Drivel.
Oh, well, a warm welcome to the Conservative Party
as the third party out of three to support a referendum, not that there is any real need for one, or for renegotiation, rather than for plain and simple primary legislation. Unlike the other
two, the Third Party, which based on the Rotherham by-election result may also be called the Fifth Party, is still entirely closed to a referendum on the real issue.
But, like so many other things, it only counts when the
Tories say or do it. Everyone else does not exist. Apart from UKIP, obviously.
Fleet Street’s and the BBC’s beloved eccentric uncles who are therefore
saturated with affectionate, wholly uninquiring coverage.
However, for serious people, unlike David Cameron, legislation now, next week if possible, with six simple clauses. If playing
about with the succession to the Throne can be rushed through both Houses in
two days, then so can this.
First, the restoration of the supremacy of British over EU law, and its use
to repatriate agricultural, industrial and regional policy while also
reclaiming our historic fishing rights (200 miles, or to median line) in
accordance with international law.
Secondly, the requirement that, in order to have any effect in the United
Kingdom, all EU law pass through both Houses of Parliament as if it had
originated in one or other of them.
Thirdly, the requirement that British Ministers adopt the show-stopping
Empty Chair Policy until such time as the Council of Ministers meet in public
and publish an Official Report akin to Hansard.
Fourthly, the disapplication in the United Kingdom of any ruling of the
European Court of Justice or of the European Court of Human Rights unless
confirmed by a resolution of the House of Commons, the High Court of
Parliament.
Fifthly, the disapplication in the United Kingdom of anything passed by the
European Parliament but not by the majority of those MEPs certified as
politically acceptable by one or more seat-taking members of the House of
Commons.
And sixthly, since apparently we must, the provision for a referendum on the
question, “Do you wish the United Kingdom to remain a member of the European
Union?” The first five would come into effect at the same time as this
provision, and would not be conditional on that referendum’s outcome.
Over to the Opposition Front Bench. Clearly, no one else is going to make
the move.
The Tories, and not Labour, are now the first party in Government to guarantee an in-out referendum.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you apologise for being wrong, a few weeks ago, when you predicted the Tories would only offer a referendum on repatriation-and not on withdrawal??
And wrong, a few weeks before that, when you hilariously predicted Miliband, and not the Tories, would committ himself to an in-out referendum?
"Over to the opposition front bench"
Here's MY prediction. The opposition front bench (what exactly are they opposing? except a 45p tax rate that's 5p higher than it was under 13 years of them...and non-existent "cuts") won't promise ONE, never mind six of the pieces of primary legislation you propose.
What will you do then? Declare for UKIP, the only real way out?
I stopped reading after the first line because it was so ignorant. Labour held the only ever such referendum, itself a very good reason not to have another one.
ReplyDeleteThe 1975 referendum asked whether we wished to join a Common Market-not a political union.
ReplyDeleteI repeat-THIS is the first time a party of Government has guaranteed an in/out referendum on the real question.
While "Blue Ed" has ruled one out.
it's all going wrong for Labour-I shouldn't really laugh.
Too ignorant for words. Try reading Peter Hitchens, and you might learn something.
ReplyDeleteIgnorant? Haha I sense bitterness that your party has ruled out the only thing that could free us from Europe-withdrawal.
ReplyDeleteReading Peter Hitchens?
I don't recall him (could you point me to this?) ever arguing for anything so ridiculous as voting for Ed Miliband to get us out of Europe.
He'd be a laughing stock if he did.
Watch that space, I suspect.
ReplyDeleteYou really don't know anything at all, do you?
Please, please don't take your bitterness out on me, because your fantasy is collapsing.
ReplyDeleteI'm the one who warned you it was a fantasy-why shoot the messenger?
Blue Labour indeed.
My fantasy is collapsing? Do you own a radio or a television? Even the BBC has had to admit that, obviously without its having used the word, it had been lying all afternoon about Miliband's position on a referendum.
ReplyDeleteYou would be the one campaigning voting for the neoliberal nightmare negotiated by Cameron and cheerfully granted by the EU. The entire Left would campaign and vote against it. Not that it is going to happen, because Labour is going to win the 2015 Election hands down.