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The Maastricht Treaty specifically gives Britain the absolute right to keep its pound, unless it wishes to opt in to the Euro. And we will only opt into the Euro if the British public wants to do so. As the Prime Minister who could implement the results of a referendum on the Euro, it is proper for me to stay impartial on this. The only way to protect the pound or to secure Britain’s entry into the Euro is through a free and fair referendum. If the British public is to trust that such a free and fair vote will happen, then all candidates for Prime Minister should commit to remaining impartial and independent. Otherwise the British public will, rightly I fear, believe that a Prime Minister who favours one policy will use the immense powers of the office to ensure it is implemented - or may refuse to implement the policy of which they are opposed. This cannot be allowed to happen, and as Prime Minister, I will not allow it to happen. The will of the British public must win out. I look forward to the debate.
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Ruth Murphy and her ever U-turning Labour Party colleagues have been anything but consistent. First Labour couldn't take a side on the treaty because they didn't know what was in it. Then they said they knew the treaty had to be confirmed via referendum, but they wouldn't tell you how they'd vote in that referendum or why one was needed. Now they're telling voters they're not against the Maastricht Treaty, but against the "Tory Treaty," whatever that even means.
What Labour and their politics spin doctors don't want you to know is this: Labour's only policy on Europe is to oppose it, because that allows them to oppose this Government and the Conservative Party. At this point Labour has had months to establish their position on the EEC and Maastricht, and they still can't do it. Ruth Murphy has publicly proven her inability to distinguish the difference between signing a treaty and ratifying. Labour's leader, Sir. James, has pretended the party is totally unified behind their anti-Europe position but just today a senior Labour MP and former Minister has come out backing the single currency! The inconsistencies never stop.
Labour's position on Europe underscores what we already know about them as a political party: they are the party of opposition. They are hopelessly stuck in the 1970s, out of any exciting ideas, and running on the fumes of an outdated Soviet automobile. The British people deserve better than their narrow minded ideas, and that is what my party plans to give them.
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For someone so simple, I’m confused as to how William Croft has overthought Labour’s position so much. We waited for the Maastricht Treaty to come to a verdict on it, and now we’ve seen it in full we oppose it. We do not, however, oppose a treaty with the European Community full stop. And unlike the Prime Minister I won’t be cowed by backbenchers in saying what I think is right for the country. That is leadership.
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“The government should keep in mind that this treaty is not without consequence. The pretend that this is a victory that maintains our precious sovereignty, but that is far from the truth. Rather they have surrendered to the European Union our ability to directly influence our economy in the moment of a national economic crisis. We would not be able to take action to save our economy because Brussels would fine us up to half a percent of our GDP.
That’s not pounds and pence. That’s £3 billion. That’s every pound we spent on hospital in a year. That’s money that can be spent on roads, schools, making our health system better. So when the economy needs the investment the most, the Tories are willing to hand over our ability to turn the tide and hand over billions as well. That’s not smart government, that’s surrender government.
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08-30-2020, 07:20 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-30-2020, 07:36 PM by Ege.)
It really is funny when Ruth and Sir James stands up to their backbenchers opposing their policy it is leadership but when Aubyn and Dylan does that its Tories in war. I think Ruth needs to stop believing in her own propaganda and look at the facts. Labour is taking an uncharacteristic and opportunistic turn to Europscepticism in order to gain some votes, now shaping your stances to public is politics and fair but what is not fair is taking short termist solutions that will hamper our country, leash its potential and drive us into a ditch.
The real surrender we are talking about is the surrender Labour is trying to drive us into. If we reject Maastricht and economic cooperation with Europe, we will not be able to compete with rapidly growing China, Soviet Union and force us to rely solely on American interests. Now I believe America is a valuable ally but if one day our interests clash or America simply does not want to help, which is possible as Falklands and Suez crisis shown us then we have to be able to stand up for ourselves. Britain alone can not do it, we need to cooperate with Europe and turn Europe into an economic powerhouse of its own so that we can stand up for our interests when we need to. In a Europe where we cooperate while also maintain a veto power over any policy is a Europe where we do have a strong voice and power. The choice here is rather clear, we will either be with Europe and maintain our strong position or we surrender to isolationism and get sentenced to irrelevance and allowed to be pushed around by world powers. We will be either at the table or on the menu, I pick being on the table, Labour wants to be on the menu. That's the choice we have to make.
Rejecting Maastricht is not about preserving status quo or protecting our sovereignty because in a ever globalised world with players hungry for power like China, striving to reach back to the glory days like the Soviet Union, Britain has only one choice, cooperate with Europe or served as a meal for powers like China, the Soviet Union and more. Rejecting Maastricht in the long term means we will be forced to capitulate to China and other powers while Europe, albeit in a weakened state due to lack of participation from the UK, will be able to fight on and continue to strive for prosperity. With Maastricht, we will have an opportunity to stand up for our values and interests while maintaining our dignity, power, and our voice. We will have a veto on matters where we do not want to act on, should British public reject the single currency, we will have the option to opt-out, we are maintaining our sovereignty and our say, but if we reject Maastricht, in the long term eventually we won't be able to say no to China or the Soviet Union and you can better believe that they won't be asking it nicely.
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The fact that the same people who imposed vicious budget cuts upon our communities over the last 13 years are the ones that support the Maastricht treaty bosses' and bankers' racket which will ingrain austerity as permanent policy makes sense. Their treaty legitimizes the horror and cruelty that they have inflicted all along. But they could at least have the honour of leveling that truth with working people. If they had dignity they would be honest and say that the deficit spending that they argued was necessary to save the economy from the recession that they created would be restricted under Maastricht. If they were honest they would say that working people will just have to expect less in services and support if Maastricht is enacted while City of London speculators enjoy more. But they'd rather act as charlatans, advancing their fat cat mates' interests while pretending they aren't, cloaking it in glowing language of progress. Labour won't let that stand and the Tory Party will have to answer for the cruel austerity regimen that their treaty will foist upon us.
Tommy Dawson
Labour MP for Sheffield Brightside (1979-Present)
Socialist Campaign Group. 9 XP. 15 Marx Visits. Media Darling, Campaign Guru, Issue Champ (Econ Equality)
Deputy Leader (1990-1992), Shadow Chancellor (1990-1992), The Most Dangerous Man in Britain (1992)
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08-30-2020, 07:51 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-30-2020, 08:17 PM by Quinn Shaw.)
Roy Hattersley claimed that monetary union is vital for the prosperity of the continent, but I'm not concerned about the continent. I'm concerned about the British workers and consumers, who are relegated to secondary-status thanks to French dominance over our agricultural policies. I'm concerned about the British small businesses and commercial interests, who face substantial pressure from European conglomerates coming out of Germany. And I'm concerned about the future of our pound sterling, which will be rubbished in exchange for promises of a monetary union. While Europhiles of all parties are concerned about the Continent, I'm concerned about England and Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
While we may disagree on whether we support it or not, I must applaud the Prime Minister and his Government for negotiating the best deal with Europe as was possible at Maastricht. The questions over Europe are an important area, and a robust national dialogue is required before ratifying the treaty. That is why I applaud the Conservative Party for allowing differing opinions and divergent viewpoints - unlike Labour which is projecting a monolithic facade that is crumbling from within.
Quinn Shaw
Labour and Co-operative MP
Wolverhampton South East (1987-present)
Progressive
(Formerly Wilfred Hart, Conservative Deputy PM and Deputy Leader of Referendum)
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I’m sorry Labour stands together in solidarity behind string leadership and is committed to working together for common aims. If Mr. Hart’s most damning criticism is “Labour is united together and doesn’t knife each other” I guess that’s just a badge we’ll have to wear
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Maastricht is a huge step forward in the pursuit of common policy goals across the European continent. For workers who want greater job protections, investors who want an economically prosperous Britain, and patriots who want a country that leads in Europe – this treaty is the biggest move towards these aims for a generation.
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I've asked numerous times and no prominent Tories have provided a sufficient response because truthfully, there isn't one. Why would the Tories agree to a clause that they are currently in clear violation of and would require meanspirited recession-time austerity to meet? As I've said on several occasions and as they keep proving with their deeds, the Tories may have tried gift-wrapping their views under Myerscough but ultimately they believe the same rotten Thatcherite vision of vicious cuts and deindustrialization despite all the claims that they're under new, more progressive management.
Tommy Dawson
Labour MP for Sheffield Brightside (1979-Present)
Socialist Campaign Group. 9 XP. 15 Marx Visits. Media Darling, Campaign Guru, Issue Champ (Econ Equality)
Deputy Leader (1990-1992), Shadow Chancellor (1990-1992), The Most Dangerous Man in Britain (1992)
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