Thank you to Tina Brooker for submitting this article
I am not sure what is meant by those who say that the party should return to something called “One Nation Conservatism”. As far as I can tell by their views on European Federalism, such people’s creed would be better described as “No Nation Conservatism”.
The activity of the European Court, which can only ultimately be checked by amending the European Communities Act itself, is increasingly undermining our judicial system and the Sovereignty of our Parliament.
Proposals are being made for common European defence – proposals which Michael Portillo has roundly and rightly attacked. They too are a threat to national independence. But most important, of course, is the proposed single European currency which, as John Redwood has argued, “would be a major step on the way to a single European nation”.
The Prime Minister will have the support of all of us who wish to see these dangerous and damaging proposals resisted, and the present trends reversed, as he argues Britain’s case at the forthcoming intergovernmental council and we look forward to a successful outcome. But vital as the issue of self-government is, it is limited government that concerns me today. For the European Union not only wishes to take away our powers; it wishes to increase its own. It wants to regulate our industries and labour markets, pontificate over our tastes, in short, to determine our lives.
The Maastricht Treaty, which established a common European citizenship and greatly expanded the remit of the European Commission, shows the outlines of the bureaucratic superstate which is envisaged and Maastricht is the beginning, NOT the end of that process. Indeed, we are increasingly seeing the emergence of a whole new international political class. Some of them are politicians who have failed in their own countries, and so have tried their luck overseas. Some are officials who understand nothing of our British distinction between the legitimate powers of the elected and those of the unelected.
Almost 50 years ago, the Conservative journalist, Colm Brogan, wrote an incisive critique of the post-war Labour Government with its arrogant bossiness and intrusive cackhandedness. He called it Our New Masters. The title is equally appropriate to the “new European masters” and it is no surprise to me as someone who always recognised the Socialist destination of this Euro federalist dream – that now the Labour Party welcomes it all so warmly. What they can’t achieve in an independent, free enterprise Britain, they can hope to secure in a Euro federalist Britain whose people’s instincts are ignored and whose Parliamentary institutions are over-ridden.
Self Government, limited government, our laws, our Parliament, our freedom. These things were not easily won and if we Conservatives explain they are now in peril, they will not be lightly surrendered.
In The Reeds of Runnymede, celebrating the signing of Magna Carta, Rudyard Kipling puts it like this:
“At Runnymede, at Runnymede, oh, hear the reeds at Runnymede: You mustn’t sell, delay deny, a freeman’s right or liberty. It wakes the stubborn Englishry. We saw ’em roused at Runnymede!…And still when Mob or Monarch lays too rude a hand on English ways, the whisper wakes, the shudder plays, across the reeds at Runnymede. And Thames, that knows the mood of kings, and crowds and priests and suchlike things, rolls deep and dreadful as he brings their warning down from Runnymede!”
Conclusion
Boris is standing under the banner of One Nation Conservatism which as Margaret Thatcher’s so eloquently illustrated have a favourable view on European Federalism.
This to my mind is borne out by the EU Surrender Treaty which he is so quickly rushing through the Commons much to the delight of the EU hierarchy!
Mrs Thatcher’s warning comes from beyond the grave – I urge the British people to heed her warning before it is too late.
You Can watch the video of Mrs Thatcher by clicking here now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDsZR4YQK4U
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