The Midnight Group: *** - Thanks To The Sunday Express - Promoting The Referendum

Sunday, 31 October 2010

*** - Thanks To The Sunday Express - Promoting The Referendum - 31-Oct-2010

DAVID CAMERON U-TURN DENIES BRITAIN EU REFERENDUM

David Cameron has now backed plans to sneak changes into the Lisbon Treaty
Leigh Phillips

BRITONS have been robbed of the chance to vote on a power grab by Brussels despite promises of a referendum.
In the wake of the Lisbon Treaty fiasco, David Cameron vowed Britain would never again give away powers to Brussels without first holding a referendum.

In a spectacular U-turn, however, Mr Cameron has now backed plans to sneak changes into the Lisbon Treaty without triggering referendums across Europe.

It is a significant victory for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was last night dining with the Camerons at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country retreat in Buckinghamshire.

At the Council of Ministers, Europe’s prime ministers and presidents backed “a limited treaty change” to deliver tighter fiscal discipline across the EU and a permanent bail-out fund for members of the eurozone. The change will create an “economic government” for Europe.

Nigel Farage, frontrunner to lead the UK Independence Party, said: “It is one of the most massive power grabs they have ever attempted but because it is so devilishly complicated this might just sneak through by default. But make no mistake, these are draconian powers and without a shadow of a doubt this should trigger a referendum.”

Leaders are petrified that any change to the EU treaties would spark referendums in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands.

In Britain the EU Referendum Campaign has been launched calling on the Government to give the country the vote denied when Gordon Brown ratified the Lisbon Treaty. More than 5,000 Sunday Express readers signed up after we highlighted the campaign last week.

The Referendum Lock Bill, due to be introduced in Parliament next month, was drawn up as the Conservative’s “Plan B” after Mr Cameron dropped the “cast iron pledge” to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty following ratification.

Mr Cameron argues there will be no transfer of powers from Westminster to Brussels. He argues: “The key to a referendum is this question: Are we transferring powers. If yes, a referendum. If not, no referendum.”