INTL Anti-Europe sentiment soars

http://www.politics.co.uk/news/foreign-policy/anti-europe-sentiment-soars-$1297705.htm


Anti-Europe sentiment soars

Anti-Eu: British sentiment is as strong as ever

British hostility towards Europe is as strong as ever, according to a new poll out today, with overwhelming majorities favouring breaking EU rules and refusing to pay subsequent fines.
There was also strong support for unilaterally reclaiming powers from the European Union and the greatest opposition to adopting the Euro since 1995.
The ICM/TaxPayers' Alliance poll showed that a substantial majority saw the economic crisis as a reason to take back control of Britain's own trade and economic policy.
"Our polling shows that people are more Eurosceptic than ever - they are ready for an EU revolt," said TaxPayers' Alliance chief executive Matthew Elliott.
"Voters are sick of the huge cost of the EU's wasteful policies and corrupt institutions, and want to see the British government stand up to Brussels for once.
"Our politicians should start fighting the taxpayers' corner by breaking the EU's absurd rules and refusing to pay any fines they throw at us. Instead of trying to force through a treaty that no-one wants, the government should be taking back powers and telling the EU to stop its costly meddling."
According to the poll 69 per cent of the public want the UK to start breaking EU rules, a view held unanimously across all parties, social classes and regions. Equally, 60 per cent of Britons, and a majority across the board, believe we should refuse to pay any fines for breaking those rules.
A massive majority of 75 per cent believe the Lisbon treaty should go to a referendum with 62 per cent of those polled saying they would vote against ratification.
On joining the Euro, another enormous majority of 75 per cent would vote against joining in a referendum, with even 58 per cent of the pro-Euro Lib Dems saying they would vote no.
The poll was conducted on a random sample of 1,002 adults between May 1-4. A full table of the results is available on the TaxPayers' Alliance website, as is a detailed analysis.

The American government won't listen to us, and I'll bet the British government won't listen to their people either.

Seems the people in Brussels are not happy either.

Belgians protest over living costs


http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2008/10/2008106162640979201.html

International train services have been suspended and work at government offices has ground to a halt as thousands of workers in Belgium protested against rising living costs.

Public sector services in Brussels, the Belgian capital, were worst affected with many schools, museums and libraries closed, a pattern repeated in other Belgian cities and towns.


Belgian trade unions said employees in both public services and private industry were equally responsive in participating in the strike.


Nearly all public transport in Brussels was grounded from late on Sunday, with most tramlines cancelled and very few underground metro trains running.

"The day of action is a success," the Christian union federation (CSC) said in a statement.

Eurostar cancelled

In the midst of the financial crisis sweeping through Europe, Eurostar trains to London and Paris as well as high-speed Thalys services to France, Germany and the Netherlands were suspended.

Rail services were also stopped in the southern region of Wallonia and were infrequent in Flanders to the north.

Road traffic in the capital was also lighter than normal, with many non-strikers opting to take the day off.

In Belgium's second city of Antwerp, creches, museums and libraries were closed while in Bruges all public offices remained shut.

Charleroi and Liege in the southern region of Wallonia were also affected.

'Purchasing power'

The strike action took place the day after French bank BNP Paribas took a controlling interest in Belgium's largest banking group Fortis, which has been subject to three different bailout packages in a week.

Members of the liberal CGSLB union took to the streets outside the Brussels stock exchange distributing leaflets saying "purchasing power, what's left? Peanuts".

"The message is clear," said Philippe Vandenabeele, the union's secretary general.

"We are calling for better purchasing power for workers. There aren't the reserves left and it's time to think now of Mrs Everywoman rather than thinking of the banks."

Thierry Bodson, the general secretary of the Wallonia wing of the FGTB, one of the country's biggest trade unions, told local radio that one of the strikers' key demands was a reduction in energy costs via lower consumption tax on oil, gas and heating fuel.

While the level of protest differed from region to region, meaning the action fell short of a general strike, Bodson recalled that in June about 100,000 people had taken to the streets to protest against the steep rise in living costs.

In September, consumer price inflation in Belgium hit 5.46 per cent.

Tennessee gal said:

The American government won't listen to us, and I'll bet the British government won't listen to their people either.

Click to expand...

Correct, New Labour have been the worst, I see little difference between them and Obama.