Bruges Group poll shows 29% want to remain in the EU

A poll for the eurosceptic thinktank, the Bruges Group, has found that 71% of voters in the UK want us to be members of EFTA while just 29% want us to remain in the EU.

The European Free Trade Agreement is what people were deceived into thinking they were voting for in the only referendum we've ever had on membership of what is now the EU.  It is the relationship that Norway and Switzerland have with the EU and has helped them to become the two most prosperous nations in Europe, able to respond to the economic crises that have have blighted the rest of Europe without being hamstrung by stupid EU rules.

The Director of the Bruges Group, Robert Oulds, said:

This poll shows that there is a viable alternative to EU membership. The option of re-joining EFTA and becoming like Norway and Switzerland is very popular with the British public.

Europhiles call EFTA "fax democracy", saying that Norway and Switzerland don't get a say in the regulations that affect them and receive new regulations from the EU by fax.  This simply isn't true as Civitas pointed out recently. Norway and Switzerland, along with Iceland and Liechtenstein who are also members of EFTA, are involved in the policy making process right at the start and are involved in the regulation amendment process. They don't get a vote on the final regulation when it comes to the EU Parliament but by that time it's a fait acompli anyway, either because it's an EU regulation bringing into force a directive from an international organisation like the OECD or UN or because it's a regulation to enforce EU policy which EFTA has been part of formulating.

BARONESS THATCHERS LAST OUTING

To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Prime Minister Thatcher now famous Bruges speech, the organisation set up in its name, the Bruges Group, held a dinner in the presence of Baroness Thatcher.

Fortunate enough to be present, and to have the chance to meet and speak to her, was the West Midlands UKIP activist who will be UKIP’s number two list candidate during the 2009 European elections, Nikki Sinclaire. Nikki told Barroness Thatcher that she had “inspired” her and she was the reason she had gone into politics.

Ms Sinclaire explained that she was standing for the UK Independence Party in the West Midlands.

"Good for you. Never give up, never give up," Lady Thatcher told her.

The BBC actually reported the event and they also QUOTED Nikki too. It was atthis dinner where Lord Tebbit, once known as the ‘Chingford skinhead’ made his speech declaring that Britain should leave the EU – he really should join UKIP as the Conservative Party today is nothing like the party of that name he was in during his time in Westminster.

Events such as this will not come about again as Baroness Thatcher is becoming ever more frail, this was most probably her last outing. May her remaining year be lived in peace and contentment and lets hope she lives long enough to see Britain escape the clutches of the European Union, is it must inevitably do one day.

The Conservative party conference speech that the Tory hierarchy don't want you to hear!!

Nigel Farage's speech to the 500 Tory activists present at the Bruges Group fringe event last month.Farage makes a £50 bet with a member of the Bruges Group on whether David Cameron will ever withdraw the Conservatives from the EPP-ED Group at Brussels.

Bruges Group - Where were the other two?

The room was so full for the event there was standing room only - but there was no sign of Dan Hannan and Roger Helmer.Hannan and Helmer were supposed to be sharing a platform with the UKIP leader Nigel Farage at the Bruges Group debate yesterday at the Tory conference, However, due to 'heavy pressure' explained Barry Legg, the two Tory MEPs were not in a position to attend .Hannan and Helmer were threatened with de-selection should they speak on the same platform as Nigel Farage.

As Trixy hears it, both MEPs, who sit with the non attached in the European Parliament because they did not tow the line of the Europhile group they sit with, received letters from Conservative Party HQ instructed By David Cameron not to be at the meeting or speak on the subject.They were told that they were not allowed to share a platform with Nigel Farage ever.

What has Cameron got to fear from two of his most EU-sceptical MEPs telling the truth about the EU as they have done so eloquently at many meetings over the years?

The UKIP leader said: "Last year even the LibDems were prepared to debate with me. This year we just see the Tories being, in the words of Margaret Thatcher, 'frit'."

Mr Farage went on: "The Tories are frightened of debate, frightened of the EU and this proves they are frightened of the UK Independence Party.

"The fact that the two most prominent Eurosceptics in the party have been muzzled in this way just goes to show that come next year's European Parliament elections there is only one show in town and that is UKIP

.The 500 Tory activists present were not happy bunnies but warmly listened to what Nigel had to say and most commented at the end of the meeting that they would be voting UKIP in the European Elections! Update - The socialist Tory hierarchy are happy to share a platform with Cherie Blair and Hazel Blears.