WHIPPING BOYS (AND GIRLS)

As someone who believes strongly in the freedom of the individual one of the very first questions I asked my party before standing as a district councillor was "Do you have '3 line whips' at council meetings like they do at Westminster?". I found it very comforting to be told that councillors could vote according to their conscience although as a matter of good manners they should inform the leader if they are going to vote against a group recommendation. At the very first group meeting after the election this was reiterated. How very civilised and what a contrast to the situation at Westminster where the backbencher EU debate arising from the e-petition is being subject to a 3-line whip by all the major parties.

David Cameron has tried to defuse the situation with his own backbenchers by suggesting that treaty changes arising from the failed euro project could lead to some renegotiation and the return of some of Brussels powers back to Westminster. Well that would be a first in forty years! But Cameron's hands are tied being part of a coalition. To quote today's London Evening Standard website:-

"...he [Cameron] was immediately plunged into a furious public row with his Liberal Democrat coalition partners who do not support the repatriation of powers from Brussels."

The LibDems continue to be enraptured by the EU despite the euro project leading to rioting on the streets in southern Europe, frighteningly high levels of unemployment, stagnation, inflation and Berlin dictating economic policy to other 'sovereign' countries. Two things the EU certainly isn't - liberal and democratic!

Meanwhile, if you are still unclear of where I stand in regards to holding a EU referendum perhaps this photograph will clear things up!

I attended a Referendum demonstration at Westminster several years ago. I was handed this placard. I actually brought it home with me, as a sounvenir, on first the Tube and then the overground line to Ipswich. I felt rather self-conscious but proud.

At some stage in this country's future I truly believe they will erect statues to the freedom fighters against this evil EU Empire.

POSTSCRIPT : 111 heroes. 101 from across all three UK main parties, 9 from Ulster and 1 watermelon (green on the outside, red on the inside). No one representing Suffolk though.