Dear All
Scotland’s ‘jolly fat man’ Alex Salmond and unpopular Nicola
Sturgeon are seeing their independence campaign literally die a death of a
thousands each day.
On the issue of membership of the European Union, it has
been blunder after blunder; assertion isn’t of fact, lies instead of truth. As
the readership knows, I do write about the EU from time to time and not just in
relation to the Scottish independence campaign.
The European Union has the potential to be a great
institution, the trouble is that the EU hasn’t evolved properly, it lacks
direction and to some extent purpose. The problems of the organisation have
festered over years; real reform has been put off through a lack of political
will.
In EU countries, it is hardly surprising that there has been
a rise of the right wing political element bolstered by support from the
people, the expression of this in the UK is Ukip.
They won the EU election of 2014; an historic victory not
seen in over 100 years, where neither the government nor main opposition party
won the majority of seats.
Ukip is the lightening rod that ordinary people have been
drawn to because the main political parties have stopped listening to people
some considerable time ago. Today, I was listening to a speech on youtube given
by a new Ukip MEP who partly blamed the EU for the troubles between Russia and the Ukraine . All I will say on that
‘gem of wisdom’ is that it was an inappropriate speech, and judging by the look
of Diane James, Ukip MEP behind him, she might agree with me. Ukip need to
employ someone as a thinker to raise their profile in a good way and do away
with stunts and gesture politics.
At the start of last month, I did an article on the 3rd
June stating that the European project needed reform and an assessment carried
out; also I said that there should be a halt to EU expansion. I have been
saying this for some time because the project faces a difficult time over the
next few years.
Also If you think back to 2012, Scotland ’s unpopular Deputy Nicola
Sturgeon was at the BBC Big Debate which I also attended. I spoke and said the
SNP needed to go pro Nato and pro Faslane, on both issues I was proved right.
Ruth Davidson also attended that programme and pulled out a letter which said
the SNP had neither as an opposition or Government ever sought advice from the
EU on membership. After that programme,
we had the most pathetic spectacle of unpopular Nicola Sturgeon trying to hawk
herself round Europe trying to give the
impression that she was creating a dialogue with European Officials.
As some people say ‘Bollocks’!
The EU in the form of then President Jose Manuel Barroso
blew her off when the SNP Deputy leader wanted a meeting. A meeting with
unpopular Nicola Sturgeon talking tripe about automatic EU membership and phantom
EU legal advice which never existed, Barroso wisely got his Deputy to fire off
the standard letter.
No thanks!
Barroso joins the long list of men and women who have
rejected Ms. Sturgeon in some form or another.
As part of the Sturgeon pitch failed, she then tried to put
forward another tack and argument, the prospect of an independent Scotland
joining the European Union within 18 months of a Yes vote.
How did this ‘strategic mastermind’ come up with this one,
someone just made it up based on assumption, then an ex EU official then said
that was possible.
Hey presto, instant ‘fact’ just add water, Sturgeonesque
logic!
To return to my post of 3rd June which mentions a
halt to expansion, the new President of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker
has called for a five-year freeze on EU enlargement. Actually, it needs to be
ten years, but as most people know, sooner or later everyone comes round to the
George Laird view.
Before Juncker was in post; Prime Minister David Cameron was
leading a lot of opposition against his appointment. The Scottish National
Party went the other way, they said they could ‘work with him’; well his keynote
speech has shattered their plans.
I have stated and I will state again, there is a genuine
lack of talent in the SNP. Looking at what he says, if Scotland became independent, and the five year
freeze is in place, that means, no EU funding between 2016 and 2019, this also
raises the question of when EU law would become void in Scotland .
I seriously doubt the ‘white paper’ has a provision for an
enabling act between 2016 and a successful membership application. And there is
no guarantee that in 2019 there would be a successful bid due to the right of
veto of the 28 members. This also has implications for what currency would be
available for Scotland
if there was a successful independence bid. This leads onto another issue which
I said was essential, the preparation for a Scottish currency, the Euro would
be ruled out as would access to the European Central Bank and lender of last
resort to bail out Scotland
in the event of a financial collapse such as the banking crisis.
Juncker told EU lawmakers that the Union
must “consolidate what has been done with 28” current members. It is too early
to see how his Presidency will pan out, but he certainly has made a good start
and it should calm David Cameron’s concerns that Juncker is ‘old Europe ’.
The Scottish Government’s position that Scotland would
secure its EU membership as an independent country by March 2016 by Alex
Salmond and unpopular Nicola Sturgeon is looking increasingly bizarre. The EU
won’t enter in talks until after matters between Westminster and the Scottish Government were
concluded if indy was successful.
So March 2016 was never possible! And that SNP claim that Scotland is already in the EU and would only
have to renegotiate its membership terms is utter rubbish, this bogus claim is
deception, an outright bareface deception attempted on the Scottish people to
make them think Scotland
has a contract with the EU regarding membership. It doesn’t because the
contract is held solely by Westminster
and as such it isn’t transferable. Scotland
leaves the UK ,
it also leaves the EU.
In trying to make capital out of the Tory reshuffle down
south, Alex Salmond claims that the appointment of Philip Hammond as Foreign
Secretary in today’s UK
cabinet reshuffle “has put one hand on the exit door leading the UK out of the
European Union”.
No, it doesn’t, this is just Alex Salmond scaremongering
because he can’t argue on the basis of facts. Philip Hammond in my opinion is
not the best choice for Foreign Sec but UK Cabinet responsibility means he will
not uses his position to undermine the UK position in official dealings.
President of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker
said:
“There will be no new enlargement in the next five years. The
EU needs to mark a pause in its enlargement process so that we can consolidate
what has been done with 28.”
3rd June, George Laird wrote that the EU needed
to carry an assessment and call a halt to EU expansion until such time an
assessment was finished and new direction established.
George Laird right again!
Time for a quote:
“My problem is that I have too many talented people and not
enough Cabinet positions”.
Alex Salmond.
Is there an explanation for the Sturgeon failure on the EU other
than gross stupidity?
Some time ago, I received a rather snide comment on the blog
from a cybernat which stated, ‘why did I think I should be the SNP leader at
Glasgow City Council when you have never even served on a Community Council?’
Surely the answer to that question is rather obvious now?
Maybe unpopular Nicola Sturgeon should apply to join a
community council to get some ‘experience’ because apparently that is
considered by some Nationalists as entry level for those of low calibre and
little ability. She could sit there talking shite in a surrounding and
atmosphere were hugginess and empathy abound.
Unpopular Nicola Sturgeon just an embarrassment.
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
It really does enrage me that the SNP keep insisting they only have to renegotiate EU membership. Everyone and their dog could tell them, Scotland isn't a member. Pure and utter deception on their part. Sad thing is that they have members who beleive every piece of propaganda that comes from HQ.
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