Silent Majority Speaks

Rescuing Democracy in the United Kingdom from our current Elected Dictatorship

Spin, not face-to-face confrontations with the voters, is the Government's chosen method of communication. Ordinary people are dangerous. Ordinary people might ask a question which throws a politician 'off message'; the Cabinet member might reveal himself or herself to be a human being like us, and not a programmed android. Worse still, he or she might tell the truth. Ann Leslie - Daily Mail, September 16, 2004 Blair wants to leave his mark on history - looks more like a stain to me. Peter Thorndyke, Diss, Norfolk - Daily Mail, May 23, 2005 I know I'm me - why do I need an ID card? "Sorry, officers, I don't have an ID card. I never applied for one. It seemed a bit steep at 300 quid. I do have my free passport, my driving licence and my London freedom travel pass, each with my photograph. I have my NHS medical card, with its lengthy number, given me at birth, my RAF service book with my Armed Forces number, and a chit authorising me to wear a few gongs -including a General Service Medal with Malaya bar, for fighting communist terrorists on behalf of my country, or so they told me. "I've also got various credit cards and store cards, all with my signature on the back, generally good for buying the everyday requrements for life as well as the odd luxury. If you decide to arrest me, I suppose I'll have to be photographed and given another number, besides my PINs. "I'm afraid I haven't got a pension book; it was taken away." "By thieves, sir?" "No ... well, not exactly. By the Government. By the way, may I see your warrant cards please, gentlemen?" Oh dear, they've disappeared. E. Harry Gumer, Romford, ESSEX - Daily Mail, June 1, 2005 NO means NO When does NO mean MAYBE? When it's not the answer the EU wants. With the courageous French NON resounding in their ears, shabby, undemocratic self-interested leaders of Europe propose ignoring the part of their precious constitution that requires ratification by all members and continuing without one of the biggest founder members to prevent derailing the gravy train. As in Ireland, they refuse to accept any NO votes, ignoring the will of the people, and re-stage votes until they can engineer the 'correct' answer. Sadly, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw dances to their tune like a puppet on a string. With tactics such as these, how can anyone really believe the EU has our interests at heart. Letter from Steve Penny, Kingsnorth, Kent - Daily Mail, June1, 2005 Surely the French result makes the £1million the EU recently spent on a treaty signing ceremony seem a trifle premature and extravagant. Letter from Keith Wiseman, Bury, Lancs. - Daily Mail, June1, 2005

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Britain has traditionally been one of the biggest net contributors to the EU because we do not get as much money back from Brussels in farm and regional subsidies as our rivals. According to Treasury figures, between 1995-2002, Britain's average contribution taking the rebate into account, was £2.6billion, or £43.55 per head of population. The French - the biggest recipient of farm subsidies - contributed £1billion a year or £16.08 per head of their population.

December 28, 2005 (959 days since Iraq war ended)

Death Toll: 2,172 US - 98UK - >>30,000? Iraqi - 25 media

STOP PRESS

GM food can be labelled as organic, says Europe

By Sean Poulter, Consumer Affairs Correspondent - Daily Mail, January 5, 2006

Brussels is to allow genetically modified food to be sold as organic produce. Yesterday, campaigners accused Europe of putting the interests of the GM industry above those of consumers and organic farmers. They fear the move would be a severe blow to £1.2billion-a-year organic markets - where sales have doubled in five years.

A draft directive from the European Commission says GM contamination of organic crops should be allowed up to a threshold of 0.9%. Any food within those margins could therefore be sold as organic.

Anti-GM groups say this would deny consumers the right to buy truly organic food. They also fear GM crops would be allowed to grow over a much wider area than at present as the danger of cross-contamination would be diminished. The GM freeze campaign, a group of community and green groups ranging from the Women's Institute to Friends of the Earth,criticised the EU directive last night.

Director Pete Riley said: "The proposal from the European Commission is a thin end of a wedge which will allow the creeping contamination of organic food across Europe. Instead of standing up for European food consumers, the Commission has given in to biotech industry lobbying. Allowing GM contamination of organic foods, the Commission will damage the thriving organic sector in the interests of an industry unable to find a market."

Conservative environment and rural affairs spokesman, Peter Ainsworth, MP., said: "This draft directive would seem to drive a coach and horses through the whole question of choice. It is a total disgrace. People who buy organic food want just that, not organic food with a bit of GM in it. Once you have permitted a degree of contamination, where does it end? Either something is organic or it isn't. The UK should use its influence to ensure this draft regulation is overturned. Government claims to be a supporter of organic food and farming.

"I don't think you could seriously make that claim and, at the same time, turn a blind eye to the fact they may be contaminated with GM. If the Government is genuine it its support for organic, it needs to take a very firm line of opposition to this directive. We need a policy of zero tolerance towards GM contamination in order to protect the integrity of organic farmers. You can't have a bit of GM in organic food in the same way you can't be a little bit pregnant."

Tory leader David Cameron will be outlining his green credentials tonight in London at an event marking the opening of the annual conference of the Soil Association, which sets organic farming standards. The association has been one of the fiercest critics of GM agriculture.

By contrast, Tony Blair, who professes support for organic farming, has consistently refused requests to speak at Soil Association events. Mr Cameron has also appointed Zac Goldsmith, editor of The Ecologist and a fierce critic of GM, to his environment policy group.

Director of the Soil Association, Patrick Holden, said: "I get the impression he (David Cameron) is genuinely and seriously supportive of the philosophy and cause of sustainable agriculture."

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