Comments on: The UK’s Toxic Discourse; Miliband and Euro-Defence http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/europe-and-the-world/the-uks-toxic-discourse-miliband-and-euro-defence/ European Opinion Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:11:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Nosemonkey http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/europe-and-the-world/the-uks-toxic-discourse-miliband-and-euro-defence/#comment-18328 Nosemonkey Tue, 04 Dec 2007 08:09:17 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/the-european-union/the-uks-toxic-discourse-miliband-and-euro-defence#comment-18328 I wouldn't say I buy into the "diminishing EU" interpretation - in fact I'm still rather hopeful of Miliband's attitude towards Brussels, as I rather like the rhetoric of further expansion through affiliate membership. What I am worried about, though, is the way that even an almost entirely pro-EU Foreign Secretary (Miliband being the closest we've had to a Europhile in the job pretty much ever) seems to have to dose his speeches up with vaguely anti-EU-sounding rhetoric in an effort to keep the press onside, and appears to have had all his radical new approaches vetoed lest they annoy Murdoch and the Mail. And the press then all come up with entirely contradictory interpretations of what he's said based on prior prejudices anyway... I wouldn’t say I buy into the “diminishing EU” interpretation - in fact I’m still rather hopeful of Miliband’s attitude towards Brussels, as I rather like the rhetoric of further expansion through affiliate membership.

What I am worried about, though, is the way that even an almost entirely pro-EU Foreign Secretary (Miliband being the closest we’ve had to a Europhile in the job pretty much ever) seems to have to dose his speeches up with vaguely anti-EU-sounding rhetoric in an effort to keep the press onside, and appears to have had all his radical new approaches vetoed lest they annoy Murdoch and the Mail. And the press then all come up with entirely contradictory interpretations of what he’s said based on prior prejudices anyway…

]]> By: EvilEuropean http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/europe-and-the-world/the-uks-toxic-discourse-miliband-and-euro-defence/#comment-18325 EvilEuropean Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:29:13 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/the-european-union/the-uks-toxic-discourse-miliband-and-euro-defence#comment-18325 Doug is right, debates on the EU in the UK seems to be undertaken in a reality free-zone. No one is even able to look even 5 minutes into the future of a rapidly changing world. Debates in the UK are stuck at primary school level compared to other European and even non-European nations. Very sad, very mypoic and very damaging to British intrests. Doug is right, debates on the EU in the UK seems to be undertaken in a reality free-zone. No one is even able to look even 5 minutes into the future of a rapidly changing world.

Debates in the UK are stuck at primary school level compared to other European and even non-European nations. Very sad, very mypoic and very damaging to British intrests.

]]> By: Doug (not Muir) http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/europe-and-the-world/the-uks-toxic-discourse-miliband-and-euro-defence/#comment-18324 Doug (not Muir) Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:15:42 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/the-european-union/the-uks-toxic-discourse-miliband-and-euro-defence#comment-18324 I readlize this is a sign of personal weakness, but I love, love, love UK debates on the EU. On the other hand, that's probably because I see them as generally consequence-free and such fine examples of eccentricity and visitations to cloud-cuckoo land. I readlize this is a sign of personal weakness, but I love, love, love UK debates on the EU. On the other hand, that’s probably because I see them as generally consequence-free and such fine examples of eccentricity and visitations to cloud-cuckoo land.

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