The TUC and EU

Today I managed to avoid watching the TUC on BBC Parliament as I decided to watch Dr Jacob Bronowski talk about classical medicine and wheat instead. But it is good to hear that the union delegates have voted in favour of a referendum on the EU treaty and in doing so have put a few more tons of pressure on the Scot to hold one.

Us Tories, UKIP (no surprise there), a few Socialists and Liberals MP are also backing a referendum, shame the TUC is also using the conference to back co-ordinated strikes.

From what I know, this vote was about the government’s resolution on a special ‘modus operandi’ in the charter of fundamental rights which would effect employment protection including the rights of the trade unions which has caused “very bad feeling” between them and Gordon Brown. Unless these terms changes, it appears that it would be very difficult for the unions to persuade workers to vote yes on the referendum.

I look forward for Parliament to reassemble so David Cameron can have his chance to lead to Commons campaign for a EU referendum as this appears to be a hot topic with the public, of course and it may tower over the next election.

Brown and Cameron debating this at the dispatch box should be interesting…

The EU Con

I will talk briefly on the need for a referendum on the EU constitution because I believe that if this country is indeed a democracy then we should been given the chance to have one. I will of course try my best bypass the dreaded constitution itself as this post is about a necessity rather then a personal tirade.

I use the word necessity because I believe that a referendum on the EU constitution should be a obligation that the government sticks to because we were promised one at the last election and going back on that promise can cause less trust in politicians and harm our idea of democracy.

Before the last election in 2004 the French and the people of the Netherlands discarded the EU constitution in their referendum and I think the European state dreamers should have accepted that the idea was dead and that the EU should be just about trade and nothing more.

But before leaving office, Tony Blair signed up to this new treaty which is "radically different" to the original and therefore a referendum is not needed. What rubbish! Hans Martin Bury said "The EU Constitution is the birth certificate of the United States of Europe", which would be a disaster and we have seen what happens when Europe is administered by one capital city, I don’t think that “Brussels is the light”.

I believe this new contract is just a way to recreate the old one by the back door and the author of the original constitution, Giscard d'Estaing even said the differences between the new document and his original are "few and far between" and "more cosmetic than real". I hate to admit it but I respect him for being honest about it.

Therefore I think that as the constitution can suck away our powers over matters like immigration and transport policy like a giant magnet, we should be given the right to have a vote on if we want it or not. I feel the same way about an EU President as a Christian would about the Roman Emperor Nero.

Anyway I think that people should voice their concerns and act against this and give our message to Gordon Brown that we want a referendum.

So please support Nirj Deva DL MEP, Member of the European Parliament for South East England, in expressing this necessity and sign the petition below.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/euconstitution

Otherwise if Brown forces this constitution on us then British democracy is just a theory and in practice we truly live in a country where the government ignores the wishes of the people it is meant to represent.

Stop the arms trade to the wrong people.

Royal Garden Party

Yesterday I went to the Royal Garden party at Buckingham Palace with my family and had a really great day!

We arrived in London about 2pm and went for a quick tea at a resturant around the corner and then we went towards the gate and was asked questions by American tourists about what was going. Being in the queue, I felt like I was at Ascot.

After we went through the main gate, we had to show ID and then outside the Palace with everyone looking at us through the gate like goldfish. After a short wait, we walked under the archways into the main courtyard and had to wait for about 20 minutes, but I spent most of that time looking at the Classical style buildings and the other people in suits, uniforms and dresses.

I was amazed when we entered the building because it was amazing and had great paintings on the wall and a brilliant interior, some rooms had a gentle Rococo design to them.

The garden looked amazing when we walked outside and the main lawn at the bottom of the stone steps had two band tents and two tea tents, one for guests and one for royals. We went and had a cup of tea and a few nibbles, before going for a stroll around the massive garden. It was quite quiet and it was easy to forget that we were in the centre of London, and seemed like a countryside park.

When we returned to the outside of the Palace, we only had to wait a few minutes before the Queen appeared at the top of the steps with Prince Philip and Princesses Ann. They played God Save the Queen as everyone stayed silent. Then she walked down the stairs to a big applause and started to chat to some people.

After another cup of tea and food, we had a sit in the garden where I started to fall asleep.

Then we had some ice cream and joined in with the big crowd to see the Queen depart and then we had to squeeze through the eight thousands leaving guests in the Palace and back out into the front enterance over looking the street.

It was a great day and hopefully I might get to do it again one day.

Tiffany D

I have had a e-mail from Tiffany Desrosiers and she has told me that she won the National level at the British Columbia Provincial in the Classical Voice category. Tiffany will now be compering against singers from other provinces at the Nationals in Moncton, New Brunswick from July 7th to the 11th.

Good luck Tiffany.

Paris Hilton is back in prison!!!

Paris Hilton has been sent back to prison by the judge that sentenced her first and she has to stay there for the full 40 days.

It is good to see common sense winning in the end and for rich American girls to know that justice is the same for everyone in Western civilisation, but it is a bit funny though.

Questions

1 - Would you take out private health insurance?
If I really needed to.

2 - Do you think the country is in a mess?
No of course not, but it does have a lot of social problems.


3 - Would you break the law if you felt it was wrong?
If it was a silly New Labour law I might do if I felt it was wrong and if it would not cause suffering to other people.


4 - Should we change the abortion laws?
I think abortion should be against the law, but it would lead to women using dangerous 'backstreet' abortions, but I think it is morally wrong.


5 - What would they have to pay you to join the army?
Nothing. I would join simply to serve my Queen and Country.


6 - What nationality do you feel?
British.


7 - Are you proud to live in Britain?
I do indeed.


8 - Do you feel part of a class?
I feel very Middleclass. But class is who you are not where you live.


9 - Should Church and state mix?
Nope.


10 - What do you think of David Cameron?
He is making the Conservative Party electable again, but I am worried about some of his changes.


12 - How should we discipline our children?
Show them strict discipline, but at the same time show them affection.


13 - Did you like your school?
Yeah, my school was good, it was a manor school and had some good teachers.


15 - Tell me about God.
Well he created the universe and sent his son to earth to show mankind the moral way of living and still watches over us. So he is pretty cool.


16 - What do you think of Gordon Brown?
Well I think he may be the last Labour PM before the Conservatives take power again.


17- What are your views on immigration?
There should be limited immigration when it benefits the sociality and they should be taught about and practise British values.


18 - Should the state ever censor anything?
I believe in freedom of information, but if something can damage the normal public way of life, then maybe the state should censor somethings.


20 - What do you think about Margaret Thatcher?
She made some mistakes, but on the whole I like her and Tony Blair is not worthy enough to lick her shoes.


21 - What do you think is the future of the monarchy?
Well if Cherie Blair is a icon for Republicans, the monarchy has nothing to fear. God save the Queen!


22 - What do you think about multiculturalism?
The hard fact seems to be that multiculturalism is causing division.


23 - Have you ever bought a lottery ticket?
Yeah, but have not won the jackpot yet.

24 - What do you think about growing old?
Quite happy, it is a part of live in the end.


26 - Ever seen a strip show / thought of being in a strip show?
Not really.


27 - Does truth exist?
I believe that truth does exist, but some people don't seem to realise its value against lies.


28 - Do you watch Big Brother?
Only when my brain has stopped working due to over studying and when I need something to stare at to pass the time.


30 - What is your view on the ni'qab (full veil)?
I believe that it should be banned in this country because it is un-British and oppresses women.


32 - "Tax the rich!"?
If they can afford to pay more, then it would be good to pick up some of the tax burden from very poor people.


33 - ... for (US) President!
Anyone who believes that the pen is mighter then the sword and can locate Togoland on the map.


34 - Ever thought of being a vegetarian?
Tried it and failed. Maybe men are not meant to be vegetarians.


35- Will there be a war on Iran?
Hope not as it would be 10 times as bloody as the Iraq war. Just hope people learn from the mistakes of the Roman's.


36 - Do you vote?
Of course!


37 - Who for? Or why not?
Conservative Party


38 - What do you think about the French?
Well France is where liberty and freedom was born, but they people have a few problems.