Sir Stuart Bell in the Queen’s Speech Debate

Sir Stuart Bell, the MP for Middlesbrough since 1983, has had a long career as an author, journalist, barrister and parliamentarian. I know he is gripped by a love affair with the EU, no doubt brought about during his time practicing law in France. Listening to him in the Queen’s Speech debate though, I began to wonder if like the prime minister he has become divorced from reality,

The big story about the Queen’s Speech today is what is not in it. After the turbulent year MPs have had, one would have thought Gordon Brown would grasp the nettle and include some form of reform bill. This was not to be. Sir Stuart – quite rightly – said in the House of Commons this afternoon, the voters are not talking about MPs’ expenses and allowances. They are talking about other issues affecting them. He thinks the Commons will once again become a great institution without reforming it. At least not undergoing any major reforms. What he is forgetting is if it was not for the recession, the public would be taking MPs to task. Just because we in the grips of a recession does not mean politicians should sweep these matters under the carpet and hope they will go away.

Sir Stuart then went on to make the most nonsensical remark I have heard a politician make in a long time. To paraphrase him, he believes during this economic downturn, Britain needs the EU more than it has done in the past. How? Why? Do British businesses need more red tape; more bureaucracy; more rules and regulation? Do fishermen need the Common Fisheries Policy? Do we really need more decisions taken away from us; important decisions affecting our democracy and our economy?

Britain needs the EU like a hole in the head. To help us get out of this recession we need to  throw off the shackles of the EU. British businesses need to freed from the red tape. If Sir Stuart Bell cannot see this, perhaps it is time he hung up his boots.