Nigel Farage sums up the position nicely:
"Whilst in the long term I agree that this is the referendum we want, calling for it at this time is only to cover up their weasel-like position over a referendum. Instead of hiding behind this call, they should be honouring the promise they made to their voters that they would support a referendum on this treaty."
Monday 25 February 2008
"Clegg pushes 'in or out' EU vote"
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4 comments:
MW
You (and Farage) are right on the button as per usual.
I had an exchange of emails with my (LibDem) MP on just this hypocrisy: about 4-6 weeks ago I asked her whether she would support the refusal of Brown to grant a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. She said she would since she claimed to prefer an "in or out" referendum and thus a referendum on Lisbon (in addition to an "in or out") would be a frightful waste of time and money.
I pointed out that in this case the best was the enemy of the good. Of course there should be an "in or out" referendum but there was no chance Brown was going to grant one no matter what the LibDems claim they want. I added that if the LibDems really wanted an "in or out" then having a Lisbon referendum would force an "in and out" if the Noes won. If the Noes lost then there would seem to be little point in a further referendum. Accordingly, by supporting a Lisbon referendum the LibDems would get what they claim to want (ie an eventual "in or out" if the noes won) or an indication (by the noes losing) that the electorate are content with the Lisbon Treaty and the definitive end of our independence without the need to have a further referendum.
However, the way the LibDems are playing this one they will get exactly what suits them with no risk to the "project" ie no referendum on the Lisbon Treaty (for which they can blame Brown) and no "in or out" referendum for which they also can blame Brown. The LibDems are actually worse than Labour: at least we know, and Labour knows and doesn't bother to hide the fact, that Labour comprises the shite of the world. The LibDems (and their supporters) really do believe that they are liberal (in the original meaning) and democratic.
That is bloody good logic! I must remember that line or argument.
The problem with any referendum is that it can reflect the popularity of the government of the day. Labour could have probably won any referendum on Europe in 1997, now they could probably lose them all.
Clegg at least wears his pro-European stance on his sleeve, though as umbongo points out, the Lib Dems 'in or out' position is a weasily way of avoiding the issue of a referendum on the Lisbon treaty.
Personally, I feel that most people don't care very much one way or the other on a referendum. Those who are passionate for a Lisbon referendum generally also want out of the EU. I think a rejection of the Lisbon Treaty would aid their cause, but ultimately they would still lose the 'in or out' referendum.
My own personal view is that Labour should ignore you all, because most people just ain't that bothered and this treaty is less radical than Maastricht or the SEA that the Tories signed up to and actually makes the EU better in a number of ways. Rejection of this treaty would damage the UK, leaving the EU would be a disaster.
Yup, if we left the EU we'd no doubt be reduced to grinding poverty, just like Switzerland, Iceland or Norway.
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