EU planners have wiped the English Channel off the map

[jrh2002]

BARMY EU planners have wiped the English Channel off the map — and renamed it Le Pond.

A new atlas intended for schools downgrades the sea dividing Britain and France to a “small internal waterway”.

The move is part of a revived masterplan to build a European superstate — and is being backed by £1.1 million of UK taxpayers’ money. Eurocrats are trying to break down national boundaries by creating new trans-frontier EU regions. Under the new plan, huge swathes of southern England will join northern France as a new zone called “TransManche”.

Taxpayers are now being forced to dig deep to fund the new map of the region, which stretches from Cornwall to Kent and across Northern France from Nantes to Lille.

MPs were stunned to see drafts of the “Transmanche Atlas” and find the Channel had been renamed “small inland sea, the Franco-English Pond”.

Last night furious critics urged schools to refuse to accept any new maps based on the atlas.

The historic stretch of sea, 350 miles long and 150 miles wide at some points, has been known to Brits as the Channel for more than 1,000 years.

Traditionally it translates as “la Manche” in French — “the sleeve”.

It has been Britain’s defence against invading armies, including the Spanish armada in 1588, Napoleon and the Nazis during World War Two.

But in an astonishing foreword, the map-makers declare: “A thousand-year period, beginning with the Norman invasion of England, now nears its end as that same island becomes physically linked to the continent of Europe.”

Tories last night accused the government of erasing another bit of Britain’s proud history and tradition. Shadow communities secretary Caroline Spelman said: “Labour ministers have already sought to replace England and its shires with government office regions.

“Now British taxpayers’ money is being used literally to wipe our nation off the map, erase a thousand years of history and downgrade the English Channel to the insulting status of a pond.

“Hard-working families and pensioners will be outraged. A Conservative government will scrap these Euro plans and save the English Channel.”

The map — part-funded by the British government — is part of an initiative to create a Euro region across south England, northern France and Belgium. The project, part of the EU’s INTERREG programme of merging member states, boasts that the idea is to promote a “shared space”.

But Mats Persson, director of the Open Europe think tank, declared: “The whole exercise is ridiculous.”

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “These atlases show what a threat the European Union is to the UK and taxpayers will be outraged their money is being used to promote EU propaganda.”

http://blogs.notw.co.uk/politics/201...e-channel.html

I am sure Gordon will tell us this will never happen..........:rolleyes:

[Catzsy]

Well they can call it what they want. It will always be the English Channel to us. Having said that this is the News of the World!

[Hitman]

Ugh is this is real and is gonna happen then I'm appalled... bloody EU... for crying out loud.

[dbgtz]

"No lets not repair ourselves after a terrible recession, lets try change a name on the map!". WHAT THE ****! I'll call it the channel and I'll get people who don't call it the channel to call it the channel. Awful waste of money.

[-:Undertaker:-]

"Tories last night accused the government of erasing another bit of Britain’s proud history and tradition." - So Mr Cameron, what are you going to do about this?

[Hitman]

"Tories last night accused the government of erasing another bit of Britain’s proud history and tradition." - So Mr Cameron, what are you going to do about this?

He's just gonna accuse Labour to get some more supporters and then do nothing.

[-Danube-]

Well they can call it what they feel tbh, And if they feels it's "Small" i'd like to see them swin it .

[alexxxxx]

this is a non-story. from what i can dig up using transmanche zone and atlas are some outdated webpages with no mention of the anglo-french pond - about this sort of thing it is a proposal as part of a much larger cross-regional council integration and increasing cultural, economic and educational ties. I can't find anything about this proposal apart from in the mail, notw and the express - so if someone can find an official press release relating to this it'd be appreciated.

[Alkaz]

It is stupid, I know we call the Atlantic a pond but thats just sarcasm because of the sheer size, I think the channel is a bit bigger than a pond :/ I also don't like the proposed plans for the south of England, I dont really want to live in France but actually in Britain. :S
''Hi where you do come from?'' ''I come from TransManche, you?''

[-:Undertaker:-]

this is a non-story. from what i can dig up using transmanche zone and atlas are some outdated webpages with no mention of the anglo-french pond - about this sort of thing it is a proposal as part of a much larger cross-regional council integration and increasing cultural, economic and educational ties. I can't find anything about this proposal apart from in the mail, notw and the express - so if someone can find an official press release relating to this it'd be appreciated.

I am sorry but it is the English Channel and not a pond which is there for unelected and unwanted eurocrats to rename whatever they wish. You will not find this on any European Union sites/the Guardian because it makes them look like the pathetic little Hitlers they are who cannot stand it if they dont get their own way. As a federalist yourself though, you must be very happy this 'cultural exchange' is taking place despite the fact both the majority of the French and British people do not want any of it. We need a Prime Minister who will tell this lot where to go.