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Britain "to get its referendum on EU Constitution"
BillieTheBot
Posts: 8,721 Bot
Though it has not been officially confirmed as yet, apparently there will be a referendum on the EU Constitution after all.
Happy now?
So why the U-turn? Methinks it is actually a clever move to disable one of the Tories' strongest cards for the next election. By promising to hold a referendum after the next election the issue is defused for the time being.
Another matter is whether Labour can convince the public to vote Yes. That surely is a monumental task at present.
Thoughts?
Happy now?
So why the U-turn? Methinks it is actually a clever move to disable one of the Tories' strongest cards for the next election. By promising to hold a referendum after the next election the issue is defused for the time being.
Another matter is whether Labour can convince the public to vote Yes. That surely is a monumental task at present.
Thoughts?
Beep boop. I'm a bot.
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Anyhoo, that aside, you have to wonder what he can possibly do if the public vote "no". We'd have to withdraw from the EU surely? Or have I misunderstood?
e.t.a. Whatever happened to the referendum on the Euro we were promised in Labour's 1997 and 2001 manifestoes?
I thought it'd just mean the Constitution would be torpedoed and would have to be abandoned.
Some people are suggesting that Blair is hoping for other nations to have their own referendums first and reject the Constitution, which would mean Britain would not have to hold one and the government would safe face beautifully.
As for the euro, since there are no current plans to join the single currency I guess there is no much point in asking...
Mind you I would vote 'Yes'
Agreeing to hold the referendum is purely a political move. And unless another country rejects it first a 'No' vote will further alienate Britain from the rest of the EU and diminish its voice.
But never mind. The tabloid press will have its day at the polls and the europhobes will have a wankfest as they take immense pleasure in voting 'No' to the Constitution (perhaps secretly imaging they're voting No to membership to the EU itself). Most of them will be doing so without actually having a fucking clue what the EU Constitution is and how it would affect us anyway. No doubt some will be carrying Union Jacks to the polling stations and believe their doing their duty for Queen and Country. :rolleyes:
When the 'five tests' were completed??
It's all well and good believing something may be for the good of the country, but we live in a democracy.
I for one am glad we'll be given a say for once.
However most people have no idea what they are voting for. The tabloids will stir it up and europhobes will rush out to say no just to feel good because they are pissing all over europe
Because at the moment the only people saying ANYTHING about what a constitution will mean are the tabloids and Daily Mail.
1. The EU Consitution is not important enough to justify holding a national referemdum over it
2. Most of those who have been campaigning hardest for a referendum to be held (namely the right-wing press) have done so because of their profound hatred of Europe and the EU, rather than because they care about this country or democracy.
It will control taxes, foreign policy, law and order, military and defence.
If this were America, and we were one of the states then it would work.
But this isn't America, this isn't a continent with 4 million colonial settlers on it. It's a continent of 450 million people, many of whom disagree, dislike or hate the other nations.
I don't WANT the EU to make our laws, I dont want them to control our police or armed forces, I dont want them to set our taxes.
These issues may not be on the tables right now, but if the constitution goes through then they will be soon.
You're saying that because you agree with the EU Consitution.
I don't want to pull out of the EU but don't think we need this Consitution and I don't have a hatred of Europe I just think we're fine as we are.
Much of it, with exception to clauses regarding possible future centralisation on Foreign and Defence Policy, is nothing more than a codification of the already existing arrangments, mechanisms, powers, obligations and limitations to which member states already signed on.
Use this BBC synopsis as a starting poitn in your personal research if you don't believe (and I take no offence to those who do not)...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2940800.stm
Interesting use of English there my EU friend.
The word "significant" in that sentence, is in itself "significant"...
Many of which have never been passed by the people of the UK.
If even just as a rubber stamp a referendum on this document is a must.
I have a really hard time believing that.
You have to remember that devolution of power is something each member state opposes, so the compromised version under current consideration is far from the nightmare painted by more ideologically inspired Euro-sceptics.
Seems that there may be some good in him somewhere atleast
edited to say:
i should of included the at the end of my previous post!!!! okay :P *blair loving bush micktake*
The much-trumpeted 'special relationship' amounts to little more than a political and military alliance. And a rather unequal one at that, since we rarely appear to reap any benefits from it. But at social and cultural levels, make no mistake: we're Europeans, not Americans.
Given the political and social 'insight' you have shown here to date, I very much doubt you can claim to speak for anyone or to even understand the people of this country.
Europeans share democracy, share political links, economic links and 'lots of things' as well. In fact, they share much more in common with us than America. Do a little research.
Or even better, travel a bit and then get back here and tell us all about it.
I like to think of myself to be British and European.
Also we do have a lot in common with our European neighbours for one think we have nearly 2000 years of shared history. FOr good or bad we have this link.
Our economic system is closer to Europe then that of the Uinited States. THe US is more market driven whereas the European model is more sociailly driven
If you feel that way lukesh, I could ask you why on earth you continue to post on the politics and debate boards?
And before you start, I'm not trying to make you feel unwelcome and I don't hate you.
Those stupid losers Napoleon and Hitler had no Idea that they heeded not military force but democracy and friendly British socialists to make UK a province of their empires.
As for us being more like Europeans or the yanks, you can bog off if you think we're ANYTHING like America. yeah we have the same shops, but we're nothing like the Yanks.
If anything we're more like germany in terms of culture and language.
The original colonists of Britain were Angles and Saxons, Saxons being from Germany.
Our language is remarkably like German in terms of spelling, pronunciation and syntax. Why do you think most English people find it easier to learn and speak german fluently than french?