Graham Stringer Labour MP: Europe referendum row will split both Labour and Tories
Posted: October 21st, 2011 | Author: chrisbl1234 | Filed under: News from Parliament, The People's Pledge Blog, Uncategorized | 12 Comments »The row over a referendum on Europe is set to cause ructions within Labour ranks as well as the Conservatives, a senior MP warned today.
Graham Stringer accused leader Ed Miliband of making a “mistake” by subjecting the party to a three-line whip on next Monday’s vote over whether to hold an in/out national poll on the EU.
The former Labour whip said he will defy the order for MPs to oppose the proposals, arguing it was time people were “given a choice”.
“I don’t agree with him (Mr Miliband),” he told BBC Radio 4′s Today programme.
“He’s got his job to do. I think it is a mistake of all three party leaders when the public are clearly aching for a say on Europe to say, no, you can’t have it.”
“I shall vote for the motion. I think there should be a referendum. I think when people have been asked for a petition and there is a very moderate motion down there can’t be any opposition in principle to having a referendum.
“Now is the time to give people a choice about whether they want to stay in the European Union.”
Mr Stringer said now was “exactly the right time” to hold a national poll despite Mr Miliband’s claims it was a “distraction” at a time when the UK should be focused on the economy.
It comes after Labour yesterday claimed David Cameron was facing a “mutiny” over the vote with a number of ministerial aides poised to quit.
At least 60 Conservative MPs have backed a motion calling for a national poll and senior party figures today pledged to defy the leadership if it ordered them to oppose the plans.
Conservative Stewart Jackson said he was one of those who would quit his junior position in Government.
The parliamentary private secretary to Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Paterson told the BBC that Europe was a “totemic issue” for the party.
“My constituents are saying ‘your three-line whip is from us and we think the people’s voice should be heard’,” he said.
“I will vote in favour of the motion and, in so doing, I will very likely relinquish my position as parliamentary private secretary to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which will disappoint me but some things are more important than party preferment.”
An amendment to the motion apparently designed to head off a Tory rebellion has been tabled by backbench MP George Eustice.
Mr Eustice, who as a former press secretary to Mr Cameron is seen as close to Downing Street, emailed fellow Tory MPs with the amendment and urged them to back it.
It calls for the Government to start renegotiating Britain’s relationship with the EU before holding a referendum on the results of that process.
In his email, Mr Eustice suggested the amended motion “more closely reflects the views of the majority of the parliamentary party”.
“The advantage of having a referendum after the renegotiation rather than before is that the public would then be able to judge whether or not the Government had succeeded and this would put pressure on the Government to negotiate forcefully,” he said.
He stressed it was “not yet” backed by the Government, but added that it was committed to taking on board representations.
“I would therefore urge any backbench MPs who feel closer to this motion than the one currently tabled to add their names to it,” he said.
“Likewise, I would urge any frontbench MP who would like the opportunity to vote in favour of the motion rather than be ordered to follow Ed Miliband through the voting lobbies to make their views known to the Prime Minister’s office.”
This article appeared here
Graham Stringer is a member of the People’s Pledge Advisory Council
Thank God there are some Politicians out there who are prepared to put their country before their own personal interests. The rest of them should be ashamed and remembered at the time of the next elections.
To all those MPs that boast of their belief in democracy and the democratic system, now’s the time to let your constituents see you put your money where your mouth is,how you vote will be remembered, and abstaining wont cut it either, do’nt abstain, if you have’nt got an opinion–resign.
Like I said, `THE TURKEY`S IN THE OVEN` It now seems that the only party worth voting for is UKIP!! I would urge ALL who have made contribution to this important issue in our history to remember the LIARS, ROUGES and SPINELESS MISCREANTS both in Government and `Opposition` come the next `General Election`. This BETRAYEL by the `QUISLING`s of both government and opposition could very well see voters reluctantly choose to vote for `extreme` party`s as in the last European elections as the ONLY alternative to unscrupulous `WANNABEES` who continue to cheat and lie their way to power!!
Once again we see the dirty tactics of government trying to dodge the issue of what they promised the electorate, which was a referendum on our membership of the EU, They are not honourable in any shape or form, the people of this country need someone who is honest and prepared to stick up for its people and have there interest at heart, rather than there own interests, they know that if we come out of the EU they wont be able to scoot of into a nicely paid job and fat pension within the EU, WE NEED TO WIN THIS BATTLE AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY WILL WIN IN THE END, AT THE NEXT ELECTION, UKIP IS THE ONLY ANSWER, IF WE ALL VOTE FOR THEM.
This is far ahead of ANY party politics , if you love your country you should put your country first .
I am glad that members of the two major parties do seem to do this , it only seems to be the lib Dems who think they know better than us mere mortals .
I shall be attending the demonstration at parliament on Monday , to make sure MPs know what we the British people want, and that is a REFERENDUM !
If this is truly a democracy we should get one , or do will we have to use other means ?
the referendum will be a three point vote…IN…OUT….RE NERGOTIATE…..the “antis” will be split between OUT and RENEGOTIATE, thereby letting the INs win !!!…….
the dictators in westminster are supposed to be representing the voters interests NOT THEIR OWN !!!!
give us the chance to voice our opinions or pay heavily at the next election you bunmch of chancers
Some of these MPs still just do not get it.
‘Mr Eustice suggested the amended motion “more closely reflects the views of the majority of the parliamentary party’
The Referendum is about the views of the public not the majority of the party, whichever party that is.
It looks like the governemnt is going to force a no vote. I wonder if the consequences of that for each individual MP who knowingly and deliberately voted contrary to the wishes of their electorate will eventually be dealt with appropriately? There are people on my street who voted Tory for years, but becasue they now know as a result of my INFORMING THEM, that Doctor Poulter, their MP, is voting against areferendum and has consistently voted for reducing our sovereignty and increasing our payments to the EU, they have all decided to not vote again at a general election unless the candidate campaigns on having a referendum. Several have signed and posted my leter informing the good doctor that they feel lied to and betrayed by his behaviour.The sense of fury around where I live is palpable. They are starting to watch the news, to talk among themseleves about their demands being ignored. Some of them are reasdy for a lynching. carerful wehre you go, Dr Cretin, people hate you.
This is absolutely shameful that all this time and effort is being spent to turn what is supposed to be a democracy backwards 600 years.
Are we going to have to chop King Camerons head off like we did Charlies?
WAKE UP Cameron, Milliband, Clegg. Smell the coffee. It smells like gunpowder. Or, at least, severe discontent.
Good man!
George Eustice took Camborne and Redruth with a narrow majority of 66.
Something tells me he won’t be an MP after the next election.
From the Guardian comments on EU a referendum article
I think Clegg and Milliband could sum up the ‘positive aspects’ of the EU in 12 words:
“We want lucrative EU jobs when we’re kicked out of British politics.”
Clegg has already had one, so it would be a natural move for him. And of course several failed Labour politicians who couldn’t run a bath have already been nicely installed in the EU superstructure (even Miliband’s brother almost went for one non-job, if I remember right) so the road has already been paved for him too. I don’t know what Cameron’s deal is – maybe he’s just a useful idiot.
Politicians are self-interested on an almost mercenary level, and will gladly sell the rest of us out so they can receive succour in the long term. It really is that simple, I’m afraid.