Latest posts
Danger Ahoy: Boat likely to lose passengers overboard
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Dear Fellow Conservative, This week, I will use this blog to provide a few remarks on the current state of the Conservative Party on Europe. As the saying goes, everything has been said, but not everyone has had the chance to say it! Not surprisingly...
40 Years in the European Union: the next steps?
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This year marks the 40th year of Britain’s membership in the European Union…an anniversary shared with Ireland and Denmark. At a well-attended event to mark this historical milestone, the European Commission and Parliament offices in Den...
Will the Euro survive?
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About this time last year, I wrote a blog entitled “The Euro: Beware! Construction underway“. I return to this theme today, aware that local elections in Britain have just taken place, no doubt with a strong showing from the UK Independen...
How to win the Global Race? The Asian lesson…
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Over the last 2 weeks, I have reviewed how the Digital economy is at the heart of economic success in Asia, and that this has been made possible, through long-term vision, by significant ICT investment. A couple of key phrases below summarise the Asi...
ICT investment: the significant example of South Korea
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South Korea has recently been in the news owing to the activities of the North Korean Government making unsettling moves towards its’ neighbour. But it is not about the dangers to global peace that such manoeuvres could engender if they we...
Asia: The Digital economy at the heart of its economic success
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Is Asia the place to be in the 21st Century? Are Asian countries building up a lead by investing in the digital economy? Which are the Asian countries to watch the closest? How should Europe be responding in order to win the global race, or at least...
Debt and the Deficit reduction: Urgent to link life expectancy to pension age…
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Rising debt… The aftermath of the UK budget leaves a mixed picture to say the least. Some signs of optimism for the housing market, relief that we have not yet fallen into a triple dip recession, concern about losing our triple A rating from M...
The European Parliament: Does It Matter?
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At times over the past few decades, there have been moments where I stand in disbelief at the difference between perception and reality, between what normally rational people might dream and what is the harsh light of day. Today what attracts my atte...
Digital Business First Launch!
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Around 100 leading business and political figures gathered in London last Wednesday to participate in a conference organised by the Digital Policy Alliance and the European Internet Foundation on ‘Perspectives for mobile and broadband in the UK...
LOCAL MP PUBLISHES BOOK PROVIDING REFLECTIONS ON EUROPEAN ISSUES
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From JAMES ELLES, Conservative European MP for the South-East (with special responsibility for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire) Release: Immediate: Monday, 11 March 2013 LOCAL MP PUBLISHES BOOK PROVIDING REFLECTIONS ON EUROPEAN ISSUES A ne...
JAMES ELLES CALLS FOR “VALUE FOR MONEY” EU BUDGET BY A REVIEW OF EXPENDITURE IN 2015
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Press release From JAMES ELLES, Conservative European MP for the South-East (with special responsibility for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire) Release: Immediate: Saturday, 9 March 2013 JAMES ELLES CALLS FOR “VALUE FOR MONEY” EU...
The EU budget: No deal without a Mid-Term review
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A Herculean effort in budget terms was made last month to reach agreement in the European Council on the next 7 years’ budget framework. Reduction in the overall amount was reached, against all odds, as requested by the British Government after...
The European Debate: The Need for Open Discussion
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Last Saturday, with light snow drifting across the Oxfordshire Golf Course near Thame, more than 80 Conservative Party Members from across the South-East region gathered to participate in a seminar on Britain’s role in the European Union. This...
ESPAS: The Importance of Long-term Trends for Better Decision Making
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Readers of this blog will know that it was created nearly 4 years ago with the intention of commenting on political events concerning the European Union and with particular reference to long-term trends. This week, there was a major conference organi...
Towards an EU/US Trade and Investment Partnership: A real game changer
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Earlier this week, President Obama made his State of the Union speech setting the course for America to stimulate the creation of growth and jobs by whatever means necessary. There were many announcements for promoting growth with domestic levers whi...
Digital Futures 2030: Exciting Perspectives Ahead
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In September 2009, the European Internet Foundation (EIF) published: “The Digital World in 2025″ report, setting out some long-term trends which should be addressed in the area of European digital policy in the current legislature, 2009/2...
The Global Race: How Not To Win It
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This week, the second phase of the HS2 project has been announced to build high-speed rail north of Birmingham linking London to Leeds and Manchester (see Philip Pank, The Times, 28th January). To a clamour of opposing voices, many of them Conservati...
EUROPEAN MP CALLS FOR JOINED UP THINKING ON HS2 AND BRITAIN’S HUB AIRPORT
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Press release From JAMES ELLES, Conservative European MP for the South-East (with special responsibility for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire) Release: Immediate – Friday, 1 February 2013 EUROPEAN MP CALLS FOR JOINED UP THINKING ON HS...
European Union: In it to win it
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There are many aspects of the Prime Minister’s speech on the European Union which provide reassurance to pro-Europeans. Throughout, we see his clear, unremitting belief that it is in Britain’s interests to be in the European Union. This c...
Arab Spring: Rising instability gives cause for real concern
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As attention is focussed on economic and financial difficulties in Europe and America, events are occurring around the shores of the Mediterranean which deserve our immediate attention. Last January, I looked at how protesters across the Arab world h...
