Tag Archives: laura sandys

Stephen Tall

Proof that not *all* Tories are bonkers on Europe (and nor was Mrs Thatcher)

By Stephen Tall | Thu 17th January 2013 - 9:25 pm

margaret thatcher europeAmidst all the Tory Euro-hysteria (‘Eurotic’, I’ve heard it described as: and I seriously hope I didn’t mis-hear) it’s easy to forget there are a few Tories, a diminishing if stoic band, who have kept tight hold of their senses.

And though it was David Cameron’s desperate last-ditch pitch for the job of Tory leader — his 2005 promise to his party’s Europhobes to withdraw the Tories from the mainstream centre-right EPP alliance, a policy even David Davis wouldn’t touch — which has, slowly but inevitably, dragged the party ever more fringewards, a few of his backbenchers remain hopeful they can persuade him, even now, to do the sensible thing.

Here’s some of what they’ve written to him:

We acknowledge the EU’s shortcomings and understand the desire and, under the Lisbon Treaty the possibility, to repatriate powers. However, we do our nation, as well as Europe, a disservice by not confidently exerting the same level of engagement and leadership as we demonstrate in organisations such as NATO, the G8, the UN Security Council or the Commonwealth.

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Posted in News | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and | 7 Comments
Paul Tyler

Lord Tyler writes: Don’t listen to the doomsayers

By Paul Tyler | Fri 1st July 2011 - 10:53 am

Since the publication of the Government’s White Paper and Draft Bill on House of Lords reform, the old guard have lined up to cavil about its detail, to deride its democratic principles and to defend – in the last ditch – the status quo.

This has augmented the popular media’s predisposition towards arch cynicism and trenchant pessimism. Yet there is firm evidence to contradict their lazy assumptions. Just because Labour engaged in over a decade of dither and delay does not mean that a determined government, with the resolve of the House of Commons behind it, cannot succeed.

The …

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Posted in Op-eds and Parliament | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and | 8 Comments
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  • User AvatarTim Hill 16th Oct - 10:23pm
    The Ashfield Independents are not independents. They are a rag bag of assorted political rejects led by the ex-LD Zarodny who couldn't face the music...
  • User AvatarTim Hill 16th Oct - 10:22pm
    Paul Barker. It's a gain. The seat was held by the Tories. It's now held by us. It's a gain.
  • User AvatarKatharine Pindar 16th Oct - 10:10pm
    Thoughtful as ever, George, thank you for joining in. People do want to find support and comradeship in their local parties, I suppose, and if...
  • User AvatarTim Hill 16th Oct - 10:01pm
    Top speech Mathew. Couldn't agree more. Ignore the faint hearted and the nay-sayers.
  • User AvatarKatharine Pindar 16th Oct - 9:49pm
    Not a tendency I am prone to, however. One attempts to be realistic, to continue to contribute a little to our excellent cause, and generally...
  • User Avatarfrankie 16th Oct - 9:45pm
    Mathew, A major part of the leave vote was indeed the left behind, but as has been pointed out a greater share came from the...