Referendum politics
6:20pm
As Matt points out below, whether we have a referendum or not is a political not a legal question. In ruling one out, Gordon Brown is banking on David Cameron not wanting to risk looking Europe-obsessed by banging on about the need for one. (I can already hear Brown taunting Cameron at PMQs with lines like, “he wants to talk about the arcane details of European treaties, we want to talk about schools, hospitals and the other issues that make a difference to the lives of the British people.)
Whether Cameron decides to go all out in calling for one depends on if he’ll be charging the Brownite guns alone. If on Monday, The Sun and The Daily Mail demand a vote Cameron will likely come out of what, as Tim notes, is his self-imposed purdah.
If the papers downplay its importance, Cameron will probably keep his distance. He’ll not want to expend political capital in a futile quest for a referendum.
Objectively, there must be a vote. All three major parties ran at the last election promising a referendum, to now deny the electorate this choice would be to reinforce every negative stereotype about politicians and the value of their promises. Also, as Iain argues, if the North East assembly is worth a referendum then surely this treaty which unpicks the Maastricht settlement deserves one.
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Toby Belch
June 23rd, 2007 7:09pm Report this commentWhy will Cameron not take a stand? if he wants to be PM, he must lead not follow.
ken from glos
June 23rd, 2007 9:27pm Report this commentToby, dead right! we need a conviction politician who will grab the problem by the throat. Labour have reneged on yet another promise and there is a great deal of anger and frustration out here.
Francis Ellis
June 24th, 2007 2:45am Report this commentCameron must make a stand or give way to someone who will. The country has had enough of European red tape and diktats and regionalisation
Andrew Walters
June 24th, 2007 7:00am Report this commentSurely Cameron's line of attack should be that by failing to hold a referendum, Gordon Brown is as dishonest as his predecessor.
colin
June 25th, 2007 9:50am Report this commentCameron must take a stand on this.The draft treaty Has terrifying implications for the loss of national sovereingty to Brussels,including giving a legal personality to the EU SO THAT IT CAN SIGN TREATIES AS A SINGLE COUNTRY.Ireland has already recognised that it is a constitution for the EU in all but name and will hold a referendum.
Roger Thornhill
June 25th, 2007 1:10pm Report this commentSurely this Treaty attempts to cede the UK to the EU, and IIRC, that is just not within the PM or Parliament's remit.
John Moss
June 25th, 2007 8:49pm Report this commentThere's a by-election in Ealing Southall - not trad tory territory, but a canidate who was prepared to make it a proxy vote on a demand for a referrendum might win.
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