Comments on: Vote on Europe: The parties Debate

By: anon

anon — Thu, 28 May 2009 22:59:33 +0000

Ralph, what you have done is noble and honest, even if it was a school boy error as far as your party membership is concerned.

By: Sound and Fury

Sound and Fury — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:23:55 +0000

Well done Mr Buckle for taking a stand, and shame on the Tory leaders who are afraid to become properly Eurosceptic.
If the Tory leaders really shared the grassroots’ view on Europe, they’d join the IND/DEM grouping in the European Parliament, until such time as they can get us out of the EU altogether.

By: John B

John B — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:21:48 +0000

Ralph, I favour none of the choices really, Daniel Hannan is a one man publicity machine, just for his own purpose not the party. My own personal opinion is, we should be working with Europe, but not controlled by them.

UKIP, well I just don’t like Nigel Farage, one of their party MEP’s in our region collects his salary from Europe but does not attend as he does not believe in Europe, is that not as bad as the current MP expenses crisis?

I do not think it was right to expell you and I am so unclear still which way to cast my vote?

By: Henry North London

Henry North London — Wed, 27 May 2009 14:35:11 +0000

I suggest Ralph that you look at the LPUK for your future

Libertarian Party of the UK http://www.lpuk.org We will welcome you with open arms. Come read our manifesto at http://lpuk.org/pages/manifesto.php

By: Anon Yorkie

Anon Yorkie — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:25:09 +0000

Ralph, you did the right thing and you should be proud to have been expelled over this issue. If you had just resigned as Mrs Dale suggested, then nobody outside York would have noticed. Instead, you’ve drawn attention to the issue, which is great. Far better to stand against something than just toe the Party line like one of the other chaps on this page; someone who will never resign or be expelled over any issue since the Party is always right.

By: Anon

Anon — Wed, 27 May 2009 10:43:42 +0000

Here’s a video of Fraser Nelson from the Spectator and the News of the World about why it is not inconsistent for Tories to vote UKIP in the EU election:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlCJEfB5Juw

By: Anon

Anon — Wed, 27 May 2009 10:21:54 +0000

Such a shame. Voting UKIP in the EU elections is the only way of showing Cameron (an opportunist) that there more votes for leaving the EU than there are for staying.

By: A. Politician

A. Politician — Tue, 26 May 2009 15:51:32 +0000

Got linked here by Iain Dale’s blog – and once again this little incident shows just how awkward the issue of Europe is for the Tories – even on a small scale.

David – I’m not sure what you mean by saying Labour have the best chance of beating the BNP. It’s a proportional system, so there’s no two-horse race between fascists and non-fascists. A vote for Lib Dems, UKIP, Tories or Greens is also a perfectly adequate vote against the BNP. And based on the disgraceful behaviour of Labour MPs and Tory MPs, i can see UKIP being the real challenge to the BNP for that 10% needed to gain the last seat.

Shame really. We need Europe more than ever, but a democratic Europe that can be effective and proactive in major international affairs, not just a gravy train for failed MPs.

For a strong pro-European voice, vote lib dem, they’d offer a referendum on membership of the EU altogether to make sure the argument’s settled once and for all.

For a strong anti European voice, vote UKIP. They’d pull us out altogether.

Labour have lied about the contents of a constitutional document, denied us a promised referendum and are afraid of the Europe issue because it divides the party. Similarly the Tories were torn apart by Europe and can’t let it happen again, so don’t know what to think. Their exit from EPP-ED to form a right wing coalition is also a pretty daft move. Confusion all round from the big 2.

By: Harry

Harry — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:58:49 +0000

Well Ralph, now that you have been booted out your own Party, it’s easy enough to see who grassed you up to Iain Dale’s Diary and the like.

Great to see that Gawain is with you there in the new consensus of the anti-EU right – until of course there is the chance to give each other a kicking.

But then you know so little about the EU and the EP that you can, with a presumably straight face, type “even if the parliament did have important decisions to make, UK MEPs make up less than 10% of the chamber, making changing anything incredibly difficult.”

Anyone who cannot ubnderstand a political system operating along something other than purely national grounds probably shouldn’t have had your job to start with.

By: John

John — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:53:05 +0000

I hear you have been expelled from the party for this article. Quite right too. You have done a complete dis-service to all of the party members and volunteers who work hard for the party.

Not all will agree with all party policies, but the party is a broad church.

You cannot hold a position in the party and ask people to vote for others.

You should remain outside of the party until such point when you have proved your maturity as an adult.
You can start by apologising to party members for a complete disdain for their own time and efforts in their own service to the party.

By: Ralph Buckle

Ralph Buckle — Thu, 14 May 2009 12:29:57 +0000

Thanks Gawain.

My personal intention is not conflicted. As I say I shall vote UKIP.
I leave it open however as I recognise that some people would prefer to send the message that a new government is required in Westminster while others (including myself) think a “better off out” message is a more pressing issue or at least a message that is more likely to make a difference.

As I see it:
1) a vote for labour is a vote for broken promises, inconsistencies and lack of accountability

2)A vote for the Lib Dems is a vote for confusion, lies and forgetting Nick Clegg’s broken referendum promises.

3)A vote for the BNP is a vote for hatred and incompetence

This leaves UKIP and the Tories as the only viable options.

Good luck in your election and the Derramore is far superior to the Charles.

By: Gawain Towler

Gawain Towler — Wed, 13 May 2009 16:14:49 +0000

Glad to see that Nouse is taking an interest in the Euros, and amused to see that the current incumbent in the Tories is slightly conflicted in his voting intention., I was Chairman of York Tories way back in 1992 when the Maastricht Treaty was ratified, and my attitude then as now has been that we must finally withdraw from the EU. To that end I am now fighting this election as a UKIP candiadte in the South West, and have been working as their press officer in Brussels for the past few years.

In the end it is just about whether we can sack those who have power over our lives. Currently, while we remain in the European Union we cannot.

Whatever, hoping that Hes and the Charles are still well.