Eurosceptic parties 'entering new paradigm'
by Godfrey Bloom
Two years ago a Maltese friend of mine who worked for the European Parliament suggested I form an alliance with other European politicians who did not want a centralised federal state but a looser more trade based arrangement. Back almost to where we were in the 1970s, at least for Great Britain – a free trade agreement. Many countries enjoy this relationship without the spectre of the super state, something perhaps on the lines of the North American Free Trade Agreement. The problem is getting an agreement between parliamentarians of 27 countries. Virtually impossible.
I thought long and hard. I – as a UKIP MEP – am a member of the Europe of Freedom and Democracy group. It is a mildly Eurosceptic alliance, reformist if anything. My boss Nigel Farage is co-leader. Membership of a group of some sort is essential if one is to get speaking time in the hemicycle debates or seats on the committees. It is just a fact of life. Several UKIP members resigned the whip over this matter in recent years; politics makes strange bedfellows and the orthodox Catholic view from our Polish or Italian members upset a homosexual UKIP MEP. Some of our members are very reluctant to form any association at all, least of all a formal one such as we have. I am a pragmatist and am obliged in my view to toe the party line when I wear the UKIP mantle. In short, keep my head down and get on with it.
But we are entering a completely new paradigm – I have been wanting to use that cliché for years, Eurosceptic parties are expected to come back in 2014 in very big numbers indeed. Under a voting system of proportional representation in European countries it is likely they will form governments. Somehow, whether we like it or not we are going to form alliances, moreover we are going to have to sit around a table and work out what sort of Europe we want. Where is the common ground?
My cunning plan was to form an alliance of sceptics within the parliament. The only criterion is agreement with the mission statement, to create a Europe of sovereign states with freely negotiated trade or defence agreements. Not political union, not federalism, not a super state or any other of the mutated baggage and mission creep that has overwhelmed Europe in the last forty years, largely by stealth and certainly against the wishes of most of its citizens. Worse still, it has been to no advantage, with youth unemployment at nearly an average of 38 per cent and debt out of control.
Interestingly several very senior MEPs came forward to test the idea. We formulated the European Alliance for Freedom under the suzerainty of the parliament itself. We all agree the mission statement but almost nothing else. I am a Libertarian neo Austrian economist. I share a glass of wine a few times a year with Marine le Pen, protectionist and socialist. We have almost nothing in common politically, save a desire for self-government – and, of course, rugby football, we are both rugby family people. Yet does that matter? What do my views on abortion, homosexuality, economics or anything else matter? One goal, one aim: a Europe of sovereign states. None of us represent our respective political parties or come with cultural or social baggage, this removed most of the bases for disagreement. Consequently we do not have any.
We are half-way through a two-year trial run; I have taken a back seat and would argue, so far so good. I heard the other day a communist had expressed an interest in joining us. He would be most welcome. After all, as an ex-soldier, I shared a platform on the same side as Sein Fein in Dublin three years ago. Did I say politics made strange bedfellows? I think I did.
Godfrey Bloom is a UKIP MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire in the United Kingdom
Your views on abortion, homosexuality and other subjects do matter as the EU provides legislation covering such areas. Therefore, it is important to know what politicians think on such subjects. I say this as someone who until a a few years ago was an ardent Conservative/UKIP voter, who no longer agrees with anything remotely affiliated with such parties and instead passionately support the EU. I enjoy reading Public Service Europe and I have to wonder why the editors give a platform to people like Mr Bloom
Northener - Northern England
Thanks for the article.
Rob - Bahamas
Many thanks for that Godfrey, a thoughtful piece on what is a really exciting development.
Valentine Smith - Stratford upon Avon UKIP
Well put Godfrey. The old adage of being united against the common enemy is extremely pertinent here.
Noel Matthews - UKIP Cumbria County Chairman
What an excellent article, the very views that made me support UKIP. we shall overcome. Well done Godfrey.
Brian M Webb - Rotherham, England, UKIP
Northerner: " I have to wonder why the editors give a platform to people like Mr Bloom" That's what scares us about you pro-EU types. The European Commission spends billions of taxpayers' money on "communication", which technically is propaganda.
They spent your money campaigning for a 'yes' in Ireland, but EU supporters don't cry foul. In democracy you need debate (preferably not using taxpayers' money to skew the argument). You seem to want to stifle it. That to me perfectly illustrates what is wrong with the EU.
Volneas - UK
Volneas, I hate to point this out but most mainstream UK political parties would not want someone with Mr Bloom's views on climate change, on women's rights or on gay rights as a spokesman. The fact that UKIP is apparently fine with doing precisely that is something we have every right to question.
Much the same applies to Mr Bloom's alliance, given that the other participants include more than a few far right parties like the French National Front, the Austrian Freedom Party and the Flemish Nationalists.
Richard
".Most mainstream UK political parties would not want someone with Mr Bloom's views on climate change, on women's rights or on gay rights as a spokesman. The fact that UKIP is apparently fine with doing precisely that is something we have every right to question."
These are the discredited mainstream parties with collapsing membership? The ones the are widely seen to be unrepresentative of the people? Who show contempt for public opinion, dismissing it as irrational and unijformed? Full of career politicians with a fondness for taxpayers' money?
No name left
Richard- you miss the point of the article. The whole reason for their alliance is not because they agree on everything. They agree on one thing - the main objective is to regain sovereignty for all in the EU nations. Then what they want or believe for example in France will up to the French people democratically. The same in the UK and all other EU nations. Remember the main objective. Self governance - no political union
Mimbly - Colchester
Marine Le Pen is not a 'socialist'. Her party advocates some measures of economic protectionism ie she is a French nationalist. Japan and South Korea have used protectionism in the past so does that make those countries 'socialist'? Of course not. UKIP is just a Thatcherite anti-EU Tory Party in permanent exile.
Steven - Brentwood, Essex
Mimbly, I think you missed the point. Most sane people wouldn't want to find any point of agreement at all with the people Mr Bloom has got so chummy with, particularly not if the only people who agree with you all turn out to be maniacs.
Richard
No name left - that is of course precisely an argument that far-right parties like the BNP themselves invoke. Given that UKIP tend to get quite tetchy when compared to the BNP, it would probably make sense if they would desist from activities like this one that beg precisely that comparison.
Richard
