Albion – just thinking out loud
[First take, just to see how it looks]
The trouble with names like conservative, independent, libertarian, freedom, free, liberal and so on is that they have connotations in most minds which would not be acceptable to various supporters of the general idea. Even the term British is fraught and as a Witanagemeot member, I wouldn’t want to alienate the English.
There may well be centrist Labour people of a similar way of thinking – that the EU incursions have gone too far. There could be unionists who are patriotic first.
This alliance has a primary purpose in wresting this country back from the EU and blocking its takeover. This is our first priority and any other aspects necessarily follows on from that.
It might be a good idea to say that this alliance was born this day, Remembrance Sunday, 2009.
Filed under: Politics & economics, Society & human issues
This is really difficult. I know what you mean, but the title is defensive-aggressive, Blakean (and redolent of other 18th century revolutionary dreamers, too). Maybe just get the referendum movement going and find a name for it later. Got any (can get any) contacts in the Spectator?
“The prospect of an ‘in or out’ referendum is the only stick worth wielding in Brussels” – Fraser Nelson – http://www.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/5504783/there-is-only-question-that-frightens-brussels.thtml
Short answer – yes.
There has long needed to be a place where those opposed to the EU could wipe their feet and leave all other politics at the door. I would welcome such an effort.
Is it “ALBION” as in the Roman name for Britain?
I like it, very evocative and patriotic too.
Why not just call it something simple like “The British Referendum Alliance?”
Because it will inevitably be called The Bra.
Dropping a note to my (Conservative) MP tomorrow asking his opinion on the referendum question. 2005 majority 1200.
Oops, didn’t think about that
This is difficult!
Sue,
I would think it’s because it needs to go further than just a referendum. We need a complete overhaul of the political system – something like Lord T speaks about in http://www.pro-liberi.com/2009/11/05/democracy-in-the-future/
The sweeping away of the present political system consisting of politicians that know nothing of the real world and civil servants that are neither civil or servants should be the ultimate aim.
You don’t like Albion, the poetic name for Britain, Sue? It doesn’t have to be an acronym – that was just an idea. We’ll get a site up and follow some of the other suggestions in the next two days. Tomorrow is hell for me but thereafter it should be fine.
What about (taking some ideas from the medieval peasants rebellions throughout Europe).
The Referendum Rebellion
The Referendum Revolt
They’re not politically specific and don’t give preference to England, Scotland, Wales or NI.
Perhaps they’re too old fashioned. I do like Albion personally but then I’m a woman and it gives me a romanticised vision of how the UK used to be… how we’d like it returned please!
No, I love Albion as I said in my previous comment, I have visions of the days of King Arthur in my head when someone mentions it…
Ivan, (just my opinion), but it has to be one step at a time. I don’t think all those other things are possible unless we sever links with the EU first.
We could also use Pullmans “Are such things done on Albion’s shore?”
This is why we need a proper site for these sorts of thoughts and ideas and so on. Don’t get me wrong – this is useful here but it should be taken out to the wider world than my blog.
I don’t think it will be long before there’s a groundswell. For a start, I’ll email every blogger I know and if you do that too, the word filters up anyway and together with our other behind the scenes contacting we’re doing, there might be some momentum.
Perhaps for now we should just set up a blog and a facebook site to gather support and to centralise thoughts. We can always think about putting a professional website together if we feel the need.
How about ALBUMEN? The Association of Like-minded Brits Under-Mining the European Nation.
Then again, that’s probably how the EU views us.
I like Albion but feel it may lack the kind of populist snap needed for this. Websites and facebook might need to wait until the principles and aims are agreed. Maybe a private wiki page where people can hack around drafts and ideas until agreed. OTOH, one compelling hard hitting page with a brief statement of intent, good URL and plenty of incoming links from which to gather email addresses/pledges of support might be a good idea while the debate is still hot.
@ Ivan 20:35
Stick to the referendum, all else extra will divide. Until the shackles are broken, there’s no point in discussing where to run to.
Sue,
The last thing we need is to be seen as a single issue movement because you will never be able to move beyond that. That way will most probably lead to being seen as irrelevant.
In saying that I do not imply that things shouldn’t be taken one step at a time. Everything must be done in clear ordered steps to attain our goal – a goal that should be set out clearly and precisely.
I have never been much interested in politics until I saw what was happening to England over the last 10 or so years. I have spent most of the last 40 odd years moving round the world as an engineer with the last 18 being based here in France – easy to get to clients in Spain, Italy, Germany and Switzerland. Now the way the political class has taken over the UK I feel a need to do something to remove them – I must say I see little or no difference between any of the main political parties with the others being irrelevant single issue proponents. Democracy needs to be handed back to the people – by the ballot box or revolution does not matter as long as the political class is removed and never allowed to return. The population must be directly responsible for their destiny! It is often said that the people get the government they deserve – I doubt many in the UK deserved the government of the last 13 years.
Sorry for the length of this James but I think I need to make my position clear.
James,
I rather like the name Albion. As such would like to propose the name
Albion Alliance.
or
Free Albion Alliance.
It neither proclaims any political allegiance other than for these islands, a free alliance of any parties that wish to oppose the common enemy of the EU.
Put our political differences aside to produce the simple manifesto you outlined previously. We can pick up our political differences once we are a free nation again.
Ivan, Perhaps we all perceive “the movement” as different entities. I see the priority as getting out of the EU and then once that it achieved setting in motion electing a new government, hopefully of fully elected, representative politicians.
So that’s all quite clear. Website tomorrow or late today, work out how to social network, probably go for now with Albion or Albion Free Alliance [something which trips off the tongue is necessary], then start all the contacting.
As already said, we’ve been doing some already at the political level but this thing all depends on numbers, once a clear message is got out. I have the TPA booklet and there is some nice language in there to put the exit-EU case [attributed too]. I’ll write to Ruth Lea.
Cool, I will start the rounds with mums.net and all the office and business people I know that pass round the viral emails… and of course when I get back from Stalag UK, start on the expats here!
Wow. This seems to be moving fast. Hope the momentum keeps up.
Remember the KISS principle. Keep to the basics, make them clear and show a path from where we are now and don’t overcomplicate it and put in radical policies that will split us up.