The Bonaparte Factor

When David Cameron set out his policy on our continued position within the EU - a significant renegotiation of the EU's powers followed by an in/out referendum, I didn't doubt that he believed that was the right course of action. I just didn't see how he was going to achieve it. The idea that Brussels - and other Member States - would willingly agree to a repatriation of powers and autonomy was anathema to everything I knew about the EU. A beaurocratic behemoth, growing in size and power would surely never be persuaded that it should diet. The old adage of turkeys, votes and Christmas came to mind. "No", I said to myself, "he may have the best of intentions but it just isn't achievable".

How subtly things have changed. The Conservatives have just lost an election, coming third behind UKIP and Labour, and ought to be out for the count. But, strangely, the chances of Mr Cameron delivering what he has committed to seem now to be much greater. This election has not just catapulted Mr Farage to a position of influence; it has shown up the growing sense of dissatisfaction around Europe with the way the Union has become overly dominant. Only the Germans seem content  with the status quo - or maybe they have too much respect for Frau Merkel to say otherwise.

The fact is that if Mr Cameron can get elected with a working majority next May he is likely to be negotiating a slimming down of the EU as part of a group rather than as a lone wolf. He will be able to rely on other Members making similar demands and being mutually supportive. In the face of that, the Commission may have little choice but to agree to the kind of changes that we clearly want. And his chances of winning the next election must be improved if, like I can, voters begin to see that he could deliver the benefits of EU membership without the baggage.

I don't know how Mr Cameron has engineered this but it is beginning to look like he is either a quite brilliant strategist or - hence the reference to Bonaparte - a lucky General. Given a choice between the two, I will go for the Bonaparte factor every time.

What price democracy?

Did you vote for UKIP? Did your neighbour? Do you care? Is this, as Nigel Farage says, an earthquake in British politics?

Once the noise around UKIP's very successful election result has subsided there are clearly some important points to debate. Yes, it is significant. Anyone who denies that is a fool. It is the first time for 100 years that an election has not been won by the Conservative or  Labour parties and that has to be significant. The LibDems tried and failed where UKIP has succeeded so full marks to Nigel Farage and his colleagues for taking on the establishment and giving them a bloody nose.

But isn't the most significant thing that in an election based almost entirely on whether the UK should continue to be part of the EU, only one-third of our electorate could be bothered to vote?

My father-in law died a month ago. He fought for six years to protect this Country's right to decide how to participate on the World stage, as did my own father and hundreds of thousands of their compatriots. Do we think so little of their sacrifice that we can't even be bothered to put a cross on a piece of paper? If so, then we deserve whatever fate doles out to us.

Come on Britain - don't be complacent. Have a view and vote for it. There is no such thing as a protest vote - only a wasted vote. Democracy is a precious thing and to take it for granted is the biggest sin of all.

Let common sense prevail

The Premier League has a difficult decision to make, without doubt. A CEO in the public spotlight has to be uber (sorry, is that a non PC term?) careful about what he (or she), does, says or appears to say or do in public. One false move can end a career. But what Richard Scudamore allegedly did was not in public. A temporary employee accessed his private e-mail account (Richard, memo to self here), and then, for whatever reason, decided to release to whoever was prepared to pay him/ her/it a sizeable sum, e-mails that were private and which contained material that was at worst distasteful and at best lacking judgment.

So let's hang him. Force him to resign for this heinous crime. God forbid that anyone should share a salacious e-mail (you should see the ones that my wife and her female friends send round). Or, alternatively take a balanced view and consider some important, if politically inconvenient, facts.

The  Premier League under Richard Scudamore's leadership has become the most successful and most profitable soccer league in the world. The TV deals that he and the team that he employs have negotiated are envied around the globe. Do you really think that Manchester United, which was an average First Division club well behind Liverpool on a world scale, would have become as financially strong as it has without the foundation of the Premier League that Richard Scudamore has been instrumental in creating? Of course not. They would be miles behind the game (excuse the pun).

UK sport needs strong and visionary leaders of which Richard is a prime example. People who leave factional interests and politics to one side and do what is right for the sport they are paid to champion.  We need more Richard Scudamores, not fewer, and if he is hounded out of his position by the short sighted, politically biased PC brigade then the Premier League and sport in general will be the poorer.

So, PL Council or whoever will adjudicate on this, please use your common sense. If Richard Scudamore has made a mistake treat him as you would hope to be treated yourselves - not as a model of perfection but as a fallible human being who is well meaning but imperfect and whose record over 20 years speaks for itself. And please don't fall into the trap of saying that he must be treated as a footballer would be. Without him, they probably wouldn't have jobs.