Debating the Lisbon Treaty with Harlow Council Watch

I am a great believer in debate and discussion, however tempestuous. Good political argument go hand in hand with democracy.

So I was really pleased to be invited (a few days ago), by Harry Harrison, (Chairman) of Council Watch and Colleen Morrison (Secretary), to discuss and debate the Lisbon Treaty and other matters relevant to the European Union. Also attending was Dave White, Harlow Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate.

In essence my case to Council Watch members was as follows:

• Labour had betrayed the Country by not giving the people a chance to vote on a referendum on the European Constitution (known as the Lisbon Treaty), despite pledging to in its election manifesto;
• The Liberal Democrats had promised the same, yet had abstained when the issue came before the House of Commons. If they had kept their promise, Gordon Brown would have been forced to have a referendum;
• The Lisbon Treaty was now law. The EU now had an unelected President and unprecedented right to intervene in our own affairs;
• The case for a referendum had crossed political divides. Tony Benn had backed the Harlow campaign and Robert Halfon, (and Colleen Morrison) had met Mr Benn at Parliament, in the demonstration for a referendum.
  
  David Cameron's response to this is as follows:
  
  
• Repatriation of our powers relating to the Charter of Fundamental Rights, Justice & Home Affairs and Social and Employment legislation;
• A possible referendum after one term of Government, if we have not repatriated these powers;
• A Bill to ensure that the UK Parliament has sovereignty over EU law;
• Any ratchet clauses emanating from the Lisbon treaty (i.e. extension of EU Power), have to have a majority in Parliament.
  
• Legislation to guarantee that any future EU Treaty will be subject to a referendum.
  
  
  

You can read more about this HERE. It is a speech, in which Mr Cameron sets out the Conservative European Policy. Of course, every Eurosceptic is enraged about the failure of the Government to hold a referendum on the European Constitution. If the above measures are enacted, it will at least have a ratchet effect against the ever increasing march towards European Federalism. Moreover, never again, will our political ruling class, be able to sign up to new European Treaties, without giving the people a right to say yes or no through referendum.

I was glad to set this out to Council Watch, and look forward to debating the issue in and around Harlow over coming months.