Author Archives: Robert Boyle

A practical suggestion to improve the UK’s influence within the EU

As a Brit, living in Brussels and working in the European Parliament, I’ve had a lot to reflect on over the past months and weeks.

When asked by friends and colleagues, “well what do you think about ‘Cameron’s renegotiation'”, I reply “embarrassed”.

It’s a very English sense of embarrassment, arising from the social awkwardness of being associated with someone who has done something fairly stupid and feeling guilty by proxy. Like being the nephew of the drunk uncle who ruins the children’s birthday party, it is difficult to have any response other than a weary “yes, I’m sorry he’s at it again”.

This is in many ways the scenario we find ourselves in today.

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged , and | 28 Comments
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    Mark is spot on with his assessment, as some one who also had meetings with him as Mayor with Mark on behalf of all the LD Cllrs in GM. I am more circumspect a...
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    Er. Has Andy mentioned his approach to the EU at all? Or doesn't that go down well in the Brexit Reform voting subworld? Hope we get a good minister handling ne...
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    Very good article Alex. Sorry to see @simonmcgrath downplaying the appalling behaviour of the British during 1936-9. This is well captured in the Award winn...