Jun 23 2007
5 reasons why we need a referendum now
1. It’s the only way to hold these slippery Ministers to account – without a referendum they simply give our democracy away.
2. The people are???? more sensible than their government, and will vote No to more power to Brussels.
3. It will force those who claim to want more EU government to come out and make their case. We need to know who they are and why they think more Brussels power is a good idea.
4. Elected politicians are not elected to prevent future Parliaments doing their job – they need to ask the people if they wish to damage Parliament.
5. We were promised one for a good reason – these issues are crucial. If politicians wish to restore some trust they must keep their word.
6 Responses to “5 reasons why we need a referendum now”
John Redwood has been the Member of Parliament for Wokingham since 1987. First attending Kent College, Canterbury, he graduated from Magdalen College...
John,
As usual, thank you very much for taking the time to blog. I always read – even if I don’t comment. So please don’t stop.
We, the people are neutered!
You (the Conservatives) set the precedent of not having referenda for “amending” treaties. The Labour party is merely carrying this on. Even if we were to vote conservative at the next general election, the party would not go down the route of stopping a treaty. Look what happened when the Poles did this, Merkle just said the remaining 26 would go ahead anyway. Is this a democracy? When the majority just ignore the wishes of the minority? Something needs to stop the juggernaut. Attempts to change from within are not working. Look at what the French have nearly done – turning it from an open into a closed market. I know it’s not a treaty yet. Will the IGC rubberstamp this? To me, this looks like something with constitutional changes. We should have a referendum. I’d be willing to bet that if the Conservatives had been in power when this treaty was started, you’d have said the same as Blair. I’m sorry, but I’m really, really sceptical about this.
What do we have to do to have a say in this country? This latest charade has followed the usual format and given away more of our democratic rights. The move to a European super state rolls on unabated and we become increasingly insignificant citizens of a European dictatorship. Your party is, so far, too silent and allowing this undemocratic deceit to continue virtually unopposed.
Mr Redwood,
We do not need to subject our future to the transient whims of the British public. A referendum may indeed be needed, but, in an age of media manipulation and spin (remember 1975?), it may also be lost, and lost by deceit and deception.
Why does not Mr Cameron simply say that this ‘treaty’ will be repealed by an incoming Conservative administration? Surely a whole lot safer than a referendum, and it would scupper UKIP to boot. In fact, it would assure the Conservative Party of victory, provided, of course, that Mr Cameron’s word could be trusted…
Why are the remainder of our Shadow Front Bench and indeed every Conservative MP and, for that matter, every Conseervative MEP not jumping up and down with rage at the latest treasonable act of Blair? It is very difficult to keep ones anger under control as one witnesses the abject surrender of our country, our freedoms, our rule of Common Law, our beloved monarchy and all that we hold dear and for what our forefathers have fought and died for down the centuries to an undemocratic rabble who are afraid to face the people with a referendum. Some day someone will follow where the American Patriots led in the eighteenth century. One recalls the now never heard verse of the National Anthem: “O Lord our God arise, scatter her enemies and make them fall. Confound their politics, frustrate their navish tricks. On Thee our hopes we fix, God save us all”
Blair is a traitor. He signs away national sovereignty and that is treason.
http://eureferendum.blogspot.com/
read Richard North’s analysis of what is effectively a coup d’etat (this new treaty = constitution plus)