Referenda … And Why I think we Should have them Frequently …

Hmmm …

Well, there’s a how-de-do …

»»•««

Can I make a confession, here … ?

I hate sounding like a right-wing tory, I really do …

But I’m also going to make a confession, here.

Unlike the majority of Liberal-Democrat MPs — including party leader, Nick Clegg — i really don’t fancy the idea of increasing — if that’s the term? — ties with Europe.

Oh, granted, it’s handy to be a member of the EU.

I realise the impact of being a part of our neighbouring Big Trading Partner’s Organisation.

If, for no other reason than the fact that it meant we had to put the European Human Rights Convention onto the UK’s Statute books: as far as I understand it, having these rights in UK law had never been done before*.

But I’ll be frank and tell you to have a look at this article.

Seemingly, 60 Conservative MPs have signed a parliamentary motion, calling for a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union.

Like I say, I don’t like agreeing with a bunch of right-wing tories.

But I’d like to formally express my opinion on the matter.

Now, granted, nation-wide UK referendum has only ever been twice in my lifetime.

The last was the one on the Alternative Vote: something that, at the time we were all told was An Important Thing In The History Of The UKªº.

Which I think is my entire point, here.

The Alternative Vote referendum was bloody important.

SERIOUSLY important to the nation as a whole.

SO seriously important, that we, the people of the UK, were asked to decide about it.

My personal believe … ?

Is that membership of the EU is as important as the Alternative Vote.

If not more so.

And given the importance of this … ?

We, the people, should also have a vote on the matter.

Despite Nick Clegg, Ed Milliband and David Cameron believing otherwise.

* Before 1998, I should add. 1998! Apparently, we’ve got a constitution, somewhere … (I’m no legal expert, Debbi, before you ask: but the UK famously has an ‘unwritten constitution’. I’m positive that — to a US legal practitioner — that’s going to look good, if not impressive. Or, if not good, then certainly billable by the hour … … … … )

ª Feel free to do a silly voice when you read that bit out.

º The last time a referendum was held on the EU — or EEC, as it was then^ — was in 1975. Just to give you an idea, I was 7. Nick Clegg would have been 8. Ed Milliband, 6 and David Cameron, 9. The only reason they get a say is that they’re in Parliament.

^ I think!