France pushes Europe back 50 yearsIn a move which has now been found not legal in some cases by one of its own courts in the last week France has been deporting Roma nationals in what it says are legal means to deal with clandestine Europeans.

ldquo;In theory this is both legal and ambiguously illegalrdquo; says…http://www.neurope.eu/articles/102409.php

Around the world in 220 voltsWhen French author Jules Verne set one of his creations explorer Phileas Fogg around the world in 80 days in 1873 he did so without a thought for carbon footprints. In those days before the internal combustion engine carbon emissions were just beginning to enter the atmosphere fuelled by the…http://www.neurope.eu/articles/102265.php

Support for the EU falls to a nine year low; Only 50% of Germans consider EU membership “a good thing” – down 10 points in less than a yearThe Commission’s Eurobarometer poll, published yesterday, has shown that support for the EU has dropped to its lowest levels in nine years. Only 49 percent of respondents from across Europe considered membership of the EU to be a “good thing” down 4 percentage points from last years poll, while trust in the bloc’s institutions has dropped to 42 percent, six points down compared to autumn 2009.http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/summary.aspx?id=1174

The Commission wants a 7.6% increase in EU budget by 2013The Telegraph reports that the EU’s budget could rise by more than £8.8 billion to £125 billion in 2013 – a 7.6 percent rise on this year’s spending levels, if European Commission’s proposals are approved. The increase will mean that the British contribution to the EU rises to £10.http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/summary.aspx?id=1173

Ashton’s EU foreign service in talks to move to new €10m a year officeEUobserver reports that the EU is in talks to lease the so-called ‘Triangle building’ in Brussels for its new diplomatic service, with EU Foreign Minister Catherine Ashton’s new office likely to look over the Commission and Council buildings. The Commission is expected to lease 50,000 square metres of the 60,000 square metre block for at least 15 years at a cost of around €10 million a year.http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/summary.aspx?id=1172

Professor Harald Uhlig: Germany should leave the eurozoneEUobserver reports on a study released yesterday by research firm Markit which shows that economic recovery in the eurozone is slowing down, with the gap widening between Germany and the rest of the bloc. Marco Annunziata, Chief Economist at UniCredit, is quoted in the FT arguing: “My hunch is that we will see divergences widening”.http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/summary.aspx?id=1171

Number of people in Britain extradited under European Arrest Warrant increases by more than 50%The Sunday Telegraph reported on its front page that the number of people in Britain seized under the controversial European Arrest Warrant rose by more than 50 percent last year, according to figures obtained from the Home Office. In total 1,032 people – almost three a day – were detained and extradited by British police on the orders of European prosecutors in the 12 months to April, up from 683 in 2008-09.http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/summary.aspx?id=1170

EU in potential 300m Euro trade lossThe EU could potentially lose euro;300m in trade revenue after the World Trade Organisation WTO has found in favour of a 2008 complaint that it is in violation of its obligations under the Information Technology Agreement ITA .

Under the agreement all parties to the deal must levy a 0% tariff…http://www.neurope.eu/articles/102129.php

European Commission wants three EU pay rises in twelve monthsThe Mail and the front page of the Express report that EU officials are in line for three pay rises – boosting their salaries by over 5 percent, over the next twelve months. The European Commission’s budget proposal for 2011 states that, “A salary increase of 2.http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/summary.aspx?id=1169

Fear on Greek consolidation returns as Greek government’s tax revenues fail to deliver promises made to the EU and the IMFThe frontpage of Handelsblatt reports that fear has returned in Athens, Brussels, Berlin and Washington as tax receipts for the Greek government have failed to match the expectations. In the first seven months of 2010, only 4.1 percent extra tax income for the government was created, while the EU and the IMF had been promised 13.http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/summary.aspx?id=1168

Commission draws up plans for EU tax on resources ‘to improve industrial efficiency’FAZ reports that an internal Commission paper is outlining plans for a new EU tax on all types of natural resources, to create incentives for businesses to use them more efficiently. The tax would include both renewable resources such as wood, as well as minerals and fossil fuels.http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/summary.aspx?id=1167

Spanish banks likely to remain on ECB life-support “for years to come”Bloomberg reports that Spanish banks borrowed a record €130bn from the European Central Bank in July, accounting for 29 percent of total borrowing from the ECB. Gary Jenkins of London-based Evolution Securities Ltd is quoted saying, “The amount needed is likely to remain elevated for years to come.http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/summary.aspx?id=1166

Nicolas-Jean Brehon: Britons can bet that their EU budget rebate will come under unusual pressureIn an opinion piece for Le Monde, Nicolas-Jean Brehon from the Robert Schuman Foundation looks at the upcoming negotiations on the EU budget and argues: “If member states do not want to pay more or accept a new [EU] tax, then, in order to launch new policies, one will need to review the structure of the [EU] budget and trim the ‘money-eating’ items, i.http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/summary.aspx?id=1165

Landmines still kill in Europe: Time for an absolute bannbsp;nbsp; There have been more than 3 000 casualties caused by landmines in Europe in the last ten years. Anti-personnel landmines continue to kill or maim indiscriminately long after wars have finished. They are therefore banned under international law. However this prohibition has not been effectively implemented and some Council…http://www.neurope.eu/articles/102091.php

The Sahel food crisis: Do we have to wait for deaths?United Nations agencies have united to issue a joint appeal for more funding to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Africa:
A major food crisis in West Africarsquo;s Sahel region is currently threatening the lives of some 10 million people including hundreds of thousands of children and aid workers need international support…http://www.neurope.eu/articles/102086.php

The European Parliament investing in Palestine?Mr Salaam Fayyad Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority visited the European Parliaments budget committee to ask for financial support tonbsp; continue. So far the EU has provided euro;5 billion according to the PM.

The was part of a tour of the EU institutions earlier he had been to the European…http://www.neurope.eu/articles/101977.php

EU to help with investigation stabilization in KyrgyzstanSTRASBOURG – Interim leader Rosa Otunbayeva who was sworn in as president of Kyrgyzstan on 3 July has already asked the EU for help for an international inquiry into the source of conflict and international police contingent to train and reinforce local police European Commissioner for International Cooperation Humanitarian Assistance…http://www.neurope.eu/articles/101906.php

Alastair Campbell gives a masterclassAlastair Campbell who was British Prime Minister Tony Blairs right hand man arrived at the European Communications Summit in Brussels to give a masterclass in the art of getting your message across.
In his address he accused the media of being focused on the negative and said that there had been…http://www.neurope.eu/articles/101781.php

Drafting budgets togetherThe European Commission is bringing the Member States of its Union closer together once again as it introduces measures far stricter than ever before in a move that effectively coordinates the budgets of the EU.
A Communication approved by the European Commission on 29 June enhances principles presented on 12 May…http://www.neurope.eu/articles/101773.php

Cyprus and the tyranny of wordsOne of the characters Alice meets in Lewis Carrollrsquo;s Through the Looking Glass is the argumentative egg Humpty Dumpty. According to Humpty ldquo;When I use a word it means just what I choose it to meanrdquo; which is the problem the two parties to the Cyprus dispute are now facing….http://www.neurope.eu/articles/101638.php

Unhappy at UK being broken into 12 micro states? get your candidate to pledge for EU Referendum http://tinyurl.com/y6pgeb6 #ge2010

Want to put the EU back on #leadersdebate tonight? Then read this http://tinyurl.com/37dzhlh #ge2010 #ukelection

#ukelection Who can you trust? http://daniel1979blog.blogspot.com/2010/04/who-can-you-trust.html #ge2010

It is up to us, the voters, not the idiots that are politicians! http://witteringsfromwitney.blogspot.com/2010/04/who-can-you-trust.html

RT: @PJCJournal: Election Campaign: The politics of fear: http://wp.me/pETjd-pz #ge2010 #ukelection

We sent David Phipps to represent the Albion Alliance at an interview on Bristol radio http://tinyurl.com/yjsq4gq #ge2010 #ukelection

Arthur Thackeray UKIP Candidate Glasgow East signs EU referendum Pledge http://tinyurl.com/2wl2efa

Want to get your candidate to sign the @Albion_Alliance EU referendum pledge. Download here http://tinyurl.com/y6pgeb6

Following the #leadersdebate last night where all 3 parties showed themselves pro-EU, more candidates sign the @Albion_Alliance pledge #ge10

RT: @PJCJournal: Election: Look a little closer at the small print: http://wp.me/pETjd-pp #ge2010

Libdems who back Clegg on in/out EU ref should get candidate to sign Albion Alliance pledge if want our votes http://tinyurl.com/y6pgeb6

LibDems – if you want to prove Clegg honest on this http://bit.ly/bFMIgx sign the @Albion_Alliance pledge! or is it too much commitment?

European Commission document calls UK justice system an unjustifiable difference. British Justice unjustifiable?? http://tinyurl.com/y32duht

Nick Clegg Tries to Hide Liberal Democrat Euro-federalism http://tinyurl.com/y39oojf

Caroline Bovey, UKIP PPC West Worcestershire signs EU Referendum Pledge. #ge2010 #democracy

John Tennant UKIP PPC Gateshead signs the EU Referendum Pledge. #ge2010 #democracy

RT: @PJCJournal: Iceland could be our savour: http://wp.me/pETjd-pg #ge2010

How to get candidates to sign an EU Referendum pledge before you vote? Put this in front of them http://tinyurl.com/y6pgeb6 #ge2010

David Wilson UKIP PPC Doncaster North signs the EU Referendum pledge. http://bit.ly/au8o7t

Rohen Kapur Ind PPC Hornsey & Wood Green signs EU referendum pledge http://candidatedb.albionalliance.org.uk/DB_Display_Record.php?P1=2488

@edwestonline: TV election debate: is there that much difference between them? http://bit.ly/aFryss > No, perhaps we can make the change..

RT: @TelegraphBlogs: TV election debate: is there that much difference between them? http://bit.ly/aFryss > perhaps we can make the change..

Doorstep campaign gains traction as downloads of pledge form overnight reach 338. http://tinyurl.com/y6pgeb6 #leadersdebate #ge2010

Clegg, I do judge by what you do, that why you lost votes when you blocked EU Referendum http://tinyurl.com/y6pgeb6 #leadersdebate

Do you want your candidates to sign an EU Referendum pledge before you vote? Put this in front of them http://tinyurl.com/y6pgeb6 #ge2010

Michael Ford UKIP PPC Braintree signs EU referendum pledge. Where are the Lib/Lab/Con? Don’t wish to listen to voters? #ge2010

Martyn Aiken UKIP PPC Easington signs EU referendum pledge – Lib/Lab/Con wont put country before party! Shame! #ge2010

Witterings from Witney puts it well:

FactCheck with Cathy Newman on Channel 4 does a good job ‘fisking’ the manifestos of the Lib/Lab/Con and all three have been shown to have ‘twisted’ statistics – so they have, in effect, lied to the electorate.

Quelle Surprise!

Check out her findings on the Conservatives here, Labour here and the LibDems here.

Why do the political parties attempt to hoodwink the electorate? Do they not realize that someone will take the time and trouble to validate the claims they make?

So why do what they do and ‘spin’ the statistics?

To be blunt – why lie?

Speaking of lying, The Mail gets stuck into Gordon Brown:

Gordon Brown has shamelessly defended signing the despised Lisbon Treaty – by claiming he has protected British sovereignty. He claimed it was not a power transfer to the European Union and that it had not led to ‘major constitutional changes’.

Instead, the Prime Minister boasted that Labour had actually ‘watered down’ the controversial EU Constitution which surrendered a raft of laws to Brussels. But at a question-and-answer session in Leeds, voters told Mr Brown that his failure to keep a manifesto pledge to hold a referendum meant he could not be trusted.

Good.

Good that he made such easily rebutted statements so that people can see a man who is either so unprincipled he’ll lie, barefaced, to the electorate or else he’s away in a cloud cuckoo land of his own dreaming.

This is now so far beyond a joke that we’d like to suggest to you patient, long-suffering citizens that you take this url [one page pdf]:

http://tinyurl.com/y6pgeb6

… print out the page, a pledge form to support a referendum on the issue of EU membership and present it to the first politician who comes-a-calling on your doorstep. Perhaps you could print off more than one copy and have them in your bag in case you meet any politicos in the street or at a public meeting.

Remember, as The Englishman noted:

More voters are now hoping for a hung Parliament than either a Tory or a Labour outright victory. A mere 4 per cent think that the parties are being completely honest with voters about their tax plans and only 6 per cent about their approaches to cutting the deficit. 43 per cent were unconvinced by any party.

[James Higham - h/t IPJ]

Brown claims was no need for Lisbon referendum http://bit.ly/9PD7hK > We need EU referendum instead http://tinyurl.com/y6pgeb6 #ukelection

Virtually 100 downloads of the Albion Alliance Candidates pledge form in 24hours http://bit.ly/aTlgQG #ukelection #ge2010 #euvote