67% of Britons want EU referendum to go ahead

Mori undertook a telephone poll for today's Sun which found that 67% of Britons still want the UK to hold a referendum on the EU Constitution - even though the French and Dutch have already voted against it. The same poll also found that 56% would use that vote to say 'no' to the Constitution and only 22% would say 'yes'.

The British people's enthusiasm to vote is perhaps a reflection of their lack of trust in the EU's bureaucratic leaders. There are already signs that some of these leaders are trying to ignore the French and Dutch verdicts. Luxembourg's PM has already said that "the show must go on". The British people want their opportunity to vote and to make it absolutely clear that it's 'game over' for Old Europe. A big UK 'no' vote would also strengthen the hand of Britain's government in any future renegotiations. At present the pressure for concessions will all come from France.

Part of the reason for the way EU leaders are trying to wriggle out of the French and Dutch rejections is that they are not used to decisive election results. Most of them are elected by forms of proportional representation. After most PR elections the balance of power is changed within a coalition government but there's rarely a decisive change of government. PR systems force parties to work together and to seek consensus. Parties with strong, non-consensual views are rarely seen as prospective coalition partners and so they gravitate to the establishment view (on such questions as European integration) or they never get a taste of power. This week's referenda results are unambiguous orders from European electorates to drop the Treaty. Most of Europe's politicians are not used to such direct democracy.

Comments

[Colin Linford]

I'm worried that the constitution ratification process, with Mr. Blairs's active connivance, will be subject to the usual EU smoke and mirrors act to try and show that the new EU constitution will not be harmful to Britain, and will then not be put to the promised referendum - by which time it will be too late for Britain's citizens to vote or have any say in the decision The referendum should not be shelved, postponed, or abandoned. Plse keep up the pressure on the government to hold this referendum

[Luke Wood]

As much as I would have liked to see the consitution squashed by a British no-vote, watching Mr Blair squirm as he attempts to take on the rest of Europe is proving to be entertaining.

[Paul Marks]

We must not lose sight of the basic point that our policy is to take powers back from the E.U.

One of our big problems is that many people do not believe us when we say we are going to take the powers back (just as most voters do not believe us when we say we are going to cut taxes).

We must not be sidetracked by the Constitution - we must pound home the basic message every time we get a chance. We will take the powers back from the E.U. - if they wish to impose regulations concerning our exports to them (as they do) that is one thing, but to impose regulations concerning domestic production and consumption or exports to third party nations is unacceptable.

Also unacceptable are efforts to control British assets (such as fish stocks) and efforts to steal more money from British taxpayers.

As the major E.U. nations sell us far more than we sell them, they are in no position to make threats. If they refuse (after formal talks) to accept that their regulations no longer apply here, a Conservative government should pass a Statute in Parliament declaring that they no longer apply here. There is nothing that E.U. can do about this - threats of trade sanctions will not work (for the above reason) and they have no army to enforce their will.

Paul Marks.