Daniel Hannan admits changed mood ahead of Lisbon referendum

The irreconcilable UK anti-EU crusader Daniel Hannan admits that the mood in Ireland has changed ahead of the Lisbon 2009 referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

Hannan even conjectures on the reasons.

He only misses the most obvious causes for the latest reliable opinion polls:

The Irish voters are more knowledgeable because of information efforts and a longer debate. They are less confused by misleading assertions by No campaigners, because of clarifying guarantees and assurances by Ireland’s European partners. They realise that they are better off within the Eurozone and with the support of the European Central Bank, than outside on their own. They trust the business leaders, economists, academics, trade unionists and farmers’ leaders who believe that the Lisbon Treaty is in the best interests of Ireland. They comprehend that their country can make friends and influence people by participating fully in the European Union, rather than by rejecting the amending treaty.

The Irish may even see why Conservative English politicians are so keen for them to wreck the Lisbon Treaty.


Ralf Grahn

A constructive Britain in the EU?

A constructive Britain in the European Union would be a great asset, but this is not about to happen. Read the opinions on Conservative Home to get an inkling of Tory solidarity with the UK’s European partners.



Read the latest interview with Conservative foreign policy spokesman William Hague, who rejects European integration and the Lisbon Treaty, but wants Britain to stay on the inside of the European Union.



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With a Conservative government, Britain’s engagement in Europe is about to turn from bad to worse.

The UK destroying the Lisbon Treaty while remaining in the European Union would be the worst outcome for the other EU states.

Hague’s disregard for Britain’s European partners is perverse: Causing maximal damage.

If the United Kingdom feels ill at ease in an evolving European Union, it should secede. It can arrange its trade links through the European Economic Area (like Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), or bilaterally (as Switzerland). The only defensible referendum is on the basic question: In or Out?


Ralf Grahn

Will UK Labour return EU Conservatives to power?

A few days ago we read the following headline on EurActiv: Will UK Tories return EU Socialists to power?

In a great show of sportsmanship Gordon Brown has now evened the odds: Will UK Labour return EU Conservatives to power?

As far as I know, Brown is now the third PES (Party of European Socialists) affiliated prime minister to endorse a new five year term for José Manuel Barroso at the head of the Commission.

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What can I say?

I feel really sorry for the PES activists who spent time and energy debating the 2009 election manifesto.

Why should nearly 400 million Europeans vote if totally ignored ─ in advance ─ by an electoral college of 27?

Why should European taxpayers finance political parties at European level and their foundations to the tune of 18 million euros a year, if the choice of candidates for the top spot is as abundant as in North Korea?

Ralf Grahn