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Anthony Zacharzewski

Anthony Zacharzewski

Working to make European democracy work. "Refreshingly free of the usual platitudes". Belge par choix, Brits door opvoeding. President of Demsoc.org but posts here are personal.

📍 Brussels

Location, Location, Propaganda

Extraordinary segment on Location, Location, Location today, where Kirstie Allsopp launched a campaign to persuade the Government to scrap stamp duty for first-time buyers. This is the same Kirstie Allsopp who is a Conservative party advisor on housing policy, and who has been in the media backing the Conservative party

Runciman on Europe as superstate

David Runciman’s article on the political philosophy of the European Union is fantastic (though a little whiskery – 2001). Link: LRB – David Runciman: Invented Communities.

Dunster

A good time had by all, despite the torrential rain, at Dunster Castle. Great lunch at the Stag's Head on West Street by the castle entrance. Farmhouse Pie particularly good.

Long live the dictatorship of the commentariat!

Thank GOD for the journalistic profession. I for one couldn’t have lived a moment longer without knowing that Tony Blair was once sent a reminder about an unpaid bill. And as for his purchase of a dishwasher – why in heaven’s name has it taken till now for us

Worrying echoes of America

It feels disturbingly like the abortion debate is becoming party-politicised. (link). There was a free vote but Labour MPs mostly backed the status quo – leaving anti-abortion campaigners pinning their hopes on a change of government.

Everyone back to the 1870s!

Another day, another set of half-baked policy prescription from one of Gordon’s imports. This time it’s Quentin Davies, former Tory MP, who has produced an idea that will get the backing of peppery ex-colonels up and down the country: a bank holiday to celebrate the Armed Forces. Personally,

Oh those human rights!

People who believe that all those ‘human rights’ things come from the wicked European Union* could usefully pay attention to what the California Supreme Court have just done. (* and yes, I know they come from the Council of Europe).

What would like to talk about in Brighton

The Democratic Society are going to be holding a discussion event in Brighton in the next couple of months, and they want YOU to say what issues would be interesting to talk/hear about. Take the 20-second survey here.

On Beachy Head

Looking towards Eastbourne.

Fine Burger Co.

Grabbed dinner yesterday on the way back through St Pancras at the Fine Burger Co., which is an interesting concept. It’s half way between McDonalds and somewhere like Gourmet Burger Kitchen. They sold me a fantastic fresh burger with loads of veg, great chips and a coke, but (unlike