I received an email from the Lib Dems today about the debate in the Commons over the possibility of a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. The Lib Dems position is that as it is just an amending treaty of the EU, just like many other such treaties, there is no reason for a referendum on it. Instead Nick Clegg is calling for some honesty from the two larger parties and asking for a referendum on Britains continuing relationship with the EU.
It is true that the Tories and Labour have not only torn themselves into shreds over their positions on our continued membership, they have also poisoned the publics attitude and played party politics with an important constitutional issue. I agree with Mr Clegg that it is time for us to make a choice... either we are in it or out of it... then everybody can just shut up about it.
In saying that I'm a pro-European. I believe in a reformed European Union based on democratically elected institutions and a constitution limiting Governmental power and stating clearly where powers lie. And a referendum would almost certainly mean that we would have to secede from the EU, which I would be fairly unhappy about. But if that's the price of democracy and of allowing this country to move forward from two decades of Eurosceptic moaning then it's a price that might need to be paid.
See the Lib Dems website and sign the petition.
I used to be pro-referendum, until the Dutch vote-off of the European treaty. A lot of "No" voters seemed not to vote No because of the treaty (Dutch people are pretty pro Europe), but just because they did not like the government at that time. It was a protest against the government.
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