Comments on: Why is wanting a referendum right wing? http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/09/06/why-is-wanting-a-referendum-right-wing/ Incisive and topical campaigns and commentary on today's issues and tomorrow's problems Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:05:58 +0000 hourly 1 By: thomas http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/09/06/why-is-wanting-a-referendum-right-wing/#comment-5735 thomas Sun, 14 Sep 2008 22:29:47 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1469#comment-5735 Eddie, the Queen is worried about her own position if she became involved in such a matter, I assume. And indeed, what could be worse than to lose our Queen over the EU! That really would be the end of our nation. Eddie, the Queen is worried about her own position if she became involved in such a matter, I assume. And indeed, what could be worse than to lose our Queen over the EU! That really would be the end of our nation.

]]> By: Eddie Allen http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/09/06/why-is-wanting-a-referendum-right-wing/#comment-5734 Eddie Allen Tue, 09 Sep 2008 07:37:26 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1469#comment-5734 I think having read the links [ Adrian Peirsonon 07 Sep 2008 at 5:48 pm ], a referendum of IN or OUT is a dangerous thing to do as if a yes vote came back then the no's would be completely disenfranchised from their rights to sovereignty. Possibly 49% of the population could have their sovereignty removed in a popular vote which is anything but popular. Clearly you cannot "vote away" your sovereignty !! I'd prefer William Hague to amend the 1972 Act and re-establish parliamentary sovereignty. Also, party whip on any decisions involving international agreements should be forbidden. He should form a committee to draft a formal British Constitution and John Redwood and Bill Cash should head that committee so it is drafted solely in the public interest. It should be without any of the nonsense Gordon Brown plans of setting out "our responsiblities" in a document intended to set "our rights" in stone as to do that is utter nonsense and it fools nobody. Typically it is yet another Labour con to turn a constitution of rights into a document of control. Britain needs a written constitution so we can stop any future argument about who our sovereignty belongs to. The way I see it is the government has been given a mandate to govern for 5 years. It has not been given a mandate to sign away that responsibilty, we gave THEM the madate to do that and no other ! Sovereignty belongs to the people, we loan it to government, the Queen protects it, and if she doesn't like a bill then she refuses to sign it and it cannot pass into law. If the Queen is petitioned ( as she has been by many ), then it is for her to say she cannot sign it until the government has the expressed wish of the people. ( Why has she signed it when she knows this and has sworn an oath to uphold our sovereignty ) ? The other thing I'd suggest, is that a government is held to account "to the people" on its manifesto promises. An unfulfilled promise should automatically incur a vote of confidence in the commons and should never be left to private individuals to attempt to sue the government over what is manifestly a lie or a failure by government. Parliament needs some reform as a government cannot represent the people's wishes if it doesn't ask us and it isn't held to account when it is unable or refuses to fulfill its pledge which led to it being given a mandate to govern. I think having read the links [ Adrian Peirsonon 07 Sep 2008 at 5:48 pm ], a referendum of IN or OUT is a dangerous thing to do as if a yes vote came back then the no's would be completely disenfranchised from their rights to sovereignty.

Possibly 49% of the population could have their sovereignty removed in a popular vote which is anything but popular.

Clearly you cannot "vote away" your sovereignty !!

I'd prefer William Hague to amend the 1972 Act and re-establish parliamentary sovereignty.

Also, party whip on any decisions involving international agreements should be forbidden.

He should form a committee to draft a formal British Constitution and John Redwood and Bill Cash should head that committee so it is drafted solely in the public interest.

It should be without any of the nonsense Gordon Brown plans of setting out "our responsiblities" in a document intended to set "our rights" in stone as to do that is utter nonsense and it fools nobody. Typically it is yet another Labour con to turn a constitution of rights into a document of control.

Britain needs a written constitution so we can stop any future argument about who our sovereignty belongs to.

The way I see it is the government has been given a mandate to govern for 5 years. It has not been given a mandate to sign away that responsibilty, we gave THEM the madate to do that and no other !

Sovereignty belongs to the people, we loan it to government, the Queen protects it, and if she doesn't like a bill then she refuses to sign it and it cannot pass into law.

If the Queen is petitioned ( as she has been by many ), then it is for her to say she cannot sign it until the government has the expressed wish of the people. ( Why has she signed it when she knows this and has sworn an oath to uphold our sovereignty ) ?

The other thing I'd suggest, is that a government is held to account "to the people" on its manifesto promises. An unfulfilled promise should automatically incur a vote of confidence in the commons and should never be left to private individuals to attempt to sue the government over what is manifestly a lie or a failure by government.

Parliament needs some reform as a government cannot represent the people's wishes if it doesn't ask us and it isn't held to account when it is unable or refuses to fulfill its pledge which led to it being given a mandate to govern.

]]> By: Matthew http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/09/06/why-is-wanting-a-referendum-right-wing/#comment-5732 Matthew Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:42:49 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1469#comment-5732 Surely a referendum needs to be on membership of the EU? The issue has dragged on in British politics for 20 years now and letting the people have their say seems right. Surely a referendum needs to be on membership of the EU? The issue has dragged on in British politics for 20 years now and letting the people have their say seems right.

]]> By: mike stallard http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/09/06/why-is-wanting-a-referendum-right-wing/#comment-5733 mike stallard Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:04:59 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1469#comment-5733 In this situation where the EU is going to steamroller through to Lisbon over the heads of the Irish polliticians who now plan to use the parliament for the vote, you might have thought the situation hopeless. Today Open Europe (sign up if you have not already) and the Telegraph are holding a debate. So things are starting to move - the consensus is turning into a debate. Valerie Guiscard d'Estang has also said that he is quite ready for a two speed Europe and he is the bloke who wrote (with help) the first Constitution. Reply: he expressly told us he was not recommending a two speed Europe. I thought he was trying to stop a future UK government using the veto. In this situation where the EU is going to steamroller through to Lisbon over the heads of the Irish polliticians who now plan to use the parliament for the vote, you might have thought the situation hopeless.
Today Open Europe (sign up if you have not already) and the Telegraph are holding a debate. So things are starting to move – the consensus is turning into a debate.
Valerie Guiscard d’Estang has also said that he is quite ready for a two speed Europe and he is the bloke who wrote (with help) the first Constitution.

Reply: he expressly told us he was not recommending a two speed Europe. I thought he was trying to stop a future UK government using the veto.

]]> By: Andrew Forbes http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/09/06/why-is-wanting-a-referendum-right-wing/#comment-5731 Andrew Forbes Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:15:13 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1469#comment-5731 I'm sorry you lost. Thanks for taking the time to reply. I'm sorry you lost. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

]]> By: Promise of Avalon http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/09/06/why-is-wanting-a-referendum-right-wing/#comment-5730 Promise of Avalon Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:41:44 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1469#comment-5730 I am making the assumption that the Treaty will be signed by the next election, but even if it is not, the EU needs to change. How will you propose to change our relationship with the EU after the next election. Do you have any previous articles that summarise? I am making the assumption that the Treaty will be signed by the next election, but even if it is not, the EU needs to change. How will you propose to change our relationship with the EU after the next election. Do you have any previous articles that summarise?

]]> By: Andrew Forbes http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/09/06/why-is-wanting-a-referendum-right-wing/#comment-5729 Andrew Forbes Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:32:02 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1469#comment-5729 I'd like some sort of referendum. After all, I am a mere 41, and therefore far too young to have been given any direct say in all of this. You have to have been 18 in 1975; nobody in the UK under the age of 51 has had any direct say in the transfer of power to Europe. Even then, they were only asked to vote on an economic community. In hindsight, the correct time for a referendum was Maastricht. Where were you then, John? Reply: Losing the battle in Cabinet to have a referendum and to give MPs a free vote. I'd like some sort of referendum. After all, I am a mere 41, and therefore far too young to have been given any direct say in all of this. You have to have been 18 in 1975; nobody in the UK under the age of 51 has had any direct say in the transfer of power to Europe. Even then, they were only asked to vote on an economic community.

In hindsight, the correct time for a referendum was Maastricht. Where were you then, John?

Reply: Losing the battle in Cabinet to have a referendum and to give MPs a free vote.

]]> By: Adrian Peirson http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/09/06/why-is-wanting-a-referendum-right-wing/#comment-5728 Adrian Peirson Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:48:29 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1469#comment-5728 I don't want a Referendum, What if the Vote were Fixed, I want Full Soveriegnty restored to the British People just like it should be. the EU is Corrupt, not having had its accounts signed off for 13 yrs, they cannot account for 80% of its Budget, it has been voted down by the French, the Dutch and now the Irish. It is Illegal, an act of Gross Treason under Common Law, the Bill of Rights, and Magna Carta. What exactly does it take. We are only ever offered what they want us to choose between. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iW5kOB1pmg" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iW5kOB1pmg</a> The EU is Illegal under the British Constitution. <a href="http://www.britsattheirbest.com/freedom/f_your_own_choice.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.britsattheirbest.com/freedom/f_your_ow...</a> <a href="http://thejournal.parker-joseph.co.uk/blog/_archives/2007/10/21/3305358.html" rel="nofollow">http://thejournal.parker-joseph.co.uk/blog/_archi...</a> Elizabeth Becket. <a href="http://www.namastepublishing.co.uk/Elizabeth%20Beckett%20-%20News%20Black%20Out.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.namastepublishing.co.uk/Elizabeth%20Be...</a> I don't want a Referendum, What if the Vote were Fixed, I want Full Soveriegnty restored to the British People just like it should be.
the EU is Corrupt, not having had its accounts signed off for 13 yrs, they cannot account for 80% of its Budget, it has been voted down by the French, the Dutch and now the Irish.
It is Illegal, an act of Gross Treason under Common Law, the Bill of Rights, and Magna Carta.

What exactly does it take.

We are only ever offered what they want us to choose between. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iW5kOB1pmg

The EU is Illegal under the British Constitution. http://www.britsattheirbest.com/freedom/f_your_ow…
http://thejournal.parker-joseph.co.uk/blog/_archi…

Elizabeth Becket. http://www.namastepublishing.co.uk/Elizabeth%20Be…

]]> By: Frank Davis http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/09/06/why-is-wanting-a-referendum-right-wing/#comment-5727 Frank Davis Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:53:41 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1469#comment-5727 "Reply [to Trevor Wright]: I have stated Conservative policy. I myself would go even further." Geoff Mortimer wrote: "Out of curiosity went to conservative.com and on the link to Policy there is currently only 7 items listed the dreaded EU is not one of them" There was a time when there was a robust public debate in this country about Europe. Now there seems to be near-complete silence among the political classes. Is it any wonder that, in this vacuum of information, the wildest rumours flourish and gain credence? "Reply [to Trevor Wright]: I have stated Conservative policy. I myself would go even further."

Geoff Mortimer wrote: "Out of curiosity went to conservative.com and on the link to Policy there is currently only 7 items listed the dreaded EU is not one of them"

There was a time when there was a robust public debate in this country about Europe. Now there seems to be near-complete silence among the political classes. Is it any wonder that, in this vacuum of information, the wildest rumours flourish and gain credence?

]]> By: Tim Almond http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/09/06/why-is-wanting-a-referendum-right-wing/#comment-5726 Tim Almond Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:21:18 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/?p=1469#comment-5726 Why should anyone trust Cameron after he changed his promise on leaving the EPP from "months, not years", to a 3 year delay? Why should anyone trust Cameron after he changed his promise on leaving the EPP from "months, not years", to a 3 year delay?

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