Almost All of the Country Voted to Save Krona
by George Jones

The electoral map of Sweden's euro-referendum is emphatic. Every corner of the country voted to save the krona, except a sliver on the southern coast, known as Skane, and the capital, Stockholm.

Areas of central Sweden that voted in 1994 for European Union membership said No this time with margins as big as 20 per cent. Even the second city, Gottenburg, once a stronghold of pro-European feeling, switched to a No.

In the west coast fishing towns and the Baltic Island of Gotland, which all backed EU membership, the No camp charged ahead with margins of more than 20 per cent.

The industrial heartland of Ostergotland switched en masse, reflecting a bitter sense of disenchantment with an EU elite that seemed to have reneged on so many promises.

In the frozen north, always anti-EU, only 13 per cent backed the euro in areas of Jamtland.

Goran Persson, the prime minister, tried to deflect the disaster with humour, saying he might do better to find a job as a priest or a lumberjack.

The result did indeed show, as he put it, "a deep scepticism towards the European project."
The Daily Telegraph, 16th September 2003

PHILLIP DAY'S COMMENT: Sweden has long been skeptical of the EU's overall aims. She also has an expansive welfare state which is threatened once the governance of this nation falls under the control of Brussels. Most importantly, this decision of Sweden's not to join the euro currency has propelled the UK pro-euro camp into turmoil, no plans now in force to put the beleaguered euro to the British electorate before the next election. Which means, of course, that we have another year for the truth about Germany's appalling euro plight to come to light.

But more crucially, this leaves the EU constitution, as always, the most dangerous threat to Europe in general and Britain in particular. Once this is signed by Blair, Britain becomes a vassal state of Brussels, euro or no euro, and all measures can then be compelled upon member states (including the euro) no matter the opposition involved. Tony Blair has repeatedly stated that he will not give Britain a referendum on the constitution, even if such a referendum were legal, which it is not, due to our historic, unalterable powers of self-governance. Thus our task remains to educate the British public on the pressing dangers of the proposed Brussels treaty, and allow the British people themselves to rise up against it.

PS: Methinks Goran Persson should indeed seek employment elsewhere, but hardly as a priest.

Further Resources
Ten Minutes to Midnight by Phillip Day
Vigilance by Ashley Mote
Available at www.credence.org