Your MPs reject EU referendum

Mar 7 2008 by Ben Glaze, South Wales Echo

We ask your elected representatives which way they cast their vote - and the reasons why

NOT one South Wales MP thought you – the people who elected them – should have a vote on whether Britain accepts new powers for Europe, the Echo can reveal today.

A Conservative call for a referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon was rejected by 311 votes to 248 in the House of Commons – a majority of 63.

None of the region’s 12 MPs supported a plea for the public to be consulted in a national poll.

Eleven Labour members voted against the proposal while Liberal Democrat MP Jenny Willott abstained.

But at the 2005 General Election, Labour, the Conservatives and Lib Dems promised a referendum on the EU Constitution.

However, when public votes rejected it in other EU countries, the Constitution was scrapped and the Lisbon Treaty drawn up in its place.

Most European leaders admit the Lisbon Treaty is very similar to the rejected EU Constitution.

But the parties claimed that because it was a treaty rather than a constitution, they did not have to honour manifesto pledges.

Welsh MEP Jonathan Evans, who is standing as a Tory candidate in Cardiff North at the next General Election, said today: “Every one of these MPs was elected on a promise less than three years ago to hold a referendum.

“Everyone had it in their manifesto. They have treated voters with contempt and people in South Wales will draw the appropriate conclusions.

“How can you trust anything said by any of them next time they stand for election when they have so blatantly disregarded what they promised just three years ago?”

The document, which Prime Minister Gordon Brown has already signed, means the UK will:

- Lose its right to block laws in some areas.

- See a new European president rather than sharing the presidency on a rota.

- Mean the European Union’s new foreign chief will take over some of the Foreign Secretary’s role.

What your elected representatives said...

Madeleine  Moon (Bridgend,  Lab) said: “I’m  very pro the treaty  and absolutely  believe it’s what we  need. This wasn’t a  constitution and we  don’t need a  referendum. A  referendum would  cost £5m in Wales and is that really what  we want our money spent on? In my  postbag I’m having more communication  on smacking of children than Europe.”

Alun Michael (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour) said: “There’s no sense in a referendum whatsoever. I really can’t understand those who try to pretend this is the European Constitution. It’s pretty annoying that right wing elements of the Press have tried to create the impression there’s good reason for a referendum. It’s nonsense.”

Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West, Labour) said: “There should only be referenda on constitutional matters. People who say it’s like the Constitution are wrong and for a lot of people who make that argument, it’s because they are ‘anti-Europe’ more broadly.”

Jenny Willott (Cardiff Central,  Liberal Democrat)  said: “The real  referendum we  should be having is  an ‘in or out of  Europe’ referendum  and we haven’t  been able to  properly debate that  in Parliament. We shouldn’t be voting oin  one treaty which is almost irrelevant.”

Julie Morgan (Cardiff North, Lab) said: “The Government said before it set up the Treaty that there were certain areas where it wanted to be sure the UK had the say, and all those conditions were met. There are circumstances where you should have a referendum, but this is a treaty, not a referendum.”

Chris Bryant  (Rhondda, Labour)  said: “A  referendum  undermines  Parliamentary  democracy. We’ll  still set our own  taxes, have our own  Armed Forces and  foreign policy. We  will still be running ourselves.” He said  previous Conservative governments failed  to offer referenda on other treaties which  involved “much more significant changes”.

Wayne David  (Caerphilly,  Labour) said: “It’s  fundamentally  different. There’s no  reference to a flag,  anthem or any of  the manifestations  of statehood which  were found in the  constitution. It’s a  whole nonsense that people come out  with this mantra that it’s the same thing  (as the Constitution).”

Huw  Irranca-Davies  (Ogmore, Lab)  said: “The Treaty  has changed  substantially from  the Constitution. If  this was a  constitutional  change of  significance then I  would be calling for a referendum. It’s all  to do with making the EU operate more  effectively and efficiently and we should  all be in favour of that. The Tories should just make clear they have a fundamental opposition to Europe.”

John Smith  (Vale of  Glamorgan, Lab)  failed to return  Echo calls to  explain why he  rejected the  Conservative  amendment calling  for a referendum.

Kim Howells (Pontypridd, Lab) was abroad on Foreign Office business and unable to explain why he voted against a referendum.

Dai Havard  (Merthyr Tydfil  and Rhymney,  Lab) failed to  return Echo calls to  explain why he  rejected the  Conservative  amendment calling  for a referendum.

Ann Clwyd  (Cynon Valley,  Lab) was  unavailable for  comment.

ben.glaze@mediawales.co.uk