SO YOU THINK THE EU IS DEMOCRATIC? WATCH THIS VIDEO!

Since writing the headline and posting the video on Saturday there has been a dramatic development. The Greek Prime Minister has called for a referendum of the Greek people to approve or otherwise the bailout conditions. So a little bit of democracy finally comes to a little bit of the EU.

However the Greek PM is getting serious grief from the other eurozone leaders for putting the matter to the people. It is a fact that the delay until the referendum result is known will create a great deal of uncertainty and events in the market may well overtake the referendum. And it does seem that he has sprung this referendum without telling the other leaders about it first. However, given the choice - either year, after year, after year of austerity and mass unemployment or the really short sharp pain of a default, leaving the euro with the massive devaluation of a new greek currency but the chance to rise again like Argentina (8% growth for a number of years post the default and devaluation) - the odds must be on the greek people choosing the latter.

Where will that leave the people of Ireland and Portugal who retain 100% of their debt burden, the yoke of the euro and years of austerity? That's the trillion euro question.

Update 3/11/2011 Referendum called off. Less than 24 hours after the Greek PM was called by his masters to meet them at the G20 Cannes, he has called off the referendum. The people again denied their say in EU matters. The Franco-German axis crushes Greek democracy.

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.