Do we really need another anti-EU party?

By Julian Ware-Lane

One of the by-products of the list system in use for the European elections is, in my opinion, the proliferation of fringe parties. The newest of these is ‘NO2EU yes to democracy‘.

Their by-line is “…it’s a black and white issue”, and from that point on I am in disagreement.

Their existence, for starters, blurs the anti-EU campaign. That particular piece of ground is already occupied by UKIP, the BNP, English Democrats, UK First Party and others.

They do not like the Lisbon Treaty, which at present is a dead duck anyway, but offer no alternative. If you are planning on exiting the EU why have a policy on how the remaining members organise themselves? The enlargement of the EU means that existing structures will not function correctly – a new treaty of one sort or another must be implemented.

They talk of defending democracy and then pledge not to take up their seats if elected. I find this duplicitous and wonder how they believe democracy can be enhanced by refusing to take part. They should have “waste your vote here” written on the ballot paper besides their name.

They want to keep out the BNP, a worthy cause, but their existence makes the reverse likely. The more fringe parties attract votes the likelier the BNP will get the prize of an MEP. Besides, I am not convinced that the far-left ranting of Bob Crowe is much more attractive then Nick Griffin’s vile polemic.

They attack the EU as being anti-civil liberties, yet I find the Social Chapter one of several good selling points. They attack the EU’s role in the current economic crisis, yet only a fool believes that a go-it-alone UK would not drift into the economic backwaters outside of a union that carries real muscle in dealing with the global superpowers.

For me, one of the EU’s USPs has been the peace that Western Europe has seen since its inception. European history is written in blood, and the first half of the twentieth century particularly so. How ‘NO2EU yes to democracy’ can now claim militarism for the EU dumbfounds me. Their diatribe is the stuff of cold-war thrillers and conspiracy theorists.

They have no candidates selected as yet and I await the announcement of these with interest – my money is on David Icke and Robert Kilroy-Silk being amongst the select few.

With just 76 days until the vote they have left it late to enter the fray, but they ask that we “lend them our vote”.

No way.