I am appalled by this facebook group which has 228,840 members.  Just search for …It’s funny how our flag offends you but our benefits don’t!!!… and get as angry as I am.

I am an Austrian living in London. I will support England in this World Cup as I have supported England in 2006. However, with co-fans like these I have to seriously consider. I look forward to Londoners from where ever they are originally (USA, Germany, Portugal, South Africa, Italy, France, Brazil, Ghana,….) to support their teams, wave their flags and sing their songs and so should the English where ever they are in the world during the world cup. Let’s be proud of exceptional players which ever country they are from. Let’s celebrate teams that work well together. Celebrate excellence in the game. But let’s promise us one thing: Don’t let the racists, the xenophobes and the bigots of this world divide us and pitch us against each other. Don’t let them spoil our World Cup!

This facebook group links to the website of the FA (http://www.thefa.com/england)

The FA should distance itself immediately from this website.

Read the rest of this entry »

The LibDems sold out on Europe.

Find the relevant section of the Conservative Liberal Democrat coalition negotiations Agreements reached

9. Relations with the EU

We agree that the British Government will be a positive participant in the European Union, playing a strong and positive role with our partners, with the goal of ensuring that all the nations of Europe are equipped to face the challenges of the 21st century: global competitiveness, global warming and global poverty.

We agree that there should be no further transfer of sovereignty or powers over the course of the next Parliament. We will examine the balance of the EU’s existing competences and will, in particular, work to limit the application of the Working Time Directive in the United Kingdom.

We agree that we will amend the 1972 European Communities Act so that any proposed future Treaty that transferred areas of power, or competences, would be subject to a referendum on that Treaty – a ‘referendum lock’. We will amend the 1972 European Communities Act so that the use of any passerelle would require primary legislation.

We will examine the case for a United Kingdom Sovereignty Bill to make it clear that ultimate authority remains with Parliament. We agree that Britain will not join or prepare to join the Euro in this Parliament. We agree that we will strongly defend the UK’s national interests in the forthcoming EU budget negotiations and that the EU budget should only focus on those areas where the EU can add value. We agree that we will press for the European Parliament only to have one seat, in Brussels.

We agree that we will approach forthcoming legislation in the area of criminal justice on a case by case basis, with a view to maximising our country’s security, protecting Britain’s civil liberties and preserving the integrity of our criminal justice system. Britain will not participate in the establishment of any European Public Prosecutor.

At the end of the chapter 4 the also mention the single currency (no surpise there though):

4. Banking Reform

The parties also agree to rule out joining the European Single Currency during the duration of this agreement.

Detailed analysis and comments to follow soon.