Quote:
Originally Posted by Anthony Butcher
Are you sure that it isn't just a trick? It has two consequences:
1. It turns the current constitution argument into an in or out argument instead, which is much harder for eurosceptics and much easier for europhiles.
2. It causes havoc in the Conservative party. Imagine all those Tories who sympathise with UKIP seeing Nigel Farage at the Lib Dem conference defending a policy for a referendum from leader Menzies Campbell! How many of them are going to be thinking that Campbell is saying what Cameron should be saying? Most.
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I do not think a leader of one of the main political parties of this country being asked direct questions in a programme specifically designed to probe his party's policies and his thinking as a leader, and his stating a radical proposition to such a question - on TV - is a "trick".
All the leaders of the main parties have been caught in a cleft stick with an incompatible situation: wanting to get Britain IN the EU as fast as they can - but the poeple don't want it. They are now for the first time being forced into the reality of facing a serious popular rebellion which might actually have to go to the people. They are in serious political trouble whatever they do. Ken Clarke and his ilk will be spitting blood over this possibility of a referendum which will undo all they have done in 30 years.
They know that if there is a referendum on the "constitutional treaty" it will fail with a no vote - which will scupper the desired constitutional amendments of what they want. The crucial thing is getting international recognition of the EU as a legal entity so that further "treaties" and amendments can be made without recourse to any further referenda involving votes of the people who cannot "be trusted".
Kieth Vaz also said recently and was reported in newspapers saying there should be a referendum on whether Britain remains in the EU to 'clear the air' over the issue - but I never expected the leader of a party to say so too on TV so directly.
It means that they know they are beaten on this issue of a referendum so they are trying desperately to divert (and avert) the issue onto something they think will be unthinkable to the people of Britain - a referendum on actually staying in or not. They are convinced the people undisputably want to stay IN.
What it demonstrates is just how far from reality these idiot politicians are from the thinking of the people - because if and when it does come to a referendum on staying in or out - and with the inevitable blowing wide-open of the whole debate on whether it is a good or bad thing to be in the EU I am fully confident that as Enoch Powell said - you can trust the people to make the right decision.
As for causing havoc in the Conservative Party - Good! They deserve it.
Douglas.
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