Light posting ahead
Francis Sedgemore, Sunday 31 January 2010
Over the following week I shall be in Brussels on business, and may not have much spare time in which to entertain you with my sundry wibblings on life, the universe and stuff. In fact, I may not have time to do anything other than work, sleep, eat and crap. That’s if my European Commission masters are to be believed.
Picture if you will a bunch of downtrodden, overworked and underpaid consultants and rapporteurs locked in windowless rooms in the Covent Garden complex, with Commission officials lurking in the background, whips and megaphones in hand.
“You will not leave until you have reached a consensus!”, they bark in unison. Such is the terrifying reality of the new European Superstate.
Feed the writer! 
Sunday 31 January 2010 at 23:26 GMT
That puts me in mind of a recent Tweet from RealNickGriffin, which I follow avidly:
Lovely.
Friday 5 February 2010 at 12:00 GMT
Not sure that the EU is responsible. On any business trip, the UK tax rules specify that it must be entirely for business purposes. Otherwise — if you take an hour or two off to go shopping or sightseeing — it counts as a benefit! Shock! Horror! “Benefits” have to be taxed. At which point you and your employer are thrown head-first into the snake-pit of UK taxation. (In practice a certain amount of “don’t-ask-don’t-tell” goes on, because the tax gatherers have better things to do and the employers can’t be arsed.
Most employers, naturally, avoid this by treating their ordinary employees like serfs and confining them to their hotel rooms. It sounds like yours is doing just that.
The problem, in other words, is with a system of taxation is that interferes with everyday life to a massive degree. It’s important to realise this, and blame the right people.
Friday 5 February 2010 at 13:31 GMT
Roger – You appear to have read this post as a serious comment on the Absolutely Terrifying European Superstate (ATES). A terrible mistake.
For me the EU’s biggest failing this week is its inability to organise even a couple of hours of decent weather. Instead, all we have rain, and grey skies that merge with the grey suits of the Commission staff.
Friday 5 February 2010 at 14:57 GMT
Ah, I had presumed you were complaining about not being allowed out except on business. My mistake. (I have always thought it was inhuman to require someone to fly all the way to e.g. Singapore and then ban them from doing any sightseeing).
Of course you are quite right. It shows how useless the EU is that it can’t even ensure good weather.
The same applies to New Labour. There was MUCH better weather under the conservatives.
When David Cameron is elected, he will ensure constant sunshine, except for short periods when rain is required for agricultural purposes.* Just look at his publicity material for examples! I’m almost sure we can rely on him for this!