PM Cameron suggests referendum on UK’s conditions and EU membership
British Prime minister David Cameron has indicated that a referendum on the United Kingdom’s conditions of European Union membership is increasingly likely, but ruled out one that offers voters a straight “in or out” choice.
The declaration came in a Sunday newspaper article, following concern among Conservative MPs at comments he made after the EU summit on Friday that were interpreted as ruling out a referendum of any kind.
On Monday PM Cameron will report to the House of Commons on the outcome of the summit, where he is expected to come under strong pressure from his backbenchers – 100 of whom have already demanded a law that would guarantee a post-2015 referendum.
Mr Cameron said he believed the UK should remain part of the EU. “So I don’t agree with those who say we should leave and therefore want the earliest possible in/out referendum. Leaving would not be in our country’s best interests.”
However, he indicated that the referendum to be put to voters could never be a straight in or out question, but rather one that would ask voters’ opinion on new membership terms – a view that will not go far enough for many in his ranks.
“An ‘in’ vote too would have profound disadvantages. All further attempts at changing Britain’s relationship with Europe would be met with cries that the British people had already spoken,” he wrote in the Sunday Telegraph.
“Yet the fact is the British people are not happy with what they have, and neither am I. That’s why I said on Friday that the problem with an in/out referendum is that it offers a single choice,” he said, adding that “the vast majority” want “changes to our relationship”.
Foreign secretary William Hague later emphasised that a referendum on the terms of engagement could not be held until the Euro zone crisis was solved. “There may be new treaties,” he said. If the 17 Euro zone countries, including Ireland, move towards greater union, then that would create “a very powerful case” for calling a referendum on the UK’s membership, but ministers had to have time first to negotiate “a better relationship”.
Former defence secretary Liam Fox, still popular in the party despite having to resign last year, is to make a speech on the EU Monday, where he will agree with Mr Cameron’s ambitions, but demand greater speed.
“I would like to see Britain negotiate a new relationship on the basis that, if we achieved it and our future relationship was economic rather than political, we would advocate acceptance in a referendum of this new dynamic,” he wrote on Saturday.
“If, on the other hand, others would not accede to our requests for a rebalancing in the light of the response to the Euro crisis, then we would recommend rejection and potential departure from the EU.” The UK does not suffer from not being part of the EU single market, he will say, since it imports more from the rest of the EU. Others would have more to lose; while world trade rules would make it impossible anyway to penalise the UK.
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And talking of weasels: I see the Germans caved in then DunniBurger?
Sooner or later,
Peaceful or otherwise,
But waiting for David to get permission from his [higher authority] will take years,
He is to indecisive , weak , he took to tools from out military and still expects them to create miracles,
He will be out at the next election, if he won’t give it to us,
He is frightened of UKIP or now,, apparently labour,
p/s
Don’t worry David, your coalition partners will stab you in the back, long before then .
.
Is this 970 number true ?
There is nothing but nothing, that the European Union can give us,
That our own government cant,
And if our own government cant or wont, give to us .
Then there is something very badly wrong with our government.
.
Thank you for a very interesting point. I had never heard of the Rotterdam Effect and the Antwerp Effect.
I understand about all the countries except the US... We share what religion? christianism? We have totally different denominations that you will find in the countries that you mention... Even when as many missionaries our churches send overseas yearly...and I believe christianism is all over Europe (multiple denominations) if that's the case....
Our law system is totally different as well to the other countries...
As far as history together yes of course ... We owe our white house to the Brits (Thanks for the paint job).... Today the majority of the european descents here are from Germany followed by Irish ....
Major components of the European segment of the United States population are descended from immigrants from Germany (19.2%), Ireland (10.8%), England (7.7%), Scotland (5.8%), Italy (5.6%), Scandinavia (3.7%) and Poland (3.2%) with many immigrants also coming from other Slavic countries
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Census-2000-Data-Top-US-Ancestries-by-County.svg
With all that said hope you have a great 4th!
Happy 4th Of July! Let freedom ring...
Yes but without the English-later British the very fabric of American life would be different-Language, political basis, states etc.
And of course others,
But English has the persuasion it this moment in time,
One reason why America and the Great Britain get on so well,
If im correct, [let me know]
The United States is roughly split 3 ways,
White Europeans,
African Americans,
And I think, Chicano, Mexican south American / Latin ect,
Some say, that if the European white lost power,
The Americans would either turn Latinised,
Or African American, with sympathies leaning to African states,
And away from the Europeans,
Or course eye may well be way way of the mark,
Interesting none the less.
.
You´re right in that the ethnic composition of the american population is different, but the UK is also ethnically diverse today, and religious denominations apart, America remains a protestant nation, the American constitution embraced the british Common Law, the Habeas Corpus, Jury Trials and many other rights were passed on intact to the american judicial system and the same british liberal spirit of the law continues to this day in American law because American legislation never rejected the Common Law.
The principles of conservatism of Edmund Burke and other british philosophers found a home both in England and America where today Burke´s ideals continue to drive political philosophy, in my opinion one of the reasons why american conservatism is so resilient. We don´t see that in a continental europe dominated by leftists and social democrats.
My feeling is that Americans and British have more things in common than they are probably willing to accept. But that is only a perception from a mexican fellow.
Mohammed Al Briton, calling Mexican “Chicanos” and telling how US will become a Latinised country, funny isn’t it?
Londonistan and Ukistan means something to you?
Who lives in a glass house shouldn't throw stones do you know?
Bloody ‘ell with who I will take my cockney lessons in the future?
@JoseAngeldeMonterrey
“My feeling is that Americans and British have more things in common than they are probably willing to accept. But that is only a perception from a mexican fellow.”
Yeah! Especially kebabs and tacos.
once again , slightly confused that you are,
only a comparson was made
and it happens to be truthfull,
go and have look.
America the story of us is playing on the history Chanel ( at least here) all day. It s a good show or you can order the 12 episodes on DVD. It s a good review from my school days. It goes from the pilgrims, the revolution , railroads, artificial light, telegraph, steel and more technological advances to present day....
We are pioneers, we are trailblazers,. We transform our dreams into the truth. Our struggles became a nation....
My warmest congratulations on this very special day for all americans. I happened to live in the US for several years of my life and I have to tell they were the best, I have many american friends over there and here in Mexico the same.
I will be tuning in to History Channel now.
Happy 4th of July!!
Oh! NOOOOOOOOmate
You just mention “railroads” and other stuff now we will have to read tons of post from the British telling us how without Britain you would never have trains, paint for your white house, civilisation, commerce, language, etc.
Happy 4th !
Danny: happy 4th... Well yes brought the trains but still only 7 of of us are I british descent.... The other 93 percent are from here and all over....
a day to celebrate freedom.... Fireworks are fixing to start!!!
come come,
it was after all , white paint,
panited by experts , and all free of charge for our American friends .
happy july 4th .
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