Lord Tebbit foresees "West European Republic"

[Al.]

In Monday's Torygraph. The "two-tiered" version in earnest? I'd say that shattering the Eurozone and breaking up the EU would do more good; just maintain the free-trade zones.

[SIZE="3"]European countries to merge into 'West European Republic', Lord Tebbit says[/SIZE]

In a speech, Lord Tebbit, who was in Margaret Thatcher's Cabinet in the 1980s, says the creation of a new "west European republic" is inevitable after some of the chaotic reactions to the credit crunch.

Lord Tebbit is speaking at a dinner tonight to mark the 20th anniversary of Lady Thatcher's speech in Bruges when she criticised the encroaching interference from the European Union.
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He will tell an audience which is expected to include Baroness Thatcher: "When the chips went down, the EMU states acted each in its own national interest regardless of their mutual obligation.

"In short the euro was exposed as a single currency with 15 Chancellors of the Exchequer and 15 Treasuries.

"In the long run there can only be one Chancellor, one Treasury, one tax system, one economic policy for any one currency – and that means one Government and one state."

[Victor Meldrew]

He has a point about the 15 chancellors... And, yes, this would be bad for us

[Keith-M]

He has a point about the 15 chancellors... And, yes, this would be bad for us

Well we'd never win Eurovision again, but other than that I can't see the disadvantage.

[wysiwyg]

15 Chancers more like.. but he has hit upon the fundamental truth... a common currency needs a common approach

But that has been the idea of the Federalists for decades now... Lisbon was only another step on the road... in fact, it was probably the most important one

[eurosceptic]

This sort of two tiered approach is the solution to the european dilema. Just hope we have the sense to stay out of the west european republic though.

[michael1965]

It's interesting he describes it as the "Western European Republic" The last word being designed to be as unpalatable as possible to a UK audience. But what about the other constitutional monarchies like Spain, Denmark, Sweden, or Belgium? The idea is a complete nonsense, because even in the core countries, the people won't vote for a unitary state.

What is likely IMO, is a major assault on the tax harmonisation problem (as they see it). I think Ireland's challenge will be to minimise the scope of this. ie. give Brussels some tax raising power, enough to maintain the stability of the financial system, but still keep tax competition.

[odie1kanobe]

Norman where have you been.
Then again its Halloween.
An outing is a must
Your ideas are Bust
See you in 2009.

[Podolski]

wonder who'll be first to say "on yer bike mate"? oops, I've said it!

[Thac0man]

Tebbit has a logical point, but I don't expect the power houses of Europe to initiate plans to bail out basket case European economies. One of the first things that came to the fore in this crises was Germany and France, as expected, cut loose Greece, Spain and Italy. Without the big three (FR, D, GB) on board, Tebbits vision, needed though it may be, is not going to happen.

[Vega1447]

In Monday's Torygraph. The "two-tiered" version in earnest? I'd say that shattering the Eurozone and breaking up the EU would do more good; just maintain the free-trade zones.

Why not just call him Norman Tebbit? It's what his mother called him..

Baron This, Earl That, a load of old b0ll1x imo.

And it gives an air of gravitas to retired or (as in Peter Mandleson's case)
reactivated pols that they do not deserve.

And as for "Sir Anthony" a kick up the aRsE for any journo that uses his title other than in derision.