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PM Cameron suggests referendum on UK’s conditions and EU membership

Monday, July 2nd 2012 - 06:19 UTC
Full article 31 comments

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. Read full article

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  • Max

    But,for all i know there will be Scots referandum before !

    Jul 02nd, 2012 - 08:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • War Monkey

    And before that, a Falkland Isands referendum.

    Jul 02nd, 2012 - 08:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Englander

    We should leave EU and form a new association with our kith and kin in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Falkland Islands.

    Jul 02nd, 2012 - 09:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • GeoffWard2

    Don't hold your breath waiting for this.

    Jul 02nd, 2012 - 09:38 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • DanyBerger

    Well I guess that the together with Greece, UK can make the pariah club of 2 members. ha ha

    Jul 02nd, 2012 - 11:33 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Freyab

    Liam Fox has it exactly right. Our relationship should be economic NOT political, and if the rest of the EU can't accept that fact then they will just have to manage without us.

    Jul 02nd, 2012 - 12:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    Weasel words.

    And talking of weasels: I see the Germans caved in then DunniBurger?

    Jul 02nd, 2012 - 01:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • THOR94

    5 DanyBerger (#) Actually kid, we can join the EFTA, and have a jolly good time with them :) Hows Mercosur doing ?

    Jul 02nd, 2012 - 02:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    We will get our referendum,
    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 .

    .

    Jul 02nd, 2012 - 02:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conor

    Fuck me sideways! Mr Cameron 'hinting' at a referendum? Much like he promised in his manifesto then he reneged on, I cant wait to see UKIP become more and more influential until they have seats in Parliament. Then we will see the true colours of the Tory eurosceptics, I bet even more will defect.

    Jul 02nd, 2012 - 03:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    @10 Much as I would like to see a referendum, you should remember that Cameron promised a referendum if the Lisbon treaty had not been ratified. Unfortunately, it was. So, strictly speaking, he didn't renege. Personally, I don't see why it made a difference. But then, when I contacted the local candidate prior to the election, I was told that Cameron believed in changing things “from the inside”. I see that the current concept is to “renegotiate” the relationship with the EU. I have my own plan for “renegotiation”. It works on the basis of “We're leaving unless we get the following..........” Mind you, my idea of “the following” equals no contributions to anything, no EU-sourced legislation in the UK, no commitments to be entered into by the EU that places any requirements on the UK, no EU immigration to the UK, no right to remain or work in UK for any EU national other than British.

    Jul 02nd, 2012 - 06:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Max

    There are 970 UK citizens who acquired Malta citizenship ,their median age is 30.

    Jul 02nd, 2012 - 06:37 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Britworker

    I don't think there should be this concentration on the UK's relationship with Europe, there are numerous countries that have grave misgivings about a federal Europe. We can't afford to disengage with a Union that is the recipient of 40% of our exports. If we can wangle staying in the EU (common market) but manage to stay out of their future federal compacts, then we will have the balance right, and I think that is the way Cameron is trying to guide things.

    Jul 02nd, 2012 - 06:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Max

    Ask to all

    Is this 970 number true ?

    Jul 02nd, 2012 - 06:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    @13 Having been on the “front line” between the UK and the EU, I can tell you that the UK needs NOTHING the EU has. I wonder if you know how many lies are told about UK exports to the EU. Allow me to explain a salient fact. Many UK exports to countries outside of Europe are transported via Rotterdam and Antwerp. Those exports are detailed in national statistics as exports to the EU. Known as the Rotterdam Effect and the Antwerp Effect. How shall I put this. “There are lies, damned lies and statistics.” In fact, the EU accounts for less than 20% of UK exports. Just bear this in mind. Whatever the EU says is a lie! The UK is currently in a “middle” position. For the time being it goes along with the lies in the hope that it will find “leverage”. Are you old enough to remember the “EEC campaigns” of the early 70s? The most compelling argument was the concept of Soviet tank armies flooding across the North German Plain. The British people were conned. They are still being conned. The EU is a combination of an evolved French Napoleonic Empire and a German Fourth Reich!

    Jul 02nd, 2012 - 08:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    THIMC
    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.
    .

    Jul 02nd, 2012 - 08:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Condorito

    @15
    Thank you for a very interesting point. I had never heard of the Rotterdam Effect and the Antwerp Effect.

    Jul 02nd, 2012 - 10:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • JoseAngeldeMonterrey

    England´s future lies with Canada, Australia, New Zeland and The US, they share a rich history together, a language, a heritage, religion, values and traditions, strong democratic principles, judicial system and other fine institutions. Continental europeans have long resented England, the US, English language, economic liberalism, you name it, so why in the hell the UK decided to join the union?

    Jul 03rd, 2012 - 01:13 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • AmericanLight

    Jose:
    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
    http://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...

    Jul 03rd, 2012 - 01:58 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conor

    @19
    Yes but without the English-later British the very fabric of American life would be different-Language, political basis, states etc.

    Jul 03rd, 2012 - 02:50 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    It is reckoned, that there are over 80 million British decedents in the usa ,
    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.

    .

    Jul 03rd, 2012 - 11:52 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • JoseAngeldeMonterrey

    19 AmericanLight,

    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.

    Jul 03rd, 2012 - 12:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • DanyBerger

    @briton

    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.

    Jul 04th, 2012 - 07:57 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    23 DanyBerger
    once again , slightly confused that you are,

    only a comparson was made
    and it happens to be truthfull,
    go and have look.

    Jul 04th, 2012 - 10:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • AmericanLight

    Happy 4th Of July !
    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....

    Jul 04th, 2012 - 04:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • JoseAngeldeMonterrey

    25 AmericanLight (#)

    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!!

    Jul 04th, 2012 - 06:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • DanyBerger

    @AmericanLight

    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 !

    Jul 05th, 2012 - 12:23 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • AmericanLight

    Jose: Happy. 4th.... Many friends of mine have family living in ojinaga mx. Beautiful kind hearted people.
    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!!!

    Jul 05th, 2012 - 01:30 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    27,
    come come,
    it was after all , white paint,
    panited by experts , and all free of charge for our American friends .

    happy july 4th .

    Jul 05th, 2012 - 12:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • AmericanLight

    Thanks Briton Happy 4th!

    Jul 05th, 2012 - 07:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    anytime .

    Jul 05th, 2012 - 07:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

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