Blair attacks Tories over EU terms renegotiation move

jp · 21-12-2004, 03:47 PM

From PMS

Quote:

Tory Bill Cash (Stone), one of the leaders of the Tory backbench rebellion against the Maastricht Treaty, said: "If there is a `no' vote in the referendum which you have promised, you yourself will be faced with renegotiation.

"What will you do if there is a `no' vote?"

Mr Blair replied: "Accept the verdict of the people." Renegotiating existing terms of membership would lead Britain towards associate status, he warned. "At least you are adopting an honest position, which is to say you see a "no" vote in the constitution as the first step towards associate membership. "That in other words means out of Europe."

http://www.vote-no.com/presscentre/n...ve.aspx?id=427

"No" to the constitution inevitably followed by associate membership, (a free - trade agreement?). Is there light at the end of the tunnel?

C_steam · 21-12-2004, 04:24 PM

Interesting. Now need to know exactly what 'associate member' means. Usually it means reduced payments, no voting rights but I suspect the EU is not the same as my local club!

I don't like the fact that, apparently, 'No' means stay in at a lesser level.

jp · 21-12-2004, 04:54 PM

Part of the whole problem with the EU debate is the vocabulary. It seems to me that a lot of people think leaving the EU is tantamount to a blockade on the UK! The subtleties of custom unions, free- trade agreements etc eludes most voters.

I would thought that "associate membership" would be akin to what Norway and Switzerland have now.

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21-12-2004, 04:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
C_steam Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Paddling up 5hit creek..... Posts: 7,704	Interesting. Now need to know exactly what 'associate member' means. Usually it means reduced payments, no voting rights but I suspect the EU is not the same as my local club! I don't like the fact that, apparently, 'No' means stay in at a lesser level.

21-12-2004, 04:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
jp Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,000	Part of the whole problem with the EU debate is the vocabulary. It seems to me that a lot of people think leaving the EU is tantamount to a blockade on the UK! The subtleties of custom unions, free- trade agreements etc eludes most voters. I would thought that "associate membership" would be akin to what Norway and Switzerland have now.