Vote Tory - And Help Destroy The Conservative Party

[Gromit]

// The Conservative Party faces more than two years of civil war over Europe if David Cameron wins next year’s general election, senior party figures are warning.

There is dismay among ministers over Mr Cameron’s decision to set a rigid 2017 deadline for staging a referendum on EU membership if he remains Prime Minister after May 7.

One Cabinet minister told The Independent: “The timetable we have given ourselves is madness. We have the prospect of the two years after the election of our party tearing itself in two.”//

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/david-cameron-will-trigger-tory-civil-war-with-a-general-election-win-senior-party-figures-warn-9948975.html

Anyone believe this scenario?

[jim360]

Perhaps to an extent. The Tory party is divided over Europe, and forcing a debate could see it damaged. But so what? Our future in the EU should be decided, regardless of the consequences for any political party.

[BlackadderV]

The answer is simple; if Cameron wins in May 2015 he should hold the referendum in July 2015; tow months is shorter than two years.

[BlackadderV]

2017 is a deadline - people often beat deadlines.

[ToraToraTora]

well you and yours have been telling us forever that the tories are split on Europe so I'd say it's plausible. I do think that the EU issue will cause a lot or rows in the Tories but surely that won't matter if, as we are continually being told, Red Ed is going to sweep the board. Good idea blackadder!

[Gromit]

Don't forget, if the voters do get a vote on EU membership, Cameron has to negociate a new deal for the UK. It will be that deal which will be presented to the public for acceptance or not. All that cannot be done in 7 weeks.

[mikey4444]

All this is purely academic, as the Tories are unlikely to win a workable majority next year, in which case dave will be returning to the back benches shortly after losing !

[BlackadderV]

Mikey's optimism is so touching!

[mikey4444]

I prefer to call it realism blackadder !

There is no evidence that the Tories are going to win next May. They have been behind in the Polls since shortly after the 2010 General Election, and its unrealistic to expect them to make a last minute recovery.

[mushroom25]

it may not be a case of the tories winning, per-se; with a rampant SNP, the party who stand to take the biggest hit are labour.

[mikey4444]

But Mush...if the Tories lose power, and Labour attain it, albeit in a coalition, what difference does it make ? The most important thing is that the Tories will form the Opposition after next May. They were out of power for 13 years, in power, shared with the Libs, for another 5 years and then out of power again.

[dannyk13]

Problem is that if Labour win we will be kowtowing to the EU for the next five years.

[mushroom25]

you don't honestly believe it would be any different if the conservatives won, do you danny? with a 2 year deadline, there's plenty of scope for other more urgent stuff to crop up and push the referendum down the running order.

[dannyk13]

At least there is a chance of a referendum under the Tories.

[BlackadderV]

Precisely, Danny. That's why I'll hold my nose and vote Tory. At my age the EU is the only issue which arouses any passion in me.

[Quizmonster]

It's quite touching, isn't it, how AB right-wingers are convinced the result of any in/out EU referendum will be 'Out'?

[dannyk13]

Plus, doesn't anyone remember the "Winter of Discontent" caused by the Labour government of the time.

[BlackadderV]

if it's not, it's not. I can live with that, but let us at least have a voice.

[dannyk13]

I am not a right winger and I do not predict the outcome of any referendum but we can only hope.

[Gromit]

If the Conservatives win the election, the EU will throw us a bone, and the Conservative Party will campaign to stay in, as will Labour and the LibDems and Nationalists. The CBI and the Unions will also back the 'In' camp.

[jourdain2]

I will never forget the Winter of Discontent' Dannyk13. People need reminding of it. How the local newspapers published timetables of when the electricity would be on in your area for example.