Shooting the Lib Dems Euro-Fox?

Question

I get the distinct impression that the lib-dems don't want to ask the british people how close we want to be to europe - because they wouldn't like the answer they got.

Instead the lib-dems want to ask 'europe in or out?' in the hope that a vote for 'in' could then be used as a mandate for complete integration.

Am I being too cynical?

If so, then would the Lib-Dems happy for two question on the referendum paper:-

1) In or Out

2) If in, then how close

Any views (particularly from lib dems)?

Answer 1

Euro-fox? what a ridiculous analogy. Which tabloid bog-paper did you get that from?

Answer 2

How about we just gas all politicians an tell rest of the EU get lost? OH!! plus tell yanks we do have a mind of our own too!!!

Answer 3

In.

Isn't it about 14 miles... and more than two thousand to the USA?

Answer 4

None of the parties are being honest about Europe. The original idea was for a trading partnership, but this has gradually evolved into a United States of Europe, which few ordinary people want, except the newly joined countries which are benefitting greatly from parity in so many aspects with the older member states. Next thing we know the UK will be signed up to the Euro, whether we (the elecorate) want it or not.

Answer 5

I'm not a Lib-Dem but I feel there is merit in your assessment.

But I really would like to have a debate about just what we want from the EU (not Europe)

I would like us to have this debate, so that instead of the UK being continually bombarded with EU legislation, we could look at the EU as a purely debating area.  Then proposals that come out could be decided upon at National level, with a more 'simplistic' approach that any National parliament that rejected something didn't have to implement it and if 50%+ rejected anything then the representatives would have to abandon the policy or start again.

That would still allow those who wanted to implement something even if rejected by the majority to do so.

Also we would not longer need an EU parliament but could have representation from our own MP's selected to serve for 6month periods on the 'council'

I wont go on as explaining further would be boring but I'm sure you get the drift.

Answer 6

The lib dems have long been advocates of closer European Union ties.

dating back to the laughable Charles Kennedy party political broadcast extolling the virtues of the Euro.. because it would make your shopping cheaper........ filmed in a French Hypermarket...

So it wouldn't surprise me if the Lib Dems wanted to follow a 'Europhile' agenda, and any such referendum (assuming they were in a position to push an agenda) would almost certainly be a very stark "in or out" question

Labour seemingly are also keen on the 'Europhile' agenda, although judging by the messing around they ve done int he last 10 years they dont vlaue the punblics opinion, witness the deceitful way they have gone about the revised constitution... oops, sorry musn't mention the C word.. it was a minor tidying up treaty. So I can't see Labour offering a referendum on such matters. the last referendum nearly tore the Labour party apart, so I don't see them doing it again anytime soon.

The Conservatives don't seem to have a clear (public) policy on Europe, there are still many backwoodsmen who are ardently 'Europhobe', and some of their backers are virulently anti Europe. If they are in a position to set an agenda then I don't think they will have a referendum as they will almost certainly be a majority.

Referendums in this country are usually used when the party in power is split on the issue,not when its morally right to hold one