Tuesday
28Aug2007
NO REFERENDUM
Tuesday, August 28, 2007 at 09:51AM I see that the Telegraph is reporting that Gordon Brown is facing a deepening party split over Europe after it became clear that more than 120 Labour MPs, including several senior ministers, want a referendum on the new EU reform treaty.
Sorry, I don't buy this. NuLabour are ideologically committed to selling out the interests of this country to the EU and the idea being touted that there is this large section within this Party who are desperate to let the people speak is risible. Mark my words, Brown will NOT allow a referendum as he knows he would lose. I think this is wishful thinking on the part of the Daily Cameron.
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Reader Comments (6)
David
You are right that the Labour leadership has been pro-EU since Neil Kinnock replaced Michael Foot. But Gordon Brown has been notably less enthusiastic than Blair was. In addition, there has always been a euro-sceptic element in the Labour party, mostly represented these days by what you might call the old left. I saw Bob Crowe, the left wing rail union leader, arguing the referendum case last week on Newsnight.
I could well imagine that at least 100 Labour MPs would like to see a stake driven through the EU constitution, which is now shamefully being sneaked though the back door without a formal treaty. But they have zero chance of forcing Brown into a referendum that he knows he would be 100% certain to lose.
Bob Crowe is arguing the referendum case precisely because the UK did not sign up to the Charter in our opts outs - a key area on sovereignty issues. He wants a referendum to re-align his crowd to press for a new participation in the EU whereby we give over more powers in this area and bolster trade union powers.
Alison
Which charter do you mean?
The old left have always opposed Britain's membership of the EU. They campaigned for a no vote in the referendum in 1975.
The Unions moved from being anti-EEC because they viewed it is a capitalist nirvana to pro EU because of the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Given how different the nature of their opposition is, it is hard to see how they can campaign alongside those who will be voting against the Treaty as a matter of principled opposition to the EU as a whole.
I reckon people thought if the unions are opposed to the EEC it must be worth voting for back in the 70s ...and their opposition to it now reinforces for me the importance of not having signed up to that Charter.
Always look for where the self interest of MPs, Trade Unionists, and the ruling political elite generally is. Allison is spot on, and the socialist MPs and the Trade Unionists want into the extreme Charter of Fundamental Rights. Brown will not agree to a referendum, and if by some strange circumstance we get one, the question put to the voters would be unacceptable. These people do not want what the British people want. The State is not your friend. The ruling political elite are your enemies. The three Scotsmen, Brown/Cameron/Campbell are all Eurofederasts to their fingertips.
I would encourage everyone to bombard their MPs over the importance of this. All major parties promised a referendum. If they are going to betray their promises at least make them admit that they're lying scum.