A bid to force the Government into holding a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty was launched by the DUP's Nigel Dodds in Parliament yesterday.I wish him the best of British, but it’s also interesting that his co-member in "Better off out" (a cross-party campaign to pull the UK completely out of the EU), the Conservative member for Harwich and Clacton, Douglas Carswell, has gone one step further:
The North Belfast MP was one of 20 MPs chosen in the ballot to put forward a Private Members' Bill in the Commons.
He is using the opportunity to push for a poll on the controversial treaty that created a president of Europe and insists the both the Conservatives and Labour have misled voters when they claim that can no longer done now it has been ratified.
Today I introduce a Bill in the House of Commons that would give the people a direct vote on Britain's membership of the European Union; the European Union Membership (Referendum) Bill.
All three political parties promised us a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. Yet it never happened.
For thirty years, it's been left to politicians and diplomats to determine our Euro policy. No one under the age of 53 has had the chance to vote in a referendum on it. I think now it's time to let the people decide.
Naturally, given how government controls Parliament (as opposed to the other way around), my Private Members Bill faces an uphill struggle to become law. But it puts down a marker. It breaks the Westminster taboo. What has been unsaid for too long is now in print on the Order Paper.
If it is too late to have a vote on the Lisbon Treaty - and I think it is - then we need to have a vote on Rome.
This isn't just about Europe. It's about making politics link more directly to the people. It’s about direct democracy and people power.
My Bill is backed by MPs from all parties. And even by MPs who support the EU, but fear it lacks legitimacy without a vote.
And going on the journalistic maxim that "three makes a trend", this from Conservative Home.Given the choice I’d personally vote against Lisbon but to stay in the EU, however I suspect both referendums would result in a anti-European Union conclusion and for that reason alone, it’s a castiron certainty that neither are going to happen.
But I'm interested to see what you all think, so time, I think, for another poll!
"The European Union, is the UK better in or out?"
7 comments:
Northern Ireland would be much, much better off as an independent member state within the EU. That's why Catalunya, Euskadi (Basques), Flanders, Scotland, Wales, etc, want the same.
England would be much better off OUT of the EU.
I do find it interesting though that so many nationalists reject a Union with a neighbouring people with whom they share a similar culture and a long history of alliance against adversity - and in favour of a Union with people with different legal traditions, different languages and different interests.
"Independence in the EU".
Either one of us doesn't get it, or we have less in common than I thought....
That's why nationalists in those various places you mentioned want the same you mean.
And it's a very debatable question whether we would be better off- our population and hence influence on our own is miniscule, even more so now post Lisbon. As part of the bigger UK whole we at least have a fighting chance at making our voice heard in Brussels.
Anyway, the EU is moving towards a much more regionalist as opposed to nation approach (hence both Catalunya and Bavaria have now their own offices in the EU)- the financial and other benefits would not change in event of us breaking away from the rest of the UK, we would still belong to the same geographical region.
Easily better off in. I agree about the lack of democracy though. I would bet that English voters would reject and Scottish voters vote to stay in. e seem to have less anti-Euro/French/German feeling here.
>>..then we need to have a vote on Rome.<<
Do you think Nigel might have got a wee bit mixed up ;¬)
Tony
I would bet that English voters would reject and Scottish voters vote to stay in.
As would Wales but its more a perception that EU actually benefits them as opposed to an anti-European feeling I think. Having said that 3 of the 4 main NI parties are euro-sceptic and I wouldn't be at all sure that NI would vote to stay in either.
Do you think Nigel might have got a wee bit mixed up ;¬)
No, Nigel (as opposed to Willie McCrea for example) is pretty clued in that way.. it was the Conservative Carswell who is opposed to "Rome", although I'm hoping he meant the Rome Treaty rather than Vatican!
>>As would Wales but its more a perception that EU actually benefits them as opposed to an anti-European feeling I think.<<
Have had several uncomfortable moments when in the company of English people or in England, where a casual, petty even anti-French remark is made and it is just taken as a given that everyone thinks the same.
You just don't get that in scotland. There is a misplaced sense of superiority that pervades English society. Nothing sinister I might add, perhaps the lack of real history and mythology about empire is to blame.
I love the "anti-democratic EU" jibes from British nationalists: Un-elected head of state. Un-elected second chamber. No constitution. No separation of powers.
As for UK independence: military and intelligence mini-me to the USA. The rear end of the 'Anglo-American capitalist' donkey. US bases in perpetuity. Failure to pay UK parking fines and London congestion charge. More a colony.
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