Michel Houellebecq’s controversial novel, “Submission”, published in 2015, received a mixed reception from both the press and politicians. Not surprisingly, Marine Le Pen, leader of the right-winged “Front National”, described the work as, “fiction that one day could become reality.” Michel Houellebecq’s political fiction is in nothing a visionary work, it’s just a succession of false provocations. […]
Dikes, Bikes, And Perks – Holland’s Underwater Haven
photograph © Raimond Spekking / CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons) [perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]So happy under water[/perfectpullquote] The latest OECD report, focussing on the work-leisure balance – so important in stopping each one of us from giving up on life – puts the Dutch at the top of the class. This does […]
When EU Twitterbots Encounter Daniel Hannan’s Spam
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The EU is treating Britain like North Korea. It’s time we prepared to walk away.[/perfectpullquote] The title of Daniel Hannan’s latest blog post, published in the Daily Telegraph, says it all. The UK is a bad boy who is under fire from the monster in Brussels, […]
Brexit Is No Longer Divorce – It’s Adultery
The Mansion House speech, delivered by Theresa May, clearly attempted to define what the UK wants out of Brexit. What it did not do, is deliver concrete solutions. If the EU is to abide by its principles, and not sell its soul to a potential bidder, Theresa May should have very little, if anything, to […]
The Irish, The Brits, And The EU: Bordering On Insanity
If you think about it, the two most controversial and painful aspects of the Brexit negotiations, up to now, both concern the notion of national borders, and who can or cannot cross them. Now, we have the whole of Northern Ireland, not knowing whether it will end up with a hard border, and where the […]
Brexit Musings (16) – Home-Made Customs Pie
When Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, starts talking about wanting to remain in a modified customs union, and big industry starts applauding him for such nonsense, you can be pretty sure that the UK is in trouble – big time. On this side of the North Sea, we must feel compassionate, and not mock the afflicted. […]
British In Europe: Double-Dutch In Amsterdam’s District Court
Earlier this month, a group of British expats living in the Netherlands, succeeded in their attempt to refer the question of their EU citizens’ rights, to the European Court Of Justice (ECJ). In what appears to be a surprising and disappointing development, the Dutch state has succeeded in launching an appeal against the ruling. The […]
The EU’s Problem Is Not Brexit, It’s Eastern Europe
Jean Monnet, one of the fathers of the Union, had a vision of a unified Europe, probably a federal one. For Monnet, Europe was an ongoing process, a “work in progress”, aiming to create the best possible future for our children and grand-children. We must be honest, and admit that certain member states are not economically […]
Brexit Musings (15) – Waking-Up To BuzzFeed
Brexit guru, David Davis, was having a dream. The UK had become prosperous again, and the world’s 3rd largest economy. Stoke-on-Trent was rapidly becoming Europe’s cultural hotspot, and Liverpool, Europe’s largest seaport. Britain was still linked to Europe, although the Channel Tunnel had been sealed off and filled with sea water, as a precautionary measure. Britain’s […]
Theresa May Is Undermining Citizens’ Rights
During her recent visit to China, Theresa May has trampled on EU citizens’ rights, as well as evading the question of human rights in China. She has hardly the time to recover from jet-lag, before playing host to Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, world champion in human rights. Does Theresa May really believe in […]