Scotland growing fat on English tax's

Figures published by the Scottish Government have revealed that obesity levels in Scotland are the second highest in the developed world,

An official report said the "obesity epidemic" in Scotland must be addressed.

Yes, but will they give up their take of the Barnett formula

The Barnett formula - reserves for Scotland a proportion of all public spending. In per capita terms, the discrepancy is an impressive: £7,346 is spent on each Scot, as against £5,940 on each English person.

I bet there is no maluntriaon of the elderly in Scottish health service.
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The Talent in your pocket

Yesterday, at the labour party conference, Gordon Brown the Prime Minister said: "My father was a minister of the church, and his favourite story was the parable of the talents because he believed - and I do too - that each and every one of us has a talent and each and every one of us should be able to use that talent."

What he didn't tell us....... was it the Matthew or Luke version of the parable

The parable of the pound

I tell you, that to every one who has will more be given; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away Luke 19:12-27

Or to misquote Harold Wilson's "boom and bust economics" speech of 40 years ago

The parable in your pocket
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The Hocus Pocus Treaty

27 European Union foreign ministers will gather today in the northern Portuguese port city of Viana do Castelo, to assess whether the EU's new reform treaty can be finalised on time for next months IGC (Inter governmental conference)



You put your Charter of Fundamental Rights in,
your Charter of Fundamental Rights out
In out, in out, you shake it all about
You do the Hocus Pocus Treaty and you turn around
That's what the Reform Treaty is all about
Whoa-o the Hocus Pocus Treaty
Whoa-o the Hocus Pocus Treaty
Whoa-o the Hocus Pocus Treaty
Knees bent, arms stretched
Raa raa raa
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the Emperor has commanded

In June, Poland clashed with its European Union partners over the proposed new treaty in what it saw as a weakening of its voting rights, they eventually capitulated and agreed on a compromise.

However, a political crisis in Warsaw and the prospect of new elections has raised concerns that the Poles may seek to reopen the issue or delay the signing of the agreement until a new government takes office. Polish Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski has said he would like the parliamentary election to take place on October 21st

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has pointed out that Prime Ministers Kaczynski's twin brother, Lech, would still be in place as president of Poland to represent the country at the EU summit in Lisbon, which is scheduled for October the 18-19 regardless of the legislative elections.

So much for Nation State Sovereignty.

A golden opportunity to get revenge for Gleiwitz
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Oh the irony

A senior judge said the entire UK population and every visitor to the country should be included on the national DNA database Times



Hackers with links to China's military were last night accused of waging a long-term campaign to penetrate the computer networks of British government departments. Telegraph

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Dont say 'Brown' say 80 Octane

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,and in particular Article 175(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (2),

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (3),

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (4),

Whereas:
(1) The European Council meeting at Gothenburg on 15
and 16 June 2001 agreed on a Community strategy for
sustainable development consisting in a set of measures,
which include the development of biofuels.

'Don’t ask for ‘brown’ bread - if you want Petrol, say ’ DIRECTIVE 2003/30/EC

Qu'ils mangent de la brioche
click on the link for the full story
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EU Commission split over reform treaty

EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia comes out in support of Jean-Claude Trichet the president of the European Central Bank, Almunia thinks the EU Reform Treaty is iniquitous..

On Monday he called on EU states to respect the independence of the European Central Bank (ECB) over monetary policy and setting interest rates.

"Everyone has a right to his opinion on monetary policy and on interest rates but nobody should put pressure on the (central) bank," Spaniard Almunia told an economic forum in Madrid.

Pity he didn't cite directly Article 9 of the EU Reform Treaty which will remove the independence of the ECB
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Letter to Gordon Brown

Mr Brown, I have just listened to you on the BBC radio 4 today program, quoting the UK governments mantra in relation to the EU reform treaty

"The constitutional concept, which consisted in repealing all existing Treaties and replacing them by a single text called "Constitution", is abandoned".

I have reproduced below the full quote from the June Summit below:

1. The IGC is asked to draw up a Treaty (hereinafter called "Reform Treaty") amending the existing Treaties with a view to enhancing the efficiency and democratic legitimacy of the enlarged Union, as well as the coherence of its external action. The constitutional concept, which consisted in repealing all existing Treaties and replacing them by a single text called "Constitution", is abandoned. The Reform Treaty will introduce into the existing Treaties, which remain in force, the innovations resulting from the 2004 IGC, as set out below in a detailed fashion.

Now come on Mr Brown, we are all bright enough to extract from the June summit text, that the outcome is that the innovations resulting from the 2004 IGC is the CONSTITUTION.

Instead of one single document incorporating all the text of the other treaties, it is now a text which keeps the other treaties but binds them all together.

i.e. the concept of the reform treaty is to pull the wool over our eyes and for you, as Prime Minister to part quote is mendacious and misleading.

If you are genuinely confused with regards to the meaning, may I direct you to the provisions of section 3 of the Vienna Convention on the law of treaties

Article 31 General rule of interpretation

1. A treaty shall be interpreted in good faith in accordance with the ordinary meaning to be given to the terms of the treaty in their context and in the light of its object and purpose.

Article 32 Supplementary means of interpretation

Recourse may be had to supplementary means of interpretation, including the preparatory work of the treaty and the circumstances of its conclusion, in order to confirm the meaning resulting from the application of article 31, or to determine the meaning when the interpretation according to article 31:

(a) leaves the meaning ambiguous or obscure; or

(b) leads to a result which is manifestly absurd or unreasonable

If the vast majority of EU leaders tell us that the EU Reform Treaty is 90 to 99% the (abandoned constitution), then obviously you and your department need to call upon the provisions of the above articles.

You now argue that while the EU reform treaty is indeed the same for other member states, it is different for the UK because of its various opt-outs and safeguards. (red lines)

But these red lines you are basing this argument on were also in the original version of the constitution - on which the government promised to hold a referendum.

In fact, the Labour party recognised this in The Labour Party manifesto 2005 (page 83 & 84)

"The EU now has 25 members and will continue to expand. The new Constitutional Treaty ensures the new Europe can work effectively, and that Britain keeps control of key national interests like foreign policy, taxation, social security and defence. The Treaty sets out what the EU can do and what it cannot".

The 2005 manifesto also states at Page 110

"A referendum remains the right way to agree any change for Westminster".

You also need to read Article 9 of the reform treaty, reflect, and remind yourself of your oath as a Privy councillor. A man cannot serve two masters.

Anoneumouse
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Use your own microscope

According to Patrick Hennessy, Political Editor, Sunday Telegraph, Gordon Brown will defy scores of Labour MPs and firmly rule out a referendum on the European Union Treaty after winning the backing of key Cabinet ministers

Even those ministers who were most strongly in favour of a referendum on the near-identical EU constitution three years ago have "come on board" . Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, who as foreign secretary in 2004 persuaded Tony Blair to perform a U-turn and offer a referendum on the constitution, is now said to be "fully behind Gordon". (wink, wink nudge, nudge, fully behind)

David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, whose comments in a radio 4 interview has let it be known he was annoyed at being "misinterpreted", by Anoneumouse . But hey, read the document for yourself



Meanwhile Balls (Brown's right-hand man) will talk Balls (i.e. hocus pocus) on the the GMTV's Sunday Programme later today.
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Beware of a Portuguese baring gifts.

Where was Borroso when the floods hit East Yorkshire and the West Midlands.

Pity he isn't friendly with a British national who owns a luxury yacht
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HOW MUCH DOES THE EU COST BRITAIN?

By 2007 Britain will have made contributions to the EC budget of almost £213.6 billion gross or £66.3 billion net.

By 2013 Britain will have made direct contributions to the EC budget in the region of £299.8 billion gross or £102.2 billion net.

By 2006 Britain had an accumulated trade deficit with EU member states of £359.5 billion.

The Common Agricultural Policy costs Britain at least £15.6 billion per annum.

The Common Fisheries Policy costs Britain at least £2.5 billion per annum.

Over-regulation costs Britain at least £26 billion per annum.

Membership of the European Union costs Britain £60.1 billion per annum gross or £50.6 billion net.

That is the equivalent for every man, women and child in Britain of £1,002 per annum gross or £843 net.

Or the equivalent for every tax-payer in Britain of £1,939 per annum gross or £1,632 net.

This money would be better spent in Britain for the benefit of the British people.

Click on the above image to read the full report

and you can keep up to date by visiting the bruges group site.
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Forward on lies, back on promises

The government now argues that while the EU reform treaty is indeed the same for other member states, it is different for the UK because of its various opt-outs and safeguards.

But the various safeguards the Government is basing this argument on were also in the original version of the constitution - on which the government promised to hold a referendum.

In fact, the Labour party recognised this in The Labour Party manifesto 2005 (page 83 & 84)

"The EU now has 25 members and will continue to expand. The new Constitutional Treaty ensures the new Europe can work effectively, and that Britain keeps control of key national interests like foreign policy, taxation, social security and defence. The Treaty sets out what the EU can do and what it cannot".

The Government also tell us that we have never had a referendum on any other EU Treaty so we don't need one for the reform treaty. However, the Labour party has promised to hold a referendum with regards to a single element which was in the Maastricht Treaty which was signed in February 1992

The 2005 manifesto states:

"On the euro, we maintain our common-sense policy. The determining factor underpinning any government decision is the national economic interest and whether the case for joining is clear and unambiguous. The five economic tests must be met before any decision to join can be made. If the Government were to recommend joining, it would be put to a vote in Parliament and a referendum of the British people".

The 2005 manifesto also states at Page 110

"A referendum remains the right way to agree any change for Westminster".




No Parliament can bind its successor.
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