PC 6: Let the People Vote?

[Sir Dylan Macmillan]

I truly believe that Mr Brown is an intelligent and honest man but time and time again he tests that belief with poor faith arguments such as the argument that my personal examining of the evidence is in anyway comparable to an entire Government being paralysed by indecision on the matter. My beliefs are well established and would lead to certainty, I believe that the British people should be consulted in a referendum, I believe that the referendum should be before 2006, and I believe that the Government should implement the results of that referendum. Which side I choose to campaign for does not cause the kind of uncertainty that can knock consumer and business confidence making us all worse off. A Government torn between a Europhilic Chancellor and an anti-Europe Home Secretary, torn between the legacies of Blair and Brown arguing over this very topic, and not even sure if we should have the referendum at all is exactly what creates a damaging lack of confidence and is intrinsically bad for Britain.

[Fred Sackville-Bagg]

I will not be signing this Early Day Motion, as I see a referendum on the Single Currency to be completely unnecessary, and it pains me to say that Labour are right, and the Conservatives are wrong. At present there is no danger of us joining a single currency, and Labour have said that they would put the question to the public when the time is right. As there is no danger of us joining the single currency, there is no need for this referendum.

I have never been a fan of the Labour Party, but I am prepared to take them at their word for now - they have said they have no plans to join the Euro. The Conservative Party's stance should be that we would support a referendum when there is a change in the Government's stance, not before.

It pains me to say this but the biggest risk of joining the Euro is Mr. Croft and the Shadow Cabinet for no matter how hard we campaigned against the Euro there is always a chance we can lose - if a Yes vote wins it means that we have to join the Euro with a government who would be unwilling, and a country unprepared to do so.

[Clarice Ashbridge]

Labour are trying to stake their whole misguided and slightly baffling opposition to our proposals on a simple argument: that we should trust them on their word when they say that the Euro is not on the table. Why shouldn't we believe them? Because not only is the Cabinet made up of members at odds with each other on Europe, it is made up of people often at odds with themselves. The Chancellor may point to his Brownite credentials, his work on the Treasury committee and even the time he was sacked for going after Tony Blair's economic policy. But he's a wolf in a dreary bank manager's clothing: only five years ago, he called joining the Euro an "economic no brainer" for the country. But now he claims the government has no intention to join the Euro, "right now," increasing uncertainty for business owners and for the majority of this country who does not want the single currency forced upon them. His indecision is reckless in the extreme.

And then, without a hint of irony, the Chancellor accuses the Conservatives of causing uncertainty by demanding that this crucial issue comes to a public vote. Much to the contrary, we have a clear and consistent position against the Euro, whilst Sir Jack changes his mind as more often than I change my shoes. When it comes to the Euro, he should probably take a lesson from one of our more successful European exports, Buck's Fizz: and make his mind up

[Blakesley]

The Government laid out an absolutely clear two-step process regarding joining the Euro. First, we will assess whether it is in the economic interest of the United Kingdom to do so. Second, if it is in our interest, then we will hold a referendum on Euro membership. That's it. That's the process. If the Tories in Parliament cannot understand government policy, that's really not my problem, is it?

The Conservative Party would have the United Kingdom rush into a Euro referendum, potentially setting the United Kingdom on a course to join the Euro when it is not in our economic interest to do so. The ramifications of that could be catastrophic: it could mean lost jobs and lower wages, damage to our housing market, and stunted economic growth. That is the cost that they are willing to force on Britain. In their eagerness to score a political point, the Tories are willing to roll the dice on the strength of the British economy and the prosperity of British families. That is not responsible - not at all.

The Government is committed to an evidence-based process before we jump headfirst into a referendum on the Euro. We will ensure that the outcome of such a referendum will not do any harm to public finances or, vitally, family finances. And, when the five economic tests are met, we will communicate that to the people of the United Kingdom and give them a fair say. That is responsible policy. That is policy that puts people before politics. And that is why we are the government - working in the national interest, while the Tories throw ideas at the wall and pray for the best, no matter the consequences.

[Andy Edwards]

The Tories' skill with cognitive dissonance is amazing; on the one hand they accuse the Government of mixed messages while it's their own party that can't decide on the Euro question. "We need a referendum now," was the argument; now the sponsor of the motion to consider the referendum says "well it needs to be sometime in the next five years." There are Conservatives that want to join the Euro by holding it up as a stable currency. And there are Conservatives who even say that Labour is right.

This Government has been consistent on the Euro. We won't consider the Euro until it can pass five tests- and those tests are ones that the International Monetary Fund say are appropriate for currency unions. We've been clear that we will go to a referendum once we have the facts to make a decision.

The Tories say they want to have a referendum because Labour's been focused on the Euro. The only focus we've had is on making sure it's the right time to consider this while the Conservatives fall over each other to be both the most pro-Euro and most anti-Euro party in Parliament at the same time. We will have the referendum, but when it's appropriate, not when it's politically expedient for the Opposition like this motion is asking for.

[Fred Sackville-Bagg]

To clarify, when I said that Labour was right I was referring to the no need for a referendum now. Even if we pass the five tests we should never adopt the Euro. A referendum is only needed when there is the possibility that adopting the Euro is on the table. The Conservative Party would have been better off proposing a referendum on EU Membership.

[Sir Dylan Macmillan]

The Home Secretary has a spectacular talent for missing the obvious. My motion, as written, calls for a referendum in the lifetime of the Parliament, meaning before 2006. This is in line with Conservative Party policy and the manifesto that the Monday Club rebels are fighting against. There is no confusion about where the Tory Party stands on this issue, Labour continue to do nothing.

[Will Frost]

I'm not very concerned, nor do I really care to be quite honest, about Ms. Blakesley's preferred timetable for when to hold a referendum on adopting the euro. Because, in my view, there is no opportune time to give away our independent currency. The circumstances will never be right, and the impact on our economy and our national sovereignty will always be disastrous.

The referendum shouldn't be about getting the "timing right," for the Government in order to maximize the chances of their desired outcome. It should be about the people having the chance to express their view on one of the most fundamental constitutional questions of our time. That is the fundamental difference between myself and the Labour Party: they want to hold a referendum in order to get your permission to execute their plan to adopt the euro, I want to hold a referendum so that the British people can definitely and preemptively rule out ever joining the single currency.

[Astrid Goldman]

You know, I feel a bit sorry for Billy Croft, I really do. I have sympathy for him and his Shadow Cabinet as they had very clearly made a punt on their narrative. They'd bet on the Government coming out swinging for the Euro and so thought a few nice taglines about referendums and a bit of flag waving about the good old British pound would land them a shiny press win.

I'm sorry to be a hater, dears. But the Government has been very clear: if the five tests aren't met, no referendum, no euro. There is no sense hosting a referendum on something that evidence suggests would damage the economy. There will be no opportunity for Britain to enter the euro in the near future. All the Tories have managed to do is highlight their glaring chasms of disagreement on Europe and end up looking a little obsessed and silly. Time for them to find another angle, I think.

[Blakesley]

Mr Croft, what will you do if the timing is not right and the British people choose to join the Euro, against your wishes? Are you willing to risk damage to our economy and to family finances across the country?