mark starr

In spite of posts on this board and others the deadline for the e-petition on obtaining a referendum on continued membership of the EU arrives on Thursday and a measly 4000 signatures have been obtained. Sadly it demonstrates the subject is fairly irrelevant even amongst those who profess to want out of the EU.
With this number of signatures the petition just ranks in the top 20.
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/EUreferendum

Britannist

Perhaps some people don't trust this Government and don't want anything to do with a petition on a Government website?

If UKIP had a full list of all members willing to receive e-mails from the party headquarters (i.e. for newsletters and any other information that the party needs to get out quickly) then it could have contacted all UKIP members by e-mail to tell them about the petition referred to above by Mark.

UKIP could quite easily set up a large mailing list with the e-mail addresses of all members who wish to give their e-mail address (to party headquarters) simply by including a form to be filled in by members (in which they write their e-mail address and return the form to party head office) with the next edition of Independence when it is sent to members.

Assuming that at least half of UKIP members are on e-mail and that 80% would be willing for their e-mail address to go on a list for the party to use to send them information - that's about 8, 000 UKIP members who could have been contacted by UKIP head office and asked to sign the petition.

Are other eurosceptic and anti-EU organisations aware of this petition I wonder. Such as the Bruges Group, Better off Out and many others.

jim h

Re Britannist's last sentence the answer is yes but only one even gave a link. UKIP's attitude was very ambivalent some individual MEPs have signed up but nothing came from HQ.
As for the fear that it is a Government website why , you can be 100% sure Government has a list of UKIP members and those of every political party in the country. Other highly critical and controversial e-petitions have attracted far more signatures.
The only valid point is that because those who are against the EU dont have the backbone of a jelly the Government can announce that only 4000 people want a referendum on continued membership of the EU , less than petitons on such matters as Increasing the forms of therapy on the NHS, changing the tax exemption laaws on vintage cars , making everyone who use a premium rate number use give an alternative standard rate number etc

mkpdavies

It shows that people really don't see the EU as a major issue.

That's damning against any group (not just UKIP) that's says it is against the EU.

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

My ignore list

Labour, Lib Dems

Britannist

Well they must see the EU as an issue. It's in their interests. They are paying for it.

We as a country are paying more than any other to keep the EU afloat.

If voters knew how much money could be saved by not being in the EU and what it could buy in better public services they would take a harsher view of the EU.

If the electorate learnt that there money is (via the EU) buying new roads and high speed trains - IN SPAIN - they might come to take a harsher view of the EU.

There are so many things the people of this country need to hear about the EU. Things which would make some of them vote in petitions about the EU. Like the EU plot to make everyone keep their car headlights on during the day. Or the fact that it will be illegal to even refer to Imperial measurements (let alone use them) in commercial paperwork from 2010.

When UKIP can get this sort of information across to the public opposition to the EU will grow.

andypandy

Unfortunately, whilst millions of people continue to be drowning in mountains of debt, they will rarely have enough time to worry about how much Britain subsidises the EU or how much better off we will be.

They need to be offered a whole new financial national package that rids Britain of its financial drain overseas, and yet tackles the endless interest bearing debts that plague millions of homes.

Sadly, this is a bit too high brow for most of the self-supporting, semi-retired (or actually retired) dinosaurs that frequent the ranks of UKIP.

mark starr

As the petition has now ended the Government's response doesnt even answer the petition which asked for a referendum on continued membership of the EU.
All it says is that there was a referendum back in the 70's since then treaties have been approved by Parliament and if an attempt to introduce a constitution takes place then there will be a referendum.

FuroraCeltica

Exactly. Also, the government doesn't care about public opinion, so why time signing a petition they will just ignore anyway

__________________
Every great movement must experience three stages: ridicule, discussion, adoption. John Stuart Mill

One person with a belief is equal to ninety-nine who have only interests. Stuart Mill

mkpdavies

The only reason I can see, is if a petition is big enough and they ignore it, then this is evidence that the government don't give a toss what the people think.

That is useuful evidence in building a case for never voting for them again.

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

My ignore list

Labour, Lib Dems

Zardoz

My first post, so hello everyone.
E-Petitions have not been widely known until the "Road Pricing" one hit the nationals, when it quicky jacked up support.

Wether or not the government takes any notice is no reason not to speak out. What we, and other democracy supporters should be doing is finding ways to publicise these kinds of issues.

We now have kids leaving school hardly able to speak coherently never mind read & write. This situation suits dictatorships down to the ground. Shower the Prols with certificates and tell them how clever they are, and they'll leave the politicians alone to do as they please.

A Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever - John Adams