UK NEWS

CLEGG WILL BLOCK EU REFERENDUM BID

Tuesday January 22,2008

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(22)

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has signalled that his party will help block attempts by the Tories to force a referendum on the controversial EU reform treaty.

Asked if the Lib Dems would allow the Commons to vote through a referendum by abstaining, he replied: "I certainly hope not. No."

The Bill to ratify the treaty, signed by Gordon Brown in Lisbon last October, comfortably cleared its first Commons hurdle on Monday night, despite a revolt by 19 Labour MPs.

The vote clears the way for weeks of detailed debate which ministers hope will expose deep divisions within the Tory Party on Europe.

But Labour rebels who oppose the treaty have warned that the Government could face a much bigger revolt when it comes to the expected vote on an amendment to hold a referendum.

In those circumstances, the votes of the Liberal Democrats could be decisive.

Interviewed on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Clegg said he agreed with the Government that the treaty was very different from the abandoned EU constitution on which Labour had promised a referendum.

He said the Lib Dems would continue to press for a referendum on the principle of Britain's continued membership of the EU.

"We will see what the parliamentary mathematics is when the amendment comes down the track in a few weeks' time," he said.

"We would vote against a referendum on the treaty and vote in accordance with our long-held position that the real referendum which needs to be had is whether we stay in the European Union or not."

CLEG THE CLOWN

22.01.08, 10:40pm

Clegg you must be a right thicko your a looser to start with your a nothing party ,the majority of the country want a referendum on the eu so you turn more voter;s against you by going againstthe majority ,what a clown

• Posted by: gerry • Report Comment

TREATY?

22.01.08, 4:52pm

I don't want to see a vote on the EU Treaty;

I want to see a public vote on whether we should be in the EU at all.

Voting on current Treaties is Government double-speak.

All a 'No' vote would accomplish is a change in the Treaty, and the continued forward progress of a Federal EU Superstate.

• Posted by: GreenEngland • Report Comment

HAVE 2 CHOICES ON A REFERENDUM

22.01.08, 4:24pm

It's quite simple: have a referendum, and give the people the option to vote twice - and it won't cost anything more - once on the EU treaty, and also on what the Lib Dems want, whether or not to remain in the EU.
This will expose Clegg as to whether or not he is sincere in giving us a vote on the EU and not simply doing a Liebour con trick.

• Posted by: The_Boss • Report Comment

KEEF

22.01.08, 3:47pm

I don’t want to argue politics with you.

As I don't have 20 years for a new political party to be established, I like many others have made a decision to do the best with what we have available NOW.

This won't wait 20 years. If you are that disgruntled with the existing party's, and just protest vote or worse still abstain, then I can only thank you and others like you in advance for the loss of my children’s, and grandchildren’s future as we know it.

You argue the BNP is dangerous, is that more dangerous than what the Liebore party are doing? Or more dangerous than the support of Globalism that the other party's cosy up too?

By the time the BNP have any real chance running this country many things will have changed beyond recognition and may be lost all together. What I'm doing is fighting against the clock before all is lost. Just a couple of MP's in parliament would at the very least give us a voice. Remember the route Sinn Fein took, and where they are now. Their politicians were known Terrorists...

I believe it's time to take a stand, not just moan and talk about it as some here do.

Regards

Rusty

PS: to all except KEEF

Vote BNP

• Posted by: Rusty • Report Comment

RE: LIBERAL WASTERS

22.01.08, 3:12pm

And we are not heading for cival war? ...Wake up from your half sleep my friend!

• Posted by: Noplebeian • Report Comment

LIBERAL WASTERS

22.01.08, 2:52pm

Clegg conveniently forgets his parties promisse at the last election that it to would have a referendum on this sell out to the EU.
Yesterday on the radio a labour MP was constantly asked two questions,

1. Why will the goverment not keep to its promise of holding a referendum????
2. The treaty is in fact the same as the constitution, can you tell where it differers???

On neither question would he give a straight answer.
As far a the LibDems are concerned it is hoped they never get in any chance of power because if they do then you may as well leave the country as all criminals will be let off with community service and your fuel bills will go through the roof.

Asfor voting BNP not a chance some of the policies are down right dangerous, and if they did get in power we would have to bring back the army from overseas because there would be a civil war.

I know that there is not really a party who really cares about anything but their wagers and pension, and will never serve the people that elected them.
England should do what Scotland is doing right now and that is have its own goverment as the one that is supposed to look after the interests of ALL OF BRITIAN has syphoned off lost of English money to give scotland its independence from England.

• Posted by: KEEF • Report Comment