If only I had also been a technological whizz kid, I could have presented a more telling coverage of NUM's the publication. Well done. I picked it up from a Seachlight activist, who needs to protect his or her back and was not, therefore, given a "hat tip".

No argument here with that poster.

With the views of some of the Tories new mates in Europe, they'll be pretty close to the BNP anyway.

Hello, I got here via Tom Harris. Yes, I will 'Vote Anti-Fascist'. To me that means a party other than the BNP and Lab/Lib/Con.

Yes, Tom does get some weirdos.

Straight for the jugular with rudeness, eh?

Let me explain. Labour has committed treason by entrenching us further into a corrupt and unaccountable pan-Europe empire that is restricting our freedoms left, right and centre.

Are you disputing this?

I'm not quite sure what you mean by right, left and centre. But whatever you mean (and I think the first part of your sentence is correct) I think you devalue the notions of treason and fascism by throwing the terms about casually.

I really don't think that handing over our sovereignty to foreign powers can be considered any less than treason. What other word describes it better?

As for fascism - granted we're not up to Nazi Germany yet, but if we keep allowing the situation to worsen (prohibiting photography in town centres and of police officers, etc., fingerprinting schoolchildren, employing armies of council snoops and so on) we will get there.

I believe our freedom of expression is already hanging by a thread just in case some delicate flower gets 'offended' by criticism of his or her behaviour or beliefs.

The future doesn't look promising if we keep going in the same direction, does it?

As I say, you discredit your argument by making facile comparisons, and exaggerating your points. I was out taking photographs in Birmingham at the weekend, and neither of my children have been finger printed. There are not 'armies' of council officers snooping on people. The problem with UKIP is that by trying to tell everyone we are on a slippery slope to Nazi Germany because we have speed cameras, you make yourselves look ridiculous.

There are some perfectly reasonable arguments against creeping Euro Federalism - it is a big business charter, there is a massive democratic deficit, it is largely unaccountable etc, - but the people that vote UKIP this week will be voting on those things, not on whether or not we are drifting into the 4th Reich.

I don't think I am exaggerating and I didn't mention speed cameras.

I don't rely on UKIP for my worldview, although I'll probably vote for them this time for the sake of our country.

Your argument sounds like a denial of reality akin to: "I've not been affected by the recession, therefore there isn't one!"

You may know that your colleague, Austin Mitchell, has been stopped at least twice for taking photographs.

And there is something very wrong with a society where innocently photographing children can get you branded a paedophile.

As you admit re. the EU, "there is a massive democratic deficit, it is largely unaccountable etc."

So why don't you admit we need to leave? Surely you don't think, like Libertas, that we can change it?

You make my point perfectly, comrade. Austin Mitchell is stopped twice for tasking photographs = we are on the brink of a descent into fascism.

And actually, Stewart, I really don't want you photographing my children without mine and their permission. On one hand you invent 'armies' of council snoopers, and on the other you want to be able to snoop on young children.

I think you must be confusing me with someone else. You really shouldn't invent my political views for me. Where did I write about not leaving the EU? What I do believe is that if we are in the EU (and I would favour a referendum as to whether we were in or out, rather than take your position of assuming what the electorate think) then it should be on the basis of laws being introduced and passed by democratically elected and accountable politicians.

But leaving aside my personal views, I am simply pointing out that if you equate liberal capitalist democracies with fascist states on the basis of a few pathetically weak examples, you devalue the language.

You've got me scratching my head a little, Bob. How many times does Mr Mitchell have to get in trouble with the 'authorities' for you to consider we have a problem with civil liberties? He is one of thousands, of course.

If it had happened in East Germany the British Government would have complained.

And I'm not talking about "snooping" on young children as I think you realise.

Apologies - I was presumptuous to think that you were a fan of the EU. I am joyful at being corrected. I just happen to believe that the EU is a huge timebomb and we need to get out before we lose the machinery to be able to do so politically.

We seem to disagree about definitions. You say the UK is a "liberal capitalist democracy".

Capitalist: yes. After 12 years of Labour, the divide between rich and poor has increased.

Democracy: not really anymore. If you have to watch what you say, it doesn't feel much like a 'democracy'.

Liberal: yes, but mainly in the wrong ways. Try telling 12 million smokers we live in a liberal democracy.

Bob you don't half attract them! What with Wee Free Pee Stew here and Numbskull 'Expenses' Neil on PR you have your fair share :-)

Ian... into every life a little rain must fall. We have to roll with it.

Or a twelve year deluge?

Stewart Cowan....wow, you've beaten Newmania into 2nd place on Bob Piper's roll-call of idiotic idiots.

A UKIP Creationist indeed. Hee Hee! I must come back to your Weblog more often Comrade if this is what it's like these days; I've been away for a while.

Anyway, I'm off for a quick rub-down with The Guardian, followed by many godless hours of self-loathing :-)

Anonymous at 7.36pm - I'm not surprised you hide behind a pseudonym writing comments like that. Maybe self-loathing is your bag as well as loathing others?

Just a thought.

There's a Forgiver of sins that can make you feel better.

I'm not UKIP - I will probably vote for them this time because I care about my country.

"I must come back to your Weblog more often Comrade"

You'll be very welcome. Hopefully you will learn something.

"I've been away for a while."

I won't ask! :-)