David Cameron's Europe Speech

[ahinton]

well said hear hear etc ahem ...

Written by Jonathan Powell, whom Beef Oven would doubtless point out is great on the concert platform. Ahem.

Anyway, the main thing is that the chances of Britain leaving EU are minuscule, if even that, but the damage already being done by the very act of raising the spectre of a continued membership referendum should be obvious to all; one can only hope that pragmatism will prevail and reactions be tamed to take account of the facts that (a) if a week's a long time in politics, 4-5 years is an eon, (b) no such referendum is likely to be held unless the present British government either wins the next General Election or there is a Tory majority thereat and (c) even if one is held, the likelihood that it will do other than result in a decision to remain within EU is as near to a dead cert as can be imagined.

[JFLL]

... even if [a referendum] is held, the likelihood that it will do other than result in a decision to remain within EU is as near to a dead cert as can be imagined.

I wonder. The difference between now and the 1970s is that then people by and large were swayed by the fact that the mainstream parties were for a 'yes' vote. Whereas now, people are far more mistrustful about politicians and many might vote 'no' out of sheer bloody-mindedness, whatever the politicians told them was in their best interests.

[scottycelt]

As part of Dave & Co's 'repatriation negotiations', I'm sure they'll also be insisting strongly on the swift return of the very un-British tradition of Referenda to the EU?

This is a foreign process forced on the British people without any consultation whatsoever ...

[ahinton]

I wonder. The difference between now and the 1970s is that then people by and large were swayed by the fact that the mainstream parties were for a 'yes' vote. Whereas now, people are far more mistrustful about politicians and many might vote 'no' out of sheer bloody-mindedness, whatever the politicians told them was in their best interests.

Whilst that is very possibly true, I think that what would make the majority of the electorate vote to stay within EU this time around would be a fear of the consequences - not least economic ones but also those of sheer animosity - of the alternative.

[MrGongGong]

[Pabmusic]

Caliban should have posted that.