Re: MP's to debate EU referendum
 

well if they do defy cameron and vote for a referendum it looks like we may need a new government

http://news.sky.com/home/politics/article/16094882

Re: MP's to debate EU referendum
 

They will be required to resign from government jobs, if they have them, but not to resign as MPs. So any ministers or private secretaries who vote with the rebels ought to resign.

Re: MP's to debate EU referendum
 

Presumably they will be expected to stand as an independent candidate (if at all) at the next elections as well?

Re: MP's to debate EU referendum
 

No, they won't, unless their local constituency Conservative Association is so peeved with their activities that it chooses to deselect them as the Conservative candidate. Which, given the general level of Euroscepticism in the grassroots of the party, is highly unlikely.

Re: MP's to debate EU referendum
 

I hope they do defy Cameron and vote for a referendum ,because at the end of the day the MP's are supposed to representing the views of their constituents not those of Cameron

Re: MP's to debate EU referendum
 

It's live now. Hague is on his feet at the moment.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/...00/9434799.stm

Re: MP's to debate EU referendum
 

Oh how i wish we could be given the chance to have a vote, Unfortunately as the Government knows that we would vote "Get us to hell out" they would never allow us the vote.

Re: MP's to debate EU referendum
 

but come the next election we can vent our spleens and dump them in favour of those who oppose the eu .

Re: MP's to debate EU referendum
 

It would be interesting to see a general election decided with Europe as the key issue but unfortunately it isn't going to happen. "It's the economy, stupid" ... almost always has been and almost always will be.

Re: MP's to debate EU referendum
 

Seems to me that while the EU is battered and bloody would be absolutely the best time to make demands. Cameron talks the talk about repatriating powers from the EU but if he can't see the opportunity I have to doubt that he is sincere.

Re: MP's to debate EU referendum
 

yea fix the economy and end the cycle of bust and boom :)
followed by fix the economy and end the cycle of boom and bust :D

Re: MP's to debate EU referendum
 

What would Cameron say in favour of the EU?

One of the problems I have with a referendum is the level of anger directed at the EU is matched by ignorance, on my part as well, of what the EU actually does. We see a lot of stories about the EU banning or changing the name of a multitude of things but I am not convinced by those stories, not least because they never come to pass. It reminds me of the Yes, Minster! episode where the Minster wilfully misinterprets a trivial EU mandate as 'banning the British sausage' in order to patriotically rail against it.

So what would those in favour of the EU say?

Re: MP's to debate EU referendum
 

We had a referendum..it was reinterpreted by TPTB over time to suit themselves.Any further referendums would be treated the same. So let's save the money..it will only be wasted.

Re: MP's to debate EU referendum
 

It gives us somewhere we can dump our useless and/or possibly corrupt politicians. :erm:

Re: MP's to debate EU referendum
 

Austin Mitchell, fully paid-up member of the Labour Backbench Awkward Squad, just gave a rather good speech in favour of the motion, railing against the 'abomination of democracy' that is three main parties all whipping against the motion.