European Tax

To save our dear leaders the difficulty of actually having to defend our interests, once every five years, the Austrians have come up with a great idea.

There were "good reasons" for a European tax. "I know well it will be difficult to reach agreement. But if the European Union would have its own revenues it would be easier to negotiate the budget.

Which would be great would it not? Our dear leaders could spend more time on the caviar and lobster and less with the tiresome business of actually doing their jobs. Like all EU programmes, once agreed, it could never be taken back and at every opportunity, someone would try to increase the amounts raised. Ratchet effect anyone? So one weak government could agree to a budget deal that was effectively perpetual.