WHY STUART WHEELER SHOULD BE LISTENED TO..
Friday, September 19, 2008 at 10:13PM Well, far be it for me to take issue with Iain Dale, but, I think Iain's brand of caffe latte conservatism will lead this country nowhere and this is evident in his criticism of millionaire Suart Wheeler.
Wheeler, who has given £££Millions to the Tories hasl urged people not to vote for the Conservatives in the
European elections next June unless David Cameron commits to two
pledges in his party's manifesto. The two pledges he says the Conservatives must make are; .
A promise that if the Lisbon Treaty is not law when they come to power,
they will hold a referendum on whether to withdraw UK ratification. 2.
A promise that if the Lisbon Treaty is law when they come to power,
there will be an immediate, massive renegotiation of the UK's
relationship with the EU. If the UK did not get what it wants, the UK
should pull out of the Union altogether.
Very sensible suggestions but suggestions that Iain is unhappy with since they would involve genuine principle and THAT is an alien concept to the Cameronians. In essence Cameron and his cronies seek to replicate the Blair project - froth and bubble, no substance.
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Reader Comments (16)
Dale says if people don't vote Conservative it will mean more Europhile MEPs.He seems to forget there's always UKIP to vote for.That party's policy on Europe is the correct one. Get out of it now,we can survive without it!
Vote UKIP? A single issue party. What are you on?
A very important issue.Britain's national sovereignty under threat.The Conservatives can't even be depended upon to stand up for Britain's interests. Better one single principled issue than a load of wishy washy issues.
I'm certainly not enthused by David Cameron's so called brand of Conservatism.It certainly won't set the world alight. We need a Sarah Palin here to show them.
I've just read the link and agree with Dale, pulling out of the EU like that belongs to another era. I was listening to Tony Blair today on sky news, speaking about his new role, and he talked of globalisation, and how people are pulled together because of it. Britain will not benefit by a total pullout if she doesn't get what she wants. The world has moved on since Thatchers time.
Dale's right, urging people not to vote conservative will only have the effect of more Europhile MP's. He's right about wheeler too, and I've read nothing either here or in the comments on his blog that would put down his argument.
When someone (Dale) is right, why argue.
Yes - the EU Human Rights charter is such a gift, and the EU immigration policy such a blessing. Of course Iain is right...vote Conservative get NuLabour.
As it happens, UKIP are not a single issue party. We are producing/have produced a whole raft of policies - which centre largely around small government, low taxation etc - but it is far from being knee jerk right wing 'rich giveaway' stuff. Do I agree with all of the policies? Nope. Do I agree with most of them? Yup. So they knock other parties' policies into a cocked hat? Yup.
@ Gosh! Of course globalisation pulls people together, it's called free trade and we've had it for centuries! UKIP believe in free trade, in particular with Commonwealth countries. The EU does not believe in free trade. UKIP want to get out of the EU and back into the free world. Or can you remind me why Iceland, Norway and Switzerland are so bitterly poor, undemocratic and backward?
Good points Mark - the EU brings us down and we should get out but the gutless Tories lack the desire to do what is right.
Iain is right,
First...
1. A promise that if the Lisbon Treaty is not law when they come to power, they will hold a referendum on whether to withdraw UK ratification.
Wheeler must know that the first one is already Conservative Party policy,
Secondly..
2. A promise that if the Lisbon Treaty is law when they come to power, there will be an immediate, massive renegotiation of the UK's relationship with the EU.
Lastly..
If the UK did not get what it wants, the UK should pull out of the Union altogether
He must also know that the Party will not commit to pulling out in the way that he suggests. So what he has done is create a self fulfilling prophesy. The effect of people not voting Conservative in the Euro elections would mean the election of more Europhile MPs.
Show where he got it wrong?
We are producing/have produced a whole raft of policies -
Yeah I know..zzzz, UKIP will most likely never be able to shed the single issue mantle.
oops that didn't turn out right. Theres a line missing.... however on all 3 points Dale is correct. Wheeler knows party policy, and suggesting a pull out if the UK doesn't get its way is infantile.
Mark I'm not arguing with you over Europe, my beef is with the criticism of Dale in his criticism of wheeler. Wheelers suggestions only differ from conservative policy on the pull out in the way Wheeler suggests. In all of it Dale is correct, so why argue unless you can show he is wrong on these counts.
As to UKUP... success for them is a far off dream. The conservatives will get in at the election next time round with or without Wheelers endorsement.
Since 50% of the UK population are women, I have an inkling it is this proportion that rather likes the comely Mr. Farage, and therefore UKIP.
Otherwise what explains the high profile of UKIP in the media, but low support in the local elections?
Answer: more men vote than women.
...I might add that this is why UKIP trail behind the BNP in ALL by-elections: Men find a certain appeal in Griffin, whereas women find nothing to like very much.
I was pointing out that Wheeler describes himself as a Tory donor, yet hasnt given any money for 5 years, and that it is outrageous for him, as a supposed leading Conservative, to urge people to vote for a different party. Under the party rules, he could be thrown out for that, I think.
UKIP is nothing less than a vent set up by the leftist establishment to allow a little, harmless release of hot air. Their MEPs are as greedy and grasping as the rest of the LibLabCon clique, and they're not even anti-EU: they are actually talking about 're-negotiating' the terms of Britain's imprisonment in the EU.
For anyone who wants out of the EU, there is only one way to do it, and that is to support the BNP.
In reference to renegotiating our relationship with Europe I am at a loss to understand why everyone thinks that this is possible, given that all the Treaties since 1972 have all been passed by government and given the Royal Assent. Therefore as this path is not even an option, what are you going to do then?
Worse Case Scenario
Britain is granted a Referendum by the Conservatives to repeal the Lisbon Treaty and it receives a (say) 75% acceptance to reapel. Fine, Lisbon Treaty repealed, but Europe tries to do to the Brits what they are doing to the Irish, who have said NO by a vast majority; have another Referendum and make them say yes next time! Therefore Lisbon back on the Agenda. What do we do then?
Prior to the Lisbon Treaty we have already lost much of our self-governance by the passing many other treaties. In fact Lisbon / (Constitution?) is the last nail in the coffin of Britain being able to govern itself, therefore it must be stopped at all costs; a country must have the ability to control the way it is governed by electing its representatives who then govern by the 'will of the people'. This is the only way democracy can work - not by unelected bureaucrats in another country who do not even speak the same language!
Oh, and whilst writing, those of you who are very disparaging about UKIP need to know that although our main Policy is withdrawing from the European Union we also have a host of other very good policies. If you would care to look up our Website, which is UKIP.org and refer to the Manifesto.
I acknowledge that UKIP has had internal problems in the past but no more than any other Party (played out for all to see at Westminster) so please see what is on offer before condeming us so brutally.