subsides offer and ahead of the WTO meeting this week? Or is this just Prescott picking up his notes … Continue reading