Posts Tagged “european union”
Will Ed Miliband “do a John Smith” and push for an early EU in/out referendum? There are advantages, y’know…
by Stephen Tall on June 29, 2013
Could Labour be about to “do a John Smith” to the Tories over the timing of an in/out referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union? In the 1990s, Labour wrought havoc on the fourth-term Tory government by (cynically) teaming up with the right-wing ‘Maastricht rebels’ to inflict damaging Commons defeats on their common […]
Lib Dem MPs to abstain on Tories’ EU in/out referendum bill?
by Stephen Tall on June 14, 2013
On 5th July, Tory MP James Wharton’s private member’s bill — laying out Conservative plans for an in-out referendum on the EU in 2017 — will get its second reading. The Tories are on a three-line whip to support it (very unusual for a private member’s bill). Labour has confirmed they’ll shun the vote, branding […]
Nick Clegg’s Letter from the Leader: “Of course the EU has to change”
by Stephen Tall on May 19, 2013
No prizes for guessing which subject Nick Clegg tackles in his latest weekly letter to supporters: Europe. He rattles through the three positions: ‘calamitous outers’, ‘inconsequential renegotiators’ and ‘achievable reformers’. No prizes for guessing which he identifies with the Lib Dems. Over to Nick… I’m writing this week’s Letter to you from Kirkwall in Orkney. […]
Timothy Garton Ash is right: there is only one logical way for me to vote in 2015 – for the Conservatives
by Stephen Tall on April 23, 2013
Timothy Garton Ash wrote recently in the Financial Times of the looming — and profoundly paradoxical — choice facing the British voters at the 2015 general election in two years’ time: If … your priority is the unity of the (…)
58% of Lib Dem members against pledging in/out EU referendum in 2015 manifesto
by Stephen Tall on April 1, 2013
Lib Dem Voice polled our members-only forum recently to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Some 650 party members have responded, and we’re publishing the full results. David Cameron has said the next Conservative election manifesto will include a pledge to hold an […]
That EU ‘keep it secret’ budget vote: an update
by Stephen Tall on March 23, 2013
Two weeks ago I wrote a self-explanatorily-titled post: The EU budget vote should be open, not secret (it’s a bit worrying this even needs saying). Time to complete (ish) the story… I wrote via the Unlock Democracy website to the (…)
The PM and the EU: Cameron’s zen art of compromise maintenance
by Stephen Tall on February 9, 2013
Credit where it’s due. If David Cameron had returned to Britain empty-handed or walked out of the EU budget talks in a fit of pique he’d have been pilloried. Plenty of his opponents were hoping he’d do just that. As it is, he’s able to boast (not without justification) that he’s successfully negotiated a 3% […]
The flagrant consistency of the Lib Dems’ position on an in/out EU referendum
by Stephen Tall on January 20, 2013
As a follow-up to my post The surprising truth about that Lib Dem in/out EU referendum leaflet — and as a handy guide for journalists in the future — I thought I’d piece together the timeline of the recent history of the Lib Dems’ position on holding a referendum to give the British people a […]
The surprising truth about that Lib Dem in/out EU referendum leaflet*
by Stephen Tall on January 17, 2013
On Monday morning, Nick Clegg was given a hard time on BBC Radio 4′s Today Programme by interviewer Justin Webb, who accused him of changing his position on an EU referendum on the basis of this pictured leaflet (click to enlarge**). Nick brushed it to one side, correctly pointing out that the party has stuck […]
What Lib Dem members think about an in/out referendum & the future of the UK in Europe
by Stephen Tall on January 13, 2013
Lib Dem Voice polled our members-only forum recently to discover what Lib Dem members think of various political issues, the Coalition, and the performance of key party figures. Some 550 party members have responded, and we’re publishing the full results. By 2:1 majority, Lib Dems reject new EU referendum Do you think the Government should or […]