EU Referendum Pledges

Just for the record, and because I have been critical of David Cameron and the Conservatives lately I felt compelled to add a clarification.  Though I am displeased with the Conservatives and David Cameron what Labour and the Liberal Democrats did was many times worse.

Labour and Liberal Democrat MP's were elected on the promise of a referendum; they accepted your votes and took their seats based on that pledge.  Once in place they conspired to circumvent that promise.

Nobody at all will be able to trust their pledges this time around.  At no point have the leadership of these parties apologised nor have they expressed any regret.  They lied to win peoples votes then acted explicitly against the wishes of those who voted for them.

Labour's Manifesto Pledge:

The EU now has 25 members and will continue to expand. The new

Constitutional Treaty ensures the new Europe can work effectively,

and that Britain keeps control of key national interests like foreign policy,

taxation, social security and defence.The Treaty sets out what the

EU can do and what it cannot. It strengthens the voice of national parliaments

and governments in EU affairs. It is a good treaty for Britain

and for the new Europe.We will put it to the British people in a referendum

and campaign whole-heartedly for a ‘Yes’ vote to keep Britain

a leading nation in Europe.

Liberal Democrat Manifesto Pledge:

The new constitution helps to achieve this by improving EU

coherence, strengthening the powers of the elected European

Parliament compared with the Council of Ministers, allowing

proper oversight of the unelected Commission, and enhancing the

role of national parliaments. It also more clearly defines and limits

the powers of the EU, reflecting diversity and preventing overcentralisation.

We are thereforeclear in our support for the

constitution, which we believe is in Britain’s interest – but ratification

must be subject to a referendum of the British people.

The fact that anybody in the Labour Party or the Liberal Democrats should try to score points from the Conservative reversal is further proof of what a complete bunch of chancers they are.  They clearly feel absolutely no shame in their lies.  They placed their allegiance to the EU ahead of their pledge to their UK voters.  The Conservatives should accept absolutely no criticism from the Labour or Liberal Democrats on their EU policy; though that won't shut me up.  It cannot be said often enough, deceptions of this ilk have damaged trust in politics and politicians, but failure to acknowledge their misdeeds drives people to despair.

For what it is worth, if the Conservatives had of got in prior to Lisbon's ratification I actually do believe that they would have honoured their pledge and held a vote. But that is hearsay now, what matters is putting things right as soon as possible.