Douglas Carswell's Blog

"Referendum lock" gives us neither a referendum nor a lock

Today MPs will be asked to vote on the government’s EU Bill. It is supposed to stop the further transfer of power to Brussels.

If only.

The Bill is smoke and mirrors. In the worst Blarite tradition, the Coalition is passing a law in order to appear as if they are addressing an issue of concern to voters. 

The truth is that this Bill would have done nothing to stop the half dozen further transfers of power – including the creation of pan-EU economic governance - that have taken place since the Coalition government came to power.  

Worse, this Bill will do absolutely zip to halt the European commission proposals being cooked up right now in Brussels, which are to give Eurocrats a direct say over the formation of economic policy in Euro zone, and non-Euro zone countries alike.

Listening to ministers being questioned about the Bill, I wonder if I am hearing an exercise in which they attempt to recall the details of the briefing notes prepared for them by civil servants, rather than tell us what they think.

The government cannot credibly claim that this Bill is a necessary product of compromise Coalition politics. It was Lib Dem manifesto policy to hold an in / out referendum on the EU.

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