January 20, 2014
by Nosemonkey
27 Comments
No matter your political persuasion, this is not as easy a decision as you may think. I supposedly know my stuff on this, and I haven’t decided yet. First things first – what are we voting for? To answer this … Continue reading
June 8, 2012
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Cameron’s confusing approach to the eurocrisis
Good points raised by the eurosceptic organisation Open Europe’s blog today about the British government’s rather bizarre, contradictory attitude(s?) towards the eurocrisis: “A German-led superstate still seems years off – if it ever will be agreed (no matter how much … Continue reading
July 1, 2010
by Nosemonkey
4 Comments
As regular readers of this blog will know, my single biggest worry about the Conservative party taking office in the UK was the prospect of arch-eurosceptic William Hague taking over the Foreign Office (the man who, as leader of the … Continue reading
May 11, 2010
by Nosemonkey
9 Comments
OK, I was wrong – Prime Minister Cameron it is. I just hope I’m also wrong in my dread of our new Foreign Secretary, William Hague – the most strongly eurosceptic person ever to hold that position, the mastermind behind … Continue reading
May 8, 2010
by Nosemonkey
25 Comments
Just back from Japan, from where I was closely following the UK election on Twitter (your best place for my day-to-day political commentary these days, though be warned they’re usually more jokey – and sweary – than here…) After 30 … Continue reading
April 3, 2010
by Nosemonkey
12 Comments
If you want to understand Britain’s rather odd relationship with the EU, you could do far worse than read this really rather good overview in this week’s Economist, especially considering its focus on the Conservative party – likely to form … Continue reading
November 2, 2009
by Nosemonkey
5 Comments
A guest post from that rare beast, an openly pro-EU Tory – in this case Thomas Byrne of the blog Byrne Tofferings, who is keen to sound out the thoughts of a more international audience to his suggestion for the … Continue reading
June 25, 2009
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
After yesterday’s confusion – with one MEP leaving and another joining, exposing this new British Conservatives-led group as a fairly fragile alliance – now we again have renewed concerns being voiced: This time from among the British Conservatives themselves. Many … Continue reading
June 24, 2009
by Nosemonkey
5 Comments
Only a couple of days after its formation, and already David Cameron’s new European Parliament political grouping (the brilliantly-named Conservatives and Reformists) have lost a member. Considering that you need MEPs from seven member states to form an EP group, … Continue reading
June 22, 2009
by Nosemonkey
5 Comments
David Cameron’s Conservatives have done it – just… Splitting from the EPP was always a gamble – but with the near-certain collapse of the Independence/Democracy group (headed up by UKIP leader Nigel Farage) after a poor election showing from some … Continue reading
June 11, 2009
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
A European elections follow-up from me, over at the Guardian.
October 29, 2008
by Nosemonkey
14 Comments
20 years after Maggie Thatcher’s notorious Bruges speech, time for another look… Continue reading
July 16, 2008
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Tories and the EU, trade talks, Russian threats
Three things that have caught my eye this morning, in ascending order of importance: 1) Following a fun article on the impact a Tory victory in the next UK general election may have on the EU in this week’s Economist, … Continue reading
June 13, 2008
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
Three thoughts on all the Westminster excitement (for non-UK readers, the short version – the Shadow Home Secretary has resigned his seat as MP to force a by-election, which he has announced that he intends to fight on the single … Continue reading