The Cross of StGeorge Blog

More huffing and puffing amongst the Scots in Scotland and elsewhere . . .

Sun, 11 May 2008 18:55:44 +0100

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This week has seen yet another frenzy amongst Scots in Scotland about a referendum on Scotland's independence sparked off when Scottish Labour Party Leader, Wendy Alexander, challenged the ever 'threatening' [or is it 'promising'] SNP First Minister in Scotland, Alec Salmond, to 'bring it on'!

The frenzy travelled to England and manifested itself in Westminster during PM's Questions when fellow Scot, David Cameron, converted Mrs Alexander's challenge into a Labour Party proposal and asked the Scottish Prime Minister of Britain, Gordon Brown,

to be continued . . .

Parliament's refusal to hold EU referendum subject to Judicial Review!

Fri, 02 May 2008 15:04:09 +0100

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The Tory multi millionaire, Stuart Wheeler, has had his application upheld in the High Court for a Judicial Review of Parliament's refusal to hold a referendum on the question of the UK's adoption of the Lisbon Treaty.

Mr Wheeler said voters had a
"legitimate expectation" of a vote

In their respective manifestos for the 2005 General Election, all three major parties promised a referendum on the issue. Many of us believe that the failure of the Labour Government, aided and abetted by Liberal Democrat MPs, to conduct such a referendum is a major breach of faith between political parties and the electorate.

As can be expected, Government spokesmen are obfuscating this matter with irrelevant statements. For example, Philip Sales QC for the office of the prime minister, said the claim was "misconceived" as a ratification of an international treaty was not open to challenge in the High Court and would breach Parliamentary privilege. This, of course, is entirely beside the point which is that Parliament has not consulted voters before exercising its power of "ratification"!

Why should voters expect better from a QC? After all, we were governed for over ten years by a barrister whose relationship with the truth was too often very tenuous to say the least!

The Judicial Review will not concern itself with the legality of Parliament's power to ratify, but about the manner in which it has chosen to do it! In a time of increasing voter abstentions and consequent crocodile tears from MPs professing concern about widespread lack of engagement by voters, it ill behoves Parliamentarians to prevent voters from recording collective opinions on their proposed actions, especially when this has been promised! The only conclusion to be drawn is that they simply do not want to hear what voters have to say about a particular issue before pressing ahead to inflict decisions on Great Britain's citizens.

Parliament has behaved shamefully, dishonourably, undemocratically and unacceptably! In a more volatile country, considerable civil unrest would have ensued at this arrogant, cavalier and insoucient treatment by Parliament of its electors.

Those presiding in Westminster should never forget that the best government is accompanied by the widespread consent of those governed. In this case, the reverse applies, unfortunately. Hopefully, Mr Wheeler by use of our independent court system will throw much needed light on this shabby event. So much for the monolithic and undemocratic EU and all that is associated with it!

Court challenge to EU referendum

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English Democrats in for the long haul!

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:54:37 +0100

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English party plays the long game

The English Democrats are hoping for a win on the London Assembly to send a message that "the time for ignoring English interests" is over.

English Democrats held a St George's Day
protest in Parliament Square

Chairman Robin Tilbrook said, despite the surprise exit of mayoral candidate Matt O'Connor last week, the party was getting good feedback from voters.

The party is standing a full slate of candidates in London and about 50 across the rest of England.

It hopes to take a step towards being a "fully effective" national party.

The party has 23 candidates standing in London, including all the constituency seats but it is the London-wide list, elected by a form of proportional representation, that offers its best shot at winning a seat.

'Awfully sad'

The English Democrats chose a mayoral candidate, Matt O'Connor, only to have him pull out last week - saying he had fallen out with the leadership over campaign funding and tactics.

But Mr Tilbrook said the party had only stood a candidate because it guaranteed a level of media coverage it would not otherwise have achieved.

"I think it's awfully sad for us and our candidates and all the effort that's been put into this," said Mr Tilbrook.

"It's also sad, let's face it, for all the people on the postal ballots who may have already voted for him. It's also sad for him because I think he's made a fool of himself really."

Despite that, Mr Tilbrook said the party had received "a lot of positive feedback" during its campaign - which has included canvassing high streets across London, leafleting and a St George's Day demonstration in Parliament Square, complete with "cavalcade" of scores of black cabs.

"The campaign goes on. As far as we are concerned the London campaign was only part of the general effort.

"It's not an end in itself. It's a step in the direction of building the English Democrats into a fully effective national party and giving voice to English national identity issues."

And, while the party's call for an English Parliament may not be, strictly speaking, an issue for the London Assembly - that has not stopped people asking for leaflets.

"The position of London Assembly member is basically either a yes man - which would be the case for the main parties - or it's a campaigning position and obviously getting an English Democrat elected as London Assembly member, would be a great launch pad in terms of campaigning about English issues," said Mr Tilbrook.

For him it has been an opportunity to get the relatively new party's message across.

The English Democrats, established in 2002, which aim to field 106 candidates in parliamentary seats in the next general election.

English party plays the long game

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Heffer and Dale on England

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:09:48 +0100

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Eric Heffer and Iain Dale on England

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London Mayoral Election 2008 - EDP Press Release

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:16:57 +0100

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Matt O'Connor's shock resignation as London Mayoral Candidate

Robin Tilbrook, the Chairman of the English Democrats said:- "I am obviously very disappointed that Matt O'Connor has issued this statement but I have to admit, not entirely surprised. What I now say is in sorrow, because Matt has done the cause some good but, contrary to what he now claims, Matt approached the English Democrats Party to be our mayoral candidate. In January he came to our National Council meeting in Leicester to urge us to select him and promised to "give the campaign 110%"!

During several discussions, he was made fully aware of the problems confronting a candidate for a smaller political party which is challenging the Establishment Parties - not least the problem of raising sufficient funds to fight an election campaign especially given the lack of coverage of non Establishment candidates.

Within the bounds of our limited manpower and financial resources, Matt has been given 100% support by the English Democrats and our members who have campaigned for him, and England's cause, day in day out for many weeks and who have paid for everything that has been done. At no time has any funds been received from Matt.

Unfortunately - and this is not a subject I would have wanted to air publicly had it not been for the statement released by Matt O'Connor this morning seeking to blame us - it became apparent that there were problems with Matt's candidacy arising from his own personal problems, not least following his disappearance from the campaign for several days, to the extent that I advised him to seek professional counselling regarding alcohol abuse, which he did. Matt did not disclose this problem to us when he urged us to select him as our candidate.

Despite this counselling, Matt again went missing last Saturday; - neither his office nor his partner seemed to know of his whereabouts and he could not be contacted at home. Indeed the Party prepared a statement last night raising concerns at his disappearance, as we were becoming genuinely worried for his safety.

Now, he has stated that he has resigned, although he cannot, of course, at this late stage, remove his name from the ballot paper.

This is all a great pity for Matt personally - he obviously has personal issues that he needs to address - but it also a pity for English Democrats' candidates standing for the London Assembly - of which we have a full slate. Their campaign is running well and we have great hopes of getting a candidate elected, particularly on the party list, to campaign against the Establishment's discrimination against London and England. The campaign for fair spending for London, an end to the Tartan Taxes, and real democracy and freedom of speech, will go on.

So I urge the people of London to give their vote, particularly their list vote, to the English Democrats. England's cause is far bigger and more important than any one individual!"

Robin Tilbrook

Chairman

English Democrats Party

Quires Green, Willingale, Ongar, Essex, CM5 0QP

Tel: 01277 896000

Fax: 01277 896050

Mobile : 07778 553395

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The English Claim of Right

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:40:13 +0100

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"We do hereby acknowledge the sovereign right of the English people to determine the form of Government best suited to their needs.

We call for the holding of a national English Constitutional Convention to determine the way forward for a revised constitutional settlement for England.

We declare and pledge that in all our actions and deliberations the interests of the English people shall be paramount.

We further declare and pledge that our actions and deliberations shall be directed to the following ends:

To assert the right of the English people to live in a sovereign nation state of England, free of foreign control;

To agree a scheme for a Parliament for England;

To mobilise English opinion and ensure the approval of the English people for that scheme;

To assert the right of the English people to secure the implementation of that scheme."

Click here to sign up:

The English Claim of Right

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A Happy St George's Day to all!

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:36:06 +0100

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As proud English people, we wish all in England a happy St George's Day
on a day which also marks both the birth and death of William Shakespeare one of many illustrious figures in English history.

SHAKESPEARE'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
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Malign Microsoft?

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:53:17 +0100

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Campaign for an English Parliament ~ announcement

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 13:57:39 +0100

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As I see it

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:41:36 +0100

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As I see it, Messrs Brown and Darling have knowingly set out to increase the tax burden on those with low incomes. Their abolition of the 10% tax rate in 2008-09 will result in an additional £232.00 tax liability for each taxpayer by the application of the new 20% Standard Rate of tax to the amount of income previously taxed at 10% (ie £2,320 @ 10%).

In radio interviews, Government spokesmen maintain that it is necessary to abolish the lower tax band as part of the policy to 'simplify tax'. To hear these 'experts', one might be forgiven for concluding that Income Tax legislation would be immensely complicated were they to try to remove the impact of this measure.

Not a bit of it! All that is necessary is to increase Personal Allowances by £1,160 to remove the burden created by abolishing the 10% tax rate.

Now ask yourself: Is it by accident or design that HM Government has chosen to increase this tax on those with low incomes? Is it due to incompetence or ill-will? I leave it for you to decide.

Come to think of it, why is anyone with an income of £15,000pa or less paying any Income Tax at all?

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