EU is 'breaking UK economy', claims MEP
by Godfrey Bloom
Professor Tim Congdon's recent report on the costs of the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union could not have come at a more opportune moment. It endorses, if endorsement were needed, a number of think-tank reviews of impeccable pedigree published by Civitas and the Institute of Economic Affairs amongst others.
Many years ago, in 1975, I and many others voted in a referendum to endorse our membership of something called the common market. The object of this now quaint sounding organisation was a no frills free trade area consisting of sovereign states. It has metamorphosed into a Byzantine monolith of stifling regulation built on a soviet model of protectionism and state centralism. Every new treaty has hammered a nail into the coffin of the original idea.
Add to this bizarre economic Neanderthal the toxic dose of monetary union and behold the terrible shambles that is present day Europe. Unemployment in the Iberian peninsula and Greece is staggering. Dangerously, youth unemployment is averaging nearly 30 per cent, growth is moribund and debt mounts. Suicidal employment, energy, agricultural and fishing policy run amok, yet the Gilbertian characters who assemble the cast of its main leaders instead of apologising continue to advocate more of the same.
The UK's daily subscription to this club from hell now runs at over £50m per day. But this is not the cost, far from it. As Professor Congdon's research shows, it is not the subscription that is the main problem, although that is bad enough. It is the baggage that comes with it all that is breaking the UK economy.
Barely 8 per cent of our national economy is connected with the EU at all. A nation's gross domestic product is made up of internal trade. The butcher, baker doctor, window cleaner, cab driver and public transport are the beating heart of the economy. Yet the burden of regulations falls upon the shoulders of us all.
Our GDP percentage of trade with the EU is below Russia, Norway, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland – obviously some not even members – scores of countries have free trade agreements with the EU without political union. Turkey is a prime example. The British coalition government talk about cutting red tape but they are powerless. The red tape comes from Brussels and it is spewed forth monthly from the high temple in Strasbourg.
Professor Congdon's research shows the costs to be £5,700 per household per year. The Treasury's own figures show us to be net importers of goods from the EU to be tune of £300bn since joining. Our export growth extends across the globe not in a parochial demographically challenged terminal economy that is present day Europe. Our open door immigration policy, unreformed welfarism both corporate and social is undermining any hope of recovery for the UK. But the band plays on.
An example of deranged EU fervour can always be savoured by listening to the President José Manuel Barroso, his last speech in particular where he finally ran up the flag of truth and called for a full federal state. You might, if you have a moment, refer to the recent speech of the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee chairwoman Sharon Bowles: an astonishing replay of bunker mentality moving imaginary armies on the Elbe to the rumble of artillery outside the crumbling walls. The end, I suspect, is much closer than she imagines.
Godfrey Bloom represents UKIP and is a member of the European Parliament for the Yorkshire and Humber region in the United Kingdom.
Mario Draghi has called for a 'more European' UK – but denies that the remark could be interpreted as a political intervention in the country's intense discussion about its future relationship with Europe
Sounds very accurate to me Godfrey, keep up the good work - well, at least until you're the new police commisioner in Hull.
David - Keighley
'Today I call for a federation of nation states, not a superstate' was what Jose Manuel Barroso actually said. Claiming he called for a single 'federal state' is simply untrue and shows that you are prepared to resort to scare tactics and dishonesty to push your agenda. Disgusting.
Shane Moore - Hartlepool, England.
I voted against the Common Market all those years ago. I didn't think it would work. Now the talk of a federal Europe is even more worrying. Our great country is being throttled by the EU, uncontrolled immigration and the strain on our health,education and housing resources.
It's time to stop immigration to all but those who can support themselves, speak our language and show respect for our laws. All immigrants should be unable to claim benefits until they have worked and paid taxes for at least five years.
I must make it clear that I'm not racist, but in this country it seems that we have to accept their ways while they run us down and spread hatred of the indigenous population.
Deidre Vernon - Worksop,UKIP member.
Yes, very true, but how does my party UKIP and the learned professor - plus those like him who give good advice - get the truth out to the average Brit? The media, led by the state funded Ministry of Truth - our national broadcaster - has an unwritten policy of ignoring UKIP and deriding it, if it's given the slightest half opportunity?
David - Suffolk
Amen. An economic trading consortium is what I voted for, not the shambles we have today.
David - Hastings
Professor Congdon was not clear in his report because he counted as "costs" a great deal of regulations that we would have to keep even if we left the EU, simply because they are essential to any advanced economy - workers' rights.
Martin - Kidderminster
Why are you even allowing this man to continue as an MEP?
Alisdair - Brussels
The older generation know what sovereignty, freedom and self determiation of their country is really all about. When these people are gone, what then?
Linda Hudson - Washington, U.K, UKIP
The Vileness of the EU will go down in history as the destroyer's of western culture and their identities - for there domination of control. They will strip you your kingdom and power, and amalgamate into one European bloc. When they take your Armed Forces away from you, you are destined to enter the European bloc. When that happens, it's all over because you have rolled over to the demands.
Arthur Thompson - Bournemouth. Dorset.
Costs in the report - e.g. regulation 5 per cent of GDP - are merely asserted with no proper argument. What would be the cost of no regulation in terms of accidents and increased pollution etc?
Charles Jenkins
The older generation is living on the tales of British empire. It's not coming back. Britain is a small and poxy little island. Mocked by the US. Disliked by Europe. Insignificant to China. On a path to irrelevance as long as the arch Eurosceptics continue to live in the past in a land that time forgot. Any old generation right-wing nut should not be allowed anywhere near foreign policy and should be asked to quietly retire to the suburbs.
Wiseman - London, England
The problem the UK faces is homemade. The main problem of the economy is already alluded to in the article itself: "The butcher, baker doctor, window cleaner, cab driver and public transport are the beating heart of the economy." Except for public transport, this could've been the beating heart of an economy before the industrial revolution and that is why the UK has such severe problems.
The last parts of the industry it still has had to be bought up by foreign companies (Rolls Royce, Bentley, Mini by the Germans, Jaguar and Rover by the Chinese or the US). This worked fine as long as London's banking sector could make money speculating on stock options and paying absurd bonuses, but it is not working anymore now. The reaction are cuts in education and welfare, which takes money away from those who spend every last cent, stimulating the economy - and reduces the future qualified workforce which would earn a lot and hence pay a lot of taxes to finance the country.
As always, when talking about the EU, Spain and Greece are named as proof. Of course this is biased to make the point the author wants to make. Why not name all the countries that have an economy that works much better than in the UK, with lower unemployment and debt : Austria, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands. Interestingly enough, these are also countries that have very developed welfare states, invest a lot in education (which is free and in some cases like Denmark the state actually gives you money to make it easier for you to study), and have a very strong industrial base, the state also investing a lot in research, infrastructure etc.
So if somebody seriously thinks you can get the UK back on track by discouraging higher education, cutting investments in the future and research, then the UK will see a very bleak future. Maybe economists and political leaders should start to look at the democratic nations (not advantaged by a huge population that gives them economic weight) that actually work. That have effectively managed bureaucracy, low corruption, strong industries, and that invest in education, infrastructure (internet, streets, public transportation) and research while at the same time having low unemployment, low poverty and low debt.
Steven Miller - Paris
