UK’s Labour opposition mulls in/out EU referendum pledge

It would be an extremely brave government that tried to remove the referendum lock regardless of anything else to do with the EU because of the Clear public hostility to the EU in general and any suggestion of an increase in any role for the EU in the UK life in particular.

I would suggest that some time prior to the next general election, (probably after the Labour Party do poorly in the EP elections 2014) the Party will decide that they have no alternative other than to give the public the referendum they want. It would be difficult to defend the proposition that the electorate are not interested in the subject or can not be trusted with a vote given polling evidence.

European - most of us would be happy to leave as soon as possible, I apologise for the difficulties we are causing you but unfortunately until we are given a chance for the first time to make our views on this subject known any British Government will be severely constrained with regards to EU policy.

Cheers

Charles_M, you check the reality - Britain whines and squeals and wants to block the rest of the EU with anything it wants to do. Which is the only country not to be in either Schengen and to have an opt-out from the eurozone? Which is the only country demanding to change the terms of its membership and threatening to leave if it doesn't get what it wants (although it never specifies what it wants)? Which is the only country that wants to use the possibility of a new treaty to change the terms of its membership and renegotiate issues that might have nothing to do with the treaty? Which is the only country that has ranting commenters who jump into all these threads, all over the internet, to spew their anti-EU hate?

But, please, since you obviously don't like the EU (only someone anti-EU could make such an ignorant comment), please campaign for your country to get the hell out!

Charles_M: Ireland is not in Schengen because it has a free movement area with the UK, which refuses to be in Schengen.

And, you didn't even understand what I wrote: the UK is the only EU member-state (supposedly it's an EU member-state) to both not be in Schengen and have a euro opt-out. In other words, it's the only country to refuse to be in perhaps the two most important EU enterprises. Regarding Schengen, Ireland is the only other EU country that is not in the Schengen area as a matter of choice, and that "choice" is because they have to follow Britain. The other EU countries that are not in Schengen want to be but have not been admitted yet because they do not fulfil the strict criteria on issues like crime, security, corruption, etc. Patronisingly, the UK thinks it is the only country in Europe that has proper crime prevention at the borders. Countries that are not even in the EU - such as Iceland, Switzerland and Norway, the countrises the English EU-haters point to as their inspiration - are even in the Schengen area. Yet, the UK spurns the rest of Europe and refuses to join.

Regarding the euro opt-out, the UK and Denmark are the only two countries with this. But, Denmark has at least joined the first two stages of EMU membership and the Danish krone is pegged to the euro.

As for "anti EU sentiment" in other countries, yes, every country has a wide variety of opinion. But "anti EU sentiment" in most other cases simply means anti particular policies or anti the general direction the EU is going in, in a similar way to how national governments go through unpopular phases. Only in the UK does "anti-EU sentiment" mean being anti the very concept and existence of the EU. And, that is the view within mainstream British political parties, not some fringe voices.

So, yes, I think the UK is the odd member of the EU, thinking it's superior, spurning the rest, yet still wanting to interfere and block the plans of the others.

In the first, and so far only referendum, on whether the UK should be part of the European project that was then quaintly called, ‘The Common Market’, I voted 'No'. Back then, I didn't think the UK should continue with its membership. I was very young, probably stupid, and in any event, I was outnumbered two to one.

Since then, whilst generally proud to be British, the concept and benefits of also being a ‘Citizen of Europe’ have grown on me. I appreciate the idea that I can reside, work, study or retire in any other European Union country. And I enjoy living in a cosmopolitan, global, modern Britain, where other Citizens of Europe can also come here and become useful members of our society, as well as friends and allies.

I also feel safer being part of the European Union, not only because it’s the planet’s biggest, richest trading community, but because it can transact laws to protect us in ways that a single country acting on its own would find impossible.

See my latest blog: The value of being 'citizens of Europe'

http://jondanzig.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/brits-should-recognise-value-in-being.html