Time For A Real Debate On Europe.
Wat Tyler Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 07:57:25 PM GMT 
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Is it time for Gordon Brown to be brave and hold a referendum on the EU Treaty?
The government won a vote on its substance by a comfortable margin in the commons last night but the EU Treaty signed after some delay by Gordon Brown in Lisbon last year has come back to haunt British politics, again.
Although there is little parliamentary support for a referendum there is a small chance that at some time during the next six weeks rebel MP’s on both sides of the house might unite to try and embarrass Brown into calling one.
If that were to happen, despite frequent patient explanations from ministers that ratification will not mean any substantive change in the relationship between Britain and the EU, there is a realistic chance that the government could lose the vote.
It is though a risk worth taking, partly because a government that is fighting to retain its credibility would be unwise not to honour a commitment made in its manifesto at the last General Election, but also for another and perhaps more important reason.
In Britain we have never, not even during the last referendum back in the seventies, had a real debate on our relationship with Europe.
Instead we have had a hysterical playground squabble that has left voters, even those who are inclined to give the case for a more robust European Union a fair hearing, confused, bewildered and inclined to tune out whenever the subject is raised in the media.
Holding a referendum would mean that both the pro and anti Europe camps would finally have to nail their colours to the mast. Are we better off in or out of Europe? Let the people decide.
Granted holding a referendum is a risky business and despite his many good qualities Gordon Brown is not one of life’s risk takers, but given our standing in the polls and with the public this is no time to be faint hearted.
Time For A Real Debate On Europe. | 7 comments (7 topical)
Time For A Real Debate On Europe. | 7 comments (7 topical)
