Lee Rotherham

Discover the truth about the EU ... There are 70 words in the Lord's Prayer. 271 in the Gettysburg Address. 313 in the Ten Commandments. And European Commission Regulation (EC) No 1284/2002, laying down the marketing size for hazelnuts (in shell), runs to . 2,509 words. The European Union is a tough nut to crack. Ever-present in political debates and pub conversations, how much do we really know about it? Regarded by some as a bureaucratic and undemocratic monster, others see it as a glorious economic and political union presiding over a Europe of unprecedented peace and stability. But what's the reality? This book gives readers the answers in a nutshell. Author Lee Rotherham has painstakingly compiled thousands of fascinating stats, curious quotes and outright oddities relating to the EU, ranging from the serious to the silly. They cover how the EU works, how it is perceived and how to assess its worth. Arranged in an attractive and highly readable format, this book will keep readers nibbling away for hour after hour. Crack open the nut to discover, among other things: - The ten guiding principles of the European Project - What the 32 Directorates-General are and what they do - The formula by which you can produce a mathematical analysis of each country's EU membership - How much is saved in wages each day EU staff go on strike Along the way you'll laugh out loud, become unbeatable at the politics round in quizzes, and understand why the Fathers of Europe wanted you to feel proud and emotional when you hear 'Ode to Joy', not think about the strict regulations for bent cucumbers. The EU In A Nutshell contains a rich bounty of facts - it's the perfect book for anyone wishing to find out more about the EU and its workings and be entertained along the way. So if you are simply trying to figure out how the whole EU thing fits together (and why) or if you're a political junky in need of a quick fix on some EU trivia, this book is for you. Grab the nutcracker and let's get started ...

Everything You Wanted to Know about the European Union But Didn't Know Who to Ask

The EU in a Nutshell

Matthew Elliott

Welcome to the world of waste. You are about to enter a twilight zone of crazy spending, political correctness, utter incompetence, and fantastic jollies, all funded by the British taxpayer.In this book, the authors have highlighted a myriad of examples of Government waste and useless spending, taken from thousands of examples held on file. The figures have been compiled from independent reports, media coverage and official statistics. Added together, they come to #81 billion of waste.- In 1997, the Government plundered #2 billion per week from its people. In 2004-05, the figure was #4.8 billion.- The Arts Council spent #77,000 sending a team of artists to the North Pole to make a snowman.- Quangos cost over #22 billion per year.- Local government pension schemes are in deficit to the tune of #27 billion. The taxpayer will fund the difference.- 459 books were withdrawn from the EU's Luxembourg library last year. The cost to taxpayers was #2,138 per book.- Ken Livingstone's office now costs #13.9 million to run. His staff includes 58 media and marketing personnel!- Between 2000 and 2005, one in every two new jobs created was in the public sector, many of them administrative.- Nottinghamshire tourism bosses spent #120,000 of taxpayers' money rebranding the county with a big 'N'.- Each European member of Parliament (MEP) costs #2.4 million per year in salary, expenses, perks and administration.- In 2005, 20 out of 24 government departments overspent their budgets. The total overspend was #7.1 billion.These are just a few of the alarming facts and figures revealed in The Bumper Book of Government Waste. If you wasted your family's money on this scale, you would probably be locked up. Whyshould the

Lee Rotherham

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