Cameron backs down on EU treaty referendum
Digg
del.icio.us
Facebook
Reddit
Google
Stumble Upon
Fark
Newsvine
YahooBuzz
Bebo
Twitter
Independent Minds
PA
David Cameron announces his decision not to press ahead with plans for a EU referendum in Westminster yesterday
enlarge
David Cameron declared yesterday that he would not allow his premiership to be dominated by a "massive bust-up" with the European Union as he shelved any Europe referendum for at least five years.
The Tory leader masked his retreat from his promise of a public vote on the EU's Treaty of Lisbon with a firm pledge that powers would "never again" be transferred from the UK to Brussels without a referendum and that all future European treaties would require one in Britain. But he declared that he would not call a "phoney referendum" now that the Lisbon Treaty to streamline EU decision-making has been approved, saying it would achieve nothing.
He tried to reassure Eurosceptic MPs and grassroots Tories by promising to negotiate a return of some EU powers over workers' rights and criminal justice to the UK and to demand a more secure opt-out from the EU's charter of fundamental rights. He promised a Sovereignty Bill to stop the European Court of Justice overriding the British courts and to ensure that Britain has "the final word" on its own laws.
Mr Cameron also said that a UK referendum could be held following the general election after next if the EU continued down a federalist path. Despite his tough words, his overall message in a speech in London was that he would pursue a more "softly softly" approach to Europe if the Tories win the general election than many of his MPs would want. "Yes, I believe we will be able to negotiate the return of the powers I have set out. But no, we will not rush into some massive Euro bust-up," he said. "We will take our time, negotiate firmly, patiently and respectfully, and aim to achieve the return of the powers I have set out over the lifetime of a parliament."
Admitting that some people wanted him to go further and faster, he said: "If we win the election, we will inherit the worst public finances of any incoming government for 50 years. We will have a generational challenge to get Britain to live within her means, to secure economic recovery and to deliver this country from the appalling mess left by this Labour Government. That has to come before anything else."
An incoming Tory government would amend the 1972 European Communities Act which took Britain into the EU to include an Irish-style "referendum lock" on any treaty handing over further powers to Brussels – including joining the euro. Insisting that his new policy was "credible, doable and deliverable", Mr Cameron denied that he was backtracking on a Lisbon Treaty referendum as his promise had never applied once it became law. "I recognise there are some who, now that we cannot have a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, want a referendum on something else... anything else," he said. "But I just don't think it's right to concoct some new pretext for a referendum simply to have one for the sake of it."
Mr Cameron received broad support when he outlined his new stance at a meeting of the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs. But some of his MPs expressed their disappointment. Douglas Carswell said: "I think we need a referendum on our relationship with Europe."He criticised Mr Cameron's proposals to ensure British law had primacy over EU law, saying it might merely entrench the status quo.
Tim Montgomerie, editor of the ConservativeHome website, said Mr Cameron gave every impression of wanting to kick Europe into the long grass. "Given that Lisbon is a self-amending Treaty, full of ratchet clauses, the promise of future referenda on transfers of power is a bit like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. There were no meaningful threats to Europe if there is no serious willingness from other EU leaders to renegotiate." Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, which wants Britain to leave the EU, accused Mr Cameron of attempting to deceive the public."The true state of affairs is that we are signed up to a higher, European legal order. Renegotiation is not credible or doable. This is all too little too late," he said.
View all comments that have been posted about this article.
Offensive or abusive comments will be removed and your IP logged and may be used to prevent further submission. In submitting a comment to the site, you agree to be bound by the Independent Minds Terms of Service.
- Print Article
- Email Article
-
Click here for copyright permissions
Copyright 2009 Independent News and Media Limited
Comments
they will say whatever is necessary to serve their own purpose. shameron's cast-iron guarantee is the same sort of lie as bliar's proof of wmd in his dodgy dossier. both are self-serving and untrustworthy men - disguised by a charming and reassuring exterior endowed to them by privileged lives.
Is is not piffle, Brown is unelected as PM, not one person in the the Uk voted him into that office, and yes, the Queen appointed him, but she did not CHOOSE, him, or any other, the Brown cabal did that behind closed doors, and with no reference to the the electorate.
When the Same Queen appointed Tony Blair as PM, that was after a General Election and was voted in, on the clear understanding that Blair would be PM. Brown got there by a different route, he has not led us into a General Election - he had the chance to do so, but bottled out- won it, and thus become the PM, , with a mandate from the people . In this sense, Brown does not have a mandate , so I have to disagree with richardjeff, and flacksteen on that score.
I am, however, in agreement with the latter, that, Brown is without doubt - not probably- THE worst PM of all time, and is clinging on to power, instead of going to the country, probably until the last second,of the last day, and just as Hitler, in HIS bunker, carried on the war that everyone knew was lost, instead of working out some means of ending it, months before the end, and brought Germany down about his ears, to the detriment of millions of innocent people, so is Brown, bringing the UK down about his ears.
It could be that Brown, or Mandelson - some one else also unelected- are hoping that things may get better for them, and perhaps the UK too, but given the fact that Labour seem to shoot themselves in the foot almost daily, that is pretty unlikely, witness the debacle on the drugs policy, fronted up by yet another in a long line of Home Secretaries each worse that the last,( that's what happens when you scrape barrels) by the ex-postie Johnson, who is obviously over-promoted. bgaarvie I see, is not too impressed either..
Too late for that. Our sovereignty was doomed when we joined in 1973 with the Treaty of Rome, and our independence will end when the Treaty of Lisbon is enforced next month.
The only way we will get our sovereignty back is to leave the EU forthwith. We have stood alone before, but we had a Commonwealth to help us then; you know, those countries that we betrayed who are unlikely to help us again.
However, its worth a try. The first thing to do is to get rid of the Labour/Conservative duopoly who got us into this mess in the first place.
I for one welcome more european integration. In the majority of cases european law seems far more reasonable and concerned for the welfare of the public than our antiquated, corrupt system of justice.
This treaty means more influence of the democratically elected european parliament, what could there possibly to not like about that?
We have been forced into an undemocratic entity where the Commision and those of the Wealthy EU Elites wealth make the decisions, the MEP’s are merely well paid /bribed rubber stamps that only have to pass everything put before them. We have joined into an organisation where 80% are catholic that is clearly why the opportunist Blair had to become Catholic to have a chance to be President. Fortunately he is being rewarded. From our Prime Minister down they are more focused on the EU with no evidence of loyalty to this nation by his deceiving and lying constantly to us. How can a free people let this stand? We have all been treat like enemies so let’s treat this as an enemy.
Dead right. By the way , what do you think about the excrement posted by kalywisper. It is extremely annoying, having read it, thinking it might have something to do with the subject in hand, only to discover it is some cretin trying to flog something. I thought these forums were supposed to be invigilated.
It's good to be sceptical and to examine these processes as they are changing the world we live in radically. But to think the answer should be a retreat to a fragmented hobbesian world of all-against-all nation states is insanity. Or, as I suspect, all the Europhobic froth merely codespeak for those who would prefer to hitch their colours to the US (and NAFTA) mast?
Though there is wide spread dissatisfaction with the EU, shown in opinion polls, the feedback I see is greater nervousness at the thought of leaving altogether. Most people want further reforms and clarity . Can't those opposing Cameron see that his way forward is likely to give the reforms without the need to leave and cut off our face to spite our nose.
Claims that we contribute more than anyone else also do not hold up: On the latest statistics we are the 6th largest nett contributor per head (i.e. 5 other EU countries, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Austria all contribute more per capita into the EU than the UK). As we are amongst the highest earners per capita in the UK then that means we pay an even smaller percentage of per capita earnings taking us down to 13th as contribution as % per capita earning). Even in absolute terms of gross contribution (before rebates, which include payments for other EU nationals living in the UK...yes we do get that), we are only the 4th largest contributor (Germany, France and Italy all contribute more) but as we have amongst the highest GDIs in the EU, in % terms we are about average.
The biggest contributor is Germany.
Moreover, this sudden decision by himself and his Tory advisers to drop the referendum option on Europe - since it is a fait accompli and would achieve nothing - has also been very tacky. He is happy to keep Britain and the citizens of Britain lost in the air by indicating the Tories would bring up the referendum question again in 5 years time. What sort of Leader? Prime Minister? Man of Character? is this? He either doesn't know whether he's coming or going or he's too bone thick to realise that the Nation would like to build on a solid foundation and grow legitimate hopes and aspirations for themselves and their children and grandchildren in the future.
In order to achieve these ambitions and goals, we have to be honest, valiant and willing partners in the European Union and to contribute to Europe from the front and not just linger at the rear, like a below par unwilling child.
Has Cameron been elected Prime Minister and no one told me?
Its a bit assumptive to report this as if Cameron WILL be PM. There's still a general election to take place yet and despite Labours failings, I hope the country do not go back the public school boy class of voting these self servers back in.
Still, it adds weight to the old 'New World Order' conspiracies, regardless of any perceived election, Tory Gvernment seems to be a done deal :(
Have the people fuelling this forgotten that Mr Blair and then Mr Brown simply lied about what they would do about Europe and it's constitution and the promised referendum. Lied about a referendum, that is LIED...not fudge. And what could anyone do about it ? Everyone knew they were lying and they still got away with it.
Then Brown lied again - it's not a "Constitution" - just a bit of tidying up. So much so that he avoided the signing ceremony, and tried to sneak in when no one was looking. (metaphorical that last one - of course we were looking).
Some tidying up, some President of Europe, some Foreign Minister !
No opposition can actually act. So Cameron is right to state his prospectus now, but also right to save the detail for when he actually gets the opportunity to do something. Meanwhile, Blair, Brown, Mande.... will be off again making their millions - not talking about how their treasonable actions did what Hitler failed to do, but telling the world how bloody wonderful they all were.
It's impossible not to mention the self righteous squawks from some idiot in the French Government who is obviously nowhere near old enough to recall certain things which happened a few years ago. Some of us are.
Clearly we need to be in Europe - but on our terms, not the French or German terms, because that seems to be the way things are developing.
Why do you suppose ted, we did not get the promised referendum, despite the manifesto, how did these Labour creeps get away with it, did they think we would not notice, or, more likely perhaps, they don't care what any of us think ?
The lesson here of course, is don't believe anything you read in Labour manifesto, believe the Sun, or the Beano if you like, but not the manifesto...
The sine qua non for any politician is the endless ability to be "economical with the truth". So we don't expect, or at least I don't, a complete and full account of anything. I can live with that, since I've done so for a good many years.
What I was writing about is the barefaced lies which have characterise this labour government. The tax raid on the pension funds...was put over as something to "strengthen" them. The 10p tax raid on pensioners...beyond belief that Brown stated quite clearly - I heard 'im on 'telly - that many many pensioners would be better off. The contempt with which he treated the public - "it's not a constitution". So the referendum - a lie to stand with the best of them.
I do not think that Cameron was lying in his speech on this - although he is certainly not immune. Would you tell a load of parliamentary creeps what you intended to do?
He was hedging his bets in the time honoured fashion. And good luck to him.
Sure ok, i agree there are some negative issues by joining Europe but these are no where near as bad to what the Uk is at the moment.
For me if the UK doesn't commit to europe by the end of next year i'm moving to Europe and leave the UK far behind, This means that I am ashamed to be British right now!