I don't comment on political matters, but find the whole thought process behind this campaign to be misguided. Back in 1973 the General Post Office, still under government influence, did issue stamps when the UK joined the European Communities.
In 1979 four stamps were issued, again by the General Post Office, to mark the first direct electons to the European Assembly. They served as a further reminder, were any necessary, to encourage citizens to vote in these important elections. Finally* in 1992 a single stamp was issued by Royal Mail to mark the creation of the Single European Market for goods, services, and labour.
Things have changed since then. Royal Mail is privatised, something seemingly lost on the spokespeople interviewed by BBC television. A member of the London Assembly was 'outraged' that this important historic event was not being marked, while the spokeswoman for 'Best for Britain', a 9-month old political organisation, disagreed and said that taxpayers money should not be spent on this!
This shows how out of touch they both are with reality. One politician who thinks that he or the government can have any influence over (the private company) Royal Mail's stamp issuing policy, and a another who somehow thinks that taxpayers (ie the British Government) money would be spent on a new stamp!
Well the news is that the taxpayers who post letters (and all who collect stamps) would spend money on these not the British Government. And although Royal Mail can produce stamps quickly when they want to, they haven't issued any stamps for overtly political current events since that one in 1992. Stamps which have had a political connection have all been marking people and historical events associated with them - Prime Ministers (2014), and Women of Distinction (2008) and a few individuals in similar issues.
Rest assured, this isn't going to feature in the 2019 stamp issue programme - although that won't stop somebody producing expensive special covers to mark the event!
* I've missed at least one - a gold star to anybody who can identify it!
We also issued stamps in 1966 to commemorate the French takeover in 1066 !
ReplyDeleteThat wasn't the one I was thinking of; mine was after 1973, but good suggestion.
Delete1984 Europa issue that mentions second European parliamentary elections?
ReplyDeleteYes I had overlooked that one, but there's another
DeleteThe 4 Channel Tunnel stamps of 1994 and the single stamp in a miniature sheet of 4 in 2012?
ReplyDelete1976. 11p Bicentenary of American Independence?
ReplyDeleteIf you meant France/Europe specifically, I suppose there’s the 2004 Centenary of the Entente Cordiale?
ReplyDeleteEntente Cordiale in 2004?
ReplyDelete.... or 1989 Anniversaries (European Parliament Third Direct Elections, 19p stamp)
ReplyDeleteWell done Pete, that's the one that is specifically European [insert name of organisation here] related. I saw this and missed the 2nd elections Sir_Loin referred to as it's hidden in a Europa issue.
DeleteThinking Hypothetically - wouldn't the non-existent stamp have to be at the 10g or 20g Europe rate? Better still an "E" NVI - they were quite useful for me back in the day...
ReplyDeleteWhy on earth would anyone want to commemorate the biggest mistake Britain ever made? It's like commemorating the Munich crash of 1958, the Munich agreement of 20 years earlier, or the Hillsborough disaster of 1989.
ReplyDeleteWhether it is a mistake remains to be seen. However I agree that rubbing the noses of those of us who chose to remain would be inappropriate, and even more devisive than the vote was - particularly in view of the narrow margin.
ReplyDeleteIn any case while political commemoration is not unknown, they are seldom partisan in nature, and usually not particularly controversial ( joining the EU being a significant exception).
However I don't feel that the examples mentioned by Dave are a particular valid comparison, and 2 of them are in questionable taste bearing in mind that they refer to tragic loss of life. While there may ( or may not) be disastrous economic consequences it is hardly the same.