The Blanket

The Blanket - A Journal of Protest & Dissent

Europe and the General Election

Election Coverage

 

"It is not, nor is it an end in itself, rather for the Euro fanatics who drive the project the constitution is but a start towards the ultimate subjugation of all national powers. The question for each nation is whether they are prepared to go down that road. The choice is between a Europe of co-operating sovereign nation states or a Europe that is itself a superstate." - The DUP's stance on the euro and the EU Constitutional Treaty and, indeed, membership of the EU) was expressed by their MEP Jim Allister last January

SF passed a motion at their recent ard fheis pledging them to campaign against the Constitutional Treaty. Their Dublin MEP, Mary Lou McDonald, told the ard fheis: "Make no mistake, the EU Constitution will provide for the single biggest advance towards the creation of a European super-state since the beginnings of the European project. It will lay the legal foundations for a federal Europe and deepen the divide between citizens and those who hold power."

John O'Farrell, Britain in Europe • 7 April 2005

We analyse the positions of Northern Ireland's political parties on Europe, as they ask for your vote.

As we enter the fray that is the 2005 general election, it is instructive to examine the policies and positions of the North's political parties to matters European. This is an initial overview, based on existing positions and previous manifestos. If the parties amend or add detail to their positions on Europe, we will comment in appropriate detail.

Realistically, however, Europe will not feature as a major election issue. Indeed, the issue of actually existing Europe barely featured in last year's elections to the European Parliament. There was much made of myths, but little based on the facts about Europe. As a general rule, the further from reality, the more europhobic the views expressed.

It follows that pro-European voters should take the opportunities available between now and election day, May 5th, to challenge the candidates on the reasonableness of their views on the EU. Any reader who wishes to find out more about the arguments for Northern Ireland playing its part in Europe can contact Britain in Europe's Belfast office at the appropriate email address.

There are five major parties that will have candidates in most of the North's 18 Westminster seats. Their European positions are as follows.

Democratic Unionists
The DUP had five MPs elected in 2001, and gained a sixth when Jeffrey Donaldson defected from the Ulster Unionists in early 2004. They are determined to consolidate their position as the dominant voice of unionism by making a strong challenge in all five of the seats held by the UUP. In particular, the DUP are chasing hard at the heels of Roy Beggs in East Antrim, David Burnside in South Antrim and David Trimble in Upper Bann. However, if those three seats are, it will be a case of three europhobic politicians taken by, respectively, Sammy Wilson, the Rev William McCrea and David Simpson replacing three europhobic politicians (For further details, see below).

The DUP's stance on the euro and the EU Constitutional Treaty (and, indeed, membership of the EU) was expressed by their MEP Jim Allister last January:

"It is not, nor is it an end in itself, rather for the Euro fanatics who drive the project the constitution is but a start towards the ultimate subjugation of all national powers. The question for each nation is whether they are prepared to go down that road. The choice is between a Europe of co-operating sovereign nation states or a Europe that is itself a superstate."

The voting record and public stances of DUP MPs tells a sorry tale of consistent hostility to the European project. It came as no surprise that DUP MPs voted against the recent Bill on the Treaty in the House of Commons when one considers their voting record in the past.

Party leader Dr Ian Paisley has made n secret of his distrust of the EU, and has never hesitated in saying so, and voting accordingly.

"I was never a Common Marketeer, and I never will be" (Hansard, 21 November 1991, col. 486).

Voted against the decision on principle for Britain to join the European Communities, 28 October 1971.

Opposed continued membership of the EEC in the Referendum of June 1975 with statements such as "The Virgin Mary is the Madonna of the Common Market."

"The European Union is a beast ridden by the harlot Catholic Church, conspiring to create a Europe controlled by the Vatican." (Jon Ronson, Them: Adventures with Extremists, 2001).

"Our membership [of the EU] has weakened the economy of the United Kingdom. Britain has suffered in its trading activities. The precious money that we pour into the Common Market budget would be better disbursed, by whatever Government are in power, in this country" (Hansard, 21 November 1991, col. 486).

Voted against 3rd Reading of the Maastricht Treaty Bill, 20 May 1993.

Voted for Iain Duncan Smith's bill to curb the powers of the European Court of Justice (ECJ), 23 April 1996.

Voted against 3rd Reading of the Nice Treaty Bill, 17 October 2001.

"I believe that it would be in the best interests of farmers if the common agricultural policy were scrapped" (Hansard, 14 February 1991, col. 1047).
"We should realise that the common agricultural policy was wrong from the beginning. I campaigned against entry to Europe" (Hansard, 4 December 1990, col. 216).

DUP Deputy leader Peter Robinson has dutifully followed his leader:

Voted for Iain Duncan Smith's bill to curb the powers of the European Court of Justice (ECJ), 23 April 1996.

Voted against 2nd Reading of the Amsterdam Treaty Bill, 12 November 1997.

Signed a full-page advertisement in The Times and the Guardian sponsored by Paul Sykes's British Democracy Campaign, which called for a referendum on Britain's continued membership of the European Union, 16 May 2001.

Patron and occasional contributor, far-right Right Now! magazine since 1995. Recently dismissed criticism from Sir Reg Empey after the magazine ran a sympathetic interview with Nick Griffin of the British National Party.

Voted against 3rd Reading of the Nice Treaty Bill, 17 October 2001.

The DUP's other MPs from their 2001 intake have opposed the Nice treaty, the euro and the Constitutional Treaty. Their 2004 addition, Jeffrey Donaldson, has a similarly dismal record. In addition, he recently addressed the Bruges Group, an extreme collection of English EU-haters and worshippers of Baroness Thatcher, who affect to forget their heroine's crucial role in forging the single European market in the 1995 treaty, not to mention the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement.

The Ulster Unionists
The UUP hold five seats at present. Three of those seats are in the sights of the DUP's snatch squad. It is instructive to examine the records of two of the troubled MPs, David Trimble and David Burnside.

Trimble's recent Commons vote opposing the EU Constitutional Treaty fits easily into the pattern of his thought and actions:

Voted against 3rd Reading of the Maastricht Treaty Bill, 20 May 1993.

Voted for Iain Duncan Smith's bill to curb the powers of the European Court of Justice (ECJ), 23 April 1996.

Sponsored Bill Cash's Referendum Bill, which provided for the holding of a referendum on the United Kingdom's continuing membership of the European Union, 11 June 1996.

Sponsored Teresa Gorman's Referendum Bill, which provided for the holding a referendum on the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union, 21 January 1997.

Voted against 2nd Reading of Amsterdam Treaty Bill, 12 November 1997.

David Burnside is equally consistent: He voted against 3rd Reading of the Nice Treaty Bill as well as opposing the euro and the Constitutional Treaty. Roy Beggs has a similar voting record, as does the outgoing MP for South Belfast, the Rev Martin Smyth.

The remaining UUP seats, south Belfast and North Down, are in for a severe contestation from the DUP, but seem at present to be safer than Upper Bann and East and South Antrim. The UUP candidate in South Belfast, Michael McGimpsey, has not made his position clear, but is thought to be less hardline than the Rev Smyth. The sitting North Down MP, Lady Sylvia Hermon is understood to be less than favourably disposed to the present UUP policy towards Europe.

Sinn Fein
SF passed a motion at their recent ard fheis pledging them to campaign against the Constitutional Treaty. Their Dublin MEP, Mary Lou McDonald, told the ard fheis:

"Make no mistake, the EU Constitution will provide for the single biggest advance towards the creation of a European super-state since the beginnings of the European project. It will lay the legal foundations for a federal Europe and deepen the divide between citizens and those who hold power."

Compare and contrast with the comments above from the DUP's Jim Allister.

SF opposed every step towards European integration and called for `no' votes in every referendum held on Europe in the Republic.

SF's four MPs abstain from Westminster, so their views on the treaty have yet to be tested. However, SF opposed the euro in the South when it was under discussion, but changed party policy in 2003. SF councillors have been active in encouraging the setting up of `euro-friendly' shopping areas in Strabane Newry, Derry and west Belfast.

Social Democratic and Labour Party
The SDLP have been constant supporters of NI playing a full part in Europe, and the leadership shown by John Hume has been followed keenly by Mark Durkan. SDLP policy is outlined below:

"The SDLP is strongly committed to full participation in the European Union…(it) is enthusiastic for ongoing enlargement of the European Union to create a union of democracy, prosperity and justice from the Baltic to the Mediterranean and from the Atlantic to the Black Sea… (and) is fully supportive of the Euro and demands the immediate introduction of the Euro in the North."

The SDLP is facing a significant challenge from SF in Foyle, where Mark Durkan is defending the seat against Mitchel McLaughlin. Many commentators have concluded that SF's Conor Murphy will take the Newry/Armagh seat previously held by Seamus Mallon, who is retiring along with John Hume.

Eddie McGrady is believed to be safe in South Down, and there could be an upset in South Belfast if the unionist vote divides evenly to let SDLP deputy leader Alisdair McDonnell slip through the middle.

Alliance
David Ford has continued the Alliance tradition of seeing Europe as a great opportunity for NI, and not remotely a threat to `our way of doing things'. Alliance policy is articulated thus:

"Alliance should be resolved to the further development and enlargement of the European Union. With a wider union we can look forward to a union that is working effectively towards a more just, prosperous and a safer world community. A Europe that will strive for social justice and economic opportunity world wide, that will work to enhance the global environment. Alliance should further be committed to a Europe that will offer peace, stability and liberty to those threatened by war or oppression." (motion passed at Alliance agm, 2000)



 

 

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The Blanket - A Journal of Protest & Dissent



 

 

All censorships exist to prevent any one from challenging current conceptions and existing institutions. All progress is initiated by challenging current conceptions, and executed by supplanting existing institutions. Consequently the first condition of progress is the removal of censorships.
- George Bernard Shaw



Index: Current Articles



29 April 2005

Other Articles From This Issue:

I Believe
Eamon Sweeney

Behaving Justly
Anthony McIntyre

Stop the Cover Up -- Give Us Peace
Kathleen Coyle

Justice Needs Done
Damien Okado-Gough

More Than Politics to NI Process
David Adams

Jude the Obscure Republican
Anthony McIntyre

Shared Ultra Conservatism
Dr John Coulter

* More Election Coverage *

Europe and the General Election
John O'Farrell

ELECTION MANIFESTO
SEA


24 April 2005

Robert McCartney's family appeal to Sinn Fein
McCartney Family

Informer!
Kevin Cunningham

'Dreary Ireland'
Anthony McIntyre

An Ireland of Welcomes Should Be
Mick Hall

Pawns!
Brian Mór

A Spartan's Story
Anthony McIntyre

* Election Coverage *

ELECTION MANIFESTO
Martin Cunningham, Newry and Mourne District Council

 

 

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