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Tuesday, June 08, 2004

Questions,answers and responses

Dan. I don’t think Labour is seen as the most right wing Party in the Socialist Group. It is true that there was strong opposition to Iraq but do remember they are taking their lead from us on issues like welfare to work and on international aid to name but two important areas.

If we loose seats we inevitably loose some influence. The British Labour movement is seen as very important in Europe and in the Socialist International and that was true even in the dark days of the 1980’s when we were in the wilderness!

I think there is a danger the far right will gain seats although I’m not sure they will become the third largest block. The problem is that citizens are still ambivalent about Europe and cynical about the Parliament. I think they see this as an opportunity for a protest vote.

London Plan.
Paul. The Labour Party does support the statement in the London Plan but do remember there is a qualification that land can be developed in exceptional circumstances (e.g., the Olympics). Normally there is an expectation that even with development serious efforts will be made to protect or enhance Metropolitan open land.

EU.
Stephen. Lack of accountability is a problem. Because the EU is not a nation state it is difficult to come up with a truly accountable system without turning it into a nation state. Accountability currently operates through the rather remote system of Ministers speaking and acting on behalf of the state that they represent. So it is a type of arms length accountability but Parliament has recently extended MP’s influence on the Commissions activities by questioning more of the decisions that come out of Brussels.

The accounts of the EU are not perfect but it is not the case that the sums don’t add up (I know you are not suggesting that). As you rightly point out the European Court of Auditors did qualify its opinion for the ninth year running. That qualification comes from a material level of errors in the underlying transactions that had a financial impact. I think it is a case of “Must make a greater effort”!

CAP.
The CAP is a major problem. Countries like Britain and Germany would go much further and quicker on getting rid of farm subsidies then countries with a large section of the work force in agriculture. Poland has close to 50% of their work force in farming and abolishing subsidies quickly would send their unemployment through the roof.

For the sake of the developing world and for food prices and taxes generally we do need reform but alas it will not come quickly for the reasons I have given

Pakistan.
I also got a question from another of my posts from Dan on Pakistan. I tried to make the point in my Fabian document that we have to judge each case on its merits. I suspect we will disagree on this but my view remains that Pakistan is making very serious efforts at reform and while they are I think we have to stay fully engaged. Linking arms sales to progress in reform and human rights may not be a perfect science but it is the best we have.

Thanks to everyone for this on going experiment.

Could you explain how the political blocks in the European parliament work? Do they have a common policy platform? If so, how is this agreed upon?

Why do you think that voters are voting for the far-right as a protest? Both the BNP and UKIP seem to have similar agendas and together they are projected to get more votes than the Liberal Democrats.

Pakistan. I know you talked to many of Saddam Hussein's torture victims and Iraqi refugees, who convinced you to back the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Would you be willing to speak to some of the victims of Pervez Musharraf's military ventures in Gilgit-Baltistan and the North West Frontier Province, and the relatives of those soliders who died in the Kargil War, which Musharraf led? I am sure they, plus the entire democratic opposition in Pakistan, would have a different opinion. I just don't understand how you justify giving Pakistan access to offensive weaponry, which threatens democratic India.

I would appreciate it if you could help facilitate communication between the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and the government. Some of them have some vital information on Taliban and Al-Qaeda activities in Kashmir, which are being aided by the Pakistani military and intelligence services.

I have tried writing to relevant government ministers and MPs, but have had no response.