Straight from our very own The Ministry of Truth and reading surprisingly like one of the amendments that Winston Smith toiled over every day whilst working there we have this surprising little Statutory Instrument :

2011 No. 1043

European Union

The Treaty of Lisbon (Changes in Terminology) Order 2011

…

3.—(1) The amendments made by this Part apply to provisions contained in—

(a)an Act of Parliament,

(b)an Act of the Scottish Parliament, or

(c)an instrument made under an Act of Parliament or an Act of the Scottish Parliament (or both).

…

For references to the European Communities or to the European Community or the European Coal and Steel Community (including references to “the Communities”, “the Community”, “the EC” or “the EEC”) substitute references to the European Union.

…

In the following terms (which were defined by the European Communities Act 1972 as it had effect before the passing of the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008) for the word “Community” substitute “EU”—

(a)Community treaties,

(b)Community customs duty,

(c)Community institution,

(d)Community instrument,

(e)Community obligation, and

(f)enforceable Community right.

(2) In the following terms, and in those terms preceded by the word “European”, for “Community”, or as the case may be “European Community”, substitute “EU”—

(a)Community law,

(b)Community legislation, and

(c)Community provision.

(3) Where the term mentioned in paragraph (1) or (2) is preceded by the word “a”, for “a” substitute “an”.

There we have it – the European Union has always been the European Union just as we have always been at war with Eastasia.

It should keep the bookworms in parliament occupied for a few years as they chase down each and every reference that our real rulers have decreed no longer exists.