The entire business and political elite of Ireland ganged up to tell their countrymen that they should vote in favour of the Lisbon Treaty. Failure to comply would risk outraging the EU elite and integrationist maniacs who want to impose their undemocratic project on an entire continent. The implication was profoundly insulting: that if voters were to cause any trouble, Ireland would suffer somehow. By implication it is incapable of prospering as a nation which values its independence.
Irish voters, thank goodness, appear to have had other ideas and in raising two fingers to the latest stage of the federalist programme have cheered those who want a different kind of Europe – an accountable Europe of free nations.
Amusingly, this is extremely embarrassing for the leaders who tried to railroad the Lisbon treaty past Europe’s voters.
Their EU project is propelled by the myth that this process is inevitable and unstoppable. The opposite is the case because rapid economic and technological change means that, while we should trade and cooperate, individual nation states will need maximum maneuverability to compete.
Will EU leaders listen? Yes, for about 30 seconds before activating plan B in which they implement 90% of the provisions of the Treaty anyway. But at least the opposing forces have been given a rallying point and an electorate has spoken.
UPDATE: The rumour is that Gordon Brown has phoned Sarko to say he’ll press ahead with UK ratification regardless. Is there something in the water at Westminster? This David Davis kamikaze style of politics is catching and perhaps Brown wants to be the next to try it.
Loading ...
