Lost in Lisbon

Now I know that this blog is supposed to be about Singapore, but I just can’t help it. I mean, is it just me, or has Gordon Brown just pulled off the worst con in history? And more to the point, why is nobody bothered?

I am of course referring to the Lisbon treaty, the wolf in sheep’s clothing that is the re-hashed EU constitution. “We will put it to the people in a referendum” Labour’s 2005 manifesto screamed. Gordon even assured us: “We’ve got to honour that manifesto. That is an issue of trust for me with the electorate.” Too right matey!

And that trust is looking distinctly shaky now isn’t it? Yes, you can try telling us that the Lisbon treaty is a different kessel des fisches but contrary to your belief, at least some of the electorate can read. And anyone who has as much time on their hands as me (and frankly if not, they should make time), can get a direct comparison at: http://www.openeurope.org.uk/research/comparative.pdf

What’s immediately striking about the Lisbon treaty is that it is actually a list of amendments to the EU constitution. Yes, that’s right. The constitution has not gone away – this is merely a revision. So what changes are we talking about then? Well, the Lisbon treaty removes all references to the EU flag, anthem and motto. Oh, that’s all right then! God Save the Queen!

Amongst the substantive changes though, there are actually a number of additions. How about this one: “The union shall establish an economic and monetary union whose currency is the euro.” Er, excuse me – I don’t remember anyone running that one by me. And how about this one on foreign policy. Not only does a common foreign policy remain in place but now also “[The European Council] shall adopt the necessary decisions.” Bring on World War III!

In fact there are far more additions than there are deletions to this putrid document - and most of the deletions appear to be the words “acting by a qualified majority”. Fantastic – so now key decisions on everything from economic policy to law enforcement can now be taken carte blanche.

And it gets worse. In the list of things which the UK is exempt from signing up to (which is essentially unchanged), a new killer line has been added. The European Commission can penalise the UK for the financial cost of non-participation in any new measures brought in. So we’re not being hauled over a barrel at all then.

I could go on but I reckon you’re probably getting the picture. Why, though, are so many not? Well in part it’s a good old dose of public apathy. A BBC news report states that “The latest Ipsos MORI poll shows that only 3 per cent of voters regard Europe as among the most important issues facing Britain.”

Setting that aside though, how does Gordon keep on getting away with it? Has it completely escaped people’s attention that this man has plundered our pensions and sold our sovereignty? I’m honestly starting to think that Gordon could go around killing people’s grandmas and no one would object (“Well it would lessen the pension burden…”)

I have my own theory on all of this. You see, I think that the nation’s brains have been fried on a diet of reality TV and takeaway dinners. The length and breadth of the land, people are blithely slobbing away on their buy now, pay never DFS sofas. The average person on the street cares more about Nicole Richie’s body mass index than the demise of their country.

So this is a message for the Big Brother massive. You know who you are. Wake up - and get your increasingly lardy backsides off your sofas. Because this is reality, and you’re being sold down the Rhine.