The BBC

[LeedsCityRam]

Interesting points there LCR. Pro EU is left wing bias? hmmm, not sure about that mate. The reason that the Tories took us into the EU and Labour kept us in is because both parties are controlled by the financial markets that rule the EU. 

Most "left wingers" would see us out of EU control if they could.

 

The far right and the far left are both anti-EU. The centre ground (Tory, Lib Dem and Labour) are all pro EU. 

 

Why didn't the Tories take us out of Europe during their 18 years of rule prior to Blair's Labour coming to power? Why has Dave reneged on his election promise to have a referendum on membership of the EU?

 

The BBC merely follows government on the big issues of the day. Outside of that, its excellent!

 

Traditionally yes the left wing were anti-EU - I believe Labour as recently as 1983 wanted to take us out of Europe. But in the late 80's, Jacques Delors gave a speech to TUC (pretty left wing in there!) where he explained how the EU planned to enshrine worker's rights & a whole host of other traditionally left-wing causes. Apparently the conversion started there. If you read what we'd both probably agree are left-wing papers like Guardian & Observer, they are very pro-EU - I think the BBC mirrors their attitude a lot.

 

As for the Tories - well anything that promises free trade & suppression of worker wages (immigration skewing supply & demand) is very likely to get their approval. Obviously the further right you go, the more free market capitalism gives way to nationalism. Although Tories have never seriously considered taking us out, Thatcher probably would have were it not for the free market aspect - it was her opposition to the EU as a whole that in part sealed her fate as her key ministers (Lawson, Howe etc) were pro-Europe & thought she had to go.

 

As for Dave's referendum promise - well he's as slippery as Blair & probably didn't want the inevitable upheaval surrounding it. He can promise what he likes now cos he won't be PM in 15 months!