Tories ordered to vote against an EU Referendum.

[Gromit]

After gaining enough signatures from the public, the e-petition calling for a referendum on EU membership, will be debated in Parliament next week. Conservative MPs have been oredered to vote against a referendum, meaning it will almost certainly fail.

Some observations.
1. Didn't Cameron promise a referendum on the EU? Isn't this a let down?
2. Many Tory MPs will vote (or just not turn up) contrary to their true belief that they want out of the EU. Doesn't that expose a huge rift running through the Conservative party?
3. Isn't this whole e-petition thing an expensive sham. The Government will do only what it wants, and will ignore petitions it doesn't like.

http://www.telegraph....st-EU-referendum.html

Personally, I want to stay in the EU, but all you Euroskeptics/phobes/haters must be jolly upset by Cameron cracking the whip?

[ichkeria]

I don't have a preference for Turkey joining or not: it seems to me to be at least as much a part of Europe as Asia, and I don't really consider Armenia and Georgia to the east to be any less European. Leaving it in no mans land, if it wants to join, seems rather unfair.

[emmie]

Ickeria, so where do you draw the again line.

[emmie]

that didn't come out right, sorry,
so where do you draw the line...

[New Judge]

"...since we'd be turkeys voting for Christmas if we voted no"

Err... perhaps you'd like to expand a little, ichkeria. Since the whole sorry experiement will fall apart at some time (as have all artificial federations forced upon individual nation states) we may as well get out now whilst we can control the terms of our exit.

This situation is a perfect example of why party politics destroys democracy.

To answer your questions directly, Gromit:

1. Didn't Cameron promise a referendum on the EU? Isn't this a let down?

As far as I know, no he did not. He promised a referendum before any more powers were transferred to Europe. So it is not really a let-down.

2. Many Tory MPs will vote (or just not turn up) contrary to their true belief that they want out of the EU. Doesn't that expose a huge rift running through the Conservative party?

Yes – nothing new. Most of the backbenchers want out. Most of the ministers want in so that they have a lucrative second career when they are thrown out of Westminster.

3. Isn't this whole e-petition thing an expensive sham. The Government will do only what it wants, and will ignore petitions it doesn't like.

Yes.

[Brenden]

99% of Turkey is in Asia so no they should not have admission to the EU

[ichkeria]

New Judge
"Since the whole sorry experiement will fall apart at some time "

In your opinion :-)
I notice, actually, you have a habit of arguing as though your (no doubt honest and sometimes well presented) opinions are facts rather than ... opinion.

As far as where I "draw the line" I don't presume to draw any line, but I can't see any objection to Turkey joining the EU merely because some of it may be in Asia. (There may be other, more important issues).

[New Judge]

Yes, of course it's only my opinion, ichkeria. Time (unfortunately too much time due to the intransigence and self-interest of our politicians) will tell whether I'm right or not but I fear for the damage that will be done to the UK in the meantime.

Meanwhile, perhaps you'd like to expand a little on why voting "No" to the EU would be akin to turkeys voting for Christmas.

[ichkeria]

"Meanwhile, perhaps you'd like to expand a little on why voting "No" to the EU would be akin to turkeys voting for Christmas. "

Because in my opinion we are far better off in the EU than outside it.
I know you disagree but there it is :-)

[ludwig]

//1. Didn't Cameron promise a referendum on the EU? Isn't this a let down?
2. Many Tory MPs will vote (or just not turn up) contrary to their true belief that they want out of the EU. Doesn't that expose a huge rift running through the Conservative party?
3. Isn't this whole e-petition thing an expensive sham. The Government will do only what it wants, and will ignore petitions it doesn't like.//

1. Can't remember. If he did then yes, if he didn't then no.
2. No, it doesn't expose it. It's been there in plain sight for decades.
3. Yes.