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Neil O'Brien, How would you vote in a referendum and why?
Asked by Macpherson on Apr 17 2008 4:31:17 PM and supported by 16 members
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I would vote no – (a) because the EU does not need more powers (b) to send a message that it needs reform and (c) because the process has been so dishonest.

 

Cast your mind back - this whole business started when the Irish voted against the Nice treaty in 2001. In response the leaders of the European Union promised they would start to make the EU more democratic, more transparent, and start handing powers back to the member states.

 

But things quickly went off course. Although the leaders of the EU had signed up to these fine principles, and had even written them down in a grand document called the “Laeken Declaration”, the great majority did not actually believe in them in the slightest. 

 

Instead, EU leaders appointed the federalist Valery Giscard d’Estaing to draw up an EU Constitution, which gave even more powers to the EU. Under the Constitution, everything from immigration to your electricity bill would become a subject for Brussels to decide on, by majority vote.

 

When the Constitution was torpedoed by the French and Dutch, EU leaders simply dredged it up, gave it a fresh coat of paint, and had another go. I am not surprised the Treaty has been sunk again.

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