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Category: EU matters

The Italian Job – Part One: 5 Star and the Lega blow the bloody doors off

The Italian Job – Part One: 5 Star and the Lega blow the bloody doors off

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This is an article about Italian politics. I have had to stop typing just to double check what I’ve written. Since when has Italian politics been interesting? Italian politicians of course – Berlusconi, bunga bunga, strange men from the Mezzogiorno who sleep with horses heads, big backhanders, ladies with big backsides, Parliamentary punch ups – Italian politicians have fascinated us. But that was entertainment not real politics.  For most of us modern Italian politics has been a distant background noise of…

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The economics of LICE. How do we deal with parasite taxation ?

The economics of LICE. How do we deal with parasite taxation ?

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LICE – Luxembourg, Ireland, Channel Isles, Estonia – we could add others and play alphabet soup, but the basic premise is the same small countries which live well by diverting the tax revenues of their larger neighbours. These are parasites not in the derogatory sense but in the biological sense of entities which live off others. This is not new, tax havens have been around for centuries but largely as an irritant to those next door. However in the last two decades things…

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Trying to work out what is Britain’s European Strategy

Trying to work out what is Britain’s European Strategy

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Other than, arguably, joining the US in the second Iraq war in 2003, the worst post-war strategic mistake made by any British government was the decision not to join what became the EU in 1958 at the start. Had it done so it would have played a leading role and would have helped shape it into an organisation with rules, aims and a culture with which it could have been much more comfortable. Rather than being seen as a foreign institution,…

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BACK TO THE FUTURE – Part 2 The past is a foreign country – Remainers and Leavers are in for surprises

BACK TO THE FUTURE – Part 2 The past is a foreign country – Remainers and Leavers are in for surprises

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In the previous article I highlighted how UK politicians have become so entrenched in their  insular debate that they are effectively ignoring the significant changes sweeping Europe. One can argue that our MPs primary focus has become to smash the other side rather than look at what is best for the country. So perhaps they should take some time to look beyond these shores and see how the politics are lining up. REMAINERS Congratulations! We are staying in! Enjoy the…

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BACK TO THE FUTURE – Part 1  Europe has changed – We can’t put  Humpty together again.

BACK TO THE FUTURE – Part 1  Europe has changed – We can’t put  Humpty together again.

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In the first of a two part series, Alanbrooke looks at our relationship with the EU. As the Brexit debate rolls on the recent ruling by the ECJ Advocate General that the UK can unilaterally revoke article 50 brings a new angle to proceedings. Suddenly it is a lot easier to stay in. The uncertainty around how to stay in the EU and under which terms looks a lot clearer and in some ways simpler. So set aside the mechanics of…

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With or without EU, will anybody follow Le Royaume-Uni’s lead?

With or without EU, will anybody follow Le Royaume-Uni’s lead?

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This market on which countries will leave the EU by the end of 2025 from Paddy Power on first inspection seems like an excellent way to contribute to the Paddy Power bonus fund. In terms of disasters for the United Kingdom a no deal Brexit is to picture the Hindenburg meets Chernobyl meets the fall of Singapore meets Solo: A Star Wars Story. I’m not sure any country will be in a hurry to repeat Brexit, particularly those countries in…

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Sweden sours? Will the far right make further inroads in Scandinavian social democracy?

Sweden sours? Will the far right make further inroads in Scandinavian social democracy?

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For the last 100 years, the Social Democrats have dominated Swedish politics.  They have been in government for all bar 22 of those years.  It used its hegemonic status to establish a social democratic culture that worked with the country’s Lutheran ethos and with business, and for a long time managed to preside over a successful and distinctive blend of high taxation supporting a strong social safety net and a dynamic economy. Their grip has been loosening for a generation. …

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The limits of populism. Will the hard right disappoint its fans’ most ardent hopes again in Sweden?

The limits of populism. Will the hard right disappoint its fans’ most ardent hopes again in Sweden?

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https://twitter.com/chrishanretty/status/1022595808003334144 Sweden has a general election on 9 September 2018.  You might have picked up on it because the newspapers have been drawing attention to the prospects of the Sweden Democrats as they are apparently rising in the polls.  For those that aren’t familiar with them, the Sweden Democrats are the descendant of the fascist movement but now looks like a fairly standard nationalist anti-immigration party.  Could such a party top the polls in a country famed for its social…

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