There�s no conspiracy � it�s simply the way party politics works. That is to the benefit of the parties and not to the electorate or the country.
The opposition always say they will do what they think the electorate wants. It may take them two or three goes, but eventually they are elected to Government. This is usually not because the electorate particularly wants them, but because they are fed up with the other lot.
The former opposition, now in Government, proceed to do exactly as they wish, regardless of their manifesto commitments or the wishes of the electorate. Among the usual reasons for failure to fulfil their manifesto commitments are �changing world economic conditions� or �developments outside of the Government's control�. They get away with this for two or three Parliaments. Meantime, the former Government (now in opposition) set sail on a fresh voyage of promise which, strangely, they seemed unable to fulfil whilst in Government.
And so it is with the EU, the single most important issue faced by this country. Both parties (and we realistically only have two to choose from) seem more intent on scoring points from the other by rubbishing their policies and announcements whilst neither seems bothered to determine what the electorate wants or what is in the best interest of the country.
I am interested to read that some AB-ers seem to think that we must enter into a federation with either the USA or Europe. This is not so. Other nations manage an independent existence perfectly well and there is no reason why we should allow our nation to be subsumed into a federation with anybody - particularly with a bunch of nations many of who hate us, and many of whom see their membership of the EU as akin to opening a joint bank account with Bill Gates.