It's crazy isn't it... they pass "international laws" as if they mattered a tinkers damn. When in practical fact all it takes is the parliament saying "to hell with that, we're outta here". Will the Europeans go to war to hang onto us? Fuck no. What, you think they actually *want* us in the EU? Heh. Britain has consistently been the brake on their commie fun.

I'd like to see 'em try.

But I do think this foolish attempt is splendid news. I rejoice at anything that makes the nature and intent of the EU more clear.

This came up on Airstrip One a few days ago as it appears to form one of the subjects for the plenary sessions at the European Convention. Since British contributions to this are very supportive under Gisela Stuart (? reading from memory) and Andrew Duff, there will be no dissent within the body. Is Heathcote-Amory actually contributing anything?

Isn't it time to pin the spin - that this will be a tidying up of current treaties, ie nothing new - and start demanding a referendum on this issue

Yes these people are traitors and until enough people stand up and resist with more than words, they will continue to sell us to socialist statist Brussels. We do not even have to be supported by the majority, just a dedicated minority. It worked for Sinn Fein and it can work for us. Time to impose a *real* cost on treason.

Does this nitwit really think an "exit clause" would have prevented the American Civil War?

The irony of such a clause is that the states least likely to want to leave the EU are the only ones likely to give it the slightest consideration.

So will it be Polaris that ensures freedom from the Eurobollocks?

A curious thought that a unitary EU would have little or no power to contain some sessionists. I like it.

I say unitary state, by the way, simply because that is what they appear to want. There are no provisions for states rights, that mean anything, as is evident in the US constitutional. The fact that the proverbial sausages and chopping blocks in butchers shops are important to the Eurocrats suggests a fantasy of a single super state as the essence of this business. It smacks of Napoleon and Hitler in the vision but perhaps there are limits to this monster.

Am I wrong about this? You tell me!

The scary bit is the fact that few seem to see the point about the unitary state concept. The selling of a Federation gives a warm fuzzy feeling of Star Treck to it all. There is little substance to the federation idea; the checks and balances of democratic governance are hardly visible. Here in the US the Feds are somewhat over the top at times. At least there is something of a legal system to stop them. But what of Europe?

I trust the right to leave will be there when we need it.

Be very careful that the machinery for a peaceful departure from the union is in place before you go in. We made that mistake in the U.S. and it cost us.