Reply to: Cameron is an idiot

[escapeUK]

A referendum on the EU could just win him the election... a single clear policy with no waffle that is markedly different than the opposition.

Yes it could have, but it needed to be timed before the next election not after. As we all know he does not keep his word.

In the unlikely event he is elected again, I can just hear him saying. "We promised an in out vote on the old EU, since we renegotiated our relationship the old EU does not exist therefore no vote is needed."

[formant]

explain please

Nah, can't be arsed. We've had this dscussion quite recently if you remember.

See if darmstadt or NickFitz feel more inclined.

[DodgyAgent]

Make that +2

explain please

[DodgyAgent]

Seems a bit cowardly to me.

It works for North Korea

[formant]

We've already had a referendum on Europe, courtesy of a Labour government. Sad that Cameron is reduced to stealing Harold Wilson's ideas in a desperate attempt to pander to the readership of the Daily Mail.

Oh, and if you think we have economic woes at the moment, you'll be amazed how bad things get if we leave the EU.

WHS +1

Make that +2

[d000hg]

Yes because nothing changes over 40 years. On that basis it's daft to have a GE every 4 years, we already picked!

[darmstadt]

We've already had a referendum on Europe, courtesy of a Labour government. Sad that Cameron is reduced to stealing Harold Wilson's ideas in a desperate attempt to pander to the readership of the Daily Mail.

Oh, and if you think we have economic woes at the moment, you'll be amazed how bad things get if we leave the EU.

WHS +1

[d000hg]

Will die-hard UKIP voters still vote UKIP on their policy to definitely exit the EU rather than to hold a referendum? Or will they realise that UKIP is a wasted vote when they could at least get a referendum rather than nothing?

[sasguru]

I also think that, aside from the party politics, he's realised that this is the only way to deal with the eurosceptics in his own party and he has to do that or risk becoming unelectable as they bicker amongst themselves.

Quite. I missed that from my list although you can put it in the "...stealing fire from UKIP category ..."

[doodab]

I also think that, aside from the party politics, he's realised that this is the only way to deal with the eurosceptics in his own party and he has to do that or risk becoming unelectable as they bicker amongst themselves.

[sasguru]

We've already had a referendum on Europe, courtesy of a Labour government. Sad that Cameron is reduced to stealing Harold Wilson's ideas in a desperate attempt to pander to the readership of the Daily Mail.

Oh, and if you think we have economic woes at the moment, you'll be amazed how bad things get if we leave the EU.

For an intelligent person, you can be amazingly blinkered sometimes.

[sasguru]

O Presumably he is under no obligation to remain impartial - he can call a referendum and then tell everyone they should vote IN?

That is his goal, I believe.

[NickFitz]

We've already had a referendum on Europe, courtesy of a Labour government. Sad that Cameron is reduced to stealing Harold Wilson's ideas in a desperate attempt to pander to the readership of the Daily Mail.

Oh, and if you think we have economic woes at the moment, you'll be amazed how bad things get if we leave the EU.

[d000hg]

As others have noted, political masterstroke by Cameron.

1. Steals UKIP fire, takes away their single policy from them.
2. Forces Labour and Lib-Dems into a corner - if they oppose they are undemocratic, if they agree looks like Cameron sets the agenda
3. He can go to Euro leaders and say, look I'd like to stay in but give me something to sell to my voters.
And believe me, apart from cretins like Fabius, most Euro leaders understand that getting rid of the 2nd/3rd largest economy is Europe is not a good idea.

AtW, your understanding of politics is naive. Stick to programming.

Ouch, I agree with you.

Did he definitely say we'd definitely have a referendum regardless the result of negotiation talks with the EU? Presumably he is under no obligation to remain impartial - he can call a referendum and then tell everyone they should vote IN?

[Waldorf]

After his cast iron guarantee of a referendum before, why should we trust him ?

Cameron only said that he would have a referendum if he had been Prime Minister, by the time he did become PM, the Lisbon Treaty had been ratified, officially this was done on 16/07/08, so this was done by Gordon Brown and Labour etc.

There was nothing Cameron could do about a ratified treaty once he became PM, other than do what he has now promised, ie an attempt to renegotiate and then ask the people whether they wish to stay in etc. I have no doubts that if he wins the next election, the referendum will take place.