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The situation with the Russian invasion and occupation of Georgia is frankly, a case where there is little the West can do about because the Russians had already calculated that we wouldn’t go to war over it. The West does need to remember Nazi Germany and it’s land grabs and from that understand that Russia is not to be trusted, on anything and treated accordingly in the future, indeed a policy of deliberately ‘frustrating’ them over issues we are not that interested in, should be a low level priority.

However, the oddest thing to come out of all this from a British domestic situation is the “silence of the lambs”, Brown and Miliband.

Now whilst megaphone diplomacy doesn’t work and there needs to be some restraint on public statements whilst negotiations take place, total silence is a rather novel and extraordinary tactic for a failing Government to adopt. In all honesty, if they can’t do better than that, they really should call a General Election right now and GO.

Brown’s Famous Red Lines

When Gordon Brown sneaked over to Lisbon to sign the EU Constitution/Lisbon Treaty, both he and David Miliband made great play of the “Red Lines” one of which was Foreign Policy. And yet whilst the current EU President Sarkozy was talking to Russia, not a single word for over 5 days was uttered by either the British Prime Minister or, the British Foreign Secretary.

Now leaving aside that both are universally acknowledged to be totally useless at their respective jobs, this is not a party political issue, this is a national one because it brings with it a very strong smell of future armed conflict but nothing was said by them on behalf of Britain. Bear in mind that under such circumstances, the early ‘statements’ put out by all are as much if not more, for domestic consumption rather than for the “other side”, whoever they may be.

On Holiday or Just Out to Lunch- Permanently ?

Last year Brown scurried back from his holidays to “deal with” some emergency issues, Foot & Mouth, Floods and a couple of bungled terrorist attacks. In reality there was no need to because of past and pretty recent events, the government machinery was set on pretty much auto-pilot to deal with it all.

This year a serious international issue arises with the Russians following hard on the various disputes Britain is already engaged upon with the awful Putin and his clique and McCavity is once more nowhere to be seen nor heard from. The man has no political sensitivity or awareness what so ever, not for his own political and party survival and therefore, not even for these Island Peoples called the UK. Even if I were and ardent Socialist, I would consider this creature a total disgrace and wish him gone quickly.

David Cameron

The only British politician who has made any effort at all is David Cameron by first laying out in an article in the Daily Telegraph just why he considered the Russian actions wrong but then, following it up with a personal visit to Georgia. Of course Cameron got a lot of flack from the naysayers to both Right and Left but at least here, we had someone looking like a Prime Minister in waiting and prepared to the political risk of taking a stand.

The risks he took were considerable politically if only because whilst it looks like the Georgians were duped into starting it by the Russians, if indeed the Russians were able to show proof of the 2,000 Osetians they claimed were killed in Georgian “genocide”, Cameron’s political judgement and grasp of foreign affairs would have been called into question with the added label of “neocon Blair Lite” with all its overtones of being a yesterday person.

Also whilst it is said that the Leader of the Opposition can say anything they like because they are not in power and therefore impotent to act upon their statements, it is clear to all that Labour will not be the Government after the next General Election and indeed, may well become the third party after the LibDems. Whilst a hung Parliament is a possibility, it is most likely that David Cameron will be the next British Prime Minister by the Summer of 2010 and possibly earlier because the current Government may well spontaneously implode within the year. Brown has given Cameron a serious political “leg up” domestically due to his silence and not harmed his International appeal either, how odd !

The Elephant in the Room

Can no longer be ignored, like it or not, the question of Britain’s relationship with the EU will finally become an issue the public take an interest in. Whilst most of the British public do not take a passionate interest in political events abroad and the “EU” has never fired up the majority anyway, perhaps these events in conjunction with others, may change that now.

Talking about “Red Lines” by itself will not be productive because even the most ardent Labour supporter believes this Labour Government is on its last legs so, it would be deflected on the obvious personal weaknesses of Brown and his Cabinet. So whilst Brown delegating or abrogating completely British interests and making them subservient to those of Sarkozy and Merkel, is a disgrace and proof of the loss of Sovereignty by both this and previous governments in this ill fated and corrupt organization, it is not the argument that will make the “Tipping Point” with the public.

What Are They For ?

Starting with the Derek Conway Affair and subsequent events, the pay, “allowances” and expenses of MPs have come firmly into the spotlight and the reputation of the House of Commons must be at an all time low. We have between the various Celtic devolved governments and the Village of Westminster, far too many directly elected representatives and a serious “cull” of the +640 Members of the Commons must be a certainty in the near future if only as a cost cutting exercise.

If as appears the case, reinforced by Brown’s silence over Georgia that 80% of all legislation is proscribed by Brussels then on a cost basis alone, we only need 120 MPs for the amount of work they do and probably 50% of the Civil Service could also be sacked because as an example, the Foreign Office has clearly abrogated any responsibility for an independent Foreign Policy.

To properly estimate the real costs of British membership of the EU, like the EU Constitution, it is deliberately designed to be as obscure as possible but a “near estimate” taking into account direct contributions and “compliance costs” would seem to be around £55 Billion a year and as we enter a recession where inevitably people will lose their jobs, that will be a highly significant cost consideration.

Parliament can no longer have it both ways, either we elect our representatives who are answerable to us the British electorate and pay them appropriately or we abolish them and live under the benign dictatorship of the EU. Either they have a job and we an independent Britain or they don’t have a job and we are all EU slaves including them too.