Britannist

News about Labour MPs Frank Field, Gisela Stuart, Graham Stringer and Kate Hoey, who are being criticised for supporting the “I want a referendum campaign” (they have been allegedly told off by Labour Whip and europhile Geoff Hoon – the former ‘Europe’ Minister - and it is alleged the four MPs could face expulsion):

Former ministers face expulsion over EU campaign:

Former ministers face expulsion over EU campaign | The Guardian | Guardian Unlimited

Pro-referendum Labour MPs threatened with expulsion « OurKingdom

BBC NEWS | Politics | MPs face action for EU poll plans

The Press Association: Ex-ministers in treaty stance probe

MP Field faces inquiry to see if he broke party rules - Liverpool Daily Post.co.uk

Labour EU rebels hit out at 'expulsion threat' - Telegraph

UK rebels could be disciplined for backing EU vote - Mirror.co.uk

rjt

It is not often I praise a Europhile but to give Ms Stuart her due she has been as consistant as some of her Eurosceptic colleagues on this issue.

This type of behaviour is similar to that of the Tory whips during Masstricht. You are not allowed to put the Countrys needs before party need in the HOC.

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Mr Delors said that he wanted the European Parliament to be the democratic body of the community, The Commission to be The Executive and The Council Of Ministers The Senate. NO! NO! NO!
(Margaret Thatcher 30 Oct 1990)

Ignore List: The Prophets of ST Al the Unelectable.

Roland

And Gordon Brown calls fanatical groups in the middle east "the enemies of democracy".

mkpdavies

When politicians talk of democracy, their words ring very hollow for me.

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http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/
http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/
http://lpuk.org

My ignore list

Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

Millennium3

Constituents should be able to sack their MP if they don't represent their views!

blueblood1920

If they are sacked are we going to have headlines of Labour party split!!!! blah blah blah?

Hunter

They do....it's called an Election....but most of them tend to forget when it comes round.

Millennium3

At any time.

Bluemerle

There are to be 10 Referenda in marginal labour seats on the 27th February. That should concentrate their minds.

Robert Halfon,
Conservative Harlow Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Harlow - Labour majority 2005 - 97

In Harlow, there lives a remarkable lady called Colleen Morrison. Not a Tory, she stood against the Conservatives in local Council elections not so long ago. But she is a doughty campaigner, and is not afraid to stand up for the things she believes in. For many years she has fought hard against an extra runway at Stansted Airport and was behind some some successful demonstrations. A few weeks ago, entirely off her own back, Colleen organised a public meeting about the EU Constitution, paid for a newspaper advert out of her own funds and called for a Constituency-wide Referendum. As a grassroots campaigner, rightly, she believed that local people should have a say about fundamental constitutional change to our country's affairs. Whilst the the justness of her cause was without doubt, the practical realities of making it happen were much more formidable.


Now, thanks to the East of England Referendum Campaign, an all Party Group, led by former Blair Adviser, Derek Scott, Colleen's wish - and that of many others - is about to be granted. Harlow is one of ten constituencies in which a ballot paper will be sent to every voter publicly on the electoral register asking them two questions (i) if they want a referendum on the EU Constitution and (ii) if they think the EU Constitution is right or wrong.


What has been illuminating - and sad- is the response of the Labour MP and MEP. Rather than try and deal with the constituency wide ballot through political argument about the merits and demerits of a EU Constitution, Colleen, myself and others have been tarred with being called 'extremist'' crackpot' or 'pursuing a vendetta'. They implied that the campaign was being financed by Harlow Conservatives who received money from someone who was flirting with UKIP last year. In fact Harlow Conservatives are not putting a penny of money into the campaign as it is entirely financed by the East of England Referendum Campaign and I want a Referendum.com.


In essence their response was a simple smear and a real illustration of the way the G. Brown machine operates. Pledge a vote in the election manifesto. Deny the vote after the election by calling the EU Constitution a 'Reform Treaty', and tar those who seek to involve the people in real decision making as extremists. All this explains why Gordon Brown has alienated so many decent folk who are not Tories - such as Colleen Morrison.

Britannist

Allegedly, German-born Mrs. Stuart's husband is Mr. Derek Scott, former economic adviser to Blair and now head of the admirable "I want a referendum campaign".