Macpherson

Answered by Neil O'Brien

I would vote no – (a) because the EU does not need more powers (b) to send a message that it needs reform and (c) because the process has been so dishonest.   Cast your mind back - this whole business... Show more »

I would vote no – (a) because the EU does not need more powers (b) to send a message that it needs reform and (c) because the process has been so dishonest.

Cast your mind back - this whole business started when the Irish voted against the Nice treaty in 2001. In response the leaders of the European Union promised they would start to make the EU more democratic, more transparent, and start handing powers back to the member states.

But things quickly went off course. Although the leaders of the EU had signed up to these fine principles, and had even written them down in a grand document called the “Laeken Declaration”, the great majority did not actually believe in them in the slightest. 

Instead, EU leaders appointed the federalist Valery Giscard d’Estaing to draw up an EU Constitution, which gave even more powers to the EU. Under the Constitution, everything from immigration to your electricity bill would become a subject for Brussels to decide on, by majority vote.

When the Constitution was torpedoed by the French and Dutch, EU leaders simply dredged it up, gave it a fresh coat of paint, and had another go. I am not surprised the Treaty has been sunk again.

Answered by Neil O'Brien

Both. I would rather have a referendum and lose it than have no referendum at all. But I want people to be consulted.    More generally I believe in decentralization – power flowing back down from ... Show more »

Both. I would rather have a referendum and lose it than have no referendum at all. But I want people to be consulted. 

More generally I believe in decentralization – power flowing back down from the EU to the local and national level, and an increase in accountability and transparency not just in the EU but also more generally – for example the ever-growing number of quangos.

Answered by William Hague

If there were a referendum, with the public voting in favour of the treaty, how do you feel this would affect the Conservative party's approach to European policy?   I don’t think holding would set ... Show more »

If there were a referendum, with the public voting in favour of the treaty, how do you feel this would affect the Conservative party's approach to European policy?

I don’t think holding would set a dangerous precedent at all. In fact, holding a referendum on this Treaty would be an excellent start.

If you are proposing a major, perhaps permanent, change to how decisions are made there is a good case for consulting voters in a referendum. And if you’re proposing to hand significant decision-making powers away from our parliament and our courts to the EU then people should certainly have a say.

That’s why the Conservative Party has said that if the British people choose a Conservative government at the next election we will change the law so that any new EU Treaty that transfers powers (‘competences’ in Euro-jargon) would have to be put to a referendum.

It is quite extraordinarily arrogant and undemocratic that this Government should be forcing through this Treaty without letting the British people have any say on the matter at all, either at a general election or in a referendum, especially when they promised a referendum on the substantially identical EU Constitution in their election manifesto.

It is even more shocking that the Labour Government’s clear preference is for the Irish to be made to vote twice before the British people get a chance to vote once.

Answered by John Redwood

The public consensus is that there are too many rules and regulations coming from Brussels, and the European Union has too much control over our lives. There is no public support for the Lisbon Treaty.... Show more »

The public consensus is that there are too many rules and regulations coming from Brussels, and the European Union has too much control over our lives. There is no public support for the Lisbon Treaty. A "yes" vote is a false hypothesis. The Conservative Party will respect the result of any referendum, and thinks the Labour Party is denying us one because it knows it would lose badly

Answered by John Redwood

The European Union has done little to keep Britain safe from terrorism. We would be safer if we could control our own borders, make our own laws to keep the British people safe, and defend our historic... Show more »

The European Union has done little to keep Britain safe from terrorism. We would be safer if we could control our own borders, make our own laws to keep the British people safe, and defend our historic civil liberties. In many ways it is the EU’s rules and regulations, which are preventing us from doing so.

Answered by Gisela Stuart

The Treaty debate has not united the Conservatives, but it has lead to a broad agreement that in the interest of gaining power they better not talk about Europe for the time being. The only concrete promise... Show more »

The Treaty debate has not united the Conservatives, but it has lead to a broad agreement that in the interest of gaining power they better not talk about Europe for the time being. The only concrete promise David Cameron ever gave on Europe still remains to be honoured - the Conservative MEPs are still part of the European People's Party block in Brussels, even though during his leadership campaign he promised to leave the grouping.

Answered by Gisela Stuart

The Lisbon Treaty is a document that enables the EU - in the shape of the European Parliament and the Commission - to be part of the domestic decision-making in every aspect of our lives apart from Defence... Show more »

Answered by Denis MacShane

Britain will have more influence if we speak with, for, and through 26 other member states in the EU. Britain has always been weak when isolated, as today's Conservatives want, and stronger when the UK... Show more »

Answered by Denis MacShane

In 2004, Tony Blair offered a referendum on the now defunct Constitution. It was killed by the French and Dutch voters in a referendum in 2005.   The Lisbon Treaty is completely different. It is of... Show more »

In 2004, Tony Blair offered a referendum on the now defunct Constitution. It was killed by the French and Dutch voters in a referendum in 2005.

The Lisbon Treaty is completely different. It is of less significance than the Single European Act or the Maastricht Treaty, which the Conservative government rightly submitted to Parliament for ratification. The UK has always ratified treaties in Parliament and it would be wrong to betray parliamentary sovereignty on this treaty