I wanted the British people to decide whether the Lisbon Treaty should become a part of European Union law. I am disgusted that the Labour Government, aided and abetted by the Liberal Democrats have reneged on their manifesto commitments and deprived us of the promised referendum. They connived with what I think of as a 'Brussels mafia' to prevent us standing by our commitment. In short, they cheated the British people.
Now, I must admit that I'd hoped that it would have been possible to hold some sort of opportunity for the British people to express an opinion on the undemocratic all-consuming Leviathan that has been created in Brussels. But it seems that its not to be. Today, I listened to David Cameron's tell us what "not letting matters lie" means - and then read it as well. It was good enough for me. I still feel cheated, but only by Labour and the Lib Dems. I reckon David has done all he could reasonably have done.
Firstly, he has committed a Conservative Government to amending the 1972 European Communities Act to ensure than any future proposal to transfer power to the European Union would require a referendum. This matters because it would include entry into the Euro zone. And he has promised a UK Sovereignty Bill, to ensure sovereignty remains with the UK Parliament - though I need to read tomorrow's commentary on this to fully grasp its impact.
Secondly, he told us that the General Election will serve as a 'mandate' referendum to negotiate guarantees about how the Lisbon Treaty will be implemented, and to seek the return of powers to the UK Parliament. No suggestion that any of this will be easy. A European Policy Committee is to be established, to be chaired by William Hague to work up proposals in respect of the Fundamental Charter of Human Rights, our Criminal Justice System, and social and employment legislation. William is just the man - likable, tough and Euro sceptic.
None of this is anything like as good as the promised referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, but Labour and the Lib Dems cheated us out of that. In the circumstances, I reckon its as much as David Cameron could commit to - without declaring a desire to leave the EU. Today's statement won't satisfy those who want out, but I hope all Conservatives will back our new stance. And perhaps a few of those Labour and Lib Dem supporters who share my disgust at the way their parties have betrayed Great Britain over the Lisbon Treaty will come on over and join us.
11 comments:
And I really wish all those people who say that they will vote UKIP (or worse) would just bloody well think what damage they could do. Splitting the Tory vote would do what? Give us catastrophie Brown!
The Treaty of Lisbon is ratified so we must move on...no point in holding a referendum on what is a fact. Politicians should not hold to fixed positions but move with the changes and take into account present realities and circumstances. Too many are stuck and live in the past, thinking of what could be/what might have been - not "what is".
I never understand the often quoted phrase recently that if a treaty has been signed, there is nothing we can then do about it. Countries are free to pull out of treaties whenever they so wish. Does our treaty with the Holy Roman Empire in the War of Spanish Succession still stand, or the Anglo-German Naval Agreement, or our alliance with the Ottoman Empire in the Crimean War? I appreciate Cameron is treading a narrow line but in one breath he says we cannot have a referendum because the Treaty is now 'law', but then says he is to change the 'law' to allow future referendums. I fear pressure from the USA on William Hague has told. This is a hot potato that will run and run. The UKIP issue may cost Cameron dearly, but he can remove it in one stroke should he so wish.
pyers.symon - Preventing the Conservatives winning the next General Election at a national level seems to be Ukip's main aim. In Montgomeryshire, the Ukip candidate only attacks his Eurosceptic opponent - thus trying to help the Europhile Lib Dem MP to retain the seat. Entirely in order but seems a bit odd to me.
Alan - Agreed.
Roman - You are correct. The UK could refuse to accept the ratified treaty - but not remain a member of the EU as well. I'm not a constitutional lawyer, but I believe that we would be able to hold a referendum before entering the Euro - which is a key pledge for me. My opinion, for what its worth, is that holding a referendum on an issue that we could not follow through would be unwise. Most Eurosceptics within our party have accepted David Cameron's decision - even if they are very angry about the circumstances which has brought the current positiuon about.
I find the Conservative's Euroskeptic approach to politics tiresome- would it not be possible for a new Conservative government to wholeheartedly embrace the EU rather than continuing to push our love-affair with America to its final death throes?
The time has passed for the UK to be a 'plucky little individual nation', and we must make sure that we are on the right side.
Anonymous is totally wrong - we need neither be the 51st state of America, nor a cash cow for Brussels. We are perfectly capable of trading and co-operating with all nations, but merging with none. I can think of better ways we can relate to the EU without actually being a part of it. We would wield far more influence in Europe by being independent of it and free to act, whereby they would need to placate us (as with Russia). If we are within their structures, their inbuilt majority can just outvote our interests.
I have yet to meet a europhile who, when pushed, ultimately admits that their europhilia is basically anti-Americanism. You have just proved that - again!
Glyn - yes, it would mean us leaving the EU. Not before time.
alanindyfed - if the Lisbon treaty is ratified, so move on..... why does that not apply the other way? The Irish originally rejected it, end of story, move on. But no, they were made to revote, and no doubt re-vote again if they said no a second time.
Roman Jones (despite his name) would presumably like to tear up the Treaty of Rome. But EU membership has brought immense changes and economic benefits to nations such as Ireland, Portugal and Greece and will do so for the Eastern and Southern European recent members. Putting aside politics, the EU has brought peace, trade, unity, a strong Euro currency and numerous advantages. It should certainly be democratic and accountable to the people but also needs the powers to bring about even more progress and unity in diversity.
As Tcoah has pointed out numerous times: President Ditherer is running the USA into the ground so fast it is astonishing even for those independents who voted him into the White House.
So, any notion of the UK becoming the 51st state of the Union is just that, a notion.
President Ditherer's dithering has had some +ve outflow of late - he has promised (but his promises have proved to be elastic) that the US will not sign up to Copenhagen climate treaty for the same reasons that Bush refused any notion of signing onto Kyoto: countries like China and India must sign up to it as well, and since they won't, the USA won't.
France is managing to pulverize UK manufacturing industry through promoting EU wide Directives to bring the UK into alignment with France.
Pretty soon Ireland will find that being in the EU may not be such a good idea - particularly because France is working hard to neuter the Irish policy of low corporate taxation that has brought major players into the Irish tax system.
Poland and the other newer member nations will likewise feel France's "flat policies".
China is already outpacing the EU and now the USA.
The reality is: unless the EU and the USA wake's up (but fat chance of that with President Ditherer in the WH) and combined their common interests to counter China's growing dominance - we can kiss goodbye to improving living standards and anything approaching full employment based on private sector jobs.
Private sector jobs are leaching out of the EU and USA and heading straight for China and India.
India has moved beyond wanting handouts - they are making $$$$ taking your jobs and Kyoto has helped them, and China and India were hoping that Obama would help them by signing on at Copenhagen.
The recent elections results in NJ and VA have changed Obama's mind on that score - he won't sign up, not until after 2012 when he can't be voted out of power.
alanindeyfed- Yes, I would LOVE to tear up the Treaty of Rome and use it a lavatory paper. The EU probably has benefitted failing states like Ireland, Portugal and Greece - but they are not my concern, the UK and especially Wales is! I do not see why billions of our taxes should be diverted overseas when we have such need here. The EU has not brought peace, democracy brings peace. No two liberal democracies have ever gone to war against another. Does the EU stop war between Canada and Australia, does the EU stop New Zeland invading Japan? No. The EU is a corrupt, expensive, undemocratic monolith that has no bebefits to diversity, it is all about conformity! The UK (and Wales) would be stronger and richer freed from its shackles.
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