Quote of the day Sunday 28th September 2014

“Extraordinary people survive under the most terrible circumstances and they become more extraordinary because of it.”
  
( Robertson Davies )

Comments

Jim said…
Slighly off topic sorry, What is it recently about people living up to their names?

as you pointed out Ed Balls certainly did a couple of days ago.

Now it seems Mark Reckless is doing the same.

If you want a referendum before circa 2022, then, odd as it seems, Cameron is actually the best option. Not because I trust him, I dont really, but because he has burned too many bridges on it. If he were to reign in on that, then his own party would tear him to shreds, let alone the general public.

Jim said…
^ just another thought on that, whats the real reckless thing?

well, should Labour achieve a majority, here is a senario.

Obviously no in/out referendum in 2017, but also early on in their term I can almost predict a speech along the lines of "cutting back on meaningless legislation, the referendum lock being one of those, as its not needed, "the people have already spoken by electing Labour on a pro EU platform"

Though the EU does look unlikely to have its new treaty during the next parliament, I think it will most likely kick in during the 2020 - 2025 term, though should the referendum lock be opened by labour, would the next government 2020-2025 lock it up again?
Chris Whiteside said…
I think that David Cameron is sincere about calling a referendum but you are absolutely right that he has burned all his bridges on the subject. And you are absolutely right that if he wanted to renege on the commitment to hold a referendum in the next parliament the Conservative party would never go along with breaking the promise.

And once the referendum is called the decision no longer lies with David Cameron or any other politician - it's with the voters.

Heaven only knows what Labour might try to do if they win the election. But if they repeal the triple lock, and then try to ratify a treaty which moves powers to the EU without a referendum, they will lose significant support over it at the following election - to us or UKIP.
Jim said…
Emotions dont win referendums Chris, you know that, I know that, and lets face it a certain scotsman knows that.

Campaigns do, Now are the conservatives going for a strategic exit plan which allows single market access and a flexible approach, like this one
http://www.eureferendum.com/documents/BrexitPamphlet001.pdf

or are they just going to throw FUD in the hope that we remain shackled to Ever Closer Union?

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