Tuesday, 12 June 2012
A pause for breath? Tuesday 12 June 2012
Just as the pace on the eurocrash slackens slightly, giving an opportunity to look around and see what else is going on, Witterings from Witney offers some thoughts on our Harrogate Conference, to be held at the Old Swan Hotel on 14 July.
When first mooted, says WfW, the idea was to formulate a "set of demands" as a catalyst to bringing about the change that this country needs in the system of democracy under which we live.
But, due to the fast changing events with regard to "matters EU", he says, it is reasonable to suggest that perhaps "while the issuance of demands may be an initial step, that in itself will not be sufficient to achieve the required democratic change that is so needed in our nation".
To an extent, WfW is right, but then the idea of framing a mere six demands in the manner of the Chartists was never going to be enough, nor address all the problems with which we are confronted. This always was to be considered be a initial step. Then, like Oliver Twist, we come back for more.
The concerns, nevertheless, are real and well meant, and a problem is going to come if the prospect of an EU referendum becomes a reality, and we are forced to fight a campaign.
Here, the thought occurs that, if we have an in/out referendum, there will be public funding for the opposing campaigns. In the natural order of things, one might have expected Open Europe - as the successor to Business for Sterling, which would have fronted a euro referendum – to take on the "no" campaign.
However, since Open Europe has run down its false flag, and broken out its true colours, that position is now vacant. A new organisation will be needed, which will be able to mount a campaign for an exit vote if the opportunity is afforded.
One of the aims of the Harrogate conference, therefore, will be to set in motion a process by which a formal, legal organisation can be created, with a set of directors and officials, in order to facilitate the mounting of campaigns and other activities.
In the grander scheme of things, our membership of the EU is a downstream problem – it is a symptom of a deeper malaise in our body politic. We have to fix the disease, whence the symptoms will be resolved as a matter of course.
If the "colleagues" force the pace though, we have to respond. It makes no sense to sit back and let others take up the challenge. We have to be in there fighting.
So, while the Harrogate Conference agenda stands, that indeed becomes the initial step. And, much as I hate mindless clichés, it is inescapably the case that every journey starts with a single step.
Richard North 12/06/2012
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