M1

[KentPhilip]

That's bollox - blaming EU every time cretins in UK Govt do something stupid.

Stupid yes, but the government have no choice in the matter because they've surrendered their powers to the EU.

[darmstadt]

I'm afraid it is the EU.

Drivers Warned Of 60mph Motorway Speed Limit

Still not the EU, they're not telling the UK government to put the speed limits down, thats the UK government interpreting the ruling in it's own unique way. In fact they could put in other measures to combat emissions but have decided that this is in their best interests. They could keep it to 70 and stop all these variable speed limits and low the traffic to keep at a constant speed which would keep emissions down as people would not have to keep slowing and accelerating, they could ban all old smokers, they could do many things but EU sceptics suddenly jump on the fact that because the UK government drop the speed limits then obviously the EU told them to (hasn't happened in other EU countries has it?)

As AtW says, absolute bollocks

[darmstadt]

Stupid yes, but the government have no choice in the matter because they've surrendered their powers to the EU.

No they haven't, you and the rest of populace did by voting for the government giving them a mandate to allow this. As it is, the government can appeal or make alternative proposals...you just don't like the EU and like other EU sceptics automatically blame them for everything that happens that you don't like.

[KentPhilip]

Still not the EU, they're not telling the UK government to put the speed limits down, thats the UK government interpreting the ruling in it's own unique way. In fact they could put in other measures to combat emissions but have decided that this is in their best interests. They could keep it to 70 and stop all these variable speed limits and low the traffic to keep at a constant speed which would keep emissions down as people would not have to keep slowing and accelerating, they could ban all old smokers, they could do many things but EU sceptics suddenly jump on the fact that because the UK government drop the speed limits then obviously the EU told them to (hasn't happened in other EU countries has it?)

As AtW says, absolute bollocks

The following Telegraph link:

Motorists face 60mph speed limit on motorways - Telegraph

says:

Under EU guidelines, the Government could be fined hundreds of millions of pounds if the levels of nitrogen dioxide emitted by exhausts are breached.

OK I agree there is a slightly broader remit - that the EU is not specifically saying we need to drive at 60mph. But if we don't do that then we will have to do something equally onerous, such as getting rid of old rust-bucket cars, or having permanently slower speed limits.

So it is still the case that the EU are forcing the British government to make changes to the way that we drive and use the roads. This is wrong - it should be the British electorate who decide these things in Britain, not the unelected bureaucrats in Brussels.

[MicrosoftBob]

So it is still the case that the EU are forcing the British government to make changes to the way that we drive and use the roads. This is wrong - it should be unelected bureaucrats in Westminster who decide these things in Britain, not the unelected bureaucrats in Brussels.

FTFY

[darmstadt]

The following Telegraph link:

Motorists face 60mph speed limit on motorways - Telegraph

says:

Under EU guidelines, the Government could be fined hundreds of millions of pounds if the levels of nitrogen dioxide emitted by exhausts are breached.

OK I agree there is a slightly broader remit - that the EU is not specifically saying we need to drive at 60mph. But if we don't do that then we will have to do something equally onerous, such as getting rid of old rust-bucket cars, or having permanently slower speed limits.

So it is still the case that the EU are forcing the British government to make changes to the way that we drive and use the roads. This is wrong - it should be the British electorate who decide these things in Britain, not the unelected bureaucrats in Brussels.

Note the word 'guidelines', doesn't mean law...

[darmstadt]

So it is still the case that the EU are forcing the British government to make changes to the way that we drive and use the roads. This is wrong - it should be unelected bureaucrats in Westminster who decide these things in Britain, not the unelected bureaucrats in Brussels.

FTFY

WHS +1. You really think an MP came up with that idea and not a faceless civil servant who dropped it into an MP's lap?

[VectraMan]

So it is still the case that the EU are forcing the British government to make changes to the way that we drive and use the roads. This is wrong - it should be the British electorate who decide these things in Britain, not the unelected bureaucrats in Brussels.

You're assuming we wouldn't have exactly the same sort of laws if it wasn't for the EU.

If you don't like the way the EU operates you can express your opinion by voting in the EU elections. Which is exactly the same amount of influence you have over the way the British government operates.

[KentPhilip]

Note the word 'guidelines', doesn't mean law...

Whether you call it "guidelines" or "law" the effect is still the same - financial coercion by the EU on the British state.

[KentPhilip]

You're assuming we wouldn't have exactly the same sort of laws if it wasn't for the EU.

Maybe we would, but that is not the point. It would be nice if we had a choice in the matter.

If you don't like the way the EU operates you can express your opinion by voting in the EU elections. Which is exactly the same amount of influence you have over the way the British government operates.

No it isn't the same influence.
In the UK, elections are 100% influenced by British voters. In the EU elections the figure is, say, 10%. i.e. we have the votes of a load of foreigners determining the outcome on matters that affect the UK. We don't want that. There has been no referendum where the UK electorate has stated that we wish to merge our political powers with europeans, so UK politicians have had no mandate to set this in place.