Oh, Dr. N... you are a generous man.

I don't see how to feel sorry for someone so utterly devoid of comprehension as that ignoble jelloid.

Have you never felt an ounce of compassion for that slug, as you pour salt on its back?

If ever i get the slightest feeling of compassion for it, then I just look at what remains of my vegatable patch, and it kind of fades back to nothing.

Given the fact that the Commission has a federal objective, and will seek at every opportunity to diminish the U.K. in whichever way they can devise, I can see no solution apart from dramatic ones.
The situation is intolerable, and it would be nice to think the UK would now say it would alone decide what its contribution will be, saying to the Commission "this is what we will pay, and no more - and next year it will be lower", and wait for the earthquake. Apart from Treaty violations (who cares?!), that might not be a wise move, however. But, we should immediately signal that we intend withdrawing from the EU, and start the process of negotiating our exit.
Every informed person knows that Cameron WILL agree to some formula that will increase our contributions, however he tries to disguise the fact, and so, what then….? In a way, I would welcome this outcome, for this will enrage even more people in his party, and will speed his demise. I wouldn't be surprised at a vote of confidence in the New Year.

I wonder how he thinks he can find £700 million per year, short of looking under the house of commons seat cussions for Money dropped from false expence's lose change.

Perhaps he thinks he can further cripple the nation by hammering even harder the Private sector (not that there is much more to be gained)

Maybe his plan is to "borrow" it, by which i mean tax really hard the private sector workers, who will not complain, because they have not yet been born.

Of course the real and only true option of Spend less, and saying "no we are not giving the EU any more", seems to have passed him by.

Now there you have to have a little compassion!

I'd say it's a foretaste of a greater "worst of all worlds" Cameron, Miliband & Co., and the administrative establishment have in mind, being in the outer circle of the EU and having not even a pretence of influence, but coughing up a more than full whack. That way, the flow of legislation, jobs and pensions continues, and they avoid the work and responsibility of independence; politicians are left to pose and administrators are in a growth industry.

I really have no idea whether Cameron knows what he's doing or not, but it's certain that there are a lot of people in government who know exactly how things work and want it this way.

The fact that something or someone is incompetent does not preclude them having the clearest possible idea of which side their bread is buttered on.

From the POV of the Civil Service, incompetence isn't necessarily a bad thing; there aren't enough of them and they aren't paying enough to get high quality recruits.

In any case, it's hard to believe that people like Hague, who may be completely disingenuous, but is far from an idiot, haven't a clue as to the way the EU works.

No ! Not in the slightest. He made his bed, let him lie in it.

The people who I feel sorry for are the ones:

who have lost their jobs (Ford vans too Turkey, Jaguar cars too China)

who cannot find work.

who have had the value of their savings and/or pensions devalued by QE.

whose business cannot get finance.

who have lost their homes.

I could go on.

It seems our 'Government' (sic) cannot find the money to help the people who they are actually responsible for, but can stump-up plenty of 'our' cash when 'others' want it. Nay demand it!

No sir, sorrow, not even almost, is the last thing one should feel for him and his class.

Feel sorry for Cameron, never, the political maggots deserve nothing less than outright contempt.

I didn't think you did compassion Dr North, especially for the maggots, please don't spoil your terrier image.

Hope you are feeling well Dr N.