News In Depth
- 12 December 2011, 17:08
No need for Europe poll, says PM
David Cameron has dismissed fresh calls for a referendum on Europe in the wake of his veto on a treaty at last week's European Council summit.
The Prime Minister said that as the UK was not signing a new treaty the issue of a national poll did not arise.
Following his Commons statement on the summit, Mr Cameron said referendums should only be held if powers were being given up to Brussels.
Tory Julian Lewis (New Forest E) asked him: "As you have cast your vote on Europe so effectively in Brussels, do you think there's any chance that the British people might one day have an opportunity to do something similar over here?"
Mr Cameron said: "To me, the most important use of a referendum is if there is a proposal for this House of Commons, or any government, to pass powers from this House to somewhere else (then) we should ask the British people first.
"That to me, in a parliamentary democracy, is the right use of a referendum.
"As we are not signing a treaty I think the whole issue of a referendum doesn't arise."
what do you think?
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george clement
Cameron is riding that dividing line between the pro and anti Europeans in the Tory party,, he knows that which ever way he moves he's history. The only thing that matters to Cameron is the power his job gives.
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David Wragg
6:08pm on 12/12/2011
O yes, there is. So much has changed since the original referendum and this is not the Europe that we voted for. Corruption, no audited accounts for 17 years, loss of fishing grounds, expensive food, bureaucracy, a 'one size fits all' approach, no control over our borders, and we are expected to pay one of the highest net contributions for all that. Goodness, do we need, and deserve a referendum. Without it, there is a lack of democracy. I would have us out tomorrow. THe free market aspect is outdated thansk to worldwide progress on trade, while the balanc eof trade within the EU is in their favour, not ours, so there are no sanctions they could apply.