Our Prime minister took the decision to use the veto against a new EU treaty which would have meant greater fiscal union. The treaty was driven by the leaders of Germany and France – their aim was to keep the Euro alive.
The sign you see on Abingdon Bridge tells of Abingdon’s close relationships with other European towns. The twinning society is one of our most popular societies.
Walking over Abingdon Bridge, just past the entry sign, a man suggested I took a picture of the view from the bridge up Bridge Street. He said it was so wonderfully English with the flag flying – a beautiful sight.
I suspect we would like to have it both ways. We would like to continue to be an influential voice in Europe, but also keep our own tax making powers. But if the rest of Europe do move closer together without us, that veto could be a defining moment in our relationship: not just with continental Europe, but also with our northern neighbour, Scotland – represented by the blue on the flag, who were not consulted about the veto, and who are pushing ever closer to a referendum on independence within the greater Europe.
I gather Iain Duncan Smith was in Abingdon on Friday night – bet that was an interesting evening! maybe someone who was there could tell us what he said?
some fair points on this very difficult situation. However, I think limiting our twinning to prosperous European towns does say something about our outlook on the world!
As a British citizen with no party political axe to grind just exactly what have we gained from E U membership? The U K’ contribution to the E U is around 25 million a day, hence our high taxation. We have been swamped by foreign workers. 8 out of 10 new jobs go to immigrants. It is a myth that they only do jobs the British do not want to do. They can undercut British workers as they do not have the same high living costs. Our unemployment rate has soared, now around 8%. We give industrial contracts abroad. We gave our train manufacturing contract to Germany and their unemployment rate is around 5%. We give millions in foreign aid when our services are cut to the bone. The E U is a large ineffective beaurocracy and the U K is paying a high price to be a member
Twinning came about after the second world war to break down barriers and create links between individuals and communities in different European countries. Nowadays many local schools have links with schools in Africa and other parts of the world.
Backstreeter, you have dropped a pebble in the political pond !
Of course, not everyone will agree but I do believe that the PM made this Government’s decision with last week’s lively Parliamentary discussion stilll ringing loud in his ears. It may be time they went their own way but the Scots can’t have it both ways. Since when was Scotland not (over) represented in Westminster ?
Ah the Lothian question. I think they have another challenge too – do those of us who would be entitled to claim Scottish citizenship but happen to live in England get a vote in the independence referendum and does it count less because we happen to have english accents?
I spy Daily Mail nostrums.
And no, you can’t claim Scottish vote; I never got one in Wales even though people can still hear my Cardiff accent after 45 years in Abingdon!
Fair point about Bombarier, but our industrial educationand productivity has always been far behind the Germans..
i do hope this doesn’t become a political blog
why not? How else is our future to be decided?
I’m amused that someone sees the British flag flying and thinks of it as an English sight 😉
In answer to Janet Moreton above we have, at least, had 76 years of peace in western europe, and in more recent years, in eastern europe too. It is easy for us nowadays to forget what an acheivement this has been.
We have also developed a significant amount of our trade with europe too.
It isn’t the case that our taxes are as high as they are because of our membership of the EU. We spend a very small proportion of our taxes on the EU.
Saying that I am in the camp that believes that we need to see a wider but shallower EU, bringing the benefits of free trade, movement and cooperation on issue like the environment, but without ‘deepening’ the Eu so that it interferes in thingsw e are perfectly capable of deciding within the UK.
The UK is big enough to get along without the help of the EU, being part of the EU is sucking the life and uniqueness out of the UK.