War in Europe?

The government has today dismissed calls for a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, despite 88% of British locals unofficially polled in 10 constituencies wanting one. The bill, signed in December by Gordon Brown, was designed as a replacement to the EU constitution, which was dismissed by French and Dutch voters in 2005.

A row has broken out due to the fact that the government promised a referendum on the original European constitution, but has not promised one on this treaty. Government ministers argue that the bill amends existing treaties and is not needed.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, who called for a debate, and groups such as the Conservatives and UKIP see it as virtually the same as the scrapped constitution, so should also cleary require a referendum. The only way a referendum could happen is if MP's vote in favour of holding one in a couple of days time.

More protests like the one pictured at the top have continued outside the Houses of Parliament, today for example, protesters scaled a crane in Parliament Square to get their message across.

Across the blogosphere, the ongoing European referendum debate has produced some interesting coverage. Wonko's world, a blog written by a man who sees himself as a "foreigner in my own country", comments on today's protest and on a government he clearly doesn't trust:

What kind of a sham of democracy do we live in when people with a legitimate protest feel that they need to break the law in order to get noticed?

A Very British Dude goes further, believing he is speaking for everyone when he says:

Listen, politicos: We, the peoples of Europe, do not want the constitution or its bastard offspring, and have demonstrated this at every turn.

The Devil's Kitchen, who quoted the British Dude in his post on the EU row agrees, and, in very colourful language, goes on to say that those who don't see a need for a referendum, are, well.. let's just say wrong:

As I have pointed out, innumerable times, those who claim that we should not have a referendum because we live in a representative democracy are total c***s.

It is because we live in a representative democracy that we should have a referendum. Because, when 98% of those MPs represented themselves to the voters, they promised a referendum.

An arguement for the EU treaty are few and far between, in fact, Daniel Hannan of The Telegraph asks in his blog for:

Some decent, well-sourced, specific arguments in favour of EU membership. No airy generalizations, please. No fibs about how the EU is “coming our way”. What I want is a simple case for why we should be part of the EU that actually exists. Over to you.

There was plenty of responses to Hannan's article who disagreed with, but the main point on the other side appeared to be that the referendum is misunderstood. Ed Clarke, argues that:

Unless I have misunderstood this process entirely, it is merely a formalisation of the process already in existence. There are plenty of points along the line at which countries can say "no" to any changes.

However, he agrees with a referendum, but more on the issue that:

I think we should have a referendum based on voters being informed of the actual content of the treaty. Far too much of the debate (on both sides of the argument) has been based on half-truths and inaccuracies. Why doesn't the EU or the UK government put a consolidated version of the treaties up on its website so that we can all have a proper read of it?

Personally, I believe that is it the government's democractic responsobility to hold a referendum. The reason they aren't is clear: they are scared that they will be defeated; but surely this is all part of the democractic process. Maybe if the government did a better job of telling people exactly what was going on, they'd come round to the idea. But if after proper education the public really didn't want it, the people have spoken and their decision should be valid.

Hopefully if a referendum is voted for by ministers, the contents of the treaty will be presented to the public in a simple way.

Before I leave it there, here's a campaign video for the "I Want A Referendum" group, who are spearheading the campaign for a referendum.

Attacks on MP's

Over the past week, I've noticed that the House of Commons has come under scrutiny from a number of sources; from journalists and critics, to the very MPs that sit in it.

On Monday, ePolitix.com reported a Liberal Democrat whip's outburst on fellow MPs:

You look around the House of Commons and see some Members who have been there for 15, 20, 25 years and who are frankly doing nothing, particularly the ones with large majorities. It is not part of my plan to be hanging around the chamber waiting for death.

Paul Keetch's comments to House Magazine probably sum up the feelings of many politically-disillusioned members of the public. Those who feel that their possibly rather old and past it MP's have little effect on their community, will only see comments such as these as reinforcing their dim view of British politics.

Other attacks on the Commons have come over costs to the British public. BBC News online reported the case of a Labour MP urging Whitehall's sleaze watchdog to hold an independent inquiry into MPs expenses. The row erupted over claims that MP's were putting down trivial items such as:

plasma screen televisions, fish tanks and iPods.

The cost of MPs to the taxpayer also came under attack after a Labour MP called for all MPs to receive free Blackberry devices, reports the BBC. A row was also caused over the cost of a new parliamentary visitors centre, expected to cost £12.5 million to the tax payer.

But it's not just in this country; MLA's in Northern Ireland's assembly are being rewarded with a pay rise, something Sinn Fein's Cheif Whip Caral Ni Chuilin believes is:

Out of line with both the low rate of inflation and the pay settlements other workers are being asked to accept.

It seems that MPs as a whole have been having a tough time in the eye of the public recently. Personally, I think some of these are harsh criticisms and non-stories - but as the BBC's Nick Robinson explains in his blog;

Only the House of Commons can break that circle - by reforming themselves.

Only reform can change our age old system and bring the majority of the public back on the side of their MPs - and not continue to see them as money grabbing, useless old gits.