Well, it took European Commission Chief Commissar President Barroso a whole five seconds into his pre-prepared statement in response to the Irish rejection of the European Constitution Lisbon Treaty to say it but, as we all knew he would, he did:
"The vote in Ireland should not be seen as a vote against the European Union".
Sorry, Mr Barroso, you’re wrong.
Anyone who has watched the progress of the ‘no’ campaign, led by the highly articulate and personable Declan Ganley, will know that the central argument of the campaign has been against the reduction Ireland’s power in the European Union that would have surely ensued from the ratification of this Treaty.
The Irish people, who account for little more than 1% of the European Union’s total population, have struck a blow for democracy and made it very clear that they would not accept a reduction of their power in the European Council or the loss of their Commissioner. They've made it clear that they won't accept the supremacy of a distant and unaccountable body, nor will they bow simply to the will of a domestic and external political elite. The spirit of 1922 lives on.
In short, they’ve stood up for their sovereignty of their country. If only the British government would do the same…
