Brexit and Parliaments - a Panel Discussion in Europe House

Today I went to Europe House in Westminster where they held a panel discussion about the roles of parliaments during the Brexit process. There were several people on the panel: 

- Baroness Ludford, LibDem (House of Lords)

- Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, SNP (House of Commons)

- Seb Dance, Labour (MEP)

- Jeff King, Professor of Law at UCL

- Davor Jancic, Lecturer for European Law.

- Maxine Mawhinney, Moderator of today, BBC News

Each of the candidates presented their cases initially, and then they jointly answered questions. All of them were overly sceptical about Brexit, so at least one did not have to listen to political scum like Farage and the likes. 

Here a few points from today that I found extremely interesting and noteworthy:

1) Baroness Ludford: "The EU Parliament has the nuclear bomb of being able to reject he final Brexit deal."

2) Baroness Ludford: "People voted for departure. People did not vote for destination." This means, there is no mandate for leaving the Single Market, as this was never on the table.

3) Baroness Ludford: People should be able to vote for the final deal. The process started with a referendum, it should end with one, too (My personal point of view: one referendum was quite enough. I am not sure if I can cope with another one).

4) Tasmina Ahmed-Sheik: "We must always acknowledge contributions EU migrants make, not just financially, but also culturally."

5) Tasmina: "I am not ready to put my faith into this government to negotiate any deal, let alone a good deal."

6) Jeff King: "European Parliament is the gold standard of parliamentary involvement in international treaty negotiations."

7) Jeff: "Parliaments need to be listened to. To rely on executive grace in a time like this is almost unbearable."

8) Jeff: "The EU scrutiny committee ought to have scrutiny reserve power. It would improve accountability function."

9) Seb Dance: "We need to have a national discussion that involves everyone - the devolved assemblies, cities, Parliament, everyone."

10) Seb: It's the EU now that holds all the cards in the forthcoming negotiations. "We shouldn't imagine that we're entering negotiations between equals."

11)Seb: "The reality is, once we trigger Article 50, the ball will be entirely in the EU27's court."

12) Davor Jancic: "European Parliament is a serious player: it has right of consent. EP previously rejected agreements struck by EU."

13) Davor: Role of national parliaments in EU27 is greatly neglected & could prove stumbling block in Article 50 deal.

14) Davor: "When the UK leaves the EU, it also leaves a partnership club where international standards are made."

15) Seb: "The UK Youth Parliament should also have their say in the negotiations since young people are the most affected."

16) Tasmina: "Labour needs to get its act together for the sake of unified Hard Brexit opposition."

17) Seb: "The fact that the UK Government has closed so many options has forced the EU to do the same."

18) Seb: "EU institutions unified on the main negotiation points despite some differences between Member States & EP groups."

19) Seb: "If Le Pen wins and we have a fascist government in France, the EU is doomed."

20) Maxine Mawhinney: Representatives from the Conservatives, UKIP, and Labour Leavers were also invited but did either not reply or did not have any interest!! 

History Repeats itself - Brexit from a German Point of View

Walking to one of the sessions during Parliament Week 2015

Exactly a year ago during Parliament Week I went into the Houses of Parliament a couple of times in order to listen to debates and lectures and hearings. It was fascinating to see how Parliament works and I felt being part of it. My highlight was when the guard at the door said something like "Ah yes, you've been here before, you know your way already" and he let me in. I, back then, decided to finally get my citizenship done and become a Brit; I wanted to take part. And if I hadn't got my current job in Frankfurt a few weeks later (a project which lasts for a year and for which I have to fly out weekly) I'm sure I'd have gone all the way and be an owner of two passports. 

Having a full day!

But things have changed, changed dramatically within only one year. It happened all so quickly that sometimes I am simply wondering what's going on and whether this is only a dream I am finding myself in. This was especially the case around the Brexit vote where something major happened every day - vote got lost, Cameron leaves, Farage goes, the "bus lie" was made apparent, Tory backstabbing around Johnson and Gove, election of Tory party leader and new PM, 3 clowns as ministers, etc. Every day was a rollercoaster day of emotions and political surprises, if not turmoil. 

Now it's nearly November but all of this doesn't seem to stop. "Brexit means Brexit" is still haunting me and it will haunt me and at least 48% of the vote for quite a while. Sometimes, I am simply speechless, sometimes I am extremely angry, and sometimes I feel sad. These carousel of emotions is a daily thing now.

My passion for the UK started in 1994/95 during an Erasmus exchange year where I studied Business Administration at the University of Bath. This year changed my life completely. I loved everything British and I was fascinated about literally everything. I seemed to absorb Britishness like a sponge. In 1997, at the start of my first job after university I decided to move back to the UK. I chose London and only wanted to stay for a year or two; I never really left again. 

Within those 2 decades of UK I have pretty much assimilated to country and culture; I volunteered as Special Constable for the Metropolitan Police, I turned Anglican and joined the Church of England, and I did all sorts of other things. And then Brexit came along. It should change everything, everything I have believed in so far, and it hit me like a hurricane. I am trying to get my head around what's going on and still, sometimes I sit here in complete disbelief. 


The new Banana Monarchy

The UK turned out to be a banana republic. I cannot believe that all of this could have happened. Cameron instigated a referendum for sheer party political reasons, it suddenly turned out to be an advisory referendum which was never made clear from the start (which in the end might be our saving grace), no thresholds were set (such as in every "normal" country where one needs certain percentages to draw conclusions from referendums; such as a qualified 2/3 or even 3/4 majority, not just a simple majority of who passes the pole); now suddenly all we hear is "The majority of the British People have spoken". Did they? 51,9% of the cast vote is "the majority" for such a life changing issue? And where on earth is the principle of the UK being a union to be seen? England alone can always overturn all the other states. It is a hegemony we are living in, a hegemony of the English over the Scots, Welsh, Northern Irish and the people of Gibraltar. Is it just me or does this stink of injustice to others too? But then, Nicola Sturgeon is already on stage preparing for her own referendum and the Northern Irish are taking the case to the courts. 

What I found extremely astonishing was the answer to "who could vote"? Brits, Commonwealth citizens and Irish living in the UK, also Commonwealth citizens in Gibraltar. This means EU citizens like me were not allowed, but Cypriots and Maltese were, also the Irish. Basically, in a referendum about the EU, Commonwealth citizens could vote but EU nationals could not. My sense for justice and equality is just about to go overboard. I've been living here for about 20 years, integrated into the British society and have no say in this life changing matter!  

Right after the referendum we all had hopes that Parliament would get a vote over this knowing that both houses have a "remain" majority. But no, suddenly the government decided this is not possible and put this referendum result under the "royal prerogative". Sorry what? A non-binding referendum with a very tight outcome for "Leave" is suddenly subsumed under the royal prerogative? It feels like having signed a contract without reading any of the small-print. 

These days the government admitted that Parliament will get some form of vote, and one reads that the pro-Remain House of Lords better complies with the government otherwise they will be over-flooded with Leave peers and "undergo reform". For me this is blackmail. It is not mafia style blackmail where things happen in the background, no, it is worse, it is made public and one can read about it in the press! North Korea wouldn't do it any differently, it feels!

I also ask myself where are the Queen and her family in this discussion. We all know she has absolutely no power whatsoever. She has the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, and the right to warn; all very harmless stuff. But there is also something in the non-written constitution that the monarch can step in in times of emergency. There are a few powers she has left, like not granting royal assent (done last time by Queen Anne), but the simplest ones are presenting herself in public or sending off Prince Charles to do all the talking. There is lots of stuff the monarchy can unofficially do. I am simply astonished that nothing happens from that side. Funny enough I was amazed that she did not do anything during the Scottish referendum either. So must we conclude that she does not care that the very existence of the UK is at risk? I know this is a bit going off the tangent, but I firmly believe that any ceremonial head of state should have some powers of control that political proceedings are within the law and reason. For example, I know the German President sometimes refuses to sign laws and calls the courts whether certain laws are within the framework of the constitution. For me this is vital for any head of state. 


Theodor Fontane's Summer in London

Theodor Fontane, a pretty famous German poet and personally one of my favourites, wrote a book in 1854 called "Summer in London". I love this book as it describes life in the capital seeing it from a "German point of view". I read it many years ago and a few things got stuck in my mind - London has always been a multicultural hotspot, traffic has forever been a nightmare, prices were highly above normal, AND the English have a tendency to cherry picking and looking at their own (monetary) advantage first, coming close to greed. Fontane was appalled about the lack of passion and ideals; he described English businessmen with a sheer focus on the bottom line, being short sighted and unable to think strategically and long-term. I never understood this, but within the years and particularly now I must conclude Fontane was probably right.

Remember Margaret Thatcher's "I want my money back!"? And the British rebate was born. And then all the other British "Sonderwürste" throughout the decades, those exceptions for the British when it comes to the EU. This is now climaxing in leaving the union altogether but keeping access to the single market. What's astonishing is the shamelessness of their request and the expectation to access the single market without contributing to it. 

It's time the English stop with their "Rule Britannia mentality" and undergo a reality check. Back when the UK was admitted to the then EC, this country was the sick man of Europe. And now it seems they got their imperial attitude back, without having any Empire in the background. The Commonwealth, some might argue, especially when it comes to trade deals, is still there, but seriously? One would want to compare the Queen's play thing consisting of Third World countries and a few Caribbean islands to the EU, the world's biggest single market? 

As I am writing this article, a window suddenly popped up with the following news: Both, The Independent and The Guardian report about banks moving their headquarters away from London to either Frankfurt, Paris or possibly Vienna, putting 70,000 jobs at risk, by early next year. I'm wondering if this will be a wake-up call for this government, but I guess probably not. Back to my article.


Vive l'Europe! 

After WW2 it was Winston Churchill, de Gaulle, Adenauer and probably every single European who never ever wanted this atrocity of a war again on European grounds. And so that what is now the EU started slowly to exist and develop. I am a fervent European and I am so very happy to be able to live here on this continent. Seeing the EU going down this path currently makes my heart bleed. I have always felt so lucky that I belong to one of the generations that does not have to endure war and in fact go to war as a soldier. And I think we nowadays take peace and wealth far too much for granted. 

Europe gives us 4 freedoms, one of which is the freedom of movement. We can work and live wherever we want. And isn't it just perfect? I moved to the UK, and many of my British friends spend most of their summer holidays and major parts of the year in their homes in France and Spain and elsewhere. One of them moved to Frankfurt, others elsewhere. For me this is freedom. We are all one big European family where war with ourselves is no longer prevalent. 

But we need to fight for it daily, not just you and I, but also our national and regional governments and especially the EU government. The EU is by far not perfect, but it's good enough to maintain peace and wealth for all of us. We should rather than withdrawing from this institution, change it, make it better, in fact, make it close to perfect. And especially Britain as one of the big countries should lead this union and not just leave. This for me is the most disappointing thing. They don't fight for a better Europe, they just go (and still want to enjoy all the benefits). 

I am so sick and tired of this phrase about the EU being undemocratic and that the UK want her powers back. First, can't we all go and vote for the European Parliament? Don't we send our own governments to Brussels to represent us? For me this is democratic enough. If one doesn't want a United States of Europe, then I am not sure how more democratic one should set up this union.

Throughout this whole referendum campaign I only heard cost-benefit analyses, mainly in monetary terms. 350 million here and there, and all sorts of numbers were thrown around the table. Nobody from the Remain group ever started to dream the dream about Europe, to have a vision what it will be to be one Europe in the next century maybe. And when looking at the world map it is pretty clear we need to move closer to one another on our continent and prepare for the times to come. This will not and cannot ever be a way backwards to national states. The 19th century is over and the 20th century with all its atrocities of war and racism is thankfully over, too.


The ugly Face of Racism

When looking at what's happening right now with growing figures of racism, I feel very alarmed that the UK will go down the "Germany of the 1930ies" route and we must do all we can do to stop this from happening. When Hitler won the first elections to the Reichstag he didn't say he wanted to kill 6 million Jews, and he didn't reveal any of his plans to take over the world. I don't say the Tories are like the Nazis, but I see similarities in their approach - scapegoating (back then the Jews, nowadays immigrants), putting the nation state first (back then everything happened in the name of the German people, nowadays I hear the term "the British people" far too often), promising independence and control (back then the shackles from WW1, nowadays Brussels' beaurocrats), the government gathering intelligence over companies that employ foreigners (back then Jews), and the list goes on. The only thing I am waiting for is that us Europeans have to visibly wear a badge with the EU flag on it as opposed to the yellow star of David the Nazis imposed.

Racism is rising, the UK has turned into an international laughing stock (whereas I'd rather cry than laugh), our society is split in two, remainers and brexiters, and I think the situation is pretty severe. I'm worried about so many things, I spend many nights awake and keep on pondering about our future; and the fact that Theresa May doesn't seem to get it freaks me out. She is like a loose canon. Initially, I thought what a wonderful idea to put those 3 clowns in charge. As soon as they fail she will revert and re-join the remain camp (where she pre-referendum belonged to), but after last week's Tory conference I am afraid to say, I think she totally lost it. She now reminds me of Magda Goebbels who poisoned her own children before the Third Reich went down the drain. 

Today, I went to a wonderful lunch party where I was one of the few foreigners. Being surrounded by my British friends helped me to get over this feeling that I am not wanted in this country anymore. I am not sure if any Leave-Brit does understand that feeling that one isn't part of the gang and unwanted. It's a bad one. But then, they don't care and want us out. What feels terrible, in all those 20 years I never claimed benefits and I simply paid taxes, year in and year out and contributed to our society. And suddenly I am unwanted and part of a political gambling session where the government tries to play poker with the EU as to whether we can stay or not. 

So, back to my initial comment about dual citizenship, I must say, first time in many, many years I don't actually want a British passport. I want to be part of something bigger, something better, something kinder, and being a little Englander is something I don't really aspire to become. I won't leave this country though, unless I am actually being deported. I have been here half of my life, I invested so much, and I will do whatever it takes to help to get this country back to normal. Fingers crossed! 

PS: There is one positive thing I get out of this current situation; finally the EU and British membership is publicly being discussed. And in case we will stay in the EU, this underlying negativity should hopefully be over and dealt with. This public discussion was needed long time ago.  

   

Constitutional Dark Clouds over Great Britain

Basically, at the very bottom of life, which seduces us all, there is only absurdity, and more absurdity. And maybe that's what gives us our joy for living, because the only thing that can defeat absurdity is lucidity.

Albert Camus

And absurd it seemed when an announcement was made today from the UK Government that, after the Chancellor was defeated by the House of Lords, the UK could slip into a "constitutional crisis".

The story, in short, goes like this: The Tory government wants to reform the tax credit system by sloshing them on the one hand, but on the other hand raising the minimum wage. Tories believe tax credits are unfair and costly. They introduced this new bill, a bill which was heavily opposed by the whole opposition. The biggest concern about the new bill was, that by abolishing tax credits the poorest of the poor would have been hit the hardest.

The bill went through the House of Commons, got a majority vote, and was passed to the House of Lords where it was expected to be nodded off, too. But it didn't! The Lords put in their veto and delayed the bill expecting an enquiry as to what the impact for the poorest households would have been in case the bill had been introduced. The Chancellor and Prime Minister were embarrassed and probably pissed off and announcements made publicly that the House of Lords overstepped their boundaries, hence possibly creating a constitutional crisis. 

In order to understand this whole issue better, there is a tradition dating back a bit more than 100 years that the House of Lords would not block any financial legislation. But it is a tradition, not the rule, nothing has ever been written down, and that's the important bit here. This is also why one can hear Tories say something along the line: How dare the non-elected House of Lords overrule the elected House of Commons! Yawn! Let me be honest here, I am so glad the Upper House did what they did. Not because I think the tax credit bill was unfair (I don't write about the bill as such), but because it shows victory of democracy and common sense! 

My alarm bells went off when I read the term "constitutional crisis" and that the government wanted to review the composition of members of the House of Lords and add a couple of Tories so they'd be silenced in the future. For me, this is the real crisis!

1st: There is not such a thing like a written constitution detailing exactly what the roles and responsibilities of both Houses of Parliament are. Traditions and a very fluid understanding of those competences are imminent and can barely be legally challenged by a "Constitutional Court of Justice", which also doesn't exist in the UK. What confidence can the public have in their government if Westminster can fudge their responsibilities according to their liking?  

2nd: Changing to composition of the Upper House just so they don't hinder the Lower House from making laws is in my understanding an act of treason. It reminds me of Putin becoming prime minister, only to become president again afterwards, and of Hitler flooding the Reichstag with Nazis and making laws to legalise dictatorship. This can't be right! 

What amazes me, whereas my own alarm bells ring like Big Ben on New Years Eve, the country seems to accept this and the press isn't overly concerned. Political Fudge Alert is on a minimum! And the Brits complain about the EU; duh! 

The House of Lords have already postponed several legislations in this legislative period. This is the only thing they can do really, postpone. But it's good enough to embarrass any government and have them revise previously passed bills by the Commons. This time the government speaks about constitutional crisis and threatens the Lords with reforms. Again. 

Let's hope those reforms, if they should ever come, which I doubt, are real ones and not just another drop of water onto a hot stone. Let's not forget what Albert Camus already said: Lucidity is the only thing that can defeat absurdity.   

Thoughts of an exiled German about the forthcoming EU referendum in the UK

I received an e-mail from the Parliamentary Outreach Service with an invitation to voice my views on the UK and its EU membership. It reads like this:

The Foreign Affairs Committee is holding an inquiry into the costs and benefits of EU membership for the UK's foreign policy.

Although foreign policy remains primarily a matter for national governments in the European Union, leaving the EU could have significant implications for the UK’s alliances and strategic partnerships, standing in other international organisations, soft power and national security.

This inquiry will help inform public debate in advance of the upcoming referendum on EU membership.

The Committee is interested in receiving evidence on topics including:

·         whether and in what ways EU membership helps or hinders the UK in achieving its foreign policy goals

·         how the UK's role on the global stage might change if it votes to leave the EU

There is not overly much one can do in a representative democracy other than voting and petitioning, so I think I need to voice my views, since as German, who has lived in the UK for nearly 20 years, I am not allowed to vote in the forthcoming referendum on EU membership. I believe this is questionable, because a negative vote would affect me as European citizen in this country and my right of residency under the EU Treaty. Strangely enough, if I had been Irish or Cypriot I’d have been able to vote. This seems unjust.

It is difficult to comment on topic 1 as it appears pretty unclear to me (and probably everyone who reads this) what the UK’s foreign policy goals are. One can try and think about the other topic, the what-ifs in case of the UK leaving the EU.

Apparently, it was Churchill, de Gaulle and Adenauer who sat together after WW2 and decided to start up with this European dream of never having war again; and the European Community was founded. A lot has happened after that and it seems, the UK has withdrawn its involvement from the EU and left it all to Germany and France, which I think is a real shame, as the UK could play such a pivotal role; it’s one of Europe’s strongest economies and biggest countries after all! 70 years after the end of WW2 the 3 forefathers of this modern Europe were right – we have had peace on EU grounds ever since.

I truly believe in the principle of subsidiarity – where each political institution decides what’s best for its citizens and where it has an expertise when it comes to decision-making. Say, why should Austria decide on fishing issues in the North Sea and why should Ireland have its say in the issue of Alpine erosion, etc. There are many cases where the EU probably decided too much; the cucumber springs to mind. But there are also many cases where I truly believe the EU should be “sticking together” far more as one big entity. This is particularly the case in a world that is dominated by big blocks of powers – the US, Russia, China, the Middle East – and emerging new powers, such as Brazil and India. And when looking at the map, Europe is right in the middle of all of them.

Sometimes I feel the UK never got over the fact that it lost the Empire; and its replacement - the Commonwealth - is more like a plaything for the Queen rather than a serious political institution. Having lost the Empire, Britain is where it was in Stuart dynasty times – a European island; politically powerful, culturally tenacious, economically strong, but otherwise, on the big scheme of world issues, of medium significance. The Victorian “Rule Britannia” doesn’t exist anymore.

Scotland recently voted to stay within the UK. It was a narrow result and with the SNP rising in influence (it currently has more or less ALL Scottish seats in Westminster) the scare of another Scottish independence vote is not over, just postponed. And I bet my left arm, with the UK leaving the EU (instigated by the majority English vote) Scotland’s SNP will rise up again to the occasion and leave the UK; and rightly so! England alone (Wales and NI are too unimportant) would be even more dwarfed than it already post-imperially is. It would be size of Tudor England.

What I am missing in the political debate in England (as much as I miss it abroad these days) is celebrating the advantages of being in the EU. The only thing one hears is negativity – red tape in Brussels (as if there were none in Westminster), the financial cost of membership (as if there weren’t any benefits), over-regulations (cucumbers and stuff), mass immigration (Romanians are all criminals), undemocratic legitimization of EU institutions (as if the UK with its voting system were any more democratic and egalitarian), and the rule of European bureaucrats over English lands. Sure, the EU needs reform, and I’d even say it needs big and deep reforms, but it’s not all bad what comes from there and I would wish a bit more of an objective public debate about it.

The question is also, in case the UK opts for leaving the EU, do we want to become like Norway or Switzerland? In the end, when wanting to trade with the EU, and everyone does, they have to adapt to any regulations coming from Brussels. That’s the price they pay for their “independence”. Is that really where the UK wants to head towards? I simply wish our country would be a stronger player in the EU, a decision maker; it should take on a more active role and actually celebrate being European AND British AND English OR Scottish OR Welsh OR Irish. The UK is so diverse in itself, what’s wrong with embracing one more identity, a European one, especially in times where the world goes more and more global?

In many European countries there are nationalistic movements away from Brussels and the EU – e. g. the AfD in Germany, Le Front National in France, and of course UKIP in our country, plus a few Tory backbenchers. Rather than going into defense mode by announcing a referendum, only to appease backbenchers and counter-attack UKIP, I would have wished for the government to demonstrate proper leadership, take on an active role in Europe and become the driving force to make the EU an institution that is more democratic, less bureaucratic and more visible to its citizens. It’s the 21^st century and in the UK and elsewhere we need to think globally which for us Europeans means Europe. It’s not such a bad thing after all, let’s dare!