Looks Like Th Pm Is Geting Ready To Rig The Eu Referendum Already!

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33144135
Are the purdah laws ok as they are? Presmably Dave wants to put the whole governement machine behind his view. Ok we can have a referendum but it'll give the answer we want capiesch! Yes Don Corleone!

[Svejk]

The way things are going in Greece the pretenderendum might be academic.

[whiskeryron]

I am quite concerned that the question asked on the referendum form on the day of voting could be so formed as to make it possible for Dave to get the result HE wants. In other words I do not think it will be a simple in or out vote.

[youngmafbog]

//Ministers said voters must be assured the referendum would be a "fair fight"//

Yeah right - so long as the right answer is given.

And if the wrong answer is given we will keep asking until you do give the right one.

Obergruppenführer Cameron will not want to upset Boss Merkel

[ichkeria]

I think it;s pretty plain to see what's going to happen:
The referendum will be a "Yes" to staying in, but we will have months if not years of complaints that it was rigged.
And Nigel Farage will be the new Nicola Sturgeon lol

[janbee]

It'll be "vote YES to stay in" or "vote NO to getting out"

[jim360]

// It'll be "vote YES to stay in" or "vote NO to getting out" //

Wait a second...

[ichkeria]

There's been some debate about the format of the question.
They have apparently decided to use a question demanding a "Yes" response of the form "Should the UK remain part of the EU" in order not to confuse people who don't realise we're already in the EU.
Even that has been dismissed as part of a conspiracy in some quarters
I'm sick to death of it already and it may well yet be two years off

[whiskeryron]

//
janbee
It'll be "vote YES to stay in" or "vote NO to getting out" //

Do you see what I mean janbee ? As your quote suggests ( vote NO to getting out COULD suggest NO GETTING OUT )

[retrocop]

Just a totally unimportant thought in the grand scheme but if,by some miracle, Mr Cameron plays fair and we opt out will Europe suddenly cancel overnight our horrible red EU passports and we will all have to re apply to get our lovely old black/gold ones back?

[jim360]

Personally I'd prefer a format something along the lines of: "Please mark the sentence you agree with: (a) the UK should remain in the EU; (b) the UK should leave the EU." Avoids the issue of which one is given as the "yes" option, although I suppose even then people might argue that the position on the ballot paper will have an influence.

[whiskeryron]

Yes jim, it's not going to be as easy as some of us think.

[whiskeryron]

The PM will have experts to advise how the voting form should be worded to avoid having to leave the EU.

[ichkeria]

In the words of Mick Jagger
I'll tell you how it's going to be
There'll be simple "yes/no" option on the ballot paper and some people will vote "yes" and some "no"
And the option with the most votes will win
But before that there'll be months if not years of increasingly extravagant claims made by each side to promote its argument.
Just like the Scottish referendum
And whoever loses (almost certainly the "nos") will complain that it was rigged or that the arguments put by the winning side were false
Just like the Scottish referendum
The happiest bunny will be Nigel Farage, though like Nicola Sturgeon he'll pretend he's very upset :-)

[Hopkirk]

Didn't the Irish have a second referendum when they didn't get the answer they wanted?

[Hopkirk]

Sorry, no, it was Denmark.

[youngmafbog]

It's easy enough

Two questions, two boxes.

1. Belong to the EU
2. Not belong to the EU

But slippery Cameron will try and word it so he gets the slip ups as stay ins.

[Kathyan]

Hopkirk, Ireland did have to vote twice but not sure on which question. Was it to join the Euro?

[whiskeryron]

You see folks I would be quite happy to be linked to Europe BUT only if it was like the original Common Market which we joined to be trading partners. Since then things moved on to become the EU where there is a parliament who make unwanted decisions on our behalf. I would like to trade with the EU but retain our ability to make our own laws in Westminster. I cannot imagine that will be in the referendum choice.

[Peter Pedant]

.

I think that should be ...... si Don Corleone

I stand in wonder in this world how the govt can love secrecy as as much as it does

[Peter Pedant]

//Hopkirk, Ireland did have to vote twice but uncertain on which question. Was it to join the Euro?//

de Oirish ? to be sure - to be sure