Meddling Prescott will wipe England off the map
Phitch | 31.12.2003 17:20
ohn Prescott's sinister plan to cut England up into invented regions is a grave danger to what is left of our freedom.
Meddling Prescott will wipe England off the map
ohn Prescott's sinister plan to cut England up into invented regions is a grave danger to what is left of our freedom.
Prescott plays cleverly on his resemblance to the comedian Les Dawson, but there is really nothing funny at all about this hardline, anti-British militant, or about his scheme.
These regions are actually part of the European Union's long-term project to wipe England off the face of the Earth.
For many years, the European Parliament published a map of the EU which showed artificial Balkan statelets but did not acknowledge the existence of the oldest sovereign nation in Europe.
Only after protests did they finally, grudgingly allow the word 'England' to appear in tiny type.
It is a worthless concession. Makers of English wine have now been told by the EU that it is illegal to sell it as such, since England officially doesn't exist any more, just the UK, split into regions.
But I don't live in a region. I live in an ancient city, in one of the historic counties of England. I remember when the borders of that county were still, as they had been for centuries, marked by hills and rivers, defined by dialect and landscape and history.
This was back when my city was a county borough, which ran all the services within its boundaries well and cheaply.
In those days the police were local too. Chief Constables could not hide away in remote regional headquarters.
They had to deal with a council which was itself elected by people who knew its members and could chuck them out. Looking back, I wonder if the 'reforms' of local government in 1974, and the police mergers made at about the same time, weren't among the biggest blows to our freedom and self-government.
Yet they went through largely because people dismiss such matters as 'boring'. Now I fear the same silly belief that such things are tedious will allow Mr Prescott to get his regions.
If he does, these new, remote bodies will be encouraged to deal direct with Brussels and bypass what remains of the Government in London, which will gradually be drained of all power and authority.
And if anyone complains about how the schools are still rotten, the roads are potholed and the rubbish is not being collected, they will be told - if they can find their councillor at all - that there is nothing anyone can do because it was all decided in Belgium and their 'region' is merely following regulations.
Why would anyone want this?
ohn Prescott's sinister plan to cut England up into invented regions is a grave danger to what is left of our freedom.
Prescott plays cleverly on his resemblance to the comedian Les Dawson, but there is really nothing funny at all about this hardline, anti-British militant, or about his scheme.
These regions are actually part of the European Union's long-term project to wipe England off the face of the Earth.
For many years, the European Parliament published a map of the EU which showed artificial Balkan statelets but did not acknowledge the existence of the oldest sovereign nation in Europe.
Only after protests did they finally, grudgingly allow the word 'England' to appear in tiny type.
It is a worthless concession. Makers of English wine have now been told by the EU that it is illegal to sell it as such, since England officially doesn't exist any more, just the UK, split into regions.
But I don't live in a region. I live in an ancient city, in one of the historic counties of England. I remember when the borders of that county were still, as they had been for centuries, marked by hills and rivers, defined by dialect and landscape and history.
This was back when my city was a county borough, which ran all the services within its boundaries well and cheaply.
In those days the police were local too. Chief Constables could not hide away in remote regional headquarters.
They had to deal with a council which was itself elected by people who knew its members and could chuck them out. Looking back, I wonder if the 'reforms' of local government in 1974, and the police mergers made at about the same time, weren't among the biggest blows to our freedom and self-government.
Yet they went through largely because people dismiss such matters as 'boring'. Now I fear the same silly belief that such things are tedious will allow Mr Prescott to get his regions.
If he does, these new, remote bodies will be encouraged to deal direct with Brussels and bypass what remains of the Government in London, which will gradually be drained of all power and authority.
And if anyone complains about how the schools are still rotten, the roads are potholed and the rubbish is not being collected, they will be told - if they can find their councillor at all - that there is nothing anyone can do because it was all decided in Belgium and their 'region' is merely following regulations.
Why would anyone want this?
Phitch