Richard Laming
Letter published in the Financial Times, 17 January 2011
Sir, The eurosceptic critics of the European Union bill, complaining it does not go far enough to restrain judicial activism (“Tory rebels mobilise against Europe bill”, January 12) should read John Kay’s column “A smart business is dressed in principles not rules” in the same issue.
In a complex world, it is simply not possible to write rules extensive enough to cover every eventuality. There will always be judgments to be made regarding the finer points.
Britain’s position in the European Union would be better served by establishing more clearly the principles by which those judgments should be made, rather than by complaining that they are being made at all. This implies seeking agreement with our European partners on what those principles should be. Perhaps this is the real problem.
Richard Laming
Chair, Federal Union
PDF 
Loading ...
ANY MEMBER STATE IS NOW FREE TO SECEDE FROM THE UNION, THANKS TO THE TREATY OF LISBON. IF THE PEOPLE OF THE UK GENUINELY ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE RULES OF THE CLUB THEY CAN ASK THE UK GOVERNMENT TO LEAVE THE CLUB. IF THEY WANT THE UK TO REMAIN A MEMBER, THEY CAN ASK THE UK GOVERNMENT TO TRY TO CHANGE THE RULES OF THE CLUB. WITHIN THE PROCEDURES OF THE CLUB’S CONSTITUTION. BUT TO TRY AND MAKE RULES THAT CREATE A SPECIAL STATUS JUST FOR THE UK WITHOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE OTHER MEMBERS IS RIDICULOUS. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE BRITISH PEOPLE WANT THIS. IF THE UNION WERE PROPERLY EXPLAINED AND THE PEOPLE WERE NOT CONSTANTLY MISLED BY THE PRESS AND THE RIGHT WING OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY, THEY WOULD SEE THE PRAGMATISM IN REMAINING ENGAGED AND INDEED THE DESIRABILITY OF MAKING THEIR VOICE HEARD FOR THE GOOD OF THE UNION.