The Eu Referendum Bill 'unlikely' To Become Law

[Gromit]

The private members bill to promise a referendum on our pulling out of Europe is 'unlikely' to be ready in time to be in this years programme of bills. If it misses the 28th February deadline, it will not happen this year. It will have to sit for a year, by which time there will not be enough parlamentary time because the General Election will be a few weeks off.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10547669/Cameron-prepares-nuclear-option-on-EU-referendum.html

Not quite a U-turn, but a big let down surely?

[youngmafbog]

It's a bit of a shame really as we need the debate and vote so we know the direction the majority want to take the country (whichever way).

Continual posturing and arguing gets us nowhere, we upset the European partners and also we upset those that want ou, in the mean time business is put off from investing (business prefers stability not uncertainty).

I am not surprised though, at present there is a definite chance it would be out and Cameron and Clegg( both with eyes on the EU gravy train no doubt) certainly dont want that!

[Gromit]

Baz
Do you think a promise of a referendum will be in the Conservative Election Manifesto?
If not, how can the counter the UKiP threat?

[Khandro]

jim; A few points here to help you make up your mind why we must remain within the EU in order to reform it,
http://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2013/11/from-katja-hall-of-cbitweets-follows.html

[ToraToraTora]

if the government wants to do it they can do it, all this private members bill cobblers is why it takes so long. JFDI is what I say. Still must make you very happy gromit.

[bazwillrun]

"if the government wants to do it they can do it"
exactly

there are means by which just about anything can be done at the snap of fingers if a govermenment wants to

[youngmafbog]

Noo labour always favoured the Parliament Act for pushing through unfavorable policy

[jim360]

"It's a bit of a shame really as we need the debate and vote so we know the direction the majority want to take the country (whichever way). "

Exactly ymb. As and when such a debate happens, I hope I do listen properly to the other side of the argument from where I am at currently. If the debate never happens, if there never is a referendum, then the EU will be a bugbear for all major parties forever. They surely have to see this. Trust in politicians is, rightly, fading. This is a chance to go at last some way towards restoring it.

[youngmafbog]

I suspect moat on AB news, whatever their current persuasion, would listen to both sides of the debate. Unfortunately of course many of the population would vote simply so they could go on holiday easier or because of the immigrants.

But, if we had a referendum and we stayed in then I personally would admit defeat and go with the majority as I want the best for the country. I do wonder how many pro Europeans would extend me the same courtesy though !

[jim360]

We'll probably never know, which is a shame indeed.

[Khandro]

Referendums in the UK are consultative and are not legally binding, so legally the Government can ignore the results, even if the result was a majority of ‘No' for remaining in the EU, parliament need not pass the necessary legislation, because parliament is always sovereign.

[bazwillrun]

"parliament need not pass the necessary legislation, because parliament is always sovereign"

which is pretty ironic if you consider staying in the eussr will lead to the total destruction of those very powers and soveriegnty,even more so than it already is

[Khandro]

baz; //........the eussr will lead to the total destruction of those very powers and soveriegnty.....//
Not necessarily; the EU is, historically speaking, very new, many things are wrong (and many right), and have to be, and will be, reformed. Most members are not happy with the status quo and wish to see changes, but it can not take place overnight. It is of utmost importance the Britain remains locked within the European Community in order to influence its future, which in the long term will be of benefit to everyone.

[EDDIE51]

If the government had genuinely wanted this referendum it would have put it through with in an official government sponsored bill . But they 'allowed' a backbencher to propose it as a private members bill. Private members bills take last place in the 'queue' for parliamentary time and it was always a virtual certainty that this would run out of time.

[Gromit]

Eddie
It was entered as a private members bill rather than a Government Bill because the Government don't support it. The Liberal Democrats don't want this, and they are psrt of the Government, it is Conservative backbenchers who do.

[EDDIE51]

Gromit, Thanks, you have just proved my point.