Wednesday, August 29

Why are governments so mortally scared of Referendums? Specially the British ones?

The FT is reporting (see bottom of post) that the British Government is rejecting calls for a referendum on the EU constitution. The EU constitution is a pile of poo in my considered opinion, it is an elitist document, which does not reflect the aspirations of the common mass of people, is too complicated, panders to entrenched interests and is deeply undemocratic anyway. So when the constitution was rejected by France and Netherlands, the elites gasped in shock and horror. Said, how dare the ordinary public reject something that their masters have come up with? So to be a bit smarter, they called it a treaty and not a constitution and then sold it to the leaders. While Tony Blair seems to have done a bit, but I do not trust him nor this current government.

Look at the reactions, they are a classic thief reaction. They do have things to hide otherwise why are they not opening this up to a referendum? I did not join the EU, I do not want to join the EU and i have yet to see a business case which lays out why I should do it. Or for that matter, have you seen an business case or economic argument that the UK has benefited from being a member of the EU from a political perspective? You might point to the economic benefits but then, the counter argument is, if we have the WTO, then what's the big deal about the EU? because whatever rules I put for Chile has to be the same for Germany.

I am not happy with the government and what I am also not happy is that none of the opposition members are saying anything on this either to the extent it is required. And I spit on the Labour MP's who are unwilling to talk about this, all for the sake of their careers. We elected them to represent us to their best of their abilities and good of the country. And most importantly, to carry out our will. Why are they being so anal?



UK rejects call for EU treaty vote
By Alex Barker, Political Correspondent

Published: August 29 2007 02:25 Last updated: August 29 2007 02:25

Ministers began a fightback against growing calls for a referendum on the European Union amending treaty on Tuesday, insisting the draft document was essentially different from the failed EU constitution.

Dismissing growing pressure from Labour backbenchers and trade unions, David Miliband, the foreign secretary, said no vote was required because the treaty protected “key national interests” and was “good for Britain”.

The movement for a popular vote has built a head of steam, with Gordon Brown coming under pressure from both the pro-European and eurosceptic wings of his own party. A referendum would have implications for Britain’s relations in Europe, Mr Brown’s first-term agenda and the timing of the next general election.

Whitehall officials said Mr Brown was convinced that a referendum was unnecessary as Britain’s “red lines” have been secured. But they said arguments against a vote needed to be strengthened. One said: “I think we need to start once again making clear that if there is a referendum in Britain there will almost definitely be a no vote. We need to make clear that those people rejecting the new mini-treaty are basically advocating a withdrawal from the EU.”

The threat of a backbench rebellion was raised after Ian Davidson, a Labour MP and long-time eurosceptic, wrote to the prime minister asking him to listen to his “own people rather than the European political and bureaucratic elites”. His letter followed a decision by pro-European unions to support a motion for a referendum at next month’s TUC Congress because the treaty threatened workers’ rights.

Mr Davidson claimed to have widespread private support, including ministers, but said the MPs had yet to speak out because “it is not a career enhancing move”.

While there has been speculation that up to one-third of the parliamentary party is sympathetic to a referendum, Labour insiders believe the number of potential rebels is nearer 40. That would cause presentational problems for the government, but the effects could be contained.

The Liberal Democrats are waiting for a draft treaty to be published, but insiders said the party leadership was unlikely to want a referendum.

On Tuesday, Mr Miliband rejected calls for a referendum from the Conservatives. “We have not got a European constitution,” he told the BBC’s Today programme. “Twenty-seven European heads of government all signed a document in June, after nearly two years of negotiation, saying the constitutional concept has been abandoned.”

“I think that as parliament gets to grips with the reform treaty that comes out, as they look line by line, they will see first that it is good for Britain, second that it is very different from the constitution in absolute essence, and third that the red lines, the key national interests in foreign policy and other areas of the UK, have been protected.”

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007

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