Category Archives: Britain in Europe

THE SOVEREIGNTY ILLUSION

Posted on February 29, 2016 by ianmacfadyen

The anti-EU mob’s sovereignty argument is an illusion. The UK is as sovereign a nation as we’ve ever been. The UK and its constituent parts have always succeeded when pooling sovereignty and working with others. Alone, Britain lost half the … Continue reading →

Posted in Britain in Europe, Commonwealth, EU referendum 2016, European Union, Freedom, IN, Peace, Politics, Referendum, Remain, Sovereign states, Sovereignty, UK sovereignty, United Kingdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The EU, the Scottish referendum and the EU referendum

Posted on October 16, 2014 by ianmacfadyen

A speech I gave yesterday, 15 October 2014, to Forum 2000 in Horsforth, West Yorkshire Introduction In January last year, the Prime Minister announced there would be an in/out referendum in 2017 after a renegotiation of the terms of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alan Johnson, Better Together, Britain in Europe, Canada, Conservatives, Cymru, EU Referendum, European Council, European Union, Immigration, Liberal Democrats, Referendum, Royal family, Scotland, Scottish Referendum, Speeches, UK Prime Minister, UKIP, Uncategorized, United Kingdom, Wales, Yes campaign | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Udate: Time for David Cameron to change

Posted on December 16, 2011 by ianmacfadyen

It is good to see that the UK is at least going to take part in “technical discussions” over the proposed EU fiscal pact (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16209414).

Posted in Britain in Europe, Debt crisis, December 2011, European Union, Eurozone | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Time for David Cameron to change

Posted on December 16, 2011 by ianmacfadyen

Intoxicated by the toxic praise of the Eurosceptics of both the right and the left, prime minister David Cameron cannot stop trying to undermine the rest of the European Unions’ attempts to solve the Eurozone crisis. There are at least … Continue reading →

Posted in Britain in Europe, Credit rating agencies, Debt crisis, December 2011, Eurozone, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Veto! 24+ hours on

Posted on December 11, 2011 by ianmacfadyen

The only honourable course for prime miniser David Cameron, chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne and foreign secretary William Hague is resignation: resignation by morning. Let people who do not hate this country and Europe take their place to try … Continue reading →

Posted in Britain in Europe, Debt crisis, December 2011, European Council, Sovereign states | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Veto!

Posted on December 10, 2011 by ianmacfadyen

Prime minister David Cameron’s veto at the EU summit in Brussels leaves the UK isolated in a way that has no precedent. His “veto” is a refusal not to take part in discussions which are going to go ahead without the … Continue reading →

Posted in Britain in Europe, Debt crisis, December 2011, European Council, Eurozone, Sovereign states, UK coalition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

3rd Update: The United Kingdom and the Eurozone crisis

Posted on December 8, 2011 by ianmacfadyen

As he heads to the EU summit in Brussels, will the UK prime minister, David Cameron, be thinking about the London Conference nearly 80 years ago, also called to resolve an international financial crisis and avoid a further recession? That … Continue reading →

Posted in Britain in Europe, Debt crisis, December 2011, European Council, Eurozone, government, London Conference 1933, Politics, Sovereign states, UK coalition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2nd Update: The United Kingdom and the Eurozone crisis

Posted on December 7, 2011 by ianmacfadyen

Here is common sense and leadership from justice secretary Kenneth Clarke in today’s Financial Times: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/5606a946-201a-11e1-8662-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1fomGwuZY. (You may have to register to read it, but registration is free). He was a good minister to work for, as I recall. Also … Continue reading →

Posted in Britain in Europe, Debt crisis, Eurozone, government, Politics, Sovereign states, UK coalition, Uncategorized, Work-life balance, Working Time Directive | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Update: The United Kingdom and the Eurozone crisis

Posted on December 6, 2011 by ianmacfadyen

David Cameron’s threat today to veto any new EU treaty (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16048131) confirms the worst.  Of course he is right to defend the United Kingdom’s interests and not to sign any treaty that does not accord with our interests (although as … Continue reading →

Posted in Britain in Europe, Debt crisis, Eurozone, Politics, Sovereign states, UK coalition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The United Kingdom and the Eurozone crisis

Posted on December 6, 2011 by ianmacfadyen

Why is the UK taking no part in solving the Eurozone crisis? Why was the UK prime minister not at the summit in Paris yesterday, when President Sarkozy of France and Chancellor Merkel of Germany met? The financial crisis affects … Continue reading →

Posted in Britain in Europe, Debt crisis, Eurozone, Politics, UK coalition | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment