Lisbon Treaty - Time to Give HMG a Wake-up Call vote UKIP

The Lisbon Treaty - What is it all about:
Well the Treaty we are told is designed to 'streamline' the functioning of the EU -
Well read it for yourself here (only 479 Pages) Consolidated treaties As a cure for insomnia excellent, but perhaps reading the Wikipedia Entry will be less of a chore.

No then here is a very brief summary:
Quote:
Prominent changes introduced with the Treaty of Lisbon include:

• Reduced chances of stalemate in the EU Council through more qualified majority voting
• A more significant European Parliament through extended co-decision with the EU Council
• Reduction of the number of Commissioners from 27 to 18,
• Scrapping of the pillar system
• Creation of a President of the European Council
• Creation of a High Representative for Foreign Affairs for greater coherence and continuity in EU policies.
• make the Charter of Fundamental Rights (human rights provisions) legally binding.

Unquote

Now your all finally clear on what this treaty means for us the individual, let us move on:
Now that Eire has rejected the Treaty, it should be dead, but Gordon Brown it appears is determined to continue ratifying the Lisbon Treaty. He has even got it through the Lords, despite some reasoned arguments for delaying ratification (OK there were some less reasoned arguments as well).
Sorry Prime Minister you cannot ratify something that has been demoncratically rejected by the voters in an EU State!

I watched, initially with some interest David Cameron and Gordon Brown having a face-off on the Lisbon Treaty at Prime Ministers Questions and my mind wandered off the rhetoric and began to think of ways British Electors could voice concerns over the Governments policy are regards the Lisbon Treaty in particular, but the more general policy of its willingness to handover sovereign powers to the European Commission. In fact some aspects of this have a certain irony as this Government has 'talked big' about devolving power to the regions, whilst handing power to the European Commission, an organisation which is increasingly viewed as both undemocratic and untrustworthy.

I had better state I am not actually anti-European as I believe that many of the pan-European institutions, especially those dealing with Technical Matters and Standards and plus cross EU co-operation on many important matters such as Policing and Security have been and continue to bring positive benefits. The less politicians are involved the more efficient and effective these institutions seem to function as they are staffed by those with the Technical Knowledge and Practical Experience required. Although Political oversight is necessary these work best when Politicians don't get involved day to day and the issues being dealt with are technical, or cross-border procedural.

I do believe it is better for the United Kingdom to be part of the EU, than not. What I am increasingly concerned about is the growth of the European Commission as a Sovereign Entity can ignore the wishes of the electorate of Member States and can still workaround the wishes of the European Parliament.

So I want the powers of the European Commission be reduced rather than extended and it should only be able to introduce any legislation after it has passed acceptance by both the European Parliament and then the agreement of all Ministers of Member states.

So what can the concerned British voter do. Well unless a bye-election called in your constituency, in which case register a protest vote against the Government (even if traditionally you were a Labour Voter), but for most of us it is a case of wait patiently until June next year and then do something that in the past too many have avoided doing - Vote in the European Elections. Then regardless of party affiliation, or loyalty vote UKIP.

Enjoy the wave of shock horror that will then pass through the Westminster Village, but also discover that the European Parliament can have meaningful debates on matters that affect us!