I have already made it clear that the Tories broke this ultimate promise. The voters will not stand for it. Any Tory politician worth his salt won’t stand for it.
There is a great precedent in the United Kingdom to issuing a referendum now. There is no difference in political principle or in law between what happened in the post-ratification referendum of 1975 on the then European Community and the granting of a referendum following the EU-wide ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. The mere transition of the Treaty to a post-ratification stage is being used as a poor excuse by the Tory leadership to get out of dealing with Europe at all.
But don't ask me if it bothers others. See the comments published on this blog:
Joe De Mocritus says “There is only one word for it: betrayal. Cameron will live to regret this.”
HF said: “We need to let the voters have a say on Europe. I agree that Lisbon is not a suitable referendum but In/Out and if IN then what needs changing? Are the issues that need to be settled for 10/15 years. John Major did not have a referendum and we split.”
Dennis Cooper said: “My priority now is to do nothing to help give the process of national betrayal a fresh lease of life. Much as I despise and detest the present government, I'd rather have a few more years of clapped-out treacherous and unpatriotic Labour politicians in office than fifteen or twenty years of initially fresh but equally treacherous and unpatriotic Tory politicians in office. It therefore falls to the Tory politicians to convince me that they are not treacherous and unpatriotic, despite the evidence to the contrary.”
Andrew Smith said: “The Tory position seems to be that a recently enacted Treaty cannot be unpicked, but longer established Treaties and Directives can be re-opened in some way. What we will see is nothing. The Tory party is about to abdicate responsibility which will allow the EU to bed down all the Lisbon changes. That will inevitably mean a Tory rebellion at some time in the next 5 years as its members realise there will be no second term worth having.”
Mark Hudson said: “One of the things I like about the ConHome editorial team is that they are exceptionally shrewd in their instincts. As such, I detect a degree of (wise) panic here on this one. Unless Cameron articulates tomorrow a very robust repatriation of powers that tears at the very heart of Britain's EU membership, this policy development will have massive implications internally for the Party. I fully expect to see a Hannan or a Helmer leave in due course if there is not some real meat to this announcement tomorrow. I'll reserve judgement until then. However, quite why he can't just offer a simple 'IN or OUT' vote that ends the matter, I don't know.”
Freedom fighter said: “Cameron has given a guarantee for a referendum. He lied. What else to that do you not understand?”
Michael Heaver said on Cameron's words: “Today, I will give this cast-iron guarantee: If I become PM a Conservative government will hold a referendum on any EU treaty that emerges from these negotiations.' That means Lisbon. No mention of conditions or opt-outs to not give a referendum.”
Voter Rick of Oxford said: “Cameron has blown it. For all his fine words he is the same as Ted Heath: saying one thing to the public but signing us up to a different situation. It is no good saying you will do something about no further powers to the EU, once you are entangled in the Lisbon Treaty. ... I have never felt so disengaged from British politics as I do now, knowing that DC has rejected an honest pledge.”
