tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post7922352174939163093..comments2024-03-28T22:32:50.562+00:00Comments on Liberal England: Margaret Thatcher was right about referendumsJonathan Calderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00730157683743989696noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post-77871254943598611392016-11-04T18:04:06.796+00:002016-11-04T18:04:06.796+00:00For the record, when the Green Party came out with...For the record, when the Green Party came out with enthusiastic support for the EU referendum idea back in January 2013, I wrote this email to Caroline Lucas:<br /><br />"I'm afraid that, after the AV referendum debacle, which leaves no hope of achieving PR in our lifetime, I'm not sure at all about a referendum on EU membership.<br />The consequences of Britain leaving the EU are unthinkable, and I'm afraid I don't have confidence in British voters making the right decision. An EU referendum shouldn't even be on the agenda!"Herbert Eppelhttp://www.hetranslations.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post-24207258490962773132016-11-04T17:05:34.068+00:002016-11-04T17:05:34.068+00:00Completely agree with your lordship. I have been ...Completely agree with your lordship. I have been wondering what those two arch-opponents of the EU, Enoch Powell and Tony Benn, would have made of the court's judgment. Both were great parliamentarians and Benn denounced the royal prerogative as often as he denounced the EU. I hope I am right in thinking they would have understood, accepted and supported the court.Disgruntled Radicalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15021349788571946037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606798.post-35707047905835870442016-11-04T12:22:04.441+00:002016-11-04T12:22:04.441+00:00There was nothing wrong with holding a referendum ...There was nothing wrong with holding a referendum on the EU in 2010 after the new government took office, provided that it was made clear that it would only be advisory (though if there was a huge majority in favour of coming out, the government would take note). The Labour leader at the time was in favour of remaining in and could hardly have used the referendum as a protest against Nick Clegg, as he did with the AV vote. <br /><br />The big mistake was to appear to go back on our 2010 manifesto commitment (and that of the Conservatives), encouraging a "them and us" feeling in the country which built up over the following six years.<br />Frank Littlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12447989626809704972noreply@blogger.com