When General de Gaulle vetoed our entry into the European Economic Community (EEC), he said that we were too global: “an island, sea-going, bound up, by its trade, its markets, its food supplies, with the most varied and often the most distant countries”. It has taken almost half a century to realise he was right.
At the time Harold Macmillan said, “The French always betray you in the end”. No doubt he was aware that de Gaulle was concerned that if the UK were a member of the EEC, it would weaken France’s influence. He was right about that too, just watch President Macron preening himself now!
The man who took us into the bloc and signed the accession treaty to join the EEC in 1972 – the precursor to the EU – was Edward Heath. He had been awarded the Charlemagne Prize in 1963 for the work he had done towards European unification. For which he personally received £75,000, which today equates to £1.5 million.
He had made a speech in which he said, “We are a part of Europe: by geography, tradition, history, culture and civilisation.” He was certainly wrong about that.
What a pity Boris wasn’t awarded such a prize for getting us out of the EU. Instead, he gets financially hammered for replacing the wallpaper in Downing Street!
It is becoming clear from recent opinion polls that our views of the EU are not very different from some of our continental neighbours – that is, unenthusiastic or worse. The difference is that they feel that they have no choice but to remain as members. Poland is getting closer to Polexit but no doubt will step back from the brink. Ursula Von der Leyen promised at the weekend to “to bring Poland to heel”!
It is shocking that the police were called to Sussex University as pro-transgender activists have been ‘bullying’, and campaigning to have fired Prof Kathleen Stock, an expert in analytic philosophy.
The professor’s crime was that she has questioned the idea that men ‘who feel like women’ should have automatic access to female-only spaces such as lavatories, changing rooms and sports teams.
The vice-chancellor has backed Prof Stock, saying that staff have a right to say and believe what they think. Good for him.
Most are perplexed that this issue continues to rumble on amongst the LGBT and ‘woke’ community. They fail to accept the ‘fact’ that biologically ‘only women have a cervix’. Perhaps biology should be added to the 3Rs!
This matter needs to be settled once and for all. Maybe it would be helpful to state what women don’t have rather than what they do. ‘Woman do not have penises’.
This should help clear this matter up for those who ‘feel like women’ or wish to identify as a woman, and the solution is of course to have theirs removed. I know several livestock farmers in the Brighton area, who regularly castrate male livestock, and would no doubt be more than happy to oblige!
The 11th October is the anniversary of when the Mary Rose, Henry VIII’s flag ship was raised from the floor of the Solent, just off Portsmouth in 1982. I had the privilege to witness this historic event from aboard a ship moored alongside the activities, which was followed by a worldwide TV audience of 60 million.
The vessel had lain on the seabed since 19th July 1545 where is sank on its way to ‘engage’ with the French, 400-500 men perished that day.
The late Alexander McKee led a team since 1965 determined to find the Mary Rose. Eventually diver Percy Ackland found three port frames in 1971, then more parts emerged.
In 1979 the Mary Rose Trust was founded with HRH Prince Charles as President. Today the warship can be viewed at the Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth.
At the time Harold Macmillan said, “The French always betray you in the end”. No doubt he was aware that de Gaulle was concerned that if the UK were a member of the EEC, it would weaken France’s influence. He was right about that too, just watch President Macron preening himself now!
The man who took us into the bloc and signed the accession treaty to join the EEC in 1972 – the precursor to the EU – was Edward Heath. He had been awarded the Charlemagne Prize in 1963 for the work he had done towards European unification. For which he personally received £75,000, which today equates to £1.5 million.
He had made a speech in which he said, “We are a part of Europe: by geography, tradition, history, culture and civilisation.” He was certainly wrong about that.
What a pity Boris wasn’t awarded such a prize for getting us out of the EU. Instead, he gets financially hammered for replacing the wallpaper in Downing Street!
It is becoming clear from recent opinion polls that our views of the EU are not very different from some of our continental neighbours – that is, unenthusiastic or worse. The difference is that they feel that they have no choice but to remain as members. Poland is getting closer to Polexit but no doubt will step back from the brink. Ursula Von der Leyen promised at the weekend to “to bring Poland to heel”!
It is shocking that the police were called to Sussex University as pro-transgender activists have been ‘bullying’, and campaigning to have fired Prof Kathleen Stock, an expert in analytic philosophy.
The professor’s crime was that she has questioned the idea that men ‘who feel like women’ should have automatic access to female-only spaces such as lavatories, changing rooms and sports teams.
The vice-chancellor has backed Prof Stock, saying that staff have a right to say and believe what they think. Good for him.
Most are perplexed that this issue continues to rumble on amongst the LGBT and ‘woke’ community. They fail to accept the ‘fact’ that biologically ‘only women have a cervix’. Perhaps biology should be added to the 3Rs!
This matter needs to be settled once and for all. Maybe it would be helpful to state what women don’t have rather than what they do. ‘Woman do not have penises’.
This should help clear this matter up for those who ‘feel like women’ or wish to identify as a woman, and the solution is of course to have theirs removed. I know several livestock farmers in the Brighton area, who regularly castrate male livestock, and would no doubt be more than happy to oblige!
The 11th October is the anniversary of when the Mary Rose, Henry VIII’s flag ship was raised from the floor of the Solent, just off Portsmouth in 1982. I had the privilege to witness this historic event from aboard a ship moored alongside the activities, which was followed by a worldwide TV audience of 60 million.
The vessel had lain on the seabed since 19th July 1545 where is sank on its way to ‘engage’ with the French, 400-500 men perished that day.
The late Alexander McKee led a team since 1965 determined to find the Mary Rose. Eventually diver Percy Ackland found three port frames in 1971, then more parts emerged.
In 1979 the Mary Rose Trust was founded with HRH Prince Charles as President. Today the warship can be viewed at the Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth.
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