MP's to debate EU referendum

[Derek]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15354203

Backbench MPs have agreed to hold a debate and vote on calls for a referendum to be held on whether the UK stays in the European Union.

BBC Parliamentary correspondent Mark D'Arcy said about 50 Conservative MPs could support the referendum call, which would mean Labour's approach to it "could turn out to be less academic than the normal Opposition line".

Whilst I don't think the motion will be passed because its another one of the issues MP's think the public shouldn't have a say in just in case they come to the wrong conclusion it might be interesting to see if Ed Milliband wants to try and give the government a bloody nose.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Derek

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15354203



Whilst I don't think the motion will be passed because its another one of the issues MP's think the public shouldn't have a say in just in case they come to the wrong conclusion it might be interesting to see if Ed Milliband wants to try and give the government a bloody nose.

My two points

A. I hope they give us the vote

B. I hope we vote to get the feck out of the EU

what's to debate ? ,anyway i seem to remember that we were promised a referendum a few years back by labour ,isn't it about time that promise was honoured even if it is by a different government

[nomadking]

Constitutional matters should be resolved using a referendum. They tend to be matters that are difficult to or cannot be overturned. You should not allow an one off parliamentary setting to decide something that a later parliament cannot change.

[Derek]

Cameron is showing what he thinks of public pressure.

Even as MPs agreed to hold a Commons vote on a referendum, government sources made clear that the Tories would be whipped to vote against a poll.
Mr Cameron's decision to impose a three-line whip has angered many MPs, since the vote was called under rules the Coalition promised would give backbenchers more freedom

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...eferendum.html

[Dai]

As if MPs of any variety are going to vote to have their trough taken away..

It'll happen about the time that pigs start taking flying lessons or until we can get the Army on our side.

Anglo-Saxon Spring anyone?

[Itshim]

Not a chance that it will happen - what do you want democracy. Your MP will do as he told,but not be YOU. Now is the time to tell him or her what you think, & remember what they did when you next vote. Me I am looking for the Flying Pig Party, as I expect MY MP( Johnathan Evans Cardiff north ) to keep his head well down.

[Ignitionnet]

Oddly on this matter the Liberal 'Democrats' have a bit to answer for.

They may have been able to point to the coalition agreement as an excuse for many of their other changes of direction, this time around not so much.

http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/europe

The Liberal Democrats believe we should have a real vote on Europe - whether we should be in Europe or out.

We have been blocked from having a vote on this in Parliament, and all the Conservatives are proposing is a limited referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

However, the public back our position by a margin of 2:1: twice as many people think a referdum should be on whether we stay in Europe or not rather than only on the Lisbon Treaty.

Ignoring that the page can't spell referendum properly this would seem at odds with this.

I appear unable to find anything in the coalition agreement about this so can only surmise that Euro-sycophant Nick was threatened with the loss of his EU pension if he went along with this.

So Liberal Democrats, not especially liberal, and opposed to democracy when they're scared of the answer. Hope they all get wiped out in the next election in favour of a decent alternative.

Given the last time the UK population got to vote on the EU was in the mid seventies and they were voting for somethng totally different to what we have ended up with i fail to see how any government can justify the EU in it's current state. Give us a vote on the matter and allow us to really have a proper debate and weigh the current pro's and con's. Personally i loathe much of what the EU is and does on a daily basis and i would much rather we were out of the grand EU federal project, instead being part of a europe wide free trade and cooperation treaty.

[Hom3r]

If we do have a referendum, we need to be told in plain clear English the pros and cons of leaving, so we can make a proper decision.

I think we should leave the EU, but if it makes us far worse of then I would say no.

[Ignitionnet]

Brillo blowing away the usual nonsense spouted about how we'll be cut out of trading with Europe if we leave the EU: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...oB_BZnc#t=394s

[Derek]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15382019

The three big parties at Westminster have told their MPs to vote against a motion calling for a referendum to be held on UK membership of the EU.

The big parties showing once again they are in touch with the people and treat voters with contempt thinking they can't be trusted with the important questions.

This whole "we will lose trade if we leave the EU" is and always has been a complete false argument and only hands ammunition to those of us who want out. Whilst i don't claim the tiny tiny minority of people i know on the net from the euro mainland are the majority view i have noticed a change of attitude amongst them towards the EU in the last couple of years.

Some of them used to be so enthusiastic about the EU it bordered on fanatacism at times and while they still favour it they are nowhere near as vocal as they once were. Others are out and out hostile now towards the EU and the euro as a single currency and say they want out as they only see further and greater problems down the line.

Whilst as usual the federal europe idea is great on paper it just isn't working in reality, despite the claims it doesn't level the playing field amongst member states. It doesn't help our economy's in someways i am certain it actually harms them. All these things need to be properly debated and discussed by all citizens in europe not just us and a consensus needs to be reached.

Here is the problem though given how many failed and past it politicians manage to find a new trough in the EU it isn't likely for the turkeys to give us the right to bring xmas forward anytime soon. Thats the crux for me the EU exists not for us normal citizens not really to benefit us but to benefit the political classes and allow them to keep jobs their own electorate decided they no longer deserved after getting kicked out in their own country.

[Jimmy-J]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15425256

No 10 has confirmed it is applying a three-line whip - the strongest order a party can give - on Conservative MPs, meaning that any who vote against the government will be expected to resign from government jobs.

That's more than likely going to be a big fat NO to a referendum then.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Jimmy-J

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15425256


That's more than likely going to be a big fat NO to a referendum then.

'Did you honestly think they would allow the people that vote them in a referendum or a say in anything other than the election.

Come on there not that stupid