Millennium3

We may need their expertise in the not too distant future.

Roland

Hate to say it but not really sure who he is.

Millennium3

I am beginning to think that DN has been the best reader the situation.

david H

a public vote ruled unlawful'.
News | Mail Online
-hold-High-Court-referendum-ruling.html

EU treaty ratification on hold for High Court referendum ruling

By Daily Mail Reporter 20th June 2008

In doubt: Today's High Court direction is the latest blow to the EU
treaty after Ireland's 'no' vote and Czech wavering
Britain's final ratification of the EU's Lisbon Treaty will not take
place until after the High Court rules on a legal bid to force a
referendum, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said today.
High Court judge Lord Justice Richards today said he was 'very
surprised' that ministers appeared to be planning to press ahead with
ratification before he handed down his ruling next week.
He called on the Government to delay ratification until ministers had
heard his decision on the application by eurosceptic millionaire Stuart
Wheeler to have the decision not to put the Treaty to a public vote
ruled unlawful.
If ministers declined to issue such an assurance, the judge said he
would be ready to hear an application from Mr Wheeler for an injunction
to prevent ratification.
But Mr Brown today said that the Government's own timetable already took
into account the need to wait until Lord Justice Richards handed down
his decision.
Speaking at the EU summit in Brussels, the Prime Minister said: 'The
judgment fits into our own timetable, so ratification will not take
place until we have had the judgment from the judge.'

cassie

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Watching part of the Lords debate broadcast subsequently on Freeview 81 (Parliament Channel), I was struck by the extent to which the Commons has been transplanted there, only much older and more tired! Kinnock, Williams, Gilbert ['avoiding necrophilia'!] dee da, dee da! No chance of having different faces with different experiences to bring to public affairs.

Interesting how worked up the opponents of referenda can become! In another context they'll be bewailing the extent of voter non-participation, but here, where there's an opportunity to involve voters, that is unwise, undesirable etc etc.

Out trot the old statements about us having a 'representative parliamentary democracy' and it is for THEM to decide these matters! No mention of wanting to take into account the collective opinions of voters! Of course not! It would be so much more difficult to have their own way, to exercise their power in the light of voter opinion. Without referenda they can pretend that the ordinary citizens agree with them! Such hypocrisy!


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Millennium3

Yes it struck me that the hereditaries would have put on a better show - they at least could afford to take an independent line. These recycled ex MP's have little to offer. The Lords needs reforming, but I am not certain that direct election is the answer - we would probably end up with the same bunch!