While the talk is about Labour's total
inaction over a referendum on Europe, I was asked the other day which way would I vote
on Europe, my answer I would vote to leave Europe tomorrow.
Lets look at what happened
The UK was a industrialised country, it
had a number of problems with strikes and unrest but the UK had a
Major Navy and armed forces with considerable trading to its
Commonwealth partners
We controlled our North sea fishing,
All along the North Sea coast, 1000's
of fishing boats made a living
our Steel was the best in the World
We had our own Coal production.
We had massive shipyards
We made our own passenger aircraft
We had massive semiconductor factories
The UK also had massive car plants
producing Austin, Morris, Rover, Hillman, Ford, Vauxhall, Riley,
Sunbeam, Jaguar, Landrover, Triumph, Wolesley, Rolls-Royce , to name
but just a few,
Milestones
1973
Britain was allowed into European Economic Community, this was just to trade only this deal included giving away our historic North sea Fishing rights
1975
We had a Referendum over our EEC membership, this splits Harold Wilson’s Labour government, but after a massive campaign to keep us in, two thirds of voters opt to stay in the EEC
Remember this was a vote to TRADE WITH EUROPE not to be run by Europe
Then the EEC Directives Started, since then Laws, trade and almost everything we do is now controlled by Europe.
Sandwell Tory Said
Lets rule ourselves for the last 1000 years we did a good job, then talk to our old Commonwealth about trade and we should say SORRY for 1973 as we got it wrong
Ref
Link - The Times
At least you allow free speach which does allow me to comment on your drivel.
ReplyDeleteNot that long ago you were eulogising Thatcher. She voted to take us in not only in 1973, but in 1962 when the French said no to us. Simon Jenkins sets it all out in 'Thatchers Children' (and he is a tory activist). You seem to blame Scargill for the mines last week - now you blame the EU. You blame the EU for steel (which is actually a growth industry now)and you seem to think that it is possible to fish where there are no fish. You do not understand that the most recent "chip" factories are part EU funded. You also assume that the Commonwealth would actually trade with us. The Enoch tendency in the tory party may have put paid to that. And, it is not safe to assume an EFTA - so who do we trade with? Remember it was Heath (a tory last time I looked) who took us and he took us in on a lie (as you have pointed out). His autobiography sets this out quite clearly.
The only people who are developing a head of steam over this are the rabid right. Set out the costed implications of withdrawl 'tomorrow' or concentrate on making us the dominant partner in the EU and not in the also rans, has beens and never weres. How do the Germans make it work?
I do censor posts that contain inappropriate words or comments but I actively encourage political discussion with the proviso of clean language.
ReplyDeleteAs for your post I do rate Thatcher, I myself voted back in 75 and I did in fact vote for the EEC, as it was then sold to us as a trading group.
I cannot tolerate, the continuation of a political union without the democratic backing of our nations electorate, such a union is bigger than “Party” politics and its wips
What opened my eyes to the EEC was the European Coal and Steel Community, there is talk that we were not allowed in simply due to the ECSC, It is quite a coincidence that our steel and Coal production has withered on the vine. I very rarely name individuals, but I do find it somewhat strange that Harold and James Closed more pits than Maggie had to start with? But with the application of spin Maggie has gone down in folk law as the PM that shut the Pits.
Now to the North Sea fishing, if you are old enough to remember massive Spanish factory ships bigger than the QM or QE.the North Sea was devoid of fish by the early 80's yet the EU dictate our size of the British fishing fleet an what catch we can take.Perhaps you could go to Grimsby or Lowestoft and discuss Europe, which are now but a vestige of the towns they were
With regards to chip manufacture, you also seem to have forgotten Mullard, Plessey, GEC, Brimar, and Philips, EEV, Semiconductors Ltd, Newmarket, or even in Birmingham we had Lucas at the forefront of transistor and Chip design, all now gone.
I love your statement “The only people who are developing a head of steam over this are the rabid right”. as only today a number of press reports state over 30 Labour MP's including ex ministers are pressing for a vote , are they rabid right ??????
The Cost ? Can we as a nation afford to subsidise other nations ? and what could you do with £50Million a day sadly after Tony gave away Maggie's rebate, that sum is rising and the dominant partner is just a dream, while the EU “Project “ continues I feel peoples lives are being damaged.