The news reported in today's Telegraph that the EU has continued with its desire to scrub England off the map must be met with some weariness. The story is not news, whatever the Tories say (just in time for St George's of course). For the last few years the Transmanche Region or Arc Manche has been in existence. This does of course not make it any better.
The whole silly thing is just redolent of how the EU works against, rather than with the grain of history.
Back in AD 43 the Roman General Vespasian, later to become Emperor took both Hod and Hambledon Hills before moving on to Maiden Castle and beyond. This quashing of the last serious opposition to the Roman Imperium resulted in England becoming part of the Roman Empire. But even the Romans were not stupid enough to try and administer different sides of the channel as a single entity.
All this is is a bureaucratic attempt to rub out national boundaries. Why? Because the powers that be in Brussels and Whitehall know that the only institution that retains sufficient emotional loyalty against there centralising plans is the Nation State. And thus they hate it.
Dorset is not part of France
UKIP Defence Policy launched tonight
The press launch of UKIP's Defence Policy, "In the National Interest" is taking place tonight at the East India Club. Here is a brief summary of the paper,
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
UKIP's Defence Vision - Executive Summary
Our recommendations:
1. To defend our national interests, maintain the NATO alliance, support our traditional partners. To disentangle our forces from the EU To keep our independence by retaining – always – ultimate command and control over our national forces.
2. To stop trying to buy defence on the cheap. UKIP will spend an extra 1% GDP year on defence – an increase of 40% on current budgets. UKIP believes in establishing a defence budget which will properly sustain Britain's defence commitments. To keep defence costs down by smarter defence procurement, and with more involvement of British industry wherever possible.
3. To increase the Army to at least 125,000 personnel (trained requirement) in order to enable it to cope with its existing deployment and roles. To double the Territorial Army in size from 37,000 to 75,000 soldiers.
4. To restore the Navy to its 2001 strength, with 3 new aircraft carriers (one extra), 4 assault ships, 30 destroyers and frigates, 12 Fleet Submarines, 25 coastal vessels and 50 Merlin helicopters, with around 7,000 extra personnel to 42,000 (2003–41,550). UKIP would guarantee the futures of Plymouth, Portsmouth and Rosyth and not close any of these ports.
5. To increase the Air Force's capabilities by enlarging the tanker fleet, modernising the transport fleet, buying more helicopters and 50 extra JSF aircraft, and increasing RAF personnel to 50,000.
6. To restore many traditional regiments, such as the Black Watch and Staffords, subsumed as battalions of EU-inspired 'super-regional' regiments such as the Royal Welsh, Royal Mercian and Royal Regiment of Scotland, in order to serve in EU battle groups.
7. To renew the Covenant between the Country and those who are asked to risk their lives on its behalf: through better pay, generous compensation for injury, restoration of Crown immunity, private medical and dental care, reinstatement of military hospitals, decent accommodation, an offence of treason for those UK citizens who seriously attack serving personnel, and above all, respect and support.
8. To withdraw our forces from Iraq, in good order, at an early date. To reappraise our operations in Afghanistan to a single mission.
9. To maintain Britain's independent nuclear deterrent with existing Trident submarines, and to replace them with four British built US missile armed
submarines.
10. To retain and increase Army and Territorial Army personnel by pay, free medical and dental care for them and their families, retention 'warrants', school recruitment and other incentives.
I will write a review of it when I have seen the whole thing.
Support the ban
Every publican in Dorset should support the ban on Alistair Darling.
He and his boss, Gordon Brown are doing so much damage to the licenced trade that only by making it clear to them that we are unhappy can anything be done.
Of course, it is unlikely that someone like Mr Darling would every sully himself by ever entering a pub, but that is not the point. A message needs to go out loud and clear. By increasing taxes, by supporting the smoking ban, by increasing rules and regulations, whether dreamt up in Whitehall or Brussels is not the point. They and their like (and I include you Mr Cameron in this, despite you mentioning this campaign in PMQs this week) are crushing the life out of an industry and a way of being that is close to all our hearts.
People like him bang on about communities and how important they are, but when they see something that cannot control, when the see men and women enjoying t hemselves out of free choice, they move heaven and earth to undermine, tax and regulate it.
A pox on them and all their (non public) houses.
Fitna
Having been refused by the MSM, and having had his own website taken down by the hosting company, Geert Wilders last night published 'Fitna: The Movie' on LiveLeak.
I would encourage you to watch it, but I cannot pretend that it is nice, or easy viewing. At the very least it should make you think.
The BBC report about it is interesting in what it says and what it does not say. It majors on his paranoia,
"the most stubborn man I've ever met"...But it fails to point out that his name was on the piece of paper, stuck on the knife that pierced Theo Van Gough's heart.
"The presenter remembers walking with Mr Wilders surrounded by six bodyguards to the MP's room, which he likened to a furnished cell at a suburban bank.
Opponents say he is fuelling hate against Muslims From that perspective, he could understand that the politician's mind was focused on the death threats against him".
"He's a little bit crazy because he's giving the impression to some people that he's going to combat Islam," says Mr Rabbae.
"He's a kind of Don Quixote, fighting against things and presenting goals which will never happen."
Like Mr Spruyt, Mohamed Rabbae believes Mr Wilders may have become isolated by the limitations imposed by living with bodyguards".
it was in November 2004 that Mr Wilders' career dramatically changed with the murder of film-maker Theo van Gogh by a radical Islamist, Mohammed Bouyeri.An odd omission, as is the failure of the BBC to link to the film, despite writing an article about it.
Together with Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Van Gogh had produced the short film Submission, which featured an actress in see-through clothing with Koranic script on her body.
Although he had no involvement in the film, Mr Wilders was now to have a permanent bodyguard, in common with Ms Hirsi Ali, because of their outspoken views on Islam.
Local UKIP PPC forces reform in Bulgarian Care Homes
When I saw the film I was horrified, I immediately contacted the film's maker, Kate Blewett and invited her to show the film in the Brussels Parliament.
The Bulgarian authorities and Euro-MPs tried everything they could to block the showing, but we persevered and last week the Bulgarian authorities were forced to announce the closure of the Mogilino home. It is British taxpayers money siphoned through the European Commission that is funding the appalling regime in these homes and we have every right to demand that the money is spent well.
Of course the situation was known in Brussels, but rather than deal with it they hushed it up in order that Bulgaria could join the EU. The Tory MEP Geoffrey Van Orden who was responsible for Bulgaria in the Parliament would prefer to add another 8 million to the EU superstate than demand decent living conditions for these children. He should be ashamed.
Kate Blewett's own campaign can be found here
The film screening was co-hosted by Kathy Sinnott MEP, an Irish Independent who is one of the leaders of the Irish No campaign.
Looking forward to next weekend
First up will be the regular Charlton Marshall First Thursday meetuing of the association. Updates on activities of the party and what we have been doing over in Brussels and at home.
Then on Saturday 8th there is the South Western Counties Conference for UKIP which will be taking place at Exeter University and promises to be a lot of fun.
All who can come along should try.
