Why are the French Getting an MP for London?

[xoggoth]

Hmmm. Apparent logic in both arguments, although if the trend continues of people voting wherever they are sited, it will inevitably be used as an argument by the Europhiles that the national borders are less relevant, as an argument for a common political system. The stated purpose for any political move is not necessarily how will it be used in future.

[pacharan]

Hmmm. Apparent logic in both arguments, although if the trend continues of people voting wherever they are sited, it will inevitably be used as an argument by the Europhiles that the national borders are less relevant, as an argument for a common political system. The stated purpose for any political move is not necessarily how will it be used in future.

Yes, exactly. And the really worrying thing is that the European Commission, according to some observers, is the perfect apparatus into which a tyrannical dictator could step. Even if its current objectives are ostensibly benign.

[Diver]

The french own most of our water companies, new bridges and are set to build and own the new tolled motorways. obviously they an MP to own the bits of England they now own.

Parlez-vous français?

England Doomed to be French territory

[Mich the Tester]

Firstly, Pach, did you even read the article? You're on about something completely different.

Secondly, I'm not sure if I'd be happy about this if I was a French person still living in France. Why should expats who don't live there (or presumably pay taxes there) anymore get to influence political decisions there. It reminds me a bit of Shur Sean sitting in Marbella telling everyone what Scotland should do. It doesn't concern them anymore.

Firstly, I don't think he did, no.

Secondly, that's a matter for the French parliament to decide, so nothing to worry about for British people. But I'd suggest this to you; many countries, including GB, make laws that affect expats, especially in matters of tax, inheritance, property laws and education for kids who are still in their own country healthcare for relatives who are still back home and I'd argue that if laws affect citizens, citizens should have some influence over those laws. It's not true that people who've left are unaffected; they often are.

As well as that, across the world there are 100s of millions, maybe shortly even a billion people who are on the move, leaving to study, work, for their relationship, etcetera; in the Eu it's tens of millions, many of them don't have a vote anywhere as very few countries give voting rights to immigrants. Whether voting rights for immigrants is a good thing is a different argument, but I'd suggest that if there's a large, growing number of disenfranchised people in the world, it's a recipe for unrest. At the moment, charismatic leaders are whipping up nationalists into a fervour; what happens when some charismatic leader of migrants stands up and starts whipping up trouble?

In short, a good idea from the French IMHO, and even if it isn't a good idea, there's nothing for Britons to worry about.

[Doggy Styles]

The french own most of our water companies, new bridges and are set to build and own the new tolled motorways. obviously they an MP to own the bits of England they now own.

Parlez-vous français?

England Doomed to be French territory

We should never have given Calais back.

[Mich the Tester]

Hmmm. Apparent logic in both arguments, although if the trend continues of people voting wherever they are sited, it will inevitably be used as an argument by the Europhiles that the national borders are less relevant, as an argument for a common political system. The stated purpose for any political move is not necessarily how will it be used in future.

Agree on the last bit, but as for relevance of national borders; in some ways they already are less relevant as businesses and especially finance flows are less encumbered by national borders. In other ways I don't think nation states are becoming less relevant though; that's because electorates all over Europe are reacting against what they see as a threat to their nation states, and are acting increasingly defensively. The nation state is here to stay for quite some time yet and I actually believe that's a good thing as we need diversity in lawmaking, problem solving, economic approaches and cultural values; one big EU federation would be 'too big too fail' in the same way as banks which were all run along the same lines.

[pacharan]

Firstly, I don't think he did, no.

Oh yes I did.

At the moment, charismatic leaders are whipping up nationalists into a fervour; what happens when some charismatic leader of migrants stands up and starts whipping up trouble?

What French people living in the UK? Hardly disenfranchised I shouldn't have thought. In fact the only people coming here who are likely to feel disenfranchised are those who probably come from countries to which they can't/ won't return so their having the vote in their home country is of little consequence.

In short, a good idea from the French IMHO, and even if it isn't a good idea, there's nothing for Britons to worry about.

Well, that's your view.

[Mich the Tester]

What French people living in the UK? Hardly disenfranchised I shouldn't have thought.

NO, they aren't disenfranchised because even before this new idea, there were French MPs who stood up for their interests. You're really confused about cause and effect. I could suggest a course in critical thinking.

[Mich the Tester]

Am I in it?

You're a dual citizen. You're in the orange bit that includes Wales and part of Ireland, but Lizard Point's in the yellow bit. Well done!

[Mich the Tester]

Is it time for pictures of girls again?