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Sunday, March 23, 2014

Feel free to copy, there is no copyright on an Anoneumouse montage. (click on image to enlarge)

Doubt over Cameron's pledge on EU

Lord Ashcroft has told the Sun on Sunday: “Many like David Cameron’s plan to negotiate better terms for Britain".

The trouble is his poll shows, three-quarters of them doubt it will work. Most of the pessimists think other countries will not be prepared to make concessions to Britain however well the PM argues the case.

Nearly three-quarters of people do not believe David Cameron will be able to deliver on his promise to claw back powers from the EU, according to a poll.

Some 51% think other members will block reforms, while 26% doubt the Prime Minister’s skills as a negotiator.

Almost one in four suspects he wants to stay in the union even if Britain does not achieve a better deal.

The findings – which cast doubt on the electoral effectiveness of Mr Cameron’s pledge of an in-out referendum by 2017 – come from a major piece of research commissioned by Tory peer Lord Ashcroft.

Of the 20,000 people questioned, around two-thirds said other countries benefited more from the EU than the UK.

Some 49% thought the drawbacks of being a member outweighed the advantages - compared to 31% who said the opposite and 20% who were not sure either way.

Just one in 10 could name an MEP in their area.

The European Parliament came fourth from bottom in a league table of 27 “liked” countries and institutions.

Only Saudi Arabia, Iran and North Korea were placed below it.

The survey also suggested people had a more positive view of Russia than of the European Union.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Feel free to copy, there is no copyright on an Anoneumouse montage. (click on image to enlarge)

It was ok for Kosovo, so why not Crimea

The 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence was adopted on 17 February 2008 by the Assembly of Kosovo. The participants unanimously declared Kosovo to be independent from Serbia, while all 11 representatives of the Serb minority boycotted the proceedings. It was the second declaration of independence by Kosovo's Albanian-majority political institutions, the first was proclaimed on 7 September 1990.

The legality of the declaration and whether it was an act of the Assembly has been disputed. Serbia sought international validation and support for its stance that the declaration was illegal, and in October 2008 requested an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice..

The Court determined that the declaration did not violate international law.

So, why not Crimea?

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244

UPDATE:

also see Mayotte an island off the coast of southern Africa, which is the newest region of the European Union and has EU protection in international law through the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty as of 1 January 2014.

Monday, March 03, 2014

Feel free to copy, there is no copyright on an Anoneumouse montage. (click on image to enlarge)

An afternoon and a tomorrow

On an afternoon walk today, I happened upon a lone squadie with a sort of I-PAD tablet device, standing on the footpath at the confluence of Parham Beck and the river Eden . I say, squadie, he was actually a Captain in the Royal Engineers.

After a cordial chat, I discovered he was carrying out a flood risk assessment for the Environment Agency.

Prediction:

The next time Willowholme Industrial  Estate electricity sub station is flooded the Environment Agency will blame the Ministry of Defence.

Saturday, March 01, 2014

Feel free to copy, there is no copyright on an Anoneumouse montage. (click on image to enlarge)

aah! bisto

 
Read all about the WWF on the European Union gravy train at EUreferendum
Feel free to copy, there is no copyright on an Anoneumouse montage. (click on image to enlarge)

Vote No For FUK's sake

If Scotland gains its independence after the forthcoming referendum, the remainder of the United Kingdom will be known as the "Former United Kingdom" (F.U.K.)

In a bid to discourage Scots from voting yes in the referendum, the Coalition Government have now begun a campaign with the slogan: "Please Vote No For FUK's sake!"
 
They feel that the Scottish voter will be able to relate to this.
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