Tim Worstall In a move that has astounded British MEPs, Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the EC, announced that the levy could halve European Union members’ contributions. Mr Barroso has proposed that countries keep a third of the proceeds of the levy themselves and give two-thirds of it to Brussels. Europe’s budget would become “self  [ Read More ]

Michael Allen As I watched the New Year’s celebrations from cities around the world being broadcast on the BBC, I felt a strange sadness, sensing that 2012 would be a year of increasing isolation for Britain. During a time when the importance of ‘Britishness’ is in headlong decline, and when national interests are becoming ever  [ Read More ]

Samuel Walker It’s a familiar story; the 99% are drowning in debt, they have no jobs, they’re on the brink of financial collapse and their only hope is to balance their books by taxing, stealing or begging the money off the banks. The 1% has listened attentively to what the 99% have to say, and  [ Read More ]

John Redwood The UK has no need to fear Germany. The UK has no need to be impolite to Germany. The UK should resist the temptation to lecture Germany on how to lead the Euro zone. There are unwelcome signs that the UK/EU relationship is becoming strained. The Coalition government seems nervous about the impact  [ Read More ]

People’s Pledge How long will Tory re-negotiationists now give their ‘campaign’ of wrestling back powers from Brussels before they accept that the real choice is in or out of the EU? 1 year, 10 years, 100 years? A senior British government source has told the Daily Telegraph that there will be no repatriation of powers  [ Read More ]

James Manwaring A friend recently forwarded me an article in the Telegraph, which informs us that the EU has banned the claim that water can prevent dehydration. It seems the barmy EU is at it again. The two other papers to pick it up on the story were, of course, the Mail and the Express.  [ Read More ]

John Redwood Don’t expect the euphoria over a new Italian government to last long. There is no need to share it. The markets enjoyed a relief rally on news of a new government forming in Italy. The European establishment is behind Mr Monti, so we should expect the ECB and the spin machine to try  [ Read More ]

Tim Worstall Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, has warned Mr Cameron that unless he accepts unconditional changes to the Lisbon Treaty a split will take place, leaving Britain isolated and in a voting minority within the EU. “She explicitly told Cameron that if there was no treaty change at the level of the 27 EU  [ Read More ]