Well you won't be anymore, those that don't agree with you and can see the value will continue.
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Politics, politics, politics
- Thread starter markysimmo
- Start date
nayimfromthehalfwayline
Andy Thompson
The EU ombudsman has given a damning verdict on the way Jean-Claude Juncker's chief of staff was given the top post in the bloc's civil service.
The promotion of Martin Selmayr, nicknamed "the monster" by his boss, was fast-tracked in February, in a move condemned by one Euro MP as a "coup".
Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly identified four counts of maladministration by the European Commission.
She said the affair had damaged public trust in EU institutions.
Ms O'Reilly agreed with the European Parliament's assessment that the promotion had "stretched and possibly even overstretched the limits of the law".
However, her report will not affect his promotion. She calls only for the top job to have an appointment procedure separate from that for other senior posts.
Who is Martin Selmayr?
A lawyer originally from the German city of Bonn, he has worked for the Commission since 2004, but really came to the fore in 2014 when he was picked by Mr Juncker, then the new president of the European Commission, as his chief of staff.
He masterminded Mr Juncker's campaign for the presidency, and has since been described as the most powerful man in Brussels and the "Frank Underwood" of the Commission, in a reference to the House of Cards political thriller.
In 2017, there were reports that he had leaked details of a confidential Brexit dinner meeting between Theresa May and Mr Juncker. German newspaper FAZ said Mr Juncker had left "ten times more sceptical than before".
Mr Selmayr has been in charge of the 32,000-strong EU bureaucracy since 1 March. One widely-circulated joke in Brussels about his alleged self-importance runs: "What's the difference between GHod and Selmayr? GHod knows he's not Selmayr."
How was Selmayr promoted?
It all happened in the space of a dizzying few minutes at a meeting of European commissioners on 21 February.
Mr Selmayr was appointed deputy secretary-general and the existing top civil servant, Alexander Italianer, suddenly announced he was retiring.
Without being promoted to the deputy's post first, Mr Selmayr could not have been given the top job. The only other candidate for deputy had conveniently pulled out the day before.
Mr Juncker then said his chief of staff should get the top job and he was duly appointed.
The European Parliament condemned the handling of the promotion, and there were reports that Mr Juncker had threatened to quit if the newly appointed secretary-general was forced out.
What does the ombudsman say?
In her scathing report, Emily O'Reilly pointed to several "issues of concern":
The European Commission said it did not share all aspects of the report, but welcomed her decision not to contest the legality of the appointment.
The promotion of Martin Selmayr, nicknamed "the monster" by his boss, was fast-tracked in February, in a move condemned by one Euro MP as a "coup".
Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly identified four counts of maladministration by the European Commission.
She said the affair had damaged public trust in EU institutions.
Ms O'Reilly agreed with the European Parliament's assessment that the promotion had "stretched and possibly even overstretched the limits of the law".
However, her report will not affect his promotion. She calls only for the top job to have an appointment procedure separate from that for other senior posts.
Who is Martin Selmayr?
A lawyer originally from the German city of Bonn, he has worked for the Commission since 2004, but really came to the fore in 2014 when he was picked by Mr Juncker, then the new president of the European Commission, as his chief of staff.
He masterminded Mr Juncker's campaign for the presidency, and has since been described as the most powerful man in Brussels and the "Frank Underwood" of the Commission, in a reference to the House of Cards political thriller.
In 2017, there were reports that he had leaked details of a confidential Brexit dinner meeting between Theresa May and Mr Juncker. German newspaper FAZ said Mr Juncker had left "ten times more sceptical than before".
Mr Selmayr has been in charge of the 32,000-strong EU bureaucracy since 1 March. One widely-circulated joke in Brussels about his alleged self-importance runs: "What's the difference between GHod and Selmayr? GHod knows he's not Selmayr."
How was Selmayr promoted?
It all happened in the space of a dizzying few minutes at a meeting of European commissioners on 21 February.
Mr Selmayr was appointed deputy secretary-general and the existing top civil servant, Alexander Italianer, suddenly announced he was retiring.
Without being promoted to the deputy's post first, Mr Selmayr could not have been given the top job. The only other candidate for deputy had conveniently pulled out the day before.
Mr Juncker then said his chief of staff should get the top job and he was duly appointed.
The European Parliament condemned the handling of the promotion, and there were reports that Mr Juncker had threatened to quit if the newly appointed secretary-general was forced out.
What does the ombudsman say?
In her scathing report, Emily O'Reilly pointed to several "issues of concern":
- Mr Selmayr had not "recused himself" from decision-making that led to the deputy vacancy that he ultimately filled
- The appointment procedure for the deputy role was carried out "to make Mr Selmayr eligible for his immediate reassignment as the new secretary-general"
- The Commission reacted to valid concerns in an "evasive, defensive and legalistic manner".
The European Commission said it did not share all aspects of the report, but welcomed her decision not to contest the legality of the appointment.
nayimfromthehalfwayline
Andy Thompson
What's the Brexiteers' alternative plan?
Laura Kuenssberg
Political editor
As Westminster is settling down to the next phase of its collective mild nervous breakdown, the pushback to Brexiteers' criticism of Theresa May's Chequers plan is that the naysayers don't have their own.
It's not that far off from saying 'come and have a go if you think you're hard enough'!
Or, in more polite terms, the kind that your parents might have advised, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.
Those in government are deeply frustrated that they get knocked about by criticism from Brexiteers (and not just Boris Johnson, honest) who are right now engaged in an overt plan to kill off the prime minister's plan, based on months of work, but are yet to front up with their own proposal.
In the coming days, the Brexiteers, organised behind the scenes by that powerful grouping, the ERG, which regular readers here will be very familiar with, have a plan to counter that accusation.
I hear from Sunday onwards we should expect several days of carefully planned announcements, almost like a government grid perhaps, where the Brexiteers, with their eyes ruthlessly on their short term prize of "chucking Chequers", will lay out an alternative.
A roll out of written papers will begin over the weekend, with a big event expected in Westminster on Monday which, if it comes off, would just by chance coincide with Boris Johnson's next newspaper column.
Plans, which are in this very febrile environment subject to a whole lot of change, are right now for a push on Sunday to make the argument for a free trade agreement, rather than Chequers.
On Monday, we should see an explanation of the Brexiteers' vision for money and migration, and then on Wednesday for solutions to be presented for the crucial Northern Irish border question and other issues like agriculture and fishing.
The idea is not, sources say crucially, to put pressure directly on Theresa May to trigger some kind of putsch.
But don't be in any doubt, it is a carefully worked-through plan designed to present alternatives to what the government has put on the table, calculated to force the prime minister to ditch the policy.
Of course, by publishing their own plans, the Brexiteers' will submit themselves to the same kind of scrutiny that the government itself has.
It is one thing, they are well aware, to be merely critics, quite another to commit to alternatives that it's likely Number 10 will waste little time in tearing down.
The emerging consensus among Brexiteers seems to be that it is better to present an alternative that will be open to criticism, than face the charge of having no worked out ideas of their own.
The idea, when ministers say to MPs 'well it's Chequers or nothing', is their solution can fill in that blank. And to try, notably, to make Theresa May perform a huge U-turn before the Tory conference and admit, whether privately, tacitly, or publicly, that the July settlement simply can't stand.
Those involved in designing the "chuck Chequers" plan are careful to point out that they would absolutely support the prime minister in shifting position. The condition being, if she does their bidding, they won't seek to damage her further.
The political truth is too that while many Brexiteers would be ruthless in trying to achieve their political goal, their aim right now, and this goes for Boris Johnson too, is that the target is changing the policy, not changing the Tory party's leader.
Yet for those in government right now, there is no question whatsoever of ditching the Chequers deal. Remember it's only the basis for a negotiation, and it took the government two years (yes two years) to come to that position. And insiders say for all the claims of Chequers being dead, in fact it will to a large extent be part of the eventual deal.
In other words, remember, remember, remember Chequers was always a document from which a negotiation would finally start, and inside government there is still a strong belief that elements of it will survive.
There's an acknowledgement inside government too that the next few weeks will be extremely testing. But right now, there is not even a sniff that they would be able, even if willing, to give one inch to the Brexiteers.
But they are organised, determined and willing to try to force her to move, and might have more in their armoury if the prime minister sticks to her ground.
Laura Kuenssberg
Political editor
As Westminster is settling down to the next phase of its collective mild nervous breakdown, the pushback to Brexiteers' criticism of Theresa May's Chequers plan is that the naysayers don't have their own.
It's not that far off from saying 'come and have a go if you think you're hard enough'!
Or, in more polite terms, the kind that your parents might have advised, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.
Those in government are deeply frustrated that they get knocked about by criticism from Brexiteers (and not just Boris Johnson, honest) who are right now engaged in an overt plan to kill off the prime minister's plan, based on months of work, but are yet to front up with their own proposal.
In the coming days, the Brexiteers, organised behind the scenes by that powerful grouping, the ERG, which regular readers here will be very familiar with, have a plan to counter that accusation.
I hear from Sunday onwards we should expect several days of carefully planned announcements, almost like a government grid perhaps, where the Brexiteers, with their eyes ruthlessly on their short term prize of "chucking Chequers", will lay out an alternative.
A roll out of written papers will begin over the weekend, with a big event expected in Westminster on Monday which, if it comes off, would just by chance coincide with Boris Johnson's next newspaper column.
Plans, which are in this very febrile environment subject to a whole lot of change, are right now for a push on Sunday to make the argument for a free trade agreement, rather than Chequers.
On Monday, we should see an explanation of the Brexiteers' vision for money and migration, and then on Wednesday for solutions to be presented for the crucial Northern Irish border question and other issues like agriculture and fishing.
The idea is not, sources say crucially, to put pressure directly on Theresa May to trigger some kind of putsch.
But don't be in any doubt, it is a carefully worked-through plan designed to present alternatives to what the government has put on the table, calculated to force the prime minister to ditch the policy.
Of course, by publishing their own plans, the Brexiteers' will submit themselves to the same kind of scrutiny that the government itself has.
It is one thing, they are well aware, to be merely critics, quite another to commit to alternatives that it's likely Number 10 will waste little time in tearing down.
The emerging consensus among Brexiteers seems to be that it is better to present an alternative that will be open to criticism, than face the charge of having no worked out ideas of their own.
The idea, when ministers say to MPs 'well it's Chequers or nothing', is their solution can fill in that blank. And to try, notably, to make Theresa May perform a huge U-turn before the Tory conference and admit, whether privately, tacitly, or publicly, that the July settlement simply can't stand.
Those involved in designing the "chuck Chequers" plan are careful to point out that they would absolutely support the prime minister in shifting position. The condition being, if she does their bidding, they won't seek to damage her further.
The political truth is too that while many Brexiteers would be ruthless in trying to achieve their political goal, their aim right now, and this goes for Boris Johnson too, is that the target is changing the policy, not changing the Tory party's leader.
Yet for those in government right now, there is no question whatsoever of ditching the Chequers deal. Remember it's only the basis for a negotiation, and it took the government two years (yes two years) to come to that position. And insiders say for all the claims of Chequers being dead, in fact it will to a large extent be part of the eventual deal.
In other words, remember, remember, remember Chequers was always a document from which a negotiation would finally start, and inside government there is still a strong belief that elements of it will survive.
There's an acknowledgement inside government too that the next few weeks will be extremely testing. But right now, there is not even a sniff that they would be able, even if willing, to give one inch to the Brexiteers.
But they are organised, determined and willing to try to force her to move, and might have more in their armoury if the prime minister sticks to her ground.
nayimfromthehalfwayline
Andy Thompson
Vince Cable could stand down as Lib Dem leader next year
Sir Vince Cable could stand down as Lib Dem leader as soon as next year - and wants the contest to replace him to be opened up to non-party members.
In a speech later, he will set out plans to transform the party into a "movement for moderates".
Party sources say he wants to see this delivered while he is still leader and wants to stay in his job for crucial Brexit developments.
He also wants to continue campaigning for a second EU referendum.
"He has a set of objectives rather than a timeline," a senior Lib Dem source said.
The Lib Dems have 12 MPs - down from the 57 they had in 2010.
The party has struggled electorally since 2010, when it formed a coalition government with the Conservatives and remains in single figures in the opinion polls.
Sir Vince has predicted a realignment of British politics, as Labour and the Conservatives split over Brexit and it is thought he wants to ensure the Lib Dems, who are campaigning for a second EU referendum, are well placed to work with any new "centre ground" groups.
In his speech, he will urge the party to back plans for a "supporters' scheme" aimed at giving 200,000 online supporters more of a say in the party's direction.
But any changes would have to be approved by party members and will be discussed at their conference in Brighton later this month.
Sir Vince took over as leader in July 2017 without a contest following the resignation of Tim Farron.
According to pre-released extracts from his speech, the former business secretary will urge the Lib Dems to introduce a supporters' scheme - to mobilise more "moderate, liberal-minded voters" in campaigns such as opposing Brexit.
The party had 99,200 members as of August 2018. Sir Vince will say: "We should widen membership with a new class of 'supporters' who pay nothing to sign up to the party's values.
"They should enjoy a range of entitlements, including the right to vote for the leadership and to shape the party's campaigning online."
'Not just protest group'
The party should be in "constant conversation" with "the vast swathe of voters in the centre ground whom we are yet to persuade", he will say.
"Groups like More United, 38 Degrees, Avaaz and Change.org have shown us how these regular conversations can happen, how we can engage hundreds of thousands of people online.
"I want our party to do that and to offer our movement a political arm within Parliament. So it is not just a protest group banging at the door, but a movement with a voice on the inside - our parliamentary party."
The Labour Party changed its membership rules under Ed Miliband from an electoral college system in which union members, MPs and party members had one-third of the vote each to a "one member one vote" system, which allowed "registered supporters" to take part for a £3 fee.
Labour's membership swelled in 2015 and it is thought to have had about 540,000 members as of April 2018, up from around 190,000 in 2014.
But there were claims that the new rules were fuelling "entryism" - allowing other groups to infiltrate the party in an effort to promote their own agenda.
Sir Vince will say: "The Liberal Democrats are not a socialist party concerned with extreme-left entryism or a right-wing party trying to keep out extreme right-wingers. We are a centre ground, pro-European, liberal and social democratic party, welcoming like-minded supporters.
"This will be a movement for moderates."
It is thought that Sir Vince plans to rewrite the rules so that supporters need to be enrolled for 12 months before voting, to prevent infiltration by rival parties.
He is hoping to emulate the success of Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party in Canada, which leaped from third place to victory in 2015.
Im not a particular fan of the Lib Dems. I think on the Venn diagram of political parties they probably suit me best, but Ive never really believed in them. But - I think these are some sensible moves to be making. Its a bit different, and more thinking like that is needed.
Sir Vince Cable could stand down as Lib Dem leader as soon as next year - and wants the contest to replace him to be opened up to non-party members.
In a speech later, he will set out plans to transform the party into a "movement for moderates".
Party sources say he wants to see this delivered while he is still leader and wants to stay in his job for crucial Brexit developments.
He also wants to continue campaigning for a second EU referendum.
"He has a set of objectives rather than a timeline," a senior Lib Dem source said.
The Lib Dems have 12 MPs - down from the 57 they had in 2010.
The party has struggled electorally since 2010, when it formed a coalition government with the Conservatives and remains in single figures in the opinion polls.
Sir Vince has predicted a realignment of British politics, as Labour and the Conservatives split over Brexit and it is thought he wants to ensure the Lib Dems, who are campaigning for a second EU referendum, are well placed to work with any new "centre ground" groups.
In his speech, he will urge the party to back plans for a "supporters' scheme" aimed at giving 200,000 online supporters more of a say in the party's direction.
But any changes would have to be approved by party members and will be discussed at their conference in Brighton later this month.
Sir Vince took over as leader in July 2017 without a contest following the resignation of Tim Farron.
According to pre-released extracts from his speech, the former business secretary will urge the Lib Dems to introduce a supporters' scheme - to mobilise more "moderate, liberal-minded voters" in campaigns such as opposing Brexit.
The party had 99,200 members as of August 2018. Sir Vince will say: "We should widen membership with a new class of 'supporters' who pay nothing to sign up to the party's values.
"They should enjoy a range of entitlements, including the right to vote for the leadership and to shape the party's campaigning online."
'Not just protest group'
The party should be in "constant conversation" with "the vast swathe of voters in the centre ground whom we are yet to persuade", he will say.
"Groups like More United, 38 Degrees, Avaaz and Change.org have shown us how these regular conversations can happen, how we can engage hundreds of thousands of people online.
"I want our party to do that and to offer our movement a political arm within Parliament. So it is not just a protest group banging at the door, but a movement with a voice on the inside - our parliamentary party."
The Labour Party changed its membership rules under Ed Miliband from an electoral college system in which union members, MPs and party members had one-third of the vote each to a "one member one vote" system, which allowed "registered supporters" to take part for a £3 fee.
Labour's membership swelled in 2015 and it is thought to have had about 540,000 members as of April 2018, up from around 190,000 in 2014.
But there were claims that the new rules were fuelling "entryism" - allowing other groups to infiltrate the party in an effort to promote their own agenda.
Sir Vince will say: "The Liberal Democrats are not a socialist party concerned with extreme-left entryism or a right-wing party trying to keep out extreme right-wingers. We are a centre ground, pro-European, liberal and social democratic party, welcoming like-minded supporters.
"This will be a movement for moderates."
It is thought that Sir Vince plans to rewrite the rules so that supporters need to be enrolled for 12 months before voting, to prevent infiltration by rival parties.
He is hoping to emulate the success of Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party in Canada, which leaped from third place to victory in 2015.
Im not a particular fan of the Lib Dems. I think on the Venn diagram of political parties they probably suit me best, but Ive never really believed in them. But - I think these are some sensible moves to be making. Its a bit different, and more thinking like that is needed.
ShipOfTheseus
Ruel Fox
I like the idea of a Momentum for the alt-centre. Inertia, we could call it.
nayimfromthehalfwayline
Andy Thompson
Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson and his wife Marina Wheeler have confirmed they have separated.
In a joint statement, they said they are now in the process of divorcing, after the Sun newspaper broke the news of their split.
The couple have been married for 25 years and said the decision was taken some months ago.
Mr Johnson quit the cabinet in July with an attack on Theresa May's Brexit strategy.
In a joint statement, he and Ms Wheeler said: "Several months ago, after 25 years of marriage, we decided it was in our best interests to separate.
"We have subsequently agreed to divorce and that process is under way.
"As friends we will continue to support our four children in the years ahead.
"We will not be commenting further".
Hoepfully this keeps him suitably distracted and away from politics
In a joint statement, they said they are now in the process of divorcing, after the Sun newspaper broke the news of their split.
The couple have been married for 25 years and said the decision was taken some months ago.
Mr Johnson quit the cabinet in July with an attack on Theresa May's Brexit strategy.
In a joint statement, he and Ms Wheeler said: "Several months ago, after 25 years of marriage, we decided it was in our best interests to separate.
"We have subsequently agreed to divorce and that process is under way.
"As friends we will continue to support our four children in the years ahead.
"We will not be commenting further".
Hoepfully this keeps him suitably distracted and away from politics
Gutter Boy
Tim Sherwood
The problem with the Lib Dems is their contradictions have been exposed. In the south they try and out-Tory the Tories, and in the north they try and out-Labour Labour; which leaves them with little coherence or identity.
I'd be interested though to see how a Jo Swinson or Norman Lamb party shaped up - both seem decent MPs. Tom Brake is a complete clown shoe though
I'd be interested though to see how a Jo Swinson or Norman Lamb party shaped up - both seem decent MPs. Tom Brake is a complete clown shoe though
ShipOfTheseus
Ruel Fox
There's absolutely no chance that this keeps him away from politics. He's clearing the decks of negative stories before he launches a challenge in November.
Gutter Boy
Tim Sherwood
I had an idea yesterday about solving Brexit (having a FTA while considering the NI border) which I've not heard anyone mention before
What about a customs union just with Ireland? I.e. we pay to upgrade the tech at the Irish ports and support them with all the rules of origin/external tariff stuff.
We've had a customs union with Ireland previously (up till the 1920s) and I was thinking about how people aren't a problem in the border discussions because we have a prexisting bilateral travel area. So I didn't know if the same could be done with goods?
What about a customs union just with Ireland? I.e. we pay to upgrade the tech at the Irish ports and support them with all the rules of origin/external tariff stuff.
We've had a customs union with Ireland previously (up till the 1920s) and I was thinking about how people aren't a problem in the border discussions because we have a prexisting bilateral travel area. So I didn't know if the same could be done with goods?
nayimfromthehalfwayline
Andy Thompson
I do fear that is the case, but we live in hope
ShipOfTheseus
Ruel Fox
Ireland is a member of the EU and in its customs union. Therefore it can't enter into a customs union with a third country.
ShipOfTheseus
Ruel Fox
He's still the favourite with the membership despite utter incompetence as Mayor (garden bridge, cable car, routemasters, water cannons), racism and gaffes as Foreign Secretary (Zaghari-Ratcliffe, Libya "dead bodies", Myamnar Kipling), roostering up his leadership campaign in 2016 to the extent that Gove and Leadsom abandoned him, a long history of infidelity and sexual incontinence, and a tape proving his complicity in a plot to have a journalist beaten.
It's baffling.
Gutter Boy
Tim Sherwood
But if Ireland consents and it solves the border issue. It's also less of a compromise of the single market 'integrity' and all that gonads than the goods-only access. The common travel area is already something a bit exceptional that they accept. The fact that us and Ireland effectively have shared sovereignty over a particular region is something a bit different to anywhere else in the continent.
It's still importing into the EU so all those rules that prevent us will still be there regardless if it's just Ireland
nayimfromthehalfwayline
Andy Thompson
It goes beyond baffling to be honest.
Danishfurniturelover
the prettiest spice girl
You still need to ask yourself why the EU want us to stay in so much.
To take all your money to give to peasants in eastern Europe and French farmers.
To tell our fisherman they can not fish in international waters that they are legally allowed to do so. While European fisherman come into ours.
To stop us from giving state aid to industries to help them more competitive on the world stage.
Or because they are dictators trying to control every aspect of people's lives.
To take all your money to give to peasants in eastern Europe and French farmers.
To tell our fisherman they can not fish in international waters that they are legally allowed to do so. While European fisherman come into ours.
To stop us from giving state aid to industries to help them more competitive on the world stage.
Or because they are dictators trying to control every aspect of people's lives.
parklane1
Teddy Sheringham
Clegg killed them as a serious party when he bent over for Cameron and kept him in a job.
glorygloryeze
Les Medley
Interesting times...
'Irexit Freedom' group aiming to take Republic out of EU
A group calling itself 'Irexit Freedom' has held a conference in Dublin outlining reasons to take Ireland out of the EU.
Around 300 people arrived at the event held in the Bonnington Hotel, with each person in attendance paying €8 towards the new party.
Saturday's event was organised by Hermann Kelly, a former press officer for Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage.
He is also the director of communications for the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy group in the European Parliament.
The Londonderry native has said he aims to register Irexit Freedom as a political party in the Republic with the aim of taking the country out of the European Union, and added such a scenario could be one way of avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland.
RTE reports the party initially plans to run candidates in European elections, with the view to running candidates in future General Elections.
In its programme it pledges to support "reunited and independent Ireland under the control of the Irish people".
The party's other objectives also focus on protection for the Irish language and support of "stable families for procreation".
In a country where more than two thirds of people have a positive view of the European Union, the group could face an uphill battle for support.
Amid chaotic negotiations between Brussels and London on the future of the UK's relationship with the EU, support in the Republic for the EU grew by around 5% over the past year, according to recent polling data.
Belfast Telegraph Digital
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/...ming-to-take-republic-out-of-eu-37296282.html
'Irexit' group seeking to register as political party
Updated / Saturday, 8 Sep 2018 22:32
The party is seeking enough signatures to officially register as a political party
Up to 300 people gathered at a Dublin hotel today to hear why Ireland should leave the EU.
The conference was organised by Hermann Kelly, a former press officer for Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage.
Hermann Kelly, who is from Co Derry, intends to register 'Irexit Freedom' as a political party and is seeking 300 registered voters to form the party membership.
'Irexit Freedom' wants to field candidates in the European elections and then in national elections.
The draft political programme for the party states that "an exit from the EU would permit the Irish people to take back control" of citizenship, currency, immigration, sea-fisheries and trade, among other things.
Its programme also pledges support for a "reunited and independent Ireland under the control of the Irish people and not that of either London or Brussels".
Among the party's secondary objectives are opposing the "political / media hegemony", "protection of the Irish language" and as a "patriotic party" it is "pro-natalist and supportive of stable families for procreation".
https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2018/0908/992473-irexit-freedom-party/
'Irexit Freedom' group aiming to take Republic out of EU
A group calling itself 'Irexit Freedom' has held a conference in Dublin outlining reasons to take Ireland out of the EU.
Around 300 people arrived at the event held in the Bonnington Hotel, with each person in attendance paying €8 towards the new party.
Saturday's event was organised by Hermann Kelly, a former press officer for Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage.
He is also the director of communications for the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy group in the European Parliament.
The Londonderry native has said he aims to register Irexit Freedom as a political party in the Republic with the aim of taking the country out of the European Union, and added such a scenario could be one way of avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland.
RTE reports the party initially plans to run candidates in European elections, with the view to running candidates in future General Elections.
In its programme it pledges to support "reunited and independent Ireland under the control of the Irish people".
The party's other objectives also focus on protection for the Irish language and support of "stable families for procreation".
In a country where more than two thirds of people have a positive view of the European Union, the group could face an uphill battle for support.
Amid chaotic negotiations between Brussels and London on the future of the UK's relationship with the EU, support in the Republic for the EU grew by around 5% over the past year, according to recent polling data.
Belfast Telegraph Digital
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/...ming-to-take-republic-out-of-eu-37296282.html
'Irexit' group seeking to register as political party
Updated / Saturday, 8 Sep 2018 22:32
The party is seeking enough signatures to officially register as a political party
Up to 300 people gathered at a Dublin hotel today to hear why Ireland should leave the EU.
The conference was organised by Hermann Kelly, a former press officer for Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage.
Hermann Kelly, who is from Co Derry, intends to register 'Irexit Freedom' as a political party and is seeking 300 registered voters to form the party membership.
'Irexit Freedom' wants to field candidates in the European elections and then in national elections.
The draft political programme for the party states that "an exit from the EU would permit the Irish people to take back control" of citizenship, currency, immigration, sea-fisheries and trade, among other things.
Its programme also pledges support for a "reunited and independent Ireland under the control of the Irish people and not that of either London or Brussels".
Among the party's secondary objectives are opposing the "political / media hegemony", "protection of the Irish language" and as a "patriotic party" it is "pro-natalist and supportive of stable families for procreation".
https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2018/0908/992473-irexit-freedom-party/