BREXIT - Damn Right!

I am tired of listening to the negative political spin being espoused by Cameron and Osborne about our membership of the EU. Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2 seems to fawn over the ‘IN CROWD” and casts mild sarcasm at those who opine that OUT is better. Well, Mr Cameron, Mr Osborne and Mr Vine - here is just another reason while I will be voting OUT come 23rd June although I suspect I will be in the minority:

MEPs: The salaries and allowances of the MEPs of the 27 EU states now total £137million. But this does not include the cost of the £217,000 office allowance available to each MEP. Do you know who your MEP is? Did you vote for an MEP at the last election? MEPs earn about 200 per cent more than Westminster MPs! Unlike MPs in this country, MEPs still vote on their own salaries and perks. And what exactly do they do for us? I would suggest something like the square route of diddly-squat! Do we need them? The answer for me lies in the question. MEPs on the Brussels gravy-train now enjoy an average income of £182,826  including allowances for attendance and travel. Why? Why on earth do we put up with this? MEPs now have incomes up to 20 times higher than the people they represent. But have you ever seriously asked yourself - what do they do for this extravagant lifestyle afforded to them by an eye-watering level of income? If you are going to vote “IN” are you really happy with this? I am extremely concerned about the cost of the European Parliament, which maintains expensive legislatures in both Brussels and Strasbourg but still has relatively few real powers, except over the EU budget where it has repeatedly voted for above-inflation increases. The power in Europe lies with the unelected EU commissioners. 

I am voting for an end to this gravy-train, at least for our British MEPs, control of our own borders and no more payments for being a member of an organisation that I see as marching towards a Federal Republic of Europe. And let’s be clear about what we do contribute. Our “rebate” is effectively deducted at source, and so not actually sent to the EU.  Using the post-rebate figure, it’s more accurate to say the UK sends £35 million a day to the EU. That still represents a net figure of £12.8 billion per annum! Just consider how better we could use such a sum for our own purpose.

Here is my parting shot Mr Cameron. I would rather endure a period of austerity in which we are in control of our own destiny than for ever relinquish our sovereignty to the mandarins of Brussels and Frankfurt. That is not a choice I can, for one moment, consider. You know which way I will be voting…. 

Scottish Independence

I watched the second debate tonight between Alistair Darling and Alex Salmond on BBC2. Both camps entered this evening's debate hoping for a late break of opinion in their favour. Darling wants Scotland to remain a part of the United Kingdom. Salmond wants an independent Scotland, a nation state in its own right.

A Guardian/ICM poll suggested Alistair Darling beat Alex Salmond in the first debate. On tonight's viewing I reckon that Salmond came out on top. This seemed to be confirmed by the audience's reaction.

Much of the argument has been about an independent Scotland's right to retain Sterling as its currency, joining a 'currency union' as it were with England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Sterling is supported by the Bank of England and Scotland would be remiss to turn its back on this safe harbour. But the other UK countries might disagree to such an arrangement. Salmond was challenged throughout the debate by Darling as to what his 'Plan B' was. He did not seem to have one.

The 'debate' descended into the anticipated rhetoric with both sides scoring points on such key issues as currency, the National Health Service, oil revenues, Trident, jobs, the welfare state, etc. etc. etc....

Salmond bases a great deal of Scotland's fiscal future on oil revenues. Depending on which NGO's financial forecasts you care to consider, this could be sound or indeed foolhardy. Salmond places significant trust in these revenues providing 15% of an independent Scottish economy. Darling, on the other hand, said that the revenue figures were alarmingly overstated. And so it went on.

As an Englishman I have no influence whatsoever on the outcome of the Scottish Independence referendum, which takes place in three weeks time. As an Englishman I am tired of listening to Alex Salmond, who clearly dislikes anything British that is not Scottish, who is prepared to turn his back on a United Kingdom that has helped in many ways to provide jobs for thousands of Scottish people. He maintains an arrogant air in front of the camera, with a smug look and a dismissive wave of the arm when Darling says something that challenges Salmond's position on any point. And he has still not come up with a 'Plan B' concerning the currency issue.

So, here's my position Mr Salmond, as an Englishman, who has many Scottish friends. I don't give a fig. Stay in the United Kingdom, leave the United Kingdom. I don't give a fig. I will continue to put my support behind Westminster, the house of government for the United Kingdom. And if the good people of Scotland are convinced with your arguments and vote 'Yes' for independence, I won't loose any sleep over it.

But if Scotland does vote 'Yes' in three weeks time you might just find that a lot of chickens come home to roost.....    

MPs' Pay

As I am sure you know, MPs are expected to be given a 10 percent pay rise taking their annual salaries to £74,000. This comes at a time when Ministers say that a one percent rise for nurses is "unaffordable".

It is the sort of breathtaking hypocrisy that we have come to expect from our politicians who, it should be noted, receive - on top of their extravagant expenses and allowances - a £5.8 million annual subsidy from we taxpayers for the food and drink that they consume at Westminster.

If you don't want to contribute to the cost of their wining and dining and believe that, like everyone else, they should pay for their own food and drink, you should sign this e-petition:

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/40707